chronicles of the canongate-第17章

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〃But　och；　Mr。　Croftangry；　bethink　ye　whether　ye　will　not　need　a'　this　siller　yoursel'；　and　maybe　look　back　and　think　lang　for　ha'en　kiven　it　away；　whilk　is　a　creat　sin　to　forthink　a　wark　o'　charity；　and　also　is　unlucky；　and　moreover　is　not　the　thought　of　a　shentleman's　son　like　yoursel'；　dear。　　And　I　say　this；　that　ye　may　think　a　bit；　for　your　mother's　son　kens　that　ye　are　no　so　careful　as　you　should　be　of　the　gear；　and　I　hae　tauld　ye　of　it　before；　jewel。〃

I　assured　her　I　could　easily　spare　the　money；　without　risk　of　future　repentance；　and　she　went　on　to　infer　that　in　such　a　case　〃Mr。　Croftangry　had　grown　a　rich　man　in　foreign　parts；　and　was　free　of　his　troubles　with　messengers　and　sheriff…officers；　and　siclike　scum　of　the　earth；　and　Shanet　MacEvoy's　mother's　daughter　be　a　blithe　woman　to　hear　it。　　But　if　Mr。　Croftangry　was　in　trouble；　there　was　his　room；　and　his　ped；　and　Shanet　to　wait　on　him；　and　tak　payment　when　it　was　quite　convenient。〃

I　explained　to　Janet　my　situation；　in　which　she　expressed　unqualified　delight。　　I　then　proceeded　to　inquire　into　her　own　circumstances；　and　though　she　spoke　cheerfully　and　contentedly；　I　could　see　they　were　precarious。　　I　had　paid　more　than　was　due；　other　lodgers　fell　into　an　opposite　error；　and　forgot　to　pay　Janet　at　all。　　Then；　Janet　being　ignorant　of　all　indirect　modes　of　screwing　money　out　of　her　lodgers；　others　in　the　same　line　of　life；　who　were　sharper　than　the　poor；　simple　Highland　woman；　were　enabled　to　let　their　apartments　cheaper　in　appearance；　though　the　inmates　usually　found　them　twice　as　dear　in　the　long　run。

As　I　had　already　destined　my　old　landlady　to　be　my　house…keeper　and　governante；　knowing　her　honesty；　good…nature；　and；　although　a　Scotchwoman；　her　cleanliness　and　excellent　temper　（saving　the　short　and　hasty　expressions　of　anger　which　Highlanders　call　a　FUFF）；　I　now　proposed　the　plan　to　her　in　such　a　way　as　was　likely　to　make　it　most　acceptable。　　Very　acceptable　as　the　proposal　was；　as　I　could　plainly　see；　Janet；　however；　took　a　day　to　consider　upon　it；　and　her　reflections　against　our　next　meeting　had　suggested　only　one　objection；　which　was　singular　enough。

〃My　honour；〃　so　she　now　termed　me；　〃would　pe　for　biding　in　some　fine　street　apout　the　town。　　Now　Shanet　wad　ill　like　to　live　in　a　place　where　polish；　and　sheriffs；　and　bailiffs；　and　sie　thieves　and　trash　of　the　world；　could　tak　puir　shentlemen　by　the　throat；　just　because　they　wanted　a　wheen　dollars　in　the　sporran。　　She　had　lived　in　the　bonny　glen　of　Tomanthoulick。　　Cot；　an　ony　of　the　vermint　had　come　there；　her　father　wad　hae　wared　a　shot　on　them；　and　he　could　hit　a　buck　within　as　mony　measured　yards　as　e'er　a　man　of　his　clan；　And　the　place　here　was　so　quiet　frae　them；　they　durst　na　put　their　nose　ower　the　gutter。　　Shanet　owed　nobody　a　bodle；　but　she　couldna　pide　to　see　honest　folk　and　pretty　shentlemen　forced　away　to　prison　whether　they　would　or　no；　and　then；　if　Shanet　was　to　lay　her　tangs　ower　ane　of　the　ragamuffins'　heads；　it　would　be；　maybe；　that　the　law　would　gi'ed　a　hard　name。〃

One　thing　I　have　learned　in　lifenever　to　speak　sense　when　nonsense　will　answer　the　purpose　as　well。　　I　should　have　had　great　difficulty　to　convince　this　practical　and　disinterested　admirer　and　vindicator　of　liberty；　that　arrests　seldom　or　never　were　to　be　seen　in　the　streets　of　Edinburgh；　and　to　satisfy　her　of　their　justice　and　necessity　would　have　been　as　difficult　as　to　convert　her　to　the　Protestant　faith。　　I　therefore　assured　her　my　intention；　if　I　could　get　a　suitable　habitation；　was　to　remain　in　the　quarter　where　she　at　present　dwelt。　　Janet　gave　three　skips　on　the　floor；　and　uttered　as　many　short；　shrill　yells　of　joy。　Yet　doubt　almost　instantly　returned；　and　she　insisted　on　knowing　what　possible　reason　I　could　have　for　making　my　residence　where　few　lived；　save　those　whose　misfortunes　drove　them　thither。　　It　occurred　to　me　to　answer　her　by　recounting　the　legend　of　the　rise　of　my　family；　and　of　our　deriving　our　name　from　a　particular　place　near　Holyrood　Palace。　　This；　which　would　have　appeared　to　most　people　a　very　absurd　reason　for　choosing　a　residence；　was　entirely　satisfactory　to　Janet　MacEvoy。

