the vicar of wakefield-第40章

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CHAPTER　31

Former　benevolence　now　repaid　with　unexpected　interest


Mr　Thornhill　made　his　entrance　with　a　smile；　which　he　seldom　wanted；　and　was　going　to　embrace　his　uncle；　which　the　other　repulsed　with　an　air　of　disdain。　'No　fawning；　Sir；　at　present；'　cried　the　Baronet；　with　a　look　of　severity；　'the　only　way　to　my　heart　is　by　the　road　of　honour；　but　here　I　only　see　complicated　instances　of　falsehood；　cowardice；　and　oppression。　How　is　it；　Sir；　that　this　poor　man；　for　whom　I　know　you　professed　a　friendship；　is　used　thus　hardly？　His　daughter　vilely　seduced；　as　a　recompence　for　his　hospitality；　and　he　himself　thrown　into　a　prison　perhaps　but　for　resenting　the　insult？　His　son　too；　whom　you　feared　to　face　as　a　man'

'Is　it　possible；　Sir；'　interrupted　his　nephew；　'that　my　uncle　could　object　that　as　a　crime　which　his　repeated　instructions　alone　have　persuaded　me　to　avoid。'

'Your　rebuke；'　cried　Sir　William；　'is　just；　you　have　acted　in　this　instance　prudently　and　well；　though　not　quite　as　your　father　would　have　done：　my　brother　indeed　was　the　soul　of　honour；　but　thou　yes　you　have　acted　in　this　instance　perfectly　right；　and　it　has　my　warmest　approbation。'

'And　I　hope；'　said　his　nephew；　'that　the　rest　of　my　conduct　will　not　be　found　to　deserve　censure。　I　appeared；　Sir；　with　this　gentleman's　daughter　at　some　places　of　public　amusement；　thus　what　was　levity；　scandal　called　by　a　harsher　name；　and　it　was　reported　that　I　had　debauched　her。　I　waited　on　her　father　in　person；　willing　to　clear　the　thing　to　his　satisfaction；　and　he　received　me　only　with　insult　and　abuse。　A　s　for　the　rest；　with　regard　to　his　being　here；　my　attorney　and　steward　can　best　inform　you；　as　I　commit　the　management　of　business　entirely　to　them。　If　he　has　contracted　debts　and　is　unwilling　or　even　unable　to　pay　them；　it　is　their　business　to　proceed　in　this　manner；　and　I　see　no　hardship　or　injustice　in　pursuing　the　most　legal　means　of　redress。'

'If　this；'　cried　Sir　William；　'be　as　you　have　stated　it；　there　is　nothing　unpardonable　in　your　offence；　and　though　your　conduct　might　have　been　more　generous　in　not　suffering　this　gentleman　to　be　oppressed　by　subordinate　tyranny；　yet　it　has　been　at　least　equitable。'

'He　cannot　contradict　a　single　particular；'　replied　the　'Squire；　'I　defy　him　to　do　so；　and　several　of　my　servants　are　ready　to　attest　what　I　say。　Thus；　Sir；'　continued　he；　finding　that　I　was　silent；　for　in　fact　I　could　not　contradict　him；　'thus；　Sir；　my　own　innocence　is　vindicated；　but　though　at　your　entreaty　I　am　ready　to　forgive　this　gentleman　every　other　offence；　yet　his　attempts　to　lessen　me　in　your　esteem；　excite　a　resentment　that　I　cannot　govern。　And　this　too　at　a　time　when　his　son　was　actually　preparing　to　take　away　my　life；　this；　I　say；　was　such　guilt；　that　I　am　determined　to　let　the　law　take　its　course。　I　have　here　the　challenge　that　was　sent　me　and　two　witnesses　to　prove　it；　one　of　my　servants　has　been　wounded　dangerously；　and　even　though　my　uncle　himself　should　dissuade　me；　which　I　know　he　will　not；　yet　I　will　see　public　justice　done；　and　he　shall　suffer　for　it。'

'Thou　monster；'　cried　my　wife；　'hast　thou　not　had　vengeance　enough　already；　but　must　my　poor　boy　feel　thy　cruelty。　I　hope　that　good　Sir　William　will　protect　us；　for　my　son　is　as　innocent　as　a　child；　I　am　sure　he　is；　and　never　did　harm　to　man。'

'Madam；'　replied　the　good　man；　'your　wishes　for　his　safety　are　not　greater　than　mine；　but　I　am　sorry　to　find　his　guilt　too　plain；　and　if　my　nephew　persists'　But　the　appearance　of　Jenkinson　and　the　gaoler's　two　servants　now　called　off　our　attention；　who　entered；　haling　in　a　tall　man；　very　genteelly　drest；　and　answering　the　description　already　given　of　the　ruffian　who　had　carried　off　my　daughter'Here；'　cried　Jenkinson；　pulling　him　in；　'here　we　have　him；　and　if　ever　there　was　a　candidate　for　Tyburn；　this　is　one。'

