christie johnstone-第7章

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gentleman　of　amazing　talent　and　moedesty。　Man；　ye　dinna　do　yoursel
justice；　ye　should　be　in　th'　Academy；　at　the　hede　o'　't。〃

〃Mr。　Groove；　I　am　a　poor　fainting　pilgrim　on　the　road；　where　stronger
spirits　have　marched　erect　before　me。〃

〃A　faintin'　pelgrim！　Deil　a　frights　o'　ye；　ye're　a　brisk　and　bonny　lad。
Ah；　sirr；　in　my　juvenile　days；　we　didna　fash　wi　nature；　and　truth；　an　the
like。〃

〃The　like！　What　is　like　nature　and　truth；　except　themselves？〃

〃Vara　true；　sirr；　vara　true；　and　sae　I　doot　I　will　never　attain　the
height　o'　profeeciency　ye　hae　reached。　An'　at　this　vara　moment；　sir；〃
continued　Groove；　with　delicious　solemnity　and　mystery；　〃ye　see　before
ye；　sir；　a　man　wha　is　in　maist　dismal　wanto'　ten　shellen！〃　（A　pause。）
〃If　your　superior　talent　has　put　ye　in　possession　of　that　sum；　ye　would
obleege　me　infinitely　by　a　temporary　accommodation；　Mr。　Gaattie。〃

〃Why　did　you　not　come　to　the　point　at　once？〃　cried　Gatty；　bruskly；
〃instead　of　humbling　me　with　undeserved　praise。　There。〃　Groove　held　out
his　hand；　but　made　a　wry　face　when；　instead　of　money；　Gatty　put　a　sketch
into　his　hand。

〃There；〃　said　Gatty；　〃that　is　a　lie！〃

〃How　can　it　be　a　lee？〃　said　the　other；　with　sour　inadvertence。　〃How　can
it　be　a　lee；　when　I　hae　na　spoken　？〃

〃You　don't　understand　me。　That　sketch　is　a　libel　on　a　poor　cow　and　an
unfortunate　oak…tree。　I　did　them　at　the　Academy。　They　had　never　done　me
any　wrong；　poor　things；　they　suffered　unjustly。　You　take　them　to　a　shop；
swear　they　are　a　tree　and　a　cow；　and　some　fool；　that　never　really　looked
into　a　cow　or　a　tree；　will　give　you　ten　shillings　for　them。〃

〃Are　ye　sure；　lad？〃

〃I　am　sure。　Mr。　Groove；　sir；　if　you　can　not　sell　a　lie　for　ten　shillings
you　are　not　fit　to　live　in　this　world；　where　is　the　lie　that　will　not
sell　for　ten　shillings？〃

〃I　shall　think　the　better　o'　lees　all　my　days；　sir；　your　words　are
inspeeriting。〃　And　away　went　Groove　with　the　sketch。

Gatty　reflected　and　stopped　him。

〃On　second　thoughts；　Groove；　you　must　not　ask　ten　shillings；　you　must　ask
twenty　pounds　for　that　rubbish。〃

〃Twenty　pund！　What　for　will　I　seek　twenty　pund？〃

〃Simply　because　people　that　would　not　give　you　ten　shillings　for　it　will
offer　you　eleven　pounds　for　it　if　you　ask　twenty　pounds。〃

〃The　fules；〃　roared　Groove。　〃Twenty　pund！　hem！〃　He　looked　closer　into　it。
〃For　a'；〃　said　he；　〃I　begin　to　obsairve　it　is　a　work　of　great　merit。　I'll
seek　twenty　pund；　an'　I'll　no　tak　less　than　fifteen　schell'n；　at
present。〃

The　visit　of　this　routine　painter　did　not　cheer　our　artist。

The　small　child　got　a　coal　and　pounded　the　floor　with　it　like　a　machine
incapable　of　fatigue。　So　the　wished…for　pose　seemed　more　remote　than
ever。

