donal grant-第60章

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hoose；　that　was　my　ain　maisterfor　it　wasna　a　hair　o'　use　sayin'
onything　further　to　the　agent；　he　only　leuch；　an'　declaret　it　maun
be　some　o'　his　ain　folk　was　playin'　tricks　upon　himwhich　it　angert
him　to　hear；　bein'　as　impossible　as　it　was　fause；　sae　straucht　awa'
to　his　lan'lord　he　wrote；　as　I　say；　but　as　he　was　travellin'　aboot
on　the　continent；　he　supposed　either　the　letter　had　not　reached　him；
an'　never　wud　reach　him　or　he　was　shelterin'　himsel'　under　the　idea
they　wud　think　he　had　never　had　it；　no　wantin'　to　move　in　the
matter。　But　the　varra　day　he　had　made　up　his　min'　that　nothing
should　make　him　spend　another　week　in　the　house；　for　Monday　nights
were　always　the　worst；　there　cam　a　letter　from　the　gentleman；　sayin'
that　only　that　same　hoor　that　he　was　writin'　had　he　received　the
maister's　letter；　an'　he　was　sorry　he　had　not　had　it　before；　but
prayed　him　to　put　up　with　things　till　he　got　to　him；　and　he　would
start　at　the　farthest　in　two　days　more；　and　would　set　the　thing
right　in　less　time　than　it　would　take　to　tell　him　what　was　amiss。A
strange　enough　letter　to　be　sure！　Mr。　Harper；　that　was　their　butler；
told　me　he　had　read　every　word　of　it！　And　so；　as；　not　to　mention　the
terrors　of　the　nicht；　the　want　of　rest　was　like　to　ruin　us
altogether；　we　were　all　on　the　outlook　for　the　appearance　of　oor
promised　deliverer；　sae　cock…sure　o'　settin'　things　straucht　again！

〃Weel；　at　last；　an'　that　was　in　a　varra　feow　days；　though　they
luikit　lang　to　some　i'　that　hoose；　he　appearita　nice　luikin'
gentleman；　wi'　sae　sweet　a　smile　it　wasna　hard　to　believe　whate'er
he　tellt　ye。　An'　he　had　a　licht　airy　w'y　wi'　him；　that　was　to　us
oppresst　craturs　strangely　comfortin'；　ill　as　it　was　to　believe　he
could　ken　what　had　been　goin'　on；　an'　treat　it　i'　that　fashion！
Hooever；an'　noo；　my　lady；　an'　Mr。　Grant；　I　hae　to　tell　ye　what　the
butler　told　me；　for　I　wasna　present　to　hear　for　mysel'。　Maybe　he
wouldn't　have　told　me；　but　that　he　wasn't　an　old　man；　though　twice
my　age；　an'　seemt　to　have　taken　a　likin'　to　me；　though　it　never　came
to　anything；　an'　as　I　was　always　ceevil　to　any　person　that　was
ceevil　to　me；　an'　never　went　farther　than　was　becomin'；　he　made　me
the　return　o'　talkin'　to　me　at　times；　an'　tellin'　me　what　he　knew。

〃The　young　gentleman　was　to　stop　an'　lunch　with　the　master；　an'　i'
the　meantime　would　have　a　glass　o'　wine　an'　a　biscuit；　an'　pullin'　a
bunch　o'　keys　from　his　pocket；　he　desired　Mr。　Harper　to　take　a
certain　one　and　go　to　the　door　that　was　locked　inside　the
wine…cellar；　and　bring　a　bottle　from　a　certain　bin。　Harper　took　the
key；　an'　was　just　goin'　from　the　room；　when　he　h'ard　the
visitorthough　in　truth　he　was　more　at　hame　there　than　any　of
ush'ard　him　say；　'I'll　tell　you　what　you've　been　doing；　sir；　and
you'll　tell　me　whether　I'm　not　right！'　Hearin'　that；　the　butler　drew
the　door　to；　but　not　that　close；　and　made　no　haste　to　leave　it；　and
so　h'ard　what　followed。

