chronicles of the canongate-第15章

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king；　groaning；　and　screaming　in　every　blast　of　wind；　and　frightening　for　five　miles'　distance；　for　aught　I　know；　the　nests　of　thrushes　and　linnets；　the　ancient　denizens　of　the　little　glen。

When　I　entered　the　place　I　was　received　by　Christie　Steele　herself；　who　seemed　uncertain　whether　to　drop　me　in　the　kitchen；　or　usher　me　into　a　separate　apartment；　as　I　called　for　tea；　with　something　rather　more　substantial　than　bread　and　butter；　and　spoke　of　supping　and　sleeping；　Christie　at　last　inducted　me　into　the　room　where　she　herself　had　been　sitting；　probably　the　only　one　which　had　a　fire；　though　the　month　was　October。　　This　answered　my　plan；　and　as　she　was　about　to　remove　her　spinning…　wheel；　I　begged　she　would　have　the　goodness　to　remain　and　make　my　tea；　adding　that　I　liked　the　sound　of　the　wheel；　and　desired　not　to　disturb　her　housewife　thrift　in　the　least。

〃I　dinna　ken；　sir；〃　she　replied；　in　a　dry；　REVECHE　tone；　which　carried　me　back　twenty　years；　〃I　am　nane　of　thae　heartsome　landleddies　that　can　tell　country　cracks；　and　make　themsel's　agreeable；　and　I　was　ganging　to　put　on　a　fire　for　you　in　the　Red　Room；　but　if　it　is　your　will　to　stay　here；　he　that　pays　the　lawing　maun　choose　the　lodging。〃

I　endeavoured　to　engage　her　in　conversation；　but　though　she　answered；　with　a　kind　of　stiff　civility；　I　could　get　her　into　no　freedom　of　discourse；　and　she　began　to　look　at　her　wheel　and　at　the　door　more　than　once；　as　if　she　meditated　a　retreat。　　I　was　obliged；　therefore；　to　proceed　to　some　special　questions；　that　might　have　interest　for　a　person　whose　ideas　were　probably　of　a　very　bounded　description。

I　looked　round　the　apartment；　being　the　same　in　which　I　had　last　seen　my　poor　mother。　　The　author　of　the　family　history；　formerly　mentioned；　had　taken　great　credit　to　himself　for　the　improvements　he　had　made　in　this　same　jointure…house　of　Duntarkin；　and　how；　upon　his　marriage；　when　his　mother　took　possession　of　the　same　as　her　jointure…house；　〃to　his　great　charges　and　expenses　he　caused　box　the　walls　of　the　great　parlour〃　（in　which　I　was　now　sitting）；　〃empanel　the　same；　and　plaster　the　roof；　finishing　the　apartment　with　ane　concave　chimney；　and　decorating　the　same　with　pictures；　and　a　barometer　and　thermometer。〃　　And　in　particular；　which　his　good　mother　used　to　say　she　prized　above　all　the　rest；　he　had　caused　his　own　portraiture　be　limned　over　the　mantlepiece　by　a　skilful　hand。　　And；　in　good　faith；　there　he　remained　still；　having　much　the　visage　which　I　was　disposed　to　ascribe　to　him　on　the　evidence　of　his　handwriting；grim　and　austere；　yet　not　without　a　cast　of　shrewdness　and　determination；　in　armour；　though　he　never　wore　it；　I　fancy；　one　hand　on　an　open　book；　and　one　resting　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword；　though　I　dare　say　his　head　never　ached　with　reading；　nor　his　limbs　with　fencing。

〃That　picture　is　painted　on　the　wood；　madam；〃　said　I。

〃Ay；　sir；　or　it's　like　it　would　not　have　been　left　there；　they　look　a'　they　could。〃

〃Mr。　Treddles's　creditors；　you　mean？〃　　said　I。

〃Na；〃　replied　she　dryly；　〃the　creditors　of　another　family；　that　sweepit　cleaner　than　this　poor　man's；　because　I　fancy　there　was　less　to　gather。〃

〃An　older　family；　perhaps；　and　probably　more　remembered　and　regretted　than　later　possessors？〃

Christie　here　settled　herself　in　her　seat；　and　pulled　her　wheel　towards　her。　　I　had　given　her　something　interesting　for　her　thoughts　to　dwell　upon；　and　her　wheel　was　a　mechanical　accompaniment　on　such　occasions；　the　revolutions　of　which　assisted　her　in　the　explanation　of　her　ideas。

〃Mair　regrettedmair　missed？　　I　liked　ane　of　the　auld　family　very　weel；　but　I　winna　say　that　for　them　a'。　　How　should　they　be　mair　missed　than　the　Treddleses？　　The　cotton　mill　was　such　a　thing　for　the　country！　　The　mair　bairns　a　cottar　body　had　the　better；　they　would　make　their　awn　keep　frae　the　time　they　were　five　years　auld；　and　a　widow　wi'　three　or　four　bairns　was　a　wealthy　woman　in　the　time　of　the　Treddleses。〃