The　day　waxed　darker　instead　of　lighter；　Mr。　Gatty's　reflections　took
also　a　still　more　somber　hue。

〃Even　Nature　spites　us；〃　thought　he；　〃because　we　love　her。〃

〃Then　cant；　tradition；　numbers；　slang　and　money　are　against　us；　the　least
of　these　is　singly　a　match　for　truth；　we　shall　die　of　despair　or　paint
cobwebs　in　Bedlam；　and　I　am　faint；　weary　of　a　hopeless　struggle；　and　one
man's　brush　is　truer　than　mine；　another's　is　boldermy　hand　and　eye　are
not　in　tune。　Ah！　no！　I　shall　never；　never；　never　be　a　painter。〃

These　last　words　broke　audibly　from　him　as　his　head　went　down　almost　to
his　knees。

A　hand　was　placed　on　his　shoulder　as　a　flake　of　snow　falls　on　the　water。
It　was　Christie　Johnstone；　radiant；　who　had　glided　in　unobserved。

〃What's　wrang　wi'　ye；　my　lad？〃

〃The　sun　is　gone　to　the　Devil；　for　one　thing。〃

〃Hech！　hech！　ye'll　no　be　long　ahint　him；　div　ye　no　think　shame。〃

〃And　I　want　that　little　brute　just　to　do　so；　and　he'd　die　first。〃

〃Oh；　ye　villain；　to　ca'　a　bairn　a　brute；　there's　but　ae　brute　here；　an'
it's　no　you；　Jamie；　nor　meis　it；　my　lamb？〃

She　then　stepped　to　the　window。

〃It's　clear　to　windward；　in　ten　minutes　ye'll　hae　plenty　sun。　Tak　your
tools　noo。〃　And　at　the　word　she　knelt　on　the　floor；　whipped　out　a　paper
of　sugar…plums　and　said　to　him　she　had　christened　〃Jamie。〃　〃Heb！　Here's
sweeties　till　ye。〃　Out　went　Jamie's　arms；　as　if　he　had　been　a　machine　and
she　had　pulled　the　right　string。

〃Ah；　that　will　do；〃　said　Gatty；　and　sketched　away。

Unfortunately；　Jamie　was　quickly　arrested　on　the　way　to　immortality　by
his　mother；　who　came　in；　saying：

〃I　maun　hae　my　bairnhe　canna　be　aye　wasting　his　time　here。〃

This　sally　awakened　the　satire　that　ever　lies　ready　in　piscatory　bosoms。

〃Wasting　his　time！　ye're　no　blate。　Oh；　ye'll　be　for　taking　him　to　the
college　to　laern　pheesickand　teach　maenners。〃

〃Ye　need　na　begin　on　me；〃　said　the　woman。　〃I'm　no　match　for　Newhaven。〃

So　saying　she　cut　short　the　dispute　by　carrying　off　the　gristle　of
contention。

〃Another　enemy　to　art；〃　said　Gatty；　hurling　away　his　pencil。

The　young　fishwife　inquired　if　there　were　any　more　griefs。　What　she　had
heard　had　not　accounted；　to　her　reason；　for　her　companion's　depression。

〃Are　ye　sick；　laddy？〃　said　she。

〃No；　Christie；　not　sick；　but　quite；　quite　down　in　the　mouth。〃

She　scanned　him　thirty　seconds。

What　had　ye　till　your　dinner？〃

〃I　forget。〃

〃A　choep；　likely？〃

〃I　think　it　was。〃

〃Or　maybe　it　was　a　steak？〃

〃I　dare　say　it　was　a　steak。〃

〃Taste　my　girdle　cake；　that　I've　brought　for　ye。〃

She　gave　him　a　piece；　he　ate　it　rapidly；　and　looked　gratefully　at　her。

〃Noo；　div　ye　no　think　shame　to　look　me　in　the　face？　Ye　hae　na　dined　ava。〃
And　she　wore　an　injured　look。

