the man from glengarry-第23章

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the　need；　the　ground；　the　means；　the　method；　the　agent；　the
results；　of　Justification；　were　fully　set　forth　and　illustrated。
There　were　no　anecdotes　and　no　poetry。　　The　subject　was　much　too
massive　and　tremendous　to　permit　of　any　such　trifling。

As　the　sermon　rolled　on　its　majestic　course；　the　congregation
listened　with　an　attentive　and　discriminating　appreciation　that
testified　to　their　earnestness　and　intelligence。　　True；　one　here
and　there　dropped　into　a　momentary　doze；　but　his　slumber　was　never
easy；　for　he　was　harassed　by　the　terrible　fear　of　a　sudden　summons
by　name　from　the　pulpit　to　〃awake　and　give　heed　to　the　message；〃
which　for　the　next　few　minutes　would　have　an　application　so
personal　and　pungent　that　it　would　effectually　prevent　sleep　for
that　and　some　successive　Sabbaths。　　The　only　apparent　lapse　of
attention　occurred　when　Donald　Ross　opened　his　horn　snuff…box；　and
after　tapping　solemnly　upon　its　lid；　drew　forth　a　huge　pinch　of
snuff　and　passed　it　to　his　neighbor；　who；　after　helping　himself　in
like　manner；　passed　the　box　on。　　That　the　lapse　was　only　apparent
was　made　evident　by　the　air　of　abstraction　with　which　this
operation　was　carried　on；　the　snuff　being　held　between　the　thumb
and　forefinger　for　some　moments；　until　a　suitable　resting…place　in
the　sermon　was　reached。

When　the　minister　had　arrived　at　the　middle　of　the　second　head；　he
made　the　discovery；　as　was　not　frequently　the　case；　that　the
remotest　limits　of　the　alloted　time　had　been　passed；　and　announcing
that　the　subject　would　be　concluded　on　the　following　Sabbath；　he
summarily　brought　the　English　service　to　a　close；　and　dismissed　the
congregation　with　a　brief　prayer；　two　verses　of　a　psalm；　and　the
benediction。

When　Maimie　realized　that　the　service　was　really　over；　she　felt　as
if　she　had　been　in　church　for　a　week。　　After　the　benediction　the
congregation　passed　out　into　the　churchyard　and　disposed　themselves
in　groups　about　the　gate　and　along　the　fences　discussing　the　sermon
and　making　brief　inquiries　as　to　the　〃weal　and　ill〃　of　the　members
of　their　families。　　Mrs。　Murray；　leaving　Hughie　and　Maimie　to
wander　at　will；　passed　from　group　to　group；　welcomed　by　all　with
equal　respect　and　affection。　　Young　men　and　old　men；　women　and
girls　alike；　were　glad　to　get　her　word。　　To…day；　however；　the　young
men　were　not　at　first　to　be　seen；　but　Mrs。　Murray　knew　them　well
enough　to　suspect　that　they　would　be　found　at　the　back　of　the
church；　so　she　passed　slowly　around　the　church；　greeting　the　people
as　she　went；　and　upon　turning　the　corner　she　saw　a　crowd　under　the
big　maple；　the　rendezvous　for　the　younger　portion　of　the　congregation
before　〃church　went　in。〃　　In　the　center　of　the　group　stood　Ranald
and　Don；　with　Murdie；　Don's　eldest　brother；　a　huge；　good…natured
man；　beside　them；　and　Peter　Ruagh；　with　his　cousin　Aleck；　and　others
of　the　clan。　　Ranald　was　standing；　pale　and　silent；　with　his　head
thrown　back；　as　his　manner　was　when　in　passion。　　The　talk　was　mainly
between　Aleck　and　Murdie；　the　others　crowding　eagerly　about　and
putting　in　a　word　as　they　could。　　Murdie　was　reasoning　good…humoredly；
Aleck　replying　fiercely。

〃It　was　good　enough　for　him；〃　Mrs。　Murray　heard　Don　interject；　in　a
triumphant　tone；　to　Murdie。　　But　Murdie　shut　him　off　sternly。

〃Whisht；　Don；　you　are　not　talking　just　now。〃

Don　was　about　to　reply　when　he　caught　sight　of　Mrs。　Murray。
〃Here's　the　minister's　wife；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone；　and　at　once
the　group　parted　in　shamefaced　confusion。　　But　Murdie　kept　his　face
unmoved；　and　as　Mrs。　Murray　drew　slowly　near；　said；　in　a　quiet
voice　of　easy　good…humor；　to　Aleck；　who　was　standing　with　a　face
like　that　of　a　detected　criminal：　　〃Well；　we　will　see　about　it　to…
morrow　night；　Aleck；　at　the　post…office；〃　and　he　faced　about　to
meet　Mrs。　Murray　with　an　easy　smile；　while　Aleck　turned　away。　　But
Mrs。　Murray　was　not　deceived；　and　she　went　straight　to　the　point。

〃Murdie；〃　she　said；　quietly；　when　she　had　answered　his　greeting；
〃will　you　just　come　with　me　a　little；　I　want　to　ask　you　about
something。〃　　And　Murdie　walked　away　with　her；　followed　by　the　winks
and　nods　of　the　others。