The　moment　Mr　Thornhill　perceived　the　prisoner；　and　Jenkinson；　who　had　him　in　custody；　he　seemed　to　shrink　back　with　terror。　His　face　became　pale　with　conscious　guilt；　and　he　would　have　withdrawn；　but　Jenkinson；　who　perceived　his　design；　stopt　him　'What；　'Squire；'　cried　he；　'are　you　ashamed　of　your　two　old　acquaintances；　Jenkinson　and　Baxter：　but　this　is　the　way　that　all　great　men　forget　their　friends；　though　I　am　resolved　we　will　not　forget　you。　Our　prisoner；　please　your　honour；'　continued　he；　turning　to　Sir　William；　'has　already　confessed　all。　This　is　the　gentleman　reported　to　be　so　dangerously　wounded：　He　declares　that　it　was　Mr　Thornhill　who　first　put　him　upon　this　affair；　that　he　gave　him　the　cloaths　he　now　wears　to　appear　like　a　gentleman；　and　furnished　him　with　the　post…chaise。　The　plan　was　laid　between　them　that　he　should　carry　off　the　young　lady　to　a　place　of　safety；　and　that　there　he　should　threaten　and　terrify　her；　but　Mr　Thornhill　was　to　come　in　in　the　mean　time；　as　if　by　accident；　to　her　rescue；　and　that　they　should　fight　awhile　and　then　he　was　to　run　off；　by　which　Mr　Thornhill　would　have　the　better　opportunity　of　gaining　her　affections　himself　under　the　character　of　her　defender。'

Sir　William　remembered　the　coat　to　have　been　frequently　worn　by　his　nephew；　and　all　the　rest　the　prisoner　himself　confirmed　by　a　more　circumstantial　account；　concluding；　that　Mr　Thornhill　had　often　declared　to　him　that　he　was　in　love　with　both　sisters　at　the　same　time。

'Heavens；'　cried　Sir　William；　'what　a　viper　have　I　been　fostering　in　my　bosom！　And　so　fond　of　public　justice　too　as　he　seemed　to　be。　But　he　shall　have　it；　secure　him；　Mr　Gaoleryet　hold；　I　fear　there　is　not　legal　evidence　to　detain　him。'

Upon　this；　Mr　Thornhill；　with　the　utmost　humility；　entreated　that　two　such　abandoned　wretches　might　not　be　admitted　as　evidences　against　him；　but　that　his　servants　should　be　examined。'Your　servants　'　replied　Sir　William；　'wretch；　call　them　yours　no　longer：　but　come　let　us　hear　what　those　fellows　have　to　say；　let　his　butler　be　called。'

When　the　butler　was　introduced；　he　soon　perceived　by　his　former　master's　looks　that　all　his　power　was　now　over。　'Tell　me；'　cried　Sir　William　sternly；　'have　you　ever　seen　your　master　and　that　fellow　drest　up　in　his　cloaths　in　company　together？'　'Yes；　please　your　honour；'　cried　the　butler；　'a　thousand　times：　he　was　the　man　that　always　brought　him　his　ladies。''How；'　interrupted　young　Mr　Thornhill；　'this　to　my　face！''Yes；'　replied　the　butler；　'or　to　any　man's　face。　To　tell　you　a　truth；　Master　Thornhill；　I　never　either　loved　you　or　liked　you；　and　I　don't　care　if　I　tell　you　now　a　piece　of　my　mind。''Now　then；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'tell　his　honour　whether　you　know　any　thing　of　me。''I　can't　say；'　replied　the　butler；　'that　I　know　much　good　of　you。　The　night　that　gentleman's　daughter　was　deluded　to　our　house；　you　were　one　of　them。''So　then；'　cried　Sir　William；　'I　find　you　have　brought　a　very　fine　witness　to　prove　your　innocence：　thou　stain　to　humanity！　to　associate　with　such　wretches！'　（But　continuing　his　examination）　'You　tell　me；　Mr　Butler；　that　this　was　the　person　who　brought　him　this　old　gentleman's　daughter。''No；　please　your　honour；'　replied　the　butler；　'he　did　not　bring　her；　for　the　'Squire　himself　undertook　that　business；　but　he　brought　the　priest　that　pretended　to　marry　them。''It　is　but　too　true；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'I　cannot　deny　it；　that　was　the　employment　assigned　me；　and　I　confess　it　to　my　confusion。'

'Good　heavens！'　exclaimed　the　Baronet；　'how　every　new　discovery　of　his　villainy　alarms　me。　All　his　guilt　is　now　too　plain；　and　I　find　his　present　prosecution　was　dictated　by　tyranny；　cowardice　and　revenge；　at　my　request；　Mr　Gaoler；　set　this　young　officer；　now　your　prisoner；　free；　and　trust　to　me　for　the　consequences。　I'll　make　it　my　business　to　set　the　affair　in　a　proper　light　to　my　friend　the　magistrate　who　has　committed　him。　But　where　is　the　unfortunate　young　lady　herself：　let　her　appear　to　confront　this　wretch；　I　long　to　know　by　what　arts　he　has　seduced　her。　Entreat　her　to　come　in。　Where　is　she？'

'Ah；　Sir；'　said　I；　'that　question　stings　me　to　the　heart：　I　was　once　indeed　happy　in　a　daughter；　but　her　miseries'　Another　interruption　here　prevented　me；　for　who　should　make　her　appearance　but　Miss　Arabella　Wilmot；　who　was　next　day　to　have　been　married　to　Mr　Thornhill。　Nothing　could　equal　her　surprize　at　see