the vicar of wakefield-第31部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ed　every　art　to　hinder　me　from　crying　out：　he　flattered　and　threatened　by　turns；　and　swore　that　if　I　continued　but　silent；　he　intended　no　harm。　In　the　mean　time　I　had　broken　the　canvas　that　he；　had　drawn　up；　and　whom　should　I　perceive　at　some　distance　but　your　old　friend　Mr　Burchell；　walking　along　with　his　usual　swiftness；　with　the　great　stick　for　which　we　used　so　much　to　ridicule　him。　As　soon　as　we　came　within　hearing；　I　called　out　to　him　by　name；　and　entreated　his　help。　I　repeated　my　exclamations　several　times；　upon　which；　with　a　very　loud　voice；　he　bid　the　postillion　stop；　but　the　boy　took　no　notice；　but　drove　on　with　still　greater　speed。　I　now　thought　he　could　never　overtake　us；　when　in　less　than　a　minute　I　saw　Mr　Burchell　come　running　up　by　the　side　of　the　horses；　and　with　one　blow　knock　the　postillion　to　the　ground。　The　horses　when　he　was　fallen　soon　stopt　of　themselves；　and　the　ruffian　stepping　out；　with　oaths　and　menaces　drew　his　sword；　and　ordered　him　at　his　peril　to　retire；　but　Mr　Burchell　running　up；　shivered　his　sword　to　pieces；　and　then　pursued　him　for　near　a　quarter　of　a　mile；　but　he　made　his　escape。　I　was　at　this　time　come　out　myself；　willing　to　assist　my　deliverer；　but　he　soon　returned　to　me　in　triumph。　The　postillion；　who　was　recovered；　was　going　to　make　his　escape　too；　but　Mr　Burchell　ordered　him　at　his　peril　to　mount　again；　and　drive　back　to　town。　Finding　it　impossible　to　resist；　he　reluctantly　complied；　though　the　wound　he　had　received　seemed；　to　me　at　least；　to　be　dangerous。　He　continued　to　complain　of　the　pain　as　we　drove　along；　so　that　he　at　last　excited　Mr　Burchell's　compassion；　who；　at　my　request；　exchanged　him　for　another　at　an　inn　where　we　called　on　our　return。'

'Welcome　then；'　cried　I；　'my　child；　and　thou　her　gallant　deliverer；　a　thousand　welcomes。　Though　our　chear　is　but　wretched；　yet　our　hearts　are　ready　to　receive　you。　And　now；　Mr　Burchell；　as　you　have　delivered　my　girl；　if　you　think　her　a　recompence　she　is　yours；　if　you　can　stoop　to　an　alliance　with　a　family　so　poor　as　mine；　take　her；　obtain　her　consent；　as　I　know　you　have　her　heart；　and　you　have　mine。　And　let　me　tell　you；　Sir；　that　I　give　you　no　small　treasure；　she　has　been　celebrated　for　beauty　it　is　true；　but　that　is　not　my　meaning；　I　give　you　up　a　treasure　in　her　mind。'

'But　I　suppose；　Sir；'　cried　Mr　Burchell；　'that　you　are　apprized　of　my　circumstances；　and　of　my　incapacity　to　support　her　as　she　deserves？'

'If　your　present　objection；'　replied　I；　'be　meant　as　an　evasion　of　my　offer；　I　desist：　but　I　know　no　man　so　worthy　to　deserve　her　as　you；　and　if　I　could　give　her　thousands；　and　thousands　sought　her　from　me；　yet　my　honest　brave　Burchell　should　be　my　dearest　choice。'

To　all　this　his　silence　alone　seemed　to　give　a　mortifying　refusal；　and　without　the　least　reply　to　my　offer；　he　demanded　if　we　could　not　be　furnished　with　refreshments　from　the　next　inn；　to　which　being　answered　in　the　affirmative；　he　ordered　them　to　send　in　the　best　dinner　that　could　be　provided　upon　such　short　notice。　He　bespoke　also　a　dozen　of　their　best　wine；　and　some　cordials　for　me。　Adding；　with　a　smile；　that　he　would　stretch　a　little　for　once；　and　tho'　in　a　prison；　asserted　he　was　never　better　disposed　to　be　merry。　The　waiter　soon　made　his　appearance　with　preparations　for　dinner；　a　table　was　lent　us　by　the　gaoler；　who　seemed　remarkably　assiduous；　the　wine　was　disposed　in　order；　and　two　very　well…drest　dishes　were　brought　in。

