the vicar of wakefield-第26章

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rred　the　small　comfort　of　weeping　by　her。　My　fellow　prisoner；　some　time　after；　came　with　the　last　account。　He　bade　me　be　patient。　She　was　dead！…　…The　next　morning　he　returned；　and　found　me　with　my　two　little　ones；　now　my　only　companions；　who　were　using　all　their　innocent　efforts　to　comfort　me。　They　entreated　to　read　to　me；　and　bade　me　not　to　cry；　for　I　was　now　too　old　to　weep。　'And　is　not　my　sister　an　angel；　now；　pappa；'　cried　the　eldest；　'and　why　then　are　you　sorry　for　her？　I　wish　I　were　an　angel　out　of　this　frightful　place；　if　my　pappa　were　with　me。'　'Yes；'　added　my　youngest　darling；　'Heaven；　where　my　sister　is；　is　a　finer　place　than　this；　and　there　are　none　but　good　people　there；　and　the　people　here　are　very　bad。'

Mr　Jenkinson　interupted　their　harmless　prattle；　by　observing　that　now　my　daughter　was　no　more；　I　should　seriously　think　of　the　rest　of　my　family；　and　attempt　to　save　my　own　life；　which　was　every　day　declining；　for　want　of　necessaries　and　wholesome　air。　He　added；　that　it　was　now　incumbent　on　me　to　sacrifice　any　pride　or　resentment　of　my　own；　to　the　welfare　of　those　who　depended　on　me　for　support；　and　that　I　was　now；　both　by　reason　and　justice；　obliged　to　try　to　reconcile　my　landlord。

'Heaven　be　praised；'　replied　I；　'there　is　no　pride　left　me　now；　I　should　detest　my　own　heart　if　I　saw　either　pride　or　resentment　lurking　there。　On　the　contrary；　as　my　oppressor　has　been　once　my　parishioner；　I　hope　one　day　to　present　him　up　an　unpolluted　soul　at　the　eternal　tribunal。　No；　sir；　I　have　no　resentment　now；　and　though　he　has　taken　from　me　what　I　held　dearer　than　all　his　treasures；　though　he　has　wrung　my　heart；　for　I　am　sick　almost　to　fainting；　very　sick；　my　fellow　prisoner；　yet　that　shall　never　inspire　me　with　vengeance。　I　am　now　willing　to　approve　his　marriage；　and　if　this　submission　can　do　him　any　pleasure；　let　him　know；　that　if　I　have　done　him　any　injury；　I　am　sorry　for　it。'　Mr　Jenkinson　took　pen　and　ink；　and　wrote　down　my　submission　nearly　as　I　have　exprest　it；　to　which　I　signed　my　name。　My　son　was　employed　to　carry　the　letter　to　Mr　Thornhill；　who　was　then　at　his　seat　in　the　country。　He　went；　and　in　about　six　hours　returned　with　a　verbal　answer。　He　had　some　difficulty；　he　said；　to　get　a　sight　of　his　landlord；　as　the　servants　were　insolent　and　suspicious；　but　he　accidentally　saw　him　as　he　was　going　out　upon　business；　preparing　for　his　marriage；　which　was　to　be　in　three　days。　He　continued　to　inform　us；　that　he　stept　up　in　the　humblest　manner；　and　delivered　the　letter；　which；　when　Mr　Thornhill　had　read；　he　said　that　all　submission　was　now　too　late　and　unnecessary；　that　he　had　heard　of　our　application　to　his　uncle；　which　met　with　the　contempt　it　deserved；　and　as　for　the　rest；　that　all　future　applications　should　be　directed　to　his　attorney；　not　to　him。　He　observed；　however；　that　as　he　had　a　very　good　opinion　of　the　discretion　of　the　two　young　ladies；　they　might　have　been　the　most　agreeable　intercessors。

'Well；　sir；'　said　I　to　my　fellow　prisoner；　'you　now　discover　the　temper　of　the　man　that　oppresses　me。　He　can　at　once　be　facetious　and　cruel；　but　let　him　use　me　as　he　will；　I　shall　soon　be　free；　in　spite　of　all　his　bolts　to　restrain　me。　I　am　now　drawing　towards　an　abode　that　looks　brighter　as　I　approach　it：　this　expectation　cheers　my　afflictions；　and　though　I　leave　an　helpless　family　of　orphans　behind　me；　yet　they　will　not　be　utterly　forsaken；　some　friend；　perhaps；　will　be　found　to　assist　them　for　the　sake　of　their　poor　father；　and　some　may　charitably　relieve　them　for　the　sake　of　their　heavenly　father。'

