david elginbrod-第20部分

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strong　heart　dance　with　delight。　　The　snow　that　fell　made　but　a
small　part　of　the　wild；　confused　turmoil　and　uproar　of　the　ten…fold
storm。　　For　the　wind；　raving　over　the　surface　of　the　snow；　which；　as
I　have　already　explained；　lay　nearly　as　loose　as　dry　sand；　swept　it
in　thick　fierce　clouds　along　with　it；　tearing　it　up　and　casting　it
down　again　no　one　could　tell　wherefor　the　whole　air　was　filled
with　drift；　as　they　call　the　snow　when　thus　driven。　　A　few　hours　of
this　would　alter　the　face　of　the　whole　country；　leaving　some　parts
bare；　and　others　buried　beneath　heaps　on　heaps　of　snow；　called　here
snaw…wreaths。　　For　the　word　snow…wreaths　does　not　mean　the　lovely
garlands　hung　upon　every　tree　and　bush　in　its　feathery　fall；　but
awful　mounds　of　drifted　snow；　that　may　be　the　smooth；　soft；　white
sepulchres　of　dead　men；　smothered　in　the　lapping　folds　of　the　almost
solid　wind。　　Path　or　way　was　none　before　him。　　He　could　see　nothing
but　the　surface　of　a　sea　of　froth　and　foam；　as　it　appeared　to　him；
with　the　spray　torn　from　it；　whirled　in　all　shapes　and　contortions；
and　driven　in　every　direction；　but　chiefly；　in　the　main　direction　of
the　wind；　in　long　sloping　spires　of　misty　whiteness；　swift　as
arrows；　and　as　keen　upon　the　face　of　him　who　dared　to　oppose　them。

Hugh　plunged　into　it　with　a　wild　sense　of　life　and　joy。　　In　the
course　of　his　short　walk；　however；　if　walk　it　could　be　called；　which
was　one　chain　of　plungings　and　emergings；　struggles　with　the　snow；
and　wrestles　with　the　wind；　he　felt　that　it　needed　not　a　stout　heart
only；　but　sound　lungs　and　strong　limbs　as　well；　to　battle　with　the
storm；　even　for　such　a　distance。　　When　he　reached　the　cottage；　he
found　Janet　in　considerable　anxiety；　not　only　about　David；　who　had
not　yet　returned；　but　about　Margaret　as　well；　whom　she　had　not　seen
for　some　time；　and　who　must　be　out　somewhere　in　the　storm〃the　wull
hizzie。〃　　Hugh　suggested　that　she　might　have　gone　to　meet　her
father。

〃The　Lord　forbid！〃　ejaculated　Janet。　〃The　road　lies　ower　the　tap　o'
the　Halshach；　as　eerie　and　bare　a　place　as　ever　was　hill…moss；　wi'
never　a　scoug　or　bield　in't；　frae　the　tae　side　to　the　tither。　　The
win'　there　jist　gangs　clean　wud　a'thegither。　　An'　there's　mony　a
well…ee　forbye；　that　gin　ye　fell　intill't；　ye　wud　never　come　at　the
boddom　o't。　　The　Lord　preserve's！　　I　wis'　Dawvid　was　hame。〃

〃How　could　you　let　him　go；　Janet？〃

〃Lat　him　gang；　laddie！　　It's　a　strang　tow　'at　wad　haud　or　bin'
Dawvid；　whan　he　considers　he　bud　to　gang；　an'　'twere　intill　a　deil's
byke。　　But　I'm　no　that　feared　aboot　him。　　I　maist　believe　he's　under
special　protection；　if　ever　man　was　or　oucht　to　be；　an'　he's　no　more
feared　at　the　storm；　nor　gin　the　snaw　was　angels'　feathers
flauchterin'　oot　o'　their　wings　a'　aboot　him。　　But　I'm　no　easy　i'　my
min'　aboot　Maggythe　wull　hizzie！　　Gin　she　be　meetin'　her　father；
an'　chance　to　miss　him；　the　Lord　kens　what　may　come　o'　her。〃

