donal grant-第37章
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love is； that it does not take care of itself； but of the person
loved。 To approach a girl in any other fashion is a mean
scoundrelly thing。 I am glad it has already brought on you some of
the chastisement it deserves。〃
His lordship started to his feet in a fresh access of rage。
〃You dare say that to my face！〃
〃Assuredly； my lord。 The fact stands just so。〃
〃I gave the fellow as good as he gave me！〃
〃That is nothing to the pointthough from the state I found you in；
it is hard to imagine。 Pardon me； I do not believe you behaved like
what you call a coward。〃
Lord Forgue was almost crying with rage。
〃I have not done with him yet！〃 he stammered。 〃If I only knew who
the rascal is！ If I don't pay him out； may〃
〃Stop； stop； my lord。 All that is mere waste！ I know who the man
is； but I will not tell you。 He gave you no more than you deserved；
and I will do nothing to get him punished for it。〃
〃You are art and part with him！〃
〃I neither knew of his intent； saw him do it； nor have any proof
against him。〃
〃You will not tell me his name？〃
〃No。〃
〃I will find it out； and kill him。〃
〃He threatens to kill you。 I will do what I can to prevent either。〃
〃I will kill him；〃 repeated Forgue through his clenched teeth。
〃And I will do my best to have you hanged for it；〃 said Donal。
〃Leave the room； you insolent bumpkin。〃
〃When you have given me your word that you will never again speak to
Eppy Comin。〃
〃I'll be damned first。〃
〃She will be sent away。〃
〃Where I shall see her the easier。〃
His lordship said this more from perversity than intent； for he had
begun to wish himself clear of the affaironly how was he to give
in to this unbearable clown！
〃I will give you till to…morrow to think of it；〃 said Donal； and
opened the door。
His lordship made him no reply； but cast after him a look of
uncertain anger。 Donal； turning his head as he shut the door； saw
it：
〃I trust；〃 he said； 〃you will one day be glad I spoke to you
plainly。〃
〃Oh； go along with your preaching！〃 cried Forgue； more testily than
wrathfully； and Donal went。
In the meantime Eppy had been soundly taken to task by Mrs。 Brookes；
and told that if once again she spoke a word to lord Forgue； she
should that very day have her dismissal。 The housekeeper thought
she had at least succeeded in impressing upon her that she was in
danger of losing her situation in a way that must seriously affect
her character。 She assured Donal that she would not let the foolish
girl out of her sight； and thereupon Donal thought it better to give
lord Forgue a day to make up his mind。
On the second morning he came to the schoolroom when lessons were
over； and said frankly；
〃I've made a fool of myself； Mr。 Grant！ Make what excuse for me you
can。 I am sorry。 Believe me； I meant no harm。 I have made up my
mind that all shall be over between us。〃
〃Promise me you will not once speak to her again。〃
〃I don't like to do that： it might happen to be awkward。 But I
promise to do my best to avoid her。〃
Donald was not quite satisfied； but thought it best to leave the
thing so。 The youth seemed entirely in earnest。
For a time he remained in doubt whether he should mention the thing
to Eppy's grandparents。 He reflected that their influence with her
did not seem very great； and if she were vexed by anything they
said； it might destroy what little they had。 Then it would make
them unhappy； and he could not bear to think of it。 He made up his
mind that he would not mention it； but； in the hope she would now
change her way； leave the past to be forgotten。 He had no sooner
thus resolved； however； than he grew uncomfortable； and was
unsatisfied with the decision。 All would not be right between his
friend and him！ Andrew Comin would have something against him！ He
could no longer meet him as before； for he would be hiding something
from him； and he would have a right to reproach him！ Then his
inward eyes grew clear。 He said to himself； 〃What a man has a right
to know； another has no right to conceal from him。 If sorrow belong
