david elginbrod-第4部分

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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　if　he　were　in　the　hands　of　a　superior。

〃Mony　thanks；　but　ye　see；　sir；　we　hae　eneuch　to　chow　upo'　for　an
aucht　days　or　so。〃

By　this　time　the　potatoes　wore　considered　to　be　cooked；　and　were
accordingly　lifted　off　the　fire。　　The　water　was　then　poured　away；
the　lid　put　aside；　and　the　pot　hung　once　more　upon　the　crook；　hooked
a　few　rings　further　up　in　the　chimney；　in　order　that　the　potatoes
might　be　thoroughly　dry　before　they　were　served。　　Margaret　was　now
very　busy　spreading　the　cloth　and　laying　spoon　and　plates　on　the
table。　　Hugh　rose　to　go。

〃Will　ye　no　bide；〃　said　Janet；　in　a　most　hospitable　tone；　〃an'　tak'
a　het　pitawta　wi'　us？〃

〃I'm　afraid　of　being　troublesome；〃　answered　he。

〃Nae　fear　o'　that；　gin　ye　can　jist　pit　up　wi'　oor　hamely　meat。〃

〃Mak　nae　apologies；　Janet；　my　woman；〃　said　David。　〃A　het　pitawta's
aye　guid　fare；　for　gentle　or　semple。　　Sit　ye　doun　again；　Maister
Sutherlan'。　　Maggy；　my　doo；　whaur's　the　milk？〃

〃I　thocht　Hawkie　wad　hae　a　drappy　o'　het　milk　by　this　time；〃　said
Margaret；　〃and　sae　I　jist　loot　it　be　to　the　last；　but　I'll　hae't
drawn　in　twa　minutes。〃　　And　away　she　went　with　a　jug；　commonly
called　a　decanter　in　that　part　of　the　north；　in　her　hand。

〃That's　hardly　fair　play　to　Hawkie；〃　said　David　to　Janet　with　a
smile。

〃Hoot！　　Dawvid；　ye　see　we　haena　a　stranger　ilka　nicht。〃

〃But　really；〃　said　Hugh；　〃I　hope　this　is　the　last　time　you　will
consider　me　a　stranger；　for　I　shall　be　here　a　great　many　timesthat
is；　if　you　don't　get　tired　of　me。〃

〃Gie　us　the　chance　at　least；　Maister　Sutherlan'。　　It's　no　sma'
preevilege　to　fowk　like　us　to　hae　a　frien'　wi'　sae　muckle　buik
learnin'　as　ye　hae；　sir。〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　looks　more　to　you　than　it　really　is。〃

〃Weel；　ye　see；　we　maun　a'　leuk　at　the　starns　frae　the　hicht　o'　oor
ain　een。　　An'　ye　seem　nigher　to　them　by　a　lang　growth　than　the　lave
o's。　　My　man；　ye　ought　to　be　thankfu'。〃

With　the　true　humility　that　comes　of　worshipping　the　Truth；　David
had　not　the　smallest　idea　that　he　was　immeasurably　nearer　to　the
stars　than　Hugh　Sutherland。

Maggie　having　returned　with　her　jug　full　of　frothy　milk；　and　the
potatoes　being　already　heaped　up　in　a　wooden　bowl　or　bossie　in　the
middle　of　the　table；　sending　the　smoke　of　their　hospitality　to　the
rafters；　Janet　placed　a　smaller　wooden　bowl；　called　a　caup；　filled
with　deliciously　yellow　milk　of　Hawkie's　latest　gathering；　for　each
individual　of　the　company；　with　an　attendant　horn…spoon　by　its　side。
They　all　drew　their　chairs　to　the　table；　and　David；　asking　no
blessing；　as　it　was　called；　but　nevertheless　giving　thanks　for　the
blessing　already　bestowed；　namely；　the　perfect　gift　of　food；　invited
Hugh　to　make　a　supper。　　Each；　in　primitive　but　not　ungraceful
fashion；　took　a　potatoe　from　the　dish　with　the　fingers；　and　ate　it；
〃bite　and　sup；〃　with　the　help　of　the　horn…spoon　for　the　milk。　　Hugh
thought　he　had　never　supped　more　pleasantly；　and　could　not　help
observing　how　far　real　good…breeding　is　independent　of　the　forms　and
refinements　of　what　has　assumed　to　itself　the　name　of　so