The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

170 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
Mr. Grieve had been as solicitous about getting money, as he has
been in performing all the duties of a primitive Christian, Fy would
not have hung so long upon his hands.’ ‘What is her name?’ said
I. ‘Sixteen years ago (answered the vicar) I christened her by the
names of Seraphina Melvilia.’ ‘Ha! what! how! (cried the count
eagerly) sure, you said Seraphina Melvilia.’ ‘I did; (said he) Mr.
Grieve told me those were the names of two noble persons abroad,
to whom he had been obliged for more than life.’
The count, without speaking another syllable, rushed into the
parlour, crying, ‘This is your god-daughter, my dear.’ Mrs. Grieve,
then seizing the countess by the hand, exclaimed with great agita-
tion, ‘O madam!—O sir!—I am—I am your poor Elinor.—This
is my Seraphina Melvilia.—O child! these are the count and
countess of Melville, the generous—the glorious benefactors of
thy once unhappy parents.’
The countess rising from her seat, threw her arms about the
neck of the amiable Seraphina, and clasped her to her breast with
great tenderness, while she herself was embraced by the weeping
mother. This moving scene was completed by the entrance of
Grieve himself, who falling on his knees before the count, ‘Behold
(said he) a penitent, who at length can look upon his patron without
shrinking.’ ‘Ah, Ferdinand! (cried he, raising and folding him in
his arms) the play-fellow of my infancy—the companion of my
youth!—Is it to you then I am indebted for my life?’ ‘Heaven has
heard my prayer, (said the other) and given me an opportunity to
prove myself not altogether unworthy of your clemency and pro-
tection.’ He then kissed the hand of the countess, while monsieur
de Melville saluted his wife and lovely daughter, and all of us were
greatly affected by this pathetic recognition.
In a word, Grieve was no other than Ferdinand count Fathom,
whose adventures were printed many years ago. Being a sincere
convert to virtue, he had changed his name, that he might elude
the enquiries of the count, whose generous allowance he deter-
mined to forego, that he might have no dependence but upon his
own industry and moderation. He had accordingly settled in this
village as a practitioner in surgery and physic, and for some years
wrestled with all the miseries of indigence, which, however, he and
his wife had borne with the most exemplary resignation. At length,
by dint of unwearied attention to the duties of his profession, which
he exercised with equal humanity and success, he had acquired a