the man from glengarry-第8章

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〃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　completely　surrendered　to　Mrs。　Murray's
guidance；　and　producing　the　oatmeal；　allowed　her　to　have　her　way；
so　that　when　Macdonald　awoke　he　found　Mrs。　Murray　standing　beside
him　with　a　bowl　of　the　nicest　gruel　and　a　slice　of　thin　dry　toast。

He　greeted　the　minister's　wife　with　grave　courtesy；　drank　the
gruel；　and　then　lay　down　again　to　sleep。

〃Will　you　look　at　that　now？〃　said　Kirsty；　amazed　at　Macdonald
Dubh's　forbearance。　　〃He　would　not　like　to　be　offending　you。〃

Then　Mrs。　Murray　besought　Kirsty　to　go　and　lie　down　for　an　hour；
which　Kirsty　very　unwillingly　agreed　to　do。

It　was　not　long　before　Macdonald　began　to　toss　and　mutter　in　his
sleep；　breaking　forth　now　and　then　into　wild　cries　and　curses。　　He
was　fighting　once　more　his　great　fight　in　the　Glengarry　line；　and
beating　back　LeNoir。

〃Back；　ye　devil！　　Would　ye？　　Take　that；　then。　　Come　back；　Mack！〃
Then　followed　a　cry　so　wild　that　Ranald　awoke　and　came　into　the
room。

〃Bring　in　some　snow；　Ranald；〃　said　the　minister's　wife；　〃we　will
lay　some　on　his　head。〃

She　bathed　the　hot　face　and　hands　with　ice…cold　water；　and　then
laid　a　snow　compress　on　the　sick　man's　head；　speaking　to　him　in
quiet；　gentle　tones；　till　he　was　soothed　again　to　sleep。

When　the　gray　light　of　the　morning　came　in　through　the　little
window；　Macdonald　woke　sane　and　quiet。

〃You　are　better；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray　to　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　very　well；　thank　you；　except　for　the　pain
here。〃　　He　pointed　to　his　chest。

〃You　have　been　badly　hurt；　Ranald　tells　me。　　How　did　it　happen？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Macdonald；　slowly；　〃it　is　very　hard　to　say。〃

〃Did　the　tree　fall　on　you？〃　asked　Mrs。　Murray。

Macdonald　glanced　at　her　quickly；　and　then　answered：　　〃It　is　very
dangerous　work　with　the　trees。　　It　is　wonderful　how　quick　they　will
fall。〃

〃Your　face　and　breast　seem　very　badly　bruised　and　cut。〃

〃Aye；　yes；〃　said　Macdonald。　　〃The　breast　is　bad　whatever。〃

〃I　think　you　had　better　send　for　Doctor　Grant；〃　Mrs。　Murray　said。
〃There　may　be　some　internal　injury。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Macdonald；　decidedly。　　〃I　will　have　no　doctor　at　me；
and　I　will　soon　be　round　again；　if　the　Lord　will。　　When　will　the
minister　be　home？〃

But　Mrs。　Murray；　ignoring　his　attempt　to　escape　the　subject；　went
on：　　〃Yes；　but；　Mr。　Macdonald；　I　am　anxious　to　have　Doctor　Grant
see　you；　and　I　wish　you　would　send　for　him　to…morrow。〃

〃Ah；　well；〃　said　Macdonald；　not　committing　himself；　〃we　will　be
seeing　about　that。　　But　the　doctor　has　not　been　in　this　house　for
many　a　day。〃　　Then；　after　a　pause；　he　added；　in　a　low　voice；　〃Not
since　the　day　she　was　taken　from　me。〃

〃Was　she　ill　long？〃

〃Indeed；　no。　　It　was　just　one　night。　　There　was　no　doctor；　and　the
women　could　not　help　her；　and　she　was　very　badand　when　it　came　it
was　a　girland　it　was　deadand　then　the　doctor　arrived；　but　he
was　too　late。〃　　Macdonald　Dubh　finished　with　a　great　sigh；　and　the
minister's　wife　said　gently　to　him：

〃That　was　a　very　sad　day；　and　a　great　loss　to　you　and　Ranald。〃

〃Aye；　you　may　say　it；　she　was　a　bonnie　woman　whatever；　and　grand　at
the　spinning　and　the　butter。　　And；　oich…hone；　it　was　a　sad　day　for
us。〃

The　minister's　wife　sat　silent；　knowing　that　such　grief　cannot　be
comforted；　and　pitying　from　her　heart　the　lonely　man。　　After　a　time
she　said　gently；　〃She　is　better　off。〃

A　look　of　doubt　and　pain　and　fear　came　into　Macdonald's　eyes。

〃She　never　came　forward；〃　he　said；　hesitatingly。　　〃She　was　afraid
to　come。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　her　often；　Mr。　Macdonald；　and　I　have　heard　that
she　was　a　good　and　gentle　woman。〃

