donal grant-第10章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


him！〃

Donal　rose；　and　looking　about　him；　saw　two　decent；　elderly　women　on
the　other　side　of　the　low　stone　wall。　　He　was　approaching　them　with
the　request　on　his　lips　to　know　which　of　the　Lord's　commandments
they　supposed　the　cobbler　to　be　breaking；　when；　seeing　that　he　must
have　overheard　them；　they　turned　their　backs　and　walked　away。

And　now　his　hostess；　having　discovered　he　was　in　the　garden；　came　to
call　him　to　breakfastthe　simplest　of　mealsporridge；　with　a　cup
of　tea　after　it　because　it　was　Sunday；　and　there　was　danger　of
sleepiness　at　the　kirk。

〃Yer　shune　's　waitin'　ye；　sir；〃　said　the　cobbler。　〃Ye'll　fin'　them　a
better　job　nor　ye　expeckit。　　They're　a　better　job；　onygait；　nor　I
expeckit！〃

Donal　made　haste　to　put　them　on；　and　felt　dressed　for　the　Sunday。

〃Are　ye　gaein'　to　the　kirk　the　day；　Anerew？〃　asked　the　old　woman；
adding；　as　she　turned　to　their　guest；　〃My　man's　raither　pecooliar
aboot　gaein'　to　the　kirk！　　Some　days　he'll　gang　three　times；　an'
some　days　he　winna　gang　ance！He　kens　himsel'　what　for！〃　she　added
with　a　smile；　whose　sweetness　confessed　that；　whatever　was　the
reason；　it　was　to　her　the　best　in　the　world。

〃Ay；　I'm　gaein'　the　day：　I　want　to　gang　wi'　oor　new　freen'；〃　he
answered。

〃I'll　tak　him　gien　ye　dinna　care　to　gang；〃　rejoined　his　wife。

〃Ow；　I'll　gang！〃　he　persisted。　〃It'll　gie's　something　to　talk　aboot；
an'　sae　ken　ane　anither　better；　an'　maybe　come　a　bit　nearer　ane
anither；　an'　sae　a　bit　nearer　the　maister。　　That's　what　we're　here
forcomin'　an'　gaein'。〃

〃As　ye　please；　Anerew！　　What's　richt　to　you's　aye　richt　to　me。　　O'
my　ain　sel'　I　wad　be　doobtfu'　o'　sic　a　rizzon　for　gaein'　to　the
kirkto　get　something　to　speyk　aboot。〃

〃It's　a　gude　rizzon　whaur　ye　haena　a　better；〃　he　answered。　〃It's
aften　I　get　at　the　kirk　naething　but　what　angers　melees　an'　lees
agen　my　Lord　an'　my　God。　But　whan　there's　ane　to　talk　it　ower　wi'；
ane　'at　has　some　care　for　God　as　weel's　for　himsel'；　there's　some
guid　sure　to　come　oot　o'　'tsome　revelation　o'　the　real
richteousnessno　what　fowk　'at　gangs　by　the　ministers　ca's
richteousness。Is　yer　shune　comfortable　to　yer　feet；　sir？〃

〃Ay；　that　they　are！　an'　I　thank　ye：　they're　full　better　nor　new。〃

〃Weel；　we　winna　hae　worship　this　mornin'；　whan　ye　gang　to　the　kirk
it's　like　aitin'　mair　nor's　guid　for　ye。〃

〃Hoots；　Anerew！　ye　dinna　think　a　body　can　hae　ower　muckle　o'　the
word！〃　said　his　wife；　anxious　as　to　the　impression　he　might　make　on
Donal。

