david elginbrod-第6章

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have　thought　possible；　the　entertainment　of　such　a　degrading　idea　in
the　mind　of　Mrs。　Glasford。　　Indignation　prevented　him　from　replying；
while　she　went　on；　getting　more　vernacular　as　she　proceeded。

〃It's　no　for　lack　o'　company　'at　yer　driven　to　seek　theirs；　I'm
sure。　　There's　twa　as　fine　lads　an'　gude　scholars　as　ye'll　fin'　in
the　haill　kintra…side；　no　to　mention　the　laird　and　mysel'。〃

But　Hugh　could　bear　it　no　longer；　nor　would　he　condescend　to　excuse
or　explain　his　conduct。

〃Madam；　I　beg　you　will　not　mention　this　subject　again。〃

〃But　I　will　mention　't；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；　an'　if　ye'll　no　listen　to
rizzon；　I'll　go　to　them　'at　maun　do't。〃

〃I　am　accountable　to　you；　madam；　for　my　conduct　in　your　house；　and
for　the　way　in　which　I　discharge　my　duty　to　your　childrenno
further。〃

〃Do　ye　ca'　that　dischairgin'　yer　duty　to　my　bairns；　to　set　them　the
example　o'　hingin'　at　a　quean's　鈖ron…strings；　and　fillin'　her　lug
wi'　idle　havers？　　Ca'　ye　that　dischairgin'　yer　duty？　　My　certie！　a
bonny　dischairgin'！〃

〃I　never　see　the　girl　but　in　her　father　and　mother's　presence。〃

〃Weel；　weel；　Mr。　Sutherlan'；〃　said　Mrs。　Glasford；　in　a　final　tone；
and　trying　to　smother　the　anger　which　she　felt　she　had　allowed　to
carry　her　further　than　was　decorous；　〃we'll　say　nae　mair　aboot　it　at
present；　but　I　maun　jist　speak　to　the　laird　himsel'；　an'　see　what　he
says　till　't。〃

And；　with　this　threat；　she　walked　out　of　the　room　in　what　she
considered　a　dignified　manner。

Hugh　was　exceedingly　annoyed　at　this　treatment；　and　thought；　at
first；　of　throwing　up　his　situation　at　once；　but　he　got　calmer　by
degrees；　and　saw　that　it　would　be　to　his　own　loss；　and　perhaps　to
the　injury　of　his　friends　at　the　cottage。　　So　he　took　his　revenge　by
recalling　the　excited　face　of　Mrs。　Glasford；　whose　nose　had　got　as
red　with　passion　as　the　protuberance　of　a　turkey…cock　when　gobbling
out　its　unutterable　feelings　of　disdain。　　He　dwelt　upon　this
soothing　contemplation　till　a　fit　of　laughter　relieved　him；　and　he
was　able　to　go　and　join　his　pupils　as　if　nothing　had　happened。

Meanwhile　the　lady　sent　for　David；　who　was　at　work　in　the　garden；
into　no　less　an　audience…chamber　than　the　drawing…room；　the　revered
abode　of　all　the　tutelar　deities　of　the　house；　chief　amongst　which
were　the　portraits　of　the　laird　and　herself：　he；　plethoric　and
wrapped　in　voluminous　folds　of　neckerchiefshe　long…necked；　and
lean；　and　bare…shouldered。　　The　original　of　the　latter　work　of　art
seated　herself　in　the　most　important　chair　in　the　room；　and　when
David；　after　carefully　wiping　the　shoes　he　had　already　wiped　three
times　on　his　way　up；　entered　with　a　respectful　but　no　wise
obsequious　bow；　she　ordered　him；　with　the　air　of　an　empress；　to　shut
the　door。　　When　he　had　obeyed；　she　ordered　him；　in　a　similar　tone；
to　be　seated；　for　she　sought　to　mingle　condescension　and
conciliation　with　severity。