My　daughter　had　not　yet　heard　of　her　poor　brother's　melancholy　situation；　and　we　all　seemed　unwilling　to　damp　her　cheerfulness　by　the　relation。　But　it　was　in　vain　that　I　attempted　to　appear　chearful；　the　circumstances　of　my　unfortunate　son　broke　through　all　efforts　to　dissemble；　so　that　I　was　at　last　obliged　to　damp　our　mirth　by　relating　his　misfortunes；　and　wishing　that　he　might　be　permitted　to　share　with　us　in　this　little　interval　of　satisfaction。　After　my　guests　were　recovered；　from　the　consternation　my　account　had　produced；　I　requested　also　that　Mr　Jenkinson；　a　fellow　prisoner；　might　be　admitted；　and　the　gaoler　granted　my　request　with　an　air　of　unusual　submission。　The　clanking　of　my　son's　irons　was　no　sooner　heard　along　the　passage；　than　his　sister　ran　impatiently　to　meet　him；　while　Mr　Burchell；　in　the　mean　time；　asked　me　if　my　son's　name　were　George；　to　which　replying　in　the　affirmative；　he　still　continued　silent。　As　soon　as　my　boy　entered　the　room；　I　could　perceive　he　regarded　Mr　Burchell　with　a　look　of　astonishment　and　reverence。　'Come　on；'　cried　I；　'my　son；　though　we　are　fallen　very　low；　yet　providence　has　been　pleased　to　grant　us　some　small　relaxation　from　pain。　Thy　sister　is　restored　to　us；　and　there　is　her　deliverer：　to　that　brave　man　it　is　that　I　am　indebted　for　yet　having　a　daughter；　give　him；　my　boy；　the　hand　of　friendship；　he　deserves　our　warmest　gratitude。'

My　son　seemed　all　this　while　regardless　of　what　I　said；　and　still　continued　fixed　at　respectful　distance。'My　dear　brother；'　cried　his　sister；　'why　don't　you　thank　my　good　deliverer；　the　brave　should　ever　love　each　other。'

He　still　continued　his　silence　and　astonishment；　till　our　guest　at　last　perceived　himself　to　be　known；　and　assuming　all　his　native　dignity；　desired　my　son　to　come　forward。　Never　before　had　I　seen　any　thing　so　truly　majestic　as　the　air　he　assumed　upon　this　occasion。　The　greatest　object　in　the　universe；　says　a　certain　philosopher；　is　a　good　man　struggling　with　adversity；　yet　there　is　still　a　greater；　which　is　the　good　man　that　comes　to　relieve　it。　After　he　had　regarded　my　son　for　some　time　with　a　superior　air；　'I　again　find；'　said　he；　'unthinking　boy；　that　the　same　crime'　But　here　he　was　interrupted　by　one　of　the　gaoler's　servants；　who　came　to　inform　us　that　a　person　of　distinction；　who　had　driven　into　town　with　a　chariot　and　several　attendants；　sent　his　respects　to　the　gentleman　that　was　with　us；　and　begged　to　know　when　he　should　think　proper　to　be　waited　upon。'Bid　the　fellow　wait；'　cried　our　guest；　'till　I　shall　have　leisure　to　receive　him；'　and　then　turning　to　my　son；　'I　again　find；　Sir；'　proceeded　he；　'that　you　are　guilty　of　the　same　offence　for　which　you　once　had　my　reproof；　and　for　which　the　law　is　now　preparing　its　justest　punishments。　You　imagine；　perhaps；　that　a　contempt　for　your　own　life；　gives　you　a　right　to　take　that　of　another：　but　where；　Sir；　is　the　difference　between　a　duelist　who　hazards　a　life　of　no　value；　and　the　murderer　who　acts　with　greater　security？　Is　it　any　diminution　of　the　gamester's　fraud　when　he　alledges　that　he　has　staked　a　counter？'

'Alas；　Sir；'　cried　I；　'whoever　you　are；　pity　the　poor　misguided　creature；　for　what　he　has　done　was　in　obedience　to　a　deluded　mother；　who　in　the　bitterness　of　her　resentment　required　him　upon　her　blessing　to　avenge　her　quarrel。　Here；　Sir；　is　the　letter；　which　will　serve　to　convince　you　of　her　imprudence　and　diminish　his　guilt。'

