donal grant-第30章

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〃It's　no　sae　easy　to　say！〃　returned　the　grandmother。　〃It　may　weel　be
only　a　fancy　o'　the　auld　fowk；　but　it　seems　to　baith　o'　's　she　has　a
w'y　wi'　her　'at　disna　come　o'　the　richt。　She'll　be　that　meek　as　gien
she　thoucht　naething　at　a'　o'　hersel'；　an'　the　next　moment　be　angert
at　a　word。　She　canna　bide　a　syllable　said　'at　's　no　correc'　to　the
verra　hair。　It's　as　gien　she　dreidit　waur　'ahint　it；　an'　wud　mairch
straucht　to　the　defence。　I'm　no　makin'　my　meanin'　that　clear；　I
doobt；　but　ye'll　ken　't　for　a'　that！〃

〃I　think　I　do；〃　said　Donal。　〃I　see　nothing　of　her。〃

〃I　wudna　mak　a　won'er　o'　that；　sir！　She　may　weel　haud　oot　o'　your
gait；　feelin'　rebukit　'afore　ane　'at　kens　a'　aboot　her　gaein's　on
wi'　my　lord！〃

〃I　don't　know　how　I　should　see　her；　though！〃　returned　Donal。

〃Didna　she　sweep　oot　the　schoolroom　first　whan　ye　gaed；　sir？〃

〃When　I　think　of　ityes。〃

〃Does　she　still　that　same？〃

〃I　do　not　know。　Understanding　at　what　hour　in　the　morning　the　room
will　be　ready　for　me；　I　do　not　go　to　it　sooner。〃

〃It's　but　the　luik；　an'　the　general　cairriage　o'　the　lassie！〃　said
the　old　woman。　〃Gien　we　had　onything　to　tak　a　haud　o'；　we　wad　maybe
think　the　less。　True；　she　was　aye　somewhat　ye　micht　ca'　a　bit
cheengeable　in　her　w'ys；　but　she　was　aye；　whan　she　had　the　chance；
unco'　willin'　to　gie　her　faither　there　or　mysel'　a　spark　o'
glaidness　like。　It　pleased　her　to　be　pleasin'　i'　the　eyes　o'　the
auld　fowk；　though　they　war　but　her　ain。　But　noo　we　maunna　say　a　word
til　her。　We　hae　nae　business　to　luik　til　her　for　naething！　No　'at
she's　aye　like　that；　but　it　comes　sae　aft　'at　at　last　we　daur　hardly
open　oor　moo's　for　the　fear　o'　hoo　she'll　tak　it。　Only　a'　the　time
it's　mair　as　gien　she　was　flingin'　something　frae　her；　something　she
didna　like　an'　wud　fain　be　rid　o'；　than　'at　she　cared　sae　verra
muckle　aboot　onything　we　said　no　til　her　min'。　She　taks　a　haud　o'
the　words；　no　doobt！　but　I　canna　help　thinkin'　'at　'maist　whatever
we　said；　it　wud　be　the　same。　Something　to　compleen　o'　's　never
wantin'　whan　ye're　ill…pleast　a'ready！〃

〃It's　no　the　duin'　o'　the　richt；　ye　see；〃　said　the　cobbler；　〃I
mean；　that's　no　itsel'　the　en'；　but　the　richt　humour　o'　the　sowl
towards　a'　things　thoucht　or　felt　or　dune！　That's　richteousness；　an'
oot　o'　that　comes；　o'　the　verra　necessity　o'　natur'；　a'　richt　deeds
o'　whatever　kin'。　Whaur　they　comena　furth；　it's　whaur　the　sowl；　the
thoucht　o'　the　man　's　no　richt。　Oor　puir　lassie　shaws　a'　mainner　o'
sma'　infirmities　jist　'cause　the　humour　o'　her　sowl　's　no　hermonious
wi'　the　trowth；　no　hermonious　in　itsel'；　no　at　ane　wi'　the　true
thingwi'　the　true　manwi'　the　true　God。　It　may　even　be　said　it's
a　sma'　thing　'at　a　man　sud　du　wrang；　sae　lang　as　he's　capable　o'
duin'　wrang；　an'　lovesna　the　richt　wi'　hert　an'　sowl。　But　eh；　it's
no　a　sma'　thing　'at　he　sud　be　capable！〃

〃Surely；　Anerew；〃　interposed　his　wife；　holding　up　her　hands　in　mild
deprecation；　〃ye　wudna　lat　the　lassie　du　wrang　gien　ye　could　haud
her　richt？〃

