weir of hermiston-第12章

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prevailed　upon　a　little　by　a　sense　of　neighbourliness；　had　given　Gib　a　

hint。　　Meeting　him　one　day　in　the　Potterrow；　my　lord　had　stopped　in　

front　of　him：　〃Gib；　ye　eediot；〃　he　had　said；　〃what's　this　I　hear　of　you？　　

Poalitics；　poalitics；　poalitics；　weaver's　poalitics；　is　the　way　of　it；　I　

hear。　　If　ye　arena　a'thegither　dozened　with　cediocy；　ye'll　gang　your　

ways　back　to　Cauldstaneslap；　and　ca'　your　loom；　and　ca'　your　loom；　man！〃　　

And　Gilbert　had　taken　him　at　the　word　and　returned；　with　an　expedition　

almost　to　be　called　flight；　to　the　house　of　his　father。　　The　clearest　of　

his　inheritance　was　that　family　gift　of　prayer　of　which　Kirstie　had　

boasted；　and　the　baffled　politician　now　turned　his　attention　to　

religious　matters　…　or；　as　others　said；　to　heresy　and　schism。　　Every　

Sunday　morning　he　was　in　Crossmichael；　where　he　had　gathered　together；　

one　by　one；　a　sect　of　about　a　dozen　persons；　who　called　themselves　

〃God's　Remnant　of　the　True　Faithful；〃　or；　for　short；　〃God's　Remnant。〃　　

To　the　profane；　they　were　known　as　〃Gib's　Deils。〃　　Bailie　Sweedie；　a　

noted　humorist　in　the　town；　vowed　that　the　proceedings　always　opened　to　

the　tune　of　〃The　Deil　Fly　Away　with　the　Exciseman；〃　and　that　the　

sacrament　was　dispensed　in　the　form　of　hot　whisky…toddy；　both　wicked　

hits　at　the　evangelist；　who　had　been　suspected　of　smuggling　in　his　

youth；　and　had　been　overtaken　（as　the　phrase　went）　on　the　streets　of　

Crossmichael　one　Fair　day。　　It　was　known　that　every　Sunday　they　prayed　

for　a　blessing　on　the　arms　of　Bonaparte。　　For　this　〃God's　Remnant；〃　as　

they　were　〃skailing〃　from　the　cottage　that　did　duty　for　a　temple；　had　

been　repeatedly　stoned　by　the　bairns；　and　Gib　himself　hooted　by　a　

squadron　of　Border　volunteers　in　which　his　own　brother；　Dand；　rode　in　a　

uniform　and　with　a　drawn　sword。　　The　〃Remnant〃　were　believed；　besides；　

to　be　〃antinomian　in　principle；〃　which　might　otherwise　have　been　a　

serious　charge；　but　the　way　public　opinion　then　blew　it　was　quite　

swallowed　up　and　forgotten　in　the　scandal　about　Bonaparte。　　For　the　

rest；　Gilbert　had　set　up　his　loom　in　an　outhouse　at　Cauldstaneslap；　

where　he　laboured　assiduously　six　days　of　the　week。　　His　brothers；　

appalled　by　his　political　opinions；　and　willing　to　avoid　dissension　in　

the　household；　spoke　but　little　to　him；　he　less　to　them；　remaining　

absorbed　in　the　study　of　the　Bible　and　almost　constant　prayer。　　The　

gaunt　weaver　was　dry…nurse　at　Cauldstaneslap；　and　the　bairns　loved　him　

dearly。　　Except　when　he　was　carrying　an　infant　in　his　arms；　he　was　

rarely　seen　to　smile　…　as；　indeed；　there　were　few　smilers　in　that　

family。　　When　his　sister…in…law　rallied　him；　and　proposed　that　he　should　

get　a　wife　and　bairns　of　his　own；　since　he　was　so　fond　of　them；　〃I　have　

no　clearness　of　mind　upon　that　point；〃　he　would　reply。　　If　nobody　called　

him　in　to　dinner；　he　stayed　out。　　Mrs。　Hob；　a　hard；　unsympathetic　woman；　

once　tried　the　experiment。　　He　went　without　food　all　day；　but　at　dusk；　

as　the　light　began　to　fail　him；　he　came　into　the　house　of　his　own　

accord；　looking　puzzled。　　〃I've　had　a　great　gale　of　prayer　upon　my　

