the man from glengarry-第16章
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even though Ranald was present； and shaking his cousin's hand with
great heartiness； he held up his face to be kissed。 He was much
surprised； and not a little relieved； when Maimie refused to notice
his offer and turned to look at Ranald。
She found him scanning her with a straight； searching look； as if
seeking to discover of what sort she was。 She felt he had noticed
her shrinking from Hughie； and was annoyed to find herself blushing
under his keen gaze。 But when Mrs。 Murray presented Ranald to her
niece； it was his turn to blush and feel awkward； as he came
forward with a triangular sort of movement and offered his hand；
saying； with an access of his Highland accent； 〃It is a fine day；
ma'am。〃 It required all Maimie's good manners to keep back the
laugh that fluttered upon her lips。
Slight as it was； Ranald noticed the smile； and turning from her
abruptly to Mrs。 Murray； said： 〃We were thinking that Friday would
be a good day for the sugaring…off； if that will do you。〃
〃Quite well； Ranald；〃 said the minister's wife； 〃and it is very
good of you to have us。〃
She； too； had noted Maimie's smile； and seeing the dark flush on
Ranald's cheek； she knew well what it meant。
〃Come and sit down a little； Ranald；〃 she said； kindly； 〃I have got
some books here for you and Don to read。〃
But Ranald would not sit； nor would he wait a moment。 〃Thank you；
ma'am；〃 he said； 〃but I will need to be going。〃
〃Wait； Ranald； a moment；〃 cried Mrs。 Murray。 She ran into the next
room； and in a few moments returned with two or three books and
some magazines。 〃These；〃 she said； handing him the books； 〃are
some of Walter Scott's。 They will be good for week…days； and
these；〃 giving him the magazines； 〃you can read after church on
Sabbath。〃
The boy's eyes lighted up as he thanked Mrs。 Murray； and he shook
hands with her very warmly。 Then； with a bow to the company； and
without looking at Maimie again； he left the room； with Hughie
following at his heels。 In a short time Hughie came back full of
enthusiastic praise of his hero。
〃Oh； mother！〃 he cried； 〃he is awful smart。 He can just do anything。
He can make a splendid bed of balsam brush； and porridge； and
pancakes； andandandeverything。〃
〃A bed of balsam brush and porridge！ What a wonderful boy he must
be； Hughie；〃 said Maimie； teasing him。 〃But isn't he just a little
queer？〃
〃He's not a bit queer；〃 said Hughie； stoutly。 〃He is the best；
best； best boy in all the world。〃
〃Indeed！ how extraordinary！〃 said Maimie； 〃you wouldn't think so to
look at him。〃
〃I think he is just splendid；〃 said Hughie； 〃don't you； mother？〃
〃Indeed； he is fery brown whatever；〃 mocked Maimie； mimicking
Ranald's Highland tongue； a trick at which she was very clever；
〃andnot just fery clean。〃
〃You're just a mean； mean； red…headed snip！〃 cried Hughie； in a
rage； 〃and I don't like you one bit。〃
But Maimie was proud of her golden hair； so Hughie's shot fell
harmless。
〃And when will you be going to the sugaring…off； Mistress Murray？〃
went on Maimie； mimicking Ranald so cleverly that in spite of
herself Mrs。 Murray smiled。
It was his mother's smile that perfected Hughie's fury。 Without a
word of threat or warning； he seized a dipper of water and threw it
over Maimie； soaking her pretty ribbons and collar； and was
promptly sent upstairs to repent。
〃Poor Hughie！〃 said his mother； after he had disappeared； 〃Ranald
is his hero； and he cannot bear any criticism of him。〃
〃He doesn't look much of a hero； auntie；〃 said Maimie； drying her
face and curls。
〃Very few heroes do；〃 said her aunt； quietly。 〃Ranald has noble
qualities； but he has had very few advantages。〃
Then Mrs。 Murray told her niece how Ranald had put himself between
her and the pursuing wolves。 Maimie's blue eyes were wide with
horror。
〃But； auntie；〃 she cried； 〃why in the world do you go to such
places？〃
〃What places； Maimie？〃 said the minister； who had come into the
room。
〃Why； those awful places where the wolves are。〃
〃Indeed； you may ask why；〃 said the minister； gravely。 He had
