the vicar of wakefield-第20章

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！



The　next　morning　I　took　leave　of　the　good　family；　that　had　been　kind　enough　to　entertain　me　so　long；　not　without　several　expressions　of　gratitude　to　Mr　Thornhill　for　his　late　bounty。　I　left　them　in　the　enjoyment　of　all　that　happiness　which　affluence　and　good　breeding　procure；　and　returned　towards　home；　despairing　of　ever　finding　my　daughter　more；　but　sending　a　sigh　to　heaven　to　spare　and　to　forgive　her。　I　was　now　come　within　about　twenty　miles　of　home；　having　hired　an　horse　to　carry　me；　as　I　was　yet　but　weak；　and　comforted　myself　with　the　hopes　of　soon　seeing　all　I　held　dearest　upon　earth。　But　the　night　coming　on；　I　put　up　at　a　little　public…house　by　the　roadside；　and　asked　for　the　landlord's　company　over　a　pint　of　wine。　We　sate　beside　his　kitchen　fire；　which　was　the　best　room　in　the　house；　and　chatted　on　politics　and　the　news　of　the　country。　We　happened；　among　other　topics；　to　talk　of　young　'Squire　Thornhill；　who　the　host　assured　me　was　hated　as　much　as　his　uncle　Sir　William；　who　sometimes　came　down　to　the　country；　was　loved。　He　went　on　to　observe；　that　he　made　it　his　whole　study　to　betray　the　daughters　of　such　as　received　him　to　their　houses；　and　after　a　fortnight　or　three　weeks　possession；　turned　them　out　unrewarded　and　abandoned　to　the　world。　As　we　continued　our　discourse　in　this　manner；　his　wife；　who　had　been　out　to　get　change；　returned；　and　perceiving　that　her　husband　was　enjoying　a　pleasure　in　which　she　was　not　a　sharer；　she　asked　him；　in　an　angry　tone；　what　he　did　there；　to　which　he　only　replied　in　an　ironical　way；　by　drinking　her　health。　'Mr　Symmonds；'　cried　she；　'you　use　me　very　ill；　and　I'll　bear　it　no　longer。　Here　three　parts　of　the　business　is　left　for　me　to　do；　and　the　fourth　left　unfinished；　while　you　do　nothing　but　soak　with　the　guests　all　day　long；　whereas　if　a　spoonful　of　liquor　were　to　cure　me　of　a　fever；　I　never　touch　a　drop。'　I　now　found　what　she　would　be　at；　and　immediately　poured　her　out　a　glass；　which　she　received　with　a　curtesy；　and　drinking　towards　my　good　health；　'Sir；'　resumed　she；　'it　is　not　so　much　for　the　value　of　the　liquor　I　am　angry；　but　one　cannot　help　it；　when　the　house　is　going　out　of　the　windows。　If　the　customers　or　guests　are　to　be　dunned；　all　the　burthen　lies　upon　my　back；　he'd　as　lief　eat　that　glass　as　budge　after　them　himself。'　There　now　above　stairs；　we　have　a　young　woman　who　has　come　to　take　up　her　lodgings　here；　and　I　don't　believe　she　has　got　any　money　by　her　over…civility。　I　am　certain　she　is　very　slow　of　payment；　and　I　wish　she　were　put　in　mind　of　it。''What　signifies　minding　her；'　cried　the　host；　'if　she　be　slow；　she　is　sure。''I　don't　know　that；'　replied　the　wife；　'but　I　know　that　I　am　sure　she　has　been　here　a　fortnight；　and　we　have　not　yet　seen　the　cross　of　her　money。''I　suppose；　my　dear；'　cried　he；　'we　shall　have　it　all　in　a；　lump。''In　a　lump！'　cried　the　other；　'I　hope　we　may　get　it　any　way；　and　that　I　am　resolved　we　will　this　very　night；　or　out　she　tramps；　bag　and　baggage。''Consider；　my　dear；'　cried　the　husband；　'she　is　a　gentlewoman；　and　deserves　more　respect。''As　for　the　matter　of　that；'　returned　the　hostess；　'gentle　or　simple；　out　she　shall　pack　with　a　sassarara。　Gentry　may　be　good　things　where　they　take；　but　for　my　part　I　never　saw　much　good　of　them　at　the　sign　of　the　Harrow。'Thus　saying；　she　ran　up　a　narrow　flight　of　stairs；　that　went　from　the　kitchen　to　a　room　over…head；　and　I　soon　perceived　by　the　loudness　of　her　voice；　and　the　bitterness　of　her　reproaches；　that　no　money　was　to　be　had　from　her　lodger。　I　could　hear　her　remonstrances　very　distinctly：　'Out　I　say；　pack　out　this　moment；　tramp　thou　infamous　strumpet；　or　I'll　give　thee　a　mark　thou　won't　be　the　better　for　this　three　months。　What！　you　trumpery；　to　come　and　take　up　an　honest　house；　without　cross　or　coin　to　bless　yourself　with；　come　along　I　say。''O　dear　madam；'　cried　the　stranger；　'pity　me；　pity　a　poor　abandoned　creature　for　one　night；　and　death　will　soon　do　the　rest。'　I　instantly　knew　the　voice　of　my　poor　ruined　child　Olivia。　I　flew　to　her　rescue；　while　the　woman　was　dragging　her　along　by　the　hair；　and　I　caught　the　dear　forlorn　wretch　in　my　arms。'Welcome；　any　way　welcome；　my　dearest　lost　one；　my　treasure；　to　your　poor　old　father's　bosom。　Tho'　the　vicious　forsake　thee；　there　is　yet　one　in　the　world　that　will　never　forsake　thee；　tho'　thou　hadst　ten　thousand　crimes　to　answer　for；　he　will　forget　them　all。''O　my　own　dear'for　minutes　she　could　no　more'my　own　dearest　good　papa！　Could　angels　be　kinder！　How　do　I　deserve　so　much！　The　villain；　I　hate　him　and　myself；　to　be　a　reproach　to　such　goodness。　You　can't　forgive　me。　I　know　you　cannot。''Yes；　my　child；　from　my　heart　I　do　forgive　thee！　Only　repent；　and　we　both　shall　yet　be　happy。　We　shall　see　many　pleasant　days　yet；　my　Olivia！''Ah！　never；　sir；　never。　The　rest　of　my　wretched　life　must　be　infamy　abroad　and　shame　at　home。　But；　alas！　papa；　you　look　much　paler　than　you　used　to　do。　Could　such　a　thing　as　I　am　give　you　so　much　uneasiness？　Sure　you　have　too　much　wisdom　to　take　the　miseries　of　my　guilt　upon　yourself。''Our　wisdom；　young　woman；'　replied　I。'Ah；　why　so　cold　a　name　papa？'　cried　she。　'This　is　the　first　time　you　ever　called　me　by　so　cold　a　name。''I　ask　pardon；　my　darling；'　returned　I；　'but　I　was　going　to　observe；　that　wisdom　makes　but　a　slow　defence　against　trouble；　though　at　last　a　sure　one。

