chronicles of the canongate-第21章

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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　peculiar　vivacity　of　look　and　mannerthe　pointed　and　appropriate　action　with　which　she　accompanied　what　she　saidthe　use　of　the　gold　and　gemmed　TABATIERE；　or　rather；　I　should　say；　BONBONNIERE　（for　she　took　no　snuff；　and　the　little　box　contained　only　a　few　pieces　of　candled　angelica；　or　some　such　ladylike　sweetmeat）；　were　of　real　old…fashioned　Scottish　growth；　and　such　as　might　have　graced　the　tea…table　of　Susannah；　Countess　of　Eglinton；　the　patroness　of　Allan　Ramsay　＇See　Note　4。Countess　of　Eglinton。＇；　　or　of　the　Hon。　Mrs。　Colonel　Ogilvy；　who　was　another　mirror　by　whom　the　Maidens　of　Auld　Reekie　were　required　to　dress　themselves。　Although　well　acquainted　with　the　customs　of　other　countries；　her　manners　had　been　chiefly　formed　in　her　own；　at　a　time　when　great　folk　lived　within　little　space　and　when　the　distinguished　names　of　the　highest　society　gave　to　Edinburgh　the　ECLAT　which　we　now　endeavour　to　derive　from　the　unbounded　expense　and　extended　circle　of　our　pleasures。

I　was　more　confirmed　in　this　opinion　by　the　peculiarity　of　the　dialect　which　Mrs。　Baliol　used。　　It　was　Scottishdecidedly　Scottishoften　containing　phrases　and　words　little　used　in　the　present　day。　　But　then　her　tone　and　mode　of　pronunciation　were　as　different　from　the　usual　accent　of　the　ordinary　Scotch　PATOIS；　as　the　accent　of　St。　James's　is　from　that　of　Billingsgate。　　The　vowels　were　not　pronounced　much　broader　than　in　the　Italian　language；　and　there　was　none　of　the　disagreeable　drawl　which　is　so　offensive　to　southern　ears。　　In　short；　it　seemed　to　be　the　Scottish　as　spoken　by　the　ancient　Court　of　Scotland；　to　which　no　idea　of　vulgarity　could　be　attached；　and　the　lively　manners　and　gestures　with　which　it　was　accompanied　were　so　completely　in　accord　with　the　sound　of　the　voice　and　the　style　of　talking；　that　I　cannot　assign　them　a　different　origin。　　In　long　derivation；　perhaps　the　manner　of　the　Scottish　court　might　have　been　originally　formed　on　that　of　France；　to　which　it　had　certainly　some　affinity；　but　I　will　live　and　die　in　the　belief　that　those　of　Mrs。　Baliol；　as　pleasing　as　they　were　peculiar；　came　to　her　by　direct　descent　from　the　high　dames　who　anciently　adorned　with　their　presence　the　royal　halls　of　Holyrood。



CHAPTER　VII。

MRS。　BALIOL　ASSISTS　MR。　CROFTANGRY　IN　HIS　LITERARY　SPECULATIONS。

Such　as　I　have　described　Mrs。　Bethune　Baliol；　the　reader　will　easily　believe　that；　when　I　thought　of　the　miscellaneous　nature　of　my　work；　I　rested　upon　the　information　she　possessed；　and　her　communicative　disposition；　as　one　of　the　principal　supports　of　my　enterprise。　　Indeed；　she　by　no　means　disapproved　of　my　proposed　publication；　though　expressing　herself　very　doubtful　how　far　she　could　personally　assist　ita　doubt　which　might　be；　perhaps；　set　down　to　a　little　ladylike　coquetry；　which　required　to　be　sued　for　the　boon　she　was　not　unwilling　to　grant。　　Or；　perhaps；　the　good　old　lady；　conscious　that　her　unusual　term　of　years　must　soon　draw　to　a　close；　preferred　bequeathing　the　materials　in　the　shape　of　a　legacy；　to　subjecting　them　to　the　judgment　of　a　critical　public　during　her　lifetime。

