donal grant-第58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！


through　ityes　through　it；　the　dust…arm　passed！This　was　no　mere
death…bed；　it　was　a　torture　bedmost　likely　a　murder…bed；　and　on　it
yet　lay　the　body　that　died　on　ithad　lain　for　hundreds　of　years；
unlifted　for　kindly　burial：　the　place　of　its　decease　had　been　made
its　tombclosed　up　and　hidden　away！

A　bed　in　a　chapel；　and　one　dead　thereon！how　could　it　be？　Had　the
womanfor　Donal　imagined　the　form　yet　showed　it　the　body　of　a
womanbeen　carried　thither　of　her　own　desire；　to　die　in　a　holy
place？　That　could　not　be：　there　was　the　chain！　Had　she　sought　refuge
there　from　some　persecutor？　If　so；　he　has　found　her！　She　was　a
captivemad　perhaps；　more　likely　hated　and　the　victim　of　a　terrible
revenge；　left；　probably　enough；　to　die　of　hunger；　or
diseaseneglected　or　tended；　who　could　tell？　One　thing；　only　was
clearthat　there　she　died；　and　there　she　was　buried！

Arctura　was　trembling。　Donal　drew　her　closer；　and　would　have　taken
her　away。　But　she　said　in　his　ear；　as　if　in　dread　of　disturbing　the
dust；

〃I　am　not　frightenednot　very。　It　is　only　the　cold；　I　think。〃

They　went　softly　to　the　other　end　of　the　chapel；　almost　clinging
together　as　they　went。　They　saw　three　narrow　lancet　windows　on　their
right；　but　no　glimmer　came　through　them。

They　came　to　what　had　seemed　an　altar；　and　such　it　still　seemed。　But
on　its　marble…top　lay　the　dust　plainly　of　an　infantsight　sad　as
fearful；　and　full　of　agonizing　suggestion！　They　turned　away；　nor
either　looked　at　the　other。　The　awful　silence　of　the　place　seemed
settling　on　them　like　a　weight。　Donal　made　haste；　nor　did　Arctura
seem　less　anxious　to　leave　it。

When　they　reached　the　stair；　he　made　her　go　first：　he　must　be
between　her　and　the　terror！　As　they　passed　the　door　on　the　other
side　of　the　little　gallerydown　whose　spiracle　had　come　no　second
breathDonal　said　to　himself　he　must　question　that　door；　but　to
Arctura　he　said　nothing：　she　had　had　enough　of　inquiry　for　the
moment！

Slowly　they　ascended　to　Arctura's　chamber。　Donal　replaced　the　slab；
and　propped　it　in　its　position；　gathered　the　plaster　into　the　pail；
replaced　the　press；　and　put　a　screw　through　the　bottom　of　it　into
the　floor。　Arctura　stood　and　watched　him　all　the　time。

〃You　must　leave　your　room　again；　my　lady！〃　said　Donal。

〃I　will。　I　shall　speak　to　mistress　Brookes　at　once。〃

〃Will　you　tell　her　all　about　it？〃

〃We　must　talk　about　that！〃

〃How　will　she　bear　it；〃　thought　Donal；　〃how　after　such　an
experience；　can　she　spend　the　rest　of　the　day　alone？　There　is　all
the　long　afternoon　and　evening　to　be　met！〃

He　gave　the　last　turn　to　the　screw　in　the　floor；　and　rose。　Then
first　he　saw　that　Arctura　had　turned　very　white。

〃Do　sit　down；　my　lady！〃　he　said。　〃I　would　run　for　mistress　Brookes；
but　I　dare　not　leave　you。〃

〃No；　no；　we　will　go　down　together！　Give　me　that　bottle　of　eau　de
Cologne；　please。〃

Donal　did　not　know　either　eau　de　Cologne　or　its　bottle；　but　he
darted　to　the　dressing…table　and　guessed　correctly。　It　revived　her；
and　she　began　to　take　deep　breaths。　Then　with　a　strong　effort　she
rose　to　go　down。

The　time　for　speech　concerning　what　they　had　seen；　was　not　come！

〃Would　you　not　like；　my　lady；〃　said　Donal；　〃to　come　to　the
schoolroom　this　afternoon？　You　could　sit　beside　while　I　give　Davie
his　lessons！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　at　once；　〃I　should　like　it　much！Is　there　not
something　you　could　give　me　to　do？Will　you　not　teach　me
something？〃

〃I　should　like　to　begin　you　with　Greek；　and　teach　you　a　little
mathematicsgeometry　first　of　all。〃

〃You　frighten　me！〃

〃Your　fright　wouldn't　outlast　the　beginning；〃　said　Donal。　〃Anyhow；
you　will　have　Davie　and　me　for　company！　You　must　be　lonely
sometimes！　You　see　little　of　Miss　Carmichael　now；　I　fancy。〃

