david elginbrod-第13章

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a　study　in　which　thought　could　operate　to　much　satisfactory　result。
Indeed；　pain　is　a　far　less　hurtful　enemy　to　thinking　than　cold。
And　to　have　to　fight　such　suffering　and　its　benumbing　influences；
as　well　as　to　follow　out　a　train　of　reasoning；　difficult　at　any
time；　and　requiring　close　attentionis　too　much　for　any　machine
whose　thinking　wheels　are　driven　by　nervous　gear。　　Sometimesfor　he
must　make　the　attempthe　came　down　to　his　meals　quite　blue　with
cold；　as　his　pupils　remarked　to　their　mother；　but　their　observation
never　seemed　to　suggest　to　her　mind　the　necessity　of　making　some
better　provision　for　the　poor　tutor。　　And　Hugh；　after　the　way　in
which　she　had　behaved　to　him；　was　far　too　proud　to　ask　her　a　favour；
even　if　he　had　had　hopes　of　receiving　his　request。　　He　knew；　too；
that；　in　the　house；　the　laird；　to　interfere　in　the　smallest　degree；
must　imperil　far　more　than　he　dared。　　The　prospect；　therefore；　of
the　coming　winter；　in　a　country　where　there　was　scarcely　any
afternoon；　and　where　the　snow　might　lie　feet　deep　for　weeks；　was　not
at　all　agreeable。　　He　had；　as　I　have　said；　begun　to　suffer　already；
for　the　mornings　and　evenings　were　cold　enough　now；　although　it　was
a　bright；　dry　October。　　One　evening　Janet　remarked　that　he　had
caught　cold；　for　he　was　'hostin'　sair；'　and　this　led　Hugh　to　state
the　discomfort　he　was　condemned　to　experience　up　at　the　ha'　house。

〃Weel；〃　said　David；　after　some　silent　deliberation；　〃that　sattles't；
we　maun　set　aboot　it　immedantly。〃

Of　course　Hugh　was　quite　at　a　loss　to　understand　what　he　meant；　and
begged　him　to　explain。

〃Ye　see；〃　replied　David；　〃we　hae　verra　little　hoose…room　i'　this　bit
cot；　for；　excep　this　kitchen；　we　hae　but　the　ben　whaur　Janet　and　me
sleeps；　and　sae　last　year　I　spak'　to　the　laird　to　lat　me　hae　muckle
timmer　as　I　wad　need　to　big　a　kin'　o'　a　lean…to　to　the　house　ahin'；
so　'at　we　micht　hae　a　kin'　o'　a　bit　parlour　like；　or　rather　a　roomie
'at　ony　o'　us　micht　retire　till　for　a　bit；　gin　we　wanted　to　be　oor
lanes。　　He　had　nae　objections；　honest　man。　　But　somehoo　or　ither　I
never　sat　han'　till't；　but　noo　the　wa's　maun　be　up　afore　the　wat
weather　sets　in。　　Sae　I'se　be　at　it　the　morn；　an'　maybe　ye'll　len'
me　a　han'；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　and　tak'　oot　yer　wages　in　house…room　an'
firin'　efter　it's　dune。〃

〃Thank　you　heartily！〃　said　Hugh；　that　would　be　delightful。　　It　seems
too　good　to　be　possible。　　But　will　not　wooden　walls　be　rather　a　poor
protection　against　such　winters　as　I　suppose　you　have　in　these
parts？〃

〃Hootoot；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　ye　micht　gie　me　credit　for　raither　mair
rumgumption　nor　that　comes　till。　　Timmer　was　the　only　thing　I　not
（needed）　to　spier　for；　the　lave　lies　to　ony　body's　han'a　few
cart…fu's　o'　sods　frae　the　hill　ahint　the　hoose；　an'　a　han'fu'　or
twa　o'　stanes　for　the　chimla　oot　o'　the　quarrythere's　eneuch　there
for　oor　turn　ohn　blastit　mair；　an'　we'll　saw　the　wood　oorsels；　an'
gin　we　had　ance　the　wa's　up；　we　can　carry　on　the　inside　at　oor
leisur'。　　That's　the　way　'at　the　Maker　does　wi'　oorsels；　he　gie's　us
the　wa's　an'　the　material；　an'　a　whole　lifetime；　maybe　mair；　to
furnish　the　house。〃

〃Capital！〃　exclaimed　Hugh。　〃I'll　work　like　a　horse；　and　we'll　be　at
it　the　morn。〃

〃I'se　be　at　it　afore　daylicht；　an'　ane　or　twa　o'　the　lads'll　len'　me
a　han'　efter　wark…hours；　and　there's　yersel'；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　worth
ane　an'　a　half　o'　ordinary　workers；　an'　we'll　hae　truff　aneuch　for
the　wa's　in　a　jiffey。　　I'll　mark　a　feow　saplin's　i'　the　wud　here　at
denner…time；　an'　we'll　hae　them　for　bauks；　an'　couples；　an'　things；
an'　there's　plenty　dry　eneuch　for　beurds　i'　the　shed；　an'　bein'　but
a　lean…to；　there'll　be　but　half　wark；　ye　ken。〃

