david elginbrod-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　cut　to　David's　cottage；　and　no　track　trodden；
except　what　David；　coming　to　the　house　sometimes；　and　Hugh　going
every　afternoon　to　the　cottage；　made　between　them。　　Hugh　often　went
to　the　knees　in　snow；　but　was　well　dried　and　warmed　by　Janet's　care
when　he　arrived。　　She　had　always　a　pair　of　stockings　and　slippers
ready　for　him　at　the　fire；　to　be　put　on　the　moment　of　his　arrival；
and　exchanged　again　for　his　own；　dry　and　warm；　before　he　footed　once
more　the　ghostly　waste。　　When　neither　moon　was　up　nor　stars　were
out；　there　was　a　strange　eerie　glimmer　from　the　snow　that　lighted
the　way　home；　and　he　thought　there　must　be　more　light　from　it　than
could　be　accounted　for　merely　by　the　reflection　of　every　particle　of
light　that　might　fall　upon　it　from　other　sources。

Margaret　was　not　kept　to　the　house　by　the　snow；　even　when　it　was
falling。　　She　went　out　as　usualnot　of　course　wandering　far；　for
walking　was　difficult　now。　　But　she　was　in　little　danger　of　losing
her　way；　for　she　knew　the　country　as　well　as　any　one；　and　although
its　face　was　greatly　altered　by　the　filling　up　of　its　features；　and
the　uniformity　of　the　colour；　yet　those　features　were　discernible　to
her　experienced　eye　through　the　sheet　that　covered　them。　　It　was
only　necessary　to　walk　on　the　tops　of　dykes；　and　other　elevated
ridges；　to　keep　clear　of　the　deep　snow。

There　were　many　paths　between　the　cottages　and　the　farms　in　the
neighbourhood；　in　which　she　could　walk　with　comparative　ease　and
comfort。　　But　she　preferred　wandering　away　through　the　fields　and
toward　the　hills。　　Sometimes　she　would　come　home　like　a　creature　of
the　snow；　born　of　it；　and　living　in　it；　so　covered　was　she　from　head
to　foot　with　its　flakes。　　David　used　to　smile　at　her　with　peculiar
complacency　on　such　occasions。　　It　was　evident　that　it　pleased　him
she　should　be　the　playmate　of　Nature。　　Janet　was　not　altogether
indulgent　to　these　freaks；　as　she　considered　them；　of　Margetshe
had　quite　given　up　calling　her　Meg；　〃sin'　she　took　to　the　beuk　so
eident。〃　　But　whatever　her　mother　might　think　of　it；　Margaret　was　in
this　way　laying　up　a　store　not　only　of　bodily　and　mental　health；　but
of　resources　for　thought　and　feeling；　of　secret　understandings　and
communions　with　Nature；　and　everything　simple；　and　strong；　and　pure
through　Nature；　than　which　she　could　have　accumulated　nothing　more
precious。

This　kind　of　weather　continued　for　some　time；　till　the　people
declared　they　had　never　known　a　storm　last　so　long　〃ohn　ever
devallt；〃　that　is；　without　intermission。　　But　the　frost　grew　harder；
and　then　the　snow；　instead　of　falling　in　large　adhesive　flakes；　fell
in　small　dry　flakes；　of　which　the　boys　could　make　no　snaw…ba's。　　All
the　time；　however；　there　was　no　wind；　and　this　not　being　a　sheep
country；　there　was　little　uneasiness　or　suffering　occasioned　by　the
severity　of　the　weather；　beyond　what　must　befall　the　poorer　classes
in　every　northern　country　during　the　winter。

One　day；　David　heard　that　a　poor　old　man　of　his　acquaintance　was
dying；　and　immediately　set　out　to　visit　him；　at　a　distance　of　two　or
three　miles。　　He　returned　in　the　evening；　only　in　time　for　his
studies；　for　there　was　of　course　little　or　nothing　to　be　done　at
present　in　the　way　of　labour。　　As　he　sat　down　to　the　table；　he　said：

