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第64章

st. ives-第64章

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said he; 'and I hope; when your mind is at rest (and it does you 

much honour to take it as you do); that you will sit down with me 

to the postponed meal; not forgetting the bottle。  You have my 

address?' he added; and gave it me … which was the only thing I 

wanted。



At last; at the level of York Place; we parted with mutual 

civilities; and I was free to pursue my way; through the mobs of 

people returning from church; to my lodgings in St。 James' Square。



Almost at the house door whom should I overtake but my landlady in 

a dress of gorgeous severity; and dragging a prize in her wake: no 

less than Rowley; with the cockade in his hat; and a smart pair of 

tops to his boots!  When I said he was in the lady's wake I spoke 

but in metaphor。  As a matter of fact he was squiring her; with the 

utmost dignity; on his arm; and I followed them up the stairs; 

smiling to myself。



Both were quick to salute me as soon as I was perceived; and Mrs。 

McRankine inquired where I had been。  I told her boastfully; giving 

her the name of the church and the divine; and ignorantly supposing 

I should have gained caste。  But she soon opened my eyes。  In the 

roots of the Scottish character there are knots and contortions 

that not only no stranger can understand; but no stranger can 

follow; he walks among explosives; and his best course is to throw 

himself upon their mercy … 'Just as I am; without one plea;' a 

citation from one of the lady's favourite hymns。



The sound she made was unmistakable in meaning; though it was 

impossible to be written down; and I at once executed the manoeuvre 

I have recommended。



'You must remember I am a perfect stranger in your city;' said I。  

'If I have done wrong; it was in mere ignorance; my dear lady; and 

this afternoon; if you will be so good as to take me; I shall 

accompany YOU。'



But she was not to be pacified at the moment; and departed to her 

own quarters murmuring。



'Well; Rowley;' said I; 'and have you been to church?'



'If you please; sir;' he said。



'Well; you have not been any less unlucky than I have;' I returned。  

'And how did you get on with the Scottish form?'



'Well; sir; it was pretty 'ard; the form was; and reether narrow;' 

he replied。  'I don't know w'y it is; but it seems to me like as if 

things were a good bit changed since William Wallace!  That was a 

main queer church she took me to; Mr。 Anne!  I don't know as I 

could have sat it out; if she 'adn't 'a' give me peppermints。  She 

ain't a bad one at bottom; the old girl; she do pounce a bit; and 

she do worry; but; law bless you; Mr。 Anne; it ain't nothink really 

… she don't MEAN it。  W'y; she was down on me like a 'undredweight 

of bricks this morning。  You see; last night she 'ad me in to 

supper; and; I beg your pardon; sir; but I took the freedom of 

playing her a chune or two。  She didn't mind a bit; so this morning 

I began to play to myself; and she flounced in; and flew up; and 

carried on no end about Sunday!'



'You see; Rowley;' said I; 'they're all mad up here; and you have 

to humour them。  See and don't quarrel with Mrs。 McRankine; and; 

above all; don't argue with her; or you'll get the worst of it。  

Whatever she says; touch your forelock and say; 〃If you please!〃 or 

〃I beg pardon; ma'am。〃  And let me tell you one thing: I am sorry; 

but you have to go to church with her again this afternoon。  That's 

duty; my boy!'



As I had foreseen; the bells had scarce begun before Mrs。 McRankine 

presented herself to be our escort; upon which I sprang up with 

readiness and offered her my arm。  Rowley followed behind。  I was 

beginning to grow accustomed to the risks of my stay in Edinburgh; 

and it even amused me to confront a new churchful。  I confess the 

amusement did not last until the end; for if Dr。 Gray were long; 

Mr。 McCraw was not only longer; but more incoherent; and the matter 

of his sermon (which was a direct attack; apparently; on all the 

Churches of the world; my own among the number); where it had not 

the tonic quality of personal insult; rather inclined me to 

slumber。  But I braced myself for my life; kept up Rowley with the 

end of a pin; and came through it awake; but no more。



Bethiah was quite conquered by this 'mark of grace;' though; I am 

afraid; she was also moved by more worldly considerations。  The 

first is; the lady had not the least objection to go to church on 

the arm of an elegantly dressed young gentleman; and be followed by 

a spruce servant with a cockade in his hat。  I could see it by the 

way she took possession of us; found us the places in the Bible; 

whispered to me the name of the minister; passed us lozenges; which 

I (for my part) handed on to Rowley; and at each fresh attention 

stole a little glance about the church to make sure she was 

observed。  Rowley was a pretty boy; you will pardon me if I also 

remembered that I was a favourable…looking young man。  When we grow 

elderly; how the room brightens; and begins to look as it ought to 

look; on the entrance of youth; grace; health; and comeliness!  You 

do not want them for yourself; perhaps not even for your son; but 

you look on smiling; and when you recall their images … again; it 

is with a smile。  I defy you to see or think of them and not smile 

with an infinite and intimate; but quite impersonal; pleasure。  

Well; either I know nothing of women; or that was the case with 

Bethiah McRankine。  She had been to church with a cockade behind 

her; on the one hand; on the other; her house was brightened by the 

presence of a pair of good…looking young fellows of the other sex; 

who were always pleased and deferential in her society and accepted 

her views as final。



These were sentiments to be encouraged; and; on the way home from 

church … if church it could be called … I adopted a most insidious 

device to magnify her interest。  I took her into the confidence; 

that is; of my love affair; and I had no sooner mentioned a young 

lady with whom my affections were engaged than she turned upon me a 

face of awful gravity。



'Is she bonny?' she inquired。



I gave her full assurances upon that。



'To what denoamination does she beloang?' came next; and was so 

unexpected as almost to deprive me of breath。



'Upon my word; ma'am; I have never inquired;' cried I; 'I only know 

that she is a heartfelt Christian; and that is enough。'



'Ay!' she sighed; 'if she has the root of the maitter!  There's a 

remnant practically in most of the denoaminations。  There's some in 

the McGlashanites; and some in the Glassites; and mony in the 

McMillanites; and there's a leeven even in the Estayblishment。'



'I have known some very good Papists even; if you go to that;' said 

I。



'Mr。 Ducie; think shame to yoursel'!' she cried。



'Why; my dear madam!  I only … ' I began。



'You shouldnae jest in sairious maitters;' she interrupted。



On the whole; she entered into what I chose to tell her of our 

idyll with avidity; like a cat licking her whiskers over a dish of 

cream; and; strange to say … and so expansive a passion is that of 

love! … that I derived a perhaps equal satisfaction from confiding 

in that breast of iron。  It made an immediate bond: from that hour 

we seemed to be welded into a family…party; and I had little 

difficulty in persuading her to join us and to preside over our 

tea…table。  Surely there was never so ill…matched a trio as Rowley; 

Mrs。 McRankine; and the Viscount Anne!  But I am of the Apostle's 

way; with a difference: all things to all women!  When I cannot 

please a woman; hang me in my cravat!









CHAPTER XXVIII … EVENTS OF MONDAY: THE LAWYER'S PARTY





BY half…past eight o'clock on the next morning; I was ringing the 

bell of the lawyer's office in Castle Street; where I found him 

ensconced at a business table; in a room surrounded by several 

tiers of green tin

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