They　went　out　directly；　in　the　moonlight；　to　choose　the　spot；　and
soon　came　to　the　resolution　to　build　it　so；　that　a　certain　back
door；　which　added　more　to　the　cold　in　winter　than　to　the　convenience
in　summer；　should　be　the　entrance　to　the　new　chamber。　　The　chimney
was　the　chief　difficulty；　but　all　the　materials　being　in　the
immediate　neighbourhood；　and　David　capable　of　turning　his　hands　to
anything；　no　obstruction　was　feared。　　Indeed；　he　set　about　that　part
first；　as　was　necessary；　and　had　soon　built　a　small　chimney；　chiefly
of　stones　and　lime；　while；　under　his　directions；　the　walls　were
making　progress　at　the　same　time；　by　the　labour　of　Hugh　and　two　or
three　of　the　young　men　from　the　farm；　who　were　most　ready　to　oblige
David　with　their　help；　although　they　were　still　rather　unfriendly　to
the　colliginer；　as　they　called　him。　　But　Hugh's　frankness　soon　won
them　over；　and　they　all　formed　within　a　day　or　two　a　very
comfortable　party　of　labourers。　　They　worked　very　hard；　for　if　the
rain　should　set　in　before　the　roof　was　on；　their　labour　would　be
almost　lost　from　the　soaking　of　the　walls。　　They　built　them　of　turf；
very　thick；　with　a　slight　slope　on　the　outside　towards　the　roof；
before　commencing　which；　they　partially　cut　the　windows　out　of　the
walls；　putting　wood　across　to　support　the　top。　　I　should　have
explained　that　the　turf　used　in　building　was　the　upper　and　coarser
part　of　the　peat；　which　was　plentiful　in　the　neighbourhood。　　The
thatch…eaves　of　the　cottage　itself　projected　over　the　joining　of　the
new　roof；　so　as　to　protect　it　from　the　drip；　and　David　soon　put　a
thick　thatch　of　new　straw　upon　the　little　building。　　Second…hand
windows　were　procured　at　the　village；　and　the　holes　in　the　walls　cut
to　their　size。　　They　next　proceeded　to　the　saw…pit　on　the
estatefor　almost　everything　necessary　for　keeping　up　the　offices
was　done　on　the　farm　itselfwhere　they　sawed　thin　planks　of　deal；
to　floor　and　line　the　room；　and　make　it　more　cosie。　　These　David
planed　upon　one　side；　and　when　they　were　nailed　against　slight　posts
all　round　the　walls；　and　the　joints　filled　in　with　putty；　the　room
began　to　look　most　enticingly　habitable。　　The　roof　had　not　been
thatched　two　days　before　the　rain　set　in；　but　now　they　could　work
quite　comfortably　inside；　and　as　the　space　was　small；　and　the
forenights　were　long；　they　had　it　quite　finished　before　the　end　of
November。　　David　bought　an　old　table　in　the　village；　and　one　or　two
chairs；　mended　them　up；　made　a　kind　of　rustic　sofa　or　settle；　put　a
few　bookshelves　against　the　wall；　had　a　peat　fire　lighted　on　the
hearth　every　day；　and　at　length；　one　Saturday　evening；　they　had
supper　in　the　room；　and　the　place　was　consecrated　henceforth　to
friendship　and　learning。　　From　this　time；　every　evening；　as　soon　as
lessons；　and　the　meal　which　immediately　followed　them；　were　over；
Hugh　betook　himself　to　the　cottage；　on　the　shelves　of　which　all　his
books　by　degrees　collected　themselves；　and　there　spent　the　whole
long　evening；　generally　till　ten　o'clock；　the　first　part　alone
reading　or　writing；　the　last　in　company　with　his　pupils；　who；
diligent　as　ever；　now　of　course　made　more　rapid　progress　than
before；　inasmuch　as　the　lessons　were　both　longer　and　more　frequent。
The　only　drawback　to　their　comfort　was；　that　they　seemed　to　have
shut　Janet　out；　but　she　soon　remedied　this；　by　contriving　to　get
through　with　her　house　work　earlier　than　she　had　ever　done　before；
and；　taking　her　place　on　the　settle　behind　them；　knitted　away
diligently　at　her　stocking；　which；　to　inexperienced　eyes；　seemed
always　the　same；　and　always　in　the　same　state　of　progress；
notwithstanding　that　she　provided　the　hose　of　the　whole　family；　blue
and　grey；　ribbed　and　plain。　　Her　occasional　withdrawings；　to　observe
the　progress　of　the　supper；　were　only　a　cheerful　break　in　the
continuity　of　labour。　　Little　would　the　passer…by　imagine　that
beneath　that　roof；　which　seemed　worthy　only　of　the　name　of　a　shed；
there　sat；　in　a　snug　little　homely　room；　such　a　youth　as　Hugh；　such
a　girl　as　Margaret；　such　a　grand　peasant　king　as　David；　and　such　a
true…hearted　mother　to　them　all　as　Janet。　　There　were　no　pictures
and　no　music；　for　Margaret　kept　her　songs　for　solitary　places；　but
the　sound　of　verse　was　often　the　living　wind　which　set　a…waving　the
tops　of　the　trees　of　knowledge；　fast　growing　in　the　sunlight　of
Truth。　　The　thatch　of　that　shed…roof　was　like　the　grizzled　hair　of
David；　beneath　which　lay　the　temple　not　only　of　holy　but　of　wise　and
poetic　thought。　　It　was　like　the　sylvan　abode　of　the　gods；　where　the
architecture　and　music　are　all　of　their　own　making；　in　their　kind
the　more　beautiful；　the　more　simple　and　rude；　and　if　more　doubtful
in　their　intent；　and　less　precise　in　their　finish；　yet　therein　the
fuller　of　life　and　its　grace；　and　the　more　suggestive　of　deeper
harmonies。




