The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and his Friend, Mr. Abraham Abrams/Book IV, Chapter XVI

CHAPTER XVI.

_Being the last in which this true history is brought to a happy

conclusion._

Fanny was very little behind her Joseph in the duty she exprest towards

her parents, and the joy she evidenced in discovering them. Gammar

Andrews kissed her, and said, She was heartily glad to see her; but for

her part, she could never love any one better than Joseph. Gaffar

Andrews testified no remarkable emotion: he blessed and kissed her, but

complained bitterly that he wanted his pipe, not having had a whiff

that morning.

Mr Booby, who knew nothing of his aunt's fondness, imputed her abrupt

departure to her pride, and disdain of the family into which he was

married; he was therefore desirous to be gone with the utmost celerity;

and now, having congratulated Mr Wilson and Joseph on the discovery, he

saluted Fanny, called her sister, and introduced her as such to Pamela,

who behaved with great decency on the occasion.

He now sent a message to his aunt, who returned that she wished him a

good journey, but was too disordered to see any company: he therefore

prepared to set out, having invited Mr Wilson to his house; and Pamela

and Joseph both so insisted on his complying, that he at last

consented, having first obtained a messenger from Mr Booby to acquaint

his wife with the news; which, as he knew it would render her

completely happy, he could not prevail on himself to delay a moment in

acquainting her with.

The company were ranged in this manner: the two old people, with their

two daughters, rode in the coach; the squire, Mr Wilson, Joseph, parson

Adams, and the pedlar, proceeded on horseback.

In their way, Joseph informed his father of his intended match with

Fanny; to which, though he expressed some reluctance at first, on the

eagerness of his son's instances he consented; saying, if she was so

good a creature as she appeared, and he described her, he thought the

disadvantages of birth and fortune might be compensated. He however

insisted on the match being deferred till he had seen his mother; in

which, Joseph perceiving him positive, with great duty obeyed him, to

the great delight of parson Adams, who by these means saw an

opportunity of fulfilling the Church forms, and marrying his

parishioners without a licence.

Mr Adams, greatly exulting on this occasion (for such ceremonies were

matters of no small moment with him), accidentally gave spurs to his

horse, which the generous beast disdaining--for he was of high mettle,

and had been used to more expert riders than the gentleman who at

present bestrode him, for whose horsemanship he had perhaps some

contempt--immediately ran away full speed, and played so many antic

tricks that he tumbled the parson from his back; which Joseph

perceiving, came to his relief.

This accident afforded infinite merriment to the servants, and no less

frighted poor Fanny, who beheld him as he passed by the coach; but the

mirth of the one and terror of the other were soon determined, when the

parson declared he had received no damage.

The horse having freed himself from his unworthy rider, as he probably

thought him, proceeded to make the best of his way; but was stopped by a

gentleman and his servants, who were travelling the opposite way, and

were now at a little distance from the coach. They soon met; and as one

of the servants delivered Adams his horse, his master hailed him, and

Adams, looking up, presently recollected he was the justice of peace

before whom he and Fanny had made their appearance. The parson presently

saluted him very kindly; and the justice informed him that he had found

the fellow who attempted to swear against him and the young woman the

very next day, and had committed him to Salisbury gaol, where he was

charged with many robberies.

Many compliments having passed between the parson and the justice, the

latter proceeded on his journey; and the former, having with some

disdain refused Joseph's offer of changing horses, and declared he was

as able a horseman as any in the kingdom, remounted his beast; and now

the company again proceeded, and happily arrived at their journey's

end, Mr Adams, by good luck, rather than by good riding, escaping a

second fall.

The company, arriving at Mr Booby's house, were all received by him in

the most courteous and entertained in the most splendid manner, after

the custom of the old English hospitality, which is still preserved in

some very few families in the remote parts of England. They all passed

that day with the utmost satisfaction; it being perhaps impossible to

find any set of people more solidly and sincerely happy. Joseph and

Fanny found means to be alone upwards of two hours, which were the

shortest but the sweetest imaginable.

In the morning Mr Wilson proposed to his son to make a visit with him to

his mother; which, notwithstanding his dutiful inclinations, and a

longing desire he had to see her, a little concerned him, as he must be

obliged to leave his Fanny; but the goodness of Mr Booby relieved him;

for he proposed to send his own coach and six for Mrs Wilson, whom

Pamela so very earnestly invited, that Mr Wilson at length agreed with

the entreaties of Mr Booby and Joseph, and suffered the coach to go

empty for his wife.

On Saturday night the coach returned with Mrs Wilson, who added one more

to this happy assembly. The reader may imagine much better and quicker

too than I can describe the many embraces and tears of joy which

succeeded her arrival. It is sufficient to say she was easily prevailed

with to follow her husband's example in consenting to the match.

