the vicar of wakefield-第11部分

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cured　in　the　family。　She　for　a　moment　studied　my　looks　for　approbation；　and；　to　own　a　truth；　I　was　of　opinion；　that　two　such　places　would　fit　our　two　daughters　exactly。　Besides；　if　the　'Squire　had　any　real　affection　for　my　eldest　daughter；　this　would　be　the　way　to　make　her　every　way　qualified　for　her　fortune。　My　wife　therefore　was　resolved　that　we　should　not　be　deprived　of　such　advantages　for　want　of　assurance；　and　undertook　to　harangue　for　the　family。　'I　hope；'　cried　she；　'your　Ladyships　will　pardon　my　present　presumption。　It　is　true；　we　have　no　right　to　pretend　to　such　favours；　but　yet　it　is　natural　for　me　to　wish　putting　my　children　forward　in　the　world。　And　I　will　be　bold　to　say　my　two　girls　have　had　a　pretty　good　education；　and　capacity；　at　least　the　country　can't　shew　better。　They　can　read；　write；　and　cast　accompts；　they　understand　their　needle；　breadstitch；　cross　and　change；　and　all　manner　of　plain…work；　they　can　pink；　point；　and　frill；　and　know　something　of　music；　they　can　do　up　small　cloaths；　work　upon　catgut；　my　eldest　can　cut　paper；　and　my　youngest　has　a　very　pretty　manner　of　telling　fortunes　upon　the　cards。''FUDGE！'

When　she　had　delivered　this　pretty　piece　of　eloquence；　the　two　ladies　looked　at　each　other　a　few　minutes　in　silence；　with　an　air　of　doubt　and　importance。　At　last；　Miss　Carolina　Wilelmina　Amelia　Skeggs　condescended　to　observe；　that　the　young　ladies；　from　the　opinion　she　could　form　of　them　from　so　slight　an　acquaintance；　seemed　very　fit　for　such　employments：　'But　a　thing　of　this　kind；　Madam；'　cried　she；　addressing　my　spouse；　requires　a　thorough　examination　into　characters；　and　a　more　perfect　knowledge　of　each　other。　Not；　Madam；'　continued　she；　'that　I　in　the　least　suspect　the　young　ladies　virtue；　prudence　and　discretion；　but　there　is　a　form　in　these　things；　Madam；　there　is　a　form。'

My　wife　approved　her　suspicions　very　much；　observing；　that　she　was　very　apt　to　be　suspicious　herself；　but　referred　her　to　all　the　neighbours　for　a　character：　but　this　our　Peeress　declined　as　unnecessary；　alledging　that　her　cousin　Thornhill's　recommendation　would　be　sufficient；　and　upon　this　we　rested　our　petition。



CHAPTER　12

Fortune　seems　resolved　to　humble　the　family　of　Wakefield。　Mortifications　are　often　more　painful　than　real　calamities