CHAPTER　XIII。

HERALDRY。

And　like　his　father　of　face　and　of　stature；
And　false　of　loveit　came　him　of　nature；
As　doth　the　fox　Renard；　the　fox's　son；
Of　kinde；　he　coud　his　old　father's　wone；
Without　lore；　as　can　a　drake　swim；
When　it　is　caught；　and　carried　to　the　brim。

CHAUCER。Legend　of　Phillis。


Of　course；　the　yet　more　lengthened　absences　of　Hugh　from　the　house
were　subjects　of　remark　as　at　the　first；　but　Hugh　had　made　up　his
mind　not　to　trouble　himself　the　least　about　that。　　For　some　time
Mrs。　Glasford　took　no　notice　of　them　to　himself；　but　one　evening；
just　as　tea　was　finished；　and　Hugh　was　rising　to　go；　her　restraint
gave　way；　and　she　uttered　one　spiteful　speech；　thinking　it；　no
doubt；　so　witty　that　it　ought　to　see　the　light。

〃Ye're　a　day…labourer　it　seems；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　and　gang　hame　at
night。〃

〃Exactly　so；　madam；〃　rejoined　Hugh。　〃There　is　no　other　relation
between　you　and　me；　than　that　of　work　and　wages。　　You　have　done　your
best　to　convince　me　of　that；　by　making　it　impossible　for　me　to　feel
that　this　house　is　in　any　sense　my　home。〃

With　this　grand　speech　he　left　the　room；　and　from　that　time　till　the
day　of　his　final　departure　from　Turriepuffit；　there　was　not　a　single
allusion　made　to　the　subject。

He　soon　reached　the　cottage。　　When　he　entered　the　new　room；　which
was　always　called　Mr。　Sutherland's　study；　the　mute　welcome　afforded
him　by　the　signs　of　expectation；　in　the　glow　of　the　waiting　fire；
and　the　outspread　arms　of　the　elbow…chair；　which　was　now　called　his；
as　well　as　the　room；　made　ample　amends　to　him　for　the　unfriendliness
of　Mrs。　Glasford。　　Going　to　the　shelves　to　find　the　books　he　wanted；
he　saw　that　they　had　been　carefully　arranged　on　one　shelf；　and　that
the　others　were　occupied　with　books　belonging　to　the　house。　　He
looked　at　a　few　of　them。　　They　were　almost　all　old　books；　and　such
as　may　be　found　in　many　Scotch　cottages；　for　instance；　Boston's
Fourfold　State；　in　which　the　ways　of　God　and　man　may　be　seen　through
a　fourfold　fog；　Erskine's　Divine　Sonnets；　which　will　repay　the
reader　in　laughter　for　the　pain　it　costs　his　reverence；　producing
much　the　same　effect　that　a　Gothic　cathedral　might；　reproduced　by
the　pencil　and　from　the　remembrance　of　a　Chinese　artist；　who　had
seen　it　once；　Drelincourt　on　Death；　with　the　famous　ghost…hoax　of　De
Foe；　to　help　the　bookseller　to　the　sale　of　the　unsaleable；　the　Scots
Worthies；　opening　of　itself　at　the　memoir　of　Mr。　Alexander　Peden；
the　Pilgrim's　Progress；　that　wonderful　inspiration；　failing　never
save　when　the　theologian　would　sometimes　snatch　the　pen　from　the
hand　of　the　poet；　Theron　and　Aspasio；　Village　Dialogues；　and　others
of　a　like　class。　　To　these　must　be　added　a　rare　edition　of　Blind
Harry。