the vicar of wakefield-第28章

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friends；　or　such　as　deserved　our　friendship；　when　our　bliss　shall　be　unutterable；　and　still；　to　crown　all；　unending。



CHAPTER　30

Happier　prospects　begin　to　appear。　Let　us　be　inflexible；　and　fortune　will　at　last　change　in　our　favour


When　I　had　thus　finished　and　my　audience　was　retired；　the　gaoler；　who　was　one　of　the　most　humane　of　his　profession；　hoped　I　would　not　be　displeased；　as　what　he　did　was　but　his　duty；　observing　that　he　must　be　obliged　to　remove　my　son　into　a　stronger　cell；　but　that　he　should　be　permitted　to　revisit　me　every　morning。　I　thanked　him　for　his　clemency；　and　grasping　my　boy's　hand；　bade　him　farewell；　and　be　mindful　of　the　great　duty　that　was　before　him。

I　again；　therefore　laid　me　down；　and　one　of　my　little　ones　sate　by　my　bedside　reading；　when　Mr　Jenkinson　entering；　informed　me　that　there　was　news　of　my　daughter；　for　that　she　was　seen　by　a　person　about　two　hours　before　in　a　strange　gentleman's　company；　and　that　they　had　stopt　at　a　neighbouring　village　for　refreshment；　and　seemed　as　if　returning　to　town。　He　had　scarce　delivered　this　news；　when　the　gaoler　came　with　looks　of　haste　and　pleasure；　to　inform　me；　that　my　daughter　was　found。　Moses　came　running　in　a　moment　after；　crying　out　that　his　sister　Sophy　was　below　and　coming　up　with　our　old　friend　Mr　Burchell。

Just　as　he　delivered　this　news　my　dearest　girl　entered；　and　with　looks　almost　wild　with　pleasure；　ran　to　kiss　me　in　a　transport　of　affection。　Her　mother's　tears　and　silence　also　shewed　her　pleasure。'Here；　pappa；'　cried　the　charming　girl；　'here　is　the　brave　man　to　whom　I　owe　my　delivery；　to　this　gentleman's　intrepidity　I　am　indebted　for　my　happiness　and　safety'　A　kiss　from　Mr　Burchell；　whose　pleasure　seemed　even　greater　than　hers；　interrupted　what　she　was　going　to　add。

'Ah；　Mr　Burchell；'　cried　I；　'this　is　but　a　wretched　habitation　you　now　find　us　in；　and　we　are　now　very　different　from　what　you　last　saw　us。　You　were　ever　our　friend：　we　have　long　discovered　our　errors　with　regard　to　you；　and　repented　of　our　ingratitude。　After　the　vile　usage　you　then　received　at　my　hands　I　am　almost　ashamed　to　behold　your　face；　yet　I　hope　you'll　forgive　me；　as　I　was　deceived　by　a　base　ungenerous　wretch；　who；　under　the　mask　of　friendship；　has　undone　me。'

'It　is　impossible；'　replied　Mr　Burchell；　'that　I　should　forgive　you；　as　you　never　deserved　my　resentment。　I　partly　saw　your　delusion　then；　and　as　it　was　out　of　my　power　to　restrain；　I　could　only　pity　it！'

'It　was　ever　my　conjecture；'　cried　I；　'that　your　mind　was　noble；　but　now　I　find　it　so。　But　tell　me；　my　dear　child；　how　hast　thou　been　relieved；　or　who　the　ruffians　were　who　carried　thee　away？'

'Indeed；　Sir；'　replied　she；　'as　to　the　villain　who　carried　me　off；　I　am　yet　ignorant。　For　as　my　mamma　and　I　were　walking　out；　he　came　behind　us；　and　almost　before　I　could　call　for　help；　forced　me　into　the　post…chaise；　and　in　an　instant　the　horses　drove　away。　I　met　several　on　the　road；　to　whom　I　cried　out　for　assistance；　but　they　disregarded　my　entreaties。　In　the　mean　time　the　ruffian　himself　used　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