〃David；〃　she　then　began；　〃I　am　informed　that　ye　keep　open　door　to
our　Mr。　Sutherland；　and　that　he　spends　most　forenichts　in　your
company。〃

〃Weel；　mem；　it's　verra　true；〃　was　all　David's　answer。　　He　sat　in　an
expectant　attitude。

〃Dawvid；　I　wonner　at　ye！〃　returned　Mrs。　Glasford；　forgetting　her
dignity；　and　becoming　confidentially　remonstrative。　〃Here's　a　young
gentleman　o'　talans；　wi'　ilka　prospeck　o'　waggin'　his　heid　in　a
poopit　some　day；　an'　ye　aid　an'　abet　him　in　idlin'　awa'　his　time　at
your　chimla…lug；　duin'　waur　nor　naething　ava！　　I'm　surprised　at　ye；
Dawvid。　　I　thocht　ye　had　mair　sense。〃

David　looked　out　of　his　clear；　blue；　untroubled　eyes；　upon　the
ruffled　countenance　of　his　mistress；　with　an　almost　paternal　smile。

〃Weel；　mem；　I　maun　say　I　dinna　jist　think　the　young　man's　in　the
warst　o'　company；　when　he's　at　our　ingle…neuk。　　An'　for　idlin'　o'
his　time　awa'；　it's　weel　waurd　for　himsel'；　forby　for　us；　gin　holy
words　binna　lees。〃

〃What　do　ye　mean；　Dawvid？〃　said　the　lady　rather　sharply；　for　she
loved　no　riddles。

〃I　mean　this；　mem：　that　the　young　man　is　jist　actin'　the　pairt　o'
Peter　an'　John　at　the　bonny　gate　o'　the　temple；　whan　they　said：
'Such　as　I　have；　gie　I　thee；'　an'　gin'　it　be　more　blessed　to　gie
than　to　receive；　as　Sant　Paul　says　'at　the　Maister　himsel'　said；　the
young　man　'ill　no　be　the　waur　aff　in's　ain　learnin'；　that　he
impairts　o't　to　them　that　hunger　for't。〃

〃Ye　mean　by　this；　Dawvid；　gin　ye　could　express　yersel'　to　the　pint；
'at　the　young　man；　wha's　ower　weel　paid　to　instruck　my　bairns；
neglecks　them；　an'　lays　himsel'　oot　upo'　ither　fowk's　weans；　wha　hae
no　richt　to　ettle　aboon　the　station　in　which　their　Maker　pat　them。〃

This　was　uttered　with　quite　a　religious　fervour　of　expostulation；
for　the　lady's　natural　indignation　at　the　thought　of　Meg　Elginbrod
having　lessons　from　her　boys'　tutor；　was　cowed　beneath　the　quiet
steady　gaze　of　the　noble…minded　peasant　father。

〃He　lays　himsel'　oot　mair　upo'　the　ither　fowk　themsels'　than　upo'
their　weans；　mem；　though；　nae　doubt；　my　Maggy　comes　in　for　a　gude
share。　　But　for　negleckin'　o'　his　duty　to　you；　mem；　I'm　sure　I　kenna
hoo　that　can　be；　for　it　was　only　yestreen　'at　the　laird　himsel'　said
to　me；　'at　hoo　the　bairns　had　never　gotten　on　naething　like　it　wi'
ony　ither　body。〃

〃The　laird's　ower　ready　wi's　clavers；〃　quoth　the　laird's　wife；
nettled　to　find　herself　in　the　wrong；　and　forgetful　of　her　own　and
her　lord's　dignity　at　once。　〃But；〃　she　pursued；　〃all　I　can　say　is；
that　I　consider　it　verra　improper　o'　you；　wi'　a　young　lass…bairn；　to
encourage　the　nichtly　veesits　o'　a　young　gentleman；　wha's　sae　far
aboon　her　in　station；　an'　dootless　will　some　day　be　farther　yet。〃