Just　as　I　spoke；　my　wife；　whom　I　had　not　seen　that　day　before；　appeared　with　looks　of　terror；　and　making　efforts；　but　unable　to　speak。　'Why；　my　love；'　cried　I；　'why　will　you　thus　encrease　my　afflictions　by　your　own；　what　though　no　submissions　can　turn　our　severe　mister；　tho'　he　has　doomed　me　to　die　in　this　place　of　wretchedness；　and　though　we　have　lost　a　darling　child；　yet　still　you　will　find　comfort　in　your　other　children　when　I　shall　be　no　more。'　'We　have　indeed　lost；'　returned　she；　'a　darling　child。　My　Sophia；　my　dearest；　is　gone；　snatched　from　us；　carried　off　by　ruffians！'

'How　madam；'　cried　my　fellow　prisoner；　'Miss　Sophia　carried　off　by　villains；　sure　it　cannot　be？'

She　could　only　answer　with　a　fixed　look　and　a　flood　of　tears。　But　one　of　the　prisoners'　wives；　who　was　present；　and　came　in　with　her；　gave　us　a　more　distinct　account：　she　informed　us　that　as　my　wife；　my　daughter；　and　herself；　were　taking　a　walk　together　on　the　great　road　a　little　way　out　of　the　village；　a　post…chaise　and　pair　drove　up　to　them　and　instantly　stopt。　Upon　which；　a　well　drest　man；　but　not　Mr　Thornhill；　stepping　out；　clasped　my　daughter　round　the　waist；　and　forcing　her　in；　bid　the　postillion　drive　on；　so　that　they　were　out　of　sight　in　a　moment。

'Now；'　cried　I；　'the　sum　of　my　misery　is　made　up；　nor　is　it　in　the　power　of　any　thing　on　earth　to　give　me　another　pang。　What！　not　one　left！　not　to　leave　me　one！　the　monster！　the　child　that　was　next　my　heart！　she　had　the　beauty　of　an　angel；　and　almost　the　wisdom　of　an　angel。　But　support　that　woman；　nor　let　her　fall。　Not　to　leave　me　one！''Alas！　my　husband；'　said　my　wife；　'you　seem　to　want　comfort　even　more　than　I。　Our　distresses　are　great；　but　I　could　bear　this　and　more；　if　I　saw　you　but　easy。　They　may　take　away　my　children　and　all　the　world；　if　they　leave　me　but　you。'

My　Son；　who　was　present；　endeavoured　to　moderate　our　grief；　he　bade　us　take　comfort；　for　he　hoped　that　we　might　still　have　reason　to　be　thankful。'My　child；'　cried　I；　'look　round　the　world；　and　see　if　there　be　any　happiness　left　me　now。　Is　not　every　ray　of　comfort　shut　out；　while　all　our　bright　prospects　only　lie　beyond　the　grave！''My　dear　father；'　returned　he；　'I　hope　there　is　still　something　that　will　give　you　an　interval　of　satisfaction；　for　I　have　a　letter　from　my　brother　George''What　of　him；　child；'　interrupted　I；　'does　he　know　our　misery。　I　hope　my　boy　is　exempt　from　any　part　of　what　his　wretched　family　suffers？''Yes；　sir；'　returned　he；　'he　is　perfectly　gay；　chearful；　and　happy。　His　letter　brings　nothing　but　good　news；　he　is　the　favourite　of　his　colonel；　who　promises　to　procure　him　the　very　next　lieutenancy　that　becomes　vacant！'

'And　are　you　sure　of　all　this；'　cried　my　wife；　'are　you　sure　that　nothing　ill　has　befallen　my　boy？''Nothing　indeed；　madam；'　returned　my　son；　'you　shall　see　the　letter；　which　will　give　you　the　highest　pleasure；　and　if　any　thing　can　procure　you　comfort；　I　am　sure　that　will。'　'But　are　you　sure；'　still　repeated　she；　'that　the　letter　is　from　himself；　and　that　he　is　really　so　happy？'　'Yes；　Madam；'　replied　he；　'it　is　certainly　his；　and　he　will　one　day　be　the　credit　and　the　support　of　our　family！''Then　I　thank　providence；'　cried　she；　'that　my　last　letter　to　him　has　miscarried。'　'Yes；　my　dear；'　continued　she；　turning　to　me；　'I　will　now　confess　that　though　the　hand　of　heaven　is　sore　upon　us　in　other　instances；　it　has　been　favourable　here。　By　the　last　letter　I　wrote　my　son；　which　was　in　the　bitterness　of　anger；　I　desired　him；　upon　his　mother's　blessing；　and　if　he　had　the　heart　of　a　man；　to　see　justice　done　his　father　and　sister；　and　avenge　our　cause。　But　thanks　be　to　him　that　directs　all　things；　it　has　miscarried；　and　I　am　at　rest。'　'Woman；'　cried　I；　'thou　hast　done　very　ill；　and　at　another　time　my　reproaches　might　have　been　more　severe。　Oh！　what　a　tremendous　gulph　hast　thou　escaped；　that　would　have　buried　both　thee　and　him　in　endless　ruin。　Providence；　indeed；　has　here　been　kinder　to　us　than　we　to　ourselves。　It　has　reserved　that　son　to　be　the　father　and　protector　of　my　children　when　I　shall　be　away。　How　unjustly　did　I　complain　of　being　stript　of　every　comfort；　when　still　I　hear　that　he　is　happy　and　insensible　of　our　afflictions；　still　kept　in　reserve　to　support　his　widowed　mother；　and　to　protect　his　brothers　and　sisters。　But　what　sisters　has　he　left；　he　has　no　sisters　now；　they　are　all　gone；　robbed　from　me；　and　I　am　undone。''Father；'　interrupted　my　son；　'I　beg　you　will　give　me　leave　to　read　this　letter；　I　know　it　will　please　you。'　Upon　which；　with　my　permission；　he　read　as　follows：

