Of all the chief actors in the Bakewell Comedy, Master Ripton Thompson awaited the fearful morning which was to decide Tom’s fate, in dolefullest mood, and suffered the gravest mental terrors. Adrian, on parting with him, had taken casual occasion to speak of the position of the criminal in modern Europe, assuring him that International Treaty now did what Universal Empire had aforetime done, and that among Atlantic barbarians1 now, as among the Scythians of old, an offender2 would find precarious3 refuge and an emissary haunting him.
In the paternal4 home, under the roofs of Law, and removed from the influence of his conscienceless young chief, the staggering nature of the act he had put his hand to, its awful felonious aspect, overwhelmed Ripton. He saw it now for the first time. “Why, it’s next to murder!” he cried out to his amazed soul, and wandered about the house with a prickly skin. Thoughts of America, and commencing life afresh as an innocent gentleman, had crossed his disordered brain. He wrote to his friend Richard, proposing to collect disposable funds, and embark5, in case of Tom’s breaking his word, or of accidental discovery. He dared not confide6 the secret to his family, as his leader had sternly enjoined7 him to avoid any weakness of that kind; and, being by nature honest and communicative, the restriction8 was painful, and melancholy9 fell upon the boy. Mama Thompson attributed it to love. The daughters of parchment rallied him concerning Miss Clare Forey. His hourly letters to Raynham, and silence as to everything and everybody there, his nervousness, and unwonted propensity10 to sudden inflammation of the cheeks, were set down for sure signs of the passion. Miss Letitia Thompson, the pretty and least parchmenty one, destined11 by her Papa for the heir of Raynham, and perfectly12 aware of her brilliant future, up to which she had, since Ripton’s departure, dressed and grimaced13, and studied cadences14 (the latter with such success, though not yet fifteen, that she languished15 to her maid, and melted the small factotum16 footman)— Miss Letty, whose insatiable thirst for intimations about the young heir Ripton could not satisfy, tormented17 him daily in revenge, and once, quite unconsciously, gave the lad a fearful turn; for after dinner, when Mr. Thompson read the paper by the fire, preparatory to sleeping at his accustomed post, and Mama Thompson and her submissive female brood sat tasking the swift intricacies of the needle, and emulating18 them with the tongue, Miss Letty stole behind Ripton’s chair, and introduced between him and his book the Latin initial letter, large and illuminated19, of the theme she supposed to be absorbing him, as it did herself. The unexpected vision of this accusing Captain of the Alphabet, this resplendent and haunting A, fronting him bodily, threw Ripton straight back in his chair, while Guilt20, with her ancient indecision what colours to assume on detection, flew from red to white, from white to red, across his fallen chaps. Letty laughed triumphantly21. Amor, the word she had in mind, certainly has a connection with Arson22.
But the delivery of a letter into Master Ripton’s hands, furnished her with other and likelier appearances to study. For scarce had Ripton plunged23 his head into the missive than he gave way to violent transports, such as the healthy-minded little damsel, for all her languishing24 cadences, deemed she really could express were a downright declaration to be made to her. The boy did not stop at table. Quickly recollecting25 the presence of his family, he rushed to his own room. And now the girl’s ingenuity26 was taxed to gain possession of that letter. She succeeded, of course, she being a huntress with few scruples27 and the game unguarded. With the eyes of amazement28 she read this foreign matter:
“Dear Ripton — If Tom had been committed I would have shot old Blaize. Do you know my father was behind us that night when Clare saw the ghost and heard all we said before the fire burst out. It is no use trying to conceal29 anything from him. Well as you are in an awful state I will tell you all about it. After you left Ripton I had a conversation with Austin and he persuaded me to go down to old Blaize and ask him to help off Tom. I went, for I would have done anything for Tom after what he said to Austin and I defied the old churl30 to do his worst. Then he said if my father paid the money and nobody had tampered31 with his witnesses he would not mind if Tom did get off and he had his chief witness in called the Bantam very like his master I think and the Bantam began winking32 at me tremendjously as you say, and said he had sworn he saw Tom Bakewell but not upon oath. He meant not on the Bible. He could swear to it but not on the Bible. I burst out laughing and you should have seen the rage old Blaize was in. It was splendid fun. Then we had a consultation33 at home Austin Rady my father Uncle Algernon who has come down to us again and your friend in prosperity and adversity R. D. F. My father said he would go down to old Blaize and give him the word of a gentleman we had not tampered with his witnesses and when he was gone we were all talking and Rady says he must not see the farmer. I am as certain as I live that it was Rady bribed34 the Bantam. Well I ran and caught up with my father and told him not to go in to old Blaize but I would and eat my words and tell him the truth. He waited for me in the lane. Never mind what passed between me and old Blaize. He made me beg and pray of him not to press it against Tom and then to complete it he brought in a little girl a niece of his and says to me she’s your best friend after all and told me to thank her. A little girl twelve years of age. What business had she to mix herself up in my matters. Depend upon it Ripton wherever there is mischief35 there are girls I think. She had the insolence36 to notice my face, and ask me not to be unhappy. I was polite of course but I would not look at her. Well the morning came and Tom was had up before Sir Miles Papworth. It was Sir Miles gout gave us the time or Tom would have been had up before we could do anything. Adrian did not want me to go but my father said I should accompany him and held my hand all the time. I shall be careful about getting into these scrapes again. When you have done anything honourable37 you do not mind but getting among policemen and magistrates38 makes you ashamed of yourself. Sir Miles was very attentive39 to my father and me and dead against Tom. We sat beside him and Tom was brought in. Sir Miles told my father that if there was one thing that showed a low villain40 it was rick-burning. What do you think of that. I looked him straight in the face and he said to me he was doing me a service in getting Tom committed and clearing the country of such fellows and Rady began laughing. I hate Rady. My father said his son was not in haste to inherit and have estates of his own to watch and Sir Miles laughed too. I thought we were discovered at first. Then they began the examination of Tom. The Tinker was the first witness and he proved that Tom had spoken against old Blaize and said something about burning his rick. I wished I had stood in the lane to Bursley with him alone. Our country lawyer we engaged for Tom cross-questioned him and then he said he was not ready to swear to the exact words that had passed between him and Tom. I should think not. Then came another who swore he had seen Tom lurking41 about the farmer’s grounds that night. Then came the Bantam and I saw him look at Rady. I was tremendjously excited and my father kept pressing my hand. Just fancy my being brought to feel that a word from that fellow would make me miserable42 for life and he must perjure43 himself to help me. That comes of giving way to passion. My father says when we do that we are calling in the devil as doctor. Well the Bantam