The Adventures of Roderick Random

CHAPITRE LV.

In Chapter LV, the narrator manipulates his way into the good graces of Mrs. Snapper during a coach journey to Bath, where he defeats the celebrated Beau Nash in a battle of wits, suffers a setback in courting Miss Snapper, and is thunderstruck by the unexpected appearance of his beloved Narcissa at an assembly. His distracted behaviour arouses Miss Snapper’s suspicion and jealousy, while a chance encounter with Miss Williams, Narcissa’s confidante and former fellow lodger, opens the door to revelations about his mistress’s feelings and paves the way for future developments.

Winning the Mother’s Favor and Travel to Bath

Struck by Miss Snapper’s fortune, the narrator calculates how best to pursue her, balancing pride against interest. He resolves to win over the cold and suspicious mother by respectful assiduity on the road. An accident aids his design: when a nobleman has secured all the food at their dining inn, the narrator bribes the landlord to part with fowls and bacon, which he sends to the ladies and then joins them at dinner. His disinterested ease captivates Mrs. Snapper, who invites him to visit her at Bath. Meanwhile, the precise lady’s valet-husband is discovered, the lawyer is taken up, and the narrator secretly pays the whole bill before they re-embark, leaving the captain to console himself with bread, cheese, and brandy. The journey ends without further incident, and the next morning the narrator takes lodgings of his own.

Defeating Beau Nash at the Long Room

After spending the forenoon sightseeing with a gentleman to whom Banter has introduced him, the narrator visits the Snappers in the afternoon, where Miss is suffering from fatigue. He receives Mrs. Snapper’s permission to escort them to the Long Room. There, the party is subjected to contemptuous stares and titters; but Miss Snapper retains astonishing composure even when the celebrated Mr. Nash, master of the ceremonies, attempts to insult her by publicly asking the name of Tobit’s dog. Miss Snapper instantly retorts that his name was Nash and an impudent dog he was, turning the laugh so thoroughly against the aggressor that he is forced to slink away, while she is immediately courted by the best company in the room.

Courting Miss Snapper and Receiving a Check

Although at first delighted by Miss Snapper’s triumph, the narrator soon fears that her new popularity will only inflate her pride and raise obstacles to his suit. Determined to lose no time, he seizes an opportunity during an evening visit to declare his passion by means of a compliment to her wit. Miss blushes, but gently reproves him as a stranger, asking him not to interrupt their acquaintance with such unseasonable gallantry. His ardour is effectively checked, his easy manner does not return, and the conversation flags until Mrs. Snapper rescues the company with a proposal for whist, during which the narrator learns of an assembly to be held the following evening.

Reuniting with Narcissa at the Assembly

The narrator secures an invitation to squire Miss Snapper to the assembly on the understanding that she will only watch, not dance. They take a commodious seat, and within a quarter of an hour a gentleman in a green frock enters with a young lady whom the narrator immediately recognises as the adored Narcissa. He is overwhelmed with thrilling transport and presaging dread by turns, but on closer inspection discovers that her gallant is in fact her brother the fox-hunter, not a husband as he had feared. Narcissa, distinguishing him in the crowd, betrays instant confusion: her roses vanish and return with a doubled glow, her enchanting bosom heaves, and she seems to approve the declaration he makes with his eyes. So transportedly does he gaze that he is several times on the point of approaching her, restrained only by the profound veneration her presence inspires.

Miss Snapper Discovers His Love for Narcissa

All the narrator’s powers being engrossed by Narcissa, he can scarcely entertain Miss Snapper, returns distracted answers, and cannot look at her without unfavourable comparisons. She observes his absence of mind, watches his glances, and, tracing them to the divine object, perceives his attachment through his confusion. She thereupon assumes a stateliness of behaviour and sits silent for the remainder of the evening. After Narcissa retires with her brother, Miss Snapper proposes to go home and, on the way, tells him she has too great a regard for him to keep him any longer in torment. The narrator feigns ignorance of her meaning, sees her safely to her lodgings, and returns home in an ecstasy to recount everything to Strap, who sourly observes that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.