the vicar of wakefield-第20部分

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adies　cried　out；　'As　sure　as　death　there　is　our　master　and　mistress　come　home。'　It　seems　my　entertainer　was　all　this　while　only　the　butler；　who；　in　his　master's　absence；　had　a　mind　to　cut　a　figure；　and　be　for　a　while　the　gentleman　himself；　and；　to　say　the　truth；　he　talked　politics　as　well　as　most　country　gentlemen　do。　But　nothing　could　now　exceed　my　confusion　upon　seeing　the　gentleman；　and　his　lady；　enter；　nor　was　their　surprize；　at　finding　such　company　and　good　cheer；　less　than　ours。　'Gentlemen；'　cried　the　real　master　of　the　house；　to　me　and　my　companion；　'my　wife　and　I　are　your　most　humble　servants；　but　I　protest　this　is　so　unexpected　a　favour；　that　we　almost　sink　under　the　obligation。'　However　unexpected　our　company　might　be　to　them；　theirs；　I　am　sure；　was　still　more　so　to　us；　and　I　was　struck　dumb　with　the　apprehensions　of　my　own　absurdity；　when　whom　should　I　next　see　enter　the　room　but　my　dear　miss　Arabella　Wilmot；　who　was　formerly　designed　to　be　married　to　my　son　George；　but　whose　match　was　broken　off；　as　already　related。　As　soon　as　she　saw　me；　she　flew　to　my　arms　with　the　utmost　joy。　'My　dear　sir；'　cried　she；　'to　what　happy　accident　is　it　that　we　owe　so　unexpected　a　visit？　I　am　sure　my　uncle　and　aunt　will　be　in　raptures　when　they　find　they　have　the　good　Dr　Primrose　for　their　guest。'　Upon　hearing　my　name；　the　old　gentleman　and　lady　very　politely　stept　up；　and　welcomed　me　with　most　cordial　hospitality。　Nor　could　they　forbear　smiling　upon　being　informed　of　the　nature　of　my　present　visit：　but　the　unfortunate　butler；　whom　they　at　first　seemed　disposed　to　turn　away；　was；　at　my　intercession；　forgiven。