Hugh　tried　to　comfort　her；　but　all　that　could　be　done　was　to　wait
David's　return。　　The　storm　seemed　to　increase　rather　than　abate　its
force。　　The　footprints　Hugh　had　made；　had　all　but　vanished　already
at　the　very　door　of　the　house；　which　stood　quite　in　the　shelter　of
the　fir…wood。　　As　they　looked　out；　a　dark　figure　appeared　within　a
yard　or　two　of　the　house。

〃The　Lord　grant　it　be　my　bairn！〃　prayed　poor　Janet。　　But　it　was
David；　and　alone。　　Janet　gave　a　shriek。

〃Dawvid；　whaur's　Maggie？〃

〃I　haena　seen　the　bairn；〃　replied　David；　in　repressed　perturbation。
〃She's　no　theroot；　is　she；　the　nicht？〃

〃She's　no　at　hame；　Dawvid；　that's　a'　'at　I　ken。〃

〃Whaur　gaed　she？〃

〃The　Lord　kens。　　She's　smoored　i'　the　snaw　by　this　time。〃

〃She's　i'　the　Lord's　han's；　Janet；　be　she　aneath　a　snaw…vraith。
Dinna　forget　that；　wuman。　　Hoo　lang　is't　sin'　ye　missed　her？〃

〃An　hour　an'　mairI　dinna　ken　hoo　lang。　　I'm　clean　doitit　wi'
dreid。〃

〃I'll　awa'　an'　leuk　for　her。　　Just　haud　the　hert　in　her　till　I　come
back；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。〃

〃I　won't　be　left　behind；　David。　　I'm　going　with　you。〃

〃Ye　dinna　ken　what　ye're　sayin'；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。　　I　wad　sune　hae　twa
o'　ye　to　seek　in　place　o'　ane。〃

〃Never　heed　me；　I'm　going　on　my　own　account；　come　what　may。〃

〃Weel；　weel；　I　downa　bide　to　differ。　　I'm　gaein　up　the　burn…side；
baud　ye　ower　to　the　farm；　and　spier　gin　onybody's　seen　her；　an'　the
lads　'll　be　out　to　leuk　for　her　in　a　jiffey。　　My　puir　lassie！〃

The　sigh　that　must　have　accompanied　the　last　words；　was　lost　in　the
wind；　as　they　vanished　in　the　darkness。　　Janet　fell　on　her　knees　in
the　kitchen；　with　the　door　wide　open；　and　the　wind　drifting　in　the
powdery　snow；　and　scattering　it　with　the　ashes　from　the　hearth　over
the　floor。　　A　picture　of　more　thorough　desolation　can　hardly　be
imagined。　　She　soon　came　to　herself；　however；　and　reflecting　that；
if　the　lost　child　was　found；　there　must　be　a　warm　bed　to　receive
her；　else　she　might　be　a　second　time　lost；　she　rose　and　shut　the
door；　and　mended　the　fire。　　It　was　as　if　the　dumb　attitude　of　her
prayer　was　answered；　for　though　she　had　never　spoken　or　even　thought
a　word；　strength　was　restored　to　her　distracted　brain。　　When　she　had
made　every　preparation　she　could　think　of；　she　went　to　the　door
again；　opened　it；　and　looked　out。　　It　was　a　region　of　howling
darkness；　tossed　about　by　pale　snow…drifts；　out　of　which　it　seemed
scarce　more　hopeful　that　welcome　faces　would　emerge；　than　that　they
should　return　to　our　eyes　from　the　vast　unknown　in　which　they　vanish
at　last。　　She　closed　the　door　once　more；　and　knowing　nothing　else　to
be　done；　sat　down　on　a　chair；　with　her　hands　on　her　knees；　and　her
eyes　fixed　on　the　door。　　The　clock　went　on　with　its　slow　swing；
tictac；　tictac；　an　utterly　inhuman　time…measurer；　but　she　heard
the　sound　of　every　second；　through　the　midst　of　the　uproar　in　the
fir…trees；　which　bent　their　tall　heads　hissing　to　the　blast；　and
swinging　about　in　the　agony　of　their　strife。　　The　minutes　went　by；
till　an　hour　was　gone；　and　there　was　neither　sound　nor　hearing；　but
of　the　storm　and　the　clock。　　Still　she　sat　and　stared；　her　eyes
fixed　on　the　door…latch。　　Suddenly；　without　warning　it　was　lifted；
and　the　door　opened。　　Her　heart　bounded　and　fluttered　like　a
startled　bird；　but　alas！　the　first　words　she　heard　were：　〃Is　she　no
come　yet？〃　　It　was　her　husband；　followed　by　several　of　the　farm
servants。　　He　had　made　a　circuit　to　the　farm；　and　finding　that　Hugh
had　never　been　there；　hoped；　though　with　trembling；　that　Margaret
had　already　returned　home。　　The　question　fell　upon　Janet's　heart
like　the　sound　of　the　earth　on　the　coffin…lid；　and　her　silent　stare
was　the　only　answer　David　received。

