the vicar of wakefield-第5节

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t　no　coach　to　carry　us　now。'　'You　mistake；　child；'　returned　I；　'we　do　want　a　coach；　for　if　we　walk　to　church　in　this　trim；　the　very　children　in　the　parish　will　hoot　after　us。''Indeed；'　replied　my　wife；　'I　always　imagined　that　my　Charles　was　fond　of　seeing　his　children　neat　and　handsome　about　him。''You　may　be　as　neat　as　you　please；'　interrupted　I；　'and　I　shall　love　you　the　better　for　it；　but　all　this　is　not　neatness；　but　frippery。　These　rufflings；　and　pinkings；　and　patchings；　will　only　make　us　hated　by　all　the　wives　of　all　our　neighbours。　No；　my　children；'　continued　I；　more　gravely；　'those　gowns　may　be　altered　into　something　of　a　plainer　cut；　for　finery　is　very　unbecoming　in　us；　who　want　the　means　of　decency。　I　do　not　know　whether　such　flouncing　and　shredding　is　becoming　even　in　the　rich；　if　we　consider；　upon　a　moderate　calculation；　that　the　nakedness　of　the　indigent　world　may　be　cloathed　from　the　trimmings　of　the　vain。'

This　remonstrance　had　the　proper　effect；　they　went　with　great　composure；　that　very　instant；　to　change　their　dress；　and　the　next　day　I　had　the　satisfaction　of　finding　my　daughters；　at　their　own　request　employed　in　cutting　up　their　trains　into　Sunday　waistcoats　for　Dick　and　Bill；　the　two　little　ones；　and　what　was　still　more　satisfactory；　the　gowns　seemed　improved　by　this　curtailing。



CHAPTER　5

A　new　and　great　acquaintance　introduced。　What　we　place　most　hopes　upon；　generally　proves　most　fatal


At　a　small　distance　from　the　house　my　predecessor　had　made　a　seat；　overshaded　by　an　hedge　of　hawthorn　and　honeysuckle。　Here；　when　the　weather　was　fine；　and　our　labour　soon　finished；　we　usually　sate　together；　to　enjoy　an　extensive　landschape；　in　the　calm　of　the　evening。　Here　too　we　drank　tea；　which　now　was　become　an　occasional　banquet；　and　as　we　had　it　but　seldom；　it　diffused　a　new　joy；　the　preparations　for　it　being　made　with　no　small　share　of　bustle　and　ceremony。　On　these　occasions；　our　two　little　ones　always　read　for　us；　and　they　were　regularly　served　after　we　had　done。　Sometimes；　to　give　a　variety　to　our　amusements；　the　girls　sung　to　the　guitar；　and　while　they　thus　formed　a　little　concert；　my　wife　and　I　would　stroll　down　the　sloping　field；　that　was　embellished　with　blue　bells　and　centaury；　talk　of　our　children　with　rapture；　and　enjoy　the　breeze　that　wafted　both　health　and　harmony。

In　this　manner　we　began　to　find　that　every　situation　in　life　might　bring　its　own　peculiar　pleasures：　every　morning　waked　us　to　a　repetition　of　toil；　but　the　evening　repaid　it　with　vacant　hilarity。

