donal grant-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　serve　him　if　necessary。　　Their　early　days　had　had　something　in
common；　though　she　came　from　the　southern　highlands　of　green　hills
and　more　sheep。　　She　gave　him　some　rather　needful　information　about
the　family；　and　he　soon　perceived　that　there　would　have　been　less
peace　in　the　house　but　for　her　good　temper　and　good　sense。

Lady　Arctura　was　the　daughter　of　the　last　lord　Morven；　and　left　sole
heir　to　the　property；　Forgue　and　his　brother　Davie　were　the　sons　of
the　present　earl。　　The　present　lord　was　the　brother　of　the　last；　and
had　lived　with　him　for　some　years　before　he　succeeded。　　He　was　a　man
of　peculiar　and　studious　habits；　nobody　ever　seemed　to　take　to　him；
and　since　his　wife's　death；　his　health　had　been　precarious。　　Though
a　strange　man；　he　was　a　just　if　not　generous　master。　　His　brother
had　left　him　guardian　to　lady　Arctura；　and　he　had　lived　in　the
castle　as　before。　　His　wife　was　a　very　lovely；　but　delicate　woman；
and　latterly　all　but　confined　to　her　room。　　Since　her　death　a　great
change　had　passed　upon　her　husband。　　Certainly　his　behaviour　was
sometimes　hard　to　understand。

〃He　never　gangs　to　the　kirkno　ance　in　a　twalmonth！〃　said　Mrs。
Brookes。　〃Fowk　sud　be　dacent；　an'　wha　ever　h'ard　o'　dacent　fowk　'at
didna　gang　to　the　kirk　ance　o'　the　Sabbath！　　I　dinna　haud　wi'　gaein'
twise　mysel'：　ye　hae　na　time　to　read　yer　ain　chapters　gien　ye　do
that。　　But　the　man's　a　weel　behavet　man；　sae　far　as　ye　see；　naither
sayin'　nor　doin'　the　thing　he　shouldna：　what　he　may　think；　wha's　to
say！　the　mair　ten'er　conscience　coonts　itsel'　the　waur　sinner；　an'
I'm　no　gaein'　to　think　what　I　canna　ken！　　There's　some　'at　says　he
led　a　gey　lowse　kin'　o'　a　life　afore　he　cam　to　bide　wi'　the　auld
yerl；　he　was　wi'　the　airmy　i'　furreign　pairts；　they　say；　but　aboot
that　I　ken　naething。　　The　auld　yerl　was　something　o'　a　sanct
himsel'；　rist　the　banes　o'　'im！　　We're　no　the　jeedges　o'　the　leevin'
ony　mair　nor　o'　the　deid！　　But　I　maun　awa'　to　luik　efter　things；　a
minute's　an　hoor　lost　wi'　thae　fule　lasses。　　Ye're　a　freen'　o'
An'rew　Comin's；　they　tell　me；　sir：　I　dinna　ken　what　to　do　wi'　's
lass；　she's　that　upsettin'！　　Ye　wad　think　she　was　ane　o'　the　faimily
whiles；　an'　ither　whiles　she　's　that　silly！〃

〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　it！〃　said　Donal。　〃Her　grandfather　and　grandmother
are　the　best　of　good　people。〃

〃I　daursay！　　But　there's　jist　what　I　hae　seen：　them　'at　's　broucht
up　their　ain　weel　eneuch；　their　son's　bairn　they'll　jist　lat　gang。
Aither　they're　tired　o'　the　thing；　or　they　think　they're　safe。
They　hae　lippent　til　yoong　Eppy　a　heap　ower　muckle。　　But　I'm
naither　a　prophet　nor　the　son　o'　a　prophet；　as　the　minister　said
last　Sundayan'　said　well；　honest　man！　for　it's　the　plain　trowth：
he's　no　ane　o'　the　major　nor　yet　the　minor　anes！　　But　haud　him　oot
o'　the　pu'pit　an'　he　dis　no　that　ill。　　His　dochter　's　no　an　ill　lass
aither；　an'　a　great　freen'　o'　my　leddy's。　　But　I'm　clean　ashamed　o'
mysel'　to　gang　on　this　gait。　　Hae　ye　dune　wi'　yer　denner；　Mr。
Grant？Weel；　I'll　jist　sen'　to　clear　awa'；　an'　lat　ye　til　yer
lessons。〃




CHAPTER　XVII。

LADY　ARCTURA。

It　was　now　almost　three　weeks　since　Donal　had　become　an　inmate　of
the　castle；　and　he　had　scarcely　set　his　eyes　on　the　lady　of　the
house。　　Once　he　had　seen　her　back；　and　more　than　once　had　caught　a
glimpse　of　her　profile；　but　he　had　never　really　seen　her　face；　and
they　had　never　spoken　to　each　other。

