donal grant-第44章

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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　lady　Arctura
which　seemed　to　say；　〃You　see　how　Mr。　Grant　can　make　me　understand！〃

〃I　wonder；〃　said　lady　Arctura；　〃what　that　curious　opening　in　the
side　of　the　chimney…stack　means！　It　can't　be　for　smoke　to　come　out
at！〃

〃No；〃　said　Donal；　〃there　is　not　a　mark　of　smoke　about　it。　If　it　had
been　meant　for　that；　it　would　hardly　have　been　put　half…way　from　the
top！　I　can't　make　it　out！　A　hole　like　that　in　any　chimney　must
surely　interfere　with　the　draught！　I　must　get　a　ladder！〃

〃Let　me　climb　on　your　shoulders；　Mr。　Grant；〃　said　Davie。

〃Come　then；　up　you　go！〃　said　Donal。

And　up　went　Davie；　and　peeped　into　the　horizontal　slit。

〃It　looks　very　like　a　chimney；〃　he　said；　turning　his　head　and
thrusting　it　in　sideways。　〃It　goes　right　down　to　somewhere；〃　he
added；　bringing　his　head　out　again；　〃but　there　is　something　across
it　a　little　way　downto　prevent　the　jackdaws　from　tumbling　in；　I
suppose。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Donal。

〃Something　like　a　grating；〃　answered　Davie；　〃no；　not　a　grating
exactly；　it　is　what　you　might　call　a　grating；　but　it　seems　made　of
wires。　I　don't　think　it　would　keep　a　strong　bird　out　if　he　wanted　to
get　in。〃

〃Aha！〃　said　Donal　to　himself；　〃what　if　those　wires　be　tuned！　Did　you
ever　see　an　aeolian　harp；　my　lady？〃　he　asked：　〃I　never　did。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　lady　Arctura；　〃once；　when　I　was　a　little　girl。　And
now　you　suggest　it；　I　think　the　sounds　we　hear　are　not　unlike　those
of　an　aeolian　harp！　The　strings　are　all　the　same　length；　if　I
remember。　But　I　do　not　understand　the　principle。　They　seem　all　to
play　together；　and　make　the　strangest；　wildest　harmonies；　when　the
wind　blows　across　them　in　a　particular　way。〃

〃I　fancy　then　we　have　found　the　nest　of　our　music…bird！〃　said　Donal。
〃The　wires　Davie　speaks　of　may　be　the　strings　of　an　aeolian　harp！　I
wonder　if　there　could　be　a　draught　across　them！　I　must　get　up　and
see！　I　must　go　and　get　a　ladder！〃

〃But　how　could　there　be　an　aeolian　harp　up　here？〃　said　Arctura。

〃It　will　be　time　enough　to　answer　that　question；〃　replied　Donal；
〃when　it　changes　to；　'How　did　an　aeolian　harp　get　up　here？'
Something　is　here　that　wants　accounting　for：　it　may　be　an　aeolian
harp！〃

〃But　in　a　chimney！　The　soot　would　spoil　the　strings！〃

〃Then　perhaps　it　is　not　a　chimney：　is　there　any　sign　of　soot　about；
Davie？〃

〃No；　sir；　there　is　nothing　but　clean　stone　and　lime。〃

〃You　see；　my　lady！　We　do　not　even　know　that　it　is　a　chimney！〃

〃What　else　can　it　be；　standing　with　the　rest？〃

〃It　may　have　been　built　for　one；　but　if　it　had　ever　been　used　for
one；　the　marks　of　smoke　would　remain；　had　it　been　disused　ever　so
long。　But　to…morrow　I　will　bring　up　a　ladder。〃

〃Could　you　not　do　it　now？〃　said　Arctura；　almost　coaxingly。　〃I　should
so　like　to　have　the　thing　settled！〃

〃As　you　please；　my　lady！　I　will　go　at　once。　There　is　one　leaning
against　the　garden…wall；　not　far　from　the　bottom　of　the　tower。〃

〃If　you　do　not　mind　the　trouble！〃

〃I　will　come　and　help；〃　said　Davie。

〃You　mustn't　leave　lady　Arctura。　I　am　not　sure　if　I　can　get　it　up
the　stair；　I　am　afraid　it　is　too　long。　If　I　cannot；　we　will　haul　it
up　as　we　did　the　coal。〃

He　went；　and　the　cousins　sat　down　to　wait　his　return。　It　was　a　cold
evening；　but　Arctura　was　well　wrapt　up；　and　Davie　was　hardy。　They
sat　at　the　foot　of　the　chimney…stack；　and　began　to　talk。

〃It　is　such　a　long　time　since　you　told　me　anything；　Arkie！〃　said　the
boy。

〃You　do　not　need　me　now　to　tell　you　anything：　you　have　Mr。　Grant！
You　like　him　much　better　than　ever　you　did　me！〃

