the vicar of wakefield-第41章

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ay　to　have　been　married　to　Mr　Thornhill。　Nothing　could　equal　her　surprize　at　seeing　Sir　William　and　his　nephew　here　before　her；　for　her　arrival　was　quite　accidental。　It　happened　that　she　and　the　old　gentleman　her　father　were　passing　through　the　town；　on　their　way　to　her　aunt's；　who　had　insisted　that　her　nuptials　with　Mr　Thornhill　should　be　consummated　at　her　house；　but　stopping　for　refreshment；　they　put　up　at　an　inn　at　the　other　end　of　the　town。　It　was　there　from　the　window　that　the　young　lady　happened　to　observe　one　of　my　little　boys　playing　in　the　street；　and　instantly　sending　a　footman　to　bring　the　child　to　her；　she　learnt　from　him　some　account　of　our　misfortunes；　but　was　still　kept　ignorant　of　young　Mr　Thornhill's　being　the　cause。　Though　her　father　made　several　remonstrances　on　the　impropriety　of　going　to　a　prison　to　visit　us；　yet　they　were　ineffectual；　she　desired　the　child　to　conduct　her；　which　he　did；　and　it　was　thus　she　surprised　us　at　a　juncture　so　unexpected。

Nor　can　I　go　on；　without　a　reflection　on　those　accidental　meetings；　which；　though　they　happen　every　day；　seldom　excite　our　surprize　but　upon　some　extraordinary　occasion。　To　what　a　fortuitous　concurrence　do　we　not　owe　every　pleasure　and　convenience　of　our　lives。　How　many　seeming　accidents　must　unite　before　we　can　be　cloathed　or　fed。　The　peasant　must　be　disposed　to　labour；　the　shower　must　fall；　the　wind　fill　the　merchant's　sail；　or　numbers　must　want　the　usual　supply。

We　all　continued　silent　for　some　moments；　while　my　charming　pupil；　which　was　the　name　I　generally　gave　this　young　lady；　united　in　her　looks　compassion　and　astonishment；　which　gave　new　finishings　to　her　beauty。　'Indeed；　my　dear　Mr　Thornhill；'　cried　she　to　the　'Squire；　who　she　supposed　was　come　here　to　succour　and　not　to　oppress　us；　'I　take　it　a　little　unkindly　that　you　should　come　here　without　me；　or　never　inform　me　of　the　situation　of　a　family　so　dear　to　us　both：　you　know　I　should　take　as　much　pleasure　in　contributing　to　the　relief　of　my　reverend　old　master　here；　whom　I　shall　ever　esteem；　as　you　can。　But　I　find　that；　like　your　uncle；　you　take　a　pleasure　in　doing　good　in　secret。'

'He　find　pleasure　in　doing　good！'　cried　Sir　William；　interrupting　her。　'No；　my　dear；　his　pleasures　are　as　base　as　he　is。　You　see　in　him；　madam；　as　complete　a　villain　as　ever　disgraced　humanity。　A　wretch；　who　after　having　deluded　this　poor　man's　daughter；　after　plotting　against　the　innocence　of　her　sister；　has　thrown　the　father　into　prison；　and　the　eldest　son　into　fetters；　because　he　had　courage　to　face　his　betrayer。　And　give　me　leave；　madam；　now　to　congratulate　you　upon　an　escape　from　the　embraces　of　such　a　monster。'

'O　goodness；'　cried　the　lovely　girl；　'how　have　I　been　deceived！　Mr　Thornhill　informed　me　for　certain　that　this　gentleman's　eldest　son；　Captain　Primrose；　was　gone　off　to　America　with　his　new　married　lady。'

'My　sweetest　miss；'　cried　my　wife；　'he　has　told　you　nothing　but　falsehoods。　My　son　George　never　left　the　kingdom；　nor　was　married。　Tho'　you　have　forsaken　him；　he　has　always　loved　you　too　well　to　think　of　any　body　else；　and　I　have　heard　him　say　he　would　die　a　batchellor　for　your　sake。'　She　then　proceeded　to　expatiate　upon　the　sincerity　of　her　son's　passion；　she　set　his　duel　with　Mr　Thornhill　in　a　proper　light；　from　thence　she　made　a　rapid　digression　to　the　'Squire's　debaucheries；　his　pretended　marriages；　and　ended　with　a　most　insulting　picture　of　his　cowardice。

'Good　heavens！'　cried　Miss　Wilmot；　'how　very　near　have　I　been　to　the　brink　of　ruin！　But　how　great　is　my　pleasure　to　have　escaped　it！　Ten　thousand　falsehoods　has　this　gentleman　told　me！　He　had　at　last　art　enough　to　persuade　me　that　my　promise　to　the　only　man　I　esteemed　was　no　longer　binding；　since　he　had　been　unfaithful。　By　his　falsehoods　I　was　taught　to　detest　one　equally　brave　and　generous！'

