the man from glengarry-第7章

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forget　this！〃

〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　said　Ranald；　awkwardly。　　〃You　are　better　stuff　than　I
am。　　You　came　back　with　Bugle。　　And　I　knew　Liz　could　beat　the　pony
whatever。　　Then　they　walked　their　horses　quietly　to　the　stable；　and
nothing　more　was　said　by　either　of　them；　but　from　that　hour　Ranald
had　a　friend　ready　to　offer　life　for　him；　though　he　did　not　know　it
then　nor　till　years　afterward。



CHAPTER　V

FORGIVE　US　OUR　DEBTS


Macdonald　Dubh's　farm　lay　about　three　miles　north　and　west　from　the
manse；　and　the　house　stood　far　back　from　the　cross…road　in　a　small
clearing　encircled　by　thick　bush。　　It　was　a　hard　farm　to　clear；　the
timber　was　heavy；　the　land　lay　low；　and　Macdonald　Dubh　did　not　make
as　much　progress　as　his　neighbors　in　his　conflict　with　the　forest。
Not　but　that　he　was　a　hard　worker　and　a　good　man　with　the　ax；　but
somehow　he　did　not　succeed　as　a　farmer。　　It　may　have　been　that　his
heart　was　more　in　the　forest　than　in　the　farm。　　He　was　a　famous
hunter；　and　in　the　deer　season　was　never　to　be　found　at　home；　but
was　ever　ranging　the　woods　with　his　rifle　and　his　great　deerhound；
Bugle。

He　made　money　at　the　shanties；　but　money　would　not　stick　to　his
fingers；　and　by　the　time　the　summer　was　over　most　of　his　money
would　be　gone；　with　the　government　mortgage　on　his　farm　still
unlifted。　　His　habits　of　life　wrought　a　kind　of　wildness　in　him
which　set　him　apart　from　the　thrifty；　steady…going　people　among
whom　he　lived。　　True；　the　shanty…men　were　his　stanch　friends　and
admirers；　but　then　the　shanty…men；　though　well…doing；　could　hardly
be　called　steady；　except　the　boss　of　the　Macdonald　gang；　Macdonald
Bhain；　who　was　a　regular　attendant　and　stanch　supporter　of　the
church；　and　indeed　had　been　spoken　of　for　an　elder。　　But　from　the
church　Macdonald　Dubh　held　aloof。　　He　belonged　distinctly　to　the
〃careless；〃　though　he　could　not　be　called　irreligious。　　He　had　all
the　reverence　for　〃the　Word　of　God；　and　the　Sabbath　day；　and　the
church〃　that　characterized　his　people。　　All　these　held　a　high　place
in　his　esteem；　and　though　he　would　not　presume　to　〃take　the　books；〃
not　being　a　member　of　the　church；　yet　on　the　Sabbath　day　when　he
was　at　home　it　was　the　custom　of　the　household　to　gather　for　the
reading　of　the　Word　before　breakfast。　　He　would　never　take　his
rifle　with　him　through　the　woods　on　the　Sabbath；　and　even　when
absent　from　home　on　a　hunting　expedition；　when　the　Sabbath　day　came
round；　he　religiously　kept　camp。　　It　is　true；　he　did　not　often　go
to　church；　and　when　the　minister　spoke　to　him　about　this；　he　always
agreed　that　it　was　a　good　thing　to　go　to　church。　　When　he　had　no
better　excuse；　he　would　apologize　for　his　absence　upon　the　ground
〃that　he　had　not　the　clothes。〃　　The　greater　part　of　the　trouble　was
that　he　was　shy　and　proud；　and　felt　himself　to　be　different　from
the　church…going　people　of　the　community；　and　shrank　from　the
surprised　looks　of　members；　and　even　from　the　words　of　approving
welcome　that　often　greeted　his　presence　in　church。

It　was　not　according　to　his　desire　that　Ranald　was　sent　to　the
manse。　　That　was　the　doing　of　his　sister；　Kirsty；　who　for　the　last
ten　years　had　kept　house　for　him。　　Not　that　there　was　much
housekeeping　skill　about　Kirsty；　as　indeed　any　one　might　see　even
without　entering　Macdonald　Dubh's　house。　　Kirsty　was　big　and　strong
and　willing；　but　she　had　not　the　most　elemental　ideas　of　tidiness。
Her　red；　bushy　hair　hung　in　wisps　about　her　face；　after　the　greater
part　of　it　had　been　gathered　into　a　tight　knob　at　the　back　of　her
head。　　She　was　a　martyr　to　the　〃neuralagy；〃　and　suffered　from　a
perennial　cold　in　the　head；　which　made　it　necessary　for　her　to　wear
a　cloud；　which　was　only　removed　when　it　could　be　replaced　by　her
nightcap。　　Her　face　always　bore　the　marks　of　her　labors；　and　from
it　one　could　gather　whether　she　was　among　the　pots　or　busy　with　the
baking。　　But　she　was　kindhearted；　and；　up　to　her　light；　sought　to
fill　the　place　left　empty　by　the　death　of　the　wife　and　mother　in
that　home；　ten　years　before。