Mr　Arnold　and　his　lady；　to　whom　the　house　belonged；　now　insisted　upon　having　the　pleasure　of　my　stay　for　some　days；　and　as　their　niece；　my　charming　pupil；　whose　mind；　in　some　measure；　had　been　formed　under　my　own　instructions；　joined　in　their　entreaties。　I　complied。　That　night　I　was　shewn　to　a　magnificent　chamber；　and　the　next　morning　early　Miss　Wilmot　desired　to　walk　with　me　in　the　garden；　which　was　decorated　in　the　modern　manner。　After　some　time　spent　in　pointing　out　the　beauties　of　the　place；　she　enquired　with　seeming　unconcern；　when　last　I　had　heard　from　my　son　George。　'Alas！　Madam；'　cried　I；　'he　has　now　been　near　three　years　absent；　without　ever　writing　to　his　friends　or　me。　Where　he　is　I　know　not；　perhaps　I　shall　never　see　him　or　happiness　more。　No；　my　dear　Madam；　we　shall　never　more　see　such　pleasing　hours　as　were　once　spent　by　our　fire…side　at　Wakefield。　My　little　family　are　now　dispersing　very　fast；　and　poverty　has　brought　not　only　want；　but　infamy　upon　us。'　The　good…natured　girl　let　fall　a　tear　at　this　account；　but　as　I　saw　her　possessed　of　too　much　sensibility；　I　forbore　a　more　minute　detail　of　our　sufferings。　It　was；　however；　some　consolation　to　me　to　find　that　time　had　made　no　alteration　in　her　affections；　and　that　she　had　rejected　several　matches　that　had　been　made　her　since　our　leaving　her　part　of　the　country。　She　led　me　round　all　the　extensive　improvements　of　the　place；　pointing　to　the　several　walks　and　arbours；　and　at　the　same　time　catching　from　every　object　a　hint　for　some　new　question　relative　to　my　son。　In　this　manner　we　spent　the　forenoon；　till　the　bell　summoned　us　in　to　dinner；　where　we　found　the　manager　of　the　strolling　company　that　I　mentioned　before；　who　was　come　to　dispose　of　tickets　for　the　Fair　Penitent；　which　was　to　be　acted　that　evening；　the　part　of　Horatio　by　a　young　gentleman　who　had　never　appeared　on　any　stage。　He　seemed　to　be　very　warm　in　the　praises　of　the　new　performer；　and　averred；　that　he　never　saw　any　who　bid　so　fair　for　excellence。　Acting；　he　observed；　was　not　learned　in　a　day；　'But　this　gentleman；'　continued　he；　'seems　born　to　tread　the　stage。　His　voice；　his　figure；　and　attitudes；　are　all　admirable。　We　caught　him　up　accidentally　in　our　journey　down。'　This　account；　in　some　measure；　excited　our　curiosity；　and；　at　the　entreaty　of　the　ladies；　I　was　prevailed　upon　to　accompany　them　to　the　play…house；　which　was　no　other　than　a　barn。　As　the　company　with　which　I　went　was　incontestably　the　chief　of　the　place；　we　were　received　with　the　greatest　respect；　and　placed　in　the　front　seat　of　the　theatre；　where　we　sate　for　some　time　with　no　small　impatience　to　see　Horatio　make　his　appearance。　The　new　performer　advanced　at　last；　and　let　parents　think　of　my　sensations　by　their　own；　when　I　found　it　was　my　unfortunate　son。　He　was　going　to　begin；　when；　turning　his　eyes　upon　the　audience；　he　perceived　Miss　Wilmot　and　me；　and　stood　at　once　speechless　and　immoveable。　The　actors　behind　the　scene；　who　ascribed　this　pause　to　his　natural　timidity；　attempted　to　encourage　him；　but　instead　of　going　on；　he　burst　into　a　flood　of　tears；　and　retired　off　the　stage。　I　don't　know　what　were　my　feelings　on　this　occasion；　for　they　succeeded　with　too　much　rapidity　for　description：　but　I　was　soon　awaked　from　this　disagreeable　reverie　by　Miss　Wilmot；　who；　pale　and　with　a　trembling　voice；　desired　me　to　conduct　her　back　to　her　uncle's。　When　got　home；　Mr　Arnold；　who　was　as　yet　a　stranger　to　our　extraordinary　behaviour；　being　informed　that　the　new　performer　was　my　son；　sent　his　coach；　and　an　invitation；　for　him；　and　as　he　persisted　in　his　refusal　to　appear　again　upon　the　stage；　the　players　put　another　in　his　place；　and　we　soon　had　him　with　us。　Mr　Arnold　gave　him　the　kindest　reception；　and　I　received　him　with　my　usual　transport；　for　I　could　never　counterfeit　false　resentment。　Miss　Wilmot's　reception　was　mixed　with　seeming　neglect；　and　yet　I　could　perceive　she　acted　a　studied　part。　The　tumult　in　her　mind　seemed　not　yet　abated；　she　said　twenty　giddy　things　that　looked　like　joy；　and　then　laughed　loud　at　her　own　want　of　meaning。　At　intervals　she　would　take　a　sly　peep　at　the　glass；　as　if　happy　in　the　consciousness　of　unresisting　beauty；　and　often　would　ask　questions；　without　giving　any　manner　of　attention　to　the　answers。



