david elginbrod-第8章

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heartily；　although　not　thoroughlythe　element　of　Christian
Pantheism；　which　is　their　soul；　being　beyond　his　comprehension；
almost　perception；　as　yet。　　So　he　made　up　his　mind；　after　a　moment's
reflection；　that　this　should　be　the　next　author　he　recommended　to
his　pupil。　　He　hoped　likewise　so　to　end　an　interview；　in　which　he
might　otherwise　be　compelled　to　confess　that　he　could　render
Margaret　no　assistance　in　her　search　after　the　something　in　the
wood；　and　he　was　unwilling　to　say　he　could　not　understand　her；　for　a
power　of　universal　sympathy　was　one　of　those　mental　gifts　which　Hugh
was　most　anxious　to　believe　he　possessed。

〃I　will　bring　you　another　book　to…night；〃　said　he　〃which　I　think　you
will　like；　and　which　may　perhaps　help　you　to　find　out　what　is　in　the
wood。〃

He　said　this　smiling；　half　in　playful　jest；　and　without　any　idea　of
the　degree　of　likelihood　that　there　was　notwithstanding　in　what　he
said。　　For；　certainly；　Wordsworth；　the　high…priest　of　nature；　though
perhaps　hardly　the　apostle　of　nature；　was　more　likely　than　any　other
writer　to　contain　something　of　the　secret　after　which　Margaret　was
searching。　　Whether　she　can　find　it　there；　may　seem　questionable。

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Margaret；　gratefully；　but　her　whole
countenance　looked　troubled；　as　she　turned　towards　her　home。
Doubtless；　however；　the　trouble　vanished　before　she　reached　it；　for
hers　was　not　a　nature　to　cherish　disquietude。　　Hugh　too　went　home；
rather　thoughtful。

In　the　evening；　he　took　a　volume　of　Wordsworth；　and　repaired；
according　to　his　wont；　to　David's　cottage。　　It　was　Saturday；　and　he
would　stay　to　supper。　　After　they　had　given　the　usual　time　to　their
studies；　Hugh；　setting　Margaret　some　exercises　in　English　to　write
on　her　slate；　while　he　helped　David　with　some　of　the　elements　of
Trigonometry；　and　again　going　over　those　elements　with　her；　while
David　worked　out　a　calculationafter　these　were　over；　and　while
Janet　was　putting　the　supper　on　the　table；　Hugh　pulled　out　his
volume；　and；　without　any　preface；　read　them　the　Leech…Gatherer。　　All
listened　very　intently；　Janet　included；　who　delayed　several　of　the
operations；　that　she　might　lose　no　word　of　the　verses；　David　nodding
assent　every　now　and　then；　and　ejaculating　ay！　ay！　or　eh；　man！　or
producing　that　strange　muffled　sound　at　once　common　and　peculiar　to
Scotchmen；　which　cannot　be　expressed　in　letters　by　a　nearer　approach
than　hmhm；　uttered；　if　that　can　be　called　uttering；　with　closed
lips　and　open　nasal　passage；　and　Margaret　sitting　motionless　on　her
creepie；　with　upturned　pale　face；　and　eyes　fixed　upon　the　lips　of
the　reader。　　When　he　had　ceased；　all　were　silent　for　a　moment；　when
Janet　made　some　little　sign　of　anxiety　about　her　supper；　which
certainly　had　suffered　by　the　delay。　　Then；　without　a　word；　David
turned　towards　the　table　and　gave　thanks。　　Turning　again　to　Hugh；
who　had　risen　to　place　his　chair；　he　said；

〃That　maun　be　the　wark　o'　a　great　poet；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。〃

〃It's　Wordsworth's；〃　said　Hugh。

〃Ay！　ay！　　That's　Wordsworth's！　　Ay！　　Weel；　I　hae　jist　heard　him　made
mention　o'；　but　I　never　read　word　o'　his　afore。　　An'　he　never
repentit　o'　that　same　resolution；　I'se　warrant；　'at　he　eynds　aff
wi'。　　Hoo　does　it　gang；　Mr。　Sutherlan'？〃

Sutherland　read：

　　　　　〃'God；'　said　I；　'be　my　help　and　stay　secure！
　　　　　　I'll　think　of　the　leech…gatherer　on　the　lonely　moor；'〃

and　added；　〃It　is　said　Wordsworth　never　knew　what　it　was　to　be　in
want　of　money　all　his　life。〃

〃Nae　doubt；　nae　doubt：　he　trusted　in　Him。〃

It　was　for　the　sake　of　the　minute　notices　of　nature；　and　not　for　the
religious　lesson；　which　he　now　seemed　to　see　for　the　first　time；
that　Hugh　had　read　the　poem。　　He　could　not　help　being　greatly
impressed　by　the　confidence　with　which　David　received　the　statement
he　had　just　made　on　the　authority　of　De　Quincey　in　his　unpleasant
article　about　Wordsworth。　　David　resumed：

