chronicles of the canongate-第16章

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inna　ken　the　evil　of　his　former　days。　　He　used　to　be　proud　enoughO　dinna　let　him　come　here；　even　for　his　own　sake。　　He　used　once　to　have　some　pride。〃

Here　she　once　more　drew　the　wheel　close　to　her；　and　began　to　pull　at　the　flax　with　both　hands。　　〃Dinna　let　him　come　here；　to　be　looked　down　upon　by　ony　that　may　be　left　of　his　auld　reiving　companions；　and　to　see　the　decent　folk　that　he　looked　over　his　nose　at　look　over　their　noses　at　him；　baith　at　kirk　and　market。　Dinna　let　him　come　to　his　ain　country；　to　be　made　a　tale　about　when　ony　neighbour　points　him　out　to　another；　and　tells　what　he　is；　and　what　he　was；　and　how　he　wrecked　a　dainty　estate；　and　brought　harlots　to　the　door…cheek　of　his　father's　house；　till　he　made　it　nae　residence　for　his　mother；　and　how　it　had　been　foretauld　by　a　servant　of　his　ain　house　that　he　was　a　ne'er…do…　weel　and　a　child　of　perdition；　and　how　her　words　were　made　good；　and〃

〃Stop　there；　goodwife；　if　you　please；〃　said　I；　〃you　have　said　as　much　as　I　can　well　remember；　and　more　than　it　may　be　safe　to　repeat。　　I　can　use　a　great　deal　of　freedom　with　the　gentleman　we　speak　of；　but　I　think；　were　any　other　person　to　carry　him　half　of　your　message；　I　would　scarce　ensure　his　personal　safety。　　And　now；　as　I　see　the　night　is　settled　to　be　a　fine　one；　I　will　walk　on　to　；　where　I　must　meet　a　coach　to…morrow　as　it　passes　to　Edinburgh。〃

So　saying；　I　paid　my　moderate　reckoning；　and　took　my　leave；　without　being　able　to　discover　whether　the　prejudiced　and　hard…　hearted　old　woman　did；　or　did　not；　suspect　the　identity　of　her　guest　with　the　Chrystal　Croftangry　against　whom　she　harboured　so　much　dislike。

The　night　was　fine　and　frosty；　though；　when　I　pretended　to　see　what　its　character　was；　it　might　have　rained　like　the　deluge。　　I　only　made　the　excuse　to　escape　from　old　Christie　Steele。　　The　horses　which　run　races　in　the　Corso　at　Rome　without　any　riders；　in　order　to　stimulate　their　exertion；　carry　each　his　own　spurs　namely；　small　balls　of　steel；　with　sharp；　projecting　spikes；　which　are　attached　to　loose　straps　of　leather；　and；　flying　about　in　the　violence　of　the　agitation；　keep　the　horse　to　his　speed　by　pricking　him　as　they　strike　against　his　flanks。　　The　old　woman's　reproaches　had　the　same　effect　on　me；　and　urged　me　to　a　rapid　pace；　as　if　it　had　been　possible　to　escape　from　my　own　recollections。　　In　the　best　days　of　my　life；　when　I　won　one　or　two　hard　walking　matches；　I　doubt　if　I　ever　walked　so　fast　as　I　did　betwixt　the　Treddles　Arms　and　the　borough　town　for　which　I　was　bound。　　Though　the　night　was　cold；　I　was　warm　enough　by　the　time　I　got　to　my　inn；　and　it　required　a　refreshing　draught　of　porter；　with　half　an　hour's　repose；　ere　I　could　determine　to　give　no　further　thought　to　Christie　and　her　opinions　than　those　of　any　other　vulgar；　prejudiced　old　woman。　　I　resolved　at　last　to　treat　the　thing　EN　BAGATELLE；　and　calling　for　writing　materials；　I　folded　up　a　cheque　for　L100；　with　these　lines　on　the　envelope：

　　〃Chrystal；　the　ne'er…do…weel；　　　　Child　destined　to　the　deil；　　　　Sends　this　to　Christie　Steele。〃

And　I　was　so　much　pleased　with　this　new　mode　of　viewing　the　subject；　that　I　regretted　the　lateness　of　the　hour　prevented　my　finding　a　person　to　carry　the　letter　express　to　its　destination。