〃Och；　nae　doubt！　　if　it　was　the　land　of　her　fathers；　there　was　nae　mair　to　be　said。　　Put　it　was　queer　that　her　family　estate　should　just　lie　at　the　town　tail；　and　covered　with　houses；　where　the　King's　cowsCot　bless　them；　hide　and　hornused　to　craze　upon。　It　was　strange　changes。〃　　She　mused　a　little；　and　then　added：　　〃Put　it　is　something　better　wi'　Croftangry　when　the　changes　is　frae　the　field　to　the　habited　place；　and　not　from　the　place　of　habitation　to　the　desert；　for　Shanet；　her　nainsell；　kent　a　glen　where　there　were　men　as　weel　as　there　may　be　in　Croftangry；　and　if　there　werena　altogether　sae　mony　of　them；　they　were　as　good　men　in　their　tartan　as　the　others　in　their　broadcloth。　　And　there　were　houses；　too；　and　if　they　were　not　biggit　with　stane　and　lime；　and　lofted　like　the　houses　at　Croftangry；　yet　they　served　the　purpose　of　them　that　lived　there；　and　mony　a　braw　bonnet；　and　mony　a　silk　snood　and　comely　white　curch；　would　come　out　to　gang　to　kirk　or　chapel　on　the　Lord's　day；　and　little　bairns　toddling　after。　　And　nowOch；　Och；　Ohellany；　Ohonari！　　the　glen　is　desolate；　and　the　braw　snoods　and　bonnets　are　gane；　and　the　Saxon's　house　stands　dull　and　lonely；　like　the　single　bare…breasted　rock　that　the　falcon　builds　onthe　falcon　that　drives　the　heath…bird　frae　the　glen。〃

Janet；　like　many　Highlanders；　was　full　of　imagination；　and；　when　melancholy　themes　came　upon　her；　expressed　herself　almost　poetically；　owing　to　the　genius　of　the　Celtic　language　in　which　she　thought；　and　in　which；　doubtless；　she　would　have　spoken；　had　I　understood　Gaelic。　　In　two　minutes　the　shade　of　gloom　and　regret　had　passed　from　her　good…humoured　features；　and　she　was　again　the　little；　busy；　prating；　important　old　woman；　undisputed　owner　of　one　flat　of　a　small　tenement　in　the　Abbey　Yard；　and　about　to　be　promoted　to　be　housekeeper　to　an　elderly　bachelor　gentleman；　Chrystal　Croftangry；　Esq。

It　was　not　long　before　Janet's　local　researches　found　out　exactly　the　sort　of　place　I　wanted；　and　there　we　settled。　　Janet　was　afraid　I　would　not　be　satisfied；　because　it　is　not　exactly　part　of　Croftangry；　but　I　stopped　her　doubts　by　assuring　her　it　had　been　part　and　pendicle　thereof　in　my　forefather'　time；　which　passed　very　well。

I　do　not　intend　to　possess　any　one　with　an　exact　knowledge　of　my　lodging；　though；　as　Bobadil　says；　〃I　care　not　who　knows　it；　since　the　cabin　is　convenient。〃　　But　I　may　state　in　general；　that　it　is　a　house　〃within　itself；〃　or；　according　to　a　newer　phraseology　in　advertisements；　SELF…CONTAINED；　has　a　garden　of　near　half　an　acre；　and　a　patch　of　ground　with　trees　in　front。　　It　boasts　five　rooms　and　servants'　apartmentslooks　in　front　upon　the　palace；　and　from　behind　towards　the　hill　and　crags　of　the　King's　Park。　Fortunately；　the　place　had　a　name；　which；　with　a　little　improvement；　served　to　countenance　the　legend　which　I　had　imposed　on　Janet；　and　would　not；　perhaps　have　been　sorry　if　I　had　been　able　to　impose　on　myself。　　It　was　called　Littlecroft；　we　have　dubbed　it　Little　Croftangry；　and　the　men　of　letters　belonging　to　the　Post　Office　have　sanctioned　the　change；　and　deliver　letters　so　addressed。　　Thus　I　am　to　all　intents　and　purposes　Chrystal　Croftangry　of　that　Ilk。

