CHAPTER XX. SELF-DENIAL. THE SPIRIT OF MARTYRDOM. "WHEN Mr. D'Arcy was dressing at his accustomed early hour the next morning, he observed a party of the labourers and servants gathered together in the park, and their attitudes seemed to indicate that some accident had occurred. He hastened out to ascertain what it was, and found that one of the labourers had discovered the village blacksmith, apparently in a dying state, lying under the trees." men, "I heard last night, ye're honour," said one of the "that his wife was in great trouble, seeing he was gone to the public-house again that he'd kept away from, ever since your honour discharged him from your work a month ago." "A terrible blow for poor Mary !" said another; " she was rejoicing the day before, and blessing your honour, seeing that ye'd cured Jerry of drunkenness; and said 'twas the best day's work he'd ever done when he was turned out of your honour's employ." "This is no time for talking,” said Mr. D., impatient at their garrulity; "take him up as gently as possible, and carry him to my house, that he may be instantly put into a warm bath; and be sure,” he added, address ing the servant despatched for the surgeon," you do not let it be known in the village as you pass, for his poor wife's sake." Before the surgeon's arrival the warm bath produced some good effect; and as soon as it could be pronounced he was reviving, Eliza set off to communicate the circumstance to his wife, whom she found in great distress, as she had been able to obtain no tidings of her husband since he left the public-house the night before; and she supposed he had wandered into the fields, where he would probably be found dead. To be assured, therefore, that he was living, and that there was some slight hope of his recovery, was comparative joy. She quickly followed Miss D'Arcy to the Hall; but, on her arrival, her husband was in a state of too much agitation for her to be admitted. When his consciousness returned, he groaned deeply; and, looking round him at the strange scene, exclaimed, "Oh, I know it all! I'm in custody—a wretched murderer! the murderer of my best friend! His honour would have saved me, both body and soul: but I've done the foul deed! who-who can wash it away?" The attendants thought him delirious, and at this moment Mr. D. entered the room. The poor wretch started up in horror, but instantly fell back in a swoon. His expressions reminded the servants of the long sharp knife they had observed, driven with great force into a tree near the unhappy man, when he was found; and his subsequent expressions explained that, maddened by ardent spirits, and taunted by his companions that he would now never be employed again by ing the servant despatched for the surgeon," you do not let it be known in the village as you pass, for his poor wife's sake." Before the surgeon's arrival the warm bath produced some good effect; and as soon as it could be pronounced he was reviving, Eliza set off to communicate the circumstance to his wife, whom she found in great distress, as she had been able to obtain no tidings of her husband since he left the public-house the night before; and she supposed he had wandered into the fields, where he would probably be found dead. To be assured, therefore, that he was living, and that there was some slight hope of his recovery, was comparative joy. She quickly followed Miss D'Arcy to the Hall; but, on her arrival, her husband was in a state of too much agitation for her to be admitted. When his consciousness returned, he groaned deeply; and, looking round him at the strange scene, exclaimed, "Oh, I know it all! I'm in custody a wretched murderer! the murderer of my best friend! His honour would have saved me, both body and soul: but I've done the foul deed! who-who can wash it away ?" The attendants thought him delirious, and at this moment Mr. D. entered the room. The poor wretch started up in horror, but instantly fell back in a swoon. His expressions reminded the servants of the long sharp knife they had observed, driven with great force into a tree near the unhappy man, when he was found; and his subsequent expressions explained that, maddened by ardent spirits, and taunted by his companions that he would now never be employed again by the 'squire, who had promised, if he kept sober two months, to try him again, stimulated by them to revenge the wrong he suffered, by an interference with his liberty to be as wicked as he pleased, he waylaid Mr. D'Arcy, who he expected would return alone from the village reading-room that evening, and he thought he had accomplished his horrible design. When the family were acquainted with this circumstance, they began to be seriously alarmed lest their father should become a martyr to his philanthropy; and even Mrs. Cecil's fears led her to think that her brother might have gone too far in resolving to discharge all immoral persons from his employ. After dinner she began a conversation with him on the subject. 66 "My dear sister," he replied," the only question we have to settle is, whether or not it is a duty of benevolence to discountenance vice, by bestowing our favour upon the virtuous rather than the vicious; and whether such a proceeding, united with kind persuasion, is not the most probable means of reclaiming the latter? If it be so, I trust you and I have sufficient confidence in God to do our duty, without regard to consequences." "But will it not tend to exasperate rather than to reform the offenders?" : "I think not. In the present instance the effect was salutary it led this poor man, upon whom all my previous warnings against this destructive vice had been in vain, to keep from it for a month; and had not the unfortunate occurrence of the wake at the neighbouring village tempted him just now to join his old companions, |