Between Them And The Pillow
They Were Laid Upon Was Pinned A Paper, Which He Hastily Taking Off,
Found In It These Words.
To the generous DORISLAUS:
'Irresistible destiny abandons these helpless infants
to your care. - They are twins, begot
by the same father, and born of the same mother,
and of a blood not unworthy the protection
they stand in need of; which if you vouchsafe to
afford, they will have no cause to regret the misfortune
of their birth, or accuse the authors of
their being. - Why they seek it of you in particular,
you may possibly be hereafter made sensible. - In
the mean time content yourself with
knowing they are already baptized by the names
of Horatio and Louisa.'
The astonishment he was in at so unexpected a present being made him,
may more easily be imagined than expressed; but he had then no time to
form any conjectures by whom or by what means it was left there: the
children wanted immediate succour, and he hesitated not a moment whether
it would become him to bestow it: he took the basket up himself, and
running as fast as he could with it into the house, called his
maid-servants about him, and commanded them to give these little
strangers what assistance was in their power, while a man was sent among
the tenants in search of nurses proper to attend them. To what person
soever, said he, I am indebted for this confidence, it must not be
abused. - Besides, whatever stands in need of protection, merits
protection from those who have the power to give it.
This was his way of thinking, and in pursuance of these generous
sentiments he always acted. The report of what happened in his house
being soon spread thro' the country, there were not wanting several who
came to offer their service to the children, out of which he selected
two of whom he heard the best character, and were most likely to be
faithful to the trust reposed in them, giving as great a charge, and as
handsome an allowance with them, as could have been expected from a
father. Indeed he doubtless had passed for being so in the opinion of
every body, had he arrived sooner in the kingdom; but the shortness of
the time not permitting any such suggestion, he was looked upon as a
prodigy of charity and goodness.
Having in this handsome manner disposed of his new guests, he began to
examine all his servants, thinking it impossible they should be brought
there without the privity of some one of them; but all his endeavours
could get him no satisfaction in this point. He read the letter over and
over, yet still his curiosity was as far to seek as ever. - The hand he
was entirely unacquainted with, but thought there was something in the
style that showed it wrote by no mean person: the hint contained in it,
that there was some latent reason for addressing him in particular on
this account, was very puzzling to him:
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