〃'I'll　tell　you　what　you've　been　doin'；'　says　he。　'Didn't　you　find　a
man's　heada　skull；　I　mean；　upon　the　premises？'　'Well；　yes；　I
believe　we　did；　when　I　think　of　it！'　says　the　master；　'for　my
butler'an'　there　was　the　butler　outside　a　listenin'　to　the　whole
tale！'my　butler　came　to　me　one　mornin'；　sayin'；　〃Look　here；　sir！
that　is　what　I　found　in　a　little　box；　close　by　the　door　of　the
wine…cellar！　It's　a　skull！〃　〃Oh；〃　said　I　'it　was　the　master　that
was　speakin''〃it'll　be　some　medical　student　has　brought　it　home　to
the　house！〃　So　he　asked　me　what　he　had　better　do　with　it。'　'And　you
told　him；'　interrupted　the　gentleman；　'to　bury　it！'　'I　did；　it
seemed　the　proper　thing　to　do。'　'I　hadn't　a　doubt　of　it！'　said　the
gentleman：　'that　is　the　cause　of　all　the　disturbance。'　'That？'　says
the　master。　'That；　and　nothing　else！'　answers　the　gentleman。　And
with　that；　as　Harper　confessed　when　he　told　me；　there　cam　ower　him
such　a　horror；　that　he　daured　nae　longer　stan'　at　the　door；　but　for
goin'　doon　to　the　cellar　to　fetch　the　bottle　o'　wine；　that　was
merely　beyond　his　human　faculty。　As　it　happed；　I　met　him　on　the
stair；　as　white　as　a　sheet；　an'　ready　to　drop。　'What's　the　matter；
Mr。　Harper？'　said　I；　and　he　told　me　all　about　it。　'Come　along；'　I
said；　'we'll　go　to　the　cellar　together！　It's　broad　daylight；　an'
there's　nothing　to　hurt　us！'　So　he　went　down。

〃'There；　that's　the　box　the　thing　was　lyin'　in！'　said　he；　as　we　cam
oot　o'　the　wine…cellar。　An'　wi'　that　cam　a　groan　oot　o'　the　varra
ground　at　oor　feet！　We　both　h'ard　it；　an'　stood　shakin'　an'　dumb；
grippin'　ane　anither。　'I'm　sure　I　don't　know　what　in　the　name　o'
heaven　it　can　all　mean！'　said　hebut　that　was　when　we　were　on　the
way　up　again。　'Did　ye　show　't　ony　disrespec'？'　said　I。　'No；'　said
he；　'I　but　buried　it；　as　I　would　anything　else　that　had　to　be　putten
out　o'　sight；'　An'　as　we　wur　talkin'　togetherthat　was　at　the　top
o'　the　cellar…stairthere　cam　a　great　ringin'　at　the　bell；　an'　said
he；　'They're　won'erin'　what's　come　o'　me　an'　their　wine；　an'　weel
they　may！　I　maun　rin。'　As　soon　as　he　entered　the　rooman'　this
again；　ye　may　see；　my　leddy　an'　maister　Grant；　he　tellt　me
efterwards'Whaur　did　ye　bury　the　heid　ye　tuik　frae　the　cellar？'
said　his　master　til　him；　an'　speiredna　a　word　as　to　hoo　he　had　been
sae　lang　gane　for　the　wine。　'I　buried　it　i'　the　garden；'　answered
he。　'I　hope　you　know　the　spot！'　said　the　strange　gentleman。　'Yes；
sir；　I　do；'　said　Harper。　'Then　come　and　show　me；'　said　he。

