chronicles of the canongate-第25章

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form　her　son's　mind　to　a　similar　course　of　adventures。　　But　the　young　see　the　present　state　of　this　changeful　world　more　keenly　than　the　old。　　Much　attached　to　his　mother；　and　disposed　to　do　all　in　his　power　for　her　support；　Hamish　yet　perceived；　when　he　mixed　with　the　world；　that　the　trade　of　the　cateran　was　now　alike　dangerous　and　discreditable；　and　that　if　he　were　to　emulate　his　father's　progress；　it　must　be　in　some　other　line　of　warfare　more　consonant　to　the　opinions　of　the　present　day。

As　the　faculties　of　mind　and　body　began　to　expand；　he　became　more　sensible　of　the　precarious　nature　of　his　situation；　of　the　erroneous　views　of　his　mother；　and　her　ignorance　respecting　the　changes　of　the　society　with　which　she　mingled　so　little。　　In　visiting　friends　and　neighbours；　he　became　aware　of　the　extremely　reduced　scale　to　which　his　parent　was　limited；　and　learned　that　she　possessed　little　or　nothing　more　than　the　absolute　necessaries　of　life；　and　that　these　were　sometimes　on　the　point　of　failing。　　At　times　his　success　in　fishing　and　the　chase　was　able　to　add　something　to　her　subsistence；　but　he　saw　no　regular　means　of　contributing　to　her　support；　unless　by　stooping　to　servile　labour；　which；　if　he　himself　could　have　endured　it；　would；　he　knew；　have　been　like　a　death's…wound　to　the　pride　of　his　mother。

Elspat；　meanwhile；　saw　with　surprise　that　Hamish　Bean；　although　now　tall　and　fit　for　the　field；　showed　no　disposition　to　enter　on　his　father's　scene　of　action。　　There　was　something　of　the　mother　at　her　heart；　which　prevented　her　from　urging　him　in　plain　terms　to　take　the　field　as　a　cateran；　for　the　fear　occurred　of　the　perils　into　which　the　trade　must　conduct　him；　and　when　she　would　have　spoken　to　him　on　the　subject；　it　seemed　to　her　heated　imagination　as　if　the　ghost　of　her　husband　arose　between　them　in　his　bloody　tartans；　and　laying　his　finger　on　his　lips；　appeared　to　prohibit　the　topic。　　Yet　she　wondered　at　what　seemed　his　want　of　spirit；　sighed　as　she　saw　him　from　day　to　day　lounging　about　in　the　long…skirted　Lowland　coat　which　the　legislature　had　imposed　upon　the　Gael　instead　of　their　own　romantic　garb；　and　thought　how　much　nearer　he　would　have　resembled　her　husband　had　he　been　clad　in　the　belted　plaid　and　short　hose；　with　his　polished　arms　gleaming　at　his　side。

Besides　these　subjects　for　anxiety；　Elspat　had　others　arising　from　the　engrossing　impetuosity　of　her　temper。　　Her　love　of　MacTavish　Mhor　had　been　qualified　by　respect　and　sometimes　even　by　fear；　for　the　cateran　was　not　the　species　of　man　who　submits　to　female　government；　but　over　his　son　she　had　exerted；　at　first　during　childhood；　and　afterwards　in　early　youth；　an　imperious　authority；　which　gave　her　maternal　love　a　character　of　jealousy。　She　could　not　bear　when　Hamish；　with　advancing　life；　made　repeated　steps　towards　independence；　absented　himself　from　her　cottage　at　such　season　and　for　such　length　of　time　as　he　chose；　and　seemed　to　consider；　although　maintaining　towards　her　every　possible　degree　of　respect　and　kindness；　that　the　control　and　responsibility　of　his　actions　rested　on　himself　alone。　　This　would　have　been　of　little　consequence；　could　she　have　concealed　her　feelings　within　her　own　bosom；　but　the　ardour　and　impatience　of　her　passions　made　her　frequently　show　her　son　that　she　conceived　herself　neglected　and　ill…used。　　When　he　was　absent　for　any　length　of　time　from　her　cottage　without　giving　intimation　of　his　purpose；　her　resentment　on　his　return　used　to　be　so　unreasonable；　that　it　naturally　suggested　to　a　young　man　fond　of　independence；　and　desirous　to　amend　his　situation　in　the　world；　to　leave　her；　even　for　the　very　purpose　of　enabling　him　to　provide　for　the　parent　whose　egotistical　demands　on　his　filial　attention　tended　to　confine　him　to　a　desert；　in　which　both　were　starving　in　hopeless　and　helpless　indigence。

