david elginbrod-第24章

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he　loved　and　honoured　with　the　best　powers　of　his　nature；　and　whom
yet　he　had　neglected　and　seemed　to　forget；　nay；　whom　he　had
partially　forgottenhe　could　not　deny。　　The　old　man；　whose　thoughts
were　just　those　of　a　wise　child；　had　said　to　him　once：

〃We　ken　no　more；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　what　we're　growin'　till；　than
that　neep…seed　there　kens　what　a　neep　is；　though　a　neep　it　will　be。
The　only　odds　is；　that　we　ken　that　we　dinna　ken；　and　the　neep…seed
kens　nothing　at　all　aboot　it。　　But　ae　thing；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　we
may　be　sure　o'：　that；　whatever　it　be；　it　will　be　worth　God's　makin'
an'　our　growin'。〃

A　solemn　stillness　fell　upon　Hugh's　spirit；　as　he　recalled　these
words；　out　of　which　stillness；　I　presume；　grew　the　little　parable
which　follows；　though　Hugh；　after　he　had　learned　far　more　about　the
things　therein　hinted　at；　could　never　understand　how　it　was；　that　he
could　have　put　so　much　more　into　it；　than　he　seemed　to　have
understood　at　that　period　of　his　history。

For　Harry　said：

〃Wouldn't　this　be　a　nice　place　for　a　story；　Mr。　Sutherland？　　Do　you
ever　tell　stories；　sir？〃

〃I　was　just　thinking　of　one；　Harry；　but　it　is　as　much　yours　as　mine；
for　you　sowed　the　seed　of　the　story　in　my　mind。〃

〃Do　you　mean　a　story　that　never　was　in　a　booka　story　out　of　your
own　head？　　Oh！　that　will　be　grand！〃

〃Wait　till　we　see　what　it　will　be；　Harry；　for　I　can't　tell　you　how
it　will　turn　out。〃

After　a　little　further　pause；　Hugh　began：

〃Long；　long　ago；　two　seeds　lay　beside　each　other　in　the　earth；
waiting。　　It　was　cold；　and　rather　wearisome；　and；　to　beguile　the
time；　the　one　found　means　to　speak　to　the　other。

〃'What　are　you　going　to　be？'　said　the　one。

〃'I　don't　know；'　answered　the　other。

〃'For　me；'　rejoined　the　first；　'I　mean　to　be　a　rose。　　There　is
nothing　like　a　splendid　rose。　　Everybody　will　love　me　then！'

〃'It's　all　right；'　whispered　the　second；　and　that　was　all　he　could
say；　for　somehow　when　he　had　said　that；　he　felt　as　if　all　the　words
in　the　world　were　used　up。　　So　they　were　silent　again　for　a　day　or
two。

〃'Oh；　dear！'　cried　the　first；　'I　have　had　some　water。　　I　never　knew
till　it　was　inside　me。　　I'm　growing！　　I'm　growing！　　Good…bye！'

〃'Good…bye！'　repeated　the　other；　and　lay　still；　and　waited　more　than
ever。

〃The　first　grew　and　grew；　pushing　itself　straight　up；　till　at　last
it　felt　that　it　was　in　the　open　air；　for　it　could　breathe。　　And　what
a　delicious　breath　that　was！　　It　was　rather　cold；　but　so　refreshing。
The　flower　could　see　nothing；　for　it　was　not　quite　a　flower　yet；
only　a　plant；　and　they　never　see　till　their　eyes　come；　that　is；　till
they　open　their　blossomsthen　they　are　flowers　quite。　　So　it　grew
and　grew；　and　kept　its　head　up　very　steadily；　meaning　to　see　the　sky
the　first　thing；　and　leave　the　earth　quite　behind　as　well　as　beneath
it。　　But　somehow　or　other；　though　why　it　could　not　tell；　it　felt
very　much　inclined　to　cry。　　At　length　it　opened　its　eye。　　It　was
morning；　and　the　sky　was　over　its　head；　but；　alas！　itself　was　no
roseonly　a　tiny　white　flower。　　It　felt　yet　more　inclined　to　hang
down　its　head　and　to　cry；　but　it　still　resisted；　and　tried　hard　to
open　its　eye　wide；　and　to　hold　its　head　upright；　and　to　look　full　at
the　sky。