Many　a　time　I　used；　in　our　conversations　of　the　Canongate；　to　resume　my　request　of　assistance；　from　a　sense　that　my　friend　was　the　most　valuable　depository　of　Scottish　traditions　that　was　probably　now　to　be　found。　　This　was　a　subject　on　which　my　mind　was　so　much　made　up　that；　when　I　heard　her　carry　her　description　of　manners　so　far　back　beyond　her　own　time；　and　describe　how　Fletcher　of　Salton　spoke；　how　Graham　of　Claverhouse　danced；　what　were　the　jewels　worn　by　the　famous　Duchess　of　Lauderdale；　and　how　she　came　by　them；　I　could　not　help　telling　her　I　thought　her　some　fairy；　who　cheated　us　by　retaining　the　appearance　of　a　mortal　of　our　own　day；　when；　in　fact；　she　had　witnessed　the　revolutions　of　centuries。　　She　was　much　diverted　when　I　required　her　to　take　some　solemn　oath　that　she　had　not　danced　at　the　balls　given　by　Mary　of　Este；　when　her　unhappy　husband　occupied　Holyrood　in　a　species　of　honourable　banishment；　＇The　Duke　of　York　afterwards　James　II。；　frequently　resided　in　Holyrood　House　when　his　religion　rendered　him　an　object　of　suspicion　to　the　English　Parliament。＇　or　asked　whether　she　could　not　recollect　Charles　the　Second　when　he　came　to　Scotland　in　1650；　and　did　not　possess　some　slight　recollections　of　the　bold　usurper　who　drove　him　beyond　the　Forth。

〃BEAU　COUSIN；〃　she　said；　laughing；　〃none　of　these　do　I　remember　personally；　but　you　must　know　there　has　been　wonderfully　little　change　on　my　natural　temper　from　youth　to　age。　　From　which　it　follows；　cousin；　that；　being　even　now　something　too　young　in　spirit　for　the　years　which　Time　has　marked　me　in　his　calendar；　I　was；　when　a　girl；　a　little　too　old　for　those　of　my　own　standing；　and　as　much　inclined　at　that　period　to　keep　the　society　of　elder　persons；　as　I　am　now　disposed　to　admit　the　company　of　gay　young　fellows　of　fifty　or　sixty　like　yourself；　rather　than　collect　about　me　all　the　octogenarians。　　Now；　although　I　do　not　actually　come　from　Elfland；　and　therefore　cannot　boast　any　personal　knowledge　of　the　great　personages　you　enquire　about；　yet　I　have　seen　and　heard　those　who　knew　them　well；　and　who　have　given　me　as　distinct　an　account　of　them　as　I　could　give　you　myself　of　the　Empress　Queen；　or　Frederick　of　Prussia；　and　I　will　frankly　add；〃　said　she；　laughing　and　offering　her　BONBONNIERE；　〃that　I　HAVE　heard　so　much　of　the　years　which　immediately　succeeded　the　Revolution；　that　I　sometimes　am　apt　to　confuse　the　vivid　descriptions　fixed　on　my　memory　by　the　frequent　and　animated　recitation　of　others；　for　things　which　I　myself　have　actually　witnessed。　　I　caught　myself　but　yesterday　describing　to　Lord　M　the　riding　of　the　last　Scottish　Parliament；　with　as　much　minuteness　as　if　I　had　seen　it；　as　my　mother　did；　from　the　balcony　in　front　of　Lord　Moray's　Lodging　in　the　Canongate。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　must　have　given　Lord　M　a　high　treat。〃

〃I　treated　him　to　a　hearty　laugh；　I　believe；〃　she　replied；　〃but　it　is　you；　you　vile　seducer　of　youth；　who　lead　me　into　such　follies。　　But　I　will　be　on　my　guard　against　my　own　weakness。　　I　do　not　well　know　if　the　Wandering　Jew　is　supposed　to　have　a　wife；　but　I　should　be　sorry　a　decent　middle…aged　Scottish　gentlewoman　should　be　suspected　of　identity　with　such　a　supernatural　person。〃

〃For　all　that；　I　must　torture　you　a　little　more；　MA　BELLE　COUSINE；　with　my　interrogatories；　for　how　shall　I　ever　turn　author　unless　on　the　strength　of　the　information　which　you　have　so　often　procured　me　on　the　ancient　state　of　manners？〃

〃Stay；　I　cannot　allow　you　to　give　your　points　of　enquiry　a　name　so　very　venerable；　if　I　am　expected　to　answer　them。　　Ancient　is　a　term　for　antediluvians。　　You　may　catechise　me　about　the　battle　of　Flodden；　or　ask　particulars　about　Bruce　and　Wallace；　under　pretext　of　curiosity　after　ancient　manners；　and　that　last　subject　would　wake　my　Baliol　blood；　you　know。〃

〃Well；　but；　Mrs。　Baliol；　suppose　we　settle　our　era：　　you　do　not　call　the　accession　of　James　the　Sixth　to　the　kingdom　of　Britain　very　ancient？〃

〃Umph！　　no；　cousin；　I　think　I　could　tell　you　more　of　that　than　folk　nowadays　remember。　　For　instance；　that　as　James　was　trooping　towards　England；　bag　and　baggage；　his　journey　was　stopped　near　Cockenzie　by　meeting　the　funeral　of　the　Earl　of　Winton；　the　old　and　faithful　servant　and　follower　of　his　ill…fated　mother；　poor　Mary！　　It　was　an　ill　omen　for　the　INFARE；　and　so　was　seen　of　it；　cousin。〃　　＇See　Note　5。Earl　of　Winton。＇

