the vicar of wakefield-第20部分

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。　We　were　all　perfectly　satisfied　with　his　performance；　but　an　unfortunate　circumstance　had　not　occurred　till　the　picture　was　finished；　which　now　struck　us　with　dismay。　It　was　so　very　large　that　we　had　no　place　in　the　house　to　fix　it。　How　we　all　came　to　disregard　so　material　a　point　is　inconceivable；　but　certain　it　is；　we　had　been　all　greatly　remiss。　The　picture；　therefore；　instead　of　gratifying　our　vanity；　as　we　hoped；　leaned；　in　a　most　mortifying　manner；　against　the　kitchen　wall；　where　the　canvas　was　stretched　and　painted；　much　too　large　to　be　got　through　any　of　the　doors；　and　the　jest　of　all　our　neighhours。　One　compared　it　to　Robinson　Crusoe's　long…boat；　too　large　to　be　removed；　another　thought　it　more　resembled　a　reel　in　a　bottle；　some　wondered　how　it　could　be　got　out；　but　still　more　were　amazed　how　it　ever　got　in。

But　though　it　excited　the　ridicule　of　some；　it　effectually　raised　more　malicious　suggestions　in　many。　The　'Squire's　portrait　being　found　united　with　ours；　was　an　honour　too　great　to　escape　envy。　Scandalous　whispers　began　to　circulate　at　our　expence；　and　our　tranquility　was　continually　disturbed　by　persons　who　came　as　friends　to　tell　us　what　was　said　of　us　by　enemies。　These　reports　we　always　resented　with　becoming　spirit；　but　scandal　ever　improves　by　opposition。

We　once　again　therefore　entered　into　a　consultation　upon　obviating　the　malice　of　our　enemies；　and　at　last　came　to　a　resolution　which　had　too　much　cunning　to　give　me　entire　satisfaction。　It　was　this：　as　our　principal　object　was　to　discover　the　honour　of　Mr　Thornhill's　addresses；　my　wife　undertook　to　sound　him；　by　pretending　to　ask　his　advice　in　the　choice　of　an　husband　for　her　eldest　daughter。　If　this　was　not　found　sufficient　to　induce　him　to　a　declaration；　it　was　then　resolved　to　terrify　him　with　a　rival。　To　this　last　step；　however；　I　would　by　no　means　give　my　consent；　till　Olivia　gave　me　the　most　solemn　assurances　that　she　would　marry　the　person　provided　to　rival　him　upon　this　occasion；　if　he　did　not　prevent　it；　by　taking　her　himself。　Such　was　the　scheme　laid；　which　though　I　did　not　strenuously　oppose；　I　did　not　entirely　approve。

The　next　time；　therefore；　that　Mr　Thornhill　came　to　see　us；　my　girls　took　care　to　be　out　of　the　way；　in　order　to　give　their　mamma　an　opportunity　of　putting　her　scheme　in　execution；　but　they　only　retired　to　the　next　room；　from　whence　they　could　over…hear　the　whole　conversation：　My　wife　artfully　introduced　it；　by　observing；　that　one　of　the　Miss　Flamboroughs　was　like　to　have　a　very　good　match　of　it　in　Mr　Spanker。　To　this　the　'Squire　assenting；　she　proceeded　to　remark；　that　they　who　had　warm　fortunes　were　always　sure　of　getting　good　husbands：　'But　heaven　help；'　continued　she；　'the　girls　that　have　none。　What　signifies　beauty；　Mr　Thornhill？　or　what　signifies　all　the　virtue；　and　all　the　qualifications　in　the　world；　in　this　age　of　self…interest？　It　is　not；　what　is　she？　but　what　has　she？　is　all　the　cry。'