〃'I　will　be　a　star　of　Bethlehem　at　least！'　said　the　flower　to
itself。

〃But　its　head　felt　very　heavy；　and　a　cold　wind　rushed　over　it；　and
bowed　it　down　towards　the　earth。　　And　the　flower　saw　that　the　time
of　the　singing　of　birds　was　not　come；　that　the　snow　covered　the
whole　land；　and　that　there　was　not　a　single　flower　in　sight　but
itself。　　And　it　half…closed　its　leaves　in　terror　and　the　dismay　of
loneliness。　　But　that　instant　it　remembered　what　the　other　flower
used　to　say；　and　it　said　to　itself：　'It's　all　right；　I　will　be　what
I　can。'　　And　thereon　it　yielded　to　the　wind；　drooped　its　head　to　the
earth；　and　looked　no　more　on　the　sky；　but　on　the　snow。　　And
straightway　the　wind　stopped；　and　the　cold　died　away；　and　the　snow
sparkled　like　pearls　and　diamonds；　and　the　flower　knew　that　it　was
the　holding　of　its　head　up　that　had　hurt　it　so；　for　that　its　body
came　of　the　snow；　and　that　its　name　was　Snow…drop。　　And　so　it　said
once　more；　'It's　all　right！'　and　waited　in　perfect　peace。　　All　the
rest　it　needed　was　to　hang　its　head　after　its　nature。〃

〃And　what　became　of　the　other？〃　asked　Harry。

〃I　haven't　done　with　this　one　yet；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃I　only　told　you
it　was　waiting。　　One　day　a　pale；　sad…looking　girl；　with　thin　face；
large　eyes；　and　long　white　hands；　came；　hanging　her　head　like　the
snowdrop；　along　the　snow　where　the　flower　grew。　　She　spied　it；
smiled　joyously；　and　saying；　'Ah！　my　little　sister；　are　you　come？'
stooped　and　plucked　the　snowdrop。　　It　trembled　and　died　in　her　hand；
which　was　a　heavenly　death　for　a　snowdrop；　for　had　it　not　cast　a
gleam　of　summer；　pale　as　it　had　been　itself；　upon　the　heart　of　a
sick　girl？〃

〃And　the　other？〃　repeated　Harry。

〃The　other　had　a　long　time　to　wait；　but　it　did　grow　one　of　the
loveliest　roses　ever　seen。　　And　at　last　it　had　the　highest　honour
ever　granted　to　a　flower：　two　lovers　smelled　it　together；　and　were
content　with　it。〃

Harry　was　silent；　and　so　was　Hugh；　for　he　could　not　understand
himself　quite。　　He　felt；　all　the　time　he　was　speaking；　is　if　he　were
listening　to　David；　instead　of　talking　himself。　　The　fact　was；　he
was　only　expanding；　in　an　imaginative　soil；　the　living　seed　which
David　had　cast　into　it。　　There　seemed　to　himself　to　be　more　in　his
parable　than　he　had　any　right　to　invent。　　But　is　it　not　so　with　all
stories　that　are　rightly　rooted　in　the　human？

〃What　a　delightful　story；　Mr。　Sutherland！〃　said　Harry；　at　last。
〃Euphra　tells　me　stories　sometimes；　but　I　don't　think　I　ever　heard
one　I　liked　so　much。　　I　wish　we　were　meant　to　grow　into　something；
like　the　flower…seeds。〃

〃So　we　are；　Harry。〃

〃Are　we　indeed？　　How　delightful　it　would　be　to　think　that　I　am　only
a　seed；　Mr。　Sutherland！　　Do　you　think　I　might　think　so？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。〃

〃Then；　please；　let　me　begin　to　learn　something　directly。　　I　haven't
had　anything　disagreeable　to　do　since　you　came；　and　I　don't　feel　as
if　that　was　right。〃

Poor　Harry；　like　so　many　thousands　of　good　people；　had　not　yet
learned　that　God　is　not　a　hard　task…master。

〃I　don't　intend　that　you　should　have　anything　disagreeable　to　do；　if
I　can　help　it。　　We　must　do　such　things　when　they　come　to　us；　but　we
must　not　make　them　for　ourselves；　or　for　each　other。〃

〃Then　I'm　not　to　learn　any　more　Latin；　am　I？〃　said　Harry；　in　a
doubtful　kind　of　tone；　as　if　there　were　after　all　a　little　pleasure
in　doing　what　he　did　not　like。

〃Is　Latin　so　disagreeable；　Harry？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　rule　after　rule；　that　has　nothing　in　it　I　care　for。　　How
can　anybody　care　for　Latin？　　But　I　am　quite　ready　to　begin；　if　I　am
only　a　seedreally；　you　know。〃

〃Not　yet；　Harry。　　Indeed；　we　shall　not　begin　againI　won't　let
youtill　you　ask　me　with　your　whole　heart；　to　let　you　learn　Latin。〃

〃I　am　afraid　that　will　be　a　long　time；　and　Euphra　will　not　like　it。〃

〃I　will　talk　to　her　about　it。　　But　perhaps　it　will　not　be　so　long　as
you　think。　　Now；　don't　mention　Latin　to　me　again；　till　you　are　ready
to　ask　me；　heartily；　to　teach　you。　　And　don't　give　yourself　any
trouble　about　it　either。　　You　never　can　make　yourself　like
anything。〃

Harry　was　silent。　　They　returned　to　the　house；　through　the　pouring
rain；　Harry；　as　usual；　mounted　on　his　big　brother。

