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！
He acquiesced in the justice of this answer； but could not avoid observing； that he feared my daughter's life was already too much wasted to keep me long a prisoner。 'However；' continued he； 'though you refuse to submit to the nephew； I hope you have no objections to laying your case before the uncle； who has the first character in the kingdom for every thing that is just and good。 I would advise you to send him a letter by the post； intimating all his nephew's ill usage； and my life for it that in three days you shall have an answer。' I thank'd him for the hint； and instantly set about complying； but I wanted paper； and unluckily all our money had been laid out that morning in provisions； however he supplied me。
For the three ensuing days I was in a state of anxiety； to know what reception my letter might meet with； but in the mean time was frequently solicited by my wife to submit to any conditions rather than remain here； and every hour received repeated accounts of the decline of my daughter's health。 The third day and the fourth arrived； but I received no answer to my letter： the complaints of a stranger against a favourite nephew； were no way likely to succeed； so that these hopes soon vanished like all my former。 My mind； however； still supported itself though confinement and bad air began to make a visible alteration in my health； and my arm that had suffered in the fire； grew worse。 My children however sate by me； and while I was stretched on my straw； read to me by turns； or listened and wept at my instructions。 But my daughter's health declined faster than mine； every message from her contributed to encrease my apprehensions and pain。 The fifth morning after I had written the letter which was sent to sit William Thornhill； I was alarmed with an account that she was speechless。 Now it was； that confinement was truly painful to me； my soul was bursting from its prison to be near the pillow of my child； to comfort； to strengthen her； to receive her last wishes； and teach her soul the way to heaven！ Another account came。 She was expiring； and yet I was debarred the small comfort of weeping by her。 My fellow prisoner； some time after； came with the last account。 He bade me be patient。 She was dead！… …The next morning he returned； and found me with my two little ones； now my only companions； who were using all their innocent efforts to comfort me。 They entreated to read to me； and bade me not to cry； for I was now too old to weep。 'And is not my sister an angel； now； pappa；' cried the eldest； 'and why then are you sorry for her？ I wish I were an angel out of this frightful place； if my pappa were with me。' 'Yes；' added my youngest darling； 'Heaven； where my sister is； is a finer place than this； and there are none but good people there； and the people here are very bad。'
Mr Jenkinson interupted their harmless prattle； by observing that now my daughter was no more； I should seriously think of the rest of my family； and attempt to save my own life； which was every day declining； for want of necessaries and wholesome air。 He added； that it was now incumbent on me to sacrifice any pride or resentment of my own； to the welfare of those who depended on me for support； and that I was now； both by reason and justice； obliged to try to reconcile my landlord。
'Heaven be praised；' replied I； 'there is no pride left me now； I should detest my own heart if I saw either pride or resentment lurking there。 On the contrary； as my oppressor has been once my parishioner； I hope one day to present him up an unpolluted soul at the eternal tribunal。 No； sir； I have no resentment now； and though he has taken from me what I held dearer than all his treasures； though he has wrung my heart； for I am sick almost to fainting； very sick； my fellow prisoner； yet that shall never inspire me with vengeance。 I am now willing to approve his marriage； and if this submission can do him any pleasure； let him know； that if I have done him any injury； I am sorry for it。' Mr Jenkinson took pen and ink； and wrote down my submission nearly as I have exprest it； to which I signed my name。 My son was employed to carry the letter to Mr Thornhill； who was then at his seat in the country。 He went； and in about six hours returned with a verbal answer。 He had some difficulty； he said； to get a sight of his landlord； as the servants were insolent and suspicious； but he accidentally saw him as he was going out upon business； preparing for his marriage； which was to be in three days。 He continued to inform us； that he stept up in the humblest manner； and delivered the letter； which； when Mr Thornhill had read； he said that all submission was now too late and unnecessary； that he had heard of our application to his uncle； which met with the contempt it deserved； and as for the rest； that all future applications should be directed to his attorney； not to him。 He observed； however； that as he had a very good opinion of the discretion of the two young ladies； they might have been the most agreeable intercessors。
'Well； sir；' said I to my fellow prisoner； 'you now discover the temper of the man that oppresses me。 He can at once be facetious and cruel； but let him use me as he will； I shall soon be free； in spite of all his bolts to restrain me。 I am now drawing towards an abode that looks brighter as I approach it： this expectation cheers my afflictions； and though I leave an helpless family of orphans behind me； yet they will not be utterly forsaken； some friend； perhaps； will be found to assist them for the sake of their poor father； and some may charitably relieve them for the sake of their heavenly father。'
Just as I spoke； my wife； whom I had not seen that day before； appeared with looks of terror； and making efforts； but unable to speak。 'Why； my love；' cried I； 'why will you thus encrease my afflictions by your own； what though no submissions can turn our severe mister； tho' he has doomed me to die in this place of wretchedness； and though we have lost a darling child； yet still you will find comfort in your other children when I shall be no more。' 'We have indeed lost；' returned she； 'a darling child。 My Sophia； my dearest； is gone； snatched from us； carried off by ruffians！'
'How madam；' cried my fellow prisoner； 'Miss Sophia carried off by villains； sure it cannot be？'
She could only answer with a fixed look and a flood of tears。 But one of the prisoners' wives； who was present； and came in with her； gave us a more distinct account： she informed us that as my wife； my daughter； and herself； were taking a walk together on the great road a little way out of the village； a post…chaise and pair drove up to them and instantly stopt。 Upon which； a well drest man； but not Mr Thornhill； stepping out； clasped my daughter round the waist； and forcing her in； bid the postillion drive on； so that they were out of sight in a moment。
'Now；' cried I； 'the sum of my misery is made up； nor is it in the power of any thing on earth to give me another pang。 What！ not one left！ not to leave me one！ the monster！ the child that was next my heart！ she had the beauty of an angel； and almost the wisdom of an angel。 But support that woman； nor let her fall。 Not to leave me