chronicles of the canongate-第20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！


er　Mrs。　Martha's　own　special　dressing…room。　　This　was　a　charming　apartment；　of　which　it　would　be　difficult　to　describe　the　form；　it　had　so　many　recesses　which　were　filled　up　with　shelves　of　ebony　and　cabinets　of　japan　and　ormolusome　for　holding　books；　of　which　Mrs。　Martha　had　an　admirable　collection；　some　for　a　display　of　ornamental　china；　others　for　shells　and　similar　curiosities。　　In　a　little　niche；　half　screened　by　a　curtain　of　crimson　silk；　was　disposed　a　suit　of　tilting　armour　of　bright　steel　inlaid　with　silver；　which　had　been　worn　on　some　memorable　occasion　by　Sir　Bernard　Bethune；　already　mentioned；　while　over　the　canopy　of　the　niche　hung　the　broadsword　with　which　her　father　had　attempted　to　change　the　fortunes　of　Britain　in　1715；　and　the　spontoon　which　her　elder　brother　bore　when　he　was　leading　on　a　company　of　the　Black　Watch　at　Fontenoy。　　＇The　well…　known　original　designation　of　the　gallant　42nd　Regiment。　　Being　the　first　corps　raised　for　the　royal　service　in　the　Highlands；　and　allowed　to　retain　their　national　garb；　they　were　thus　named　from　the　contrast　which　their　dark　tartans　furnished　to　the　scarlet　and　white　of　the　other　regiments。＇

There　were　some　Italian　and　Flemish　pictures　of　admitted　authenticity；　a　few　genuine　bronzes；　and　other　objects　of　curiosity；　which　her　brothers　or　herself　had　picked　up　while　abroad。　　In　short；　it　was　a　place　where　the　idle　were　tempted　to　become　studious；　the　studious　to　grow　idle　where　the　grave　might　find　matter　to　make　them　gay；　and　the　gay　subjects　for　gravity。

That　it　might　maintain　some　title　to　its　name；　I　must　not　forget　to　say　that　the　lady's　dressing…room　exhibited　a　superb　mirror；　framed　in　silver　filigree　work；　a　beautiful　toilette；　the　cover　of　which　was　of　Flanders　lace；　and　a　set　of　boxes　corresponding　in　materials　and　work　to　the　frame　of　the　mirror。

This　dressing　apparatus；　however；　was　mere　matter　of　parade。　Mrs。　Martha　Bethune　Baliol　always　went　through　the　actual　duties　of　the　toilette　in　an　inner　apartment；　which　corresponded　with　her　sleeping…room　by　a　small　detached　staircase。　　There　were；　I　believe；　more　than　one　of　those　TURNPIKE　STAIRS；　as　they　were　called；　about　the　house；　by　which　the　public　rooms；　all　of　which　entered　through　each　other；　were　accommodated　with　separate　and　independent　modes　of　access。　　In　the　little　boudoir　we　have　described；　Mrs。　Martha　Baliol　had　her　choicest　meetings。　　She　kept　early　hours；　and　if　you　went　in　the　morning；　you　must　not　reckon　that　space　of　day　as　extending　beyond　three　o'clock；　or　four　at　the　utmost。　　These　vigilant　habits　were　attended　with　some　restraint　on　her　visitors；　but　they　were　indemnified　by　your　always　finding　the　best　society　and　the　best　information　which　were　to　be　had　for　the　day　in　the　Scottish　capital。　　Without　at　all　affecting　the　blue　stocking；　she　liked　books。　　They　amused　her；　and　if　the　authors　were　persons　of　character；　she　thought　she　owed　them　a　debt　of　civility；　which　she　loved　to　discharge　by　personal　kindness。　　When　she　gave　a　dinner　to　a　small　party；　which　she　did　now　and　then；　she　had　the　good　nature　to　look　for；　and　the　good　luck　to　discover；　what　sort　of　people　suited　each　other　best；　and　chose　her　company　as　Duke　Theseus　did　his　hounds；

　　〃Matched　in　mouth　like　bells；　　　　Each　under　each；〃　　　　　　　　　　＇Shakespeare's　Midsummer　Night's　Dream；　Act　IV。　Sc。　I。＇

so　that　every　guest　could　take　his　part　in　the　cry；　instead　of　one　mighty　Tom　of　a　fellow；　like　Dr。　Johnson；　silencing　all　besides　by　the　tremendous　depth　of　his　diapason。　　On　such　occasions　she　afforded　CHERE　EXQUISE；　and　every　now　and　then　there　was　some　dish　of　French；　or　even　Scottish　derivation；　which；　as　well　as　the　numerous　assortment　of　VINS　EXTRAORDINAIRES　produced　by　Mr。　Beauffet；　gave　a　sort　of　antique　and　foreign　air　to　the　entertainment；　which　rendered　it　more　interesting。

