the vicar of wakefield-第9节
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was still superior to their other accomplishments。 One of them observed； that had miss Olivia seen a little more of the world； it would greatly improve her。 To which the other added； that a single winter in town would make her little Sophia quite another thing。 My wife warmly assented to both； adding； that there was nothing she more ardently wished than to give her girls a single winter's polishing。 To this I could not help replying； that their breeding was already superior to their fortune； and that greater refinement would only serve to make their poverty ridiculous； and give them a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess。 'And what pleasures；' cried Mr Thornhill； 'do they not deserve to possess； who have so much in their power to bestow？ As for my
part；' continued he； 'my fortune is pretty large； love； liberty； and pleasure； are my maxims； but curse me if a settlement of half my estate could give my charming Olivia pleasure； it should be hers； and the only favour I would ask in return would be to add myself to the benefit。' I was not such a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that this was the fashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest proposal； but I made an effort to suppress my resentment。 'Sir；' cried I； 'the family which you now condescend to favour with your company； has been bred with as nice a sense of honour as you。 Any attempts to injure that； may be attended with very dangerous consequences。 Honour； Sir； is our only possession at present； and of that last treasure we must be particularly careful。'I was soon sorry for the warmth with which I had spoken this； when the young gentleman； grasping my hand； swore he commended my spirit； though he disapproved my suspicions。 'As to your present hint；' continued he； 'I protest nothing was farther from my heart than such a thought。 No； by all that's tempting； the virtue that will stand a regular siege was never to my taste； for all my amours are carried by a coup de main。'
The two ladies； who affected to be ignorant of the rest； seemed highly displeased with this last stroke of freedom； and began a very discreet and serious dialogue upon virtue： in this my wife； the chaplain； and I； soon joined； and the 'Squire himself was at last brought to confess a sense of sorrow for his former excesses。 We talked of the pleasures of temperance； and of the sun…shine in the mind unpolluted with guilt。 I was so well pleased； that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual time to be edified by so much good conversation。 Mr Thornhill even went beyond me； and demanded if I had any objection to giving prayers。 I joyfully embraced the proposal； and in this manner the night was passed in a most comfortable way； till at last the company began to think of returning。 The ladies seemed very unwilling to part with my daughters； for whom they had conceived a particular affection； and joined in a request to have the pleasure of their company home。 The 'Squire seconded the proposal； and my wife added her entreaties： the girls too looked upon me as if they wished to go。 In this perplexity I made two or three excuses； which my daughters as readily removed； so that at last I was obliged to give a peremptory refusal； for which we had nothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing。
CHAPTER 10
The family endeavours to cope with their betters。 The miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances
I now began to find that all my long and painful lectures upon temperance； simplicity； and contentment； were entirely disregarded。 The distinctions lately paid us by our betters awaked that pride which I had laid asleep； but not removed。 Our windows again； as formerly； were filled with washes for the neck and face。 The sun was dreaded as an enemy to the skin without doors； and the fire as a spoiler of the complexion within。 My wife observed； that rising too early。 would hurt her daughters' eyes； that working after dinner would redden their noses； and she convinced me that the hands never looked so white as when they did nothing。 Instead therefore of finishing George's shirts； we now had them new modelling their old gauzes； or flourishing upon catgut。 The poor Miss Flamboroughs； their former gay companions； were cast off as mean acquaintance； and the whole conversation ran upon high life and high lived company； with pictures； taste； Shakespear； and the musical glasses。
But we could have borne all this； had not a fortune…telling gypsey come to raise us into perfect sublimity。 The tawny sybil no sooner appeared； than my girls came running to me for a shilling a piece to cross her hand with silver。 To say the truth； I was tired of being always wise； and could not help gratifying their request； because I loved to see them happy。 I gave each of them a shilling； though； for the honour of the family； it must be observed； that they never went without money themselves； as my wife always generously let them have a guinea each； to keep in their pockets； but with strict injunctions never to change it。 After they had been closetted up with the fortune…teller for some time； I knew by their looks； upon their returning； that they had been promised something great。'Well； my girls； how have you sped？ Tell me； Livy； has the fortune…teller given thee a pennyworth？''I protest； pappa；' says the girl； 'I believe she deals with some body that's not right； for she positively declared； that I am to be married to a 'Squire in less than a twelvemonth！''Well now； Sophy； my child；' said I； 'and what sort of a husband are you to have？' 'Sir；' replied she； 'I am to have a Lord soon after my sister has married the 'Squire。' 'How；' cried I； 'is that all you are to have for your two shillings！ Only a Lord and a 'Squire for two shillings！ You fools； I could have promised you a Prince and a Nabob for half the money。' This curiosity of theirs； however； was attended with very serious effects： we now began to think ourselves designed by the stars for something exalted； and already anticipated our future grandeur。 It has been a thousand times observed； and I must observe it once more； that the hours we pass with happy prospects in view； are more pleasing than those crowned with fruition。 In the first case we cook the dish to our own appetite； in the latter nature cooks it for us。 It is impossible to repeat the train of agreeable reveries we called up for our entertainment。 We looked upon our fortunes as once more rising； and as the whole parish asserted that the 'Squire was in love with my daughter； she was actually so with him； for they persuaded her into the passion。 In this agreeable interval； my wife had the most lucky dreams in the world； which she took care to tell us every morning； with great solemnity and exactness。 It was one night a coffin and cross bones； the sign of an approaching wedding： at another time she imagined her daughters' pockets filled with farthings； a certain sign of their being shortly stuffed with gold。 The girls themselves had their omens。 They felt strange kisses on their lips； they saw rings in the candle； purses bounced from the fire； and true love…knots lurked in the bottom of every tea…cup。
Towards the end of the week we received a card from the town ladies； in which； with their compliments； they hoped to see all our family at church the Sunday following。 All Saturday morning I could perceive； in consequence of this； my wife and daughters in close conference together； and now and then glancing at me with looks that betrayed a latent plot。 To be sincere； I had strong suspicions that some absurd proposal was preparing for appearing with splendor the next day。 In the evening they began their operations in a very regular manner； and my wife undertook to conduct the siege。 After tea； when I seemed in spirits； she began thus。'I fancy； Charles； my dear； we shall have a great deal of good company at our church to…morrow；''Perhaps we may； my dear；' returned I； 'though you need be under no uneasiness about that； you shall have a sermon whether there be or not。''That is what I expect；' returned she； 'but I think； my dear； we ought to appear there as decently as possible； for who knows what may happen？' 'Your precautions；' replied I； 'are highly commendable。 A decent behaviour and appearance in church is what charms me。 We should be devout and humble； chearful and serene。''Yes；' cried she； 'I know that； but I mean we should go there in as proper a manner as possible； not altogether like the scrubs about us。〃 'You are quite right； my dear；' returned I； 'and I was going to make the very same proposal。 The proper manner of going is； to go there as early as possible； to have time for meditation before the service begins。''Phoo； Charles；' interrupted she； 'all that is very true； but not what I would be at。 I mean； we should go there genteelly。 You know the church is two miles off； and I protest I don't like to see my daughters trudging up to their pew all blowzed and red with walking； and； looking for all the world as if they had been winners at a smock race。 Now； my dear； my proposal is this： there are our two plow horses； the Colt that has been in our family these nine years； and his companion Blackberry； that have scarce done an earthly thing for this