The　landlady　now　returned　to　know　if　we　did　not　chuse　a　more　genteel　apartment；　to　which　assenting；　we　were　shewn　a　room；　where　we　could　converse　more　freely。　After　we　had　talked　ourselves　into　some　degree　of　tranquillity；　I　could　not　avoid　desiring　some　account　of　the　gradations　that　led　to　her　present　wretched　situation。　'That　villain；　sir；'　said　she；　'from　the　first　day　of　our　meeting　made　me　honourable；　though　private；　proposals。'

'Villain　indeed；'　cried　I；　'and　yet　it　in　some　measure　surprizes　me；　how　a　person　of　Mr　Burchell's　good　sense　and　seeming　honour　could　be　guilty　of　such　deliberate　baseness；　and　thus　step　into　a　family　to　undo　it。'

'My　dear　papa；'　returned　my　daughter；　'you　labour　under　a　strange　mistake；　Mr　Burchell　never　attempted　to　deceive　me。　Instead　of　that　he　took　every　opportunity　of　privately　admonishing　me　against　the　artifices　of　Mr　Thornhill；　who　I　now　find　was　even　worse　than　he　represented　him。''Mr　Thornhill；'　interrupted　I；　'can　it　be？'　'Yes；　Sir；'　returned　she；　'it　was　Mr　Thornhill　who　seduced　me；　who　employed　the　two　ladies；　as　he　called　them；　but　who；　in　fact；　were　abandoned　women　of　the　town；　without　breeding　or　pity；　to　decoy　us　up　to　London。　Their　artifices；　you　may　remember　would　have　certainly　succeeded；　but　for　Mr　Burchell's　letter；　who　directed　those　reproaches　at　them；　which　we　all　applied　to　ourselves。　How　he　came　to　have　so　much　influence　as　to　defeat　their　intentions；　still　remains　a　secret　to　me；　but　I　am　convinced　he　was　ever　our　warmest　sincerest　friend。'

'You　amaze　me；　my　dear；'　cried　I；　'but　now　I　find　my　first　suspicions　of　Mr　Thornhill's　baseness　were　too　well　grounded：　but　he　can　triumph　in　security；　for　he　is　rich　and　we　are　poor。　But　tell　me；　my　child；　sure　it　was　no　small　temptation　that　could　thus　obliterate　all　the　impressions　of　such　an　education；　and　so　virtuous　a　disposition　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；