One　afternoon　he　was　sauntering　along　under　the　overhanging　boughs
of　an　avenue　of　beeches；　formerly　the　approach　to　a　house　in　which
the　family　had　once　lived；　but　which　had　now　another　entrance。　　He
had　in　his　hand　a　copy　of　the　Apocrypha；　which　he　had　never　seen
till　he　found　this　in　the　library。　　In　his　usual　fashion　he　had
begun　to　read　it　through；　and　was　now　in　the　book　called　the　Wisdom
of　Solomon；　at　the　17th　chapter；　narrating　the　discomfiture　of
certain　magicians。　　Taken　with　the　beauty　of　the　passage；　he　sat
down　on　an　old　stone…roller；　and　read　aloud。　　Parts　of　the　passage
were　thesethey　will　enrich　my　page：

〃For　they；　that　promised　to　drive　away　terrors　and　troubles　from　a
sick　soul；　were　sick　themselves　of　fear；　worthy　to　be　laughed　at。

〃。。。For　wickedness；　condemned　by　her　own　witness；　is　very　timorous；
and　being　pressed　with　conscience；　always　forecasteth　grievous
things。

〃。。。But　they　sleeping　the　same　sleep　that　night；　which　was　indeed
intolerable；　and　which　came　upon　them　out　of　the　bottoms　of
inevitable　hell；

〃Were　partly　vexed　with　monstrous　apparitions；　and　partly　fainted；
their　heart　failing　them：　for　a　sudden　fear；　and　not　looked　for；
came　upon　them。

〃So　then　whosoever　there　fell　down　was　straitly　kept；　shut　up　in　a
prison　without　iron　bars。

〃For　whether　he　were　husbandman；　or　shepherd；　or　a　labourer　in　the
field；　he　was　overtaken；　and　endured　that　necessity；　which　could　not
be　avoided：　for　they　were　all　bound　with　one　chain　of　darkness。

〃Whether　it　were　a　whistling　wind；　or　a　melodious　noise　of　birds
among　the　spreading　branches；　or　a　pleasing　fall　of　water　running
violently；

〃Or　a　terrible　sound　of　stones　cast　down；　or　a　running　that　could
not　be　seen　of　skipping　beasts；　or　a　roaring　voice　of　most　savage
wild　beasts；　or　a　rebounding　echo　from　the　hollow　mountains；　these
things　made　them　to　swoon　for　fear。

〃For　the　whole　world　shined　with　clear　light；　and　none　were　hindered
in　their　labour：

〃Over　them　only　was　spread　an　heavy　night；　an　image　of　that　darkness
which　should　afterward　receive　them：　but　yet　were　they　unto
themselves　more　grievous　than　the　darkness。〃

He　had　read　so　much；　and　stopped　to　think　a　little；　for　through　the
incongruity　of　it；　which　he　did　not　doubt　arose　from　poverty　of
imagination　in　the　translator；　rendering　him　unable　to　see　what　the
poet　meant；　ran　yet　an　indubitable　vein　of　awful　truth；　whether
fully　intended　by　the　writer　or　not　mattered　little　to　such　a　reader
as　Donalwhen；　lifting　his　eyes；　he　saw　lady　Arctura　standing
before　him　with　a　strange　listening　look。　　A　spell　seemed　upon　her；
her　face　was　white；　her　lips　white　and　a　little　parted。

Attracted；　as　she　was　about　to　pass　him；　by　the　sound　of　what　was
none　the　less　like　the　Bible　from　the　solemn　crooning　way　in　which
Donal　read　it　to　the　congregation　of　his　listening　thoughts；　yet　was
certainly　not　the　Bible；　she　was　presently　fascinated　by　the　vague
terror　of　what　she　heard；　and　stood　absorbed：　without　much
originative　power；　she　had　an　imagination　prompt　and　delicate　and
strong　in　response。

Donal　had　but　a　glance　of　her；　his　eyes　returned　again　at　once　to
his　book；　and　he　sat　silent　and　motionless；　though　not　seeing　a
word。　　For　one　instant　she　stood　still；　then　he　heard　the　soft　sound
of　her　dress　as；　with　noiseless　foot；　she　stole　back；　and　took
another　way。

