Advantage was immediately taken of this salutary disposition.

He bound himself not to act as a justice of the peace, in any part of Great Britain, under the penalty of five thousand pounds.

He burnt Mrs.
Oakley's note; paid the debts of the shopkeeper; undertook to compound those of the publican, and to settle him again in business; and, finally, discharged them all from prison, paying the dues out of his own pocket.
These steps being taken with peculiar eagerness, he was removed to his own house, where he assured his wife he had seen a vision that prognosticated his death; and had immediate recourse to the curate of the parish for spiritual consolation.
The most interesting part of the task that now remained was to make the widow Oakley acquainted with her good fortune, in such a manner as might least disturb her spirits, already but too much discomposed.

For this purpose they chose the landlady, who, after having received proper directions how to regulate her conduct, visited her in person that same evening.

Finding her quite calm, and her reflection quite restored, she began with exhorting her to put her trust in Providence, which would never forsake the cause of the injured widow and fatherless.