I　did　not　choose　to　prosecute　this　subject；　well　knowing　Mrs。　Bethune　Baliol　did　not　like　to　be　much　pressed　on　the　subject　of　the　Stewarts；　whose　misfortunes　she　pitied；　the　rather　that　her　father　had　espoused　their　cause。　　And　yet　her　attachment　to　the　present　dynasty　being　very　sincere；　and　even　ardent；　more　especially　as　her　family　had　served　his　late　Majesty　both　in　peace　and　war；　she　experienced　a　little　embarrassment　in　reconciling　her　opinions　respecting　the　exiled　family　with　those　she　entertained　for　the　present。　　In　fact；　like　many　an　old　Jacobite；　she　was　contented　to　be　somewhat　inconsistent　on　the　subject；　comforting　herself　that　NOW　everything　stood　as　it　ought　to　do；　and　that　there　was　no　use　in　looking　back　narrowly　on　the　right　or　wrong　of　the　matter　half　a　century　ago。

〃The　Highlands；〃　I　suggested；　〃should　furnish　you　with　ample　subjects　of　recollection。　　You　have　witnessed　the　complete　change　of　that　primeval　country；　and　have　seen　a　race　not　far　removed　from　the　earliest　period　of　society　melted　down　into　the　great　mass　of　civilization；　and　that　could　not　happen　without　incidents　striking　in　themselves；　and　curious　as　chapters　in　the　history　of　the　human　race。〃

〃It　is　very　true；〃　said　Mrs。　Baliol；　〃one　would　think　it　should　have　struck　the　observers　greatly；　and　yet　it　scarcely　did　so。　For　me；　I　was　no　Highlander　myself；　and　the　Highland　chiefs　of　old；　of　whom　I　certainly　knew　several；　had　little　in　their　manners　to　distinguish　them　from　the　Lowland　gentry；　when　they　mixed　in　society　in　Edinburgh；　and　assumed　the　Lowland　dress。　Their　peculiar　character　was　for　the　clansmen　at　home；　and　you　must　not　imagine　that　they　swaggered　about　in　plaids　and　broadswords　at　the　Cross；　or　came　to　the　Assembly　Rooms　in　bonnets　and　kilts。〃

〃I　remember；〃　said　I；　〃that　Swift；　in　his　Journal；　tells　Stella　he　had　dined　in　the　house　of　a　Scots　nobleman；　with　two　Highland　chiefs；　whom　he　had　found　as　well…bred　men　as　he　had　ever　met　with。〃　　＇Extract　of　Journal　to　Stella。〃I　dined　to…day　（12th　March　1712）　with　Lord　Treasurer　and　two　gentlemen　of　the　Highlands　of　Scotland；　yet　very　polite　men。〃　　SWIFT'S　WORKS；　VOL。　III。　p。7。　EDIN。　1824。＇

〃Very　likely；〃　said　my　friend。　　〃The　extremes　of　society　approach　much　more　closely　to　each　other　than　perhaps　the　Dean　of　Saint　Patrick's　expected。　　The　savage　is　always　to　a　certain　degree　polite。　　Besides；　going　always　armed；　and　having　a　very　punctilious　idea　of　their　own　gentility　and　consequence；　they　usually　behaved　to　each　other　and　to　the　Lowlanders　with　a　good　deal　of　formal　politeness；　which　sometimes　even　procured　them　the　character　of　insincerity。〃

〃Falsehood　belongs　to　an　early　period　of　society；　as　well　as　the　deferential　forms　which　we　style　politeness；〃　I　replied。　　〃A　child　does　not　see　the　least　moral　beauty　in　truth　until　he　has　been　flogged　half　a　dozen　times。　　It　is　so　easy；　and　apparently　so　natural；　to　deny　what　you　cannot　be　easily　convicted　of；　that　a　savage　as　well　as　a　child　lies　to　excuse　himself　almost　as　instinctively　as　he　raises　his　hand　to　protect　his　head。　　The　old　saying；　'Confess　and　be　hanged；'　carries　much　argument　in　it。　　I　observed　a　remark　the　other　day　in　old　Birrel。　　He　mentions　that　M'Gregor　of　Glenstrae　and　some　of　his　people　had　surrendered　themselves　to　one　of　the　Earls　of　Argyle；　upon　the　express　condition　that　they　should　be　conveyed　safe　into　England。　　The　Maccallum　Mhor　of　the　day　kept　the　word　of　promise；　but　it　was　only　to　the　ear。　　He　indeed　sent　his　captives　to　Berwick；　where　they　had　an　airing　on　the　other　side　of　the　Tweed；　but　it　was　under　the　custody　of　a　strong　guard；　by　whom　they　were　brought　back　to　Edinburgh