〃You　see；〃　said　Davie；　thoughtfully；　and　making　no　defence　against
her　half…reproach；　〃he　began　by　making　me　afraid　of　himnot　that　he
meant　to　do　it；　I　think！　he　only　meant　that　I　should　do　what　he　told
me：　I　was　never　afraid　of　you；　Arkie！〃

〃I　was　much　crosser　to　you　than　Mr。　Grant；　I　am　sure！〃

〃Mr。　Grant　is　never　cross　to　me；　and　if　ever　you　were；　I've
forgotten　it；　Arkie。　I　only　remember　that　I　was　not　good　to　you。　I
am　sorry　for　it　now　when　I　lie　awake　in　bed；　but　I　say　to　myself　you
forgive　me；　and　go　to　sleep。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　I　forgive　you；　Davie？〃

〃Because　I　love　you。〃

This　was　not　very　logical；　and　set　Arctura　thinking。　She　did　not
forgive　the　boy　because　he　loved　her；　but　the　boy's　love　to　her
might　make　him　sure　she　forgave　him！　Love　is　its　own　justification；
and　sees　itself　in　all　its　objects：　forgiveness　is　an　essential
belonging　of　love；　and　must　be　seen　where　love　is　seen。

〃Are　you　fond　of　my　brother？〃　asked　Davie；　after　a　pause。

〃Why　do　you　ask　me？〃

〃Because　they　say　you　and　he　are　going　to　be　married　some　day；　yet
you　don't　seem　to　care　much　to　be　together。〃

〃It　is　all　nonsense！〃　replied　Arctura；　reddening。　〃I　wish　people
would　not　talk　foolishness！〃

〃Well；　I　do　think　he's　not　so　fond　of　you　as　of　Eppy！〃

〃Hush！　hush！　you　must　not　speak　of　such　thing。〃

〃I　saw　him　once　kiss　Eppy；　and　I　never　saw　him　kiss　you！〃

〃No；　indeed！〃

〃Is　it　right　of　Forgue；　if　he's　going　to　marry　you；　to　kiss
Eppy？That's　what　I　want　to　know！〃

〃He　is　not　going　to　marry　me。〃

〃He　would；　if　you　told　him　you　wished　it。　Papa　wishes　it。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃

〃From　many　thing。　Once　I　heard　him　say；　'Afterwards；　when　the　house
is　our　own；'　and　I　asked　him　what　he　meant；　and　he　said；　'When
Forgue　marries　Arctura；　then　the　castle　will　be　Forgue's。　That　is
how　it　ought　to　be；　you　know！　Property　and　title　ought　never　to　be
parted。'〃

The　hot　blood　rose　to　Arctura's　temples：　was　she　a　mere　wrappage　to
her　propertythe　paper　of　the　parcel！　But　she　called　to　mind　how
strange　her　uncle　was：　but　for　that　could　he　have　been　so　imprudent
as　to　talk　in　such　a　way　to　a　boy　whose　simplicity　rendered　the
confidence　dangerous？

〃You　would　not　like　having　to　give　away　your　castlewould　you；
Arkie？〃　he　went　on。

〃Not　to　any　one　I　did　not　love。〃

〃If　I　were　you；　I　would　not　marry；　but　keep　my　castle　to　myself。　I
don't　see　why　Forgue　should　have　your　castle！〃

〃You　think　I　should　make　my　castle　my　husband？〃

〃He　would　be　a　good　big　husband　anyhow；　and　a　strongone　to　defend
you　from　your　enemies；　and　not　talk　to　you　when　you　wanted　to　be
quiet。〃

〃That　is　all　true；　but　one　might　get　weary　of　a　stupid　husband；
however　big　and　strong　he　was。〃

〃There's　another　thing；　though！he　wouldn't　be　a　cruel　husband！
I've　heard　papa　often　speak　about　some　cruel　husband！　I　fancied
sometimes　he　meant　himself；　but　that　could　not　be；　you　know。〃

Arctura　made　no　reply。　All　but　vanished　memories　of　things　she　had
heard；　hints　and　signs　here　and　there　that　all　was　not　right　between
her　uncle　and　aunt；　vaguely　returned：　could　it　be　that　he　now
repented　of　harshness　to　his　wife；　that　the　thought　of　it　was
preying　upon　him；　that　it　drove　him　to　his　drugs　for
forgetfulness？But　in　the　presence　of　the　boy　she　could　not　go　on
thinking　in　such　a　direction　about　his　father。　She　felt　relieved　by
the　return　of　Donal。

He　had　found　it　rather　difficult　to　get　the　ladder　round　the　sharp
curves　of　the　stair；　but　at　last　they　saw　him　with　it　on　his
shoulder　coming　over　a　distant　roof。

〃Now　we　shall　see！〃　he　said；　as　he　leaned　it　up　against　the　chimney；
and　stood　panting。

