weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第12章
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Weir of Hermiston
Such an unequal intimacy has never been uncommon in Scotland；
where the clan spirit survives； where the servant tends to spend her life in
the same service； a helpmeet at first； then a tyrant； and at last a pensioner；
where； besides； she is not necessarily destitute of the pride of birth； but is；
perhaps； like Kirstie； a connection of her master's； and at least knows the
legend of her own family； and may count kinship with some illustrious
dead。 For that is the mark of the Scot of all classes： that he stands in an
attitude towards the past unthinkable to Englishmen； and remembers and
cherishes the memory of his forebears； good or bad； and there burns alive
in him a sense of identity with the dead even to the twentieth generation。
No more characteristic instance could be found than in the family of
Kirstie Elliott。 They were all； and Kirstie the first of all； ready and eager to
pour forth the particulars of their genealogy； embellished with every detail
that memory had handed down or fancy fabricated； and； behold！ from
every ramification of that tree there dangled a halter。 The Elliotts
themselves have had a chequered history； but these Elliotts deduced；
besides； from three of the most unfortunate of the border clans … the
Nicksons； the Ellwalds； and the Crozers。 One ancestor after another might
be seen appearing a moment out of the rain and the hill mist upon his
furtive business； speeding home； perhaps； with a paltry booty of lame
horses and lean kine； or squealing and dealing death in some moorland
feud of the ferrets and the wild cats。 One after another closed his obscure
adventures in mid…air； triced up to the arm of the royal gibbet or the
Baron's dule…tree。 For the rusty blunderbuss of Scots criminal justice；
which usually hurt nobody but jurymen； became a weapon of precision for
the Nicksons； the Ellwalds； and the Crozers。 The exhilaration of their
exploits seemed to haunt the memories of their descendants alone； and the
shame to be forgotten。 Pride glowed in their bosoms to publish their
relationship to 〃Andrew Ellwald of the Laverockstanes； called ‘Unchancy
Dand；' who was justifeed wi' seeven mair of the same name at Jeddart in
the days of King James the Sax。〃 In all this tissue of crime and misfortune；
the Elliotts of Cauldstaneslap had one boast which must appear legitimate：
the males were gallows… birds； born outlaws； petty thieves； and deadly
brawlers； but； according to the same tradition； the females were all chaste
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Weir of Hermiston
and faithful。 The power of ancestry on the character is not limited to the
inheritance of cells。 If I buy ancestors by the gross from the benevolence
of Lyon King of Arms； my grandson （if he is Scottish） will feel a
quickening emulation of their deeds。 The men of the Elliotts were proud；
lawless； violent as of right； cherishing and prolonging a tradition。 In like
manner with the women。 And the woman； essentially passionate and
reckless； who crouched on the rug； in the shine of the peat fire； telling
these tales； had cherished through life a wild integrity of virtue。
Her father Gilbert had been deeply pious； a savage disciplinarian in the
antique style； and withal a notorious smuggler。 〃I mind when I was a bairn
getting mony a skelp and being shoo'd to bed like pou'try；〃 she would say。
〃That would be when the lads and their bit kegs were on the road。 We've
had the riffraff of two…three counties in our kitchen； mony's the time；
betwix' the twelve and the three； and their lanterns would be standing in
the forecourt； ay； a score o' them at once。 But there was nae ungodly talk
permitted at Cauldstaneslap。 My faither was a consistent man in walk and
conversation； just let slip an aith； and there was the door to ye！ He had that
zeal for the Lord； it was a fair wonder to hear him pray； but the family has
aye had a gift that way。〃 This father was twice married； once to a dark
woman of the old Ellwald stock； by whom he had Gilbert； presently of
Cauldstaneslap； and； secondly； to the mother of Kirstie。 〃He was an auld
man when he married her； a fell auld man wi' a muckle voice … you could
hear him rowting from the top o' the Kye…skairs；〃 she said； 〃but for her； it
appears she was a perfit wonder。 It was gentle blood she had； Mr。 Archie；
for it was your ain。 The country…side gaed gyte about her and her gowden
hair。 Mines is no to be mentioned wi' it； and there's few weemen has mair
hair than what I have； or yet a bonnier colour。 Often would I tell my dear
Miss Jeannie … that was your mother； dear； she was cruel ta'en up about her
hair； it was unco' tender； ye see … 'Houts； Miss Jeannie；' I would say； 'just
fling your washes and your French dentifrishes in the back o' the fire； for