〃He　maun　hae　had　a　gleg　'ee　o'　his　ain；　that　Maister　Wordsworth；　to
notice　a'thing　that　get。　　Weel　he　maun　hae　likit　leevin'　things；
puir　maukin　an'　a'jist　like　our　Robbie　Burns　for　that。　　An'　see
hoo　they　a'　ken　ane　anither；　thae　poets。　　What　says　he　aboot
Burns？ye　needna　tell　me；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　I　min't　weel　aneuch。　　He
says：

　　　　　'Him　wha　walked　in　glory　an'　in　joy；
　　　　　　Followin'　his　ploo　upo'　the　muntain…side。'

Puir　Robbie！　puir　Robbie！　　But；　man；　he　was　a　gran'　chield　efter　a'；
an'　I　trust　in　God　he's　won　hame　by　this！〃

Both　Janet　and　Hugh；　who　had　had　a　very　orthodox　education；　started；
mentally；　at　this　strange　utterance；　but　they　saw　the　eye　of　David
solemnly　fixed；　as　if　in　deep　contemplation；　and　lighted　in　its　blue
depths　with　an　ethereal　brightness；　and　neither　of　them　ventured　to
speak。　　Margaret　seemed　absorbed　for　the　moment　in　gazing　on　her
father's　face；　but　not　in　the　least　as　if　it　perplexed　her　like　the
fir…wood。　　To　the　seeing　eye；　the　same　kind　of　expression　would　have
been　evident　in　both　countenances；　as　if　Margaret's　reflected　the
meaning　of　her　father's；　whether　through　the　medium　of　intellectual
sympathy；　or　that　of　the　heart　only；　it　would　have　been　hard　to　say。
Meantime　supper　had　been　rather　neglected；　but　its　operations　were
now　resumed　more　earnestly；　and　the　conversation　became　lighter；
till　at　last　it　ended　in　hearty　laughter；　and　Hugh　rose　and　took　his
leave。




CHAPTER　VIII。

A　SUNDAY　MORNING。

It　is　the　property　of　good　and　sound　knowledge；　to　putrifie　and
dissolve　into　a　number　of　subtle；　idle；　unwholesome；　and　（as　I　may
tearme　them）　vermiculate　questions；　which　have　indeed　a　kinde　of
quicknesse；　and　life　of　spirite；　but　no　soundnesse　of　matter；　or
goodnesse　of　quality。LORD　BACON。Advancement　of　Learning。

The　following　morning；　the　laird's　family　went　to　church　as　usual；
and　Hugh　went　with　them。　　Their　walk　was　first　across　fields；　by
pleasant　footpaths；　and　then　up　the　valley　of　a　little　noisy　stream；
that　obstinately　refused　to　keep　Scotch　Sabbath；　praising　the　Lord
after　its　own　fashion。　　They　emerged　into　rather　a　bleak　country
before　reaching　the　church；　which　was　quite　new；　and　perched　on　a
barren　eminence；　that　it　might　be　as　conspicuous　by　its　position；　as
it　was　remarkable　for　its　ugliness。　　One　grand　aim　of　the　reformers
of　the　Scottish　ecclesiastical　modes；　appears　to　have　been　to　keep
the　worship　pure　and　the　worshippers　sincere；　by　embodying　the　whole
in　the　ugliest　forms　that　could　be　associated　with　the　name　of
Christianity。　　It　might　be　wished；　however；　that　some　of　their
followers；　and　amongst　them　the　clergyman　of　the　church　in　question；
had　been　content　to　stop　there；　and　had　left　the　object　of　worship；
as　represented　by　them；　in　the　possession　of　some　lovable　attribute；
so　as　not　to　require　a　man　to　love　that　which　is　unlovable；　or
worship　that　which　is　not　honourablein　a　word；　to　bow　down　before
that　which　is　not　divine。　　The　cause　of　this　degeneracy　they　share
in　common　with　the　followers　of　all　other　great　men　as　well　as　of
Calvin。　　They　take　up　what　their　leader；　urged　by　the　necessity　of
the　time；　spoke　loudest；　never　heeding　what　he　loved　most；　and　then
work　the　former　out　to　a　logical　perdition　of　everything　belonging
to　the　latter。

Hugh；　however；　thought　it　was　all　right：　for　he　had　the　same　good
reasons；　and　no　other；　for　receiving　it　all；　that　a　Mohammedan　or　a
Buddhist　has　for　holding　his　opinions；　namely；　that　he　had　heard
those　doctrines；　and　those　alone；　from　his　earliest　childhood。　　He
was　therefore　a　good　deal　startled　when；　having；　on　his　way　home；
strayed　from　the　laird's　party　towards　David's；　he　heard　the　latter
say　to　Margaret　as　he　came　up：

