donal grant-第43章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


music　the　night　before；　and　set　down　his　bucket　to　follow　it；　and
where　he　found　the　bucket；　blown　thither　by　the　wind；　when　he　came
back　to　feel　for　it　in　the　dark。　Then　he　began　to　lead　them；　as
nearly　as　he　could；　the　way　he　had　then　gone；　but　with　some；　for
Arctura's　sake；　desirable　detours：　over　one　steep…sloping　roof　they
had　to　cross；　he　found　a　little　stair　up　the　middle；　and　down　the
other　side。

They　came　to　a　part　where　he　was　not　quite　sure　about　the　way。　As　he
stopped　to　bethink　himself；　they　turned　and　looked　eastward。　The　sea
was　shining　in　the　sun；　and　the　flat　wet　country　between　was　so
bright　that　they　could　not　tell　where　the　land　ended　and　the　sea
began。　But　as　they　gazed　a　great　cloud　came　over　the　sun；　the　sea
turned　cold　and　gray　as　deatha　true　March　sea；　and　the　land　lay
low　and　desolate　between。　The　spring　was　gone　and　the　winter　was
there。　A　gust　of　wind；　full　of　keen　hail；　drove　sharp　in　their
faces。

〃Ah；　that　settles　the　question！〃　said　Donal。　〃The　music…bird　must
wait。　We　will　call　upon　her　another　day。It　is　funny；　isn't　it；
Davie；　to　go　a　bird's…nesting　after　music　on　the　roof　of　a　house？〃

〃Hark！〃　said　Arctura；　〃I　think　I　heard　the　music…bird！She　wants　us
to　find　her　nest！　I　really　don't　think　we　ought　to　go　back　for　a
little　blast　of　wind；　and　a　few　pellets　of　hail！　What　do　you　think；
Davie？〃

〃Oh；　for　me；　I　wouldn't　turn　for　ever　so　big　a　storm！〃　said　Davie；
〃but　you　know；　Arkie；　it's　not　you　or　me；　Arkie！　Mr。　Grant　is　the
captain　of　this　expedition；　and　we　must　do　as　he　bids　us。〃

〃Oh；　surely；　Davie！　I　never　meant　to　dispute　that。　Only　Mr。　Grant　is
not　a　tyrant；　he　will　let　a　lady　say　what　she　thinks！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　or　a　boy　either！　He　likes　me　to　say　what　I　think！　He　says
we　can't　get　at　each　other　without。　And　do　you　knowhe　obeys　me
sometimes！〃

Arctura　glanced　a　keen　question　at　the　boy。

〃It　is　quite　true！〃　said　Davie；　while　Donal　listened　smiling。　〃Last
winter；　for　days　togethernot　all　day；　you　know：　I　had　to　obey　him
most　of　the　time！　but　at　certain　times；　I　was　as　sure　of　Mr。　Grant
doing　as　I　told　him；　as　he　is　now　of　me　doing　as　he　tells　me。〃

〃What　times　were　those？〃　asked　Arctura；　thinking　to　hear　of　some　odd
pedagogic　device。

〃When　I　was　teaching　him　to　skate！〃　answered　Davie；　in　a　triumph　of
remembrance。　〃He　said　I　knew　better　than　he　there；　and　so　he　would
obey　me。　You　wouldn't　believe　how　splendidly　he　did　it；　Arkieout
and　out！〃　concluded　Davie；　in　a　tone　almost　of　awe。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　would　believe　itperfectly！〃　said　Arctura。

Donal　suddenly　threw　an　arm　round　each　of　them；　and　pulled　them　down
sitting。　The　same　instant　a　fierce　blast　burst　upon　the　roof。　He　had
seen　the　squall　whitening　the　sea；　and　looking　nearer　home　saw　the
tops　of　the　trees　between　streaming　level　towards　the　castle。　But
seated　they　were　in　no　danger。

〃Hark！〃　said　Arctura　again；　〃there　it　is！〃

They　all　heard　the　wailing　cry　of　the　ghost…music。　But　while　the
blast　continued　they　dared　not　pursue　their　hunt。　It　kept　on　in　fits
and　gusts　till　the　squall　ceasedas　suddenly　almost　as　it　had
burst。　The　sky　cleared；　and　the　sun　shone　as　a　March　sun　can。　But
the　blundering　blasts　and　the　swan…shot　of　the　flying　hail　were　all
about　still。

〃When　the　storm　is　upon　us；〃　remarked　Donal；　as　they　rose　from　their
crouching　position；　〃it　seems　as　if　there　never　could　be　sunshine
more；　but　our　hopelessness　does　not　keep　back　the　sun　when　his　hour
to　shine　is　come。〃

〃I　understand！〃　said　Arctura：　〃when　one　is　miserable；　misery　seems
the　law　of　being；　and　in　the　midst　of　it　dwells　some　thought　which
nothing　can　ever　set　right！　All　at　once　it　is　gone；　broken　up　and
gone；　like　that　hail…cloud。　It　just　looks　its　own　foolishness　and
vanishes。〃