He　took　the　letter；　and　hastily　read　it　over。　'This；'　says　he；　'though　not　a　perfect　excuse；　is　such　a　palliation　of　his　fault；　as　induces　me　to　forgive　him。　And　now；　Sir；'　continued　he；　kindly　taking　my　son　by　the　hand；　'I　see　you　are　surprised　at　finding　me　here；　but　I　have　often　visited　prisons　upon　occasions　less　interesting。　I　am　now　come　to　see　justice　done　a　worthy　man；　for　whom　I　have　the　most　sincere　esteem。　I　have　long　been　a　disguised　spectator　of　thy　father's　benevolence。　I　have　at　his　little　dwelling　enjoyed　respect　uncontaminated　by　flattery；　and　have　received　that　happiness　that　courts　could　not　give；　from　the　amusing　simplicity　around　his　fire…side。　My　nephew　has　been　apprized　of　my　intentions　of　coming　here；　and　I　find　is　arrived；　it　would　be　wronging　him　and　you　to　condemn　him　without　examination：　if　there　be　injury；　there　shall　be　redress；　and　this　I　may　say　without　boasting；　that　none　have　ever　taxed　the　injustice　of　Sir　William　Thornhill。'

We　now　found　the　personage　whom　we　had　so　long　entertained　as　an　harmless　amusing　companion　was　no　other　than　the　celebrated　Sir　William　Thornhill；　to　whose　virtues　and　singularities　scarce　any　were　strangers。　The　poor　Mr　Burchell　was　in　reality　a　man　of　large　fortune　and　great　interest；　to　whom　senates　listened　with　applause；　and　whom　party　heard　with　conviction；　who　was　the　friend　of　his　country；　but　loyal　to　his　king。　My　poor　wife　recollecting　her　former　familiarity；　seemed　to　shrink　with　apprehension；　but　Sophia；　who　a　few　moments　before　thought　him　her　own；　now　perceiving　the　immense　distance　to　which　he　was　removed　by　fortune；　was　unable　to　conceal　her　tears。

'Ah；　Sir；'　cried　my　wife；　with　a　piteous　aspect；　'how　is　it　possible　that　I　can　ever　have　your　forgiveness；　the　slights　you　received　from　me　the　last　time　I　had　the　honour　of　seeing　you　at　our　house；　and　the　jokes　which　I　audaciously　threw　out；　these　jokes；　Sir；　I　fear　can　never　be　forgiven。'

'My　dear　good　lady；'　returned　he　with　a　smile；　'if　you　had　your　joke；　I　had　my　answer：　I'll　leave　it　to　all　the　company　if　mine　were　not　as　good　as　yours。　To　say　the　truth；　I　know　no　body　whom　I　am　disposed　to　be　angry　with　at　present　but　the　fellow　who　so　frighted　my　little　girl　here。　I　had　not　even　time　to　examine　the　rascal's　person　so　as　to　describe　him　in　an　advertisement。　Can　you　tell　me；　Sophia；　my　dear；　whether　you　should　know　him　again？'

'Indeed；　Sir；'　replied　she；　'I　can't　be　positive；　yet　now　I　recollect　he　had　a　large　mark　over　one　of　his　eye…brows。'　'I　ask　pardon；　madam；'　interrupted　Jenkinson；　who　was　by；　'but　be　so　good　as　to　inform　me　if　the　fellow　wore　his　own　red　hair？''Yes；　I　think　so；'　cried　Sophia。'And　did　your　honour；'　continued　he；　turning　to　Sir　William；　'observe　the　length　of　his　legs？''I　can't　be　sure　of　their　length；'　cried　the　Baronet；　'but　I　am　convinced　of　their　swiftness；　for　he　out…ran　me；　which　is　what　I　thought　few　men　in　the　kingdom　could　have　done。''Please　your　honour；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'I　know　the　man：　it　is　certainly　the　same；　the　best　runner　in　England；　he　has　beaten　Pinwire　of　Newcastle；　Timothy　Baxter　is　his　name；　I　know　him　perfectly；　and　the　very　place　of　his　retreat　this　moment。　If　your　honour　will　bid　Mr　Gaoler　let　two　of　his　men　go　with　me；　I'll　engage　to　produce　him　to　you　in　an　hour　at　farthest。'　Upon　this　the　gaoler　was　called；　who　instantly　appearing；　Sir　William　demanded　if　he　knew　him。　'Yes；　please　your　honour