It　was　about　the　beginning　of　autumn；　on　a　holiday；　for　I　kept　such　as　intervals　of　relaxation　from　labour；　that　I　had　drawn　out　my　family　to　our　usual　place　of　amusement；　and　our　young　musicians　began　their　usual　concert。　As　we　were　thus　engaged；　we　saw　a　stag　bound　nimbly　by；　within　about　twenty　paces　of　where　we　were　sitting；　and　by　its　panting；　it　seemed　prest　by　the　hunters。　We　had　not　much　time　to　reflect　upon　the　poor　animal's　distress；　when　we　perceived　the　dogs　and　horsemen　come　sweeping　along　at　some　distance　behind；　and　making　the　very　path　it　had　taken。　I　was　instantly　for　returning　in　with　my　family；　but　either　curiosity　or　surprize；　or　some　more　hidden　motive；　held　my　wife　and　daughters　to　their　seats。　The　huntsman；　who　rode　foremost；　past　us　with　great　swiftness；　followed　by　four　or　five　persons　more；　who　seemed　in　equal　haste。　At　last；　a　young　gentleman　of　a　more　genteel　appearance　than　the　rest；　came　forward；　and　for　a　while　regarding　us；　instead　of　pursuing　the　chace；　stopt　short；　and　giving　his　horse　to　a　servant　who　attended；　approached　us　with　a　careless　superior　air。　He　seemed　to　want　no　introduction；　but　was　going　to　salute　my　daughters　as　one　certain　of　a　kind　reception；　but　they　had　early　learnt　the　lesson　of　looking　presumption　out　of　countenance。　Upon　which　he　let　us　know　that　his　name　was　Thornhill；　and　that　he　was　owner　of　the　estate　that　lay　for　some　extent　round　us。　He　again；　therefore；　offered　to　salute　the　female　part　of　the　family；　and　such　was　the　power　of　fortune　and　fine　cloaths；　that　he　found　no　second　repulse。　As　his　address；　though　confident；　was　easy；　we　soon　became　more　familiar；　and　perceiving　musical　instruments　lying　near；　he　begged　to　be　favoured　with　a　song。　As　I　did　not　approve　of　such　disproportioned　acquaintances；　I　winked　upon　my　daughters　in　order　to　prevent　their　compliance；　but　my　hint　was　counteracted　by　one　from　their　mother；　so　that　with　a　chearful　air　they　gave　us；　a　favourite　song　of　Dryden's。　Mr　Thornhill　seemed　highly　delighted　with　their　performance　and　choice；　and　then　took　up　the　guitar　himself。　He　played　but　very　indifferently；　however；　my　eldest　daughter　repaid　his　former　applause　with　interest；　and　assured　him　that　his　tones　were　louder　than　even　those　of　her　master。　At　this　compliment　he　bowed；　which　she　returned　with　a　curtesy。　He　praised　her　taste；　and　she　commended　his　understanding：　an　age　could　not　have　made　them　better　acquainted。　While　the　fond　mother　too；　equally　happy；　insisted　upon　her　landlord's　stepping　in；　and　tasting　a　glass　of　her　gooseberry。　The　whole　family　seemed　earnest　to　please　him：　my　girls　attempted　to　entertain　him　with　topics　they　thought　most　modern；　while　Moses；　on　the　contrary；　gave　him　a　question　or　two　from　the　ancients；　for　which　he　had　the　satisfaction　of　being　laughed　at：　my　little　ones　were　no　less　busy；　and　fondly　stuck　close　to　the　stranger。　All　my　endeavours　could　scarce　keep　their　dirty　fingers　from　handling　and　tarnishing　the　lace　on　his　cloaths；　and　lifting　up　the　flaps　of　his　pocket　holes；　to　see　what　was　there。　At　the　approach　of　evening　he　took　leave；　but　not　till　he　had　requested　permission　to　renew　his　visit；　which；　as　he　was　our　landlord；　we　most　readily　agreed　to。

