I interrupted your husband at this part of the story, pursued Lady V——, and told him, that to my knowledge Mr Faulkland had gone to Sidney-Castle, to see Sir George Bidulph, before you left your own house; and did not set out from thence on his return ’till about three weeks after your separation; at the account of which he was exceedingly surprized.
Dear Lady V——, said he, do you think I now want any farther arguments to convince me what an injurious wretch I have been to the best of women?
I have one observation to make to you, Mr Arnold, added I; which is, that your lady’s misfortune was intirely owing to her great delicacy, and the nice regard she had to your peace and honour.
I do not understand you, Madam, he replied.
Know then, said I, that your wife was well acquainted with your connection with Mrs Gerrarde, from the very night that you found her at the public house, to which the accident that happened to her obliged her to go. She owned to me, at the time you drove her from her home, that she had discovered your amour from a conversation she overheard that night between you and Mrs Gerrarde. This I extorted from her, by letting her know I was no stranger to the intrigue. I then repeated to him the discourse that passed between him and that wicked woman, as far as you had told me, and he very well remembered it. Now, Mr Arnold, said I, to prove the assertion I made in regard to your lady, had she reproached you with your infidelity, as some wives would have done, tho’ it might have occasioned a temporary uneasiness to you both, yet would it have prevented her from falling a sacrifice to that most artful and wicked of her sex; for you could not then have had such an improbable falshood imposed on you, as that Mrs Arnold would have made choice of the mistress of her husband for a confidant, and fix on her house as the rendezvous for a love-intrigue. The base woman herself had no reason, from Mrs Arnold’s prudent and gentle behaviour, to think she was suspected by her.
Your husband lifted up his eyes to heaven; and striking his breast, Blind, blind wretch, he cried! infatuated, ungrateful monster! are there no amends—no amends in thy power for such goodness?
I could not bear such a description of my poor Mr Arnold’s deep contrition. I stopped Lady V——; and, being now informed of all I wanted to know, changed the conversation.
December 22
We are preparing to get into the country with all speed. I have writ to Patty to set out with the two children for Sidney-Castle as soon as possible. Mr Arnold has put his affairs intirely into the hands of our worthy friend Lord V——, and we think, upon a calculation, that what we have in town, at South-Park, and at Arnold-Abbey, will go near to answer the present demands that are upon us.
Lady V—— is the best creature living; she knows that neither Mr Arnold nor I chuse to see any visitors, and she has let none in these two days. I am vexed at laying her under such a restraint, though her good-nature will not suffer her to think it one. We shall go out of town on Monday; to-morrow we spend with my mother, as do Lord and Lady V—— (who are mightily charmed with her), and then adieu to London, perhaps for ever. If my mother comes down to me, as she intends to do, I shall have no temptation ever to return to it.