〃She　has　not　been　near　me　since　that　day　in　the　avenue！　We　salute
now　and　then　coming　out　of　church。　She　will　not　come　again　except　I
ask　her；　and　I　shall　be　in　no　haste：　she　would　only　assume　I　was
sorry；　and　could　not　do　without　her！〃

〃I　should　let　her　wait；　my　lady！〃　said　Donal。　〃She　sorely　wants
humbling！〃

〃You　do　not　know　her；　Mr。　Grant；　if　you　think　anything　I　could　do
would　have　that　effect　on　her。〃

〃Pardon　me；　my　lady；　I　did　not　imagine　it　your　task　to　humble　her！
But　you　need　not　let　her　ride　over　you　as　she　used　to　do；　she　knows
nothing　really；　and　a　great　many　things　unreally。　Unreal　knowledge
is　worse　than　ignorance。Would　not　Miss　Graeme　be　a　better　friend？〃

〃She　is　much　more　lovable；　but　she　does　not　trouble　her　head　about
the　things　I　care　for。I　mean　religion；〃　she　added　hesitatingly。

〃So　much　the　better；〃

〃Mr。　Grant！〃

〃You　did　not　let　me　finish；　my　lady！So　much　the　better；　I　was
going　to　say；　till　she　begins　to　trouble　her　heart　about　itor
rather　to　untrouble　her　heart　with　it！　The　pharisee　troubled　his
head；　and　no　doubt　his　conscience　too；　and　did　not　go　away
justified；　but　the　poor　publican；　as　we　with　our　stupid　pity　would
call　him；　troubled　his　heart　about　it；　and　that　trouble　once　set　a
going；　there　is　no　fear。　Head　and　all　must　soon　follow。But　how　am
I　to　get　rid　of　this　plaster　without　being　seen？〃

〃I　will　show　you　the　way　to　your　own　stair　without　going　downthe
way　we　came　once；　you　may　remember。　You　can　take　it　to　the　top　of
the　house　till　it　is　dark。But　I　do　not　feel　comfortable　about　my
uncle's　visit。　Can　it　be　that　he　suspects　something？　Perhaps　he
knows　all　about　the　chapeland　that　stair　too！〃

〃He　is　a　man　to　enjoy　having　a　secret！But　our　discovery　bears　out
what　we　were　saying　as　to　the　likeness　of　house　and　mandoes　it
not？〃

〃You　don't　mean　there　is　anything　like　that　in　me？〃　rejoined
Arctura；　looking　frightened。

〃You！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃But　I　mean　no　individual　application；〃　he
added；　〃except　as　reflected　from　the　general　truth。　This　house　is
like　every　human　soul；　and　so；　like　me　and　you　and　all　of　us。　We
have　found　the　chapel　of　the　house；　the　place　they　used　to　pray　to
God　in；　built　up；　lost；　forgotten；　filled　with　dust　and　dampand
the　mouldering　dead　lying　there　before　the　Lord；　waiting　to　be　made
live　again　and　praise　him！〃

〃I　said　you　meant　me！〃　murmured　Arctura；　with　a　faint；　sad　smile。

〃No；　the　time　is　past　for　that。　It　is　long　since　first　you　were
aware　of　the　dead　self　in　the　lost　chapel；　a　hungry　soul　soon　misses
both；　and　knows；　without　being　sure　of　it；　that　they　are　somewhere。
You　have　kept　searching　for　them　in　spite　of　all　persuasion　that　the
quest　was　foolish。〃

Arctura's　eyes　shone　in　her　pale　face；　but　they　shone　with　gathering
tears。　Donal　turned　away；　and　took　up　the　pail。　She　rose；　and　guided
him　to　his　tower…stair；　where　he　went　up　and　she　went　down。




CHAPTER　LVII。

THE　HOUSEKEEPER'S　ROOM。

As　the　clock　upon　the　schoolroom　chimney…piece　struck　the　hour；
Arctura　entered；　and　at　once　took　her　seat　at　the　table　with
Daviemuch　to　the　boy's　wonder　and　pleasure。　Donal　gave　her　a
Euclid；　and　set　her　a　task：　she　began　at　once　to　learn　itand　after
a　while　so　brief　that　Davie　stared　incredulous；　said；

〃If　you　please；　Mr。　Grant；　I　think　I　could　be　questioned　upon　it
now。〃

Less　than　a　minute　sufficed　to　show　Donal　that　she　thoroughly
understood　what　she　had　been　learning；　and　he　set　her　then　a　little
more。　By　the　time　their　work　was　over　he　had　not　a　doubt　left　that
suchlike　intellectual　occupation　would　greatly　subserve　all　phases
of　her　health。　With　entireness　she　gave　herself　to　the　thing　she　had
to　do；　and　Donal　thought　how　strong　must　be　her　nature；　to　work　so
calmly；　and　think　so　clearly；　after　what　she　had　gone　through　that
morning。