〃I　hae　seen　a　wonnerfu'　sicht　sin'　I　saw　you；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。　　I
gaed　to　see　an　auld　Christian；　whase　body　an'　brain　are　nigh　worn
oot。　　He　was　never　onything　remarkable　for　intellec；　and　jist　took
what　the　minister　tellt　him　for　true；　an'　keepit　the　guid　o't；　for
his　hert　was　aye　richt；　an'　his　faith　a　hantle　stronger　than　maybe
it　had　ony　richt　to　be；　accordin'　to　his　ain　opingans；　but；　hech！
there's　something　far　better　nor　his　opingans　i'　the　hert　o'　ilka
God…fearin'　body。　　Whan　I　gaed　butt　the　hoose；　he　was　sittin'　in's
auld　arm…chair　by　the　side　o'　the　fire；　an'　his　face　luikit　dazed
like。　　There　was　no　licht　in't　but　what　cam'　noo　an'　than　frae　a　low
i'　the　fire。　　The　snaw　was　driftin'　a　wee　aboot　the　bit　winnock；　an'
his　auld　een　was　fixed　upo't；　an'　a'　'at　he　said；　takin'　no　notice
o'　me；　was　jist；　'The　birdies　is　flutterin'；　the　birdies　is
flutterin'。'　　I　spak'　till　him；　an'　tried　to　roose　him；　wi'　ae　thing
after　anither；　bit　I　micht　as　weel　hae　spoken　to　the　door…cheek；　for
a'　the　notice　that　he　took。　　Never　a　word　he　spak'；　but　aye　'The
birdies　is　flutterin'。'　　At　last；　it　cam'　to　my　min'　'at　the　body
was　aye　fu'　o'　ane　o'　the　psalms　in　particler；　an'　sae　I　jist　said
till　him　at　last：　'John；　hae　ye　forgotten　the　twenty…third　psalm？'
'Forgotten　the　twenty…third　psalm！'　quo'　he；　an'　his　face　lighted　up
in　a　moment　frae　the　inside：　'The　Lord's　my　shepherd；an'　I　hae
followed　Him　through　a'　the　smorin'　drift　o'　the　warl'；　an'　he'll
bring　me　to　the　green　pastures　an'　the　still　waters　o'　His
summer…kingdom　at　the　lang　last。　　I　shall　not　want。　　An'　I　hae
wanted　for　naething；　naething。'　　He　had　been　a　shepherd　himsel'　in's
young　days。　　And　so　on　he　gaed；　wi'　a　kin'　o'　a　personal　commentary
on　the　haill　psalm　frae　beginnin'　to　en'；　and　syne　he　jist　fell　back
into　the　auld　croonin'　sang；　'The　birdies　is　flutterin'；　the　birdies
is　flutterin'。'　　The　licht　deed　oot　o'　his　face；　an'　a'　that　I　could
say　could　na'　bring　back　the　licht　to　his　face；　nor　the　sense　to　his
tongue。　　He'll　sune　be　in　a　better　warl'。　　Sae　I　was　jist　forced　to
leave　him。　　But　I　promised　his　dochter；　puir　body；　that　I　would　ca'
again　an'　see　him　the　morn's　afternoon。　　It's　unco　dowie　wark　for
her；　for　they　hae　scarce　a　neebor　within　reach　o'　them；　in　case　o'　a
change；　an'　there　had　hardly　been　a　creatur'　inside　o'　their　door
for　a　week。〃

The　following　afternoon；　David　set　out　according　to　his　promise。
Before　his　return；　the　wind；　which　had　been　threatening　to　wake　all
day；　had　risen　rapidly；　and　now　blew　a　snowstorm　of　its　own。　　When
Hugh　opened　the　door　to　take　his　usual　walk　to　the　cottage；　just　as
darkness　was　beginning　to　fall；　the　sight　he　saw　made　his　young
strong　heart　dance　with　delight。　　The　snow　that　fell　made　but　a
small　part　of　the　wild；　confused　turmoil　and　uproar　of　the　ten…fold
storm。　　For　the　wind；　raving　over　the　surface　of　the　snow；　which；　as
I　have　already　explained；　lay　nearly　as　loose　as　dry　sand；　swept　it
in　thick　fierce　clouds　along　with　it；　tearing　it　up　and　casting　it
down　again　no　one　could　tell　wherefor　the　whole　air　was　filled
with　drift；　as　they　call　the　snow　when　thus　driven。　　A　few　hours　of
this　would　alter　the　face　of　the　whole　country；　leaving　some　parts
bare；　and　others　buried　beneath　heaps　on　heaps　of　snow；　called　here
snaw…wreaths。　　For　the　word　snow…wreaths　does　not　mean　the　lovely
garlands　hung　upon　every　tree　and　bush　in　its　feathery　fall；　but
awful　mounds　of　drifted　snow；　that　may　be　the　smooth；　soft；　white
sepulchres　of　dead　men；　smothered　in　the　lapping　folds　of　the　almost
solid　wind。　　Path　or　way　was　none　before　him。　　He　could　see　nothing
but　the　surface　of　a　sea　of　froth　and　foam；　as　it　appeared　to　him；
with　the　spray　torn　from　it；　whirled　in　all　shapes　and　contortions；
and　driven　in　every　direction；　but　chiefly；　in　the　main　direction　of
the　wind；　in　long　sloping　spires　of　misty　whiteness；　swift　as
arrows；　and　as　keen　upon　the　face　of　him　who　dared　to　oppose　them。

Hugh　plunged　into　it　with　a　wild　sense　of　life　and　joy。　　In　the
course　of　his　short　walk；　however；　if　walk　it　could　be　called；　which
was　one　chain　of　plungings　and　emergings；　struggles　with　the　snow；
and　wrestles　with　the　wind；　he　felt　that　it　needed　not　a　stout　heart
only；　but　sound　lungs　and　strong　limbs　as　well；　to　battle　with　the
storm；　even　for　such　a　distance。　　When　he　reached　the　cottage；　he
found　Janet　in　considerable　anxiety；　not　only　about　David；　who　had
not　yet　returned；　but　about　Margaret　as　well；　whom　she　had　not　seen
for　some　time；　and　who　must　be　out　somewhere　in　the　storm〃the　wull
hizzie。〃　　Hugh　suggested　that　she　might　have　gone　to　meet　her
father。