But　at　that　very　moment；　like　a　dead　man　burst　from　the　tomb；
entered　from　behind　the　party　at　the　open　door；　silent　and　white；
with　rigid　features　and　fixed　eyes；　Hugh。　He　stumbled　in；　leaning
forward　with　long　strides；　and　dragging　something　behind　him。　　He
pushed　and　staggered　through　them　as　if　he　saw　nothing　before　him；
and　as　they　parted　horror…stricken；　they　saw　that　it　was　Margaret；
or　her　dead　body；　that　he　dragged　after　him。　　He　dropped　her　at　her
mother's　feet；　and　fell　himself　on　the　floor；　before　they　were　able
to　give　him　any　support。　　David；　who　was　quite　calm；　got　the　whisky
bottle　out；　and　tried　to　administer　some　to　Margaret　first；　but　her
teeth　were　firmly　set；　and　to　all　appearance　she　was　dead。　　One　of
the　young　men　succeeded　better　with　Hugh；　whom　at　David's　direction
they　took　into　the　study；　while　he　and　Janet　got　Margaret　undressed
and　put　to　bed；　with　hot　bottles　all　about　her；　for　in　warmth　lay
the　only　hope　of　restoring　her。　　After　she　had　lain　thus　for　a
while；　she　gave　a　sigh；　and　when　they　had　succeeded　in　getting　her
to　swallow　some　warm　milk；　she　began　to　breathe；　and　soon　seemed　to
be　only　fast　asleep。　　After　half　an　hour's　rest　and　warming；　Hugh
was　able　to　move　and　speak。　　David　would　not　allow　him　to　say　much；
however；　but　got　him　to　bed；　sending　word　to　the　house　that　he　could
not　go　home　that　night。　　He　and　Janet　sat　by　the　fireside　all　night；
listening　to　the　storm　that　still　raved　without；　and　thanking　God
for　both　of　the　lives。　　Every　few　minutes　a　tip…toe　excursion　was
made　to　the　bedside；　and　now　and　then　to　the　other　room。　　Both　the
patients　slept　quietly。　　Towards　morning　Margaret　opened　her　eyes；
and　faintly　called　her　mother；　but　soon　fell　asleep　once　more；　and
did　not　awake　again　till　nearly　noon。　　When　sufficiently　restored　to
be　able　to　speak；　the　account　she　gave　was；　that　she　had　set　out　to
meet　her　father；　but　the　storm　increasing；　she　had　thought　it　more
prudent　to　turn。　　It　grew　in　violence；　however；　so　rapidly；　and　beat
so　directly　in　her　face；　that　she　was　soon　exhausted　with
struggling；　and　benumbed　with　the　cold。　　The　last　thing　she
remembered　was；　dropping；　as　she　thought；　into　a　hole；　and　feeling
as　if　she　were　going　to　sleep　in　bed；　yet　knowing　it　was　death；　and
thinking　how　much　sweeter　it　was　than　sleep。　　Hugh's　account　was
very　strange　and　defective；　but　he　was　never　able　to　add　anything　to
it。　　He　said　that；　when　he　rushed　out　into　the　dark；　the　storm
seized　him　like　a　fury；　beating　him　about　the　head　and　face　with　icy
wings；　till　he　was　almost　stunned。　　He　took　the　road　to　the