〃Dinna　ye　believe；　my　bonny　doo；　'at　there's　ony　mak'　ups　or　mak'
shifts　wi'　Him。　He's　aye　bringin'　things　to　the　licht；　no　covenin'
them　up　and　lattin　them　rot；　an'　the　moth　tak'　them。　　He　sees　us
jist　as　we　are；　and　ca's　us　jist　what　we　are。　　It　wad　be　an　ill　day
for　a'　o's；　Maggy；　my　doo；　gin　he　war　to　close　his　een　to　oor　sins；
an'　ca'　us　just　in　his　sicht；　whan　we　cudna　possibly　be　just　in　oor
ain　or　in　ony　ither　body's；　no　to　say　his。〃

〃The　Lord　preserve's；　Dawvid　Elginbrod！　　Dinna　ye　believe　i'　the
doctrine　o'　Justification　by　Faith；　an'　you　a'maist　made　an　elder
o'？〃

Janet　was　the　respondent；　of　course；　Margaret　listening　in　silence。

〃Ou　ay；　I　believe　in't；　nae　doot；　but；　troth！　the　minister；　honest
man；　near…han'　gart　me　disbelieve　in't　a'thegither　wi'　his　gran'
sermon　this　mornin'；　about　imputit　richteousness；　an'　a　clean　robe
hidin'　a　foul　skin　or　a　crookit　back。　　Na；　na。　　May　Him　'at　woosh
the　feet　o'　his　friens；　wash　us　a'thegither；　and　straucht　oor
crookit　banes；　till　we're　clean　and　weel…faured　like　his　ain　bonny
sel'。〃

〃Weel；　Dawvidbut　that's　sanctificaition；　ye　ken。〃

〃Ca't　ony　name　'at　you　or　the　minister　likes；　Janet；　my　woman。　　I
daursay　there's　neither　o'　ye　far　wrang　after　a'；　only　this　is　jist
my　opingan　aboot　it　in　sma'that　that　man；　and　that　man　only；　is
justifeed；　wha　pits　himsel'　into　the　Lord's　han's　to　sanctifee　him。
Noo！　　An'　that'll　no　be　dune　by　pittin'　a　robe　o'　richteousness
upo'　him；　afore　he's　gotten　a　clean　skin　aneath't。　　As　gin　a　father
cudna　bide　to　see　the　puir　scabbit　skin　o'　his　ain　wee　bit　bairnie；
ay；　or　o'　his　prodigal　son　either；　but　bude　to　hap　it　a'　up　afore　he
cud　lat　it　come　near　him！　　Ahva！〃

Here　Hugh　ventured　to　interpose　a　remark。

〃But　you　don't　think；　Mr。　Elginbrod；　that　the　minister　intended　to
say　that　justification　left　a　man　at　liberty　to　sin；　or　that　the
robe　of　Christ's　righteousness　would　hide　him　from　the　work　of　the
Spirit？〃

〃Na；　but　there　is　a　notion　in't　o'　hidin'　frae　God　himsel'。　　I'll
tell　ye　what　it　is　Mr。　Sutherlan'：　the　minister's　a'　richt　in
himsel'；　an'　sae's　my　Janet　here；　an'　mony　mair；　an'　aiblins　there's
a　kin'　o'　trowth　in　a'　'at　they　say；　but　this　is　my　quarrel　wi'　a'
thae　words　an'　words　an'　airguments；　an'　seemilies　as　they　ca'　them；
an'　doctrines；　an'　a'　thatthey　jist　haud　a　puir　body　at　airm's
lenth　oot　ower　frae　God　himsel'。　　An'　they　raise　a　mist　an'　a　stour
a'　aboot　him；　'at　the　puir　bairn　canna　see　the　Father　himsel'；
stan'in'　wi'　his　airms　streekit　oot　as　wide's　the　heavens；　to　tak'
the　worn　crater；and　the　mair　sinner；　the　mair　welcome；hame　to
his　verra　hert。　　Gin　a　body　wad　lea'　a'　that；　and　jist　get　fowk
persu鈊it　to　speyk　a　word　or　twa　to　God　him　lane；　the　loss；　in　my
opingan；　wad　be　unco　sma'；　and　the　gain　verra　great。〃

Even　Janet　dared　not　reply　to　the　solemnity　of　this　speech；　for　the
seer…like　look　was　upon　David's　face；　and　the　tears　had　gathered　in
his　eyes　and　dimmed　their　blue。　　A　kind　of　tremulous　pathetic　smile
flickered　about　his　beautifully　curved　mouth；　like　the　glimmer　of
water　in　a　valley；　betwixt　the　lofty　aquiline　nose　and　the　powerful
but　finely　modelled　chin。　　It　seemed　as　if　he　dared　not　let　the
smile　break　out；　lest　it　should　be　followed　instantly　by　a　burst　of
tears。

Margaret　went　close　up　to　her　father　and　took　his　hand　as　if　she　had
been　still　a　child；　while　Janet　walked　reverentially　by　him　on　the
other　side。　　It　must　not　be　supposed　that　Janet　felt　any　uneasiness
about　her　husband's　opinions；　although　she　never　hesitated　to　utter
what　she　considered　her　common…sense　notions；　in　attempted
modifica