〃Ow　na；　gien　a　body　tak　it　in；　an'　disgeist　it！　　But　it's　no　a　bonny
thing　to　hae　the　word　stickin'　about　yer　moo'；　an'　baggin'　oot　yer
pooches；　no　to　say　lyin'　cauld　upo'　yer　stamack；　an'　it　for　the　life
o'　men。　　The　less　ye　tak　abune　what　ye　put　in　practice　the　better；
an'　gien　the　thing　said　hae　naething　to　du　wi'　practice；　the　less　ye
heed　it　the　better。Gien　ye　hae　dune　yer　brakfast；　sir；　we'll
gangno　'at　it's　freely　kirk…time　yet；　but　the　Sabbath　's　'maist
the　only　day　I　get　a　bit　o'　a　walk；　an'　gien　ye　hae　nae　objection
til　a　turn　aboot　the　Lord's　muckle　hoose　afore　we　gang　intil　his
little　anewe　ca'　't　his；　but　I　doobt　itI'll　be　ready　in　a
meenute。〃

Donal　willingly　agreed；　and　the　cobbler；　already　clothed　in　part　of
his　Sunday　best；　a　pair　of　corduroy　trousers　of　a　mouse　colour；
having　indued　an　ancient　tail…coat　of　blue　with　gilt　buttons；　they
set　out　together；　and　for　their　conversation；　it　was　just　the　same
as　it　would　have　been　any　other　day：　where　every　day　is　not　the
Lord's；　the　Sunday　is　his　least　of　all。

They　left　the　town；　and　were　soon　walking　in　meadows　through　which
ran　a　clear　river；　shining　and　speedy　in　the　morning　sun。　　Its　banks
were　largely　used　for　bleaching；　and　the　long　lines　of　white　in　the
lovely　green　of　the　natural　grass　were　pleasant　both　to　eye　and
mind。　　All　about；　the　rooks　were　feeding　in　peace；　knowing　their
freedom　that　day　from　the　persecution　to　which；　like　all　other　doers
of　good；　they　are　in　general　exposed。　　Beyond　the　stream　lay　a　level
plain　stretching　towards　the　sea；　divided　into　numberless　fields；
and　dotted　with　farmhouses　and　hamlets。　　On　the　side　where　the
friends　were　walking；　the　ground　was　more　broken；　rising　in　places
into　small　hills；　many　of　them　wooded。　　Half　a　mile　away　was　one　of
a　conical　shape；　on　whose　top　towered　a　castle。　　Old　and　gray　and
sullen；　it　lifted　itself　from　the　foliage　around　it　like　a　great
rock　from　a　summer　sea；　and　stood　out　against　the　clear　blue　sky　of
the　June　morning。　　The　hill　was　covered　with　wood；　mostly　rather
young；　but　at　the　bottom　were　some　ancient　firs　and　beeches。　　At　the
top；　round　the　base　of　the　castle；　the　trees　were　chiefly　delicate
birches　with　moonlight　skin；　and　feathery　larches　not　thriving　over
well。

〃What　ca'　they　yon　castel？〃　questioned　Donal。　〃It　maun　be　a　place　o'
some　importance！〃

〃They　maistly　ca'　't　jist　the　castel；〃　answered　the　cobbler。　〃Its
auld　name　's　Graham's　Grip。　It's　lord　Morven's　place；　an'　they　ca'
't　Castel　Graham：　the　faimily…name　's　Graham；　ye　ken。　　They　ca；
themsel's　Graeme…Grahamjist　twa　w'ys　o'　spellin'　the　name　putten
thegither。　　The　last　lord；　no　upo'　the　main　brainch；　they　tell　me；
spelled　his　name　wi'　the　diphthong；　an'　wasna　willin'　to　gie't　up
a'thegithersae　tuik　the　twa　o'　them。　　You　's　whaur　yoong　Eppy　's
at　service。An'　that　min's　me；　sir；　ye　haena　tellt　me　yet　what　kin'
o'　a　place　ye　wad　hae　yersel。'　　It's　no　'at　a　puir　body　like　me　can
help；　but　it's　aye　weel　to　lat　fowk　ken　what　ye're　efter。　　A　word
gangs　speirin'　lang　efter　it's　oot　o'　sichtan'　the　answer　may　come
frae　far。　　The　Lord　whiles　brings　aboot　things　i'　the　maist　oonlikly
fashion。〃