I　must　give　my　reader　a　shadow　of　her。　　She　was　rather　tall；
slender；　and　fair。　　But　her　hair　was　dark；　and　so　crinkly　that；　when
merely　parted；　it　did　all　the　rest　itself。　　Her　forehead　was　rather
low。　　Her　eyes　were　softly　dark；　and　her　features　very　regularher
nose　perhaps　hardly　large　enough；　or　her　chin。　　Her　mouth　was　rather
thin…lipped；　but　would　have　been　sweet　except　for　a　seemingly
habitual　expression　of　pain。　　A　pair　of　dark　brows　overhung　her
sweet　eyes；　and　gave　a　look　of　doubtful　temper；　yet　restored
something　of　the　strength　lacking　a　little　in　nose　and　chin。　　It　was
an　interestingnot　a　quite　harmonious　face；　and　in　happiness　might；
Donal　thought；　be　beautiful　even。　　Her　figure　was　eminently
gracefulas　Donal　saw　when　he　raised　his　eyes　at　the　sound　of　her
retreat。　　He　thought　she　needed　not　have　run　away　as　from　something
dangerous：　why　did　she　not　pass　him　like　any　other　servant　of　the
house？　　But　what　seemed　to　him　like　contempt　did　not　hurt　him。　　He
was　too　full　of　realities　to　be　much　affected　by　opinion　however
shown。　　Besides；　he　had　had　his　sorrow　and　had　learned　his　lesson。
He　was　a　poetbut　one　of　the　few　without　any　weak　longing　after
listening　ears。　　The　poet　whose　poetry　needs　an　audience；　can　be　but
little　of　a　poet；　neither　can　the　poetry　that　is　of　no　good　to　the
man　himself；　be　of　much　good　to　anybody　else。　　There　are　the
song…poets　and　the　life…poets；　or　rather　the　God…poems。　　Sympathy　is
lovely　and　dearchiefly　when　it　comes　unsought；　but　the　fame　after
which　so　many　would…be；　yea；　so　many　real　poets　sigh；　is　poorest
froth。　　Donal　could　sing　his　songs　like　the　birds；　content　with　the
blue　heaven　or　the　sheep　for　an　audienceor　any　passing　angel　that
cared　to　listen。　　On　the　hill…sides　he　would　sing　them　aloud；　but　it
was　of　the　merest　natural　necessity。　　A　look　of　estrangement　on　the
face　of　a　friend；　a　look　of　suffering　on　that　of　any　animal；　would
at　once　and　sorely　affect　him；　but　not　a　disparaging　expression　on
the　face　of　a　comparative　stranger；　were　she　the　loveliest　woman　he
had　ever　seen。　　He　was　little　troubled　about　the　world；　because
little　troubled　about　himself。

Lady　Arctura　and　lord　Forgue　lived　together　like　brother　and　sister；
apparently　without　much　in　common；　and　still　less　of
misunderstanding。　　There　would　have　been　more　chance　of　their　taking
a　fancy　to　each　other　if　they　had　not　been　brought　up　together；　they
were　now　little　together；　and　never　alone　together。

Very　few　visitors　came　to　the　castle；　and　then　only　to　call。　　Lord
Morven　seldom　saw　any　one；　his　excuse　being　his　health。

But　lady　Arctura　was　on　terms　of　intimacy　with　Sophia　Carmichael；
the　minister's　daughterto　whom　her　father　had　communicated　his
dissatisfaction　with　the　character　of　Donal；　and　poured　out　his
indignation　at　his　conduct。　　He　ought　to　have　left　the　parish　at
once！　whereas　he　had　instead　secured　for　himself　the　best；　the　only
situation　in　it；　without　giving　him　a　chance　of　warning　his
lordship！　　The　more　injustice　her　father　spoke　against　him；　the　more
Miss　Carmichael　condemned　him；　for　she　was　a　good　daughter；　and
looked　up　to　her　father　as　the　wisest　and　best　man　in　the　parish。
Very　naturally　therefore　she　repeated　his　words　to　lady　Arctura。
She　in　her　turn　conveyed　them　to　her　uncle。　　He　would　not；　however；
pay　much　attention　to　them。　　The　thing　was　done；　he　said。　　He　had
himself　seen　and　talked　with　Donal；　and　liked　him！　　The　young　man
had　himself　told　him　of　the　clergyman's　disapprobation！　　He　would
request　him　to　avoid　all　reference　to　religious　subjects！　　Therewith
he　dismissed　the　matter；　and　forgot　all　about　it。　　Anything
requiring　an　effort　of　the　will；　an　arrangement　of　ideas；　or　thought
as　to　mode；　his　lordship　would　not　encounter。　　Nor　was　anything　to
him　of　such　moment　that　he　must　do　it　at　once。　　Lady　Arctura　did　not
again　refer　to　the　matter：　her　uncle　was　not　one　to　take　liberties
withleast　of　all　to　press　to　action。　　But　she　continued　painfully
doubtful　whether　she　was　not　neglecting　her　duty；　trying　to　persuade
herself　that　she　was　waiting　only　till　she　should　have　something
definite　to　say　of　her　own　knowledge　against　him。

And　now　what　was　she　to　conclude　from　his　reading　the　Apocrypha？
The　fact　was　not　to　be　interpreted　to　his　advantage：　was　he　not
reading　what　was　not　the　Bible　as　if　it　were　the　Bible；　and　when　he
might　have　been　reading　the　Bible　itself？　　Besides；　the　Apocrypha
came　so　near　the　Bible　when　it　was