〃Mem！〃　said　David；　with　dignity；　〃I'm　willin'　no　to　understan'　what
ye　mean。　　My　Maggy's　no　ane　'at　needs　luikin'　efter；　an'　a　body　had
need　to　be　carefu'　an'　no　interfere　wi'　the　Lord's　herdin'；　for　he
ca's　himsel'　the　Shepherd　o'　the　sheep；　an'　wee！　as　I　loe　her　I　maun
lea'　him　to　lead　them　wha　follow　him　wherever　he　goeth。　　She'll　be
no　ill　guidit；　and　I'm　no　gaeing　to　kep　her　at　ilka　turn。〃

〃Weel；　weel！　that's　yer　ain　affair；　Dawvid；　my　man；〃　rejoined　Mrs。
Glasford；　with　rising　voice　and　complexion。　〃A'　'at　I　hae　to　add　is
jist　this：　'at　as　lang　as　my　tutor　veesits　her〃

〃He　veesits　her　no　more　than　me；　mem；〃　interposed　David；　but　his
mistress　went　on　with　dignified　disregard　of　the　interruption

〃Veesits　her；　I　canna；　for　the　sake　o'　my　own　bairns；　an'　the　morals
o'　my　hoosehold；　employ　her　aboot　the　hoose；　as　I　was　in　the　way　o'
doin'　afore。　　Good　mornin'；　Dawvid。　　I'll　speak　to　the　laird
himsel'；　sin'　ye'll　no　heed　me。〃

〃It's　more　to　my　lassie；　mem；　excuse　me；　to　learn　to　unnerstan'　the
works　o'　her　Maker；　than　it　is　to　be　employed　in　your　household。
Mony　thanks；　mem；　for　what　ye　hev'　done　in　that　way　afore；　an'　good
mornin'　to　ye；　mem。　　I'm　sorry　we　should　hae　ony　misunderstandin'；
but　I　canna　help　it　for　my　pairt。〃

With　these　words　David　withdrew；　rather　anxious　about　the
consequences　to　Hugh　of　this　unpleasant　interference　on　the　part　of
Mrs。　Glasford。　　That　lady's　wrath　kept　warm　without　much　nursing；
till　the　laird　came　home；　when　she　turned　the　whole　of　her　battery
upon　him；　and　kept　up　a　steady　fire　until　he　yielded；　and　promised
to　turn　his　upon　David。　　But　he　had　more　common…sense　than　his　wife
in　some　things；　and　saw　at　once　how　ridiculous　it　would　be　to　treat
the　affair　as　of　importance。　　So；　the　next　time　he　saw　David；　he
addressed　him　half　jocularly：

〃Weel；　Dawvid；　you　an'　the　mistress　hae　been　haein'　a　bit　o'　a
dispute　thegither；　eh？〃

〃Weel；　sir；　we　warna　a'thegither　o'　ae　min'；〃　said　David；　with　a
smile。

〃Weel；　weel；　we　maun　humour　her；　ye　ken；　or　it　may　be　the　waur　for
us　a'；　ye　ken。〃　　And　the　laird　nodded　with　humorous　significance。

〃I'm　sure　I　sud　be　glaid；　sir；　but　this　is　no　sma'　maitter　to　me　an'
my　Maggie；　for　we're　jist　gettin'　food　for　the　verra　sowl；　sir；　frae
him　an'　his　beuks。〃

〃Cudna　ye　be　content　wi　the　beuks　wi'out　the　man；　Dawvid？〃

〃We　sud　mak'　but　sma'　progress；　sir；　that　get。〃

The　laird　began　to　be　a　little　nettled　himself　at　David's　stiffness
about　such　a　small　matter；　and　held　his　peace。　　David　resumed：

