the vicar of wakefield-第38部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

en　to　the　common　room；　where　the　prisoners　themselves　sympathized；

　　And　shook　their　chains　　　In　transport　and　rude　harmony。

Happiness　was　expanded　upon　every　face；　and　even　Olivia's　cheek　seemed　flushed　with　pleasure。　To　be　thus　restored　to　reputation；　to　friends　and　fortune　at　once；　was　a　rapture　sufficient　to　stop　the　progress　of　decay　and　restore　former　health　and　vivacity。　But　perhaps　among　all　there　was　not　one　who　felt　sincerer　pleasure　than　I。　Still　holding　the　dear…loved　child　in　my　arms；　I　asked　my　heart　if　these　transports　were　not　delusion。　'How　could　you；'　cried　I；　turning　to　Mr　Jenkinson；　'how　could　you　add　to　my　miseries　by　the　story　of　her　death！　But　it　matters　not；　my　pleasure　at　finding　her　again；　is　more　than　a　recompence　for　the　pain。'

'As　to　your　question；'　replied　Jenkinson；　'that　is　easily　answered。　I　thought　the　only　probable　means　of　freeing　you　from　prison；　was　by　submitting　to　the　'Squire；　and　consenting　to　his　marriage　with　the　other　young　lady。　But　these　you　had　vowed　never　to　grant　while　your　daughter　was　living；　there　was　therefore　no　other　method　to　bring　things　to　bear　but　by　persuading　you　that　she　was　dead。　I　prevailed　on　your　wife　to　join　in　the　deceit；　and　we　have　not　had　a　fit　opportunity　of　undeceiving　you　till　now。'

In　the　whole　assembly　now　there　only　appeared　two　faces　that　did　not　glow　with　transport。　Mr　Thornhill's　assurance　had　entirely　forsaken　him：　he　now　saw　the　gulph　of　infamy　and　want　before　him；　and　trembled　to　take　the　plunge。　He　therefore　fell　on　his　knees　before　his　uncle；　and　in　a　voice　of　piercing　misery　implored　compassion。　Sir　William　was　going　to　spurn　him　away；　but　at　my　request　he　raised　him；　and　after　pausing　a　few　moments；　'Thy　vices；　crimes；　and　ingratitude；'　cried　he；　'deserve　no　tenderness；　yet　thou　shalt　not　be　entirely　forsaken；　a　bare　competence　shall　be　supplied；　to　support　the　wants　of　life；　but　not　its　follies。　This　young　lady；　thy　wife；　shall　be　put　in　possession　of　a　third　part　of　that　fortune　which　once　was　thine；　and　from　her　tenderness　alone　thou　art　to　expect　any　extraordinary　supplies　for　the　future。'　He　was　going　to　express　his　gratitude　for　such　kindness　in　a　set　speech；　but　the　Baronet　prevented　him　by　bidding　him　not　aggravate　his　meanness；　which　was　already　but　too　apparent。　He　ordered　him　at　the　same　time　to　be　gone；　and　from　all　his　former　domestics　to　chuse　one　such　as　he　should　think　proper；　which　was　all　that　should　be　granted　to　attend　him。

