Chapter VIII.

Which acquaints the Reader with two very extraordinary Accidents.

Mr. Glanville, who did not doubt but Roberts, would bring him some Intelligence, sat waiting with anxious Impatience for his Return. The Evening drew on apace, he number'd the Hours, and began to grow uneasy at Arabella's long Stay. His Chamber Window looking into the Garden, he thought he saw his Cousin, cover'd with her Veil as usual, hasten down one of the Walks; his Heart leap'd at this transient View, he threw up the Sash, and looking out, saw her very plainly strike into a cross Walk, and a Moment after saw Sir George, who came out of a little Summer-house, at her Feet. Transported with Rage at this Sight, he snatch'd up his Sword, flew down the Stairs into the Garden, and came running like a Madman up the Walk in which the Lovers were. The Lady observing him first, for Sir George's Back was towards him, shriek'd aloud, and not knowing what she did, ran towards the House, crying for Help, and came back as fast, yet not Time enough to prevent Mischief: For Mr. Glanville, actuated by an irresistible Fury, cry'd out to Sir George to defend himself, who had but just Time to draw his Sword and make an ineffectual Pass at Mr. Glanville, when he receiv'd his into his Body, and fell to the Ground.

Mr. Glanville losing his Resentment insensibly at the Sight of his Rival's Blood, threw down his Sword, and endeavour'd to support him; while the Lady, who had lost her Veil in her running, and to the great Astonishment of Mr. Glanville, prov'd to be his Sister, came up to them, with Tears and Exclamations, blaming herself for all that had happen'd.

Mr. Glanville, with a Heart throbbing with Remorse for what he had done, gaz'd on his Sister with an accusing Look, as she hung over the wounded Baronet with streaming Eyes, sometimes wringing her Hands, then clasping them together in an Agony of Grief.

Sir George having Strength enough left to observe her Disorder, and the generous Concerns of Glanville, who holding him in his Arms, intreated his Sister to send for proper Assistance, Dear Charles, said he, you are too kind, I have us'd you very ill, I have deserv'd my Death from your Hand--You know not what I have been base enough to practise against you-- If I can but live to clear your Innocence to Lady Bella, and free you from the Consequences of this Action, I shall die satisfy'd-- His Strength failing him at these Words, he fainted away in Mr. Glanville's Arms; who tho' now convinc'd of his Treachery, was extremely shock'd at the Condition he saw him in.

Miss Glanville renewing her Tears and Exclamations at this Sight, he was oblig'd to lay Sir George gently upon the Ground, and ran to find out somebody to send for a Surgeon, and to help him to convey him into the House.

In his Way he was met by Mr. Roberts, who was coming to seek him; and with a Look of Terror and Confusion told him, Lady Bella was brought Home extremely ill--that her Life had been in Danger, and that she was but just recover'd from a terrible fainting Fit. Mr. Glanville, tho' greatly alarm'd at this News, forgot not to take all possible Care of Sir George; directing Roberts to get some Person to carry him into the House, and giving him Orders to procure proper Assistance, flew to Lady Bella's Apartment.

Her Women had just put her to Bed, raving as in a strong Delirium. Mr. Glanville approach'd her, and finding she was in a violent Fever, dispatch'd a Man and Horse immediately to Town, to get Physicians, and to acquaint his Father with what had happen'd.

Mr. Roberts, upon the Surgeon's Report that Sir George was not mortally wounded, came to inform him of this good News, but he found him incapable of listning to him, and in Agonies not to be exprest. 'Twas with Difficulty they forc'd him out of Arabella's Chamber into his own; where throwing himself upon his But, he refus'd to see or speak to any Body, till he was told Sir Charles and the Physicians were arriv'd.

He then ran eagerly to hear their Opinions of his beloved Cousin, which he soon discover'd by their significant Gestures and half pronounc'd Words, to be very bad. They comforted him however, with Hopes that she might recover, and insisting upon her being kept very quiet, oblig'd him to quit the Room. While all the necessary Methods were taken to abate the Violence of the Disease, Sir Charles, who had been inform'd by his Steward of his Son's Duel with Sir George, was amaz'd to the last Degree at two such terrible Accidents.

Having seen his Son to his Chamber, and recommended him to be patient and compos'd, he went to visit the young Baronet, and was not a little surpriz'd to find his Daughter sitting at his Bed's Head, with all the Appearance of a violent Affliction.

Indeed Miss Glanville's Cares were so wholly engross'd by Sir George's, that she hardly ever thought of her Cousin Arabella, and had just stept into her Chamber while the Surgeons were dressing Sir George's Wound, and renew'd her Attendance upon him as soon as that was over.

Miss Glanville however, thought proper to make some trifling Excuses to her Father for her Solicitude about Sir George. And the young Baronet, on whom the Fear of Death produc'd its usual Effects, and made him extremely concern'd for the Errors of his past Life, and very desirous of attoning for them if possible, assur'd Sir Charles, that if he liv'd he would offer himself to his Acceptance for a Son-in-law; declaring that he had basely trifled with the Esteem of his Daughter, but that she had wholly subdued him to herself by her forgiving Tenderness.

Sir Charles was very desirous of knowing the Occasion of his Quarrel with his Son, but Sir George was too weak to hold any further Conversation, upon which Sir Charles, after a short Visit retir'd, taking Miss Glanville along with him. That the Reader, whose Imagination is no doubt upon the Stretch to conceive the Meaning of these Two extraordinary Incidents, may be lest no longer in Suspence, we think proper to explain them both in the following Chapter, that we may in the next pursue our History without Interruption.