When　the　minister's　wife　opened　the　door；　a　hot；　close；　foul　smell
rushed　forth　to　meet　her。　　Upon　the　kitchen　stove　a　large　pot　of
pig's　food　was　boiling；　and　the　steam　and　smell　from　the　pot　made
the　atmosphere　of　the　room　overpoweringly　fetid。　　Off　the　kitchen
or　living…room　were　two　small　bedrooms；　in　one　of　which　lay
Macdonald　Dubh。

Kirsty　met　the　minister's　wife　with　a　warm　welcome。　　She　helped　her
off　with　her　hood　and　coat；　patting　her　on　the　shoulder　the　while；
and　murmuring　words　of　endearment。

〃Ah；　M'eudail！　　M'eudail　bheg！　and　did　you　come　through　the　night
all　the　way；　and　it　is　ashamed　that　I　am　to　have　sent　for　you；　but
he　was　very　bad　and　I　was　afraid。　　Come　away！　come　away！　　I　will
make　you　a　cup　of　tea。〃　　But　the　minister's　wife　assured　Kirsty
that　she　was　glad　to　come；　and　declining　the　cup　of　tea；　went　to
the　room　where　Macdonald　Dubh　lay　tossing　and　moaning　with　the
delirium　of　fever　upon　him。　　It　was　not　long　before　she　knew　what
was　required。

With　hot　fomentations　she　proceeded　to　allay　the　pain；　and　in　half
an　hour　Macdonald　Dubh　grew　quiet。　　His　tossings　and　mutterings
ceased　and　he　fell　into　a　sleep。

Kirsty　stood　by　admiring。

〃Mercy　me！　　Look　at　that　now；　and　it　is　yourself　that　is　the　great
doctor！〃

〃Now；　Kirsty；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　in　a　very　matter…of…fact　tone；　〃we
will　just　make　him　a　little　more　comfortable。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Kirsty；　not　quite　sure　how　the　feat　was　to　be　achieved。
〃A　little　hot　something　for　his　inside　will　be　good；　but　indeed；
many's　the　drink　I　have　given　him；〃　she　suggested。

〃What　have　you　been　giving　him；　Kirsty？〃

〃Senny　and　dandylion；　and　a　little　whisky。　　They　will　be　telling　me
it　is　ferry　good　whatever　for　the　stomach　and　bow'ls。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　would　give　him　any　more　of　that；　but　we　will　try
and　make　him　feel　a　little　more　comfortable。〃

Mrs。　Murray　knew　she　was　treading　on　delicate　ground。　　The　Highland
pride　is　quick　to　take　offense。

〃Sick　people；　you　see；〃　she　proceeded　carefully；　〃need　very
frequent　changessheets　and　clothing；　you　understand。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Kirsty；　suspiciously。

〃I　am　sure　you　have　plenty　of　beautiful　sheets；　and　we　will　change
these　when　he　wakes　from　his　sleep。〃

〃Indeed；　they　are　very　clean；　for　there　is　no　one　but　myself　has
slept　in　them　since　he　went　away　last　fall　to　the　shanties。〃

Mrs。　Murray　felt　the　delicacy　of　the　position　to　be　sensibly
increased。

〃Indeed；　that　is　right；　Kirsty；　one　can　never　tell　just　what　sort
of　people　are　traveling　about　nowadays。〃

〃Indeed；　and　it's　true；〃　said　Kirsty；　heartily；　〃but　I　never　let
them　in　here。　　I　just　keep　them　to　the　bunk。〃

〃But；〃　pursued　Mrs。　Murray；　returning　to　the　subject　in　hand；　〃it
is　very　important　that　for　sick　people　the　sheets　should　be
thoroughly　aired　and　warmed。　　Why；　in　the　hospital　in　Montreal　they
take　the　very　greatest　care　to　air　and　change　the　sheets　every　day。
You　see　so　much　poison　comes　through　the　pores　of　the　skin。〃

〃Do　you　hear　that　now？〃　said　Kirsty；　amazed。　　〃Indeed；　I　would　be
often　hearing　that　those　French　people　are　just　full　of　poison　and
such；　and　indeed；　it　is　no　wonder；　for　the　food　they　put　inside　of
them。〃

〃O；　no；　〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　〃it　is　the　same　with　all　people；　but
especially　so　with　sick　people。〃

Kirsty　looked　as　doubtful　as　was　consistent　with　her　respect　for
the　minister's　wife；　and　Mrs。　Murray　went　on。

〃So　you　will　just　get　the　sheets　ready　to　change；　and；　Kirsty；　a
clean　night…shirt。〃

