the expedition of humphry clinker-第87部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


understanding；　nay；　it　sometimes　becomes　so　incredibly　depraved；
as　to　aspire　at　infamy；　and　find　pleasure　in　bearing　the　stigmas
of　reproach。

I　have　now　given　you　a　sketch　of　the　character　and　situation　of
Mr　Dennison；　when　he　came　down　to　take　possession　of　this　estate；
but　as　the　messenger；　who　carries　the　letters　to　the　next　town；
is　just　setting　off；　I　shall　reserve　what　further　I　have　to　say
on　this　subject；　till　the　next　post；　when　you　shall　certainly
hear　from


Yours　always；
MATT。　BRAMBLE
Oct。　8。



To　Dr　LEWIS。

Once　more；　dear　doctor；　I　resume　the　pen　for　your　amusement。　It
was　on　the　morning　after　our　arrival　that；　walking　out　with　my
friend；　Mr　Dennison；　I　could　not　help　breaking　forth　into　the
warmest　expressions　of　applause　at　the　beauty　of　the　scene；　which
is　really　inchanting；　and　I　signified；　in　particular；　how　much　I
was　pleased　with　the　disposition　of　some　detached　groves；　that
afforded　at　once　shelter　and　ornament　to　his　habitation。

'When　I　took　possession　of　these　lands；　about　two　and　twenty
years　ago　（said　he）；　there　was　not　a　tree　standing　within　a　mile
of　the　house；　except　those　of　an　old　neglected　orchard；　which
produced　nothing　but　leaves　and　moss。　　It　was　in　the　gloomy　month
of　November；　when　I　arrived；　and　found　the　house　in　such　a
condition；　that　it　might　have　been　justly　stiled　the　tower　of
desolation。　　The　court…yard　was　covered　with　nettles　and　docks　；
and　the　garden　exhibited　such　a　rank　plantation　of　weeds　as　I　had
never　seen　before；　　the　window…shutters　were　falling　in　pieces；　
the　sashes　broken；　　and　owls　and　jack…daws　had　taken　possession
of　the　chimnies。　　The　prospect　within　was　still　more　dreary　　All
was　dark；　and　damp；　and　dirty　beyond　description；　　the　rain
penetrated　in　several　parts　of　the　roof；　　in　some　apartments　the
very　floors　had　given　way；　　the　hangings　were　parted　from　the
walls；　and　shaking　in　mouldy　remnants；　the　glasses　were　dropping
out　of　their　frames；　　the　family…pictures　were　covered　with　dust。
and　all　the　chairs　and　tables　worm…eaten　and　crazy。　　There　was
not　a　bed　in　the　house　that　could　be　used；　except　one　old…fashioned
machine；　with　a　high　gilt　tester　and　fringed　curtains
of　yellow　mohair；　which　had　been；　for　aught　I　know；　two　centuries
in　the　family。　　In　short；　there　was　no　furniture　but　the　utensils
of　the　kitchen；　and　the　cellar　afforded　nothing　but　a　few　empty
butts　and　barrels；　that　stunk　so　abominably；　that　I　would　not
suffer　any　body　to　enter　it　until　I　had　flashed　a　considerable
quantity　of　gunpowder　to　qualify　the　foul　air　within。

'An　old　cottager　and　his　wife；　who　were　hired　to　lie　in　the
house；　had　left　it　with　precipitation；　alledging；　among　other
causes　of　retreat；　that　they　could　not　sleep　for　frightful
noises；　and　that　my　poor　brother　certainly　walked　after　his
death。　　In　a　word；　the　house　appeared　uninhabitable；　the　barn；
stable；　and　outhouses　were　in　ruins；　all　the　fences　broken　down；
and　the　fields　lying　waste。

'The　farmer　who　kept　the　key　never　dreamed　I　had　any　intention　to
live　upon　the　spot　　He　rented　a　farm　of　sixty　pounds；　and　his
lease　was　just　expiring。　　He　had　formed　a　scheme　of　being
appointed　bailiff　to　the　estate；　and　of　converting　the　house　and
the　adjacent　grounds　to　his　own　use。　A　hint　of　his　intention　I
received　from　the　curate　at　my　first　arrival；　I　therefore　did　not
pay　much　regard　to　what　he　said　by　way　of　discouraging　me　from
coming　to　settle　in　the　country；　but　I　was　a　little　startled
when　he　gave　me　warning　that　he　should　quit　the　farm　at　the
expiration　of　his　lease；　unless　I　could　abate　considerably　in　the
rent。

'At　this　period　I　accidentally　became　acquainted　with　a　person；
whose　friendship　laid　the　foundation　of　all　my　prosperity。　In　the
next　market…town　I　chanced　to　dine　at　an　inn　with　a　Mr　Wilson；
who　was　lately　come　to　settle　in　the　neighbourhood。　　He　had　been
lieutenant　of　a　man　of　war；　but　quitted　the　sea　in　some　disgust；
and　married　the　only　daughter　of　farmer　Bland；　who　lives　in　this
parish；　and　has　acquired　a　good　fortune　in　the　way　of　husbandry。　
Wilson　is　one　of　the　best　natured　men　I　ever　knew；　brave；　frank；
obliging；　and　ingenuous　　He　liked　my　conversation；　I　was　charmed
with　his　liberal　manner；　and　acquaintance　immediately　commenced；
and　this　was　soon　improved　into　a　friendship　without　reserve。　
There　are　characters　which；　like　similar　particles　of　matter；
strongly　attract　each　other。　　He　forthwith　introduced　me　to　his
father…in…law；　farmer　Bland；　who　was　well　acquainted　with　every
acre　of　my　estate；　of　consequence　well　qualified　to　advise　me　on
this　occasion。　　Finding　I　was　inclined　to　embrace　a　country　life；
and　even　to　amuse　myself　with　the　occupation　of　farming；　he
approved　of　my　design　　He　gave　me　to　understand　that　all　my　farms
were　underlett；　that　the　estate　was　capable　of　great　improvement；
that　there　was　plenty　of　chalk　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　that　my
own　ground　produced　excellent　marle　for　manure。　　With　respect　to
the　farm；　which　was　like　to　fall　into　my　hands；　he　said　he　would
willingly　take　it　at　the　present　rent；　but　at　the　same　time
owned；　that　if　I　would　expend　two　hundred　pounds　in　enclosure；　it
would　be　worth　more　than　double　the　sum。