〃No；　I　wudna；〃　replied　her　husband；　〃supposin'　the　haudin'　o'　her
richt　to　fa'　in　wi'　ony　degree　o'　perception　o'　the　richt　on　her
pairt。　But　supposin'　it　was　only　the　haudin'　o'　her　frae　ill　by
ootward　constraint；　leavin'　her　ready　upo'　the　first　opportunity　to
turn　aside；　whereas；　gien　she　had　dune　wrang；　she　wud　repent　o'　't；
an'　see　what　a　foul　thing　it　was　to　gang　again'　the　holy　wull　o'　him
'at　made　an'　dee'd　for　herI　lea'　ye　to　jeedge　for　yersel'　what　ony
man　'at　luved　God　an'　luved　the　lass　an'　luved　the　richt；　wud
chuise。　We　maun　haud　baith　een　open　upo'　the　trowth；　an'　no　blink
sidewise　upo'　the　warl'　an'　its　richteousness　wi'　ane　o'　them。　Wha
wadna　be　Zacchay　wi'　the　Lord　in　his　hoose；　an'　the　richteousness　o'
God　himsel'　growin'　in　his　hert；　raither　nor　the　prood　Pharisee　wha
kent　nae　ill　he　was　duin'；　an'　thoucht　it　a　shame　to　speak　to　sic　a
man　as　Zacchay！〃

The　grandmother　held　her　peace；　thinking　probably　that　so　long　as
one　kept　respectable；　there　remained　the　more　likelihood　of　a
spiritual　change。

〃Is　there　anything　you　think　I　could　do？〃　asked　Donal。　〃I　confess
I'm　afraid　of　meddling。〃

〃I　wudna　hae　you　appear；　sir；〃　said　Andrew；　〃in　onything；　concernin'
her。　Ye're　a　yoong　man　yersel'；　an'　fowk's　herts　as　well　as　fowk's
tongues　are　no　to　be　lippent　til。　I　hae　seen　fowk；　'cause　they
couldna　believe　a　body　duin'　a　thing　frae　a　sma'　modicum　o'　gude
wull；　set　themsel's　to　invent　what　they　ca'd　a　motive　til　accoont
for'tsomething；　that　is；　that　wud　hae　prevailt　wi'　themsel's　to
gar　them　du't。　Sic　fowk　canna　un'erstan'　a　body　duin'　onything　jist
'cause　it　was　worth　duin'　in　itsel'！〃

〃But　maybe；〃　said　the　old　woman；　returning　to　the　practical；　〃as　ye
hae　been　pleased　to　say　ye're　on　freen'ly　terms　wi'　mistress
Brookes；　ye　micht　jist　see　gien　she　's　observed　ony　ten'ency　to
resumption　o'　the　auld　affair！〃

Donal　promised；　and　as　soon　as　he　reached　the　castle　sought　an
interview　with　the　house　keeper。　She　told　him　she　had　been
particularly　pleased　of　late　with　Eppy's　attention　to　her　work；　and
readiness　to　make　herself　useful。　If　she　did　look　sometimes　a　little
out　of　heart；　they　must　remember；　she　said；　that　they　had　been　young
themselves　once；　and　that　it　was　not　so　easy　to　forget　as　to　give
up。　But　she　would　keep　her　eyes　open！




CHAPTER　XXX。

LORD　MORVEN。

The　winter　came　at　last　in　good　earnestfirst　black　frost；　then
white　snow；　then　sleet　and　wind　and　rain；　then　snow　again；　which
fell　steady　and　calm；　and　lay　thick。　After　that　came　hard　frost；　and
brought　plenty　of　skating；　and　to　Davie　the　delight　of　teaching　his
master。　Donal　had　many　falls；　but　was　soon；　partly　in　virtue　of
those　same　falls；　a　very　decent　skater。　Davie　claimed　all　the　merit
of　his　successful　training；　and　when　his　master　did　anything
particularly　well；　would　remark　with　pride；　that　he　had　taught　him。
But　the　good　thing　in　it　for　Davie　was；　that　he　noted　the　immediate
faith　with　which　Donal　did　or　tried　to　do　what　he　told　him：　this
reacted　in　opening　his　mind　to　the　beauty　and　dignity　of　obedience；
and　went　a　long　way　towards　revealing　the　low　moral　condition　of　the
man　who　seeks　freedom　through　refusal　to　act　at　the　will　of　another。
He　who　does　so　will　come　by　degrees　to　have　no　will　of　his　own；　and
act　only　from　impulsewhich　may　be　the　will　of　a　devil。　So　Donal
and　Davie　grew　together　into　one　heart　of　friendship。　Donal　never
longed　for　his　hours　with　Davie　to　pass；　and　Davie　was　never　so
happy　as　when　with　Donal。　The　one　was　gently　leading　the　other　into
the　paths　of　liberty。　Nothing　but　the　teaching　of　him　who　made　the
human　soul　can　make　that　soul　free；　but　it　is　in　great　measure
through　those　who　have　already　learned　that　he　teaches；　and　Davie
was　an　apt　pupil；　promising　to　need　less　of　the　discipline　of
failure　and　pain　that　he　was　strong　to　believe；　and　ready　to　obey。

But　Donal　was　not　all　the　day　with　Davie；　and　latterly　had　begun　to
feel　a　little　anxious　about　the　time　the　boy　spent　away　from
himpartly　with　his　brother；　partly　with　the　people　about　the
stable；　and　partly　with　his　father；　who　evidently　found　the　presence
of　his　younger　son　less　irksome　to　him　than　that　of　any　other
person；　and　saw　more　of　him　than　of　Forgue：　the　amount　of　loneliness
the　earl　could　endure　was　amazing。　But　after　what　he　had　seen　and
heard；　Donal　was　most　anxious　concerning　his　time　with　his　father；
only　he　felt　it　a　delicate　thing　to　ask　him　about　it。　At　length；
however；　Davie　himself　opened　up　the　matter。