〃Night…shirt！　and　indeed；　he　has　not　such　a　thing　to　his　name。〃
Kirsty's　tone　betrayed　her　thankfulness　that　her　brother　was　free
from　the　effeminacy　of　a　night…shirt；　but　noting　the　dismay　and
confusion　on　Mrs。　Murray's　face；　she　suggested；　hesitatingly；　〃He
might　have　one　of　my　own；　but　I　am　thinking　it　will　be　small　for
him　across　the　back。〃

〃I　am　afraid　so；　Kirsty；〃　said　the　minister's　wife；　struggling　hard
with　a　smile。　　〃We　will　just　use　one　of　his　own　white　shirts。〃　　But
this　scandalized　Kirsty　as　an　unnecessary　and　wasteful　luxury。

〃Indeed；　there　is　plenty　of　them　in　the　chist；　but　he　will　be
keeping　them　for　the　communion　season；　and　the　funerals；　and　such。
He　will　not　be　wearing　them　in　his　bed；　for　no　one　will　be　seeing
him　there　at　all。〃

〃But　he　will　feel　so　much　better；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　and　her　smile
was　so　sweet　and　winning　that　Kirsty's　opposition　collapsed；　and
without　more　words　both　sheets　and　shirt　were　produced。

As　Kirsty　laid　them　out　she　observed　with　a　sigh：　　〃Aye；　aye；　she
was　the　clever　womanthe　wife；　I　mean。　　She　was　good　with　the
needle；　and　indeed；　at　anything　she　tried　to　do。〃

〃I　did　not　know　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　softly；　〃but　every　one
tells　me　she　was　a　good　housekeeper　and　a　good　woman。〃

〃She　was　that；〃　said　Kirsty；　emphatically；　〃and　she　was　the　light
of　his　eyes；　and　it　was　a　bad　day　for　Hugh　when　she　went　away。〃

〃Now；　Kirsty；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　after　a　pause；　〃before　we　put　on
these　clean　things；　we　will　just　give　him　a　sponge　bath。〃

Kirsty　gasped。

〃Mercy　sakes！　　He　will　not　be　needing　that　in　the　winter；　and　he
will　be　getting　a　cold　from　it。　　In　the　summer…time　he　will　be
going　to　the　river　himself。　　And　how　will　you　be　giving　him　a　bath
whatever？〃

Mrs。　Murray　carefully　explained　the　process；　again　fortifying　her
position　by　referring　to　the　practices　of　the　Montreal　hospital；
till；　as　a　result　of　her　persuasions　and　instructions；　in　an　hour
after　Macdonald　had　awakened　from　his　sleep　he　was　lying　in　his
Sabbath　white　shirt　and　between　fresh　sheets；　and　feeling　cleaner
and　more　comfortable　than　he　had　for　many　a　day。　　The　fever　was
much　reduced；　and　he　fell　again　into　a　deep　sleep。

The　two　women　watched　beside　him；　for　neither　would　leave　the　other
to　watch　alone。　　And　Ranald；　who　could　not　be　persuaded　to　go　up　to
his　loft；　lay　on　the　bunk　in　the　kitchen　and　dozed。　　After　an　hour
had　passed；　Mrs。　Murray　inquired　as　to　the　nourishment　Kirsty　had
given　her　brother。

〃Indeed；　he　will　not　be　taking　anything　whatever；〃　said　Kirsty；　in
a　vexed　tone。　　〃And　it　is　no　matter　what　I　will　be　giving　him。〃

〃And　what　does　he　like；　Kirsty？〃

〃Indeed；　he　will　be　taking　anything　when　he　is　not　seek；　and　he　is
that　fond　of　buckwheat　pancakes　and　pork　gravy　with　maple　syrup
over　them；　but　would　he　look　at　it！　　And　I　made　him　new　porridge
to…night；　but　he　would　not　touch　them。〃

〃Did　you　try　him　with　gruel；　Kirsty？〃

〃Mercy　me；　and　is　it　Macdonald　Dubh　and　gruel？　　He　would　be
flinging　the　'feushionless'　stuff　out　of　the　window。〃

〃But　I　am　sure　it　would　be　good　for　him　if　he　could　be　persuaded　to
try　it。　　I　should　like　to　try　him。〃

〃Indeed；　and　you　may　try。　　It　will　be　easy　enough；　for　the　porridge
are　still　in　the　pot。〃

Kirsty　took　the　pot　from　the　bench；　with　the　remains　of　the
porridge　that　had　been　made　for　supper　still　in　it；　set　it　on　the
fire；　and　pouring　some　water　in　it；　began　to　stir　it　vigorously。
It　was　thick　and　slimy；　and　altogether　a　most　repulsive…looking
mixture；　and　Mrs。　Murray　no　longer　wondered　at　Macdonald　Dubh's
distaste　for　gruel。

〃I　think　I　will　make　some　fresh；　if　you　will　let　me；　Kirstyin　the
way　I　make　it　for　the　minister；　you　know。〃

Kirsty；　by　this　time；　had