christie johnstone-第26章
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pale； but he never complained after he found himself at home。
Christie hovered round him； a ministering angel； applying to him with a
light and loving hand whatever could ease his pain； and he watched her
with an expression she had never noticed in his eye before。
At last； after two hours' silence； he made her sit in full view； and then
he spoke to her； and what think you was the subject of his discourse？
He turned to and told her； one after another； without preface； all the
loving things she had done to him ever since he was five years old。 Poor
boy； he had never shown much gratitude； but he had forgotten nothing；
literally nothing。
Christie was quite overcome with this unexpected trait； she drew him
gently to her bosom； and wept over him； and it was sweet to see a brother
and sister treat each other almost like lovers； as these two began to
dothey watched each other's eye so tenderly。
This new care kept the sister in her own house all the next day； but
toward the evening Jean； who knew her other anxiety； slipped in and
offered to take her place for an hour by Flucker's side； at the same time
she looked one of those signals which are too subtle for any but woman to
understand。
Christie drew her aside； and learned that Gatty and his mother were just
coming through from Leith； Christie ran for her eighty pounds； placed
them in her bosom； cast a hasty glance at a looking…glass； little larger
than an oyster…shell； and ran out。
〃Hech！ What pleased the auld wife will be to see he has a lass that can
mak auchty pund in a morning。〃
This was Christie's notion。
At sight of them she took out the banknotes； and with eyes glistening and
cheeks flushing she cried：
〃Oh； Chairles； ye'll no gang to jailI hae the siller！〃 and she offered
him the money with both hands； and a look of tenderness and modesty that
embellished human nature。
Ere he could speak； his mother put out her hand； and not rudely； but very
coldly； repelling Christie's arm； said in a freezing manner：
〃We are much obliged to you； but my son's own talents have rescued him
from his little embarrassment。〃
〃A nobleman has bought my picture；〃 said Gatty； proudly。
〃For one hundred and fifty pounds；〃 said the old lady； meaning to mark
the contrast between that sum and what Christie had in her hand。
Christie remained like a statue； with her arms extended； and the
bank…notes in her hand； her features workedshe had much ado not to cry；
and any one that had known the whole story； and seen this unmerited
repulse； would have felt for her； but her love came to her aid； she put
the notes in her bosom； sighed and said：
〃I would hae likeit to hae been the first； ye ken； but I'm real pleased。〃
〃But； mother；〃 said Gatty； 〃it was very kind of Christie all the same。
Oh； Christie！〃 said he； in a tone of despair。
At this kind word Christie's fortitude was sore tried； she turned away
her head； she was far too delicate to let them know who had sent Lord
Ipsden to buy the picture。
While she turned away； Mrs。 Gatty said in her son's ear：
〃Now； I have your solemn promise to do it here； and at once； you will
find me on the beach behind these boatsdo it。〃
The reader will understand that during the last few days Mrs。 Gatty had
improved her advantage； and that Charles had positively consented to obey
her； the poor boy was worn out with the strugglehe felt he must have
peace or die； he was thin and pale； and sudden twitches came over him；
his temperament was not fit for such a battle； and； it is to be observed；
nearly all the talk was on one side。 He had made one expiring
strugglehe described to his mother an artist's nature； his strength；
his weaknesshe besought her not to be a slave to general rules； but to
inquire what sort of a companion the individual Gatty needed； he lashed
with true but brilliant satire the sort of wife his mother was ready to
see him saddled witha stupid； unsympathizing creature； whose ten
children would； by nature's law； be also stupid； and so be a weight on
him till his dying day。 He painted Christie Johnstone； mind and body； in
words as true and bright as his colors； he showed his own weak points；
her strong ones； and how the latter would fortify the former。
He displayed； in short； in one minute； more intellect than his mother had
exhibited in sixty years； and that done； with all his understanding； wit
and eloquence； he succumbed like a child to her stronger willhe
promised to break with Christie Johnstone。
When Christie had recovered her composure and turned round to her
companions； she found herself alone with Charles。
〃Chairles；〃 said she； gravely。
〃Christie；〃 said he； uneasily。
〃Your mother does na like me。 Oh； ye need na deny it； and we are na
together as we used to be； my lad。〃
〃She is prejudiced； but she has been the best of mothers to me；
Christie。〃
〃Aweel。〃
〃Circumstances compel me to return to England。〃
（Ah； coward！ anything but the real truth！）
〃Aweel； Chairles； it will no be for lang。〃
〃I don't know； you will not be so unhappy as I shallat least I hope
not。〃
〃Hoow do ye ken that？〃
〃Christie； do you remember the first night we danced together？〃
〃Ay。〃
〃And we walked in the cool by the seaside； and I told you the names of
the stars； and you said those were not their real names； but nicknames we
give them here on earth。 I loved you that first night。〃
〃And I fancied you the first time I set eyes on you。〃
〃How can I leave you； Christie？ What shall I do？〃
〃I ken what I shall do；〃 answered Christie coolly； then； bursting into
tears； she added； 〃I shall dee！ I shall dee！〃
〃No！ you must not say so； at least I will never love any one but you。〃
〃An' I'll live as I am a' my days for your sake。 Oh； England！ I hae
likeit ye sae weel； ye suld na rob me o' my ladhe's a' the joy I hae！〃
〃I love you；〃 said Gatty。 〃Do you love me？〃
All the answer was； her head upon his shoulder。
〃I can't do it；〃 thought Gatty； 〃and I won't！ Christie；〃 said he； 〃stay
here； don't move from here。〃 And he dashed among the boats in great
agitation。
He found his mother rather near the scene of the late conference。
〃Mother；〃 said he； fiercely； like a coward as he was； 〃ask me no more； my
mind is made up forever； I will not do this scoundrelly； heartless；
beastly； ungrateful action you have been pushing me to so long。〃
〃Take care； Charles； take care；〃 said the old woman； trembling with
passion； for this was a new tone for her son to take with her。 〃You had
my blessing the other day； and you saw what followed it； do not tempt me
to curse an undutiful； disobedient； ungrateful son。〃
〃I must take my chance；〃 said he； desperately； 〃for I am under a curse
any way！ I placed my ring on her finger； and held up my hand to God and
swore she should be my wife； she has my ring and my oath； and I will not
perjure myself even for my mother。〃
〃Your ring！ Not the ruby ring I gave you from your dead father's
fingernot that！ not that！〃
〃Yes！ yes！ I tell you yes！ and if he was alive； and saw her； and knew her
goodness； he would have pity on me； but I have no friend； you see how ill
you have made me； but you have no pity； I could not have believed it；
but； since you have no mercy on me； I will have the more mercy on myself；
I marry her to…morrow； and put an end to all this shuffling and
maneuvering against an angel！ I am not worthy of her； but I'll marry her
to…morrow。 Good…by。〃
〃Stay！〃 said the old woman； in a terrible voice； 〃before you destroy me
and all I have lived for； and suffered； and pinched for； hear me； if that
ring is not off the hussy's finger in half an hour； and you my son again；
I fall on this sand and〃
〃Then God have mercy upon me； for I'll see the whole creation lost
eternally ere I'll wrong the only creature that is an ornament to the
world。〃
He was desperate； and the weak； driven to desperation； are more furious
than the strong。
It was by Heaven's mercy that neither mother nor son had time to speak
again。
As they faced each other； with flaming eyes and faces； all self…command
gone； about to utter hasty words； and lay up regret； perhaps for all
their lives to come； in a moment； as i