Honoured　Sir；I　have　called　off　my　imagination　a　few　moments　from　the　pleasures　that　surround　me；　to　fix　it　upon　objects　that　are　still　more　pleasing；　the　dear　little　fire…side　at　home。　My　fancy　draws　that　harmless　groupe　as　listening　to　every　line　of　this　with　great　composure。　I　view　those　faces　with　delight　which　never　felt　the　deforming　hand　of　ambition　or　distress！　But　whatever　your　happiness　may　be　at　home；　I　am　sure　it　will　be　some　addition　to　it；　to　hear　that　I　am　perfectly　pleased　with　my　situation；　and　every　way　happy　here。

Our　regiment　is　countermanded　and　is　not　to　leave　the　kingdom；　the　colonel；　who　professes　himself　my　friend；　takes　me　with　him　to　all　companies　where　he　is　acquainted；　and　after　my　first　visit　I　generally　find　myself　received　with　encreased　respect　upon　repeating　it。　I　danced　last　night　with　Lady　G…；　and　could　I　forget　you　know　whom；　I　might　be　perhaps　successful。　But　it　is　my　fate　still　to　remember　others；　while　I　am　myself　forgotten　by　most　of　my　absent　friends；　and　in　this　number；　I　fear；　Sir；　that　I　must　consider　you；　for　I　have　long　expected　the　pleasure　of　a　letter　from　home　to　no　purpose。　Olivia　and　Sophia　too；　promised　to　write；　but　seem　to　have　forgotten　me。　Tell　them　they　are　two　arrant　little　baggages；　and　that　I　am　this　moment　in　a　most　violent　passion　with　them：　yet　still；　I　know　not　how；　tho'　I　want　to　bluster　a　little；　my　heart　is　respondent　only　to　softer　emotions。　Then　tell　them；　sir；　that　after　all；　I　love　them　affectionately；　and　be　assured　of　my　ever　remaining

　Your　dutiful　son。


'In　all　our　miseries；'　cried　I；　'what　thanks　have　we　not　to　return；　that　one　at　least　of　our　family　is　exempted　from　what　we　suffer。　Heaven　be　his　guard；　and　keep　my　boy　thus　happy　to　be　the　supporter　of　his　widowed　mother；　and　the　father　of　these　two　babes；　which　is　all　the　patrimony　I　can　now　bequeath　him。　May　he　keep　their　innocence　from　the　temptations　of　want；　and　be　their　conductor　in　the　paths　of　honour。'　I　had　scarce　said　these　words；　when　a　noise；　like　that　of　a　tumult；　seemed　to　proceed　from　the　prison　below；　it　died　away　soon　after；　and　a　clanking　of　fetters　was　heard　along　the　passage　that　led　to　my　apartment。　The　keeper　of　the　prison　entered；　holding　a　man　all　bloody；　wounded　and　fettered　with　the　heaviest　irons。　I　looked　with　compassion　on　the　wretch　as　he　approached　me；　but　with　horror　when　I　found　it　was　my　own　son。'My　George！　My　George！　and　do　I　find　thee　thus。　Wounded！　Fettered！　Is　this　thy　happiness！　Is　this　the　manner　you　return　to　me！　O　that　this　sight　could　break　my　heart　at　once　and　let　me　die！'

'Where；　Sir；　is　your　fortitude；'　returned　my　son　with　an　intrepid　voice。　'I　must　suffer；　my　life　is　forfeited；　and　let　them　take　it。'

I　tried　to　restrain　my　passions　for　a　few　minutes　in　silence；　but　I　thought　I　should　have　died　with　the　effort'O　my　boy；　my　heart　weeps　to　behold　thee　thus；　and　I　cannot；　cannot　help　it。　In　the　moment　that　I　thought　thee　blest；　and　prayed　for　thy　safety；　to　behold　thee　thus　again！　Chained；　wounded。　And　yet　the　death　of　the　youthful　is　happy。　But　I　am　old；　a　very　old　man；　and　have　lived　to　see　this　day。　To　see　my　children　all　untimely　falling　about　me；　while　I