CHAPTER　20

The　history　of　a　philosophic　vagabond；　pursuing　novelty；　but　losing　content


After　we　had　supped；　Mrs　Arnold　politely　offered　to　send　a　couple　of　her　footmen　for　my　son's　baggage；　which　he　at　first　seemed　to　decline；　but　upon　her　pressing　the　request；　he　was　obliged　to　inform　her；　that　a　stick　and　a　wallet　were　all　the　moveable　things　upon　this　earth　that　he　could　boast　of。　'Why；　aye　my　son；'　cried　I；　'you　left　me　but　poor；　and　poor　I　find　you　are　come　back；　and　yet　I　make　no　doubt　you　have　seen　a　great　deal　of　the　world。'　'Yes；　Sir；'　replied　my　son；　'but　travelling　after　fortune；　is　not　the　way　to　secure　her；　and；　indeed；　of　late；　I　have　desisted　from　the　pursuit。''I　fancy；　Sir；'　cried　Mrs　Arnold；　'that　the　account　of　your　adventures　would　be　amusing：　the　first　part　of　them　I　have　often　heard　from　my　niece；　but　could　the　company　prevail　for　the　rest；　it　would　be　an　additional　obligation。''Madam；'　replied　my　son；　'I　promise　you　the　pleasure　you　have　in　hearing；　will　not　be　half　so　great　as　my　vanity　in　repeating　them；　and　yet　in　the　whole　narrative　I　can　scarce　promise　you　one　adventure；　as　my　account　is　rather　of　what　I　saw　than　what　I　did。　The　first　misfortune　of　my　life；　which　you　all　know；　was　great；　but　tho'　it　distrest；　it　could　not　sink　me。　No　person　ever　had　a　better　knack　at　hoping　than　I。　The　less　kind　I　found　fortune　at　one　time；　the　more　I　expected　from　her　another；　and　being　now　at　the　bottom　of　her　wheel；　every　new　revolution　might　lift；　but　could　not　depress　me。　I　proceeded；　therefore；　towards　London　in　a　fine　morning；　no　way　uneasy　about　tomorrow；　but　chearful　as　the　birds　that　caroll'd　by　the　road；　and　comforted　myself　with　reflecting　that　London　was　the　mart　where　abilities　of　every　kind　were　sure　of　meeting　distinction　and　reward。

'Upon　my　arrival　in　town；　Sir；　my　first　care　was　to　deliver　your　letter　of　recommendation　to　our　cousin；　who　was　himself　in　little　better　circumstances　than　I。　My　first　scheme；　you　know；　Sir；　was　to　be　usher　at　an　academy；　and　I　asked　his　advice　on　the　affair。　Our　cousin　received　the　proposal　with　a　true　Sardonic　grin。　Aye；　cried　he；　this　is　indeed　a　very　pretty　career；　that　has　been　chalked　out　for　you。　I　have　been　an　usher　at　a　boarding　school　myself；　and　may　I　die　by　an　anodyne　necklace；　but　I　had　rather　be　an　under　turnkey　in　Newgate。　I　was　up　early　and　late：　I　was　brow…　beat　by　the　master；　hated　for　my　ugly　face　by　the　mistress；　worried　by　the　boys　within；　and　never　permitted　to　stir　out　to　meet　civility　abroad。　But　are　you　sure　you　are　fit　for　a　school？　Let　me　examine　you　a　little。　Have　you　been　bred　apprentice　to　the　business？　No。　Then　you　won't　do　for　a　school。　Can　you　dress　the　boys　hair？　No。　Then　you　won't　do　for　a　school。　Have　you　had　the　small…pox？　No。　Then　you　won't　do　for　a　school。　Can　you　lie　three　in　a　bed？　No。　Then　you　will　never　do　for　a　school。　Have　you　got　a　good　stomach？　Yes。　Then　you　will　by　no　means　do　for　a　school。　No；　Sir；　if　you　are　for　a　genteel　easy　profession；　bind　yourself　seven　years　as　an　apprentice　to　turn　a　cutler's　wheel；　but　avoid　a　school　by　any　means。　Yet　come；　continued　he；　I　see　you　are　a　lad　of　spirit　and　some　learning；　what　do　you　think　of　commencing　author；　like　me？　You　have　read　in　books；　no　doubt；　of　men　of　genius　starving　at　the　trade：　At　present　I'll　shew　you　forty　very　dull　fellows　about　town　that　live　by　it　in　opule