Upon　one　occasion；　the　son　having　been　guilty　of　some　independent　excursion；　by　which　the　mother　felt　herself　affronted　and　disobliged；　she　had　been　more　than　usually　violent　on　his　return；　and　awakened　in　Hamish　a　sense　of　displeasure；　which　clouded　his　brow　and　cheek。　　At　length；　as　she　persevered　in　her　unreasonable　resentment；　his　patience　became　exhausted；　and　taking　his　gun　from　the　chimney　corner；　and　muttering　to　himself　the　reply　which　his　respect　for　his　mother　prevented　him　from　speaking　aloud；　he　was　about　to　leave　the　hut　which　he　had　but　barely　entered。

〃Hamish；〃　said　his　mother；　〃are　you　again　about　to　leave　me？〃　But　Hamish　only　replied　by　looking　at　and　rubbing　the　lock　of　his　gun。

〃Ay；　rub　the　lock　of　your　gun；〃　said　his　parent　bitterly。　〃I　am　glad　you　have　courage　enough　to　fire　it？　　though　it　be　but　at　a　roe…deer。〃　　Hamish　started　at　this　undeserved　taunt；　and　cast　a　look　of　anger　at　her　in　reply。　　She　saw　that　she　had　found　the　means　of　giving　him　pain。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃look　fierce　as　you　will　at　an　old　woman；　and　your　mother；　it　would　be　long　ere　you　bent　your　brow　on　the　angry　countenance　of　a　bearded　man。〃

〃Be　silent；　mother；　or　speak　of　what　you　understand；〃　said　Hamish；　much　irritated；　〃and　that　is　of　the　distaff　and　the　spindle。〃

〃And　was　it　of　spindle　and　distaff　that　I　was　thinking　when　I　bore　you　away　on　my　back　through　the　fire　of　six　of　the　Saxon　soldiers；　and　you　a　wailing　child？　　I　tell　you；　Hamish；　I　know　a　hundredfold　more　of　swords　and　guns　than　ever　you　will；　and　you　will　never　learn　so　much　of　noble　war　by　yourself；　as　you　have　seen　when　you　were　wrapped　up　in　my　plaid。〃

〃You　are　determined；　at　least；　to　allow　me　no　peace　at　home；　mother；　but　this　shall　have　an　end；〃　said　Hamish；　as；　resuming　his　purpose　of　leaving　the　hut；　he　rose　and　went　towards　the　door。

〃Stay；　I　command　you；〃　said　his　mother〃stay！　　or　may　the　gun　you　carry　be　the　means　of　your　ruin！　　may　the　road　you　are　going　be　the　track　of　your　funeral！〃

〃What　makes　you　use　such　words；　mother？〃　　said　the　young　man；　turning　a　little　back；　〃they　are　not　good；　and　good　cannot　come　of　them。　　Farewell　just　now！　　we　are　too　angry　to　speak　together　farewell！　　It　will　be　long　ere　you　see　me　again。〃　　And　he　departed；　his　mother；　in　the　first　burst　of　her　impatience；　showering　after　him　her　maledictions；　and　in　the　next　invoking　them　on　her　own　head；　so　that　they　might　spare　her　son's。　　She　passed　that　day　and　the　next　in　all　the　vehemence　of　impotent　and　yet　unrestrained　passion；　now　entreating　Heaven；　and　such　powers　as　were　familiar　to　her　by　rude　tradition；　to　restore　her　dear　son；　〃the　calf　of　her　heart；〃　now　in　impatient　resentment；　meditating　with　what　bitter　terms　she　should　rebuke　his　filial　disobedience　upon　his　return；　and　now　studying　the　most　tender　language　to　attach　him　to　the　cottage；　which；　when　her　boy　was　present；　she　would　not；　in　the　rapture　of　her　affection；　have　exchanged　for　the　apartments　of　Taymouth　Castle。

Two　days　passed；　during　which；　neglecting　even　the　slender　means　of　supporting　nature　which　her　situation　afforded；　nothing　but　the　strength　of　a　frame　accustomed　to　hardships　and　privations　of　every　kind　could　have　kept　her　in　existence；　notwithstanding　the　anguish　of　her　mind　prevented　her　being　sensible　of　her　personal　weakness。　　Her　dwelling　at　this　period　was　the　same　cottage　near　which　I　had　found　her；　but　then　more　habitable　by　the　exertions　of　Hamish；　by　whom　it　had　been　in　a　great　measure　built　and　repaired。