〃The　Lord　forbid！〃　ejaculated　Janet。　〃The　road　lies　ower　the　tap　o'
the　Halshach；　as　eerie　and　bare　a　place　as　ever　was　hill…moss；　wi'
never　a　scoug　or　bield　in't；　frae　the　tae　side　to　the　tither。　　The
win'　there　jist　gangs　clean　wud　a'thegither。　　An'　there's　mony　a
well…ee　forbye；　that　gin　ye　fell　intill't；　ye　wud　never　come　at　the
boddom　o't。　　The　Lord　preserve's！　　I　wis'　Dawvid　was　hame。〃

〃How　could　you　let　him　go；　Janet？〃

〃Lat　him　gang；　laddie！　　It's　a　strang　tow　'at　wad　haud　or　bin'
Dawvid；　whan　he　considers　he　bud　to　gang；　an'　'twere　intill　a　deil's
byke。　　But　I'm　no　that　feared　aboot　him。　　I　maist　believe　he's　under
special　protection；　if　ever　man　was　or　oucht　to　be；　an'　he's　no　more
feared　at　the　storm；　nor　gin　the　snaw　was　angels'　feathers
flauchterin'　oot　o'　their　wings　a'　aboot　him。　　But　I'm　no　easy　i'　my
min'　aboot　Maggythe　wull　hizzie！　　Gin　she　be　meetin'　her　father；
an'　chance　to　miss　him；　the　Lord　kens　what　may　come　o'　her。〃

Hugh　tried　to　comfort　her；　but　all　that　could　be　done　was　to　wait
David's　return。　　The　storm　seemed　to　increase　rather　than　abate　its
force。　　The　footprints　Hugh　had　made；　had　all　but　vanished　already
at　the　very　door　of　the　house；　which　stood　quite　in　the　shelter　of
the　fir…wood。　　As　they　looked　out；　a　dark　figure　appeared　within　a
yard　or　two　of　the　house。

〃The　Lord　grant　it　be　my　bairn！〃　prayed　poor　Janet。　　But　it　was
David；　and　alone。　　Janet　gave　a　shriek。

〃Dawvid；　whaur's　Maggie？〃

〃I　haena　seen　the　bairn；〃　replied　David；　in　repressed　perturbation。
〃She's　no　theroot；　is　she；　the　nicht？〃

〃She's　no　at　hame；　Dawvid；　that's　a'　'at　I　ken。〃

〃Whaur　gaed　she？〃

〃The　Lord　kens。　　She's　smoored　i'　the　snaw　by　this　time。〃

〃She's　i'　the　Lord's　han's；　Janet；　be　she　aneath　a　snaw…vraith。
Dinna　forget　that；　wuman。　　Hoo　lang　is't　sin'　ye　missed　her？〃

〃An　hour　an'　mairI　dinna　ken　hoo　lang。　　I'm　clean　doitit　wi'
dreid。〃

〃I'll　awa'　an'　leuk　for　her。　　Just　haud　the　hert　in　her　till　I　come
back；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。〃

〃I　won't　be　left　behind；　David。　　I'm　going　with　you。〃

〃Ye　dinna　ken　what　ye're　sayin'；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。　　I　wad　sune　hae　twa
o'　ye　to　seek　in　place　o'　ane。〃

〃Never　heed　me；　I'm　going　on　my　own　account；　come　what　may。〃

〃Weel；　weel；　I　downa　bide　to　differ。　　I'm　gaein　up　the　burn…side；
baud　ye　ower　to　the　farm；　and　spier　gin　onybody's　seen　her；　an'　the
lads　'll　be　out　to　leuk　for　her　in　a　jiffey。　　My　puir　lassie！〃

The　sigh　that　must　have　accompanied　the　last　words；　was　lost　in　the
wind；　as　they　vanished　in　the　darkness。　　Janet　fell　on　her　knees　in
the　kitchen；　with　the　door　wide　open；　and　the　wind　drifting　in　the
powdery　snow；　and　scattering　it　with　the　ashes　from　the　hearth　over
the　floor。　　A　picture　of　more　thorough　desolation　can　hardly　be
imagined。　　She　soon　came　to　herself；　however；　and　reflecting　that；
if　the　lost　child　was　found；　there　must　be　a　warm　bed　to　receive
her；　else　she　might　be　a　second　time　lost；　she　rose　and　shut　the
door；　and　mended　the　fire。　　It　was　as　if　the　dumb　attitude　of　her
prayer　was　answered；　for　though　she　had　never　spoken　or　even　thought
a　word；　strength　was　restored　to　her　distracted　brain。　　When　she　had
made