School　over；　and　Davie　gone　to　his　rabbits。

〃Mistress　Brookes　invites　us　to　supper　with　her；〃　said　lady　Arctura。
〃I　asked　her　to　ask　us。　I　don't　want　to　go　to　bed　till　I　am　quite
sleepy。　You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃

〃I　am　very　glad；　my　lady；〃　responded　Donal。

〃Don't　you　think　we　had　better　tell　her　all　about　it？〃

〃As　you　think　fit。　The　secret　is　in　no　sense　mine；　it　is　only　yours；
and　the　sooner　it　ceases　to　be　a　secret　the　better　for　all　of　us！〃

〃I　have　but　one　reason　for　keeping　it；〃　she　returned。

〃Your　uncle？〃

〃Yes；　I　know　he　will　be　annoyed。　But　there　may　be　other　reasons　why
I　should　reveal　the　thing。〃

〃There　may　indeed！〃　said　Donal。

〃Still；　I　should　be　sorry　to　offend　him　more　than　I　cannot　help。　If
he　were　a　man　like　my　father；　I　should　never　dream　of　going　against
him；　I　should　in　fact　leave　everything　to　him　he　cared　to　attend　to。
But　seeing　he　is　the　man　he　is；　it　would　be　absurd。　I　dare　not　let
him　manage　my　affairs　for　me　much　longer。　I　must　understand　for
myself　how　things　are　going。〃

〃You　will　not；　I　hope；　arrange　anything　without　the　presence　of　a
lawyer！　I　fear　I　have　less　confidence　in　your　uncle　than　you　have！〃

Arctura　made　no　reply；　and　Donal　was　afraid　he　had　hurt　her；　but　the
next　moment　she　looked　up　with　a　sad　smile；　and　said；

〃Well；　poor　man！　we　will　not　compare　our　opinions　of　him：　he　is　my
father's　brother；　and　I　shall　be　glad　not　to　offend　him。　But　my
father　would　have　reason　to　be　dissatisfied　if　I　left　everything　to
my　uncle　as　if　he　had　not　left　everything　to　me。　If　he　had　been
another　sort　of　man；　my　father　would　surely　have　left　the　estate　to
him！〃

At　nine　o'clock　they　met　in　the　housekeeper's　roomlow…ceiled；
large；　lined　almost　round　with　oak　presses；　which　were　mistress
Brookes's　delight。　She　welcomed　them　as　to　her　own　house；　and　made
an　excellent　hostess。

But　Donal　would　not　mix　the　tumbler　of　toddy　she　would　have　had　him
take。　For　one　thing　he　did　not　like　his　higher　to　be　operated　upon
from　his　lower：　it　made　him　feel　as　if　possessed　by　a　not　altogether
real　self。　But　the　root　of　his　objection　lay　in　the　teaching　of　his
mother。　The　things　he　had　learned　of　his　parents　were　to　him　his
patent　of　nobility；　vouchers　that　he　was　honourably　descended：　of
his　birth　he　was　as　proud　as　any　man。　And　hence　this　night　he　was
led　to　talk　of　his　father　and　mother；　and　the　things　of　his
childhood。　He　told　Arctura　all　about　the　life　he　had　led；　how　at　one
time　he　kept　cattle　in　the　fields；　at　another　sheep　on　the
mountains；　how　it　came　that　he　was　sent　to　college；　and　all　the
story　of　sir　Gibbie。　The　night　wore　on。　Arctura　listeneddid
nothing　but　listen；　she　was　enchanted。　And　it　surprised　Donal
himself　to　find　how　calmly　he　could　now　look　back　upon　what　had
seemed　to　threaten　an　everlasting　winter　of　the　soul。　It　was　indeed
the　better　thing　that　Ginevra　should　be　Gibbie's　wife！

A　pause　had　come；　and　he　had　fallen　into　a　brooding　memory　of　things
gone　by；　when　a　sudden　succession　of　quick　knocks　fell　on　his　ear。
He　startedstrangely　affected。　Neither　of　his　companions　took
notice　of　it；　though　it　was　now　past　one　o'clock。　It　was　like　a
knocking　with　knuckles　against　the　other　side　of　the　wall　of　the
room。

〃What　can　that　be？〃　he　said；　listening　for　more。

〃H'ard　ye　never　that　'afore；　maister　Grant？〃　said　the　housekeeper。
〃I　hae　grown　sae　used　til't　my　ears　hardly　tak　notice　o'　't！〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Donal。

〃Ay；　what　is't？　Tell　ye　me　that　gien　ye　can！〃　she　returned　〃It's
jist　a　chappin'；　an'　God's　trowth　it's　a'　I　ken　aboot　the　same！　It
comes；　I　believe　I'm　safe　to　say；　ilka　nicht；　but　I　couldna　tak　my
aith　upo'　't；　I　hae　sae　entirely　drappit　peyin'　ony　atte