〃Sit　ye　there；　it's　ower　late　for　dinner；　but　ye'll　get　a　cup　tea。　Doon
i'　the　mooth；　nae　wonder；　when　naething　gangs　doon　your〃

In　a　minute　she　placed　a　tea…tray；　and　ran　into　the　kitchen　with　a
teapot。

The　next　moment　a　yell　was　heard；　and　she　returned　laughing；　with　another
teapot。

〃The　wife　had　maskit　tea　till　hersel'；〃　said　this　lawless　forager。

Tea　and　cake　on　the　tablebeauty　seated　by　his　sideall　in　less　than　a
minute。

He　offered　her　a　piece　of　cake。

〃Na！　I　am　no　for　any。〃

〃Nor　I　then；〃　said　he。

〃Hets！　eat；　I　tell　ye。〃

He　replied　by　putting　a　bit　to　her　heavenly　mouth。

〃Ye're　awfu'　opinionated；〃　said　she；　with　a　countenance　that　said　nothing
should　induce　her；　and　eating　it　almost　contemporaneously。

〃Put　plenty　sugar；〃　added　she；　referring　to　the　Chinese　infusion；　〃mind；
I　hae　a　sweet　tooth。〃

〃You　have　a　sweet　set；〃　said　he；　approaching　another　morsel。

They　showed　themselves　by　way　of　smile；　and　confirmed　the　accusation。

〃Aha！　lad；〃　answered　she；　〃they've　been　the　death　o'　mony　a　herrin'！〃

〃Now；　what　does　that　mean　in　English；　Christie？〃

〃My　grinders（a　full　stop。）

〃Which　you　approve（a　full　stop。）

〃Have　been　fatal（a　full　stop。）

〃To　many　fishes！〃

Christie　prided　herself　on　her　English；　which　she　had　culled　from　books。

Then　he　made　her　drink　from　the　cup；　and　was　ostentatious　in　putting　his
lips　to　the　same　part　of　the　brim。

Then　she　left　the　table；　and　inspected　all　things。

She　came　to　his　drawers；　opened　one；　and　was　horror…struck。

There　were　coats　and　trousers；　with　their　limbs　interchangeably
intertwined；　waistcoats；　shirts；　and　cigars；　hurled　into　chaos。

She　instantly　took　the　drawer　bodily　out；　brought　it；　leaned　it　against
the　tea…table；　pointed　silently　into　it；　with　an　air　of　majestic
reproach；　and　awaited　the　result。

〃I　can　find　whatever　I　want；〃　said　the　unblushing　bachelor；　〃except
money。〃

〃Siller　does　na　bide　wi'　slovens！　hae　ye　often　siccan　a　gale　o'　wind　in
your　drawer？〃

〃Every　day！　Speak　English！〃

〃Aweel！　How　_do_　you　_do？_　that's　Ennglish！　I　daur　say。〃

〃Jolly！〃　cried　he；　with　his　mouth　full。　Christie　was　now　folding　up　and
neatly　arranging　his　clothes。

〃Will　you　ever；　ever　be　a　painter？〃

〃I　am　a　painter！　I　could　paint　the　Devil　pea…green！〃

〃Dinna　speak　o'　yon　lad；　Chairles；　it's　no　canny。〃

〃No！　I　am　going　to　paint　an　angel；　the　prettiest；　cleverest　girl　in
Scotland；　'The　Snowdrop　of　the　North。'〃

And　he　dashed　into　his　bedroom　to　find　a　canvas。

〃Hech！〃　reflected　Christie。　〃Thir　Ennglish　hae　flattering　tongues；　as
sure　as　Dethe；　'The　Snawdrap　o'　the　Norrth！'〃


CHAPTER　VIII。


GATTY'S　back　was　hardly　turned　when　a　visitor　arrived；　and　inquired；　〃Is
Mr。　Gatty　at　home？〃