It　was　a　great　thing　to　be　asked　to　such　parties；　and　not　less　so　to　be　invited　to　the　early　CONVERSAZIONE；　which；　in　spite　of　fashion；　by　dint　of　the　best　coffee；　the　finest　tea；　and　CHASSE　CAFE　that　would　have　called　the　dead　to　life；　she　contrived　now　and　then　to　assemble　in　her　saloon　already　mentioned；　at　the　unnatural　hour　of　eight　in　the　evening。　　At　such　time　the　cheerful　old　lady　seemed　to　enjoy　herself　so　much　in　the　happiness　of　her　guests　that　they　exerted　themselves　in　turn　to　prolong　her　amusement　and　their　own；　and　a　certain　charm　was　excited　around；　seldom　to　be　met　with　in　parties　of　pleasure；　and　which　was　founded　on　the　general　desire　of　every　one　present　to　contribute　something　to　the　common　amusement。

But　although　it　was　a　great　privilege　to　be　admitted　to　wait　on　my　excellent　friend　in　the　morning；　or　be　invited　to　her　dinner　or　evening　parties；　I　prized　still　higher　the　right　which　I　had　acquired；　by　old　acquaintance；　of　visiting　Baliol's　Lodging　upon　the　chance　of　finding　its　venerable　inhabitant　preparing　for　tea；　just　about　six　o'clock　in　the　evening。　　It　was　only　to　two　or　three　old　friends　that　she　permitted　this　freedom；　nor　was　this　sort　of　chance…party　ever　allowed　to　extend　itself　beyond　five　in　number。　　The　answer　to　those　who　came　later　announced　that　the　company　was　filled　up　for　the　evening；　which　had　the　double　effect　of　making　those　who　waited　on　Mrs。　Bethune　Baliol　in　this　unceremonious　manner　punctual　in　observing　her　hour；　and　of　adding　the　zest　of　a　little　difficulty　to　the　enjoyment　of　the　party。

It　more　frequently　happened　that　only　one　or　two　persons　partook　of　this　refreshment　on　the　same　evening；　or；　supposing　the　case　of　a　single　gentleman；　Mrs。　Martha；　though　she　did　not　hesitate　to　admit　him　to　her　boudoir；　after　the　privilege　of　the　French　and　the　old　Scottish　school；　took　care；　as　she　used　to　say；　to　prescribe　all　possible　propriety；　by　commanding　the　attendance　of　her　principal　female　attendant；　Mrs。　Alice　Lambskin；　who　might；　from　the　gravity　and　dignity　of　her　appearance；　have　sufficed　to　matronize　a　whole　boarding…school；　instead　of　one　maiden　lady　of　eighty　and　upwards。　　As　the　weather　permitted；　Mrs。　Alice　sat　duly　remote　from　the　company　in　a　FAUTEUIL　behind　the　projecting　chimney…piece；　or　in　the　embrasure　of　a　window；　and　prosecuted　in　Carthusian　silence；　with　indefatigable　zeal；　a　piece　of　embroidery；　which　seemed　no　bad　emblem　of　eternity。

But　I　have　neglected　all　this　while　to　introduce　my　friend　herself　to　the　readerat　least　so　far　as　words　can　convey　the　peculiarities　by　which　her　appearance　and　conversation　were　distinguished。

A　little　woman；　with　ordinary　features　and　an　ordinary　form；　and　hair　which　in　youth　had　no　decided　colour；　we　may　believe　Mrs。　Martha　when　she　said　of　herself　that　she　was　never　remarkable　for　personal　charms；　a　modest　admission；　which　was　readily　confirmed　by　certain　old　ladies；　her　contemporaries；　who；　whatever　might　have　been　the　youthful　advantages　which　they　more　than　hinted　had　been　formerly　their　own　share；　were　now　in　personal　appearance；　as　well　as　in　everything　else；　far　inferior　to　my　accomplished　friend。　　Mrs。　Martha's　features　had　been　of　a　kind　which　might　be　said　to　wear　well；　their　irregularity　was　now　of　little　consequence；　animated；　as　they　were；　by　the　vivacity　of　her　conversation。　　Her　teeth　were　excellent；　and　her　eyes；　although　inclining　to　grey；　were　lively；　laughing；　and　undimmed　by　time。　A　slight　shade　of　complexion；　more　brilliant　than　her　years　promised；　subjected　my　friend　amongst　strangers　to　the　suspicion　of　having　stretched　her　foreign　habits　as　far　as　the　prudent　touch　of　the　rouge。　　But　it　was　a　calumny；　for　when　telling　or　listening　to　an　interesting　and　affecting　story；　I　have　seen　her　colour　come　and　go　as　if　it　played　on　the　cheek　of　eighteen。