'Madam；'　returned　he；　'I　highly　approve　the　justice；　as　well　as　the　novelty；　of　your　remarks；　and　if　I　were　a　king；　it　should　be　otherwise。　It　should　then；　indeed；　be　fine　times　with　the　girls　without　fortunes：　our　two　young　ladies　should　be　the　first　for　whom　I　would　provide。'　'Ah；　Sir！'　returned　my　wife；　'you　are　pleased　to　be　facetious：　but　I　wish　I　were　a　queen；　and　then　I　know　where　my　eldest　daughter　should　look　for　an　husband。　But　now；　that　you　have　put　it　into　my　head；　seriously　Mr　Thornhill；　can't　you　recommend　me　a　proper　husband　for　her？　She　is　now　nineteen　years　old；　well　grown　and　well　educated；　and；　in　my　humble　opinion；　does　not　want　for　parts。'　'Madam；'　replied　he；　'if　I　were　to　chuse；　I　would　find　out　a　person　possessed　of　every　accomplishment　that　can　make　an　angel　happy。　One　with　prudence；　fortune；　taste；　and　sincerity；　such；　madam；　would　be；　in　my　opinion；　the　proper　husband。'　'Ay；　Sir；'　said　she；　'but　do　you　know　of　any　such　person？''No；　madam；'　returned　he；　'it　is　impossible　to　know　any　person　that　deserves　to　be　her　husband：　she's　too　great　a　treasure　for　one　man's　possession：　she's　a　goddess。　Upon　my　soul；　I　speak　what　I　think；　she's　an　angel。'　'Ah；　Mr　Thornhill；　you　only　flatter　my　poor　girl：　but　we　have　been　thinking　of　marrying　her　to　one　of　your　tenants；　whose　mother　is　lately　dead；　and　who　wants　a　manager：　you　know　whom　I　mean；　farmer　Williams；　a　warm　man；　Mr　Thornhill；　able　to　give　her　good　bread；　and　who　has　several　times　made　her　proposals：　（which　was　actually　the　case）　but；　Sir；'　concluded　she；　'I　should　be　glad　to　have　your　approbation　of　our　choice。''How；　madam；'　replied　he；　'my　approbation！　My　approbation　of　such　a　choice！　Never。　What！　Sacrifice　so　much　beauty；　and　sense；　and　goodness；　to　a　creature　insensible　of　the　blessing！　Excuse　me；　I　can　never　approve　of　such　a　piece　of　injustice　And　I　have　my　reasons！'　'Indeed；　Sir；'　cried　Deborah；　'if　you　have　your　reasons；　that's　another　affair；　but　I　should　be　glad　to　know　those　reasons。'　'Excuse　me；　madam；'　returned　he；　'they　lie　too　deep　for　discovery：　（laying　his　hand　upon　his　bosom）　they　remain　buried；　rivetted　here。'

After　he　was　gone；　upon　general　consultation；　we　could　not　tell　what　to　make　of　these　fine　sentiments。　Olivia　considered　them　as　instances　of　the　most　exalted　passion；　but　I　was　not　quite　so　sanguine：　it　seemed　to　me　pretty　plain；　that　they　had　more　of　love　than　matrimony　in　them：　yet；　whatever　they　might　portend；　it　was　resolved　to　prosecute　the　scheme　of　farmer　Williams；　who；　from　my　daughter's　first　appearance　in　the　country；　had　paid　her　his　addresses。



CHAPTER　17

Scarce　any　virtue　found　to　resist　the　power　of　long　and　pleasing　temptation　

As　I　only　studied　my　child's　real　happiness；　the　assiduity　of　Mr　Williams　pleased　me；　as　he　was　in　easy　circumstances；　prudent；　and　sincere。　It　required　but　very　little　encouragement　to　revive　his　former　passion；　so　that　in　an　evening　or　two　he　and　Mr　Thornhill　met　at　our　house；　and　surveyed　each　other　for　some　time　with　looks　of　anger：　but　Williams　owed　his　landlord　no　rent；　and　little　regarded　his　indignation。　Olivia；　on　her　side；　acted　the　coquet　to　perfection；　if　that　might　be　called　acting　which　was　her　real　character；　pretending　to　lavish　all　her　tenderness　on　her　new　lover。　Mr　Thornhill　appeared　quite　dejected　at　this　preference；　and　with　a　pensive　air　took　leave；　though　I　own　it　puzzled　me　to　find　him　so　much　in　pain　as　he　appeared　to　be；　when　he　had　it　in　his　power　so　easily　to　remove　the　cause；　by　declaring　an　honourable　passion。　But　whatever　uneasiness　he　seemed　to　endure；　it　could　easily　be　perceived　that　Olivia's　anguish　was　still　greater。　After　any　of　these　interviews　between　her　lovers；　of　which　there　were　several；　she　usually　retired　to　solitude；　and　there　indulged　her　grief。　It　was　in　such　a　situation　I　found　her　one　evening；　after　she　had　been　for　some　time　supporting　a　fictitious　gayety。'You　now　see；　my　child；'　said　I；　'that　your　confidence　in　Mr　Thornhill's　passion　was　all　a　dream：　he　permits　the　rivalry　of　another；　every　way　his　inferior；　though　he　knows　it　lies　in　his　power　to　secure　you　to　himself　by　a　candid　declaration。''Yes；　pappa；'　returned　she；　'but　he　has　his　reasons　for　this　delay：　I　know　he　has。　The　sincerity　of　his　looks　and　words　convince　me　of　hi