　　〃But　with　the　morning　cool　reflection　came。〃

I　considered　that　the　money；　and　probably　more；　was　actually　due　by　me　on　my　mother's　account　to　Christie；　who　had　lent　it　in　a　moment　of　great　necessity；　and　that　the　returning　it　in　a　light　or　ludicrous　manner　was　not　unlikely　to　prevent　so　touchy　and　punctilious　a　person　from　accepting　a　debt　which　was　most　justly　her　due；　and　which　it　became　me　particularly　to　see　satisfied。　Sacrificing；　then；　my　triad　with　little　regret　（for　it　looked　better　by　candlelight；　and　through　the　medium　of　a　pot　of　porter；　than　it　did　by　daylight；　and　with　bohea　for　a　menstruum）；　I　determined　to　employ　Mr。　Fairscribe's　mediation　in　buying　up　the　lease　of　the　little　inn；　and　conferring　it　upon　Christie　in　the　way　which　should　make　it　most　acceptable　to　her　feelings。　　It　is　only　necessary　to　add　that　my　plan　succeeded；　and　that　Widow　Steele　even　yet　keeps　the　Treddles　Arms。　　Do　not　say；　therefore；　that　I　have　been　disingenuous　with　you；　reader；　since；　if　I　have　not　told　all　the　ill　of　myself　I　might　have　done；　I　have　indicated　to　you　a　person　able　and　willing　to　supply　the　blank；　by　relating　all　my　delinquencies　as　well　as　my　misfortunes。

In　the　meantime　I　totally　abandoned　the　idea　of　redeeming　any　part　of　my　paternal　property；　and　resolved　to　take　Christie　Steele's　advice；　as　young　Norval　does　Glenalvon's；　〃although　it　sounded　harshly。〃



CHAPTER　V。

MR。　CROFTANGRY　SETTLES　IN　THE　CANONGATE。

　　　　　　　　　　　If　you　will　know　my　house；　　　'Tis　at　the　tuft　of　olives　here　hard　by。　　　　AS　YOU　LIKE　IT。

By　a　revolution　of　humour　which　I　am　unable　to　account　for；　I　changed　my　mind　entirely　on　my　plans　of　life；　in　consequence　of　the　disappointment；　the　history　of　which　fills　the　last　chapter。　I　began　to　discover　that　the　country　would　not　at　all　suit　me；　for　I　had　relinquished　field…sports；　and　felt　no　inclination　whatever　to　farming；　the　ordinary　vocation　of　country　gentlemen。　Besides　that；　I　had　no　talent　for　assisting　either　candidate　in　case　of　an　expected　election；　and　saw　no　amusement　in　the　duties　of　a　road　trustee；　a　commissioner　of　supply；　or　even　in　the　magisterial　functions　of　the　bench。　　I　had　begun　to　take　some　taste　for　reading；　and　a　domiciliation　in　the　country　must　remove　me　from　the　use　of　books；　excepting　the　small　subscription　library；　in　which　the　very　book　which　you　want　is　uniformly　sure　to　be　engaged。

I　resolved；　therefore；　to　make　the　Scottish　metropolis　my　regular　resting…place；　reserving　to　myself　to　take　occasionally　those　excursions　which；　spite　of　all　I　have　said　against　mail…coaches；　Mr。　Piper　has　rendered　so　easy。　　Friend　of　our　life　and　of　our　leisure；　he　secures　by　dispatch　against　loss　of　time；　and　by　the　best　of　coaches；　cattle；　and　steadiest　of　drivers；　against　hazard　of　limb；　and　wafts　us；　as　well　as　our　letters；　from　Edinburgh　to　Cape　Wrath　in　the　penning　of　a　paragraph。

When　my　mind　was　quite　made　up　to　make　Auld　Reekie　my　headquarters；　reserving　the　privilege　of　EXPLORING　in　all　directions；　I　began　to　explore　in　good　earnest　for　the　purpose　of　discovering　a　suitable　habitation。　　〃And　whare　trew　ye　I　gaed？〃　as　Sir　Pertinax　says。　　Not　to　George's　Squarenor　to　Charlotte　Squarenor　to　the　old　New　Townnor　to　the　new　New　Townnor　to　the　Calton　Hill。　　I　went　to　the　Canongate；　and　to　the　very　portion　of　the　Canongate　in　which　I　had　formerly　been　immured；　like　the　errant　knight；　prisoner　in　some　enchanted　castle；　where　spells　have　made　the　ambient　air　impervious　to　the　unhappy　captive；　although　the　organs　of　sight　encountered　no　obstacle　to　his　free　passage。

Why　I　should　have　thought　of　pitching　my　tent　here　I　cannot　tell。　Perhaps　it　was　to　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　freedom　where　I　had　so　long　endured　the　bitterness　of　restraint；　on　the　principle　of　the　officer　who；　after　he　had　retired　from　the　army；　ordered　his　servant　to　continue　to　call　him　at　the　hour　or　parade；　simply　that　he　might　have　the　pleasure　of　saying；　〃Dn　the　parade！〃　and　turning　to　the　other　side　to　enjoy　his　slumbers。　　Or　perhaps　I　expected　to　find　in　the　vicinity　some　little　old…fashioned　house；　having　somewhat　of　the　RUS　IN　URBE　which　I　was　ambitious　of　enjoying。　　Enough：　　I　went；　as　aforesaid；　to　the　Canongate。

