the vicar of wakefield-第35节

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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　his　king。　My　poor　wife　recollecting　her　former　familiarity；　seemed　to　shrink　with　apprehension；　but　Sophia；　who　a　few　moments　before　thought　him　her　own；　now　perceiving　the　immense　distance　to　which　he　was　removed　by　fortune；　was　unable　to　conceal　her　tears。

'Ah；　Sir；'　cried　my　wife；　with　a　piteous　aspect；　'how　is　it　possible　that　I　can　ever　have　your　forgiveness；　the　slights　you　received　from　me　the　last　time　I　had　the　honour　of　seeing　you　at　our　house；　and　the　jokes　which　I　audaciously　threw　out；　these　jokes；　Sir；　I　fear　can　never　be　forgiven。'

'My　dear　good　lady；'　returned　he　with　a　smile；　'if　you　had　your　joke；　I　had　my　answer：　I'll　leave　it　to　all　the　company　if　mine　were　not　as　good　as　yours。　To　say　the　truth；　I　know　no　body　whom　I　am　disposed　to　be　angry　with　at　present　but　the　fellow　who　so　frighted　my　little　girl　here。　I　had　not　even　time　to　examine　the　rascal's　person　so　as　to　describe　him　in　an　advertisement。　Can　you　tell　me；　Sophia；　my　dear；　whether　you　should　know　him　again？'

'Indeed；　Sir；'　replied　she；　'I　can't　be　positive；　yet　now　I　recollect　he　had　a　large　mark　over　one　of　his　eye…brows。'　'I　ask　pardon；　madam；'　interrupted　Jenkinson；　who　was　by；　'but　be　so　good　as　to　inform　me　if　the　fellow　wore　his　own　red　hair？''Yes；　I　think　so；'　cried　Sophia。'And　did　your　honour；'　continued　he；　turning　to　Sir　William；　'observe　the　length　of　his　legs？''I　can't　be　sure　of　their　length；'　cried　the　Baronet；　'but　I　am　convinced　of　their　swiftness；　for　he　out…ran　me；　which　is　what　I　thought　few　men　in　the　kingdom　could　have　done。''Please　your　honour；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'I　know　the　man：　it　is　certainly　the　same；　the　best　runner　in　England；　he　has　beaten　Pinwire　of　Newcastle；　Timothy　Baxter　is　his　name；　I　know　him　perfectly；　and　the　very　place　of　his　retreat　this　moment。　If　your　honour　will　bid　Mr　Gaoler　let　two　of　his　men　go　with　me；　I'll　engage　to　produce　him　to　you　in　an　hour　at　farthest。'　Upon　this　the　gaoler　was　called；　who　instantly　appearing；　Sir　William　demanded　if　he　knew　him。　'Yes；　please　your　honour；'　reply'd　the　gaoler；　'I　know　Sir　William　Thornhill　well；　and　every　body　that　knows　any　thing　of　him；　will　desire　to　know　more　of　him。''Well　then；'　said　the　Baronet；　'my　request　is；　that　you　will　permit　this　man　and　two　of　your　servants　to　go　upon　a　message　by　my　authority；　and　as　I　am　in　the　commission　of　the　peace；　I　undertake　to　secure　you。'　'Your　promise　is　sufficient；'　replied　the　other；　'and　you　may　at　a　minute's　warning　send　them　over　England　whenever　your　honour　thinks　fit。'

In　pursuance　of　the　gaoler's　compliance；　Jenkinson　was　dispatched　in　search　of　Timothy　Baxter；　while　we　were　amused　with　the　assiduity　of　our　youngest　boy　Bill；　who　had　just　come　in　and　climbed　up　to　Sir　William's　neck　in　order　to　kiss　him。　His　mother　was　immediately　going　to　chastise　his　familiarity；　but　the　worthy　man　prevented　her；　and　taking　the　child；　all　ragged　as　he　was；　upon　his　knee；　'What；　Bill；　you　chubby　rogue；'　cried　he；　'do　you　remember　your　old　friend　Burchell；　and　Dick　too；　my　honest　veteran；　are　you　here；　you　shall　find　I　have　not　forgot　you。'　So　saying；　he　gave　each　a　large　piece　of　gingerbread；　which　the　poor　fellows　eat　very　heartily；　as　they　had　got　that　morning　but　a　very　scanty　breakfast。

We　now　sate　down　to　dinner；　which　was　almost　cold；　but　previously；　my　arm　still　continuing　painful；　Sir　William　wrote　a　prescription；　for　he　had　made　the　study　of　physic　his　amusement；　and　was　more　than　moderately　skilled　in　the　profession：　this　being　sent　to　an　apothecary　who　lived　in　the　place；　my　arm　was　dressed；　and　I　found　almost　instantaneous　relief。　We　were　waited　upon　at　dinner　by　the　gaoler　himself；　who　was　willing　to　do　our　guest　all　the　honour　in　his　power。　But　before　we　had　well　dined；　another　message　was　brought　from　his　nephew；　desiring　permission　to　appear；　in　order　to　vindicate　his　innocence　and　honour；　with　which　request　the　Baronet　complied；　and　desired　Mr　Thornhill　to　be　introduced。



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