an old town by the sea-第12章
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f he turned into air。 Meanwhile the bewilderment of the bride was dramatically painful。 If McDonough had been waylaid and killed； she could mourn for him。 If he had deserted her； she could wrap herself in her pride。 But neither course lay open to her； then or afterward。 In one of the Twice Told Tales Hawthorne deals with a man named Wakefield； who disappears with like suddenness； and lives unrecognized for twenty years in a street not far from his abandoned hearthside。 Such expunging of one's self was not possible in Portsmouth； but I never think of McDonough without recalling Wakefield。 I have an inexplicable conviction that for many a year James McDonough； in some snug ambush； studied and analyzed the effect of his own startling disappearance。
Some time in the year 1758； there dawned upon Portsmouth a personage bearing the ponderous title of King's Attorney； and carrying much gold lace about him。 This gilded gentleman was Mr。 Wyseman Clagett； of Bristol； England； where his father dwelt on the manor of Broad Oaks； in a mansion with twelve chimneys； and kept a coach and eight or ten servants。 Up to the moment of his advent in the colonies； Mr。 Wyseman Clagett had evidently not been able to keep anything but himself。 His wealth consisted of his personal decorations； the golden frogs on his lapels； and the tinsel at his throat； other charms he had none。 Yet with these he contrived to dazzle the eyes of Lettice Mitchel； one of the young beauties of the province； and to cause her to forget that she had plighted troth with a Mr。 Warner； then in Europe； and destined to return home with a disturbed heart。 Mr。 Clagett was a man of violent temper and ingenious vindictiveness； and proved more than a sufficient punishment for Lettice's infidelity。 The trifling fact that Warner was deadhe died shortly after his returndid not interfere with the course of Mr。 Clagett's jealousy； he was haunted by the suspicion that Lettice regretted her first love； having left nothing undone to make her do so。 〃This is to pay Warner's debts；〃 remarked Mr。 Clagett； as he twitched off the table…cloth and wrecked the tea…things。
In his official capacity he was a relentless prosecutor。 The noun Clagett speedily turned itself into a verb； 〃to Clagett〃 meant 〃to prosecute；〃 they were convertible terms。 In spite of his industrious severity； and his royal emoluments； if such existed； the exchequer of the King's Attorney showed a perpetual deficit。 The stratagems to which he resorted from time to time in order to raise unimportant sums reminded one of certain scenes in Moliere's comedies。
Mr。 Clagett had for his ame damnee a constable of the town。 They were made for each other； they were two flowers with but a single stem； and this was their method of procedure： Mr。 Clagett dispatched one of his servants to pick a quarrel with some countryman on the street； or some sailor drinking at an inn： the constable arrested the sailor or the countryman； as the case might be； and hauled the culprit before Mr。 Clagett； Mr。 Clagett read the culprit a moral lesson； and fined him five dollars and costs。 The plunder was then divided between the conspiratorstwo hearts that beat as oneClagett； of course； getting the lion's share。 Justice was never administered in a simpler manner in any country。 This eminent legal light was extinguished in 1784； and the wick laid away in the little churchyard in Litchfield； New Hampshire。 It is a satisfaction； even after such a lapse of time； to know that Lettice survived the King's Attorney sufficiently long to be very happy with somebody else。 Lettice Mitchel was scarcely eighteen when she married Wyseman Clagett。
About eighty years ago； a witless fellow named Tilton seems to have been a familiar figure on the streets of the old town。 Mr。 Brewster speaks of him as 〃the well…known idiot； Johnny Tilton；〃 as if one should say； 〃the well…known statesman； Daniel Webster。〃 It is curious to observe how any sort of individuality gets magnified in this parochial atmosphere； where everything lacks perspective； and nothing is trivial。 Johnny Tilton does not appear to have had much individuality to start with； it was only after his head was cracked that he showed any shrewdness whatever。 That happened early in his unobtrusive boyhood。 He had frequently watched the hens flying out of the loft window in his father's stable； which stood in the rear of the Old Bell Tavern。 It occurred to Johnny； one day； that though he might not be as bright as other lads； he certainly was in no respect inferior to a hen。 So he placed himself on the sill of the window in the loft； flapped his arms； and took flight。 The New England Icarus alighted head downward； lay insensible for a while； and was henceforth looked upon as a mortal who had lost his wits。 Yet at odd moments his cloudiness was illumined by a gleam of intelligence such as had not been detected in him previous to his mischance。 As Polonius said of Hamletanother unstrung mortalTilton's replies had 〃a happiness that often madness hits on； which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of。〃 One morning； he appeared at the flour…mill with a sack of corn to be ground for the almshouse； and was asked what he knew。 〃Some things I know；〃 replied poor Tilton； 〃and some things I don't know。 I know the miller's hogs grow fat； but I don't know whose corn they fat on。〃 To borrow another word from Polonius； though this be madness； yet there was method in it。 Tilton finally brought up in the almshouse； where he was allowed the liberty of roaming at will through the town。 He loved the water…side as if he had had all his senses。 Often he was seen to stand for hours with a sunny； torpid smile on his lips； gazing out upon the river where its azure ruffles itself into silver against the islands。 He always wore stuck in his hat a few hen's feathers； perhaps with some vague idea of still associating himself with the birds of the air； if hens can come into that category。
George Jaffrey； third of the name； was a character of another complexion； a gentleman born； a graduate of Harvard in 1730； and one of His Majesty's Council in 1766a man with the blood of the lion and the unicorn in every vein。 He remained to the bitter end； and beyond； a devout royalist； prizing his shoe…buckles； not because they were of chased silver； but because they bore the tower mark and crown stamp。 He stoutly objected to oral prayer； on the ground that it gave rogues and hypocrites an opportunity to impose on honest folk。 He was punctilious in his attendance at church； and unfailing in his responses； though not of a particularly devotional temperament。 On one occasion； at least； his sincerity is not to be questioned。 He had been deeply irritated by some encroachments on the boundaries of certain estates； and had gone to church that forenoon with his mind full of the matter。 When the minister in the course of reading the service came to the apostrophe； 〃Cursed be he who removeth his neighbor's landmark；〃 Mr。 Jeffrey's feelings were too many for him； and he cried out 〃Amen！〃 in a tone of voice that brought smiles to the adjoining pews。
Mr。 Jaffrey's last will and testament was a whimsical document； in spite of the Hon。 Jeremiah Mason； who drew up the paper。 It had originally been Mr。 Jaffrey's plan to leave his possessions to his beloved friend； Colonel Joshua Wentworth； but the colonel by some maladroitness managed to turn the current of Pactolus in another direction。 The vast property was bequeathed to George Jaffrey Jeffries； the testator's grandnephew； on condition that the heir； then a lad of thirteen； should drop the name of Jeffries； reside permanently in Portsmouth； and adopt no profession excepting that of gentleman。 There is an immense amount of Portsmouth as well as George Jaffrey in that final clause。 George the fourth handsomely complied with the requirements； and dying at the age of sixty…six； without issue or assets； was the last of that particular line of Georges。 I say that he handsomely complied with the requirements of the will； but my statement appears to be subject to qualification； for on the day of his obsequies it was remarked of him by a caustic contemporary： 〃Well； yes； Mr。 Jaffrey was a gentleman by profession； but no
