第47章

JohnFryhadnowsixshillingsaweekofregularandpermanentwage，besidesallharvestandshearingmoney，aswellasacottagerent-free，andenoughofgarden-groundtorearpot-herbsforhiswifeandallhisfamily。Nowthewagesappointedbyourjustices，atthetimeofsessions，werefour-and-sixpenceaweekforsummer，andashillinglessforthewinter-time；

andwecouldbefined，andperhapsimprisoned，forgivingmorethanthesumssofixed。ThereforeJohnFrywaslookeduponastherichestmanuponExmoor，I

meanofcourseamonglabourers，andthereweremanyjokesaboutrobbinghim，asifhewerethemintoftheKing；andTomFagguspromisedtotryhishand，ifhecameacrossJohnonthehighway，althoughhehadceasedfrombusiness，andwasseekingaRoyalpardon。

Nowisitaccordingtohumannature，orisitathingcontradictory(asIwouldfainbelieve)？Butanyhow，therewas，uponExmoor，nomorediscontentedman，nomanmoresurethathehadnothisworth，neitherhalfsosoreaboutit，than，oras，JohnFrywas。AndonethinghedidwhichIcouldnotwholly(orindeedImaysay，inanymeasure)reconcilewithmysenseofright，muchasIlabouredtodoJohnjustice，especiallybecauseofhisroguery；andthiswas，thatifwesaidtoomuch，oraccusedhimatalloflaziness(whichhemusthaveknowntobeinhim)，heregularlyturnedrounduponus，andquitecompelledustoholdourtongues，bythreateningtolayinformationagainstusforpayinghimtoomuchwages!

NowIhavenotmentionedallthisofJohnFry，fromanydisrespectforhismemory(whichisgreenandhonestamongstus)，farlessfromanydesiretohurtthefeelingsofhisgrandchildren；andIwilldothemthejustice，onceforall，toavow，thuspublicly，thatI

haveknownagreatmanybiggerrogues，andmostofthemselvesinthenumber。ButIhavereferred，withmoderation，tothislittleflawinaworthycharacter(orfoible，aswecallit，whenamanisdead)forthisreasononly——thatwithoutittherewasnoexplainingJohn’sdealingswithJeremyStickles。

MasterJeremy，beingfullofLondonandNorwichexperience，fellintotheerrorofsupposingthatweclodsandyokelswerethesimplestofthesimple，andcouldbecheatedathisgoodpleasure。Nowthisisnotso：whenoncewesuspectthatpeoplehavethatideaofus，weindulgetheminittothetopoftheirbent，andgrievethattheyshouldcomeoutofit，astheydoatlastinamazement，withlessmoneythanbefore，andthelaughnowsetagainstthem。

EversinceIhadoffendedJeremy，bythreateninghim(asbeforerelated)incaseofhismeddlingwithmyaffairs，hehadmoreandmorealliedhimselfwithsimple-mindedJohn，ashewaspleasedtocallhim。

JohnFrywaseverything：itwas’runandfetchmyhorse，John’——’John，aremypistolsprimedwell？’——’I

wantyouinthestable，John，aboutsomethingveryparticular’，untilexceptfortherudenessofit，IwaslongingtotellMasterSticklesthatheoughttopayJohn’swages。Johnforhispartwasnotbackward，butgavehimselfthemostwonderfulairsofsecrecyandimportance，tillhalftheparishbegantothinkthattheaffairsofthenationwereinhishand，andhescornedthesightofadungfork。

Itwasnotlikelythatthisshouldlast；andbeingtheonlymanintheparishwithanyknowledgeofpolitics，IgaveJohnFrytounderstandthathemustnotpresumetotalksofreely，asifhewereatleastaconstable，abouttheconstitution；whichcouldbenoaffairofhis，andmightbringusallintotrouble。Atthisheonlytossedhisnose，asifhehadbeeninLondonatleastthreetimesformyone；whichvexedmesothatI

promisedhimthethickendoftheplough-whipifeventhenameofaknightoftheshireshouldpasshislipsforafortnight。

NowIdidnotsuspectinmystupidnoddlethatJohnFrywouldevertellJeremySticklesaboutthesightattheWizard’sSloughandthemaninthewhitenightcap；

becauseJohnhadswornonthebladeofhisknifenottobreatheawordtoanysoul，withoutmyfullpermission。

However，itappearsthatJohnrelated，foracertainconsideration，allthathehadseen，anddoubtlessmorewhichhadaccruedtoit。UponthisMasterStickleswasmuchastonishedatUncleReuben’sproceedings，havingalwaysaccountedhimamostloyal，keen，andwarysubject。

AllthisIlearneduponrecoveringJeremy’sgoodgraces，whichcametopassinnootherwaythanbythesavingofhislife。Beingboundtokeepthestrictestwa