st. ives-第73章
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friend。 'Bring him by all means!
〃The harp; his sole remaining joy;
Was carried by an orphan boy;〃
and I have no doubt the orphan boy can get some cold victuals in
the kitchen; while the Senatus dines。'
Accordingly; being now quite recovered from my unmanly condition;
except that nothing could yet induce me to cross the North Bridge;
I arranged for my ball dress at a shop in Leith Street; where I was
not served ill; cut out Rowley from his seclusion; and was ready
along with him at the trysting…place; the corner of Duke Street and
York Place; by a little after two。 The University was represented
in force: eleven persons; including ourselves; Byfield the
aeronaut; and the tall lad; Forbes; whom I had met on the Sunday
morning; bedewed with tallow; at the 'Hunters' Rest。' I was
introduced; and we set off by way of Newhaven and the sea beach; at
first through pleasant country roads; and afterwards along a
succession of bays of a fairylike prettiness; to our destination …
Cramond on the Almond … a little hamlet on a little river;
embowered in woods; and looking forth over a great flat of
quicksand to where a little islet stood planted in the sea。 It was
miniature scenery; but charming of its kind。 The air of this good
February afternoon was bracing; but not cold。 All the way my
companions were skylarking; jesting and making puns; and I felt as
if a load had been taken off my lungs and spirits; and skylarked
with the best of them。
Byfield I observed; because I had heard of him before; and seen his
advertisements; not at all because I was disposed to feel interest
in the man。 He was dark and bilious and very silent; frigid in his
manners; but burning internally with a great fire of excitement;
and he was so good as to bestow a good deal of his company and
conversation (such as it was) upon myself; who was not in the least
grateful。 If I had known how I was to be connected with him in the
immediate future; I might have taken more pains。
In the hamlet of Cramond there is a hostelry of no very promising
appearance; and here a room had been prepared for us; and we sat
down to table。
'Here you will find no guttling or gormandising; no turtle or
nightingales' tongues;' said the extravagant; whose name; by the
way; was Dalmahoy。 'The device; sir; of the University of Cramond
is Plain Living and High Drinking。'
Grace was said by the Professor of Divinity; in a macaronic Latin;
which I could by no means follow; only I could hear it rhymed; and
I guessed it to be more witty than reverent。 After which the
SENATUS ACADEMICUS sat down to rough plenty in the shape of
rizzar'd haddocks and mustard; a sheep's head; a haggis; and other
delicacies of Scotland。 The dinner was washed down with brown
stout in bottle; and as soon as the cloth was removed; glasses;
boiling water; sugar; and whisky were set out for the manufacture
of toddy。 I played a good knife and fork; did not shun the bowl;
and took part; so far as I was able; in the continual fire of
pleasantry with which the meal was seasoned。 Greatly daring; I
ventured; before all these Scotsmen; to tell Sim's Tale of
Tweedie's dog; and I was held to have done such extraordinary
justice to the dialect; 'for a Southron;' that I was immediately
voted into the Chair of Scots; and became; from that moment; a full
member of the University of Cramond。 A little after; I found
myself entertaining them with a song; and a little after … perhaps
a little in consequence … it occurred to me that I had had enough;
and would be very well inspired to take French leave。 It was not
difficult to manage; for it was nobody's business to observe my
movements; and conviviality had banished suspicion。
I got easily forth of the chamber; which reverberated with the
voices of these merry and learned gentlemen; and breathed a long
breath。 I had passed an agreeable afternoon and evening; and I had
apparently escaped scot free。 Alas! when I looked into the
kitchen; there was my monkey; drunk as a lord; toppling on the edge
of the dresser; and performing on the flageolet to an audience of
the house lasses and some neighbouring ploughmen。
I routed him promptly from his perch; stuck his hat on; put his
instrument in his pocket; and set off with him for Edinburgh。
His limbs were of paper; his mind quite in abeyance; I must uphold
and guide him; prevent his frantic dives; and set him continually
on his legs again。 At first he sang wildly; with occasional
outbursts of causeless laughter。 Gradually an inarticulate
melancholy succeeded; he wept gently at times; would stop in the
middle of the road; say firmly 'No; no; no;' and then fall on his
back: or else address me solemnly as 'M'lord' and fall on his face
by way of variety。 I am afraid I was not always so gentle with the
little pig as I might have been; but really the position was
unbearable。 We made no headway at all; and I suppose we were
scarce gotten a mile away from Cramond; when the whole SENATUS
ACADEMICUS was heard hailing; and doubling the pace to overtake
its。
Some of them were fairly presentable; and they were all Christian
martyrs compared to Rowley; but they were in a frolicsome and
rollicking humour that promised danger as we approached the town。
They sang songs; they ran races; they fenced with their walking…
sticks and umbrellas; and; in spite of this violent exercise; the
fun grew only the more extravagant with the miles they traversed。
Their drunkenness was deep…seated and permanent; like fire in a
peat; or rather … to be quite just to them … it was not so much to
be called drunkenness at all; as the effect of youth and high
spirits … a fine night; and the night young; a good road under
foot; and the world before you!
I had left them once somewhat unceremoniously; I could not attempt
it a second time; and; burthened as I was with Mr。 Rowley; I was
really glad of assistance。 But I saw the lamps of Edinburgh draw
near on their hill…top with a good deal of uneasiness; which
increased; after we had entered the lighted streets; to positive
alarm。 All the passers…by were addressed; some of them by name。 A
worthy man was stopped by Forbes。 'Sir;' said he; 'in the name of
the Senatus of the University of Cramond; I confer upon you the
degree of LL。D。;' and with the words he bonneted him。 Conceive the
predicament of St。 Ives; committed to the society of these
outrageous youths; in a town where the police and his cousin were
both looking for him! So far; we had pursued our way unmolested;
although raising a clamour fit to wake the dead; but at last; in
Abercromby Place; I believe … at least it was a crescent of highly
respectable houses fronting on a garden … Byfield and I; having
fallen somewhat in the rear with Rowley; came to a simultaneous
halt。 Our ruffians were beginning to wrench off bells and door…
plates!
'Oh; I say!' says Byfield; 'this is too much of a good thing!
Confound it; I'm a respectable man … a public character; by George!
I can't afford to get taken up by the police。'
'My own case exactly;' said I。
'Here; let's bilk them;' said he。
And we turned back and took our way down hill again。
It was none too soon: voices and alarm bells sounded; watchmen here
and there began to spring their rattles; it was plain the
University of Cramond would soon be at blows with the police of
Edinburgh! Byfield and I; running the semi…inanimate Rowley before
us; made good despatch; and did not stop till we were several
streets away; and the hubbub was already softened by distance。
'Well; sir;' said he; 'we are well out of that! Did ever any one
see such a pack of young barbarians?'
'We are properly punished; Mr。 Byfield; we had no business there;'
I replied。
'No; indeed; sir; you may