第71章

grandfatheronthemalesidewasasilkmercer，inCheapside，who，whenhedied，lefthisson，whowashisonlychild，afortuneofonehundredthousandpoundsandasplendidbusiness；theson，however，hadnoinclinationfortrade，thesummitofhisambitionwastobeacountrygentleman，tofoundafamily，andtopasstheremainderofhisdaysinruraleaseanddignity，andallthishemanagedtoaccomplish；hedisposedofhisbusiness，purchasedabeautifulandextensiveestateforfourscorethousandpounds，builtuponitthemansiontowhichIhadthehonourofwelcomingyouto-

day，marriedthedaughterofaneighbouringsquire，whobroughthimafortuneoffivethousandpounds，becameamagistrate，andonlywantedasonandheirtomakehimcompletelyhappy；thisblessing，itistrue，wasforalongtimedeniedhim；itcame，however，atlast，asisusual，whenleastexpected。Hisladywasbroughttobedofmyfather，andthenwhosohappyamanasmygrandsire；hegaveawaytwothousandpoundsincharities，andinthejoyofhisheartmadeaspeechatthenextquartersessions；therestofhislifewasspentinease，tranquillity，andruraldignity；hediedofapoplexyonthedaythatmyfathercameofage；perhapsitwouldbedifficulttomentionamanwhoinallrespectswassofortunateasmygrandfather：hisdeathwassuddenitistrue，butIamnotoneofthosewhopraytobedeliveredfromasuddendeath。

’Ishouldnotcallmyfatherafortunateman；itistruethathehadtheadvantageofafirst-rateeducation；thathemadethegrandtourwithaprivatetutor，aswasthefashionatthattime；thathecametoasplendidfortuneontheverydaythathecameofage；

thatformanyyearshetastedallthediversionsofthecapitalthat，atlastdeterminedtosettle，hemarriedthesisterofabaronet，anamiableandaccomplishedlady，withalargefortune；

thathehadthebeststudofhuntersinthecounty，onwhich，duringtheseason，hefollowedthefoxgallantly；hadhebeenafortunatemanhewouldneverhavecursedhisfate，ashewasfrequentlyknowntodo；tenmonthsafterhismarriagehishorsefelluponhim，andsoinjuredhim，thatheexpiredinafewdaysingreatagony。Mygrandfatherwas，indeed，afortunateman；whenhediedhewasfollowedtothegravebythetearsofthepoor-myfatherwasnot。

’Tworemarkablecircumstancesareconnectedwithmybirth-Iamaposthumouschild，andcameintotheworldsomeweeksbeforetheusualtime，theshockwhichmymotherexperiencedatmyfather’sdeathhavingbroughtonthepangsofprematurelabour；bothmymother’slifeandmyownwereatfirstdespairedof；weboth，however，survivedthecrisis。Mymotherlovedmewiththemostpassionatefondness，andIwasbroughtupinthishouseunderherowneye-Iwasneversenttoschool。

’Ihavealreadytoldyouthatmineisnotataleofadventure；mylifehasnotbeenoneofaction，butofwildimaginingsandstrangesensations；Iwasbornwithexcessivesensibility，andthathasbeenmybane。Ihavenotbeenafortunateman。

’Nooneisfortunateunlessheishappy，anditisimpossibleforabeingconstructedlikemyselftobehappyforanhour，orevenenjoypeaceandtranquillity；mostofourpleasuresandpainsaretheeffectsofimagination，andwhereverthesensibilityisgreat，theimaginationisgreatalso。Nosoonerhasmyimaginationraisedupanimageofpleasure，thanitissuretoconjureuponeofdistressandgloom；thesetwoantagonistideasinstantlycommenceastruggleinmymind，andthegloomyonegenerally，Imaysayinvariably，prevails。HowisitpossiblethatIshouldbeahappyman？

’Ithasinvariablybeensowithmefromtheearliestper