〃So　the　three　of　them　went　oot　thegither；　an'　got　a　spade；　an'
luckily　the　butler　was　able　to　show　them　at　once　the　varra　spot。　An'
the　gentleman　he　howkit　up　the　skull　wi'　his　ain　han's；　carefu'　not
to　touch　it　with　the　spade；　an'　broucht　it　back　in　his　han'　to　the
hoose；　knockin'　the　earth　aff　it　with　his　rouch　traivellin'　gluves。
But　whan　Harper　lookit　to　be　told　to　take　it　back　to　the　place　where
he　found　it；　an'　trembled　at　the　thoucht；　wonderin'　hoo　he　was　to
get　haud　o'　me　an'　naebody　the　wiser；　for　he　didna　want　to　show
fricht　i'　the　day…time；　to　his　grit　surprise　an'　no　sma'　pleesur；
the　gentleman　set　the　skull　on　the　chimley…piece。　An'　as　lunch　had
been　laid　i'　the　meantime；　for　Mr。　HeywoodI　hae　jist　gotten　a　grup
o'　his　namehad　to　be　awa'　again　direckly；　he　h'ard　the　whole　story
as　he　waitit　upo'　them。　I　suppose　they　thoucht　it　better　he　should
hear　an'　tell　the　rest；　the　sooner　to　gar　them　forget　the　terrors　we
had　come　throuw。

〃Said　the　gentleman；　'Now　you'll　have　no　more　trouble。　If　you　do；
write　to　me；　to　the　care　o'so　an'　soan'　I'll　release　you　from
your　agreement。　But　please　to　remember　that　you　brought　it　on
yourself　by　interfering；　I　can't　exackly　say　with　my　property；　but
with　the　property　of　one　who　knows　how　to　defend　it　without　calling
in　the　aid　of　the　lawwhich　indeed　would　probably　give　him　little
satisfaction。It　was　the　burying　of　that　skull　that　brought　on　you
all　the　annoyance。'　'I　always　thought；'　said　the　master；　'the　dead
preferred　having　their　bones　buried。　Their　ghosts　indeed；　according
to　Cocker；　either　wouldna　or　couldna　lie　quiet　until　their　bodies
were　properly　buried：　where　then　could　be　our　offence？'　'You　may　say
what　you　will；'　answered　Mr。　Heywood；　'and　I　cannot　answer　you；　or
preten'　to　explain　the　thing；　I　only　know　that　when　that　head　is
buried；　these　same　disagreeables　always　begin。'　'Then　is　the　head　in
the　way　of　being　buried　and　dug　up　again？'　asked　the　master。　'I　will
tell　you　the　whole　story；　if　you　like；'　answered　his　landlord。　'I
would　gladly　hear　it；'　says　he；　'for　I　would　fain　see　daylight　on
the　affair！'　'That　I　cannot　promise　you；'　he　said；　'but　the　story；
as　it　is　handed　down　in　the　family；　you　shall　hear。'

〃You　may　be　sure；　my　leddy；　Harper　was　wide　awake　to　hearken；　an'
the　more　that　he　might　tell　it　again　in　the　hall！

〃'Somewhere　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　ago；'　Mr。　Heywood　began；
'on　a　cold；　stormy　night；　there　came　to　the　hall…door　a　poor
pedlar；'a　travelling　merchant；　you　know；　my　leddy'with　his　pack
on　his　back；　and　would　fain　have　parted　with　some　of　his　goods　to
the　folk　of　the　hall。　The　butler；　who　must　have　been　a　rough　sort　of
manthey　were　rough　times　thosetold　him　they　wanted　nothing　he
could　give　them；　and　to　go　about　his　business。　But　the　man；　who　was
something　obstinate；　I　dare　say；　and；　it　may　weel　be；　anxious　to　get
shelter；　as　much　for　the　nicht　bein'　gurly　as　to　sell　his　goods；
keepit　on　beggin'　an'　implorin'　to　lat　the　women…folk　at　the　least
luik　at　what　he　had　broucht。　At　last　the　butler；　oot　o'　a'　patience
wi'　the　man；　ga'e　him　a　great　shove　awa'　frae　the　door；　sae　that　the
poor　man　fell　doon　the　steps；　an'　bangt　the　door　to；　nor　ever　lookit
to　see　whether　the　man　gat　up　again　or　no。

