the expedition of humphry clinker-第33部分

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clothes；　and　go　to　the　devil　his　own　way；　at　his　leisure；　but　if
he　rejected　this　proposal；　I　would　deliver　him　forthwith　to　the
constable；　whom　I　had　provided　for　that　purpose；　and　he　would
carry　him　before　the　justice　without　further　delay。　After　some
hesitation；　he　desired　to　speak　with　me　in　the　next　room；　where
he　produced　the　watch；　with　all　its　appendages；　and　I　have
delivered　it　to　our　landlord；　to　be　sent　you　by　the　first　safe
conveyance。

So　much　for　business。

I　shall　grow　vain；　upon　your　saying　you　find　entertainment　in　my
letters；　barren；　as　they　certainly　are；　of　incident　and
importance；　because　your　amusement　must　arise；　not　from　the
matter；　but　from　the　manner；　which　you　know　is　all　my　own　
Animated；　therefore；　by　the　approbation　of　a　person；　whose　nice
taste　and　consummate　judgment　I　can　no　longer　doubt；　I　will
chearfully　proceed　with　our　memoirs　　As　it　is　determined　we　shall
set　out　next　week　for　Yorkshire；　I　went　to…day　in　the　forenoon
with　my　uncle　to　see　a　carriage；　belonging　to　a　coachmaker　in　our
neighbourhood　　Turning　down　a　narrow　lane；　behind　Longacre；　we
perceived　a　crowd　of　people　standing　at　a　door；　which；　it　seems；
opened　into　a　kind　of　a　methodist　meeting；　and　were　informed；
that　a　footman　was　then　holding　forth　to　the　congregation　within。
Curious　to　see　this　phoenomenon；　we　squeezed　into　the　place　with
much　difficulty；　and　who　should　this　preacher　be；　but　the
identical　Humphry　Clinker。　He　had　finished　his　sermon；　and　given
out　a　psalm；　the　first　stave　of　which　he　sung　with　peculiar
graces　　But　if　we　were　astonished　to　see　Clinker　in　the　pulpit；
we　were　altogether　confounded　at　finding　all　the　females　of　our
family　among　the　audience　　There　was　lady　Griskin；　Mrs　Tabitha
Bramble；　Mrs　Winifred　Jenkins；　my　sister　Liddy；　and　Mr　Barton；
and　all　of　them　joined　in　the　psalmody；　with　strong　marks　of
devotion。

I　could　hardly　keep　my　gravity　on　this　ludicrous　occasion；　but
old　Square…toes　was　differently　affected　　The　first　thing　that
struck　him；　was　the　presumption　of　his　lacquey；　whom　he　commanded
to　come　down；　with　such　an　air　of　authority　as　Humphry　did　not
think　proper　to　disregard。　He　descended　immediately；　and　all　the
people　were　in　commotion。　Barton　looked　exceedingly　sheepish；
lady　Griskin　flirted　her　fan；　Mrs　Tabby　groaned　in　spirit；　Liddy
changed　countenance；　and　Mrs　Jenkins　sobbed　as　if　her　heart　was
breaking　　My　uncle；　with　a　sneer；　asked　pardon　of　the　ladies；　for
having　interrupted　their　devotion；　saying；　he　had　particular
business　with　the　preacher；　whom　he　ordered　to　call　a　hackney…coach。
This　being　immediately　brought　up　to　the　end　of　the　lane；
he　handed　Liddy　into　it；　and　my　aunt　and　I　following　him；　we
drove　home；　without　taking　any　further　notice　of　the　rest　of　the
company；　who　still　remained　in　silent　astonishment。

Mr　Bramble；　perceiving　Liddy　in　great　trepidation；　assumed　a
milder　aspect；　bidding　her　be　under　no　concern；　for　he　was　not　at
all　displeased　at　any　thing　she　had　done　　'I　have　no　objection
（said　he）　to　your　being　religiously　inclined；　but　I　don't　think
my　servant　is　a　proper　ghostly　director　for　a　devotee　of　your　sex
and　character　　if；　in　fact　（as　I　rather　believe）　your　aunt　is　not
the　sole　conductress　of；　this　machine'　　Mrs　Tabitha　made　no
answer；　but　threw　up　the　whites　of　her　eyes；　as　if　in　the　act　of
ejaculation　　Poor　Liddy；　said；　she　had　no　right　to　the　title　of　a
devotee；　that　she　thought　there　was　no　harm　in　hearing　a　pious
discourse；　even　if　it　came　from　a　footman；　especially　as　her　aunt
was　present；　but　that　if　she　had　erred　from　ignorance；　she　hoped
he　would　excuse　it；　as　she　could　not　bear　the　thoughts　of　living
under　his　displeasure。　The　old　gentleman；　pressing　her　hand　with
a　tender　smile；　said　she　was　a　good　girl；　and　that　he　did　not
believe　her　capable　of　doing　any　thing　that　could　give　him　the
least　umbrage　or　disgust。

