donal grant-第15章
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He took the path by the river…side。 The morning was glorious。 The
sun and the river and the birds were jubilant； and the wind gave
life to everything。 It rippled the stream； and fluttered the long
webs bleaching in the sun： they rose and fell like white waves on
the bright green lake； and women； homely Nereids of the grassy sea；
were besprinkling them with spray。 There were dull sounds of wooden
machinery near； but they made no discord with the sweetness of the
hour； speaking only of activity； not labour。 From the long
bleaching meadows by the river…side rose the wooded base of the
castle。 Donal's bosom swelled with delight； then came a sting： was
he already forgetting his inextinguishable grief？ 〃But；〃 he answered
himself； 〃God is more to me than any woman！ When he puts joy in my
heart； shall I not be glad？ When he calls my name shall I not
answer？〃
He stepped out joyfully； and was soon climbing the hill。 He was
again admitted by the old butler。
〃I will show you at once；〃 he said； 〃how to go and come at your own
will。〃
He led him through doors and along passages to a postern opening on
a little walled garden at the east end of the castle。
〃This door；〃 he said； 〃is； you observe； at the foot of Baliol's
tower； and in that tower is your room； I will show it you。〃
He led the way up a spiral stair that might almost have gone inside
the newel of the great staircase。 Up and up they went； until Donal
began to wonder； and still they went up。
〃You're young； sir；〃 said the butler； 〃and sound of wind and limb；
so you'll soon think nothing of it。〃
〃I never was up so high before； except on a hill…side；〃 returned
Donal。 〃The college…tower is nothing to this！〃
〃In a day or two you'll be shooting up and down it like a bird。 I
used to do so myself。 I got into the way of keeping a shoulder
foremost； and screwing up as if I was a blob of air！ Old age does
make fools of us！〃
〃You don't like it then？〃
〃No； I do not： who does？〃
〃It's only that you get spent as you go up。 The fresh air at the
top of the stair will soon revive you；〃 said Donal。
But his conductor did not understand him。
〃That's all very well so long as you're young； but when it has got
you； you'll pant and grumble like the rest of us。〃
In the distance Donal saw Age coming slowly after him； to claw him
in his clutch； as the old song says。 〃Please God；〃 he thought； 〃by
the time he comes up； I'll be ready to try a fall with him！ O Thou
eternally young； the years have no hold on thee； let them have none
on thy child。 I too shall have life eternal。〃
Ere they reached the top of the stair； the man halted and opened a
door。 Donal entering saw a small room； nearly round； a portion of
the circle taken off by the stair。 On the opposite side was a
window projecting from the wall； whence he could look in three
different directions。 The wide country lay at his feet。 He saw the
winding road by which he had ascended； the gate by which he had
entered； the meadow with its white stripes through which he had
come； and the river flowing down。 He followed it with his
eyes：lo； there was the sea； shining in the sun like a diamond
shield！ It was but the little German Ocean； yet one with the great
world…ocean。 He turned to his conductor。
〃Yes；〃 said the old man； answering his look； 〃it's a glorious sight！
When first I looked out there I thought I was in eternity。〃
The walls were bare even of plaster； he could have counted the
stones in them； but they were dry as a bone。
〃You are wondering；〃 said the old man； 〃how you are to keep warm in
the winter！ Look here： you shut this door over the window！ See how
thick and strong it is！ There is your fireplace； and for fuel；
there's plenty below！ It is a labour to carry it up； I grant； but
if I was you； I would set to o' nights when nobody was about； and
carry till I had a stock laid in！〃
〃But；〃 said Donal； 〃I should fill up my room。 I like to be able to
move about a little！〃
〃Ah；〃 replied the old man； 〃you don't know what a space you have up
here all to yourself！ Come this way。〃
Two turns more up the stair； and they came to another door。 It
opened into wide space： from it Donal stepped on a ledge or
bartizan； without any parapet； that ran round the tower； passing
above the window of his room。 It was well he had a steady brain；
for he found the height affect him more than that of a precipice on
Glashgar： doubtless he would get used to it； for the old man had
stepped out without the smallest hesitation！ Round the tower he
followed him。
On the other side a few steps rose to a watch…towera sort of
ornate sentry…box in stone； where one might sit and regard with wide
vision the whole country。 Avoiding this； another step or two led
them to the roof of the castleof great stone slabs。 A broad
passage ran between the rise of the roof and a battlemented parapet。
By this time they came to a flat roof； on to which they descended
by a few steps。 Here stood two rough sheds； with nothing in them。
〃There's stowage！〃 said the old man。
〃Yes； indeed！〃 answered Donal； to whom the idea of his aerie was
growing more and more agreeable。 〃But would there be no objection to
my using the place for such a purpose？〃
〃What objection？〃 returned his guide。 〃I doubt if a single person
but myself knows it。〃
〃And shall I be allowed to carry up as much as I please？〃
〃I allow you；〃 said the butler； with importance。 〃Of course you will
not wasteI am dead against waste！ But as to what is needful； use
your freedom。Dinner will be ready for you in the schoolroom at
seven。〃
At the door of his room the old man left him； and after listening
for a moment to his descending steps； Donal re…entered his chamber。
Why they put him so apart； Donal never asked himself； that he should
have such command of his leisure as this isolation promised him was
a consequence very satisfactory。 He proceeded at once to settle
himself in his new quarters。 Finding some shelves in a recess of
the wall； he arranged his books upon them； and laid his few clothes
in the chest of drawers beneath。 He then got out his writing
material； and sat down。
Though his window was so high； the warm pure air came in full of the
aromatic odours rising in the hot sunshine from the young pine trees
far below； and from a lark far above descended news of heaven…gate。
The scent came up and the song came down all the time he was
writing to his mothera long letter。 When he had closed and
addressed it； he fell into a reverie。 Apparently he was to have his
meals by himself： he was glad of it： he would be able to read all
the time！ But how was he to find the schoolroom！ Some one would
surely fetch him！ They would remember he did not know his way about
the place！ It wanted yet an hour to dinner…time when； finding
himself drowsy； he threw himself on his bed； where presently he fell
fast asleep。
The night descended； and when he came to himself； its silences were
deep around him。 It was not dark： there was no moon； but the
twilight was clear。 He could read the face of his watch： it was
twelve o'clock！ No one had missed him！ He was very hungry！ But he
had been hungrier before and survived it！ In his wallet were still
some remnants of oat…cake！ He took it in his hand； and stepping out
on the bartizan； crept with careful steps round to the watch…tower。
There he seated himself in the stone chair； and ate his dry morsels
in the starry presences。 Sleep had refreshed him； and he was wide
awake； yet there was on him the sense of a strange existence。 Never
before had he so known himself！ Often had he passed the night in
the open air； but never before had his night…consciousness been
such！ Never had he felt the same way alone。 He was parted from the
whole earth； like the ship…boy on the giddy mast！ Nothing was below
but a dimness； the earth and all that was in it was massed into a
vague shadow。 It was as if he had died and gone where existence was
independent of solidity and sense。 Above him was domed the vast of
the starry heavens； he could neither flee from it nor ascend to it！
For a moment he felt it the symbol of life； yet an unat