As　soon　as　he　left　us；　Sir　William　very　politely　stept　up　to　his　new　niece　with　a　smile；　and　wished　her　joy。　His　example　was　followed　by　Miss　Wilmot　and　her　father；　my　wife　too　kissed　her　daughter　with　much　affection；　as；　to　use　her　own　expression；　she　was　now　made　an　honest　woman　of。　Sophia　and　Moses　followed　in　turn；　and　even　our　benefactor　Jenkinson　desired　to　be　admitted　to　that　honour。　Our　satisfaction　seemed　scarce　capable　of　increase。　Sir　William；　whose　greatest　leasure　was　in　doing　good；　now　looked　round　with　a　countenance　open　as　the　sun；　and　saw　nothing　but　joy　in　the　looks　of　all　except　that　of　my　daughter　Sophia；　who；　for　some　reasons　we　could　not　comprehend；　did　not　seem　perfectly　satisfied。　'I　think　now；'　cried　he；　with　a　smile；　'that　all　the　company；　except　one　or　two；　seem　perfectly　happy。　There　only　remains　an　act　of　justice　for　me　to　do。　You　are　sensible；　Sir；'　continued　he；　turning　to　me；　'of　the　obligations　we　both　owe　Mr　Jenkinson。　And　it　is　but　just　we　should　both　reward　him　for　it。　Miss　Sophia　will；　I　am　sure；　make　him　very　happy；　and　he　shall　have　from　me　five　hundred　pounds　as　her　fortune；　and　upon　this　I　am　sure　they　can　live　very　comfortably　together。　Come；　Miss　Sophia；　what　say　you　to　this　match　of　my　making？　Will　you　have　him？'My　poor　girl　seemed　almost　sinking　into　her　mother's　arms　at　the　hideous　proposal。'Have　him；　Sir！'　cried　she　faintly。　'No；　Sir；　never。''What；'　cried　he　again；　'not　have　Mr　Jenkinson；　your　benefactor；　a　handsome　young　fellow；　with　five　hundred　pounds　and　good　expectations！''I　beg；　Sir；'　returned　she；　scarce　able　to　speak；　'that　you'll　desist；　and　not　make　me　so　very　wretched。''Was　ever　such　obstinacy　known；'　cried　he　again；　'to　refuse　a　man　whom　the　family　has　such　infinite　obligations　to；　who　has　preserved　your　sister；　and　who　has　five　hundred　pounds！　What　not　have　him！''No；　Sir；　never；'　replied　she；　angrily；　'I'd　sooner　die　first。''If　that　be　the　case　then；'　cried　he；　'if　you　will　not　have　himI　think　I　must　have　you　myself。'　And　so　saying；　he　caught　her　to　his　breast　with　ardour。　'My　loveliest；　my　most　sensible　of　girls；'　cried　he；　'how　could　you　ever　think　your　own　Burchell　could　deceive　you；　or　that　Sir　William　Thornhill　could　ever　cease　to　admire　a　mistress　that　loved　him　for　himself　alone？　I　have　for　some　years　sought　for　a　woman；　who　a　stranger　to　my　fortune　could　think　that　I　had　merit　as　a　man。　After　having　tried　in　vain；　even　amongst　the　pert　and　the　ugly；　how　great　at　last　must　be　my　rapture　to　have　made　a　conquest　over　such　sense　and　such　heavenly　beauty。'　Then　turning　to　Jenkinson；　'As　I　cannot；　Sir；　part　with　this　young　lady　myself；　for　she　has　taken　a　fancy　to　the　cut　of　my　face；　all　the　recompence　I　can　make　is　to　give　you　her　fortune；　and　you　may　call　upon　my　steward　to…morrow　for　five　hundred　pounds。'　Thus　we　had　all　our　compliments　to　repeat；　and　Lady　Thornhill　underwent　the　same　round　of　ceremony　that　her　sister　had　done　before。　In　the　mean　time　Sir　William's　gentleman　appeared　to　tell　us　that　the　equipages　were　ready　to　carry　us　to　the　inn；　where　every　thing　was　prepared　for　our　reception。　My　wife　and　I　led　the　van；　and　left　those　gloomy　mansions　of　sorrow。　The　generous　Baronet　ordered　forty　pounds　to　be　distributed　among　the　prisoners；　and　Mr　Wilmot；　induced　by　his　example；　gave　half　that　sum。　We　were　received　below　by　the　shouts　of　the　villagers；　and　I　saw　and　shook　by　the　hand　two　or　three　of　my　honest　parishioners；　who　were　among　the　number。　They　attended　us　to　our　inn；　where　a　sumptuous　entertainment　was　provided；　and　coarser　provisions　distributed　in　great　quantities　among　the　populace。