When　we　arrived　at　our　lodgings；　he　commanded　Mr　Clinker　to
attend　him　up　stairs；　and　spoke　to　him　in　these　words　　'Since　you
are　called　upon　by　the　spirit　to　preach　and　to　teach；　it　is　high
time　to　lay　aside　the　livery　of　an　earthly　master；　and　for　my
part；　I　am　unworthy　to　have　an　apostle　in　my　service'　　'I　hope
（said　Humphry）　I　have　not　failed　in　my　duty　to　your　honour　　I
should　be　a　vile　wretch　if　I　did；　considering　the　misery　from
which　your　charity　and　compassion　relieved　me　　but　having　an
inward　admonition　of　the　spirit　'　'An　admonition　of　the　devil
（cried　the　squire；　in　a　passion）　What　admonition；　you　blockhead？
What　right　has　such　a　fellow　as　you　to　set　up　for　a　reformer？'
'Begging　your　honour's　pardon　（replied　Clinker）　may　not　the　new
light　of　God's　grace　shine　upon　the　poor　and　the　ignorant　in
their　humility；　as　well　as　upon　the　wealthy；　and　the　philosopher
in　all　his　pride　of　human　learning？'　'What　you　imagine　to　be　the
new　light　of　grace　（said　his　master）　I　take　to　be　a　deceitful
vapour；　glimmering　through　a　crack　in　your　upper　story　　In　a
word；　Mr　Clinker；　I　will　have　no　light　in　my　family　but　what　pays
the　king's　taxes；　unless　it　be　the　light　of　reason；　which　you
don't　pretend　to　follow。'

'Ah；　sir！　（cried　Humphry）　the　light　of　reason；　is　no　more　in
comparison　to　the　light　I　mean；　than　a　farthing　candle　to　the　sun
at　noon'　　'Very　true　（said　uncle）；　the　one　will　serve　to　shew　you
your　way；　and　the　other　to　dazzle　and　confound　your　weak　brain。
Heark　ye；　Clinker；　you　are　either　an　hypocritical　knave；　or　a
wrong…headed　enthusiast；　and　in　either　case；　unfit　for　my　service。
If　you　are　a　quack　in　sanctity　and　devotion；　you　will　find　it　an
easy　matter　to　impose　upon　silly　women；　and　others　of　crazed
understanding；　who　will　contribute　lavishly　for　your　support。　If
you　are　really　seduced　by　the　reveries　of　a　disturbed
imagination；　the　sooner　you　lose　your　senses　entirely；　the　better
for　yourself　and　the　community。　In　that　case；　some　charitable
person　might　provide　you　with　a　dark　room　and　clean　straw　in
Bedlam；　where　it　would　not　be　in　your　power　to　infect　others　with
your　fanaticism；　whereas；　if　you　have　just　reflection　enough　left
to　maintain　the　character　of　a　chosen　vessel　in　the　meetings　of
the　godly；　you　and　your　hearers　will　be　misled　by　a　Will…i'the…wisp；
from　one　error　into　another；　till　you　are　plunged　into
religious　frenzy；　and　then；　perhaps；　you　will　hang　yourself　in
despair'　'Which　the　Lord　of　his　infinite　mercy　forbid！　（exclaimed
the　affrighted　Clinker）　It　is　very　possible　I　may　be　under　the
temptation　of　the　devil；　who　wants　to　wreck　me　on　the　rocks　of
spiritual　pride　　Your　honour　says；　I　am　either　a　knave　or　a
madman；　now；　as　I'll　assure　your　honour；　I　am　no　knave；　it
follows　that　I　must　be　mad；　therefore；　I　beseech　your　honour；
upon　my　knees；　to　take　my　case　into　consideration；　that　means　may
be　used　for　my　recovery'