〃Aye；　she　was　that。〃

〃And　kind　to　the　sick。〃

〃You　may　believe　it。〃

〃And　she　loved　the　house　of　God。〃

〃Aye；　and　neither　rain　nor　snow　nor　mud　would　be　keeping　her　from
it；　but　she　would　be　going　every　Sabbath　day；　bringing　her
stockings　with　her。〃

〃Her　stockings？〃

〃Aye；　to　change　her　feet　in　the　church。　　What　else？　　Her　stockings
would　be　wet　with　the　snow　and　water。〃

Mrs。　Murray　nodded。　　〃And　she　loved　her　Saviour；　Mr。　Macdonald。〃

〃Indeed；　I　believe　it　well；　but　she　was　afraid　she　would　not　be
having　'the　marks。'〃

〃Never　you　fear；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray。　　〃If　she　loved
her　Saviour　she　is　with　him　now。〃

He　turned　around　to　her　and　lifted　himself　eagerly　on　his　elbow。
〃And　do　you　really　think　that？〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　subdued　and
anxious。

〃Indeed　I　do；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　in　a　tone　of　certain　conviction。

Macdonald　sank　back　on　his　pillow；　and　after　a　moment's　silence；
said；　in　a　voice　of　pain：　　〃Oh；　but　it　is　a　peety　she　did　not　know！
It　is　a　peety　she　did　not　know。　　For　many's　the　time　before
beforeher　hour　came　on　her；　she　would　be　afraid。〃

〃But　she　was　not　afraid　at　the　last；　Mr。　Macdonald？〃

〃Indeed；　no。　　I　wondered　at　her。　　She　was　like　a　babe　in　its
mother's　arms。　　There　was　a　light　on　her　face；　and　I　mind　well　what
she　said。〃　　Macdonald　paused。　　There　was　a　stir　in　the　kitchen；　and
Mrs。　Murray；　glancing　behind　her；　saw　Ranald　standing　near　the　door
intently　listening。　　Then　Macdonald　went　on。　　〃I　mind　well　the
words；　as　if　it　was　yesterday。　　'Hugh；　my　man；'　she　said；　'am　no
feared'　（she　was　from　the　Lowlands；　but　she　was　a　fine　woman）；　'I
haena　the　marks；　but　'm　no　feared　but　He'll　ken　me。　　Ye'll　tak'
care　o'　Ranald；　for；　oh；　Hugh！　I　ha'　gi'en　him　to　the　Lord。　　The
Lord　help　you　to　mak'　a　guid　man　o'　him。'〃　　Macdonald's　voice
faltered　into　silence；　then；　after　a　few　moments；　he　cried；　〃And
oh！　Mistress　Murra'；　I　cannot　tell　you　the　often　these　words　do
keep　coming　to　me；　and　it　is　myself　that　has　not　kept　the　promise　I
made　to　her；　and　may　the　Lord　forgive　me。〃

The　look　of　misery　in　the　dark　eyes　touched　Mrs。　Murray　to　the
heart。　　She　laid　her　hand　on　Macdonald's　arm；　but　she　could　not
find　words　to　speak。　　Suddenly　Macdonald　recalled　himself。

〃You　will　forgive　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　will　not　be　telling　any
one。〃

By　this　time　the　tears　were　streaming　down　her　face；　and　Mrs。
Murray　could　only　say；　brokenly；　〃You　know　I　will　not。〃

〃Aye；　I　do；〃　said　Macdonald；　with　a　sigh　of　content；　and　he　turned
his　face　away　from　her　to　the　wall。

〃And　now　you　let　me　read　to　you；〃　she　said；　softly；　and　taking　from
her　bag　the　Gaelic　Bible；　which　with　much　toil　she　had　learned　to
read　since　coming　to　this　Highland　congregation；　she　read　to　him
from　the　old　Psalm　those　words；　brave；　tender；　and　beautiful；　that
have　so　often　comforted　the　weary　and　wandering　children　of　men；
〃The　Lord　is　my　Shepherd；〃　and　so　on　to　the　end。　　Then　from　psalm
to　psalm　she　passed；　selecting　such　parts　as　suited　her　purpose；
until　Macdonald　turned　to　her　again　and　said；　admiringly：

〃It　is　yourself　that　has　the　bonnie　Gaelic。〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　said；　with　a　smile；　〃it　is　not　really　good；　but
it　is　the　best　a　south　country　woman　can　do。〃

〃Indeed；　it　is　very　pretty；〃　he　said；　earnestly。

Then　the　minister's　wife　said；　timidly；　〃I　cannot　pray　in　the
Gaelic。〃

〃Oh；　the　English　will　be　very　good；〃　said　Macdonald；　and　she　knelt
down　and　in　simple　words　poured　out　her　heart　in　prayer。　　Before
she　rose　from　her　knees　she　opened　the　Gaelic　Bible；　and　turned　to
the　words　of　the　Lord's　Prayer。

〃We　will　say　this　prayer　together；〃　she　said；　gently。

Macdonald；　bowing　his　head　gravely；　answered：　　〃It　is　what　she
would　often　be　doing　with　me。〃

