david elginbrod-第3章

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sanctuary；　waited　his　approach。　　He　said　nothing　at　first；　but
offered　her；　instead　of　speech；　the　primrose　he　had　just　plucked；
which　she　received　with　a　smile　of　the　eyes　only；　and　the　sweetest
〃thank　you；　sir；〃　he　had　ever　heard。　　But　while　she　held　the
primrose　in　her　hand；　her　eyes　wandered　to　the　book　which；　according
to　his　custom；　Sutherland　had　caught　up　as　he　left　the　house。　　It
was　the　only　well…bound　book　in　his　possession；　and　the　eyes　of
Margaret；　not　yet　tutored　by　experience；　naturally　expected　an
entrancing　page　within　such　beautiful　boards；　for　the　gayest
bindings　she　had　seen；　were　those　of　a　few　old　annuals　up　at　the
houseand　were　they　not　full　of　the　most　lovely　tales　and　pictures？
In　this　case；　however；　her　expectation　was　not　vain；　for　the　volume
was；　as　I　have　already　disclosed；　Coleridge's　Poems。

Seeing　her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　book〃Would　you　like　to　read　it？〃
said　he。

〃If　you　please；　sir；〃　answered　Margaret；　her　eyes　brightening　with
the　expectation　of　deliglit。

〃Are　you　fond　of　poetry？〃

Her　face　fell。　　The　only　poetry　she　knew　was　the　Scotch　Psalms　and
Paraphrases；　and　such　last…century　verses　as　formed　the　chief　part
of　the　selections　in　her　school…books；　for　this　was　a　very　retired
parish；　and　the　newer　books　had　not　yet　reached　its　school。　　She　had
hoped　chiefly　for　tales。

〃I　dinna　ken　much　about　poetry；〃　she　answered；　trying　to　speak
English。　〃There's　an　old　book　o't　on　my　father's　shelf；　but　the
letters　o't　are　auld…fashioned；　an'　I　dinna　care　aboot　it。〃

〃But　this　is　quite　easy　to　read；　and　very　beautiful；〃　said　Hugh。

The　girl's　eyes　glistened　for　a　moment；　and　this　was　all　her　reply。

〃Would　you　like　to　read　it？〃　resumed　Hugh；　seeing　no　further　answer
was　on　the　road。

She　held　out　her　hand　towards　the　volume。　　When　he；　in　his　turn；
held　the　volume　towards　her　hand；　she　almost　snatched　it　from　him；
and　ran　towards　the　house；　without　a　word　of　thanks　or
leave…takingwhether　from　eagerness；　or　doubt　of　the　propriety　of
accepting　the　offer；　Hugh　could　not　conjecture。　　He　stood　for　some
moments　looking　after　her；　and　then　retraced　his　steps　towards　the
house。

It　would　have　been　something；　in　the　monotony　of　one　of　the　most
trying　of　positions；　to　meet　one　who　snatched　at　the　offered　means
of　spiritual　growth；　even　if　that　disciple　had　not　been　a　lovely
girl；　with　the　woman　waking　in　her　eyes。　　He　commenced　the　duties　of
the　day　with　considerably　more　of　energy　than　he　had　yet　brought　to
bear　on　his　uninteresting　pupils；　and　this　energy　did　not　flag
before　its　effects　upon　the　boys　began　to　react　in　fresh　impulse
upon　itself。




CHAPTER　IV。

THE　COTTAGE。

O　little　Bethlem！　poor　in　walls；
　　But　rich　in　furniture。

JOHN　MASON'S　Spiritual　Songs。


There　was　one　great　alleviation　to　the　various　discomforts　of
Sutherland's　tutor…life。　　It　was；　that；　except　during　school…hours；
he　was　expected　to　take　no　charge　whatever　of　his　pupils。　　They　ran
wild　all　other　times；　which　was　far　better；　in　every　way；　both　for
them　and　for　him。　　Consequently；　he　was　entirely　his　own　master
beyond　the　fixed　margin　of　scholastic　duties；　and　he　soon　found　that
his　absence；　even　from　the　table；　was　a　matter　of　no　interest　to　the
family。　　To　be　sure；　it　involved　his　own　fasting　till　the　next
meal…time　came　roundfor　the　lady　was　quite　a　household　martinet；
but　that　was　his　own　concern。