After　supper；　as　my　spirits　were　exhausted　by　the　alternation　of　pleasure　and　pain　which　they　had　sustained　during　the　day；　I　asked　permission　to　withdraw；　and　leaving　the　company　in　the　midst　of　their　mirth；　as　soon　as　I　found　myself　alone；　I　poured　out　my　heart　in　gratitude　to　the　giver　of　joy　as　well　as　of　sorrow；　and　then　slept　undisturbed　till　morning。



CHAPTER　32。

The　Conclusion


The　next　morning　as　soon　as　I　awaked　I　found　my　eldest　son　sitting　by　my　bedside；　who　came　to　encrease　my　joy　with　another　turn　of　fortune　in　my　favour。　First　having　released　me　from　the　settlement　that　I　had　made　the　day　before　in　his　favour；　he　let　me　know　that　my　merchant　who　had　failed　in　town　was　arrested　at　Antwerp；　and　there　had　given　up　effects　to　a　much　greater　amount　than　what　was　due　to　his　creditors。　My　boy's　generosity　pleased　me　almost　as　much　as　this　unlooked　for　good　fortune。　But　I　had　some　doubts　whether　I　ought　in　justice　to　accept　his　offer。　While　I　was　pondering　upon　this；　Sir　William　entered　the　room；　to　whom　I　communicated　my　doubts。　His　opinion　was；　that　as　my　son　was　already　possessed　of　a　very　affluent　fortune　by　his　marriage；　I　might　accept　his　offer　without　any　hesitation。　His　business；　however；　was　to　inform　me　that　as　he　had　the　night　before　sent　for　the　licences；　and　expected　them　every　hour；　he　hoped　that　I　would　not　refuse　my　assistance　in　making　all　the　company　happy　that　morning。　A　footman　entered　while　we　were　speaking；　to　tell　us　that　the　messenger　was　returned；　and　as　I　was　by　this　time　ready；　I　went　down；　where　I　found　the　whole　company　as　merry　as　affluence　and　innocence　could　make　them。　However；　as　they　were　now　preparing　for　a　very　solemn　ceremony；　their　laughter　entirely　displeased　me。　I　told　them　of　the　grave；　becoming　and　sublime　deportment　they　should　assume　upon　this　Mystical　occasion；　and　read　them　two　homilies　and　a　thesis　of　my　own　composing；　in　order　to　prepare　them。　Yet　they　still　seemed　perfectly　refractory　and　ungovernable。　Even　as　we　were　going　along　to　church；　to　which　I　led　the　way；　all　gravity　had　quite　forsaken　them；　and　I　was　often　tempted　to　turn　back　in　indignation。　In　church　a　new　dilemma　arose；　which　promised　no　easy　solution。　This　was；　which　couple　should　be　married　first；　my　son's　bride　warmly　insisted；　that　Lady　Thornhill；　（that　was　to　be）　should　take　the　lead；　but　this　the　other　refused　with　equal　ardour；　protesting　she　would　not　be　guilty　of　such　rudeness　for　the　world。　The　argument　was　supported　for　some　time　between　both　with　equal　obstinacy　and　good　breeding。　But　as　I　stood　all　this　time　with　my　book　ready；　I　was　at　last　quite　tired　of　the　contest；　and　shutting　it；　'I　perceive；'　cried　I；　'that　none　of　you　have　a　mind　to　be　married；　and　I　think　we　had　as　good　go　back　again；　for　I　suppose　there　will　be　no　business　done　here　to…day。'This　at　once　reduced　them　to　reason。　The　Baronet　and　his　Lady　were　first　married；　and　then　my　son　and　his　lovely　partner。

I　had　previously　that　morning　given　orders　that　a　coach　should　be　sent　for　my　honest　neighbour　Flamborough　and　his　family；　by　which　means；　upon　our　return　to　the　inn；　we　had　the　pleasure　of　finding　the　two　Miss　Flamboroughs　a