〃Do　you　know　why　things　so　often　come　right？〃　said　Donal。　〃I　would
say　always　come　right；　but　that　is　matter　of　faith；　not　sight。〃

Arctura　did　not　answer　at　once。

〃I　think　I　know　what　you　are　thinking；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　want　to
hear　you　answer　your　own　question。〃

〃Why　do　things　come　right　so　often；　do　you　think；　Davie？〃　repeated
Donal。

〃Is　it；〃　returned　Davie；　〃because　they　were　made　right　to　begin
with？〃

〃There　is　much　in　that；　Davie；　but　there　is　a　better　reason　than
that。　It　is　because　things　are　alive；　and　the　life　at　the　heart　of
them；　that　which　keeps　them　going；　is　the　great；　beautiful　God。　So
the　sun　for　ever　returns　after　the　clouds。　A　doubting　man；　like　him
who　wrote　the　book　of　Ecclesiasties；　puts　the　evil　last；　and　says
'the　clouds　return　after　the　rain；'　but　the　Christian　knows　that

　　　　　One　has　mastery
Who　makes　the　joy　the　last　in　every　song。〃

〃You　speak　like　one　who　has　suffered！〃　said　Arctura；　with　a　kind
look　in　his　face。

〃Who　has　not　that　lives？〃

〃It　is　how　you　are　able　to　help　others！〃

〃Am　I　able　to　help　others？　I　am　very　glad　to　hear　it。　My　ambition
would　be　to　help；　if　I　had　any　ambition。　But　if　I　am　able；　it　is
because　I　have　been　helped　myself；　not　because　I　have　suffered。〃

〃Will　you　tell　me　what　you　mean　by　saying　you　have　no　ambition？〃

〃Where　your　work　is　laid　out　for　you；　there　is　no　room　for　ambition：
you　have　got　your　work　to　do！But　give　me　your　hand；　my　lady；　put
your　other　hand　on　my　shoulder。　You　stop　there；　Davie；　and　don't
move　till　I　come　to　you。　Now；　my　ladya　little　jump！　That's　it！　Now
you　are　safe！You　were　not　afraid；　were　you？〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　But　did　you　come　here　in　the　dark？〃

〃Yes。　There　is　this　advantage　in　the　dark：　you　do　not　see　how
dangerous　the　way　is。　We　take　the　darkness　about　us　for　the　source
of　our　difficulties：　it　is　a　great　mistake。　Christian　would　hardly
have　dared　go　through　the　Valley　of　the　Shadow　of　Death；　had　he　not
had　the　shield　of　the　darkness　all　about　him。〃

〃Can　the　darkness　be　a　shield？　Is　it　not　the　evil　thing？〃

〃Yes；　the　dark　that　is　within　usthe　dark　of　distrust　and
unwillingness；　but　not　the　outside　dark　of　mere　human　ignorance。
Where　we　do　not　see；　we　are　protected。　Where　we　are　most　ignorant
and　most　in　danger；　is　in　those　things　that　affect　the　life　of　God
in　us：　there　the　Father　is　every　moment　watching　his　child。　If　he
were　not　constantly　pardoning　and　punishing　our　sins；　what　would
become　of　us！　We　must　learn　to　trust　him　about　our　faults　as　much　as
about　everything　else！〃

In　the　earnestness　of　his　talk　he　had　stopped；　but　now　turned　and
went　on。

〃There　is　my　land…；　or　roof…mark　rather！〃　he　said；　〃that
chimney…stack！　Close　by　it　I　heard　the　music　very　near　me
indeedwhen　all　at　once　the　darkness　and　the　wind　came　together　so
thick　that　I　could　do　nothing　more。　We　shall　do　better　now　in　the
daylightand　three　of　us　instead　of　one！〃

〃What　a　huge　block　of　chimneys！〃　said　Arctura。

〃Is　it　not！〃　returned　Donal。　〃It　indicates　the　hugeness　of　the
building　below　us；　of　which　we　can　see　so　little。　Like　the　volcanoes
of　the　world；　it　tells　us　how　much　fire　is　necessary　to　keep　our
dwelling　warm。〃

〃I　thought　it　was　the　sun　that　kept　the　earth　warm；〃　said　Davie。

〃So　it　is；　but　not　the　sun　alone。　The　earth　is　like　a　man：　the　great
glowing　fire　is　God　in　the　heart　of　the　earth；　and　the　great　sun　is
God　in　the　sky；　keeping　it　warm　on　the　other　side。　Our　gladness　and
pleasure；　our　trouble　when　we　do　wrong；　our　love　for　all　about　us；
that　is　God　inside　us；　and　the　beautiful　things　and　lovable　people；
and　all　the　lessons　of　life　in　history　and　poetry；　in　the　Bible；　and
in　whatever　comes　to　us；　is　God　outside　of　us。　Every　life　is　between
two　great　fires　of　the　love　of　God。　So　long　as　we　do　not　give
ourselves　up　heartily　to　him；　we　fear　his　fire　will　burn　us。　And
burn　us　it　does　when　we　go　against　its　flames　and　not　with　them；
refusing　to　burn　with　the　fire　with　which　God　is　always　burning。
When　we　try　to　put　it　out；　or　oppose　it；　or　get　away　from　it；　then
indeed　it　burns！〃