My　establishment　consists　of　Janet；　an　under　maid…servant；　and　a　Highland　wench　for　Janet　to　exercise　her　Gaelic　upon；　with　a　handy　lad　who　can　lay　the　cloth；　and　take　care；　besides；　of　a　pony；　on　which　I　find　my　way　to　Portobello　sands；　especially　when　the　cavalry　have　a　drill；　for；　like　an　old　fool　as　I　am；　I　have　not　altogether　become　indifferent　to　the　tramp　of　horses　and　the　flash　of　weapons；　of　which；　though　no　professional　soldier；　it　has　been　my　fate　to　see　something　in　my　youth。　　For　wet　mornings　I　have　my　book；　is　it　fine　weather？　　I　visit；　or　I　wander　on　the　Crags；　as　the　humour　dictates。　　My　dinner　is　indeed　solitary；　yet　not　quite　so　neither；　for　though　Andrew　waits；　Janetor；　as　she　is　to　all　the　world　but　her　master　and　certain　old　Highland　gossips；　Mrs。　MacEvoyattends；　bustles　about；　and　desires　to　see　everything　is　in　first…rate　order；　and　to　tell　me；　Cot　pless　us；　the　wonderful　news　of　the　palace　for　the　day。　　When　the　cloth　is　removed；　and　I　light　my　cigar；　and　begin　to　husband　a　pint　of　port；　or　a　glass　of　old　whisky　and　water；　it　is　the　rule　of　the　house　that　Janet　takes　a　chair　at　some　distance；　and　nods　or　works　her　stocking；　as　she　may　be　disposedready　to　speak；　if　I　am　in　the　talking　humour；　and　sitting　quiet　as　a　mouse　if　I　am　rather　inclined　to　study　a　book　or　the　newspaper。　　At　six　precisely　she　makes　my　tea；　and　leaves　me　to　drink　it；　and　then　occurs　an　interval　of　time　which　most　old　bachelors　find　heavy　on　their　hands。　　The　theatre　is　a　good　occasional　resource；　especially　if　Will　Murray　acts；　or　a　bright　star　of　eminence　shines　forth；　but　it　is　distant；　and　so　are　one　or　two　public　societies　to　which　I　belong。　　Besides；　these　evening　walks　are　all　incompatible　with　the　elbow…chair　feeling；　which　desires　some　employment　that　may　divert　the　mind　without　fatiguing　the　body。

Under　the　influence　of　these　impressions；　I　have　sometimes　thought　of　this　literary　undertaking。　　I　must　have　been　the　Bonassus　himself　to　have　mistaken　myself　for　a　genius；　yet　I　have　leisure　and　reflections　like　my　neighbours。　　I　am　a　borderer；　also；　between　two　generations；　and　can　point　out　more；　perhaps；　than　others　of　those　fading　traces　of　antiquity　which　are　daily　vanishing；　and　I　know　many　a　modern　instance　and　many　an　old　tradition；　and　therefore　I　ask

　　〃What　ails　me；　I　may　not　as　well　as　they　　　　Rake　up　some　threadbare　tales；　that　mouldering　lay　　　　In　chimney　corners；　wont　by　Christmas　fires　　　　To　read　and　rock　to　sleep　our　ancient　sires？　　　　No　man　his　threshold　better　knows；　than　I　　　　Brute's　first　arrival　and　first　victory；　　　　Saint　George's　sorrel　and　his　cross　of　blood；　　　　Arthur's　round　board　and　Caledonian　wood。〃

No　shop　is　so　easily　set　up　as　an　antiquary's。　　Like　those　of　the　lowest　order　of　pawnbrokers；　a　commodity　of　rusty　iron；　a　bay　or　two　of　hobnails；　a　few　odd　shoe…buckles；　cashiered　kail…pots；　and　fire…irons　declared　incapable　of　service；　are　quite　sufficient　to　set　him　up。　　If　he　add　a　sheaf　or　two　of　penny　ballads　and　broadsides；　he　is　a　great　manan　extensive　trader。　　And　then；　like　the　pawnbrokers　aforesaid；　if　the　author　understands　a　little　legerdemain；　he　may；　by　dint　of　a　little　picking　and　stealing；　make　the　inside　of　his　shop　a　great　deal　richer　than　the　out；　and　be　able　to　show　you　things　which　cause　those　who　do　not　understand　the　antiquarian　trick　of　clean　conveyance　to　wonder　how　the　devil　he　came　by　them。

It　may　be　said　that　antiquarian　articles　interest　but　few　customers；　and　that　we　may　bawl　ourselves　as　rusty　as　the　wares　we　deal　in　without　any　one　asking；　the　price　of　our　merchandise。　But　I　do　not　rest　my　hopes　upon　this　department　of　my　labours　only。　　I　propose　also　to　have　a　corresponding　shop　for　Sentiment；　and　Dialogues；　and　Disquisition；　which　may　captivate　the　fancy　of　those　who　have　no　relish；　as　the　established　phrase　goes；　for　pure　antiquitya　sort　of　greengrocer's　stall　erected　in　front　of　my　ironmongery　wares；　garlanding　the　rusty　memor