the vicar of wakefield-第25部分

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　as　thine。'

'Indeed；　Sir；'　replied　she；　'he　owes　all　his　triumph　to　the　desire　I　had　of　making　him；　and　not　myself；　happy。　I　knew　that　the　ceremony　of　our　marriage；　which　was　privately　performed　by　a　popish　priest；　was　no　way　binding；　and　that　I　had　nothing　to　trust　to　but　his　honour。'　'What；'　interrupted　I；　'and　were　you　indeed　married　by　a　priest；　and　in　orders？''Indeed；　Sir；　we　were；'　replied　she；　'though　we　were　both　sworn　to　conceal　his　name。'　'Why　then；　my　child；　come　to　my　arms　again；　and　now　you　are　a　thousand　times　more　welcome　than　before；　for　you　are　now　his　wife　to　all　intents　and　purposes；　nor　can　all　the　laws　of　man；　tho'　written　upon　tables　of　adamant；　lessen　the　force　of　that　sacred　connexion。'

'Alas；　Papa；'　replied　she；　'you　are　but　little　acquainted　with　his　villainies：　he　has　been　married　already；　by　the　same　priest；　to　six　or　eight　wives　more；　whom；　like　me；　he　has　deceived　and　abandoned。'

'Has　he　so？'　cried　I；　'then　we　must　hang　the　priest；　and　you　shall　inform　against　him　to…morrow。''But　Sir；'　returned　she；　'will　that　be　right；　when　I　am　sworn　to　secrecy？''My　dear；'　I　replied；　'if　you　have　made　such　a　promise；　I　cannot；　nor　will　I　tempt　you　to　break　it。　Even　tho'　it　may　benefit　the　public；　you　must　not　inform　against　him。　In　all　human　institutions　a　smaller　evil　is　allowed　to　procure　a　greater　good；　as　in　politics；　a　province　may　be　given　away　to　secure　a　kingdom；　in　medicine；　a　limb　may　be　lopt　off；　to　preserve　the　body。　But　in　religion　the　law　is　written；　and　inflexible；　never　to　do　evil。　And　this　law；　my　child；　is　right：　for　otherwise；　if　we　commit　a　smaller　evil；　to　procure　a　greater　good；　certain　guilt　would　be　thus　incurred；　in　expectation　of　contingent　advantage。　And　though　the　advantage　should　certainly　follow；　yet　the　interval　between　commission　and　advantage；　which　is　allowed　to　be　guilty；　may　be　that　in　which　we　are　called　away　to　answer　for　the　things　we　have　done；　and　the　volume　of　human　actions　is　closed　for　ever。　But　I　interrupt　you；　my　dear；　go　on。'

'The　very　next　morning；'　continued　she；　'I　found　what　little　expectations　I　was　to　have　from　his　sincerity。　That　very　morning　he　introduced　me　to　two　unhappy　women　more；　whom；　like　me；　he　had　deceived；　but　who　lived　in　contented　prostitution。　I　loved　him　too　tenderly　to　bear　such　rivals　in　his　affections；　and　strove　to　forget　my　infamy　in　a　tumult　of　pleasures。　With　this　view；　I　danced；　dressed；　and　talked；　but　still　was　unhappy。　The　gentlemen　who　visited　there　told　me　every　moment　of　the　power　of　my　charms；　and　this　only　contributed　to　encrease　my　melancholy；　as　I　had　thrown　all　their　power　quite　away。　Thus　each　day　I　grew　more　pensive；　and　he　more　insolent；　till　at　last　the　monster　had　the　assurance　to　offer　me　to　a　young　Baronet　of　his　acquaintance。　Need　I　describe；　Sir；　how　his　ingratitude　stung　me。　My　answer　to　this　proposal　was　almost　madness。　I　desired　to　part。　As　I　was　going　he　offered　me　a　purse；　but　I　flung　it　at　him　with　indignation；　and　burst　from　him　in　a　rage；　that　for　a　while　kept　me　insensible　of　the　miseries　of　my　situation。　But　I　soon　looked　round　me；　and　saw　myself　a　vile；　abject；　guilty　thing；　without　one　friend　in　the　world　to　apply　to。　Just　in　that　interval；　a　stage…　coach　happening　to　pass　by；　I　took　a　place；　it　being　my　only　aim　to　be　driven　at　a　distance　from　a　wretch　I　despised　and　detested。　I　was　set　down　here；　where；　since　my　arrival；　my　own　anxiety；　and　this　woman's　unkindness；　have　been　my　only　companions。　The　hours　of　pleasure　that　I　have　passed　with　my　mamma　and　sister；　now　grow　painful　to　me。　Their　sorrows　are　much；　but　mine　is　greater　than　theirs；　for　mine　are　mixed　with　guilt　and　infamy。'

