david elginbrod-第15章

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that's　no　better　nor　pride；　an'　in　him　would　only　be　a　greater
pride。　　But　his　glory！　consistin'　in　his　trowth　an'
lovin'kindness（man！　that's　a　bonny　word）an'　grand
self…forgettin'　devotion　to　his　createrslord！　man；　it's
unspeakable。　　I　care　little　for　his　glory　either；　gin　by　that　ye
mean　the　praise　o'　men。　　A　heap　o'　the　anxiety　for　the　spread　o'　his
glory；　seems　to　me　to　be　but　a　desire　for　the　sempathy　o'　ither
fowk。　　There's　no　fear　but　men　'll　praise　him；　a'　in　guid　timethat
is；　whan　they　can。　　But；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　for　the　glory　o'　God；
raither　than；　if　it　were　possible；　one　jot　or　one　tittle　should　fail
of　his　entire　perfection　of　holy　beauty；　I　call　God　to　witness；　I
would　gladly　go　to　hell　itsel'；　for　no　evil　worth　the　full　name　can
befall　the　earth　or　ony　creater　in't；　as　long　as　God　is　what　he　is。
For　the　glory　o'　God；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　I　wad　die　the　deith　。　For　the
will　o'　God；　I'm　ready　for　onything　he　likes。　　I　canna　surely　be　in
muckle　danger　o'　lichtlyin'　him。　　I　glory　in　my　God。〃

The　almost　passionate　earnestness　with　which　David　spoke；　would
alone　have　made　it　impossible　for　Hugh　to　reply　at　once。　　After　a
few　moments；　however；　he　ventured　to　ask　the　question：

〃Would　you　do　nothing　that　other　people　should　know　God；　then；
David？〃

〃Onything　'at　he　likes。　　But　I　would　tak'　tent　o'　interferin'。　　He's
at　it　himsel'　frae　mornin'　to　nicht；　frae　year's　en'　to　year's　en'。〃

〃But　you　seem　to　me　to　make　out　that　God　is　nothing　but　love！〃

〃Ay；　naething　but　love。　　What　for　no？〃

〃Because　we　are　told　he　is　just。〃

〃Would　he　be　lang　just　if　he　didna　lo'e　us？〃

〃But　does　he　not　punish　sin？〃

〃Would　it　be　ony　kin'ness　no　to　punish　sin？　　No　to　us　a'　means　to
pit　awa'　the　ae　ill　thing　frae　us？　　Whatever　may　be　meant　by　the
place　o'　meesery；　depen'　upo't；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　it's　only　anither
form　o'　love；　love　shinin'　through　the　fogs　o'　ill；　an'　sae　gart
leuk　something　verra　different　thereby。　　Man；　raither　nor　see　my
Maggyan'　ye'll　no　doot　'at　I　lo'e　herraither　nor　see　my　Maggy　do
an　ill　thing；　I'd　see　her　lyin'　deid　at　my　feet。　　But　supposin'　the
ill　thing　ance　dune；　it's　no　at　my　feet　I　wad　lay　her；　but　upo'　my
heart；　wi'　my　auld　arms　aboot　her；　to　hand　the　further　ill　aff　o'
her。　　An'　shall　mortal　man　be　more　just　than　God？　　Shall　a　man　be
more　pure　than　his　Maker？　　O　my　God！　my　God！〃

The　entrance　of　Margaret　would　have　prevented　the　prosecution　of
this　conversation；　even　if　it　had　not　already　drawn　to　a　natural
close。　　Not　that　David　would　not　have　talked　thus　before　his
daughter；　but　simply　that　minds；　like　instruments；　need　to　be
brought　up　to　the　same　pitch；　before　they　can　〃atone　together；〃　and
that　one　feels　this　instinctively　on　the　entrance　of　another　who　has
not　gone　through　the　same　immediate　process　of　gradual　elevation　of
tone。

Their　books　and　slates　were　got　out；　and　they　sat　down　to　their
work；　but　Hugh　could　not　help　observing　that　David；　in　the　midst　of
his　lines　and　angles　and　algebraic　computations；　would；　every　now
and　then；　glance　up　at　Margaret；　with　a　look　of　tenderness　in　his
face　yet　deeper　and　more　delicate　in　its　expression　than　ordinary。
Margaret　was；　however；　quite　unconscious　of　it；　pursuing　her　work
with　her　ordinary　even　diligence。　　But　Janet　observed　it。

〃What　ails　the　bairn；　Dawvid；　'at　ye　leuk　at　her　that　get？　said　she。

〃Naething　ails　her；　woman。　　Do　ye　never　leuk　at　a　body　but　when
something　ails　them？〃

〃Ow；　aybut　no　that　get。〃

〃Weel；　maybe　I　was　thinkin'　hoo　I　wad　leuk　at　her　gin　onything　did
ail　her。〃

〃Hoot！　hoot！　dinna　further　the　ill　hither　by　makin'　a　bien
doonsittin'　an'　a　bed　for't。〃

