The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 1 of 5). Burney Fanny

because she was tired to death of Golding, her old one, Mrs Maple, though with the utmost ill will, was frightened into compliance; and Elinor said that she would herself carry the good news to the Incognita.

      The landlord desired to know in what name the place was to be taken.

      This, also, Elinor undertook to enquire, and, accompanied by Harleigh, went to the room of the stranger.

      They found her standing pensively by the window; the breakfast, which had been ordered for her by the Admiral, untouched.

      'I understand you wish to go to Brighthelmstone?' said Elinor.

      The stranger courtsied.

      'I believe I know every soul in that place. Whom do you want to see there? – Where are you to go?'

      She looked embarrassed, and with much hesitation, answered, 'To … the Post-office, Madam.'

      'O! what, you are something to the post-master, are you?'

      'No, Madam … I … I … go to the Post-office only for a letter!'

      'A letter? Well! an hundred or two miles is a good way to go for a letter!'

      'I am not without hopes to find a friend. – The letter I had expected here was only to contain directions for the meeting.'

      'O! if your letter is to be personified, I have nothing more to say. A man, or a woman? – which is it?'

      'A woman, Madam.'

      'Well, if you merely wish to go to Brighthelmstone, I'll get you conveyed within nine miles of that place, if you will come to me, at Mrs Maple's, in Upper Brooke-street, when you get to town.'

      Surprise and pleasure now beamed brightly in the eyes of the stranger, who said that she should rejoice to pass through London, where, also, she particularly desired to make some enquiries.

      'But we have no means for carrying you thither, except by the stage; and one of our gentlemen offers to take a place in it for you.'

      The stranger looked towards Harleigh, and confusion seemed added to her embarrassment.

      Harleigh hastily spoke. 'It is the old officer, – that truly benevolent veteran, who wishes to serve you, and whose services, from the nobleness of his character, confer still more honour than benefit.'

      Again she courtsied, and with an air in which Harleigh observed, with respect, not displeasure, her satisfaction in changing the object of this obligation.

      'Well, that's settled,' said Elinor; 'but now the landlord wants your name, for taking your place.'

      'My place? – Is there no machine, Madam, that sets off immediately?'

      'None sooner than to-morrow. What name am I to tell him?'

      'None sooner than to-morrow?'

      'No; and if you do not give in your name, and secure it, you may be detained till the next day.'

      'How very unfortunate!' cried she, walking about the room.

      'Well, but what is your name?'

      A crimson of the deepest hue forced its way through her dark complexion: her very eyes reddened with blushes, as she faintly answered, 'I cannot tell my name!'

      She turned suddenly away, with a look that seemed to expect resentment, and anticipate being abandoned.

      Elinor, however, only laughed, but laughed 'in such a sort' as proclaimed triumph over Harleigh, and contempt for the stranger.

      Harleigh drew Elinor apart, saying, 'Can this, really, appear to you so ridiculous?'

      'And can you, really, Harleigh, be allured by so glaring an adventurer? a Wanderer, – without even a name!'

      'She is not, at least, without probity, since she prefers any risk, and any suspicion, to falsehood. How easily, otherwise, might she assume any appellation that she pleased!'

      'You are certainly bewitched, Harleigh!'

      'You are certainly mistaken, Elinor! yet I cannot desert her, till I am convinced that she does not merit to be protected.'

      Elinor returned to the stranger. 'You do not chuse, then, to have your place secured?'

      'O yes Madam! – if it is impossible for me to attend any lady to town.'

      'And what name shall you like for the book-keeper? Or what initials? – What think you of L.S.?'

      She started; and Harleigh, again taking Elinor aside, more gravely said, 'Elinor, I am glad I am not – at this moment – my brother! – for certainly I could not forbear quarrelling with you!'

      'I heartily wish, then,' cried she, with quickness, 'that, – at this moment! – you were your brother!'

      Harleigh, now, addressing the stranger, in whose air and manner distress seemed palpably gaining ground, gently said, 'To save you any further trouble, I will take a place in my own name, and settle with the landlord, that, if I do not appear to claim it, it is to be made over to the person who produces this card. The book-keeper shall have such another for a check.'

      He put into her hand a visiting ticket, on which was engraven Mr Harleigh, and, not waiting for her thanks, conducted Elinor back to the parlour, saying, 'Pardon me, Elinor, that I have stopt any further enquiries. It is not from a romantic admiration of mystery, but merely from an opinion that, as her wish of concealment is open and confessed, we ought not, through the medium of serving her, to entangle her into the snares of our curiosity.'

      'Oh, you are decided to be always right, I know!' cried Elinor, laughing, though piqued; 'and that is the very reason I always hate you! However, you excite my curiosity to fathom her; so let her come to me in town, and I'll take her under my own care, if only to judge your discernment, by finding out how she merits your quixotism.'

      Harleigh then returned to the young woman, and hesitatingly said, 'Pardon my intrusion, but – permit me, as you have so unfortunately lost your purse-'

      'If my place, Sir,' hastily interrupted the stranger, 'is taken, I can require nothing else.'

      'Yet – you have the day to pass here; and you will with difficulty exist merely upon air, even where so delightedly you inhale it; and Miss Joddrel, I fear, has forgotten to bring you the little offering of your veteran friend; therefore – '

      'If he has the infinite goodness to intend me any, sir, permit, at least, that he may be my only pecuniary creditor! I shall want no addition of that sort, to remember, – gratefully and for ever! to whom it is I owe the deepest obligation of my life!'

      Is this a house-maid? thought Harleigh; and again he rejoiced in the perseverance with which he had supported her; and, too much respecting her refusal to dispute it, expressed his good wishes for her welfare, and took leave; yet would not set out upon his journey till he had again sought to interest the old officer in her favour.

      The guinea was still upon the tea-table; but the Admiral, who, in the fear of double dealing, had conceived some ideas to the disadvantage of the Incognita, no sooner heard that she had declined receiving any succour except from himself, than, immediately softened, he said that he would take care to see her well treated.

      Harleigh then drove after the carriage of Mrs Maple and Elinor, who were already on their way to London.

      CHAPTER III

      The Admiral immediately repaired to the stranger. 'Young woman,' he cried, 'I hope you don't take it into your mind, that I was more disposed to serve you while I thought you of foreign culture, than now I know you to be of our own growth? If I came forwarder then, it was only because I was afraid that those who have had less occasion than I have had, to get the upper hand of their prejudices, would keep backwarder.'

      The stranger bowed her thanks.

      'But as to me,' he continued, 'I have had the experience of what it is to be in a strange land; and, moreover, a prisoner: in which time I came to an agreement with myself – a person over whom I keep a pretty tight hand! because why? If I don't the devil will! So I came, I say, to an agreement with myself, to remember all the ill-usage I then met with, as