'Have　patience；　my　child；'　cried　I；　'and　I　hope　things　will　yet　be　better。　Take　some　repose　to…night；　and　to…morrow　I'll　carry　you　home　to　your　mother　and　the　rest　of　the　family；　from　whom　you　will　receive　a　kind　reception。　Poor　woman；　this　has　gone　to　her　heart：　but　she　loves　you　still；　Olivia；　and　will　forget　it。



CHAPTER　22

Offences　are　easily　pardoned　where　there　is　love　at　bottom


The　next　morning　I　took　my　daughter　behind　me；　and　set　out　on　my　return　home。　As　we　travelled　along；　I　strove；　by　every　persuasion；　to　calm　her　sorrows　and　fears；　and　to　arm　her　with　resolution　to　bear　the　presence　of　her　offended　mother。　I　took　every　opportunity；　from　the　prospect　of　a　fine　country；　through　which　we　passed；　to　observe　how　much　kinder　heaven　was　to　us；　than　we　to　each　other；　and　that　the　misfortunes　of　nature's　making　were　very　few。　I　assured　her；　that　she　should　never　perceive　any　change　in　my　affections；　and　that　during　my　life；　which　yet　might　be　long；　she　might　depend　upon　a　guardian　and　an　instructor。　I　armed　her　against　the　censures　of　the　world；　shewed　her　that　books　were　sweet　unreproaching　companions　to　the　miserable；　and　that　if　they　could　not　bring　us　to　enjoy　life；　they　would　at　least　teach　us　to　endure　it。

The　hired　horse　that　we　rode　was　to　be　put　up　that　night　at　an　inn　by　the　way；　within　about　five　miles　from　my　house；　and　as　I　was　willing　to　prepare　my　family　for　my　daughter's　reception；　I　determined　to　leave　her　that　night　at　the　inn；　and　to　return　for　her；　accompanied　by　my　daughter　Sophia；　early　the　next　morning。　It　was　night　before　we　reached　our　appointed　stage：　however；　after　seeing　her　provided　with　a　decent　apartment；　and　having　ordered　the　hostess　to　prepare　proper　refreshments；　I　kissed　her；　and　proceeded　towards　home。　And　now　my　heart　caught　new　sensations　of　pleasure　the　nearer　I　approached　that　peaceful　mansion。　As　a　bird　that　had　been　frighted　from　its　nest；　my　affections　out…went　my　haste；　and　hovered　round　my　little　fire…side；　with　all　the　rapture　of　expectation。　I　called　up　the　many　fond　things　I　had　to　say；　and　anticipated　the　welcome　I　was　to　receive。　I　already　felt　my　wife's　tender　embrace；　and　sniiled　at　the　joy　of　my　little　ones。　As　I　walked　but　slowly；　the　night　wained　apace。　The　labourers　of　the　day　were　all　retired　to　rest；　the　lights　were　out　in　every　cottage；　no　sounds　were　heard　but　of　the　shrilling　cock；　and　the　deep…mouthed　watch…dog；　at　hollow　distance。　I　approached　my　little　abode　of　pleasure；　and　before　I　was　within　a　furlong　of　the　place；　our　honest　mastiff　came　running　to　welcome　me。

