the vicar of wakefield-第23节
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ptures； and the ladies especially； but as it was now my only means； it was received with contempt： a proof how ready the world is to under rate those talents by which a man is supported。
'In this manner I proceeded to Paris； with no design but just to look about me； and then to go forward。 The people of Paris are much fonder of strangers that have money； than of those that have wit。 As I could not boast much of either； I was no great favourite。 After walking about the town four or five days； and seeing the outsides of the best houses； I was preparing to leave this retreat of venal hospitality； when passing through one of the principal streets； whom should I meet but our cousin； to whom you first recommended me。 This meeting was very agreeable to me； and I believe not displeasing to him。 He enquired into the nature of my journey to Paris； and informed me of his own business there； which was to collect pictures； medals； intaglios； and antiques of all kinds； for a gentleman in London； who had just stept into taste and a large fortune。 I was the more surprised at seeing our cousin pitched upon for this office； as he himself had often assured me he knew nothing of the matter。 Upon my asking how he had been taught the art of a connoscento so very suddenly； he assured me that nothing was more easy。 The whole secret consisted in a strict adherence to two rules： the one always to observe； that the picture might have been better if the painter had taken more pains； and the other； to praise the works of Pietro Perugino。 But； says he； as I once taught you how to be an author in London； I'll now undertake to instruct you in the art of picture buying at Paris。
'With this proposal I very readily closed； as it was a living； and now all my ambition was to live。 I went therefore to his lodgings； improved my dress by his assistance； and after some time； accompanied him to auctions of pictures； where the English gentry were expected to be purchasers。 I was not a little surprised at his intimacy with people of the best fashion； who referred themselves to his judgment upon every picture or medal； as to an unerring standard of taste。 He made very good use of my assistance upon these occasions； for when asked his opinion； he would gravely take me aside； and ask mine； shrug； look wise； return； and assure the company； that he could give no opinion upon an affair of so much importance。 Yet there was sometimes an occasion for a more supported assurance。 I remember to have seen him； after giving his opinion that the colouring of a picture was not mellow enough； very deliberately take a brush with brown varnish； that was accidentally lying by； and rub it over the piece with great composure before all the company； and then ask if he had not improved the tints。
'When he had finished his commission in Paris； he left me strongly recommended to several men of distinction； as a person very proper for a travelling tutor； and after some time I was employed in that capacity by a gentleman who brought his ward to Paris； in order to set him forward on his tour through Europe。 I was to be the young gentleman's governor； but with a proviso that he should always be permitted to govern himself。 My pupil in fact understood the art of guiding in money concerns much better than I。 He was heir to a fortune of about two hundred thousand pounds； left him by an uncle in the West Indies； and his guardians； to qualify him for the management of it； had bound him apprentice to an attorney。 Thus avarice was his prevailing passion： all his questions on the road were how money might be saved； which was the least expensive course of travel； whether any thing could be bought that would turn to account when disposed of again in London。 Such curiosities on the way as could be seen for nothing he was ready enough to look at； but if the sight of them was to be paid for； he usually asserted that he had been told they were not worth seeing。 He never paid a bill； that he would not observe； how amazingly expensive travelling was； and all this though he was not yet twenty…one。 When arrived at Leghorn； as we took a walk to look at the port and shipping； he enquired the expence of the passage by sea home to England。 This he was informed was but a trifle； compared to his returning by land； he was therefore unable to withstand the temptation； so paying me the small part of my salary that was due； he took leave； and embarked with only one attendant for London。
'I now therefore was left once more upon the world at large； but then it was a thing I was used to。 However my skill in music could avail me nothing in a country where every peasant was a better musician than I； but by this time I had acquired another talent； which answered my purpose as well； and this was a skill in disputation。 In all the foreign universities and convents； there are upon certain days philosophical theses maintained against every adventitious disputant； for which； if the champion opposes with any dexterity； he can claim a gratuity in money； a dinner； and a bed； for one night。 In this manner therefore I fought my way towards England； walked along from city to city； examined mankind more nearly； and； if I may so express it； saw both sides of the picture。 My remarks； however； are but few： I found that monarchy was the best government for the poor to live in； and commonwealths for the rich。 I found that riches in general were in every country another name for freedom； and that no man is so fond of liberty himself as not to be desirous of subjecting the will of some individuals in society to his own。
'Upon my arrival in England； I resolved to pay my respects first to you； and then to enlist as a volunteer in the first expedition that was going forward； but on my journey down my resolutions were changed； by meeting an old acquaintance； who I found belonged to a company of comedians； that were going to make a summer campaign in the country。 The company seemed not much to disapprove of me for an associate。 They all； however； apprized me of the importance of the task at which I aimed； that the public was a many headed monster； and that only such as had very good heads could please it： that acting was not to be learnt in a day； and that without some traditional shrugs； which had been on the stage； and only on the stage； these hundred years； I could never pretend to please。 The next difficulty was in fitting me with parts； as almost every character was in keeping。 I was driven for some time from one character to another； till at last Horatio was fixed upon； which the presence of the present company has happily hindered me from acting。'
CHAPTER 21
The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious； which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction
My son's account was too long to be delivered at once； the first part of it was begun that night； and he was concluding the rest after dinner the next day； when the appearance of Mr Thornhill's equipage at the door seemed to make a pause in the general satisfaction。 The butler； who was now become my friend in the family； informed me with a whisper； that the 'Squire had already made some overtures to Miss Wilmot； and that her aunt and uncle seemed highly to approve the match。 Upon Mr Thornhill's entering； he seemed； at seeing my son and me； to start back； but I readily imputed that to surprize； and not displeasure。 However； upon our advancing to salute him； he returned our greeting with the most apparent candour； and after a short time； his presence served only to encrease the general good humour。
After tea he called me aside； to enquire after my daughter； but upon my informing him that my enquiry was unsuccessful； he seemed greatly surprised； adding； that he had been since frequently at my house； in order to comfort the rest of my family； whom he left perfectly well。 He then asked if I had communicated her misfortune to Miss Wilmot； or my son； and upon my replying that I had not told them as yet； he greatly approved my prudence and precaution； desiring me by all means to keep it a secret： 'For at best；' cried he； 'it is but divulging one's own infamy； and perhaps Miss Livy may not be so guilty as we all imagine。' We were here interrupted by a servant； who came to ask the 'Squire in； to stand up at country dances； so that he left me quite pleased with the interest he seemed to take in my concerns。 His addresses； however； to Miss Wilmot； were too obvious to be mistaken； and yet she seemed not perfectly pleased； but bore them rather in compliance to the will of her aunt； than from real inclination。 I had even the satisfaction to see her lavish some kind looks upon my unfortunate son； which the other could neither extort by his fortune nor assiduity。 Mr Thornhill's seeming composure； however； not a little surprised me： we had now continued here a week； at the pressing instances of Mr Arnold； but each day the more tenderness Miss Wilmot shewed my son； Mr Thomhill's friendship seemed proportionably to encrease for him。
He had formerly made us the most kind assurances of using his interest to serve the family； but now his generosity was not confined to promises alone： the morning I designed for my departure； Mr Thornhill came to me with looks of real pleasure to inform me of a