All　David's　answer　to　this　was　one　of　his　own　smiles。

At　supper；　for　it　happened　to　be　Saturday；　Hugh　said：

〃I've　been　busy；　between　whiles；　inventing；　or　perhaps　discovering；
an　etymological　pedigree　for　you；　David！〃

〃Weel；　lat's　hear't；〃　said　David。

〃Firstdo　you　know　that　that　volume　with　your　ancestor's　name　on
it；　was　written　by　an　old　German　shoemaker；　perhaps　only　a　cobbler；
for　anything　I　know？〃

〃I　know　nothing　aboot　it；　more　or　less；〃　answered　David。

〃He　was　a　wonderful　man。　　Some　people　think　he　was　almost　inspired。〃

〃Maybe；　maybe；〃　was　all　David's　doubtful　response。

〃At　all　events；　though　I　know　nothing　about　it　myself；　he　must　have
written　wonderfully　for　a　cobbler。〃

〃For　my　pairt；〃　replied　David；　〃if　I　see　no　wonder　in　the　man；　I　can
see　but　little　in　the　cobbler。　　What　for　shouldna　a　cobbler　write
wonnerfully；　as　weel　as　anither？　　It's　a　trade　'at　furthers
meditation。　　My　grandfather　was　a　cobbler；　as　ye　ca't；　an'　they　say
he　was　no　fule　in　his　ain　way　either。〃

〃Then　it　does　go　in　the　family！〃　cried　Hugh；　triumphantly。
〃I　was　in　doubt　at　first　whether　your　name　referred　to　the　breadth
of　your　shoulders；　David；　as　transmitted　from　some　ancient　sire；
whose　back　was　an　Ellwand…broad；　for　the　g　might　come　from　a　w　or　v；
for　anything　I　know　to　the　contrary。　　But　it　would　have　been　braid
in　that　case。　　And；　now；　I　am　quite　convinced　that　that　Martin　or
his　father　was　a　German；　a　friend　of　old　Jacob　B渉men；　who　gave　him
the　book　himself；　and　was　besides　of　the　same　craft；　and　he　coming
to　this　country　with　a　name　hard　to　be　pronounced；　they　found　a
resemblance　in　the　sound　of　it　to　his　occupation；　and　so　gradually
corrupted　his　name；　to　them　uncouth；　into　Elsynbrod；　Elshinbrod；
thence　Elginbrod；　with　a　soft　g；　and　lastly　Elginbrod；　as　you
pronounce　it　now；　with　a　hard　g。　　This　name；　turned　from　Scotch　into
English；　would　then　be　simply　Martin　Awlbore。　　The　cobbler　is　in　the
family；　David；　descended　from　Jacob　B渉men　himself；　by　the　mother's
side。〃

This　heraldic　blazon　amused　them　all　very　much；　and　David　expressed
his　entire　concurrence　with　it；　declaring　it　to　be　incontrovertible。
Margaret　laughed　heartily。

Besides　its　own　beauty；　two　things　made　Margaret's　laugh　of　some
consequence；　one　was；　that　it　was　very　rare；　and　the　other；　that　it
revealed　her　two　regular　rows　of　dainty　white　teeth；　suiting　well　to
the　whole　build　of　the　maiden。　　She　was　graceful　and　rather　tall；
with　a　head　which；　but　for　its　smallness；　might　have　seemed　too
heavy　for　the　neck　that　supported　it；　so　ready　it　always　was　to
droop　like　a　snowdrop。　　The　only　parts　about　her　which　Hugh
disliked；　were　her　hands　and　feet。　　The　former　certainly　had　been
reddened　and　roughened　by　household　work：　but　they　were　well　formed
notwithstanding。　　The　latter　he　had　never　seen；　notwithstanding　the
bare…foot　habits　of　Scotch　maidens；　for　he　saw　Margaret　rarely
except　in　the　evenings；　and　then　she　was　dressed　to　receive　him。
Certainly；　however；　they　were　very　far　from　following　the　shape　of
the　clumsy　country　shoes；　by　which　he　misjudged　their　proportions。
Had　he　seen　them；　as　he　might　have　seen　them　some　part　of　any　day
during　the　summer；　their　form　at　least　would　have　satisfied　him。




CHAPTER　XIV。

WINTER。

Out　of　whose　womb　came　the　ice？　and　the　hoary　frost　of　heaven；　who
hath　gendered　it？　　The　waters　are　hid　as　with　a　stone；　and　the　face
of　the　deep　is　frozen。

