The True Life of Betty Ireland | Page 4

he acknowledged the Preserver of the Fen-men, who deserved Preservation on no other Account than to make them Pack-horses and Carriers. They were, indeed, a middle Species between Men and Brutes, and chiefly compounded of the latter. But this young Adventurer had got the Ascendant over them, and, as we ordinarily say of vicious Horses, had made the D----l come out of them. He ringed them by the Nose, and bled them with the Spur, and so throughly broke them (for he was a special Horseman) that they never kicked or plunged when he was in the Saddle; but, as the Nature of Beasts is, became the fonder of him the rougher he handled them.
When he understood that Blanch and her Sister were so hampered and Tyrannically treated by the Steward, he came to their Assistance, supplied them with Money, which he raised from the Fen-men, and fairly set them free from his Oppression and Rapine, reversed his Grants, cancelled his sham Leases, restored Possessions, Leets and Manor-Courts, made up Fences for the Tenants, and so strongly secured their Copyholds, that there is no likelihood they will ever be ousted or much disturbed again. And, to crown all the Services he had done the two Sisters, he recommended them, before he parted, to the Care of a neighbouring Lord, a Cousin of his own, and a right honest Man, who proved a Father to them and their People, defended their Rights, and secured their Properties.
And yet Blanch could never rightly like the Fen-man, as she called him, though he had done so much for her. She could not comport herself with his Manners and his Humour, hated the Servants he brought with him, complained they were too costly to her, though she kept them sparingly, and even quarrelled (so exceptious are Women) to the Cut of their Cloaths, and the Colour of their Liveries.
But Betty Ireland had more Gratitude than her Sister, adored him while he stayed with her, and to this Day remembers him as her great Deliverer, the Protector of her Life, and the Founder of her Fortune.
She, indeed, had double Obligations, as her Condition was more helpless than her Sister's, and she had more severely felt the Tyranny of the Steward, who, because she could not so readily complain of him, had first stripped her of all she had, and then sold her to Bondage. But both Sisters ought surely to reflect, that all the Happiness, and all the Security they have since enjoyed, has been owing to the Friendships he procured them, when he put them under the Protection of his Cousins; and that he has effectually banished the Stewards thereby, who would doubtless otherwise be meddling with their Affairs, and use them worse than ever they did before, as coming in without Leave, they would act without Controul.
But maugre all these Considerations, Blanch was glad when he left her, and ready to leap out of her Skin for joy. She thought of nothing but Diversions, spent her Time and Money in visiting and dressing, ransacked the Globe to set off her Person, and, it must be owned, she never looked handsomer in her Life. Wherever she went, she was adored as an Angel, surrounded by admiring Throngs, and Thousands hanging on her Look.
But all this was empty Pageantry and too expensive Glory. She ran herself in Debt to uphold this Appearance, mortgaged her Estate, and bartered her Stock, for the vain Applause of flattering Knaves, and scoundrel Tradesmen. It was Time to pull in, and keep a Hank in the Hand. She saw her Folly, and doffed her Gear. It was better go plain than run in Debt for Finery; and enough she had to do to pay the Debts she had contracted in her Fit of Vanity.
Betty all the while was minding Business at home, and her Affairs prospered amain. Her Tenants became industrious, and her Estate improved; yet she never thought herself sufficiently secure till she got under the new Protection her Deliverer had provided. Her Situation is particular. She has a strange Mixture of People on her Estate, who are always at Daggers drawing with one another, and a mighty Hindrance to her Business. They are Whites, Blacks, and Black and White. The Whites only are allowed to be Land-holders; but the last, by hiding half the Face when they converse with her, pass for Whites, and make good their Titles. The first are dreadfully maligned by the Blacks, who are unhappily the more numerous, lay old Claims to her Lands, and are ever watching for an Opportunity to make a Riot, and take forcible Possession. 'Till now they were too much favoured by her Sister, which checked the Industry of her Farmers.
But when they found they had nothing to fear, either