〃Mr。　Grant；〃　he　said　one　day；　〃I　wish　you　could　hear　the　grand
fairy…stories　my　papa　tells！〃

〃I　wish　I　might！〃　answered　Donal。

〃I　will　ask　him　to　let　you　come　and　hear。　I　have　told　him　you　can
make　fairy…tales　too；　only　he　has　quite　another　way　of　doing
it；and　I　must　confess；〃　added　Davie　a　little　pompously；　〃I　do　not
follow　him　so　easily　as　you。Besides；〃　he　added；　〃I　never　can　find
anything　in　what　you　call　the　cupboard　behind　the　curtain　of　the
story。　I　wonder　sometimes　if　his　stories　have　any　cupboard！I　will
ask　him　to…day　to　let　you　come。〃

〃I　think　that　would　hardly　do；〃　said　Donal。　〃Your　father　likes　to
tell　his　boy　fairy…tales；　but　he　might　not　care　to　tell　them　to　a
man。　You　must　remember；　too；　that　though　I　have　been　in　the　house
what　you　think　a　long　time；　your　father　has　seen　very　little　of　me；
and　might　feel　me　in　the　way：　invalids　do　not　generally　enjoy　the
company　of　strangers。　You　had　better　not　ask　him。〃

〃But　I　have　often　told　him　how　good　you　are；　Mr。　Grant；　and　how　you
can't　bear　anything　that　is　not　right；　and　I　am　sure　he　must　like
youI　don't　mean　so　well　as　I　do；　because　you　haven't　to　teach　him
anything；　and　nobody　can　love　anybody　so　well　as　the　one　he　teaches
to　be　good。〃

〃Still　I　think　you　had　better　leave　it　alone　lest　he　should　not　like
your　asking　him。　I　should　be　sorry　to　have　you　disappointed。〃

〃I　do　not　mind　that　so　much　as　I　used。　If　you　do　not　tell　me　I　am
not　to　do　it；　I　think　I　will　venture。〃

Donal　said　no　more。　He　did　not　feel　at　liberty；　from　his　own　feeling
merely；　to　check　the　boy。　The　thing　was　not　wrong；　and　something
might　be　intended　to　come　out　of　it！　He　shrank　from　the　least　ruling
of　events；　believing　man's　only　call　to　action　is　duty。　So　he　left
Davie　to　do　as　he　pleased。

〃Does　your　father　often　tell　you　a　fairy…tale？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　every　day；　sir。〃

〃What　time　does　he　tell　them？〃

〃Generally　when　I　go　to　him　after　tea。〃

〃Do　you　go　any　time　you　like？〃

〃Yes；　but　he　does　not　always　let　me　stay。　Sometimes　he　talks　about
mamma；　I　think；　but　only　coming　into　the　fairy…tale。He　has　told　me
one　in　the　middle　of　the　day！　I　think　he　would　if　I　woke　him　up　in
the　night！　But　that　would　not　do；　for　he　has　terrible　headaches。
Perhaps　that　is　what　sometimes　makes　his　stories　so　terrible　I　have
to　beg　him　to　stop！〃

〃And　does　he　stop？〃

〃WellnoI　don't　think　he　ever　does。When　a　story　is　once　begun；
I　suppose　it　ought　to　be　finished！〃

So　the　matter　rested　for　the　time。　But　about　a　week　after；　Donal
received　one　morning　through　the　butler　an　invitation　to　dine　with
the　earl；　and　concluded　it　was　due　to　Davie；　whom　he　therefore
expected　to　find　with　his　father。　He　put　on　his　best　clothes；　and
followed　Simmons　up　the　grand　staircase。　The　great　rooms　of　the
castle　were　on　the　first　floor；　but　he　passed　the　entrance　to　them；
following　his　guide　up　and　up　to　the　second　floor；　where　the　earl
had　his　own　apartment。　Here　he　was　shown　into　a　small　room；　richly
furnished　after　a　sombrely　ornate　fashion；　the　drapery　and　coverings
much　faded；　worn　even　to　shabbiness。　It　had　been　for　a　century　or　so
the　private　sitting…room　of　the　lady　of　the　castle；　but　was　now　used
by　the　earl；　perhaps　in　memory　of　his　wife。　Here　he　received　his
sons；　and　now　Donal；　but　never　any　whom　business　or　politeness
compelled　him　to　see。

There　was　no　one　in　the　room　when　Donal　entered；　but　after　about　ten
minutes　a　door　opened　at　the　further　end；　and　lord　Morven　appearing
from　his　bedroom；　shook　hands　with　him　with　some　faint　show　of
kindness。　Almost　the　same　moment　the　butler　entered　from　a　third
door；　and　said　dinner　waited。　The　earl　walked　on；　and　Donal
followed。　This　room　also　was　a　small　one。　The　meal　was　laid　on　a
little　round　t