〃Besides；　sir；　that's　a　maitter　for　the　young　man　to　sattle；　an'　no
for　me。　　It　wad　ill　become　me；　efter　a'　he's　dune　for　us；　to　steek
the　door　in's　face。　　Na；　na；　as　lang's　I　hae　a　door　to　haud　open；
it's　no　to　be　steekit　to　him。〃

〃Efter　a'；　the　door's　mine；　Dawvid；〃　said　the　laird。

〃As　lang's　I'm　in　your　hoose　an'　in　your　service；　sir；　the　door's
mine；〃　retorted　David；　quietly。

The　laird　turned　and　rode　away　without　another　word。　　What　passed
between　him　and　his　wife　never　transpired。　　Nothing　more　was　said　to
Hugh　as　long　as　he　remained　at　Turriepuffit。　　But　Margaret　was　never
sent　for　to　the　House　after　this；　upon　any　occasion　whatever。　　The
laird　gave　her　a　nod　as　often　as　he　saw　her；　but　the　lady；　if　they
chanced　to　meet；　took　no　notice　of　her。　　Margaret；　on　her　part；
stood　or　passed　with　her　eyes　on　the　ground；　and　no　further　change
of　countenance　than　a　slight　flush　of　discomfort。

The　lessons　went　on　as　usual；　and　happy　hours　they　were　for　all
those　concerned。　　Often；　in　after　years；　and　in　far　different
circumstances；　the　thoughts　of　Hugh　reverted；　with　a　painful
yearning；　to　the　dim…lighted　cottage；　with　its　clay　floor　and　its
deal　table；　to　the　earnest　pair　seated　with　him　at　the　labours　that
unfold　the　motions　of　the　stars；　and　even　to　the　homely；　thickset；
but　active　form　of　Janet；　and　that　peculiar　smile　of　hers　with
which；　after　an　apparently　snappish　speech；　spoken　with　her　back　to
the　person　addressed；　she　would　turn　round　her　honest　face
half…apologetically；　and　shine　full　upon　some　one　or　other　of　the
three；　whom　she　honoured　with　her　whole　heart　and　soul；　and　who；　she
feared；　might　be　offended　at　what　she　called　her　〃hame…ower　fashion
of　speaking。〃　　Indeed　it　was　wonderful　what　a　share　the　motherhood
of　this　woman；　incapable　as　she　was　of　entering　into　the
intellectual　occupations　of　the　others；　had　in　producing　that　sense
of　home…blessedness；　which　inwrapt　Hugh　also　in　the　folds　of　its
hospitality；　and　drew　him　towards　its　heart。　　Certain　it　is　that　not
one　of　the　three　would　have　worked　so　well　without　the　sense　of　the
presence　of　Janet；　here　and　there　about　the　room；　or　in　the
immediate　neighbourhood　of　itlove　watching　over　labour。　　Once　a
week；　always　on　Saturday　nights；　Hugh　stayed　to　supper　with　them：
and　on　these　occasions；　Janet　contrived　to　have　something　better
than　ordinary　in　honour　of　their　guest。　　Still　it　was　of　the
homeliest　country　fare；　such　as　Hugh　could　partake　of　without　the
least　fear　that　his　presence　occasioned　any　inconvenience　to　his
entertainers。　　Nor　was　Hugh　the　only　giver　of　spiritual　food。
Putting　aside　the　rich　gifts　of　human　affection　and　sympathy；　which
grew　more　and　more　pleasantI　can　hardly　use　a　stronger　word
yetto　Hugh　every　day；　many　things　were　spoken　by　the　simple　wisdom
of　David；　which　would　have　enlightened　Hugh　far　more　than　they　did；
had　he　been　sufficiently　advanced　to　receive　them。　　But　their　very
simplicity　was　often　far　beyond　the　grasp　of　his　thoughts；　for　the
higher　we　rise；　the　simpler　we　become；　and　David　was　one　of　those　of
whom　is　the　kingdom　of　Heaven。　　There　is　a　childhood　into