I　stood　by　the　kennel；　of　which　I　have　formerly　spoken；　and；　my　mind　being　at　ease；　my　bodily　organs　were　more　delicate。　　I　was　more　sensible　than　heretofore；　that；　like　the　trade　of　Pompey　in　MEASURE　FOR　MEASURE；it　did　in　some　sortpah　an　ounce　of　civet；　good　apothecary！　　Turning　from　thence；　my　steps　naturally　directed　themselves　to　my　own　humble　apartment；　where　my　little　Highland　landlady；　as　dapper　and　as　tight　as　ever；　（for　old　women　wear　a　hundred　times　better　than　the　hard…wrought　seniors　of　the　masculine　sex）；　stood　at　the　door；　TEEDLING　to　herself　a　Highland　song　as　she　shook　a　table　napkin　over　the　fore…stair；　and　then　proceeded　to　fold　it　up　neatly　for　future　service。

〃How　do　you；　Janet？〃

〃Thank　ye；　good　sir；〃　answered　my　old　friend；　without　looking　at　me；　〃but　ye　might　as　weel　say　Mrs。　MacEvoy；　for　she　is　na　a'body's　Shanetumph。〃

〃You　must　be　MY　Janet；　though；　for　all　that。　　Have　you　forgot　me？　Do　you　not　remember　Chrystal　Croftangry？〃

The　light；　kind…hearted　creature　threw　her　napkin　into　the　open　door；　skipped　down　the　stair　like　a　fairy；　three　steps　at　once；　seized　me　by　the　handsboth　handsjumped　up；　and　actually　kissed　me。　　I　was　a　little　ashamed；　but　what　swain；　of　somewhere　inclining　to　sixty　could　resist　the　advances　of　a　fair　contemporary？　　So　we　allowed　the　full　degree　of　kindness　to　the　meetingHONI　SOIT　QUI　MAL　Y　PENSEand　then　Janet　entered　instantly　upon　business。　　〃An　ye'll　gae　in；　man；　and　see　your　auld　lodgings；　nae　doubt　and　Shanet　will　pay　ye　the　fifteen　shillings　of　change　that　ye　ran　away　without；　and　without　bidding　Shanet　good　day。　　But　never　mind〃　（nodding　good…humouredly）；　〃Shanet　saw　you　were　carried　for　the　time。〃

By　this　time　we　were　in　my　old　quarters；　and　Janet；　with　her　bottle　of　cordial　in　one　hand　and　the　glass　in　the　other；　had　forced　on　me　a　dram　of　usquebaugh；　distilled　with　saffron　and　other　herbs；　after　some　old…fashioned　Highland　receipt。　　Then　was　unfolded；　out　of　many　a　little　scrap　of　paper；　the　reserved　sum　of　fifteen　shillings；　which　Janet　had　treasured　for　twenty　years　and　upwards。

〃Here　they　are；〃　she　said；　in　honest　triumph；　〃just　the　same　I　was　holding　out　to　ye　when　ye　ran　as　if　ye　had　been　fey。　　Shanet　has　had　siller；　and　Shanet　has　wanted　siller；　mony　a　time　since　that。　　And　the　gauger　has　come；　and　the　factor　has　come；　and　the　butcher　and　bakerCot　bless　us　just　like　to　tear　poor　auld　Shanet　to　pieces；　but　she　took　good　care　of　Mr。　Croftangry's　fifteen　shillings。〃

〃But　what　if　I　had　never　come　back；　Janet？〃

〃Och；　if　Shanet　had　heard　you　were　dead；　she　would　hae　gien　it　to　the　poor　of　the　chapel；　to　pray　for　Mr。　Croftangry；〃　said　Janet；　crossing　herself；　for　she　was　a　Catholic；　〃You　maybe　do　not　think　it　would　do　you　cood；　but　the　blessing　of　the　poor　can　never　do　no　harm；〃

I　agreed　heartily　in　Janet's　conclusion；　and　as　to　have　desired　her　to　consider　the　hoard　as　her　own　property　would　have　been　an　indelicate　return　to　her　for　the　uprightness　of　her　conduct；　I　requested　her　to　dispose　of　it　as　she　had　proposed　to　do　in　the　event　of　my　deaththat　is；　if　she　knew　any　poor　people　of　merit　to　whom　it　might　be　useful。

〃Ower　mony　of　them；〃　raising　the　corner　of　her　checked　apron　to　her　eyes〃e'en　ower　mony　of　them；　Mr。　Croftangry。　　Och；　ay。　'There　is　the　puir　Highland　creatures　frae　Glenshee；　that　cam　down　for　the　harvest；　and　are　lying　wi'　the　feverfive　shillings　to　them；　and　half　a　crown　to　Bessie　MacEvoy；　whose　coodman；　puir　creature；　died　of　the　frost；　being　a　shairman；　for　a'　the　whisky　he　could　drink　to　keep　it　out　o'　his　stamoch；　and〃

But　she　suddenly　interrupted　the　bead…roll　of　her　proposed　charities；　and　assuming　a　very　sage　look；　and　primming　up　her　little　chattering　mouth；　she　went　on　in　a　different　tone〃But　och；　Mr。　Croftangry；　bethink　ye　whether　ye　will　not　need　a'　this　siller　yoursel'；　and　maybe　loo