was told to state what he had seen and the moment he began Rady who was close by me began to shake and he was laughing I knew though his face was as grave as Sir Miles. You never heard such a rigmarole but I could not laugh. He said he thought he was certain he had seen somebody by the rick and it was Tom Bakewell who was the only man he knew who had a grudge44 against Farmer Blaize and if the object had been a little bigger he would not mind swearing to Tom and would swear to him for he was dead certain it was Tom only what he saw looked smaller and it was pitch-dark at the time. He was asked what time it was he saw the person steal away from the rick and then he began to scratch his head and said supper-time. Then they asked what time he had supper and he said nine o’clock by the clock and we proved that at nine o’clock Tom was drinking in the ale-house with the Tinker at Bursley and Sir Miles swore and said he was afraid he could not commit Tom and when he heard that Tom looked up at me and I say he is a noble fellow and no one shall sneer45 at Tom while I live. Mind that. Well Sir Miles asked us to dine with him and Tom was safe and I am to have him and educate him if I like for my servant and I will. And I will give money to his mother and make her rich and he shall never repent46 he knew me. I say Rip. The Bantam must have seen me. It was when I went to stick in the lucifers. As we were all going home from Sir Miles’s at night he has lots of redfaced daughters but I did not dance with them though they had music and were full of fun and I did not care to I was so delighted and almost let it out. When we left and rode home Rady said to my father the Bantam was not such a fool as he was thought and my father said one must be in a state of great personal exaltation to apply that epithet47 to any man and Rady shut his mouth and I gave my pony48 a clap of the heel for joy. I think my father suspects what Rady did and does not approve of it. And he need not have done it after all and might have spoilt it. I have been obliged to order him not to call me Ricky for he stops short at Rick so that everybody knows what he means. My dear Austin is going to South America. My pony is in capital condition. My father is the cleverest and best man in the world. Clare is a little better. I am quite happy. I hope we shall meet soon my dear Old Rip and we will not get into any more tremendjous scrapes will we. — I remain, Your sworn friend,
“RICHARD DORIA FEVEREL.”
“P.S. I am to have a nice River Yacht. Good-bye, Rip. Mind you learn to box. Mind you are not to show this to any of your friends on pain of my displeasure.
“N.B. Lady B. was so angry when I told her that I had not come to her before. She would do anything in the world for me. I like her next best to my father and Austin. Good-bye old Rip.”
Poor little Letitia, after three perusals of this ingenuous49 epistle, where the laws of punctuation50 were so disregarded, resigned it to one of the pockets of her brother Ripton’s best jacket, deeply smitten51 with the careless composer. And so ended the last act of the Bakewell Comedy, on which the curtain closes with Sir Austin’s pointing out to his friends the beneficial action of the System in it from beginning to end.
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1
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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11
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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12
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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13
grimaced
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
cadences
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| n.（声音的）抑扬顿挫( cadence的名词复数 )；节奏；韵律；调子 | |
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15
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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16
factotum
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| n.杂役；听差 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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18
emulating
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| v.与…竞争( emulate的现在分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
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19
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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20
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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21
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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22
arson
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| n.纵火，放火 | |
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23
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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24
languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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25
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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26
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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27
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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29
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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30
churl
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| n.吝啬之人；粗鄙之人 | |
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31
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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32
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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33
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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34
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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35
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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36
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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37
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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38
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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39
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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40
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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41
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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42
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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43
perjure
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| v.作伪证；使发假誓 | |
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44
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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45
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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46
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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47
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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48
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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49
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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50
punctuation
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| n.标点符号，标点法 | |
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51
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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