'Thus　encouraged；　I　began　the　execution　of　my　scheme　without
further　delay；　and　plunged　into　a　sea　of　expence；　though　I　had　no
fund　in　reserve；　and　the　whole　produce　of　the　estate　did　not
exceed　three　hundred　pounds　a　year　　In　one　week；　my　house　was
made　weather…tight；　and　thoroughly　cleansed　from　top　to　bottom；
then　it　was　well　ventilated　by　throwing　all　the　doors　and　windows
open；　and　making　blazing　fires　of　wood　in　every　chimney　from　the
kitchen　to　the　garrets。　The　floors　were　repaired；　the　sashes　new
glazed；　and　out　of　the　old　furniture　of　the　whole　house；　I　made
shift　to　fit　up　a　parlour　and　three　chambers　in　a　plain　yet
decent　manner。　　The　court…yard　was　cleared　of　weeds　and　rubbish；
and　my　friend　Wilson　charged　himself　with　the　dressing　of　the
garden；　bricklayers　were　set　at　work　upon　the　barn　and　stable；
and　labourers　engaged　to　restore　the　fences；　and　begin　the　work
of　hedging　and　ditching；　under　the　direction　of　farmer　Bland；　at
whose　recommendation　I　hired　a　careful　hind　to　lie　in　the　house；
and　keep　constant　fires　in　the　apartments。

'Having　taken　these　measures；　I　returned　to　London；　where　I
forthwith　sold　off　my　household…furniture；　and；　in　three　weeks
from　my　first　visit；　brought　my　wife　hither　to　keep　her
Christmas。　　Considering　the　gloomy　season　of　the　year；　the
dreariness　of　the　place；　and　the　decayed　aspect　of　our
habitation；　I　was　afraid　that　her　resolution　would　sink　under　the
sudden　transition　from　a　town　life　to　such　a　melancholy　state　of
rustication；　but　I　was　agreeably　disappointed。　　She　found　the
reality　less　uncomfortable　than　the　picture　I　had　drawn。　　By　this
time　indeed；　things　were　mended　in　appearance　　The　out…houses　had
risen　out　of　their　ruins；　the　pigeon…house　was　rebuilt；　and
replenished　by　Wilson；　who　also　put　my　garden　in　decent　order；
and　provided　a　good　stock　of　poultry；　which　made　an　agreeable
figure　in　my　yard；　and　the　house；　on　the　whole；　looked　like　the
habitation　of　human　creatures。　　Farmer　Bland　spared　me　a　milch
cow　for　my　family；　and　an　ordinary　saddle…horse　for　my　servant　to
go　to　market　at　the　next　town。　　I　hired　a　country　lad　for　a
footman；　the　hind's　daughter　was　my　house…maid；　and　my　wife　had
brought　a　cook…maid　from　London。

'Such　was　my　family　when　I　began　house…keeping　in　this　place；
with　three　hundred　pounds　in　my　pocket；　raised　from　the　sale　of
my　superfluous　furniture。　　I　knew　we　should　find　occupation
enough　through　the　day　to　employ　our　time；　but　I　dreaded　the　long
winter　evenings；　yet；　for　those　too　we　found　a　remedy：　The
curate；　who　was　a　single　man；　soon　became　so　naturalized　to　the
family；　that　he　generally　lay　in　the　house；　and　his　company　was
equally　agreeable　and　useful。　He　was　a　modest　man；　a　good
scholar；　and　perfectly　well　qualified　to　instruct　me　in　such
country　matters　as　I　wanted　to　know。　　Mr　Wilson　brought　his　wife
to　see　us；　and　she　became　so　fond　of　Mrs　Dennison；　that　she　said
she　was　never　so　happy　as　when　she　enjoyed　the　benefit　of　her
conversation。　　She　was　then　a　fine　buxom　country　lass；
exceedingly　docile；　and　as　good…natured　as　her　husband　Jack
Wilson；　so　that　a　friendship　ensued　among　the　women；　which　hath
continued　to　this　day。

'As　for　Jack；　he　hath　been　my　constant　companion；　counsellor；　and
commissary。　　I　would　not　for　a　hundred　pounds　you　should　leave　my
house　without　seeing　him。　　Jack　is　an　universal　genius　　his
talents　are　really　astonishing：　　He　is　an　excellent　carpenter；
joiner；　and　turner；　and　a　cunning　artist　in　iron　and　brass。　　He
not　only　superintended　my　oeconomy；　but　also　presided　over　my
pastimes　　He　taught　me　to　brew　beer；　to　make　cyder；　perry；　mead；
usquebaugh；　and　plague…water；　to　cook　several　outlandish
delicacies；　such　as　ollas；　pepper…pots；　pillaws；　corys；　chabobs；
and　stufatas。　　He　understands　all　manner　of　games　from　chess　down
to　chuck…farthing；　sings　a　good　song；　plays　upon　the　violin；　and
dances　a　hornpipe　with　surprising　agility。　　He　and　I　walked；　and
rode；　and　hunted；　and　fished　together；　witho