"And when is it to be?" says my Father significantly.
"Nay, Sir," said Mr. Heavitree with a little Embarrassment, "I've not got Gatty to name the Day yet, but I hope it will be before long; and as my Sister Clarissa is shortly to be married, which will deprive Roaring House of its present Mistress, perhaps we may arrange to have two Weddings on the same Day."
"Was that poor Wayfarer found under the Snow?" said my Mother.
"Oh no, Ma'am, we conclude she accomplished her Journey in Safety."
By-and-by, Gatty joined us again; and we all sate chatting till Twelve o'Clock. Then my Lady's Supper went up, and then we had our own; a pretty substantial one, as watching makes People hungry.
After Supper, we, according to Custom, had Prayers; and I thought it not amiss to select for our Evening Portion the twenty-fourth Chapter of St. Matthew, which speaks of Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes. After this, we again drew round the Fire; for Watching makes people chilly: and Mr. Heavitree began to repeat some Reports he had gathered, of the wretched State our Gaols were in, at that Time, overflowing with the Refuse of our Army and Navy, who, for Want of honest Employment, were perishing miserably amidst the Stench and Horrors of noisome Dungeons.
"That they are," says my Father; "and as for Newgate, it is now in so pestilential a State of Infection from the overcrowding together of dirty, starving Felons, that the Effluvium they have brought into Court on their Trials hath cost us the Lives of a Lord Mayor, an Alderman, two Judges, divers Lawyers, the greater Part of the Jury, and I know not how many of the Bystanders. This Spread of the Gaol Fever among the upper Classes will do more to get the Abuse remedied than the Deaths of Hundreds of Criminals in their Cells; but yet I can't for the Life of me help regretting that so many able-bodied Men, whose Labour might be serviceable to the Community, should be idling at the public Expense in Prison."
Mr. Heavitree was silent, and Gatty presently asked him what he was musing about. He said, "Those Rogues who pulled me into the dark Cellar said I was not the right Man. I was wondering if they have found him yet, and what they have done to him."
This led to sundry dismal Stories, of Footpads and Street-Assassins; and of Lord Harborough's being beset by Robbers in Piccadilly in broad Daylight, and one of the Chairmen pulling a Pole out of his Lordship's Chair and knocking down one of the Villains, while the Earl, leaping out, and drawing his Sword, put the Rest to flight. Then we wondered whether Times could get worse, and whether they would ever mend, and whether the next Generation would listen to such Facts as idle Tales, or whether Abuses would increase to that Degree as to bring down a Providential Judgment on the City, like that which overtook Gomorrah, or like that which we were now expecting.
Soon after this, my Father fell fast asleep, and my Mother began to nod. Prudence was knitting with all her Might, and I took up my Mother's Knotting, and on Pretence of getting nearer the Light, edged my Chair further off from Gatty, who continued conversing with Mr. Heavitree in an under Tone, which became lower and lower. I am persuaded neither of them felt in the least sleepy, nor had the smallest Apprehensions of the Earthquake; but Prue yawned awfully from Time to Time, and I was profoundly silent and very serious.