What　she　said　Murdie　never　told；　but　he　came　back　to　them　more
determined　upon　peace　than　ever。　　The　difficulty　lay；　not　with　the
good…natured　Peter；　who　was　ready　enough　to　settle　with　Ranald；　but
with　the　fiery　Aleck；　who　represented　the　non…respectable　section
of　the　clan　McRae；　who　lived　south　of　the　Sixteenth；　and　had　a
reputation　for　wildness。　　Fighting　was　their　glory；　and　no　one
cared　to　enter　upon　a　feud　with　any　one　of　them。　　Murdie　had
interfered　on　Ranald's　behalf；　chiefly　because　he　was　Don's　friend；
but　also　because　he　was　unwilling　that　Ranald　should　be　involved　in
a　quarrel　with　the　McRaes；　which　he　knew　would　be　a　serious　affair
for　him。　　But　now　his　strongest　reason　for　desiring　peace　was　that
he　had　pledged　himself　to　the　minister's　wife　to　bring　it　about　in
some　way　or　other。　　So　he　took　Peter　off　by　himself；　and　without
much　difficulty；　persuaded　him　to　act　the　magnanimous　part　and　drop
the　quarrel。

With　Ranald　he　had　a　harder　task。　　That　young　man　was　prepared　to
see　his　quarrel　through　at　whatever　consequences　to　himself。　　He
knew　the　McRaes；　and　knew　well　their　reputation；　but　that　only　made
it　more　impossible　for　him　to　retreat。　　But　Murdie　knew　better　than
to　argue　with　him；　so　he　turned　away　from　him　with　an　indifferent
air；　saying：　　〃Oh；　very　well。　　Peter　is　willing　to　let　it　drop。
You　can　do　as　you　please；　only　I　know　the　minister's　wife　expects
you　to　make　it　up。〃

〃What　did　she　say　to　you；　then？〃　asked　Ranald；　fiercely。

〃She　said　a　number　of　things　that　you　don't　need　to　know；　but　she
said　this；　whatever；　'He　will　make　it　up　for　my　sake；　I　know。'〃

Ranald　stood　a　moment　silent；　then　said；　suddenly：　　〃I　will；　too；〃
and　walking　straight　over　to　Peter；　he　offered　his　hand；　saying；　〃I
was　too　quick；　Peter；　and　I　am　willing　to　take　as　much　as　I　gave。
You　can　go　on。〃

But　Peter　was　far　too　soft…hearted　to　accept　that　invitation；　and
seizing　Ranald's　hand；　said；　heartily：　　〃Never　mind；　Ranald；　it　was
my　own　fault。　　We　will　just　say　nothing　more　about　it。〃

〃There　is　the　singing；　boys；〃　said　Murdie。　　〃Come　away。　　Let　us　go
in。

He　was　all　the　more　anxious　to　get　the　boys　into　the　church　when　he
saw　Aleck　making　toward　them。　　He　hurried　Peter　in　before　him；　well
pleased　with　himself　and　his　success　as　peacemaker；　but　especially
delighted　that　he　could　now　turn　his　face　toward　the　minister's
pew；　without　shame。　　And　as　he　took　his　place　in　the　back　seat；
with　Peter　Ruagh　beside　him；　the　glance　of　pride　and　gratitude　that
flashed　across　the　congregation　to　him　from　the　gray…brown　eyes
made　Murdie　feel　more　than　ever　pleased　at　what　he　had　been　able　to
do。　　But　he　was　somewhat　disturbed　to　notice　that　neither　Ranald
nor　Don　nor　Aleck　had　followed　him　into　the　church；　and　he　waited
uneasily　for　their　coming。

In　the　meantime　Straight　Rory　was　winding　his　sinuous　way　through
Coleshill；　the　Gaelic　rhythm　of　the　psalm　allowing　of　quavers　and
turns　impossible　in　the　English。

In　the　pause　following　the　second　verse；　Murdie　was　startled　at　the
sound　of　angry　voices　from　without。　　More　than　Murdie　heard　that
sound。　　As　Murdie　glanced　toward　the　pulpit　he　saw　that　the
minister　had　risen　and　was　listening　intently。

〃Beholdthesparrowfindethout〃　chanted　the　precentor。

〃You　are　a　liar！〃　　The　words；　in　Aleck's　fiery　voice　outside；　fell
distinctly　upon　Murdie's　ear；　though　few　in　the　congregation　seemed
to　have　heard。　　But　while　Murdie　was　making　up　his　mind　to　slip
out；　the　minister　was　before　him。　　Quickly　he　stepped　down　the
pulpit　stairs；　psalm…book　in　hand；　and　singing　as　he　went；　walked
quietly　to　the　back　door；　and　leaving　his　book　on　the　window…sill；
passed　out。　　The　singing　went　calmly　on；　for　the　congregation　were
never　surprised　at　anything　their　minister　did。

The　next　verse　was　nearly　through；　when　the　door　opened；　and　in
came　Don；　followed　by　Aleck；　looking　somewhat　disheveled　and　shaken
up；　and　two　or　three　more。　　In　a　few　moments　the　minister　came　in；
took　his　psalm…book　from　the　window…sill；　and　striking　up　with　the
congreg