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第17章

st. ives-第17章

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quietly to the battalions。  Our Major; Vigo…Roussillon; set spurs 

to his horse and galloped out to sabre him; but seeing him an old 

man; very handsome; and as composed as if he were in a coffee…

house; lost heart and galloped back again。  Only; you see; they had 

been very close together for the moment; and looked each other in 

the eyes。  Soon after the Major was wounded; taken prisoner; and 

carried into Cadiz。  One fine day they announced to him the visit 

of the General; Sir Thomas Graham。  〃Well; sir;〃 said the General; 

taking him by the hand; 〃I think we were face to face upon the 

field。〃  It was the white…haired officer!'



'Ah!' cried the boy; … his eyes were burning。



'Well; and here is the point;' I continued。  'Sir Thomas fed the 

Major from his own table from that day; and served him with six 

covers。'



'Yes; it is a beautiful … a beautiful story;' said Ronald。  'And 

yet somehow it is not the same … is it?'



'I admit it freely;' said I。



The boy stood awhile brooding。  'Well; I take my risk of it;' he 

cried。  'I believe it's treason to my sovereign … I believe there 

is an infamous punishment for such a crime … and yet I'm hanged if 

I can give you up'



I was as much moved as he。  'I could almost beg you to do 

otherwise;' I said。  'I was a brute to come to you; a brute and a 

coward。  You are a noble enemy; you will make a noble soldier。'  

And with rather a happy idea of a compliment for this warlike 

youth; I stood up straight and gave him the salute。



He was for a moment confused; his face flushed。  'Well; well; I 

must be getting you something to eat; but it will not be for six;' 

he added; with a smile: 'only what we can get smuggled out。  There 

is my aunt in the road; you see;' and he locked me in again with 

the indignant hens。



I always smile when I recall that young fellow; and yet; if the 

reader were to smile also; I should feel ashamed。  If my son shall 

be only like him when he comes to that age; it will be a brave day 

for me and not a bad one for his country。



At the same time I cannot pretend that I was sorry when his sister 

succeeded in his place。  She brought me a few crusts of bread and a 

jug of milk; which she had handsomely laced with whisky after the 

Scottish manner。



'I am so sorry;' she said: 'I dared not bring on anything more。  We 

are so small a family; and my aunt keeps such an eye upon the 

servants。  I have put some whisky in the milk … it is more 

wholesome so … and with eggs you will be able to make something of 

a meal。  How many eggs will you be wanting to that milk? for I must 

be taking the others to my aunt … that is my excuse for being here。  

I should think three or four。  Do you know how to beat them? or 

shall I do it?'



Willing to detain her a while longer in the hen…house; I displayed 

my bleeding palms; at which she cried aloud。



'My dear Miss Flora; you cannot make an omelette without breaking 

eggs;' said I; 'and it is no bagatelle to escape from Edinburgh 

Castle。  One of us; I think; was even killed。'



'And you are as white as a rag; too;' she exclaimed; 'and can 

hardly stand!  Here is my shawl; sit down upon it here in the 

corner; and I will beat your eggs。  See; I have brought a fork too; 

I should have been a good person to take care of Jacobites or 

Covenanters in old days!  You shall have more to eat this evening; 

Ronald is to bring it you from town。  We have money enough; 

although no food that we can call our own。  Ah; if Ronald and I 

kept house; you should not be lying in this shed!  He admires you 

so much。'



'My dear friend;' said I; 'for God's sake do not embarrass me with 

more alms。  I loved to receive them from that hand; so long as they 

were needed; but they are so no more; and whatever else I may lack 

… and I lack everything … it is not money。'  I pulled out my sheaf 

of notes and detached the top one: it was written for ten pounds; 

and signed by that very famous individual; Abraham Newlands。  

'Oblige me; as you would like me to oblige your brother if the 

parts were reversed; and take this note for the expenses。  I shall 

need not only food; but clothes。'



'Lay it on the ground;' said she。  'I must not stop my beating。'



'You are not offended?' I exclaimed。



She answered me by a look that was a reward in itself; and seemed 

to imply the most heavenly offers for the future。  There was in it 

a shadow of reproach; and such warmth of communicative cordiality 

as left me speechless。  I watched her instead till her hens' milk 

was ready。



'Now;' said she; 'taste that。'



I did so; and swore it was nectar。  She collected her eggs and 

crouched in front of me to watch me eat。  There was about this tall 

young lady at the moment an air of motherliness delicious to 

behold。  I am like the English general; and to this day I still 

wonder at my moderation。



'What sort of clothes will you be wanting?' said she。



'The clothes of a gentleman;' said I。  'Right or wrong; I think it 

is the part I am best qualified to play。  Mr。 St。 Ives (for that's 

to be my name upon the journey) I conceive as rather a theatrical 

figure; and his make…up should be to match。'



'And yet there is a difficulty;' said she。  'If you got coarse 

clothes the fit would hardly matter。  But the clothes of a fine 

gentleman … O; it is absolutely necessary that these should fit!  

And above all; with your' … she paused a moment … 'to our ideas 

somewhat noticeable manners。'



'Alas for my poor manners!' said I。  'But my dear friend Flora; 

these little noticeabilities are just what mankind has to suffer 

under。  Yourself; you see; you're very noticeable even when you 

come in a crowd to visit poor prisoners in the Castle。'



I was afraid I should frighten my good angel visitant away; and 

without the smallest breath of pause went on to add a few 

directions as to stuffs and colours。



She opened big eyes upon me。  'O; Mr。 St。 Ives!' she cried … 'if 

that is to be your name … I do not say they would not be becoming; 

but for a journey; do you think they would be wise?  I am afraid' … 

she gave a pretty break of laughter … 'I am afraid they would be 

daft…like!'



'Well; and am I not daft?' I asked her。



'I do begin to think you are;' said she。



'There it is; then!' said I。  'I have been long enough a figure of 

fun。  Can you not feel with me that perhaps the bitterest thing in 

this captivity has been the clothes?  Make me a captive … bind me 

with chains if you like … but let me be still myself。  You do not 

know what it is to be a walking travesty … among foes;' I added 

bitterly。



'O; but you are too unjust!' she cried。  'You speak as though any 

one ever dreamed of laughing at you。  But no one did。  We were all 

pained to the heart。  Even my aunt … though sometimes I do think 

she was not quite in good taste … you should have seen her and 

heard her at home!  She took so much interest。  Every patch in your 

clothes made us sorry; it should have been a sister's work。'



'That is what I never had … a sister;' said I。  'But since you say 

that I did not make you laugh … '



'O; Mr。 St。 Ives! never!' she exclaimed。  'Not for one moment。  It 

was all too sad。  To see a gentleman  … '



'In the clothes of a harlequin; and begging?' I suggested。



'To see a gentleman in distress; and nobly supporting it;' she 

said。



'And do you not understand; my fair foe;' said I; 'that even if all 

were as you say … even if you had thought my travesty were becoming 

… I should be only the more anxious; for my sake; for my country's 

sake; and for the sake of your kindness; that you should see him 

whom you have helped as God meant him to be seen? that you should 

have something to remember him by at least more characteristic than 

a misfitting sulphur…yellow suit; and half a week's beard?'



'You think a great deal t

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