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Catherine： A Story
and had all his work to do again。
Whether the Doctor knew what was going on； I can't say； but this
matter is certain； that every evening Hayes was now in the rectory kitchen；
or else walking abroad with Mrs。 Catherine： and whether she ran away
with him； or he with her； I shall not make it my business to inquire； but
certainly at the end of three months （which must be crowded up into this
one little sentence）； another elopement took place in the village。 〃I should
have prevented it； certainly；〃 said Doctor Dobbswhereat his wife smiled；
〃but the young people kept the matter a secret from me。〃 And so he would；
had he known it； but though Mrs。 Dobbs had made several attempts to
acquaint him with the precise hour and method of the intended elopement；
he peremptorily ordered her to hold her tongue。 The fact is； that the matter
had been discussed by the rector's lady many times。 〃Young Hayes；〃
would she say 〃has a pretty little fortune and trade of his own； he is an
only son； and may marry as he likes； and； though not specially handsome；
generous； or amiable； has an undeniable love for Cat （who； you know；
must not be particular）； and the sooner she marries him； I think； the better。
They can't be married at our church you know； and〃 〃Well；〃 said the
Doctor； 〃if they are married elsewhere； I can't help it； and know nothing
about it； look you。〃 And upon this hint the elopement took place： which；
indeed； was peaceably performed early one Sunday morning about a
month after； Mrs。 Hall getting behind Mr。 Hayes on a pillion； and all the
children of the parsonage giggling behind the window…blinds to see the
pair go off。
During this month Mr。 Hayes had caused the banns to be published at
the town of Worcester； judging rightly that in a great town they would
cause no such remark as in a solitary village； and thither he conducted his
lady。 O ill…starred John Hayes！ whither do the dark Fates lead you？ O
foolish Doctor Dobbs； to forget that young people ought to honour their
parents； and to yield to silly Mrs。 Dobbs's ardent propensity for making
matches！
* * *
The London Gazette of the 1st April； 1706； contains a proclamation by
the Queen for putting into execution an Act of Parliament for the
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encouragement and increase of seamen； and for the better and speedier
manning of Her Majesty's fleet； which authorises all justices to issue
warrants to constables； petty constables； headboroughs； and tything…men；
to enter and； if need be； to break open the doors of any houses where they
shall believe deserting seamen to be； and for the further increase and
encouragement of the navy； to take able…bodied landsmen when seamen
fail。 This Act； which occupies four columns of the Gazette； and another of
similar length and meaning for pressing men into the army； need not be
quoted at length here； but caused a mighty stir throughout the kingdom at
the time when it was in force。
As one has seen or heard； after the march of a great army； a number of
rogues and loose characters bring up the rear； in like manner； at the tail of
a great measure of State； follow many roguish personal interests； which
are protected by the main body。 The great measure of Reform； for instance；
carried along with it much private jobbing and swindlingas could be
shown were we not inclined to deal mildly with the Whigs； and this
Enlistment Act； which； in order to maintain the British glories in Flanders；
dealt most cruelly with the British people in England （it is not the first
time that a man has been pinched at home to make a fine appearance
abroad）； created a great company of rascals and informers throughout the
land； who lived upon it； or upon extortion from those who were subject to
it； or not being subject to it were frightened into the belief that they were。
When Mr。 Hayes and his lady had gone through the marriage
ceremony at Worcester； the former； concluding that at such a place lodging
and food might be procured at a cheaper rate； looked about carefully for
the meanest public…house in the town； where he might deposit his bride。
In the kitchen of this inn； a party of men were drinking； and； as Mrs。
Hayes declined； with a proper sense of her superiority； to eat in company
with such low fellows； the landlady showed her and her husband to an
inner apartment； where they might be served in private。
The kitchen party seemed； indeed； not such as a lady would choose to
join。 There was one huge lanky fellow； that looked like a soldier； and had a
halberd； another was habited in a sailor's costume； with a fascinating patch
over one eye； and a third； who seemed the leader of the gang； was a stout
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man in a sailor's frock and a horseman's jack…boots； whom one might
fancy； if he were anything； to be a horse…marine。
Of one of these worthies； Mrs。 Hayes thought she knew the figure and
voice； and she found her conjectures were true； when； all of sudden； three
people； without 〃With your leave；〃 or 〃By your leave；〃 burst into the room；
into which she and her spouse had retired。 At their head was no other than
her old friend； Mr。 Peter Brock； he had his sword drawn； and his finger to
his lips； enjoining silence； as it were； to Mrs。 Catherine。 He with the patch
on his eye seized incontinently on Mr。 Hayes； the tall man with the halberd
kept the door； two or three heroes supported the one…eyed man； who； with
a loud voice； exclaimed； 〃Down with your armsno resistance！ you are
my prisoner； in the Queen's name！〃
And here； at this lock； we shall leave the whole company until the next
chapter； which may possibly explain what they were。
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CHAPTER V。 CONTAINS MR。
BROCK'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY；
AND OTHER MATTERS。
〃You don't sure believe these men？〃 said Mrs。 Hayes； as soon as the
first alarm caused by the irruption of Mr。 Brock and his companions had
subsided。 〃These are no magistrate's men： it is but a trick to rob you of
your money； John。〃
〃I will never give up a farthing of it！〃 screamed Hayes。
〃Yonder fellow；〃 continued Mrs。 Catherine； 〃I know； for all his drawn
sword and fierce looks； his name is…〃
〃Wood； madam； at your service！〃 said Mr。 Brock。 〃I am follower to Mr。
Justice Gobble； of this town： a'n't I； Tim？〃 said Mr。 Brock to the tall
halberdman who was keeping the door。
〃Yes indeed；〃 said Tim； archly； 〃we're all followers of his honour
Justice Gobble。〃
〃Certainly！〃 said the one…eyed man。
〃Of course！〃 cried the man in the nightcap。
〃I suppose； madam； you're satisfied NOW？〃 continued Mr。 Brock；
alias Wood。 〃You can't deny the testimony of gentlemen like these； and
our commission is to apprehend all able…bodied male persons who can
give no good account of themselves； and enrol them in the service of Her
Majesty。 Look at this Mr。 Hayes〃 （who stood trembling in his shoes）。 〃Can
there be a bolder； properer； straighter gentleman？ We'll have him for a
grenadier before the day's over！〃
〃Take heart； Johndon't be frightened。 Psha！ I tell you I know the
man〃 cried out Mrs。 Hayes： 〃he is only here to extort money。〃
〃Oh； for that matter； I DO think I recollect the lady。 Let me see； where
was it？ At Birmingham； I think；ay； at Birmingham；about the time when
they tried to murder Count Gal〃
〃Oh； sir！〃 here cried Madam Hayes； dropping her voice at once from a
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tone of scorn to one of gentlest entreaty； 〃what is it you want with my
husband？ I know not； indeed； if ever