That　very　evening；　he　made　his　way　to　David's　cottage；　about　the
country　supper…time；　when　he　thought　he　should　most　likely　find　him
at　home。　　It　was　a　clear；　still；　moonlit　night；　with　just　an　air　of
frost。　　There　was　light　enough　for　him　to　see　that　the　cottage　was
very　neat　and　tidy；　looking；　in　the　midst　of　its　little　forest；　more
like　an　English　than　a　Scotch　habitation。　　He　had　had　the　advantage
of　a　few　months'　residence　in　a　leafy　region　on　the　other　side　of
the　Tweed；　and　so　was　able　to　make　the　comparison。　　But　what　a
different　leafage　that　was　from　this！　　That　was　soft；　floating；
billowy；　this　hard；　stiff；　and　straight…lined；　interfering　so　little
with　the　skeleton　form；　that　it　needed　not　to　be　put　off　in　the
wintry　season　of　death；　to　make　the　trees　in　harmony　with　the
landscape。　　A　light　was　burning　in　the　cottage；　visible　through　the
inner　curtain　of　muslin；　and　the　outer　one　of　frost。　　As　he
approached　the　door；　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　voice；　and　from　the
even　pitch　of　the　tone；　he　concluded　at　once　that　its　owner　was
reading　aloud。　　The　measured　cadence　soon　convinced　him　that　it　was
verse　that　was　being　read；　and　the　voice　was　evidently　that　of
David；　and　not　of　Margaret。　　He　knocked　at　the　door。　　The　voice
ceased；　chairs　were　pushed　back；　and　a　heavy　step　approached。　　David
opened　the　door　himself。

〃Eh！　　Maister　Sutherlan'；〃　said　he；　〃I　thocht　it　micht　aiblins　be
yersel。　　Ye're　welcome；　sir。　　Come　butt　the　hoose。　　Our　place　is　but
sma'；　but　ye'll　no　min'　sitttin'　doon　wi'　our　ain　sels。　　Janet；
ooman；　this　is　Maister　Sutherlan'。　　Maggy；　my　doo；　he's　a　frien'　o'
yours；　o'　a　day　auld；　already。　　Ye're　kindly　welcome；　Maister
Sutherlan'。　　I'm　sure　it's　verra　kin'　o'　you　to　come　an'　see　the
like　o'　huz。〃

As　Hugh　entered；　he　saw　his　own　bright　volume　lying　on　the　table；
evidently　that　from　which　David　had　just　been　reading。

Margaret　had　already　placed　for　him　a　cushioned　arm…chair；　the　only
comfortable　one　in　the　house；　and　presently；　the　table　being　drawn
back；　they　were　all　seated　round　the　peat…fire　on　the　hearth；　the
best　sort　for　keeping　feet　warm　at　least。　　On　the　crook；　or　hooked
iron…chain　suspended　within　the　chimney；　hung　a　three…footed　pot；　in
which　potatoes　were　boiling　away　merrily　for　supper。　　By　the　side　of
the　wide　chimney；　or　more　properly　lum；　hung　an　iron　lamp；　of　an　old
classical　form　common　to　the　country；　from　the　beak　of　which
projected；　almost　horizontally；　the　lighted　wickthe　pith　of　a
rush。　　The　light　perched　upon　it　was　small　but　clear；　and　by　it
David　had　been　reading。　　Margaret　sat　right　under　it；　upon　a
creepie；　or　small　three…legged　wooden　stool。　　Sitting　thus；　with　the
light　falling　on　her　from　above；　Hugh　could　not　help　thinking　she
looked　very　pretty。　　Almost　the　only　object　in　the　distance　from
which　the　feeble　light　was　reflected；　was　the　patch…work　counterpane
of　a　little　bed　filling　a　recess　in　the　wall；　fitted　with　doors
which　stood　open。　　It　was　probably　Margaret's　refuge　for　the　night。

〃Well；〃　said　the　tutor；　after　they　had　been　seated　a　few　minutes；
and　had　had　some　talk　about　the　weathersurely　no　despicable
subject　after　such　a　morningthe　first　of　Spring〃well；　how　do　you
like　the　English　poet；　Mr。　Elginbrod？〃

〃Spier　that　at　me　this　day　week；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　an'　I'll
aiblins　answer　ye；　but　no　the　nicht；　no　the　nicht。〃

〃What　for　no？〃　said　Hugh；　taking　up　the　dialect。

〃For　ae　thing；　we're　nae　clean　through　wi'　the　auld　sailor's　story
yet；　an'　gin　I　hae　learnt　ae　thing　aboon　anither；　its　no　to　pass
jeedgment　upo'　halves。　　I　hae　seen　ill　weather　half　the　simmer；　an'
a　thrang　corn…yard　after　an'　a'；　an'　that　o'　the　best。　　No　that　I'm
ill　pleased　wi'　the　bonny　ballant　aither。〃

〃Weel；　will　ye　jist　lat　me　read　the　lave　o't　till　ye？〃

〃Wi'　muckle　pleesur；　sir；　an'　mony　thanks。〃

He　showed　Hugh　how　far　they　had　got　in　the　reading　of　the　〃Ancient
Mariner〃；　whereupon　he　took　up　the　tale；　and　carried　it　on　to　the
end。　　He　had　some　facility　in　reading　with　expression；　and　his　few
affectationsfor　it　must　be　confessed　he　was　not　free　of　such
faultswere　not　of　a　nature　to　strike　uncritical　hearers。　　When　he
had　finished；　he　looked　up；　and　his　eye　chancing　to　light　upon
Margaret　first；　he　saw　that　her　cheek　was　quite　pale；　and　her　eyes
overspread　with　the　film；　not　of　coming　tears；　but　of　emotion
notwithstanding。

〃Well；〃　said　Hugh；　again；　willing　to　break　the　silence；　and　turning
towards　David；　〃what　do　you　think　of　it　now　you　have　heard　it　all？〃

