chronicles of the canongate-第31章

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She　dashed　from　the　hut　like　a　lapwing；　and　perhaps　for　the　moment　actually　entertained　the　purpose　which　she　expressed；　of　parting　with　her　son　for　ever。　　A　fearful　sight　she　would　have　been　that　evening　to　any　who　might　have　met　her　wandering　through　the　wilderness　like　a　restless　spirit；　and　speaking　to　herself　in　language　which　will　endure　no　translation。　　She　rambled　for　hours；　seeking　rather　than　shunning　the　most　dangerous　paths。　The　precarious　track　through　the　morass；　the　dizzy　path　along　the　edge　of　the　precipice　or　by　the　banks　of　the　gulfing　river；　were　the　roads　which；　far　from　avoiding；　she　sought　with　eagerness；　and　traversed　with　reckless　haste。　　But　the　courage　arising　from　despair　was　the　means　of　saving　the　life　which　（though　deliberate　suicide　was　rarely　practised　in　the　Highlands）　she　was　perhaps　desirous　of　terminating。　　Her　step　on　the　verge　of　the　precipice　was　firm　as　that　of　the　wild　goat。　　Her　eye；　in　that　state　of　excitation；　was　so　keen　as　to　discern；　even　amid　darkness；　the　perils　which　noon　would　not　have　enabled　a　stranger　to　avoid。

Elspat's　course　was　not　directly　forward；　else　she　had　soon　been　far　from　the　bothy　in　which　she　had　left　her　son。　　It　was　circuitous；　for　that　hut　was　the　centre　to　which　her　heartstrings　were　chained；　and　though　she　wandered　around　it；　she　felt　it　impossible　to　leave　the　vicinity。　　With　the　first　beams　of　morning　she　returned　to　the　hut。　　Awhile　she　paused　at　the　wattled　door；　as　if　ashamed　that　lingering　fondness　should　have　brought　her　back　to　the　spot　which　she　had　left　with　the　purpose　of　never　returning；　but　there　was　yet　more　of　fear　and　anxiety　in　her　hesitationof　anxiety；　lest　her　fair…haired　son　had　suffered　from　the　effects　of　her　potionof　fear；　lest　his　enemies　had　come　upon　him　in　the　night。　　She　opened　the　door　of　the　hut　gently；　and　entered　with　noiseless　step。　　Exhausted　with　his　sorrow　and　anxiety；　and　not　entirely　relieved　perhaps　from　the　influence　of　the　powerful　opiate；　Hamish　Bean　again　slept　the　stern；　sound　sleep　by　which　the　Indians　are　said　to　be　overcome　during　the　interval　of　their　torments。　　His　mother　was　scarcely　sure　that　she　actually　discerned　his　form　on　the　bed；　scarce　certain　that　her　ear　caught　the　sound　of　his　breathing。　　With　a　throbbing　heart；　Elspat　went　to　the　fireplace　in　the　centre　of　the　hut；　where　slumbered；　covered　with　a　piece　of　turf；　the　glimmering　embers　of　the　fire；　never　extinguished　on　a　Scottish　hearth　until　the　indwellers　leave　the　mansion　for　ever。

〃Feeble　greishogh；〃　＇Greishogh；　a　glowing　ember。＇　she　said；　as　she　lighted；　by　the　help　of　a　match；　a　splinter　of　bog　pine　which　was　to　serve　the　place　of　a　candle〃weak　greishogh；　soon　shalt　thou　be　put　out　for　ever；　and　may　Heaven　grant　that　the　life　of　Elspat　MacTavish　have　no　longer　duration　than　thine！〃

While　she　spoke　she　raised　the　blazing　light　towards　the　bed；　on　which　still　lay　the　prostrate　limbs　of　her　son；　in　a　posture　that　left　it　doubtful　whether　he　slept　or　swooned。　　As　she　advanced　towards　him；　the　light　flashed　upon　his　eyeshe　started　up　in　an　instant；　made　a　stride　forward　with　his　naked　dirk　in　his　hand；　like　a　man　armed　to　meet　a　mortal　enemy；　and　exclaimed；　〃Stand　off！on　thy　life；　stand　off！〃

〃It　is　the　word　and　the　action　of　my　husband；〃　answered　Elspat；　〃and　I　know　by　his　speech　and　his　step　the　son　of　MacTavish　Mhor。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish；　relapsing　from　his　tone　of　desperate　firmness　into　one　of　melancholy　expostulation〃oh；　dearest　mother；　wherefore　have　you　returned　hither？〃

〃Ask　why　the　hind　comes　back　to　the　fawn；〃　said　Elspat；　〃why　the　cat　of　the　mountain　returns　to　her　lodge　and　her　young。　　Know　you；　Hamish；　that　the　heart　of　the　mother　only　lives　in　the　bosom　of　the　child。〃

