donal grant-第27章
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wall； between which two points it stretched quite a mile； was a
favourite resort of Donal's； partly for its beauty； partly for its
solitude。 The arms of the great trees crossing made of it a long
aisleits roof a broken vault of leaves； upheld by irregular
pointed archeswhich affected one's imagination like an ever
shifting dream of architectural suggestion。 Having ceased to be a
way； it was now all but entirely deserted； and there was eeriness in
the vanishing vista that showed nothing beyond。 When the wind of
the twilight sighed in gusts through its moanful crowd of fluttered
leaves； or when the wind of the winter was tormenting the ancient
haggard boughs； and the trees looked as if they were weary of the
world； and longing after the garden of God； yet more when the snow
lay heavy upon their branches； sorely trying their aged strength to
support its oppression； and giving the onlooker a vague sense of
what the world would be if God were gone from itthen the old
avenue was a place from which one with more imagination than courage
would be ready to haste away； and seek instead the abodes of men。
But Donal； though he dearly loved his neighbour； and that in the
fullest concrete sense； was capable of loving the loneliest spots；
for in such he was never alone。
It was altogether a neglected place。 Long grass grew over its floor
from end to endcut now and then for hay； or to feed such animals
as had grass in their stalls。 Along one border； outside the trees；
went a footpathso little used that； though not quite conquered by
the turf； the long grass often met over the top of it。 Finding it
so lonely； Donal grew more and more fond of it。 It was his outdoor
study； his proseuche ｛Compilers note： pi； rho； omicron； sigma；
epsilon upsilon； chi； eta with stress＇outdoor＇ place of prayer｝a
little aisle of the great temple！ Seldom indeed was his reading or
meditation there interrupted by sight of human being。
About a month after he had taken up his abode at the castle； he was
lying one day in the grass with a book…companion； under the shade of
one of the largest of its beeches； when he felt through the ground
ere he heard through the air the feet of an approaching horse。 As
they came near； he raised his head to see。 His unexpected
appearance startled the horse； his rider nearly lost his seat； and
did lose his temper。 Recovering the former； and holding the excited
animal； which would have been off at full speed； he urged him
towards Donal； whom he took for a tramp。 He was
risingdeliberately； that he might not do more mischief； and was
yet hardly on his feet； when the horse； yielding to the spur； came
straight at him； its rider with his whip lifted。 Donal took off his
bonnet； stepped a little aside； and stood。 His bearing and
countenance calmed the horseman's rage； there was something in them
to which no gentleman could fail of response。
The rider was plainly one who had more to do with affairs bucolic
than with those of cities or courts； but withal a man of conscious
dignity； socially afloat； and able to hold his own。
〃What the devil；〃 he criedfor nothing is so irritating to a
horseman as to come near losing his seat； except perhaps to lose it
altogether； and indignation against the cause of an untoward
accident is generally a mortal's first consciousness thereupon：
however foolishly； he feels himself injured。 But there； having
better taken in Donal's look； he checked himself。
〃I beg your pardon； sir；〃 said Donal。 〃It was foolish of me to show
myself so suddenly； I might have thought it would startle most
horses。 I was too absorbed to have my wits about me。〃
The gentleman lifted his hat。
〃I beg your pardon in return；〃 he said with a smile which cleared
every cloud from his face。 〃I took you for some one who had no
business here； but I imagine you are the tutor at the castle； with
as good a right as I have myself。〃
〃You guess well； sir。〃
〃Pardon me that I forget your name。〃
〃My name is Donal Grant；〃 returned Donal； with an accent on the my
intending a wish to know in return that of the speaker。
〃I am a Graeme；〃 answered the other； 〃one of the clan； and factor to
the earl。 Come and see where I live。 My sister will be glad to
make your acquaintance。 We lead rather a lonely life here； and
don't see too many agreeable people。〃
〃You call this lonely； do you！〃 said Donal thoughtfully。 〃It is a
grand place； anyhow！〃
〃You are rightas you see it now。 But wait till winter！ Then
perhaps you will change your impression a little。〃
〃Pardon me if I doubt whether you know what winter can be so well as
I do。 This east coast is by all accounts a bitter place； but I
fancy it is only upon a great hill…side you can know the heart and
soul of a snow…blast。〃
〃I yield that；〃 returned Mr。 Graeme。 〃It is bitter enough here
though； and a mercy we can keep warm in…doors。〃
〃Which is often more than we shepherd…folk can do；〃 said Donal。
Mr。 Graeme used to say afterwards he was never so immediately taken
with a man。 It was one of the charms of Donal's habit of being；
that he never spoke as if he belonged to any other than the class in
which he had been born and brought up。 This came partly of pride in
his father and mother； partly of inborn dignity； and partly of
religion。 To him the story of our Lord was the reality it is； and
he rejoiced to know himself so nearly on the same social level of
birth as the Master of his life and aspiration。 It was Donal's one
ambitionto give the high passion a low nameto be free with the
freedom which was his natural inheritance； and which is to be gained
only by obedience to the words of the Master。 From the face of this
aspiration fled every kind of pretence as from the light flies the
darkness。 Hence he was entirely and thoroughly a gentleman。 What
if his clothes were not even of the next to the newest cut！ What if
he had not been used to what is called society！ He was far above
such things。 If he might but attain to the manners of the 〃high
countries；〃 manners which appear because they existbecause they
are all through the man！ He did not think what he might seem in the
eyes of men。 Courteous； helpful； considerate； always seeking first
how far he could honestly agree with any speaker； opposing never
save sweetly and apologeticallyexcept indeed some utterance
flagrantly unjust were in his earsthere was no man of true
breeding； in or out of society； who would not have granted that
Donal was fit company for any man or woman。 Mr。 Graeme's eye
glanced down over the tall square…shouldered form； a little stooping
from lack of drill and much meditation； but instantly straightening
itself upon any inward stir； and he said to himself； 〃This is no
common man！〃
They were moving slowly along the avenue； Donal by the rider's near
knee； talking away like men not unlikely soon to know each other
better。
〃You don't make much use of this avenue！〃 said Donal。
〃No； its use is an old story。 The castle was for a time deserted；
and the family； then passing through a phase of comparative poverty；
lived in the house we are in nowto my mind much the more
comfortable。〃
〃What a fine old place it must be； if such trees are a fit approach
to it！〃
〃They were never planted for that； they are older far。 Either there
was a wood here； and the rest were cut down and these left； or there
was once a house much older than the present。 The look of the
garden； and some of the offices； favour the latter idea。〃
〃I have never seen the house；〃 said Donal。
〃You have not then been much about yet？〃 said Mr。 Graeme。
〃I have been so occupied with my pupil； and so delighted with all
that lay immediately around me； that I have gone nowhereexcept；
indeed； to see Andrew Comin； the cobbler。〃
〃Ah； you know him！ I have heard of him as a remarkable man。 There
was a clergyman here from GlasgowI forget his nameso struck with
him he seemed actually to take him for a prophet。 He said he was a
survival of the old mystics。 For my part I have no turn for
extravagance。〃
〃But；〃 said Donal； in the tone of one merely suggesting a
possibility； 〃a thing that from the outside may seem an
extra