But　by　this　time　my　son　was　freed　from　the　encumbrances　of　justice　as　the　person　supposed　to　be　wounded　was　detected　to　be　an　impostor。　Mr　Jenkinson　also；　who　had　acted　as　his　valet　de　chambre；　had　dressed　up　his　hair；　and　furnished　him　with　whatever　was　necessary　to　make　a　genteel　appearance。　He　now　therefore

entered；　handsomely　drest　in　his　regimentals；　and；　without　vanity；　（for　I　am　above　it）　he　appeared　as　handsome　a　fellow　as　ever　wore　a　military　dress。　As　he　entered；　he　made　Miss　Wilmot　a　modest　and　distant　bow；　for　he　was　not　as　yet　acquainted　with　the　change　which　the　eloquence　of　his　mother　had　wrought　in　his　favour。　But　no　decorums　could　restrain　the　impatience　of　his　blushing　mistress　to　be　forgiven。　Her　tears；　her　looks；　all　contributed　to　discover　the　real　sensations　of　her　heart　for　having　forgotten　her　former　promise　and　having　suffered　herself　to　be　deluded　by　an　impostor。　My　son　appeared　amazed　at　her　condescension；　and　could　scarce　believe　it　real。'Sure；　madam；'　cried　he；　'this　is　but　delusion！　I　can　never　have　merited　this！　To　be；　blest　thus　is　to　be　too　happy。''No；　Sir；'　replied　she；　'I　have　been　deceived；　basely　deceived；　else　nothing　could　have　ever　made　me　unjust　to　my　promise。　You　know　my　friendship；　you　have　long　known　it；　but　forget　what　I　have　done；　and　as　you　once　had　my　warmest　vows　of　constancy；　you　shall　now　have　them　repeated；　and　be　assured　that　if　your　Arabella　cannot　be　yours；　she　shall　never　be　another's。'　'And　no　other's　you　shall　be；'　cried　Sir　William；　'if　I　have　any　influence　with　your　father。'

This　hint　was　sufficient　for　my　son　Moses；　who　immediately　flew　to　the　inn　where　the　old　gentleman　was；　to　inform　him　of　every　circumstance　that　had　happened。　But　in　the　mean　time　the　'Squire　perceiving　that　he　was　on　every　side　undone；　now　finding　that　no　hopes　were　left　from　flattery　or　dissimulation；　concluded　that　his　wisest　way　would　be　to　turn　and　face　his　pursuers。　Thus　laying　aside　all　shame；　he　appeared　the　open　hardy　villain。　'I　find　then；'　cried　he；　'that　I　am　to　expect　no　justice　here；　but　I　am　resolved　it　shall　be　done　me。　You　shall　know；　Sir；'　turning　to　Sir　William；　'I　am　no　longer　a　poor　dependent　upon　your　favours。　I　scorn　them。　Nothing　can　keep　Miss　Wilmot's　fortune　from　me；　which；　I　thank　her　father's　assiduity；　is　pretty　large。　The　articles；　and　a　bond　for　her　fortune；　are　signed；　and　safe　in　my　possession。　It　was　her　fortune；　not　her　person；　that　induced　me　to　wish　for　this　match；　and　possessed　of　the　one；　let　who　will　take　the　other。'

This　was　an　alarming　blow；　Sir　William　was　sensible　of　the　justice　of　his　claims；　for　he　had　been　instrumental　in　drawing　up　the　marriage　articles　himself。　Miss　Wilmot　therefore　perceiving　that　her　fortune　was　irretrievably　lost；　turning　to　my　son；　she　asked　if　the　loss　of　fortune　could　lessen　her　value　to　him。　'Though　fortune；'　said　she；　'is　out　of　my　power；　at　least　I　have　my　hand　to　give。'

'And　that；　madam；'　cried　her　real　lover；　'was　indeed　all　that　you　ever　had　to　give；　at　least　all　that　I　ever　thought　worth　the　acceptance。　And　now　I　protest；　my　Arabella；　by　all　that's　happy；　your　want　of　fortune　this　moment　encreases　my　pleasure；　as　it　serves　to　convince　my　sweet　girl　of　my　sincerity。'

Mr　Wilmot　now　entering；　he　seemed　not　a　little　pleased　at　the　danger　his　daughter　had　just　escaped；　and　readily　consented　to　a　dissolution　of　the　match。　But　finding　that　her　fortune；　which　was　secured　to　Mr　Thornhill　by　bond；　would　not　be　given　up；　nothing　could　exceed　his　disappointment。　He　now　saw　that　his　money　must　all　go　to　enrich　one　who　had　no　fortune　of　his　own。　He　could　bear　his　being　a　rascal；　but　to　want　an　equivalent　to　his　daughter's　fortune　was　wormwood。　He　sate　therefore　for　some　minutes　employed　in　the　most　mortifying　speculations；　till　Sir　William　attempted　to　lessen　his　anxiety。'I　must　confess；　Sir'　cried　he；　'that　your　present　disappointment　does　not　entirely　displease　me。　Your　immoderate　passion　for　wealth　is　now　justly　punished。　But　tho'　the　young　lady　cannot　be　rich；　she　has　still　a　competence　sufficient　to　give　content。　Here　you　see　an　honest　young　soldier；　who　is　willing　to　take　her　without　fortune；　they　have　long　loved　each　other；　and　for　the　friendship　I　bear　his　father；　my　interest　shall　not　be　wanting　in　his　promotion。　Leave　then　that　ambition　which　disappoints　you；　and　for　once　admit　that　happiness　which　courts　your　acceptance。'

'Sir　William