As　they　crossed　the　hall；　Mr。　Arnold　came　in。　　He　looked　surprised
and　annoyed。　　Hugh　set　Harry　down；　who　ran　upstairs　to　get　dressed
for　dinner；　while　he　himself　half…stopped；　and　turned　towards　Mr。
Arnold。　　But　Mr。　Arnold　did　not　speak；　and　so　Hugh　followed　Harry。

Hugh　spent　all　that　evening；　after　Harry　had　gone　to　bed；　in
correcting　his　impressions　of　some　of　the　chief　stories　of　early
Roman　history；　of　which　stories　he　intended　commencing　a　little
course　to　Harry　the　next　day。

Meantime　there　was　very　little　intercourse　between　Hugh　and　Euphra；
whose　surname；　somehow　or　other；　Hugh　had　never　inquired　after。　　He
disliked　asking　questions　about　people　to　an　uncommon　degree；　and　so
preferred　waiting　for　a　natural　revelation。　　Her　later　behaviour　had
repelled　him；　impressing　him　with　the　notion　that　she　was　proud；　and
that　she　had　made　up　her　mind；　notwithstanding　her　apparent
frankness　at　first；　to　keep　him　at　a　distance。　　That　she　was　fitful；
too；　and　incapable　of　showing　much　tenderness　even　to　poor　Harry；　he
had　already　concluded　in　his　private　judgment…hall。　　Nor　could　he
doubt　that；　whether　from　wrong　theories；　incapacity；　or　culpable
indifference；　she　must　have　taken　very　bad　measures　indeed　with　her
young　pupil。

The　next　day　resembled　the　two　former；　with　this　difference；　that
the　rain　fell　in　torrents。　　Seated　in　their　strawy　bower；　they　cared
for　no　rain。　　They　were　safe　from　the　whole　world；　and　all　the
tempers　of　nature。

Then　Hugh　told　Harry　about　the　slow　beginnings　and　the　mighty　birth
of　the　great　Roman　people。　　He　told　him　tales　of　their　battles　and
conquests；　their　strifes　at　home；　and　their　wars　abroad。　　He　told
him　stories　of　their　grand　men；　great　with　the　individuality　of
their　nation　and　their　own。　　He　told　him　their　characters；　their
peculiar　opinions　and　grounds　of　action；　and　the　results　of　their
various　schemes　for　their　various　ends。　　He　told　him　about　their
love　to　their　country；　about　their　poetry　and　their　religion；　their
courage；　and　their　hardihood；　their　architecture；　their　clothes；　and
their　armour；　their　customs　and　their　laws；　but　all　in　such
language；　or　mostly　in　such　language；　as　one　boy　might　use　in
telling　another　of　the　same　age；　for　Hugh　possessed　the　gift　of　a
general　simplicity　of　thought；　one　of　the　most　valuable　a　man　can
have。　　It　cost　him　a　good　deal　of　labour　（well…repaid　in　itself；　not
to　speak　of　the　evident　delight　of　Harry）；　to　make　himself　perfectly
competent　for　this；　but　he　had　a　good　foundation　of　knowledge　to
work　upon。

This　went　on　for　a　long　time　after　the　period　to　which　I　am　now　more
immediately　confined。　　Every　time　they　stopped　to　rest　from　their
rambles　or　gamesas　often；　in　fact；　as　they　sat　down　alone；　Harry's
constant　request　was：

〃Now；　Mr。　Sutherland；　mightn't　we　have　something　more　about　the
Romans？〃

And　Mr。　Sutherland　gave　him　something　more。　　But　all　this　time　he
never　uttered　the　wordLatin。




CHAPTER　V。

LARCH　AND　OTHER　HUNTING。

For　there　is　neither　buske　nor　hay
In　May；　that　it　n'ill　shrouded　bene；
And　it　with　new？leav閟　wrene；
These　wood閟　eke　recoveren　grene；
That　drie　in　winter　ben　to　sene；
And　the　erth　waxeth　proud　withall；
For　swot？dewes　that　on　it　fall；
And　the　poore　estate　forget；
In　which　that　winter　had　it　set：
And　than　becomes　the　ground　so　proude；
That　it　wol　have　a　new？shroude；
And　maketh　so　queint　his　robe　and　faire；
That　it　hath　hewes　an　hundred　paire；
Of　grasse　and　floures；　of　Ind　and　Pers；
And　many　hew閟　full　divers：
That　is　the　robe　I　mean；　ywis；
Through　which　the　ground　to　praisen　is。

CHAUCER'S　translation　of　the　Romaunt　of　the　Rose。


So　passed　the　three　days　of　rain。　　After　breakfast　the　following
morning；　Hugh　went　to　find　Harry；　according　to　custom；　in　the
library。　　He　was　reading。

〃What　are　you　reading；　Har