It　was　on　the　third　day　after　her　son　had　disappeared；　as　she　sat　at　the　door　rocking　herself；　after　the　fashion　of　her　countrywomen　when　in　distress；　or　in　pain；　that　the　then　unwonted　circumstance　occurred　of　a　passenger　being　seen　on　the　highroad　above　the　cottage。　　She　cast　but　one　glance　at　him。　　He　was　on　horseback；　so　that　it　could　not　be　Hamish；　and　Elspat　cared　not　enough　for　any　other　being　on　earth　to　make　her　turn　her　eyes　towards　him　a　second　time。　　The　stranger；　however；　paused　opposite　to　her　cottage；　and　dismounting　from　his　pony；　led　it　down　the　steep　and　broken　path　which　conducted　to　her　door。

〃God　bless　you；　Elspat　MacTavish！〃　　She　looked　at　the　man　as　he　addressed　her　in　her　native　language；　with　the　displeased　air　of　one　whose　reverie　is　interrupted；　but　the　traveller　went　on　to　say；　〃I　bring　you　tidings　of　your　son　Hamish。〃　　At　once；　from　being　the　most　uninteresting　object；　in　respect　to　Elspat；　that　could　exist；　the　form　of　the　stranger　became　awful　in　her　eyes；　as　that　of　a　messenger　descended　from　heaven；　expressly　to　pronounce　upon　her　death　or　life。　　She　started　from　her　seat；　and　with　hands　convulsively　clasped　together；　and　held　up　to　Heaven；　eyes　fixed　on　the　stranger's　countenance；　and　person　stooping　forward　to　him；　she　looked　those　inquiries　which　her　faltering　tongue　could　not　articulate。　　〃Your　son　sends　you　his　dutiful　remembrance；　and　this；〃　said　the　messenger；　putting　into　Elspat's　hand　a　small　purse　containing　four　or　five　dollars。

〃He　is　gone！　　he　is　gone！〃　　exclaimed　Elspat；　〃he　has　sold　himself　to　be　the　servant　of　the　Saxons；　and　I　shall　never　more　behold　him！　　Tell　me；　Miles　MacPhadraickfor　now　I　know　youis　it　the　price　of　the　son's　blood　that　you　have　put　into　the　mother's　hand？〃

〃Now；　God　forbid！〃　　answered　MacPhadraick；　who　was　a　tacksman；　and　had　possession　of　a　considerable　tract　of　ground　under　his　chief；　a　proprietor　who　lived　about　twenty　miles　off〃God　forbid　I　should　do　wrong；　or　say　wrong；　to　you；　or　to　the　son　of　MacTavish　Mhor！　　I　swear　to　you　by　the　hand　of　my　chief　that　your　son　is　well；　and　will　soon　see　you；　and　the　rest　he　will　tell　you　himself。〃　　So　saying；　MacPhadraick　hastened　back　up　the　pathway；　gained　the　road；　mounted　his　pony；　and　rode　upon　his　way。



CHAPTER　III。

Elspat　MacTavish　remained　gazing　on　the　money　as　if　the　impress　of　the　coin　could　have　conveyed　information　how　it　was　procured。

〃I　love　not　this　MacPhadraick；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃It　was　his　race　of　whom　the　Bard　hath　spoken；　saying；　Fear　them　not　when　their　words　are　loud　as　the　winter's　wind；　but　fear　them　when　they　fall　on　you　like　the　sound　of　the　thrush's　song。　　And　yet　this　riddle　can　be　read　but　one　way：　　My　son　hath　taken　the　sword　to　win　that；　with　strength　like　a　man；　which　churls　would　keep　him　from　with　the　words　that　frighten　children。〃　　This　idea；　when　once　it　occurred　to　her；　seemed　the　more　reasonable；　that　MacPhadraick；　as　she　well　knew；　himself　a　cautious　man；　had　so　far　encouraged　her　husband's　practices　as　occasionally　to　buy　cattle　of　MacTavish；　although　he　must　have　well　known　how　they　were　come　by；　taking　care；　however；　that　the　transaction　was　so　made　as　to　be　accompanied　with　great　profit　and　absolute　safety。　Who　so　likely　as　MacPhadraick　to　indicate　to　a　young　cateran　the　glen　in　which　he　could　commence　his　perilous　trade　with　most　prospect　of　success？　　Who　so　likely　to　convert　his　booty　into　money？　　The　feelings　which　another　might　have　experienced　on　believing　that　an　only　son　had　rushed　forward　on　the　same　path　in　which　his　father　had　perished；　were　scarce　known　to　the　Highland　mothers　of　that　day。　　She　thought　of　the　death　of　MacTavish　Mhor　as　that　of　a　hero　who　had　fallen　in　his　proper　trade　of　war；　and　who　had　not　fallen　unavenged。　　She　feared　less　for　her　son's　life　than　for　his　dishonour。　　She　dreaded；　on　his　account；　the　subjection　to　strangers；　and　the　death…sleep　of　the　soul　which　is　brought　on　by　what　she　regarded　as