The　'squire　could　not　help　smiling　at　the　poor　fellow's
simplicity；　and　promised　to　take　care　of　him；　provided　he　would
mind　the　business　of　his　place；　without　running　after　the　new
light　of　methodism：　but　Mrs　Tabitha　took　offence　at　his　humility；
which　she　interpreted　into　poorness　of　spirit　and　worldly
mindedness。　She　upbraided　him　with　the　want　of　courage　to　suffer
for　conscience　sake　　She　observed；　that　if　he　should　lose　his
place　for　bearing　testimony　to　the　truth；　Providence　would　not
fail　to　find　him　another；　perhaps　more　advantageous；　and；
declaring　that　it　could　not　be　very　agreeable　to　live　in　a　family
where　an　inquisition　was　established；　retired　to　another　room　in
great　agitation。

My　uncle　followed　her　with　a　significant　look；　then；　turning　to
the　preacher；　'You　hear　what　my　sister　says　　If　you　cannot　live
with　me　upon　such　terms　as　I　have　prescribed；　the　vineyard　of
methodism　lies　before　you；　and　she　seems　very　well　disposed　to
reward　your　labour'　　'I　would　not　willingly　give　offence　to　any
soul　upon　earth　（answered　Humphry）；　her　ladyship　has　been　very
good　to　me；　ever　since　we　came　to　London；　and　surely　she　has　a
heart　turned　for　religious　exercises；　and　both　she　and　lady
Griskin　sing　psalms　and　hymns　like　two　cherubims　　But；　at　the
same　time；　I'm　bound　to　love　and　obey　your　honour　　It　becometh
not　such　a　poor　ignorant　fellow　as　me；　to　hold　dispute　with
gentlemen　of　rank　and　learning　　As　for　the　matter　of　knowledge；　I
am　no　more　than　a　beast　in　comparison　of　your　honour；　therefore　I
submit；　and；　with　God's　grace；　I　will　follow　you　to　the　world's
end；　if　you　don't　think　me　too　far　gone　to　be　out　of　confinement'。

His　master　promised　to　keep　him　for　some　time　longer　on　trial；
then　desired　to　know　in　what　manner　lady　Griskin　and　Mr　Barton
came　to　join　their　religious　society；　he　told　him；　that　her
ladyship　was　the　person　who　first　carried　my　aunt　and　sister　to
the　Tabernacle；　whither　he　attended　them；　and　had　his　devotion
kindled　by　Mr　W's　preaching：　that　he　was　confirmed　in　this
new　way；　by　the　preacher's　sermons；　which　he　had　bought　and
studied　with　great　attention：　that　his　discourse　and　prayers　had
brought　over　Mrs　Jenkins　and　the　house…maid　to　the　same　way　of
thinking；　but　as　for　Mr　Barton；　he　had　never　seen　him　at　service
before　this　day；　when　he　came　in　company　with　lady　Griskin。
Humphry；　moreover；　owned　that　he　had　been　encouraged　to　mount　the
rostrum；　by　the　example　and　success　of　a　weaver；　who　was　much
followed　as　a　powerful　minister：　that　on　his　first　trial　he　found
himself　under　such　strong　impulsions；　as　made　him　believe　he　was
certainly　moved　by　the　spirit；　and　that　he　had　assisted　in　lady
Griskin's；　and　several　private　houses；　at　exercises　of　devotion。

Mr　Bramble　was　no　sooner　informed；　that　her　ladyship　had　acted　as
the　primum　mobile　of　this　confederacy；　than　he　concluded　she　had
only　made　use　of　Clinker　as　a　tool；　subservient　to　the　execution
of　some　design；　to　the　true　secret　of　which　he　was　an　utter
stranger　　He　observed；　that　her　ladyship's　brain　was　a　perfect
mill　for　projects；　and　that　she　and　Tabby　had　certainly　engaged
in　some　secret　treaty；　the　nature　of　which　he　could　not
comprehend。　I　told　him　I　thought　it　was　no　difficult　matter　to
perceive　the　drift　of　Mrs　Tabitha；　which　was　to　ensnare　the　heart
of　Barton；　and　that　in　all　likelihood　my　lady　Griskin　acted　as
her　auxiliary：　that　this　supposition　would　account