〃I　think　I　know；〃　said　Davie。

Arctura　held　her　peace。

〃But　now；〃　said　Donal；　〃I　must　go　round　and　have　a　peep　at　the　other
side　of　the　chimney…stack。〃

He　disappeared；　and　Arctura　and　Davie　stood　waiting　his　return。　They
looked　each　in　the　other's　face　with　the　delight　of　consciously
sharing　a　great　adventure。　Beyond　their　feet　lay　the　wide　country
and　the　great　sea；　over　them　the　sky　with　the　sun　in　it　going　down
towards　the　mountains；　under　their　feet　the　mighty　old　pile　that　was
their　home；　and　under　that　the　earth　with　its　molten　heart　of　fire。

But　Davie's　look　soon　changed　to　one　of　triumph　in　his　tutor。　〃Is　is
not　grand；〃　it　said；　〃to　be　all　day　with　a　man　like　thattalking　to
you　and　teaching　you？〃　That　at　least　was　how　Arctura　interpreted　it；
reading　in　it　almost　an　assertion　of　superiority；　in　as　much　as　this
man　was　his　tutor　and　not　hers。　She　replied　to　the　look　in　words：

〃I　am　his　pupil；　too；　Davie；〃　she　said；　〃though　Mr。　Grant　does　not
know　it。〃

〃How　can　that　be；〃　answered　Davie；　〃when　you　are　afraid　of　him？　I　am
not　a　bit　afraid　of　him！〃

〃How　do　you　know　I　am　afraid　of　him？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　anybody　could　see　that！〃

She　was　afraid　she　had　spoken　foolishly；　and　Davie　might　repeat　her
words：　she　did　not　desire　to　hasten　further　intimacy　with　Donal；
things　were　going　in　that　direction　fast　enough！　Her　eyes；　avoiding
Davie's；　kept　reconnoitring　the　stack　of　chimneys。

〃Aren't　you　glad　to　have　such　a　castle　all　for　your　ownto　do　what
you　like　with；　Arkie？　You　know　you　could　pull　it　all　to　pieces　if
you　liked！〃

〃Would　it　be　less　mine；〃　said　Arctura；　〃if　I　was　not　at　liberty　to
pull　it　all　to　pieces？　And　would　it　be　more　mine　when　I　had　pulled
it　to　pieces；　Davie？〃

Donal　was　coming　round　the　side　of　the　stack；　and　heard　what　she
said。　It　pleased　him；　for　it　was　not　a　little　in　his　own　style。

〃What　makes　a　thing　your　own；　do　you　think；　Davie？〃　she　went　on。

〃To　be　able　to　do　with　it　what　you　like；〃　replied　Davie。

〃Whether　that　be　good　or　bad？〃

〃Yes；　I　think　so；〃　answered　Davie；　doubtfully。

〃Then　I　think　you　are　quite　wrong；〃　she　rejoined。　〃The　moment　you
begin　to　use　a　thing　wrong；　that　moment　you　make　it　less　yours。　I
can't　quite　explain　it；　but　that　is　how　it　looks　to　me。〃

She　ceased；　and　after　a　moment　Donal　took　up　the　question。

〃Lady　Arctura　is　quite　right；　Davie；〃　he　said。　〃The　nature；　that　is
the　good　of　a　thing；　is　that　only　by　which　it　can　be　possessed。　Any
other　possession　is　like　slave…owning；　it　is　not　a　righteous　having。
The　right　and　the　power　to　use　it　to　its　true　purpose；　and　the　using
it　so；　are　the　conditions　that　make　a　thing　ours。　To　have　the　right
and　the　power；　and　not　use　it　so；　would　be　to　make　the　thing　less
ours　than　anybody's。Suppose　you　had　a　very　beautiful　picture；　but
from　some　defect　in　your　sight　you　could　never　see　that　picture　as
it　really　was；　while　a　servant　in　your　house　not　only　saw　it　as　it
was　meant　to　be　seen；　but　had　such　delight　in　gazing　on　it；　that
even　in　his　dreams　it　came　to　him；　and　made　him　think　of　things　he
would　not　have　thought　of　but　for　it：which　of　you；　you　or　the
servant　in　your　house；　would　have　the　more　real　possession　of　that
picture？　You　could　sell　it　away　from　yourself；　and　never　know
anything　about　it　more；　but　you　could　not　by　all　the　power　of　a
tyrant　take　it　from　your　servant。〃

〃Ah；　now　I　understand！〃　said　Davie；　with　a　look　at　lad