〃You　have　tired　yourself！〃　said　lady　Arctura。

〃Where's　the　harm；　my　lady？　A　man　must　get　tired　a　few　times　before
he　lies　down！〃　rejoined　Donald　lightly。

Said　Davie；

〃Must　a　woman；　Mr。　Grant；　marry　a　man　she　does　not　love？〃

〃No；　certainly；　Davie。〃

〃Mr。　Grant；〃　said　Arctura；　in　dread　of　what　Davie　might　say　next；
〃what　do　you　take　to　be　the　duty　of　one　inheriting　a　property？　Ought
a　woman　to　get　rid　of　it；　or　attend　to　it　herself？〃

Donal　thought　a　little。

〃We　must　first　settle　the　main　duty　of　property；〃　he　said；　〃and　that
I　am　hardly　prepared　to　do。〃

〃Is　there　not　a　duty　owing　to　your　family？〃

〃There　are　a　thousand　duties　owing　to　your　family。〃

〃I　don't　mean　those　you　are　living　with　merely；　but　those　also　who
transmitted　the　property　to　you。　This　property　belongs　to　my　family
rather　than　to　me；　and　if　I　had　had　a　brother　it　would　have　gone　to
him：　should　I　not　do　better　for　the　family　by　giving　it　up　to　the
next　heir？　I　am　not　disinterested　in　starting　the　question；
possession　and　power　are　of　no　great　importance　in　my　eyes；　they　are
hindrances　to　me。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　said　Donal；　〃that　the　fact　that　you　would　not　have
succeeded　had　there　been　a　son；　points　to　the　fact　of　a　disposer　of
events：　you　were　sent　into　the　world　to　take　the　property。　If　so；
God　expects　you　to　perform　the　duties　of　it；　they　are　not　to　be　got
rid　of　by　throwing　the　thing　aside；　or　giving　them　to　another　to　do
for　you。　If　your　family　and　not　God　were　the　real　giver　of　the
property；　the　question　you　put　might　arise；　but　I　should　hardly　take
interest　enough　in　it　to　be　capable　of　discussing　it。　I　understand
my　duty　to　my　sheep　or　cattle；　to　my　master；　to　my　father　or　mother；
to　my　brother　or　sister；　to　my　pupil　Davie　here；　I　owe　my　ancestors
love　and　honour；　and　the　keeping　of　their　name　unspotted；　though
that　duty　is　forestalled　by　a　higher；　but　as　to　the　property　they
leave　behind　them；　over　which　they　have　no　more　power；　and　which　now
I　trust　they　never　think　about；　I　do　not　see　what　obligation　I　can
be　under　to　them　with　regard　to　it；　other　than　is　comprised　in　the
duties　of　the　property　itself。〃

〃But　a　family　is　not　merely　those　that　are　gone　before；　there　are
those　that　will　come　after！〃

〃The　best　thing　for　those　to　come　after；　is　to　receive　the　property
with　its　duties　performed；　with　the　light　of　righteousness　radiating
from　it。〃

〃But　what　then　do　you　call　the　duties　of　property？〃

〃In　what　does　the　property　consist？〃

〃In　land；　to　begin　with。〃

〃If　the　land　were　of　no　value；　would　the　possession　of　it　involve
duties？〃

〃I　suppose　not。〃

〃In　what　does　the　value　of　the　land　consist？〃

Lady　Arctura　did　not　attempt　an　answer　to　the　question；　and　Donal；
after　a　little　pause；　resumed。

〃If　you　valued　things　as　the　world　values　them；　I　should　not　care　to
put　the　question；　but　I　fear　you　may　have　some　lingering　notion
that；　though　God's　way　is　the　true　way；　the　world's　way　must　not　be
disregarded。　One　thing；　however；　is　certainthat　nothing　that　is
against　God's　way　can　be　true。　The　value　of　property　consists　only
in　its　being　means；　ground；　or　material　to　work　his　will　withal。
There　is　no　success　in　the　universe　but　in　his　will　being　done。〃

Arctura　was　silent。　She　had　inherited　prejudices　which；　while　she
hated　selfishness；　were　yet　thoroughly　selfish。　Such　are　of　the
evils　in　us　hardest　to　get　rid　of。　They　are　even　cherished　for　a
lifetime　by　some　of　the　otherwise　loveliest　of　souls。　Knowing　that
herein　much　thought　would　be　necessary　for　her；　and　that　she　would
think；　Donal　went　no　farther：　a　house　must　have　its　foundation
settled　before　it　is　built　upon；　argument　where　the　grounds　of　it
are　at　all　in　dispute　is　worse　than　useless。

He　turned　to　his　ladder；　set　it　right；　mounted；　and　peered　into　the
opening。　At　the　length　of　his　arm　he　could　reach　the　wires　Davie　had
described：　they　were　taut；　and　free　of　rus