〃But　the　health　of　these　poor　children；　my　good　friendtheir　education　and　religious　instruction〃

〃For　health；〃　said　Christie；　looking　gloomily　at　me；　〃ye　maun　ken　little　of　the　warld；　sir；　if　ye　dinna　ken　that　the　health　of　the　poor　man's　body；　as　well　as　his　youth　and　his　strength；　are　all　at　the　command　of　the　rich　man's　purse。　　There　never　was　a　trade　so　unhealthy　yet　but　men　would　fight　to　get　wark　at　it　for　twa　pennies　a　day　aboon　the　common　wage。　　But　the　bairns　were　reasonably　weel　cared　for　in　the　way　of　air　and　exercise；　and　a　very　responsible　youth　heard　them　their　Carritch；　and　gied　them　lessons　in　Reediemadeasy　＇〃Reading　made　Easy；〃　usually　so　pronounced　in　Scotland。＇　　Now；　what　did　they　ever　get　before？　Maybe　on　a　winter　day　they　wad　be　called　out　to　beat　the　wood　for　cocks　or　siclike；　and　then　the　starving　weans　would　maybe　get　a　bite　of　broken　bread；　and　maybe　no；　just　as　the　butler　was　in　humourthat　was　a'　they　got。〃

〃They　were　not；　then；　a　very　kind　family　to　the　poor；　these　old　possessors？〃　　said　I；　somewhat　bitterly；　for　I　had　expected　to　hear　my　ancestors'　praises　recorded；　though　I　certainly　despaired　of　being　regaled　with　my　own。

〃They　werena　ill　to　them；　sir；　and　that　is　aye　something。　　They　were　just　decent　bien　bodies；　ony　poor　creature　that　had　face　to　beg　got　an　awmous；　and　welcomethey　that　were　shamefaced　gaed　by；　and　twice　as　welcome。　　But　they　keepit　an　honest　walk　before　God　and　man；　the　Croftangrys；　and；　as　I　said　before；　if　they　did　little　good；　they　did　as　little　ill。　　They　lifted　their　rents；　and　spent　them；　called　in　their　kain　and　ate　them；　gaed　to　the　kirk　of　a　Sunday；　bowed　civilly　if　folk　took　aff　their　bannets　as　they　gaed　by；　and　lookit　as　black　as　sin　at　them　that　keepit　them　on。〃

〃These　are　their　arms　that　you　have　on　the　sign？〃

〃What！　　on　the　painted　board　that　is　skirling　and　groaning　at　the　door？　　Na；　these　are　Mr。　Treddles's　arms　though　they　look　as　like　legs　as　arms。　　Ill　pleased　I　was　at　the　fule　thing；　that　cost　as　muckle　as　would　hae　repaired　the　house　from　the　wa'　stane　to　the　rigging…tree。　　But　if　I　am　to　bide　here；　I'll　hae　a　decent　board　wi'　a　punch　bowl　on　it。〃

〃Is　there　a　doubt　of　your　staying　here；　Mrs。　Steele？〃

〃Dinna　Mistress　me；〃　said　the　cross　old　woman；　whose　fingers　were　now　plying　their　thrift　in　a　manner　which　indicated　nervous　irritation；　〃there　was　nae　luck　in　the　land　since　Luckie　turned　Mistress；　and　Mistress　my　Leddy。　　And　as　for　staying　here；　if　it　concerns　you　to　ken；　I　may　stay　if　I　can　pay　a　hundred　pund　sterling　for　the　lease；　and　I　may　flit　if　I　canna；　and　so　gude　e'en　to　you；　Christie；〃and　round　went　the　wheel　with　much　activity。

〃And　you　like　the　trade　of　keeping　a　public…house？〃

〃I　can　scarce　say　that；〃　she　replied。　　〃But　worthy　Mr。　Prendergast　is　clear　of　its　lawfulness；　and　I　hae　gotten　used　to　it；　and　made　a　decent　living；　though　I　never　make　out　a　fause　reckoning；　or　give　ony　ane　the　means　to　disorder　reason　in　my　house。〃

〃Indeed！〃　　said　I；　〃in　that　case；　there　is　no　wonder　you　have　not　made　up　the　hundred　pounds　to　purchase　the　lease。〃

〃How　do　you　ken；〃　said　she　sharply；　〃that　I　might　not　have　had　a　hundred　punds　of　my　ain　fee？　　If　I　have　it　not；　I　am　sure　it　is　my　ain　faut。　　And　I　wunna　ca'　it　faut　neither；　for　it　gaed　to　her　wha　was　weel　entitled　to　a'　my　service。〃　　Again　she　pulled　stoutly　at　the　flax；　and　the　wheel　went　smartly　round。

〃This　old　gentleman；〃　said　I；　fixing　my　eye　on　the　painted　panel；　〃seems　to　have　had　HIS　arms　painted　as　well　as　Mr。　Treddlesthat　is；　if　that　painting　in　the　corner　be　a　scutcheon。〃