to him； I have as little right to keep that from him as joy。 His
sorrows and his joys are part of a man's inheritance。 My wisdom to
take care of this man！his own is immeasurably before mine！ The
whole matter concerns him： I will let him know at once！〃
The same night he went to see him。 His wife was out； and Donal was
glad of it。 He told him all that had taken place。
He listened in silence； his eyes fixed on him； his work on his lap；
his hand with the awl hanging by his side。 When he heard how Eppy
had tricked Donal that night； leaving him to watch in vain； tears
gathered in his old eyes。 He wiped them away with the backs of his
horny hands； and there came no more。 Donal told him he had first
thought he would say nothing to him about it all； he was so loath to
trouble them； but neither his heart nor his conscience would let him
be silent。
〃Ye did richt to tell me；〃 said Andrew； after a pause。 〃It's true we
haena that muckle weicht wi' her； for it seems a law o' natur 'at
the yoong 's no to be hauden doon by the experrience o' the
auldwhich can be experrience only to themsel's； but whan we pray
to God； it puts it mair in his pooer to mak use o' 's for the
carryin' oot o' the thing we pray for。 It's no aye by words he gies
us to say； wi' some fowk words gang for unco little； it may be
whiles by a luik o' whilk ye ken naething； or it may be by a motion
o' yer han'； or a turn o' yer heid。 Wha kens but ye may haud a
divine pooer ower the hert ye hae 'maist gi'en up the houp o' ever
winnin' at！ Ye hae h'ard o' the convic' broucht to sorrow by seein'
a bit o' the same mattin' he had been used to see i' the aisle o'
the kirk his mither tuik him til！ That was a stroke o' God's magic！
There's nae kennin' what God can do； nor yet what best o' rizzons
he has for no doin' 't sooner！ Whan we think he's lattin' the time
gang； an' doin' naething； he may be jist doin' a' thing！ No 'at I
ever think like that noo； lat him do 'at he likes； what he does I'm
sure o'。 I'm o' his min' whether I ken his min' or no。Eh； my
lassie！ my lassie！ I could better win ower a hantle nor her giein'
you the slip that gait； sir。 It was sae dooble o' her！ It's
naething wrang in itsel' 'at a yoong lass sud be taen wi' the
attentions o' a bonny lad like lord Forgue！ That's na agen the
natur 'at God made！ But to preten' an' tak in！to be cunnin' an'
sly！ that's evil。 An' syne for the ither ladeh； I doobt that's
warst o' 'a！ Only I kenna hoo far she had committit hersel' wi'
him； for she was never open…hertit。 Eh； sir！ it's a fine thing to
hae nae sacrets but sic as lie 'atween yersel' an' yer macker！ I
can but pray the Father o' a' to haud his e'e upon her； an' his
airms aboot her； an' keep aff the hardenin' o' the hert 'at despises
coonsel！ I'm sair doobtin' we canna do muckle mair for her！ She
maun tak her ain gait； for we canna put a collar roon' her neck； an'
lead her aboot whaurever we gang。 She maun win her ain breid； an'
gien she didna that； she wad be but the mair ta'en up wi' sic
nonsense as the likes o' lord Forgue 's aye ready to say til ony
bonny lass。 An' I varily believe she's safer there wi' you an' the
hoosekeeper nor whaur he could win at her easier； an' whaur they wud
be readier to tak her character fra her upo' less offence； an' sen'
her aboot her business。 Fowk 's unco' jealous about their hoose 'at
wad trouble themsel's little aboot a lass！ Sae lang as it's no upo'
their premises； she may do as she likes for them！ Doory an' me；
we'll jist lay oor cares i' the fine sicht an' 'afore the
compassionate hert o' the Maister； an' see what he can do for 's！
Sic things aiven we can lea' to him！ I houp there'll be nae mair
bludeshed！ He's a fine lad； Steenie Kennedycome o' a fine stock！
His father was a God…fearin' mansome dour by natur； but wi' an
unco clearin' up throuw grace。 I wud wullin'ly hae seen oor Eppy
his wife； he's an honest lad！ I'm sorry he gied place to wrath； but
he may hae repentit by the noo； an' troth； I canna blame him muckle
at his time o' life！ It's no as gien you or me did