When　we　were　returned　home；　the　night　was　dedicated　to　schemes　of　future　conquest。　Deborah　exerted　much　sagacity　in　conjecturing　which　of　the　two　girls　was　likely　to　have　the　best　place；　and　most　opportunities　of　seeing　good　company。　The　only　obstacle　to　our　preferment　was　in　obtaining　the　'Squire's　recommendation；　but　he　had　already　shewn　us　too　many　instances　of　his　friendship　to　doubt　of　it　now。　Even　in　bed　my　wife　kept　up　the　usual　theme：　'Well；　faith；　my　dear　Charles；　between　ourselves；　I　think　we　have　made　an　excellent　day's　work　of　it。''Pretty　well；'　cried　I；　not　knowing　what　to　say。'What　only　pretty　well！'　returned　she。　'I　think　it　is　very　well。　Suppose　the　girls　should　come　to　make　acquaintances　of　taste　in　town！　This　I　am　assured　of；　that　London　is　the　only　place　in　the　world　for　all　manner　of　husbands。　Besides；　my　dear；　stranger　things　happen　every　day：　and　as　ladies　of　quality　are　so　taken　with　my　daughters；　what　will　not　men　of　quality　be！　Entre　nous；　I　protest　I　like　my　Lady　Blarney　vastly；　so　very　obliging。　However；　Miss　Carolina　Wilelmina　Anielia　Skeggs　has　my　warm　heart。　But　yet；　when　they　came　to　talk　of　places　in　town；　you　saw　at　once　how　I　nailed　them。　Tell　me；　my　dear；　don't　you　think　I　did　for　my　children　there？''Ay；'　returned　I；　not　knowing　well　what　to　think　of　the　matter；　'heaven　grant　they　may　be　both　the　better　for　it　this　day　three　months！'　This　was　one　of　those　observations　I　usually　made　to　impress　my　wife　with　an　opinion　of　my　sagacity；　for　if　the　girls　succeeded；　then　it　was　a　pious　wish　fulfilled；　but　if　any　thing　unfortunate　ensued；　then　it　might　be　looked　upon　as　a　prophecy。　All　this　conversation；　however；　was　only　preparatory　to　another　scheme；　and　indeed　I　dreaded　as　much。　This　was　nothing　less　than；　that　as　we　were　now　to　hold　up　our　heads　a　little　higher　in　the　world；　it　would　be　proper　to　sell　the　Colt；　which　was　grown　old；　at　a　neighbouring　fair；　and　buy　us　an　horse　that　would　carry　single　or　double　upon　an　occasion；　and　make　a　pretty　appearance　at　church　or　upon　a　visit。　This　at　first　I　opposed　stoutly；　but　it　was　as　stoutly　defended。　However；　as　I　weakened；　my　antagonist　gained　strength；　till　at　last　it　was　resolved　to　part　with　him。

As　the　fair　happened　on　the　following　day；　I　had　intentions　of　going　myself；　but　my　wife　persuaded　me　that　I　had　got　a　cold；　and　nothing　could　prevail　upon　her　to　permit　me　from　home。　'No；　my　dear；'　said　she；　'our　son　Moses　is　a　discreet　boy；　and　can　buy　and　sell　to　very　good　advantage；　you　know　all　our　great　bargains　are　of　his　purchasing。　He　always　stands　out　and　higgles；　and　actually　tires　them　till　he　gets　a　bargain。'

As　I　had　some　opinion　of　my　son's　prudence；　I　was　willing　enough　to　entrust　him　with　this　commission；　and　the　next　morning　I　perceived　his　sisters　mighty　busy　in　fitting　out　Moses　for　the　fair；　trimming　his　hair；　brushing　his　buckles；　and　cocking　his　hat　with　pins。　The　business　of　the　toilet　being　over；　we　had　at　last　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　him　mounted　upon　the　Colt；　with　a　deal　box　before　him　to　bring　home　groceries　in。　He　had　on　a　coat　made　of　that　cloth　they　call　thunder　and　lightning；　which；　though　grown　too　short；　was　much　too　good　to　be　thrown　away。　His　waistcoat　was　of　gosling　green；　and　his　sisters　had　tied　his　hair　with　a　broad　black　ribband。　We　all　followed　him　several　paces；　from　the　door；　bawling　after　him　good　luck；　good　luck；　till　we　could　see　him　no　longer。

He　was　scarce　gone；　when　Mr　Thornhill's　butler　came　to　congratulate　us　upon　our　good　fortune；　saying；　that　he　overheard　his　young　master　mention　our　names　with　great　commendation。

Good　fortune　seemed　resolved　not　to　come　alone。　Another　footman　from　the　same　family　followed；　with　a　card　for　my　daughters；　importing；　that　the　two　ladies　had　received　such　pleasing　accounts　from　Mr　Thornhill　of　us　all；　that；　after　a　few　previous　enquiries；　they　hoped　to　be　perfectly　satisfied。　'Ay；'　cried　my　wife；　I　now　see　it　is　no　easy　matter　to　get　into　the　families　of　the　great；　but　when　one　once　gets　in；　then；　as　Moses　says；　one　may　go　sleep。'　To　this　piece　of　humour；　for　she　intended　it　for　wit；　my　daughters　assented　with　a　loud　laugh　of　pleasure。　In　short；　such　was　her　satisfaction　at　this　message；　that　she　actually　put　her　hand　in　her　pocket；　and　gave　the　messenger　seven…pence　halfpenny。