Whether　Janet　interrupted　her　husband　or　not；　I　cannot　tell；　but　she
certainly　spoke　first：

〃Tsh鈜ah！〃equivalent　to　pshaw〃it's　a'　lees。　　What　for　are　ye
knittin'　yer　broos　ower　a　leein'　ballanta'　havers　as　weel　as
lees？〃

〃I'm　no　jist　prepared　to　say　sae　muckle；　Janet；〃　replied　David；
〃there's　mony　a　thing　'at's　lees；　as　ye　ca't；　'at's　no　lees　a'
through。　　Ye　see；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　I'm　no　gleg　at　the　uptak；　an'
it　jist　taks　me　twise　as　lang　as　ither　fowk　to　see　to　the　ootside　o'
a　thing。　　Whiles　a　sentence　'ill　leuk　to　me　clean　nonsense
a'thegither；　an'　maybe　a　haill　ook　efter；　it'll　come　upo'　me　a'　at
ance；　an'　fegs！　it's　the　best　thing　in　a'　the　beuk。〃

Margaret's　eyes　were　fixed　on　her　father　with　a　look　which　I　can
only　call　faithfulness；　as　if　every　word　he　spoke　was　truth；　whether
she　could　understand　it　or　not。

〃But　perhaps　we　may　look　too　far　for　meanings　sometimes；〃　suggested
Sutherland。

〃Maybe；　maybe；　but　when　a　body　has　a　suspeecion　o'　a　trowth；　he　sud
never　lat　sit　till　he's　gotten　eyther　hit；　or　an　assurance　that
there's　nothing　there。　　But　there's　jist　ae　thing；　in　the　poem　'at　I
can　pit　my　finger　upo'；　an'　say　'at　it's　no　richt　clear　to　me
whether　it's　a'　straucht…foret　or　no？〃

〃What's　that；　Mr。　Elginbrod？〃

〃It's　jist　thiswhat　for　a'　thae　sailor…men　fell　doon　deid；　an'　the
chield　'at　shot　the　bonnie　burdie；　an'　did　a'　the　mischeef；　cam'　to
little　hurt　i'　the　'encomparateevely。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Hugh；　〃I　confess　I'm　not　prepared　to　answer　the
question。　　If　you　get　any　light　on　the　subject〃

〃Ow；　I　daursay　I　may。　　A　heap　o'　things　comes　to　me　as　I'm　takin'　a
daunder　by　mysel'　i'　the　gloamin'。　　I'll　no　say　a　thing's　wrang　till
I　hae　tried　it　ower　an'　ower；　for　maybe　I　haena　a　richt　grip　o'　the
thing　ava。〃

〃What　can　ye　expec；　Dawvid；　o'　a　leevin'　corp；　an'　a'　that？ay；　twa
hunner　corpsfower　times　fifty's　twa　hunneran'　angels　turnin'
sailors；　an'　sangs　gaein　fleein'　aboot　like　laverocks；　and　tummelin'
doon　again；　tired　like？Gude　preserve's　a'！〃

〃Janet；　do　ye　believe　'at　ever　a　serpent　spak？〃

〃Hoot！　　Dawvid；　the　deil　was　in　him；　ye　ken。〃

〃The　deil　a　word　o'　that's　i'　the　word　itsel；　though；〃　rejoined
David　with　a　smile。

〃Dawvid；〃　said　Janet；　solemnly；　and　with　some　consternation；　〃ye're
no　gaein'　to　tell　me；　sittin'　there；　at　ye　dinna　believe　ilka　word
'at's　prentit　atween　the　twa　brods　o'　the　Bible？　　What　will　Maister
Sutherlan'　think　o'　ye？〃

〃Janet；　my　bonnie　lass〃　and　here　David's　eyes　beamed　upon　his
wife〃I　believe　as　mony　o'　them　as　ye　do；　an'　maybe　a　wheen　mair；
my　dawtie。　　Keep　yer　min'　easy　aboot　that。　　But　ye　jist　see　'at　fowk
warna　a'thegither　saitisfeed　aboot　a　sairpent　speikin'；　an'　sae　they
leukit　aboot　and　aboot　till　at　last　they　fand　the　deil　in　him。　　Gude
kens　whether　he　was　there　or　no。　　Noo；　ye　see　hoo；　gin　we　was　to
leuk　weel　aboot　thae　corps；　an'　thae　angels；　an'　a'　that　queer
stuffbut　oh！　it's　bonny　stuff　tee！we　micht　fa'　in　wi'　something
we　didna　awthegither　expec；　though　we　was　leukin'　for't　a'　the　time。
Sae　I　maun　jist　think　aboot　it；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　an'　I　wad　fain　read
it　ower　again；　afore　I　lippen　on　giein'　my　opingan　on　the　maitter。
Ye　cud　lave　the　bit　beukie；　sir？　　We'se　tak'　guid　care　o't。〃

〃Ye're　verra　welcome　to　that　or　ony　ither　beuk　I　hae；〃　replied　Hugh；
who　began　to　feel　already　as