〃I'm　ready　for　onything　I'm　fit　to　do；〃　said　Donal；　〃but　I　hae　had
what's　ca'd　a　good　educationthough　I　hae　learned　mair　frae　my　ain
needs　than　frae　a'　my　buiks；　sae　i　wad　raither　till　the　human　than
the　earthly　soil；　takin'　mair　interest　i'　the　schoolmaister's　craps
than　i'　the　fairmer's。〃

〃Wad　ye　objec'　to　maister　ane　by　himsel'or　maybe　twa？〃

〃Na；　surelygien　I　saw　mysel'　fit。〃

〃Eppy　mentiont　last　nicht　'at　there　was　word　aboot　the　castel　o'　a
tutor　for　the　yoongest。　　Hae　ye　ony　w'y　o'　approachin'　the　place？〃

〃Not　till　the　minister　comes　home；〃　answered　Donal。　〃I　have　a　letter
to　him。〃

〃He'll　be　back　by　the　middle　o'　the　week；　I　hear　them　say。〃

〃Can　you　tell　me　anything　about　the　people　at　the　castle？〃　asked
Donal。

〃I　could；〃　answered　Andrew；　〃but　some　things　is　better　f'un'　oot　nor
kenned　'afore　han'。　　Ilka　place　has　its　ain　shape；　an'　maist　things
has　to　hae　some　parin'　to　gar　them　fit。　　That's　what　I　tell　yoong
Eppymony　's　the　time！〃

Here　came　a　pause；　and　when　Andrew　spoke　again；　it　seemed　on　a　new
line。

〃Did　it　ever　occur　to　ye；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃'at　maybe　deith　micht　be
the　first　waukin'　to　some　fowk？〃

〃It　has　occurrt　to　me；〃　answered　Donal；　〃but　mony　things　come　intil
a　body's　heid　'at　he's　no　able　to　think　oot！　　They　maun　lie　an'　bide
their　time。〃

〃Lat　nane　o'　the　lovers　o'　law　an'　letter　perswaud　ye　the　Lord　wadna
hae　ye　thinkthough　nane　but　him　'at　obeys　can　think　wi'　safety。
We　maun　do　first　the　thing　'at　we　ken；　an'　syne　we　may　think　aboot
the　thing　'at　we　dinna　ken。　　I　fancy　'at　whiles　the　Lord　wadna　say　a
thing　jist　no　to　stop　fowk　thinkin'　aboot　it。　　He　was　aye　at　gettin'
them　to　mak　use　o'　the　can'le　o'　the　Lord。　It's　my　belief　the　main
obstacles　to　the　growth　o'　the　kingdom　are　first　the　oonbelief　o'
believers；　an'　syne　the　w'y　'at　they　lay　doon　the　law。　'Afore　they
hae　learnt　the　rudimen's　o'　the　trowth　themsel's；　they　begin　to　lay
the　grievous　burden　o'　their　dullness　an'　ill…conceived　notions　o'
holy　things　upo'　the　min's　an'　consciences　o'　their　neebours；　fain；
ye　wad　think；　to　haud　them　frae　growin'　ony　mair　nor　themsel's。　　Eh；
man；　but　the　Lord　's　won'erfu'！　　Ye　may　daur　an'　daur；　an'　no　come
i'　sicht　o'　'im！〃

The　church　stood　a　little　way　out　of　the　town；　in　a　churchyard
overgrown　with　grass；　which　the　wind　blew　like　a　field　of　corn。
Many　of　the　stones　were　out　of　sight　in　it。　　The　church；　a　relic　of
old　catholic　days；　rose　out　of　it　like　one　that　had　taken　to　growing
and　so　got　the　better　of　his　ills。　　They　walked　into　the　musty；
dingy；　brown…atmosphered　house。　　The　cob