Her　hair；　whatever　its　former　deficiencies　was　now　the　most　beautiful　white　that　time　could　bleach；　and　was　disposed　with　some　degree　of　pretension；　though　in　the　simplest　manner　possible；　so　as　to　appear　neatly　smoothed　under　a　cap　of　Flanders　lace；　of　an　old…fashioned　but；　as　I　thought；　of　a　very　handsome　form；　which　undoubtedly　has　a　name；　and　I　would　endeavour　to　recur　to　it；　if　I　thought　it　would　make　my　description　a　bit　more　intelligible。　　I　think　I　have　heard　her　say　these　favourite　caps　had　been　her　mother's；　and　had　come　in　fashion　with　a　peculiar　kind　of　wig　used　by　the　gentlemen　about　the　time　of　the　battle　of　Ramillies。　　The　rest　of　her　dress　was　always　rather　costly　and　distinguished；　especially　in　the　evening。　　A　silk　or　satin　gown　of　some　colour　becoming　her　age；　and　of　a　form　which；　though　complying　to　a　certain　degree　with　the　present　fashion；　had　always　a　reference　to　some　more　distant　period；　was　garnished　with　triple　ruffles。　　Her　shoes　had　diamond　buckles；　and　were　raised　a　little　at　heel；　an　advantage　which；　possessed　in　her　youth；　she　alleged　her　size　would　not　permit　her　to　forego　in　her　old　age。　　She　always　wore　rings；　bracelets；　and　other　ornaments　of　value；　either　for　the　materials　or　the　workmanship；　nay；　perhaps　she　was　a　little　profuse　in　this　species　of　display。　　But　she　wore　them　as　subordinate　matters；　to　which　the　habits　of　being　constantly　in　high　life　rendered　her　indifferent；　she　wore　them　because　her　rank　required　it；　and　thought　no　more　of　them　as　articles　of　finery　than　a　gentleman　dressed　for　dinner　thinks　of　his　clean　linen　and　well…brushed　coat；　the　consciousness　of　which　embarrasses　the　rustic　beau　on　a　Sunday。

Now　and　then；　however；　if　a　gem　or　ornament　chanced　to　be　noticed　for　its　beauty　or　singularity；　the　observation　usually　led　the　way　to　an　entertaining　account　of　the　manner　in　which　it　had　been　acquired；　or　the　person　from　whom　it　had　descended　to　its　present　possessor。　　On　such　and　similar　occasions　my　old　friend　spoke　willingly；　which　is　not　uncommon；　but　she　also；　which　is　more　rare；　spoke　remarkably　well；　and　had　in　her　little　narratives　concerning　foreign　parts　or　former　days；　which　formed　an　interesting　part　of　her　conversation；　the　singular　art　of　dismissing　all　the　usual　protracted　tautology　respecting　time；　place；　and　circumstances　which　is　apt　to　settle　like　a　mist　upon　the　cold　and　languid　tales　of　age；　and　at　the　same　time　of　bringing　forward；　dwelling　upon；　and　illustrating　those　incidents　and　characters　which　give　point　and　interest　to　the　story。

She　had；　as　we　have　hinted；　travelled　a　good　deal　in　foreign　countries；　for　a　brother；　to　whom　she　was　much　attached；　had　been　sent　upon　various　missions　of　national　importance　to　the　Continent；　and　she　had　more　than　once　embraced　the　opportunity　of　accompanying　him。　　This　furnished　a　great　addition　to　the　information　which　she　could　supply；　especially　during　the　last　war；　when　the　Continent　was　for　so　many　years　hermetically　sealed　against　the　English　nation。　　But；　besides；　Mrs。　Bethune　Baliol　visited　different　countries；　not　in　the　modern　fashion；　when　English　travel　in　caravans　together；　and　see　in　France　and　Italy　little　besides　the　same　society　which　they　might　have　enjoyed　at　home。　　On　the　contrary；　she　mingled　when　abroad　with　the　natives　of　those　countries　she　visited；　and　enjoyed　at　once　the　advantage　of　their　society；　and　the　pleasure　of　comparing　it　with　that　of　Britain。

In　the　course　of　her　becoming　habituated　with　foreign　manners；　Mrs。　Bethune　Baliol　had；　perhaps；　acquired　some　slight　tincture　of　them　herself。　　Yet　I　was　always　persuaded　that　the　pecu