heard the story from his wife the night before。 〃But it would need
a man to be on guard day and night to keep your aunt from 'those
places。'〃
〃Yes； and your uncle； too；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； shaking her head at
her husband。 〃You see； Maimie； we live in 'those places'； and
after all； they are as safe as any。 We are in good keeping。〃
〃And was Hughie out all night with those two boys in those woods；
auntie？〃
〃Oh； there was no danger。 The wolves will not come near a fire；
and the boys have their dogs and guns；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； 〃besides；
Ranald is to be trusted。〃
〃Trusted？〃 said the minister； 〃indeed； I would not trust him too
far。 He is just wild enough； like his father before him。〃
〃Oh； papa； you don't know Ranald；〃 said his wife； warmly； 〃nor his
father either； for that matter。 I never did till this last week。
They have kept aloof from everything； and really〃
〃And whose fault is that？〃 interrupted the minister。 〃Why should
they keep aloof from the means of grace？ They are a godless lot；
that's what they are。〃 The minister's indignation was rising。
〃But； my dear；〃 persisted Mrs。 Murray； 〃I believe if they had a
chance〃
〃Chance！〃 exclaimed the minister； 〃what more chance do they want？
Have they not all that other people have？ Macdonald Dubh is rarely
seen at the services on the Lord's day； and as for Ranald； he comes
and goes at his own sweet will。〃
〃Let us hope；〃 said his wife； gently； 〃they will improve。 I
believe Ranald would come to Bible class were he not so shy。〃
〃Shy！〃 laughed the minister； scornfully； 〃he is not too shy to
stand up on the table before a hundred men after a logging and
dance the Highland fling； and beautifully he does it； too；〃 he
added。
〃But for all that；〃 said his wife； 〃he is very shy。〃
〃I don't like shy people；〃 said Maimie； 〃they are so awkward and
dreadful to do with。〃
〃Well；〃 said her aunt； quietly； 〃I rather like people who are not
too sure of themselves； and I think all the more of Ranald for his
shyness and modesty。〃
〃Oh； Ranald's modesty won't disable him；〃 said the minister。 〃For
my part； I think he is a daring young rascal； and indeed； if there
is any mischief going in the countryside you may be sure Ranald is
not far away。〃
〃Oh； papa； I don't think Ranald is a BAD boy；〃 said his wife；
almost pleadingly。
〃Bad？ I'm sure I don't know what you call it。 Who let off the dam
last year so that the saw…mill could not run for a week？ Who
abused poor Duncie MacBain so that he was carried home groaning？〃
〃Duncie MacBain！〃 exclaimed his wife； contemptuously； 〃great； big；
soft lump； that he is。 Why； he's a man； as big as ever he'll be。〃
〃Who broke the Little Church windows till there wasn't a pane
left？〃 pursued the minister； unheeding his wife's interruption。
〃It wasn't Ranald that broke the church windows； papa；〃 piped
Hughie from above。
〃How do you know； sir？ Who did it； then？〃 demanded his father。
〃It wasn't Ranald； anyway；〃 said Hughie； stoutly。
〃Who was it； then？ Tell me that；〃 said his father again。
〃Hughie； go to your room and stay there； as I told you；〃 said his
mother； fearing an investigation into the window…breaking episode；
of which Hughie had made full confession to her as his own
particular achievement； in revenge for a broken window in the new
church。
〃I think；〃 continued Mr。 Murray； as if closing the discussion；
〃you'll find that your Ranald is not the modest； shy； gentle young
man you think him to be； but a particularly bold young rascal。〃
〃Poor Ranald；〃 sighed his wife； 〃he has no mother； and his father
has just let him grow up wild。〃
〃Aye； that's true enough；〃 assented her husband； passing into his
study。
But he could have adopted no better means of awakening Maimie's
interest in Ranald than by the recital of his various escapades。
Women love good men； but are interested in men whose goodness is
more or less impaired。 So Maimie was determined that she would
know more of Ranald； and hence took every opportunity of encouraging
Hughie to sing the praises of his hero and recount his many
adventures