He　giveth　snow　like　wool；　he　scattereth　the　hoar　frost　like　ashes。

JOB　xxxviii。　29；　30；　PSALM　cxlvii。　16。


Winter　was　fairly　come　at　last。　　A　black　frost　had　bound　the　earth
for　many　days；　and　at　length　a　peculiar　sensation；　almost　a　smell　of
snow　in　the　air；　indicated　an　approaching　storm。　　The　snow　fell　at
first　in　a　few　large　unwilling　flakes；　that　fluttered　slowly　and
heavily　to　the　earth；　where　they　lay　like　the　foundation　of　the
superstructure　that　was　about　to　follow。　　Faster　and　faster　they
fellwonderful　multitudes　of　delicate　crystals；　adhering　in　shapes
of　beauty　which　outvied　all　that　jeweller　could　invent　or　execute　of
ethereal；　starry　forms；　structures　of　evanescent　yet　prodigal
lovelinesstill　the　whole　air　was　obscured　by　them；　and　night　came
on；　hastened　by　an　hour；　from　the　gathering　of　their　white　darkness。
In　the　morning；　all　the　landscape　was　transfigured。　　The　snow　had
ceased　to　fall；　but　the　whole　earth；　houses；　fields；　and　fences；
ponds　and　streams；　were　changed　to　whiteness。　　But　most　wonderful
looked　the　treesevery　bough　and　every　twig　thickened；　and　bent
earthward　with　its　own　individual　load　of　the　fairy　ghost…birds。
Each　retained　the　semblance　of　its　own　form；　wonderfully；　magically
altered　by　its　thick　garment　of　radiant　whiteness；　shining
gloriously　in　the　sunlight。　　It　was　the　shroud　of　dead　nature；　but　a
shroud　that　seemed　to　prefigure　a　lovely　resurrection；　for　the　very
death…robe　was　unspeakably；　witchingly　beautiful。　　Again　at　night
the　snow　fell；　and　again　and　again；　with　intervening　days　of　bright
sunshine。　　Every　morning；　the　first　fresh　footprints　were　a　new
wonder　to　the　living　creatures；　the　young…hearted　amongst　them　at
least；　who　lived　and　moved　in　this　death…world；　this　sepulchral
planet；　buried　in　the　shining　air　before　the　eyes　of　its
sister…stars　in　the　blue；　deathless　heavens。　　Paths　had　to　be
cleared　in　every　direction　towards　the　out…houses；　and　again　cleared
every　morning；　till　at　last　the　walls　of　solid　rain　stood　higher
than　the　head　of　little　Johnnie；　as　he　was　still　called；　though　he
was　twelve　years　old。　　It　was　a　great　delight　to　him　to　wander
through　the　snow…avenues　in　every　direction；　and　great　fun　it　was；
both　to　him　and　his　brother；　when　they　were　tired　of　snowballing
each　other　and　every　living　thing　about　the　place　except　their
parents　and　tutor；　to　hollow　out　mysterious　caves　and　vaulted
passages。　　Sometimes　they　would　carry　these　passages　on　from　one
path　to　within　an　inch　or　two　of　another；　and　there　lie　in　wait　till
some　passer…by；　unweeting　of　harm；　was　just　opposite　their　lurking
cave；　when　they　would　dash　through　the　solid　wall　of　snow　with　a
hideous　yell；　almost　endangering　the　wits　of　the　maids；　and　causing
a　recoil　and　startled　ejaculation　even　of　the　strong　man　on　whom
they　chanced　to　try　their　powers　of　alarm。　　Hugh　himself　was　once
glad　to　cover　the　confusion　of　his　own　fright　with　the　hearty　fit　of
laughter　into　which　the　perturbation　of　the　boys；　upon　discovering
whom　they　had　startled；　threw　him。　　It　was　rare　fun　to　them；　but　not
to　the　women　about　the　house；　who　moved　from　place　to　place　in　a
state　of　chronic　alarm；　scared　by　the　fear　of　being　scared；　till　one
of　them　going　into　hysterics；　real　or　pretended；　it　was　found
necessary　to　put　a　stop　to　the　practice；　not；　however；　before
Margaret　had　had　her　share　of　the　jest。　　Hugh　happened　to　be　looking
out　of　his　window　at　the　momentwatching　her；　indeed；　as　she　passed
towards　the　kitchen　with　some　message　from　her　mother；　when　an
indescribable　monster；　a　chaotic　mass　of　legs　and　snow；　burst；　as　if
out　of　the　earth；　upon　her。　　She　turned　pale　as　the　snow　around　her
（and　Hugh　had　never　observed　before　how　dark　her　eyes　were）；　as　she
sprang　back　with　the　grace　of　a　startled　deer。　　She　uttered　no　cry；
however；　perceiving　in　a　moment　who　it　was；　gave　a　troubled　little
smile；　and　passed　on　her　way　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　　Hugh　was
not　sorry　when　maternal　orders　were　issued　against　the　practical
joke。　　The　boys　did　not　respect　their　mother　very　much；　but　they
dared　not　disobey　her；　when　she　spoke　in　a　certain　tone。

There　was　no　pathway