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Page:The Vicar of Wakefield (Volume 2) - Goldsmith (1766, 1st edition).djvu/195

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The Vicar of Wakefield.
193

Sir William and his nephew here before her; for her arrival was quite accidental. It happened that she and the old gentle­man her father were passing through the town, on their way to her aunt's, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr. Thorn­hill should be consummated at her house; but stopping for refreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. It was there from the window that the young lady happened to observe one of my little boys playing in the street, and instantly sending a footman to bring the child to her, she learnt from him some account of our misfortunes; but was still kept igno­rant of young Mr. Thornhill's being the cause. Though her father made several remonstrances on the impropriety of going to a prison to visit us, yet they were ineffectual; she desired the child to conduct her, which he did, and it was thus she sur­prised us at a juncture so unexpected.

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