There　was　still　only　one　woman　to　this　lonely　hearted　man；　and　with
a　sudden　rush　of　pity　that　showed　itself　in　her　breaking　voice；　the
minister's　wife　began　in　Gaelic；　〃Our　Father　which　art　in　heaven。〃

Macdonald　followed　her　in　a　whisper　through　the　petitions　until
they　came　to　the　words；　〃And　forgive　us　our　debts　as　we　forgive　our
debtors；〃　when　he　paused　and　would　say　no　more。　　Mrs。　Murray
repeated　the　words　of　the　petition；　but　still　there　was　no
response。　　Then　the　minister's　wife　knew　that　she　had　her　finger
upon　a　sore　spot；　and　she　finished　the　prayer　alone。

For　a　time　she　sat　silent；　unwilling　to　probe　the　wound；　and　yet
too　brave　to　flinch　from　what　she　felt　to　be　duty。

〃We　have　much　to　be　forgiven；〃　she　said；　gently。　　〃More　than　we　can
ever　forgive。〃　　Still　there　was　silence。

〃And　the　heart　that　cannot　forgive　an　injury　is　closed　to　the
forgiveness　of　God。〃

The　morning　sun　was　gleaming　through　the　treetops；　and　Mrs。　Murray
was　worn　with　her　night's　vigil；　and　anxious　to　get　home。　　She
rose；　and　offering　Macdonald　her　hand；　smiled　down　into　his　face；
and　said：　　〃Good　by！　　We　must　try　to　forgive。〃

As　he　took　her　hand；　Macdonald's　dark　face　began　to　work；　and　he
broke　forth　into　a　bitter　cry。

〃He　took　me　unawares！　　And　it　was　a　coward's　blow！　and　I　will　not
forgive　him　until　I　have　given　him　what　he　deserves；　if　the　Lord
spares　me！〃　　And　then　he　poured　forth；　in　hot　and　bitter　words；　the
story　of　the　great　fight。　　By　the　time　he　had　finished　his　tale
Ranald　had　come　in　from　the　kitchen；　and　was　standing　with　clenched
fists　and　face　pale　with　passion　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。

As　Mrs。　Murray　listened　to　this　story　her　eyes　began　to　burn；　and
when　it　was　over；　she　burst　forth：　　〃Oh；　it　was　a　cruel　and
cowardly　and　brutal　thing　for　men　to　do！　　And　did　you　beat　them
off？〃　she　asked。

〃Aye；　and　that　we　did；〃　burst　in　Ranald。　　And　in　breathless　haste
and　with　flashing　eye　he　told　them　of　Macdonald　Bhain's　part　in　the
fight。

〃Splendid！〃　cried　the　minister's　wife；　forgetting　herself　for　the
moment。

〃But　he　let　him　go；〃　said　Ranald；　sadly。　　〃He　would　not　strike　him；
but　just　let　him　go。〃

Then　the　minister's　wife　cried　again：　　〃Ah；　he　is　a　great　man；　your
uncle！　　And　a　great　Christian。　　Greater　than　I　could　have　been；　for
I　would　have　slain　him　then　and　there。〃　　Her　eyes　flashed；　and　the
color　flamed　in　her　face　as　she　uttered　these　words。

〃Aye；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　regarding　her　with　deep　satisfaction。
His　tone　and　look　recalled　the　minister's　wife；　and　turning　to
Ranald；　she　added；　sadly：

〃But　your　uncle　was　right；　Ranald；　and　we　must　forgive　even　as　he
did。〃

〃That；〃　cried　Ranald；　with　fierce　emphasis；　〃I　will　never　do；　until
once　I　will　be　having　my　hands　on　his　throat。〃

〃Hush；　Ranald！〃　said　the　minister's　wife。　　〃I　know　it　is　hard；　but
we　must　forgive。　　You　see　we　MUST　forgive。　　And　we　must　ask　Him　to
help　us；　who　has　more　to　forgive　than　any　other。〃

But　she　said　no　more　to　Macdonald　Dubh　on　that　subject　that　morning。
The　fire　of　the　battle　was　in　her　heart；　and　she　felt　she　could
more　easily　sympathize　with　his　desire　for　vengeance　than　with　the
Christian　grace　of　forgiveness。　　But　as　they　rode　home　together
through　the　bush；　where　death　had　trailed　them　so　closely　the　night
before；　the　sweet　sunlight　and　the　crisp；　fresh　air；　and　all　the
still　beauty　of　the　morning；　working　with　the　memory　of　their
saving；　rebuked　and　soothed　and　comforted　her；　and　when　Ranald
turned　back　from　the　manse　door；　she　said　softly：　　〃Our　Father　in
heaven　was　very　good　to　us；　Ranald；　and　we　should　be　like　him。　　He
forgives　and　loves；　and　we　should；　too。〃

And　Ranald；　looking　into　the　sweet　face；　pale　with　the　long　night's
trials；　but　tinged　now　with　the　faintest　touch　of　color　from　the
morning；