〃'I'　the　mornin'　the　pedlar　they　faund　him　lyin'　deid　in　a　little
wud　or　shaw；　no　far　frae　the　hoose。　An'　wi'　that　up　got　the　cry；　an'
what　said　they　but　that　the　butler　had　murdert　him！　Sae　up　he　was
ta'en　an'　put　upo'　's　trial　for't。　An'　whether　the　man　was　not　likit
i'　the　country…side；　I　cannot　tell；'　said　the　gentleman；　'but　the
cry　was　against　him；　and　things　went　the　wrong　way　for　himand　that
though　no　one　aboot　the　hoose　believed　he　had　done　the　deed；　more
than　he　micht　hae　caused　his　death　by　pushin'　him　doon　the　steps。
An'　even　that　he　could　hardly　have　intendit；　but　only　to　get　quit　o'
him；　an'　likely　enough　the　man　was　weak；　perhaps　ill；　an'　the　weicht
o'　his　pack　on　his　back　pulled　him　as　he　pushed。'　Still；　efter　an'
a'an'　its　mysel'　'at's　sayin'　this；　no　the　gentleman；　my　ladyin
a　pairt　o'　the　country　like　that；　gey　an'　lanely；　it　was　not　the
nicht　to　turn　a　fallow　cratur　oot　in！　'The　butler　was；　at　the　same
time；　an　old　and　trusty　servan'；'　said　Mr。　Heywood；　'an'　his　master
was　greatly　concernt　aboot　the　thing。　It　is　impossible　at　this　time
o'　day；'　he　said；　'to　un'erstan'　hoo　such　a　thing　could　bei'　the
total　absence　o'　direc'　evidence；　but　the　short　an'　the　weary　lang
o'　't　was；　that　the　man　was　hangt；　an'　hung　in　irons　for　the　deed。

〃'An'　noo　ye　may　be　thinkin'　the　ghaist　o'　the　puir　pedlar　began　to
haunt　the　hoose；　but　naething　o'　the　kin'！　There　was　nae　disturbance
o'　that；　or　ony　ither　sort。　The　man　was　deid　an'　buried；　whaever　did
or　didna　kill　him；　an'　the　body　o'　him　that　was　said　to　hae　killed
him；　hung　danglin'　i'　the　win'；　an'　naither　o'　them　said　a　word　for
or　again　the　thing。

〃'But　the　hert　o'　the　man's　maister　was　sair。　He　couldna　help　aye
thinkin'　that　maybe　he　was　to　blame；　an'　micht　hae　done　something
mair　nor　he　thoucht　o'　at　the　time　to　get　the　puir　man　aff；　for　he
was　absolutely　certain　that；　hooever　rouch　he　micht　hae　been；　an'
hooever　he　micht　hae　been　the　cause　o'　deith　to　the　troublesome
pedlar；　he　hadna　meant　to　kill　him；　it　was；　in　pairt　at　least；　an
accident；　an'　he　thoucht　the　hangin'　o'　'im　for　't　was　hard　lines。
The　maister　was　an　auld　man；　nearhan'　auchty；　an'　tuik　things　the
mair　seriously；　I　daursay；　that　he　wasna　that　far　frae　the　grave
they　had　sent　the　puir　butler　til　afore　his　timegien　that　could　be
said　o'　ane　whause　grave　was　wi'　the　weather…cock！　An'　aye　he　tuik
himsel'　to　task　as　to　whether　he　ouchtna　to　hae　dune　something
mairgane　to　the　king　maybefor　he　couldna　bide　the　thoucht　o'　the
puir　man　that　had　waitit　upon　him　sae　lang　an'　faithfu'；　hingin'　an'
swingin'　up　there