On Sunday Mr Adams performed the service at the squire's parish church,

the curate of which very kindly exchanged duty, and rode twenty miles to

the Lady Booby's parish so to do; being particularly charged not to omit

publishing the banns, being the third and last time.

At length the happy day arrived which was to put Joseph in the

possession of all his wishes. He arose, and drest himself in a neat but

plain suit of Mr Booby's, which exactly fitted him; for he refused all

finery; as did Fanny likewise, who could be prevailed on by Pamela to

attire herself in nothing richer than a white dimity nightgown. Her

shift indeed, which Pamela presented her, was of the finest kind, and

had an edging of lace round the bosom. She likewise equipped her with a

pair of fine white thread stockings, which were all she would accept;

for she wore one of her own short round-eared caps, and over it a

little straw hat, lined with cherry-coloured silk, and tied with a

cherry-coloured ribbon. In this dress she came forth from her chamber,

blushing and breathing sweets; and was by Joseph, whose eyes sparkled

fire, led to church, the whole family attending, where Mr Adams

performed the ceremony; at which nothing was so remarkable as the

extraordinary and unaffected modesty of Fanny, unless the true

Christian piety of Adams, who publickly rebuked Mr Booby and Pamela for

laughing in so sacred a place, and on so solemn an occasion. Our parson

would have done no less to the highest prince on earth; for, though he

paid all submission and deference to his superiors in other matters,

where the least spice of religion intervened he immediately lost all

respect of persons. It was his maxim, that he was a servant of the

Highest, and could not, without departing from his duty, give up the

least article of his honour or of his cause to the greatest earthly

potentate. Indeed, he always asserted that Mr Adams at church with his

surplice on, and Mr Adams without that ornament in any other place,

were two very different persons.

When the church rites were over Joseph led his blooming bride back to Mr

Booby's (for the distance was so very little they did not think proper

to use a coach); the whole company attended them likewise on foot; and

now a most magnificent entertainment was provided, at which parson Adams

demonstrated an appetite surprizing as well as surpassing every one

present. Indeed the only persons who betrayed any deficiency on this

occasion were those on whose account the feast was provided. They

pampered their imaginations with the much more exquisite repast which

the approach of night promised them; the thoughts of which filled both

their minds, though with different sensations; the one all desire, while

the other had her wishes tempered with fears.

At length, after a day passed with the utmost merriment, corrected by

the strictest decency, in which, however, parson Adams, being well

filled with ale and pudding, had given a loose to more facetiousness

than was usual to him, the happy, the blest moment arrived when Fanny

retired with her mother, her mother-in-law, and her sister.

She was soon undrest; for she had no jewels to deposit in their caskets,

nor fine laces to fold with the nicest exactness. Undressing to her was

properly discovering, not putting off, ornaments; for, as all her charms

were the gifts of nature, she could divest herself of none. How, reader,

shall I give thee an adequate idea of this lovely young creature? the

bloom of roses and lilies might a little illustrate her complexion, or

their smell her sweetness; but to comprehend her entirely, conceive

youth, health, bloom, neatness, and innocence, in her bridal bed;

conceive all these in their utmost perfection, and you may place the

charming Fanny's picture before your eyes.

Joseph no sooner heard she was in bed than he fled with the utmost

eagerness to her. A minute carried him into her arms, where we shall

leave this happy couple to enjoy the private rewards of their constancy;

rewards so great and sweet, that I apprehend Joseph neither envied the

noblest duke, nor Fanny the finest duchess, that night.

The third day Mr Wilson and his wife, with their son and daughter,

returned home; where they now live together in a state of bliss scarce

ever equalled. Mr Booby hath, with unprecedented generosity, given Fanny

a fortune of two thousand pounds, which Joseph hath laid out in a little

estate in the same parish with his father, which he now occupies (his

father having stocked it for him); and Fanny presides with most

excellent management in his dairy; where, however, she is not at present

very able to bustle much, being, as Mr Wilson informs me in his last

letter, extremely big with her first child.

Mr Booby hath presented Mr Adams with a living of one hundred and

thirty pounds a year. He at first refused it, resolving not to quit

his parishioners, with whom he had lived so long; but, on

recollecting he might keep a curate at this living, he hath been

lately inducted into it.

The pedlar, besides several handsome presents, both from Mr Wilson and

Mr Booby, is, by the latter's interest, made an exciseman; a trust which

he discharges with such justice, that he is greatly beloved in his

neighbourhood.

As for the Lady Booby, she returned to London in a few days, where a

young captain of dragoons, together with eternal parties at cards, soon

obliterated the memory of Joseph.

Joseph remains blest with his Fanny, whom he doats on with the utmost

tenderness, which is all returned on her side. The happiness of this

couple is a perpetual fountain of pleasure to their fond parents; and,

what is particularly remarkable, he declares he will imitate them in

their retirement, nor will be prevailed on by any booksellers, or their

authors, to make his appearance in high life.

THE END.