This　was　to　be　our　visiting…day。　The　next　that　came　was　Mr　Burchell；　who　had　been　at　the　fair。　He　brought　my　little　ones　a　pennyworth　of　gingerbread　each；　which　my　wife　undertook　to　keep　for　them；　and　give　them　by　letters　at　a　time。　He　brought　my　daughters　also　a　couple　of　boxes；　in　which　they　might　keep　wafers；　snuff；　patches；　or　even　money；　when　they　got　it。　My　wife　was　usually　fond　of　a　weesel　skin　purse；　as　being　the　most　lucky；　but　this　by　the　bye。　We　had　still　a　regard　for　Mr　Burchell；　though　his　late　rude　behaviour　was　in　some　measure　displeasing；　nor　could　we　now　avoid　communicating　our　happiness　to　him；　and　asking　his　advice：　although　we　seldom　followed　advice；　we　were　all　ready　enough　to　ask　it。　When　he　read　the　note　from　the　two　ladies；　he　shook　his　head；　and　observed；　that　an　affair　of　this　sort　demanded　the　utmost　circumspection。This　air　of　diffidence　highly　displeased　my　wife。　'I　never　doubted；　Sir；'　cried　she；　'your　readiness　to　be　against　my　daughters　and　me。　You　have　more　circumspection　than　is　wanted。　However；　I　fancy　when　we　come　to　ask　advice；　we　will　apply　to　persons　who　seem　to　have　made　use　of　it　themselves。''Whatever　my　own　conduct　may　have　been；　madam；'　replied　he；　'is　not　the　present　question；　tho'　as　I　have　made　no　use　of　advice　myself；　I　should　in　conscience　give　it　to　those　that　will。'As　I　was　apprehensive　this　answer　might　draw　on　a　repartee；　making　up　by　abuse　what　it　wanted　in　wit；　I　changed　the　subject；　by　seeming　to　wonder　what　could　keep　our　son　so　long　at　the　fair；　as　it　was　now　almost　nightfall。'Never　mind　our　son；'　cried　my　wife；　'depend　upon　it　he　knows　what　he　is　about。　I'll　warrant　we'll　never　see　him　sell　his　hen　of　a　rainy　day。　I　have　seen　him　buy　such　bargains　as　would　amaze　one。　I'll　tell　you　a　good　story　about　that；　that　will　make　you　split　your　sides　with　laughingBut　as　I　live；　yonder　comes　Moses；　without　an　horse；　and　the　box　at　his　back。'

As　she　spoke；　Moses　came　slowly　on　foot；　and　sweating　under　the　deal　box；　which　he　had　strapt　round　his　shoulders　like　a　pedlar。…　…　'Welcome；　welcome；　Moses；　well；　my　boy；　what　have　you　brought　us　from　the　fair？''I　have　brought　you　myself；'　cried　Moses；　with　a　sly　look；　and　resting　the　box　on　the　dresser。'Ay；　Moses；'　cried　my　wife；　'that　we　know；　but　where　is　the　horse？'　'I　have　sold　him；'　cried　Moses；　'for　three　pounds　five　shillings　and　two…　pence。''Well　done；　my　goqd　boy；'　returned　she；　'I　knew　you　would　touch　them　off。　Between　ourselves；　three　pounds　five　shillings　and　two…pence　is　no　bad　day's　work。　Come；　let　us　have　it　then。''I　have　brought　back　no　money；'　cried　Moses'again。　'I　have　laid　it　all　out　in　a　bargain；　and　here　it　is；'　pulling　out　a　bund