〃Then　will　it　soon　cease　to　throb；〃　said　Hamish；　〃unless　it　can　beat　within　a　bosom　that　lies　beneath　the　turf。　　Mother；　do　not　blame　me。　　If　I　weep；　it　is　not　for　myself　but　for　you；　for　my　sufferings　will　soon　be　over；　but　yoursoh；　who　but　Heaven　shall　set　a　boundary　to　them？〃

Elspat　shuddered　and　stepped　backward；　but　almost　instantly　resumed　her　firm　and　upright　position　and　her　dauntless　bearing。

〃I　thought　thou　wert　a　man　but　even　now；〃　she　said；　〃and　thou　art　again　a　child。　　Hearken　to　me　yet；　and　let　us　leave　this　place　together。　　Have　I　done　thee　wrong　or　injury？　　if　so；　yet　do　not　avenge　it　so　cruelly。　　See；　Elspat　MacTavish；　who　never　kneeled　before　even　to　a　priest；　falls　prostrate　before　her　own　son；　and　craves　his　forgiveness。〃　　And　at　once　she　threw　herself　on　her　knees　before　the　young　man；　seized　on　his　hand；　and　kissing　it　an　hundred　times；　repeated　as　often；　in　heart…breaking　accents；　the　most　earnest　entreaties　for　forgiveness。　　〃Pardon；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃pardon；　for　the　sake　of　your　father's　ashespardon；　for　the　sake　of　the　pain　with　which　I　bore　thee；　the　care　with　which　I　nurtured　thee！Hear　it；　Heaven；　and　behold　it；　Earth　the　mother　asks　pardon　of　her　child；　and　she　is　refused！〃

It　was　in　vain　that　Hamish　endeavoured　to　stem　this　tide　of　passion；　by　assuring　his　mother；　with　the　most　solemn　asseverations；　that　he　forgave　entirely　the　fatal　deceit　which　she　had　practised　upon　him。

〃Empty　words；〃　she　said；　〃idle　protestations；　which　are　but　used　to　hide　the　obduracy　of　your　resentment。　　Would　you　have　me　believe　you；　then　leave　the　hut　this　instant；　and　retire　from　a　country　which　every　hour　renders　more　dangerous。　　Do　this；　and　I　may　think　you　have　forgiven　me；　refuse　it；　and　again　I　call　on　moon　and　stars；　heaven　and　earth；　to　witness　the　unrelenting　resentment　with　which　you　prosecute　your　mother　for　a　fault；　which；　if　it　be　one；　arose　out　of　love　to　you。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish；　〃on　this　subject　you　move　me　not。　　I　will　fly　before　no　man。　　If　Barcaldine　should　send　every　Gael　that　is　under　his　banner；　here；　and　in　this　place；　will　I　abide　them；　and　when　you　bid　me　fly；　you　may　as　well　command　yonder　mountain　to　be　loosened　from　its　foundations。　　Had　I　been　sure　of　the　road　by　which　they　are　coming　hither；　I　had　spared　them　the　pains　of　seeking　me；　but　I　might　go　by　the　mountain；　while　they　perchance　came　by　the　lake。　　Here　I　will　abide　my　fate；　nor　is　there　in　Scotland　a　voice　of　power　enough　to　bid　me　stir　from　hence；　and　be　obeyed。〃

〃Here；　then；　I　also　stay；〃　said　Elspat；　rising　up　and　speaking　with　assumed　composure。　　〃I　have　seen　my　husband's　deathmy　eyelids　shall　not　grieve　to　look　on　the　fall　of　my　son。　　But　MacTavish　Mhor　died　as　became　the　brave；　with　his　good　sword　in　his　right　hand；　my　son　will　perish　like　the　bullock　that　is　driven　to　the　shambles　by　the　Saxon　owner　who　had　bought　him　for　a　price。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　the　unhappy　young　man；　〃you　have　taken　my　life。　To　that　you　have　a　right；　for　you　gave　it；　but　touch　not　my　honour！　　It　came　to　me　from　a　brave　train　of　ancestors；　and　should　be　sullied　neither　by　man's　deed　nor　woman's　speech。　　What　I　shall　do；　perhaps　I　myself　yet　know　not；　but　tempt　me　no　farther　by　reproachful　wordsyou　have　already　made　wounds　more　than　you　can　ever　heal。〃

〃It　is　well；　my　son；〃　said　Elspat；　in　reply。　　〃Expect　neither　farther　complaint　nor　remonstrance　from　me；　but　let　us　be　silent；　and　wait　the　chance　which　Heaven　shall　send　us。〃

