the vicar of wakefield-第37节

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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；'　replied　the　old　gentleman；　'be　assured　I　never　yet　forced　her　inclinations；　nor　will　I　now。　If　she　still　continues　to　love　this　young　gentleman；　let　her　have　him　with　all　my　heart。　There　is　still；　thank　heaven；　some　fortune　left；　and　your　promise　will　make　it　something　more。　Only　let　my　old　friend　here　（meaning　me）　give　me　a　promise　of　settling　six　thousand　pounds　upon　my　girl；　if　ever　he　should　come　to　his　fortune；　and　I　am　ready　this　night　to　be　the　first　to　join　them　together。'

As　it　now　remained　with　me　to　make　the　young　couple　happy；　I　readily　gave　a　promise　of　making　the　settlement　he　required；　which；　to　one　who　had　such　little　expectations　as　I；　was　no　great　favour。　We　had　now　therefore　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　them　fly　into　each　other's　arms　in　a　transport。　'After　all　my　misfortunes；'　cried　my　son　George；　'to　be　thus　rewarded！　Sure　this　is　more　than　I　could　ever　have　presumed　to　hope　for。　To　be　possessed　of　all　that's　good；　and　after　such　an　interval　of　pain！　My　warmest　wishes　could　never　rise　so　high！''Yes；　my　George；'　returned　his　lovely　bride；　'now　let　the　wretch　take　my　fortune；　since　you　are　happy　without　it　so　am　I。　O　what　an　exchange　have　I　made　from　the　basest　of　men　to　the　dearest　best！Let　him　enjoy　our　fortune；　I　now　can　be　happy　even　in　indigence。''And　I　promise　you；'　cried　the　'Squire；　with　a　malicious　grin；　'that　I　shall　be　very　happy　with　what　you　despise。''Hold；　hold；　Sir；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'there　are　two　words　to　that　bargain。　As　for　that　lady's　fortune；　Sir；　you　shall　never　touch　a　single　stiver　of　it。　Pray　your　honour；'　continued　he　to　Sir　William；　'can　the　'Squire　have　this　lady's　fortune　if　he　be　married　to　another？'　'How　can　you　make　such　a　simple　demand；'　replied　the　Baronet；　'undoubtedly　he　cannot。''I　am　sorry　for　that；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'for　as　this　gentleman　and　I　have　been　old　fellow　spotters；　I　have　a　friendship　for　him。　But　I　must　declare；　well　as　I　love　him；　that　his　contract　is　not　worth　a　tobacco　stopper；　for　he　is　married　already。''You　lie；　like　a　rascal；'　returned　the　'Squire；　who　seemed　rouzed　by　this　insult；　'I　never　was　legally　married　to　any　woman。''Indeed；　begging　your　honour's　pardon；'　replied　the　other；　'you　were；　and　I　hope　you　will　shew　a　proper　return　of　friendship　to　your　own　honest　Jenkinson；　who　brings　you　a　wife；　and　if　the　company　restrains　their　curiosity　a　few　minutes；　they　shall　see　her。'So　saying　he　went　off　with　his　usual　celerity；　and　left　us　all　unable　to　form　any　probable　conjecture　as　to　his　design。'Ay　let　him　go；'　cried　the　'Squire；　'whatever　else　I　may　have　done　I　defy　him　there。　I　am　too　old　now　to　be　frightened　with　squibs。'

'I　am　surprised；'　said　the　Baronet；　'what　the　fellow　can　intend　by　this。　Some　low　piece　of　humour　I　suppose！''Perhaps；　Sir；'　replied　I；　'he　may　have　a　more　serious　meaning。　For　when　we　reflect　on　the　various　schemes　this　gentleman　has　laid　to　seduce　innocence；　perhaps　some　one　more　artful　than　the　rest　has　been　found　able　to　deceive　him。　When　we　consider　what　numbers　he　has　ruined；　how　many　parents　now　feel　with　anguish　the　infamy　and　the　contamination　which　he　has　brought　into　their　families；　it　would　not　surprise　me　if　some　one　of　themAmazement！　Do　I　see　my　lost　daughter！　Do　I　hold　her！　It　is；　it　is　my　life；　my　happiness。　I　thought　thee　lost；　my　Olivia；　yet　still　I　hold　theeand　still　thou　shalt　live　to　bless　me。'The　warmest　transports　of　the　fondest　lover　were　not　greater　than　mine　when　I　saw　him　introduce　my　child；　and　held　my　daughter　in　my　arms；　whose　silence　only　spoke　her　raptures。　'And　art　thou　returned　to　me；　my　darling；'　cried　I；　'to　be　my　comfort　in　age！''That　she　is；'　cried　Jenkinson；　'and　make　much　of　her；　for　she　is　your　own　honourable　child；　and　as　honest　a　woman　as　any　in　the　whole　room；　let　the　other　be　who　she　will。　And　as　for　you　'Squire；　as　sure　as　you　stand　there　this　young　lady　is　your　lawful　wedded　wife。　And　to　convince　you　that　I　speak　nothing　but　truth；　here　is　the　licence　by　which　you　were　married　together。'So　saying；　he　put　the　licence　into　the　Baronet's　hands；　who　read　it；　and　found　it　perfect　in　every　respect。　'And　now；　gentlemen；'　continued　he；　I　find　you　are　surprised　at　all　this；　but　a　few　words　will　explain　the　difficulty。　That　there　'Squire　of　renown；　for　whom　I　have　a　great　friendship；　but　that's　between　ourselves；　as　often　employed　me　in　doing　odd　little　things　for　him。　Among　the　rest；　he　commissioned　me　to　procure　him　a　false　licence　and　a　false　priest；　in　order　to　deceive　this　young　lady。　But　as　I　was　very　much　his　friend；　what　did　I　do　but　went　and　got　a　true　licence　and　a　true　priest；　and　married　them　both　as　fast　as　the　cloth　could　make　them。　Perhaps　you'll　think　it　was　generosity　that　made　me　do　all　this。　But　no。　To　my　shame　I　confess　it；　my　only　design　was　to　keep　the　licence　and　let　the　'Squire　know　that　I　could　prove　it　upon　him　whenever　I　thought　proper；　and　so　make　him　come　down　whenever　I　wanted　money。'　A　burst　of　pleasure　now　seemed　to　fill　the　whole　apartment；　our　joy　reached　even　to　the　common　room；　where　the　prisoners　themselves　sympathized；

　　And　shook　their　chains　　　In