〃Ay；　aycushion；　just　sae。　　They　maun　a'　hae　their　cushions　there's　sma'　gentry　without　thatand　so　the　arms；　as　they　ca'　them；　of　the　house　of　Glentanner　may　be　seen　on　an　auld　stane　in　the　west　end　of　the　house。　　But　to　do　them　justice；　they　didna　propale　sae　muckle　about　them　as　poor　Mr。　Treddles　didit's　like　they　were　better　used　to　them。〃

〃Very　likely。　　Are　there　any　of　the　old　family　in　life；　goodwife？〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　then　added；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　〃Not　that　I　know　of〃and　the　wheel；　which　had　intermitted；　began　again　to　revolve。

〃Gone　abroad；　perhaps？〃　　I　suggested。

She　now　looked　up；　and　faced　me。　　〃No；　sir。　　There　were　three　sons　of　the　last　laird　of　Glentanner；　as　he　was　then　called。　John　and　William　were　hopeful　young　gentlemen；　but　they　died　earlyone　of　a　decline　brought　on　by　the　mizzles；　the　other　lost　his　life　in　a　fever。　　It　would　hae　been　lucky　for　mony　ane　that　Chrystal　had　gane　the　same　gate。〃

〃Oh；　he　must　have　been　the　young　spendthrift　that　sold　the　property？　　Well；　but　you　should　you　have　such　an　ill…will　against　him；　remember　necessity　has　no　law。　　And　then；　goodwife；　he　was　not　more　culpable　than　Mr。　Treddles；　whom　you　are　so　sorry　for。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　think　sae；　sir；　for　his　mother's　sake。　　But　Mr。　Treddles　was　in　trade；　and　though　he　had　no　preceese　right　to　do　so；　yet　there　was　some　warrant　for　a　man　being　expensive　that　imagined　he　was　making　a　mint　of　money。　　But　this　unhappy　lad　devoured　his　patrimony；　when　he　kenned　that　he　was　living　like　a　ratten　in　a　Dunlap　cheese；　and　diminishing　his　means　at　a'　hands。　I　canna　bide　to　think　on't。〃　　With　this　she　broke　out　into　a　snatch　of　a　ballad；　but　little　of　mirth　was　there　either　in　the　tone　or　the　expression：

　　〃For　he　did　spend；　and　make　an　end　　　　　　Of　gear　that　his　forefathers　wan；　　　　Of　land　and　ware　he　made　him　bare；　　　　　　So　speak　nae　mair　of　the　auld　gudeman。〃

〃Come；　dame；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　a　long　lane　that　has　no　turning。　　I　will　not　keep　from　you　that　I　have　heard　something　of　this　poor　fellow；　Chrystal　Croftangry。　　He　has　sown　his　wild　oats；　as　they　say；　and　has　settled　into　a　steady；　respectable　man。〃

〃And　wha　tell'd　ye　that　tidings？〃　　said　she；　looking　sharply　at　me。

〃Not；　perhaps；　the　best　judge　in　the　world　of　his　character；　for　it　was　himself；　dame。〃

〃And　if　he　tell'd　you　truth；　it　was　a　virtue　he　did　not　aye　use　to　practise；〃　said　Christie。

〃The　devil！〃　　said　I；　considerably　nettled；　〃all　the　world　held　him　to　be　a　man　of　honour。〃

〃Ay；　ay！　　he　would　hae　shot　onybody　wi'　his　pistols　and　his　guns　that　had　evened　him　to　be　a　liar。　　But　if　he　promised　to　pay　an　honest　tradesman　the　next　term…day；　did　he　keep　his　word　then？　And　if　he　promised　a　puir；　silly　lass　to　make　gude　her　shame；　did　he　speak　truth　then？　　And　what　is　that　but　being　a　liar；　and　a　black…hearted；　deceitful　liar　to　boot？〃

My　indignation　was　rising；　but　I　strove　to　suppress　it；　indeed；　I　should　only　have　afforded　my　tormentor　a　triumph　by　an　angry　reply。　　I　partly　suspected　she　began　to　recognize　me；　yet　she　testified　so　little　emotion　that　I　could　not　think　my　suspicion　well　founded。　　I　went　on；　therefore；　to　say；　in　a　tone　as　indifferent　as　I　could　command；　〃Well；　goodwife；　I　see　you　will　believe　no　good　of　this　Chrystal　of　yours；　till　he　comes　back　and　buys　a　good　farm　on　the　estate；　and　makes　you　his　housekeeper。〃

The　old　woman　dropped　her　thread；　folded　her　hands；　as　she　looked　up　to　heaven　with　a　face　of　apprehension。　　〃The　Lord；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃forbid！　　The　Lord　in　His　mercy　forbid！　　O　sir！　　if　you　really　know　this　unlucky　man；　persuade　him　to　settle　where　folk　ken　the　good　that　you　say　he　has　come　to；　and　dinna　ken　the　evil　of　his　former　days。　　He　used　to　be　proud　enoughO　dinna　let　him　come　here；　even　for