The　sun　arose　on　the　next　morning；　and　found　the　bothy　silent　as　the　grave。　　The　mother　and　son　had　arisen；　and　were　engaged　each　in　their　separate　taskHamish　in　preparing　and　cleaning　his　arms　with　the　greatest　accuracy；　but　with　an　air　of　deep　dejection。　Elspat；　more　restless　in　her　agony　of　spirit；　employed　herself　in　making　ready　the　food　which　the　distress　of　yesterday　had　induced　them　both　to　dispense　with　for　an　unusual　number　of　hours。　　She　placed　it　on　the　board　before　her　son　so　soon　as　it　was　prepared；　with　the　words　of　a　Gaelic　poet；　〃Without　daily　food；　the　husbandman's　ploughshare　stands　still　in　the　furrow；　without　daily　food；　the　sword　of　the　warrior　is　too　heavy　for　his　hand。　Our　bodies　are　our　slaves；　yet　they　must　be　fed　if　we　would　have　their　service。　　So　spake　in　ancient　days　the　Blind　Bard　to　the　warriors　of　Fion。〃

The　young　man　made　no　reply；　but　he　fed　on　what　was　placed　before　him；　as　if　to　gather　strength　for　the　scene　which　he　was　to　undergo。　　When　his　mother　saw　that　he　had　eaten　what　sufficed　him；　she　again　filled　the　fatal　quaigh；　and　proffered　it　as　the　conclusion　of　the　repast。　　But　he　started　aside　with　a　convulsive　gesture；　expressive　at　once　of　fear　and　abhorrence。

〃Nay；　my　son；〃　she　said；　〃this　time　surely；　thou　hast　no　cause　of　fear。〃

〃Urge　me　not；　mother；〃　answered　Hamish〃or　put　the　leprous　toad　into　a　flagon；　and　I　will　drink；　but　from　that　accursed　cup；　and　of　that　mind…destroying　potion；　never　will　I　taste　more！〃

〃At　your　pleasure；　my　son；〃　said　Elspat；　haughtily；　and　began；　with　much　apparent　assiduity；　the　various　domestic　tasks　which　had　been　interrupted　during　the　preceding　day。　　Whatever　was　at　her　heart；　all　anxiety　seemed　banished　from　her　looks　and　demeanour。　　It　was　but　from　an　over…activity　of　bustling　exertion　that　it　might　have　been　perceived；　by　a　close　observer；　that　her　actions　were　spurred　by　some　internal　cause　of　painful　excitement；　and　such　a　spectator；　too；　might　also　have　observed　how　often　she　broke　off　the　snatches　of　songs　or　tunes　which　she　hummed；　apparently　without　knowing　what　she　was　doing；　in　order　to　cast　a　hasty　glance　from　the　door　of　the　hut。　　Whatever　might　be　in　the　mind　of　Hamish；　his　demeanour　was　directly　the　reverse　of　that　adopted　by　his　mother。　　Having　finished　the　task　of　cleaning　and　preparing　his　arms；　which　he　arranged　within　the　hut；　he　sat　himself　down　before　the　door　of　the　bothy；　and　watched　the　opposite　hill；　like　the　fixed　sentinel　who　expects　the　approach　of　an　enemy。　　Noon　found　him　in　the　same　unchanged　posture；　and　it　was　an　hour　after　that　period；　when　his　mother；　standing　beside　him；　laid　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　said；　in　a　tone　indifferent；　as　if　she　had　been　talking　of　some　friendly　visit；　〃When　dost　thou　expect　them？〃

〃They　cannot　be　here　till　the　shadows　fall　long　to　the　eastward；〃　replied　Hamish；　〃that　is；　even　supposing　the　nearest　party；　commanded　by　Sergeant　Allan　Breack　Cameron；　has　been　commanded　hither　by　express　from　Dunbarton；　as　it　is　most　likely　they　will。〃

〃Then　enter　beneath　your　mother's　roof　once　more；　partake　the　last　time　of　the　food　which　she　has　prepared；　after　this；　let　them　come；　and　thou　shalt　see　if　thy　mother　is　an　useless　encumbrance　in　the　day　of　strife。　　Thy　hand；　practised　as　it　is；　cannot　fire　these　arms　so　fast　as　I　can　load　them；　nay；　if　it　is　necessary；　I　do　not　myself　fear　the　flash　or　the　report；　and　my　aim　has　been　held　fatal。〃

〃In　the　name　of　Heaven；　mother；　meddle　not　with　this　matter！〃　said　Hamish。　　〃Allan　Breack　is　a　wise　man　and　a　kind　one；　and　comes　of　a　good　stem。　　It　may　be；　he　can　promise　for　our　officers　that　they　will　touch　me　with　no　infamous　punishment；　and　if　they　offer　me　confinement　in　the　dungeon；　or　death　by　the　musket；　to　that　I　may　not　object。〃

〃Alas；　and　wilt　thou　trust　to　their　word；　my　foolish　child？　Remember　the　race　of　Dermid　were　ever　fair　and　false；　and　no　sooner　shall　they　have　gyves　on　thy　hands；　than　they　will　strip　thy　shoulders　for　the　scourge。〃

〃Save　your　advice；　mother；〃　said　Hamish；　sternly；　〃for　me；　my　mind　is　made　up。〃

But　though　he　spoke　t