As　soon　as　he　was　gone；　my　wife　called　a　council　on　the　conduct　of　the　day。　She　was　of　opinion；　that　it　was　a　most　fortunate　hit；　for　that　she　had　known　even　stranger　things　at　last　brought　to　bear。　She　hoped　again　to　see　the　day　in　which　we　might　hold　up　our　heads　with　the　best　of　them；　and　concluded；　she　protested　she　could　see　no　reason　why　the　two　Miss　Wrinklers　should　marry　great　fortunes；　and　her　children　get　none。　As　this　last　argument　was　directed　to　me；　I　protested　I　could　see　no　reason　for　it　neither；　nor　why　Mr　Simpkins　got　the　ten　thousand　pound　prize　in　the　lottery；　and　we　sate　down　with　a　blank。　'I　protest；　Charles；'　cried　my　wife；　'this　is　the　way　you　always　damp　my　girls　and　me　when　we　are　in　Spirits。　Tell　me；　Sophy；　my　dear；　what　do　you　think　of　our　new　visitor？　Don't　you　think　he　seemed　to　be　good…　natured？''Immensely　so；　indeed；　Mamma；'　replied　she。　'I　think　he　has　a　great　deal　to　say　upon　every　thing；　and　is　never　at　a　loss；　and　the　more　trifling　the　subject；　the　more　he　has　to　say。'　'Yes；'　cried　Olivia；　'he　is　well　enough　for　a　man；　but　for　my　part；　I　don't　much　like　him；　he　is　so　extremely　impudent　and　familiar；　but　on　the　guitar　he　is　shocking。'　These　two　last　speeches　I　interpreted　by　contraries。　I　found　by　this；　that　Sophia　internally　despised；　as　much　as　Olivia　secretly　admired　him。'Whatever　may　be　your　opinions　of　him；　my　children；'　cried　I；　'to　confess　a　truth；　he　has　not　prepossest　me　in　his　favour。　Disproportioned　friendships　ever　terminate　in　disgust；　and　I　thought；　notwithstanding　all　his　ease；　that　he　seemed　perfectly　sensible　of　the　distance　between　us。　Let　us　keep　to　companions　of　our　own　rank。　There　is　no　character　more　contemptible　than　a　man　that　is　a　fortune…hunter；　and　I　can　see　no　reason　why　fortune…　hunting　women　should　not　be　contemptible　too。　Thus；　at　best；　we　shall　be　contemptible　if　his　views　be　honourable；　but　if　they　be　otherwise！　I　should　shudder　but　to　think　of　that！　It　is　true　I　have　no　apprehensions　from　the　conduct　of　my　children；　but　I　think　there　are　some　from　his　character。'I　would　have　proceeded；　but　for　the　interruption　of　a　servant　from　the　'Squire；　who；　with　his　compliments；　sent　us　a　side　of　venison；　and　a　promise　to　dine　with　us　some　days　after。　This　well…timed　present　pleaded　more　powerfully　in　his　favour；　than　any　thing　I　had　to　say　could　obviate。　I　therefore　continued　silent；　satisfied　with　just　having　pointed　out　danger；　and　leaving　it　to　their　own　discretion　to　avoid　it。　That　virtue　which　requires　to　be　ever　guarded；　is　scarce　worth　the　centinel。



CHAPTER　6

The　happiness　of　a　country　fire…side


As　we　carried　on　the　former　dispute　with　some　degree　of　warmth；　in　order　to　accommodate　matters；　it　was　universally　agreed；　that　we　should　have　a　part　of　the　venison　for　supper；　and　the　girls　undertook　the　task　with　alacrity。　'I　am　sorry；'　cried　I；　'that　we　have　no　neighbour　or　stranger　to　take　a　part　in　this　good　cheer：　feasts　of　this　kind　acquire　a　double　relish　from　hospitality。'　'Bless　me；'　cried　my　wife；　'here　comes　our　good　friend　Mr　Burchell；　that　saved　our　Sophia；　and　that　run　you　down　fairly　in　the　argument''Confute　me　in　argument；　child！'　cried　I。　'You　mistake　there；　my　dear。　I　believe　there　are　but　few　that　can　do　that：　I　never　dispute　your　abilities　at　making　a　goose…pye；　and　I　beg　you'll　leave　argument　to　me。'As　I　spoke；　poor　Mr　Burchell　entered　the　house；　and　was　welcomed　by　the　family；　who　shook　him　heartily　by　the　hand；　while　little　Dick　officiously　reached　him　a　chair。

I　was　plea