It　was　now　near　mid…night　that　I　came　to　knock　at　my　door：　all　was　still　and　silent：　my　heart　dilated　with　unutterable　happiness；　when；　to　my　amazement；　I　saw　the　house　bursting　out　in　a　blaze　of　fire；　and　every　apperture　red　with　conflagration！　I　gave　a　loud　convulsive　outcry；　and　fell　upon　the　pavement　insensible。　This　alarmed　my　son；　who　had　till　this　been　asleep；　and　he　perceiving　the　flames；　instantly　waked　my　wife　and　daughter；　and　all　running　out；　naked；　and　wild　with　apprehension；　recalled　me　to　life　with　their　anguish。　But　it　was　only　to　objects　of　new　terror；　for　the　flames　had；　by　this　time；　caught　the　roof　of　our　dwelling；　part　after　part　continuing　to　fall　in；　while　the　family　stood；　with　silent　agony；　looking　on；　as　if　they　enjoyed　the　blaze。　I　gazed　upon　them　and　upon　it　by　turns；　and　then　looked　round　me　for　my　two　little　ones；　but　they　were　not　to　be　seen。　O　misery！　'Where；'　cried　I；　'where　are　my　little　ones？'…　…'They　are　burnt　to　death　in　the　flames；'　says　my　wife　calmly；　'and　I　will　die　with　them。'That　moment　I　heard　the　cry　of　the　babes　within；　who　were　just　awaked　by　the　fire；　and　nothing　could　have　stopped　me。　'Where；　where；　are　my　children？'　cried　I；　rushing　through　the　flames；　and　bursting　the　door　of　the　chamber　in　which　they　were　confined；　'Where　are　my　little　ones？''Here；　dear　papa；　here　we　are；'　cried　they　together；　while　the　flames　were　just　catching　the　bed　where　they　lay。　I　caught　them　both　in　my　arms；　and　snatched　them　through　the　fire　as　fast　as　possible；　while　just　as　I　was　got　out；　the　roof　sunk　in。　'Now；'　cried　I；　holding　up　my　children；　'now　let　the　flames　burn　on；　and　all　my　possessions　perish。　Here　they　are；　I　have　saved　my；　treasure。　Here；　my　dearest；　here　are　our　treasures；　and　we　shall　yet　be　happy。'　We　kissed　our　little　darlings　a　thousand　times；　they　clasped　us　round　the　neck；　and　seemed　to　share　our　transports；　while　their　mother　laughed　and　wept　by　turns。

I　now　stood　a　calm　spectator　of　the　flames；　and　after　some　time；　began　to　perceive　that　my　arm　to　the　shoulder　was　scorched　in　a　terrible　manner。　It　was　therefore　out　of　my　power　to　give　my　son　any　assistance；　either　in　attempting　to　save　our　goods；　or　preventing　the　flames　spreading　to　our　corn。　By　this　time；　the　neighbours　were　alarmed；　and　came　running　to　our　assistance；　but　all　they　could　do　was　to　stand；　like　us；　spectators　of　the　calamity。　My　goods；　among　which　were　the　notes　I　had　reserved　for　my　daughters'　fortunes；　were　entirely　consumed；　except　a　box；　with　some　papers　that　stood　in　the　kitchen；　and　two　or　three　things　more　of　little　consequence；　which　my　son　brought　away　in　the　beginning。　The　neighbours　contributed；　however；　what　they　could　to　lighten　our　distress。　They　brought　us　cloaths；　and　furnished　one　of　our　out…houses　with　kitchen　utensils；　so　that　by　day…light　we　had　another；　tho'　a　wretched；　dwelling　to　retire　to。　My　honest　next　neighbour；　and　his　children；　were　not　the　least　assiduous　in　providing　us　with　every　thing　necessary；　and　offering　what　ever　conso