〃What's　your　will　wi'　him？〃　was　the　Scottish　reply。

〃Will　you　give　him　this？〃

〃　What　est？〃

〃Are　you　fond　of　asking　questions？〃　inquired　the　man。

〃Ay！　and　fules　canna　answer　them；〃　retorted　Christie。

The　little　document　which　the　man；　in　retiring；　left　with　Christie
Johnstone　purported　to　come　from　one　Victoria；　who　seemed；　at　first
sight；　disposed　to　show　Charles　Gatty　civilities。　〃Victoriato　Charles
Gatty；　greeting！　（salutem）。〃　Christie　was　much　struck　with　this　instance
of　royal　affability；　she　read　no　further；　but　began　to　think；　〃Victoree！
that's　the　queen　hersel。　A　letter　fra　the　queen　to　a　painter　lad！　Picters
will　rise　i'　the　mairketit　will　be　an　order　to　paint　the　bairns。　I　hae
brought　him　luck；　I　am　real　pleased。〃　And　on　Gatty's　return；　canvas　in
hand；　she　whipped　the　document　behind　her；　and　said　archly；　〃I　hae
something　for　ye；　a　tecket　fra　a　leddy；　ye'll　no　want　siller　fra　this
day。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃Ay！　indeed；　fra　a　great　leddy；　it's　vara　gude　o'　me　to　gie　ye　it；　heh！
tak　it。〃

He　did　take　it；　looked　stupefied；　looked　again；　sunk　into　a　chair；　and
glared　at　it。

〃Laddy！〃　said　Christie。

〃This　is　a　new　step　on　the　downward　path；〃　said　the　poor　painter。

〃Is　it　no　an　orrder　to　paint　the　young　prence？〃　said　Christie；　faintly。

〃No！〃　almost　shrieked　the　victim。　〃It's　a　writ！　I　owe　a　lot　of　money。

〃Oh；　Chairles！〃

〃See！　I　borrowed　sixty　pounds　six　months　ago　of　a　friend；　so　now　I　owe
eighty！〃

〃All　right！〃　giggled　the　unfriendly　visitor　at　the　door；　whose　departure
had　been　more　or　less　fictitious。

Christie；　by　an　impulse；　not　justifiable；　but　natural；　drew　her
oyster…knife　out；　and　this　time　the　man　really　went　away。

〃Hairtless　mon！〃　cried　she；　〃could　he　no　do　his　am　dirrty　work；　and　no
gar　me　gie　the　puir　lad　th'　action；　and　he　likeit　me　sae　weel！〃　and　she
began　to　whimper。

〃And　love　you　more　now；〃　said　he；　〃don't　you　cry；　dear；　to　add　to　my
vexation。〃

〃Na！　I'll　no　add　to　your　vexation；〃　and　she　gulped　down　her　tears。

〃Besides；　I　have　pictures　painted　worth　two　hundred　pounds；　this　is　only
for　eighty。　To　be　sure　you　can't　sell　them　for　two　hundred　pence　when　you
want。　So　I　shall　go　to　jail；　but　they　won't　keep　me　long。

Then　he　took　a　turn；　and　began　to　fall　into　the　artistic；　or　true　view　of
matters；　which；　indeed；　was　never　long　absent　from　him。

〃Look　here；　Christie；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　sick　of　conventional　assassins；
humbugging　models；　with　dirty　beards；　that　knit　their　brows；　and　try　to
look　murder；　they　never　murdered　so　much　as　a　tom…cat。　I　always　go　in　for
the　real　thing；　and　here　I　shall　find　it。〃

〃Dinna　gang　in　there；　lad；　for　ony　favor。〃

〃Then　I　shall　find　the　accessories　of　a　picture　I　have　in　my　headchains
with　genuine　rust　and　ancient　mouldering　stones　with　the　stains　of　time。〃
His　eye　brightened　at　the　prospect。

〃You　among　fiefs；　and　chains；　and　stanes！　Ye'll　break　my　hairt；　laddy；
ye'll　no　be　easy　till　you　break　my　hairt。〃　And　this　time　the　tears　would
not　be　denied。

〃I　love　you　for　crying；　don't　cry；〃　and　he　fished　from　th