that's the place for them； and awa' down to a burn side； and wash yersel' in
cauld hill water； and dry your bonny hair in the caller wind o' the muirs；
the way that my mother aye washed hers； and that I have aye made it a
practice to have wishen mines … just you do what I tell ye； my dear； and
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ye'll give me news of it！ Ye'll have hair； and routh of hair； a pigtail as
thick's my arm；' I said； ‘and the bonniest colour like the clear gowden
guineas； so as the lads in kirk'll no can keep their eyes off it！' Weel； it
lasted out her time； puir thing！ I cuttit a lock of it upon her corp that was
lying there sae cauld。 I'll show it ye some of thir days if ye're good。 But； as
I was sayin'； my mither … 〃
On the death of the father there remained golden…haired Kirstie； who
took service with her distant kinsfolk； the Rutherfords； and black…a… vised
Gilbert； twenty years older； who farmed the Cauldstaneslap； married； and
begot four sons between 1773 and 1784； and a daughter； like a postscript；
in '97； the year of Camperdown and Cape St。 Vincent。 It seemed it was a
tradition in the family to wind up with a belated girl。 In 1804； at the age of
sixty； Gilbert met an end that might be called heroic。 He was due home
from market any time from eight at night till five in the morning； and in
any condition from the quarrelsome to the speechless； for he maintained to
that age the goodly customs of the Scots farmer。 It was known on this
occasion that he had a good bit of money to bring home； the word had
gone round loosely。 The laird had shown his guineas； and if anybody had
but noticed it； there was an ill… looking； vagabond crew； the scum of
Edinburgh； that drew out of the market long ere it was dusk and took the
hill…road by Hermiston； where it was not to be believed that they had
lawful business。 One of the country…side； one Dickieson； they took with
them to be their guide； and dear he paid for it！ Of a sudden in the ford of
the Broken Dykes； this vermin clan fell on the laird； six to one； and him
three parts asleep； having drunk hard。 But it is ill to catch an Elliott。 For a
while； in the night and the black water that was deep as to his saddle…girths；
he wrought with his staff like a smith at his stithy； and great was the sound
of oaths and blows。 With that the ambuscade was burst； and he rode for
home with a pistol…ball in him； three knife wounds； the loss of his front
teeth； a broken rib and bridle； and a dying horse。 That was a race with
death that the laird rode！ In the mirk night； with his broken bridle and his
head swimming； he dug his spurs to the rowels in the horse's side； and the
horse； that was even worse off than himself； the poor creature！ screamed
out loud like a person as he went； so that the hills echoed with it； and the
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folks at Cauldstaneslap got to their feet about the table and looked at each
other with white faces。 The horse fell dead at the yard gate； the laird won
the length of the house and fell there on the threshold。 To the son that
raised him he gave the bag of money。 〃Hae；〃 said he。 All the way up the
thieves had seemed to him to be at his heels； but now the hallucination left
him … he saw them again in the place of the ambuscade … and the thirst of
vengeance seized on his dying mind。 Raising himself and pointing with an
imperious finger into the black night from which he had come； he uttered
the single command； 〃Brocken Dykes；〃 and fainted。 He had never been
loved； but he had been feared in honour。 At that sight； at that word； gasped
out at them from a toothless and bleeding mouth； the old Elliott spirit
awoke with a shout in the four sons。 〃Wanting the hat；〃 continues my
author； Kirstie； whom I but haltingly follow； for she told this tale like one
inspired； 〃wanting guns； for there wasna twa grains o' pouder in the house；
wi' nae mair weepons than their sticks into their hands； the fower o' them
took the road。 Only Hob； and that was the eldest； hunkered at the doorsill
where the blood had rin； fyled his hand wi' it … and haddit it up to Heeven
in the way o' the auld Border aith。 ‘Hell shall have her ain again this
nicht！' he raired； and rode forth upon his earrand。〃 It was three miles to
Broken Dykes； down hill； and a sore road。 Kirstie has seen men from
Edinburgh dismounting there in plain day to lead their horses。 But the four
brothers rode it as if Auld Hornie were behind and Heaven in front。 Come
to the ford； and there was Dickieson。 By all tales； he was not dead； but
breathed and reared upon his elbow； and cried out to them for help。 It was
at a graceless face that he asked mercy。 As soon as Hob saw； by the glint
of the lantern； the eyes shining and the whiteness of the teeth in the man's
face； 〃Damn you！〃 says he； 〃ye hae your