speerit；〃　said　he。　　〃I　canna　mind　sae　muckle's　what　I　had　for　denner。〃　　

The　creed　of　God's　Remnant　was　justified　in　the　life　of　its　founder。　　

〃And　yet　I　dinna　ken；〃　said　Kirstie。　　〃He's　maybe　no　more　stockfish　than　

his　neeghbours！　　He　rode　wi'　the　rest　o'　them；　and　had　a　good　stamach　to　

the　work；　by　a'　that　I　hear！　　God's　Remnant！　　The　deil's　clavers！　　There　

wasna　muckle　Christianity　in　the　way　Hob　guided　Johnny　Dickieson；　at　the　

least　of　it；　but　Guid　kens！　　Is　he　a　Christian　even？　　He　might　be　a　

Mahommedan　or　a　Deevil　or　a　Fire…worshipper；　for　what　I　ken。〃



The　third　brother　had　his　name　on　a　door…plate；　no　less；　in　the　city　of　

Glasgow；　〃Mr。　　Clement　Elliott；〃　as　long　as　your　arm。　　In　his　case；　that　

spirit　of　innovation　which　had　shown　itself　timidly　in　the　case　of　Hob　

by　the　admission　of　new　manures；　and　which　had　run　to　waste　with　Gilbert　

in　subversive　politics　and　heretical　religions；　bore　useful　fruit　in　

many　ingenious　mechanical　improvements。　　In　boyhood；　from　his　addiction　

to　strange　devices　of　sticks　and　string；　he　had　been　counted　the　most　

eccentric　of　the　family。　　But　that　was　all　by　now；　and　he　was　a　partner　

of　his　firm；　and　looked　to　die　a　bailie。　　He　too　had　married；　and　was　

rearing　a　plentiful　family　in　the　smoke　and　din　of　Glasgow；　he　was　

wealthy；　and　could　have　bought　out　his　brother；　the　cock…laird；　six　

times　over；　it　was　whispered；　and　when　he　slipped　away　to　Cauldstaneslap　

for　a　well…earned　holiday；　which　he　did　as　often　as　he　was　able；　he　

astonished　the　neighbours　with　his　broadcloth；　his　beaver　hat；　and　the　

ample　plies　of　his　neckcloth。　　Though　an　eminently　solid　man　at　bottom；　

after　the　pattern　of　Hob；　he　had　contracted　a　certain　Glasgow　briskness　

and　APLOMB　which　set　him　off。　　All　the　other　Elliotts　were　as　lean　as　a　

rake；　but　Clement　was　laying　on　fat；　and　he　panted　sorely　when　he　must　

get　into　his　boots。　　Dand　said；　chuckling：　〃Ay；　Clem　has　the　elements　of　

a　corporation。〃　　〃A　provost　and　corporation；〃　returned　Clem。　　And　his　

readiness　was　much　admired。



The　fourth　brother；　Dand；　was　a　shepherd　to　his　trade；　and　by　starts；　

when　he　could　bring　his　mind　to　it；　excelled　in　the　business。　　Nobody　

could　train　a　dog　like　Dandie；　nobody；　through　the　peril　of　great　storms　

in　the　winter　time；　could　do　more　gallantly。　　But　if　his　dexterity　were　

exquisite；　his　diligence　was　but　fitful；　and　he　served　his　brother　for　

bed　and　board；　and　a　trifle　of　pocket…money　when　he　asked　for　it。　　He　

loved　money　well　enough；　knew　very　well　how　to　spend　it；　and　could　make　

a　shrewd　bargain　when　he　liked。　　But　he　preferred　a　vague　knowledge　that　

he　was　well　to　windward　to　any　counted　coins　in　the　pocket；　he　felt　

himself　richer　so。　　Hob　would　expostulate：　〃I'm　an　amature　herd。〃　　Dand　

would　reply；　〃I'll　keep　your　sheep　to　you　when　I'm　so　minded；　but　I'll　

keep　my　liberty　too。　　Thir's　no　man　can　coandescend　on　what　I'm　worth。〃　　

Clein　would　expound　to　him　the　miraculous　results　of　compound　interest；　

and　recommend　investments。　　〃Ay；　man？〃　Dand　would　say；　〃and　do　you　

think；　if　I　took　Hob's　siller；　that　I　wouldna　drink　it　or　wear　it　on　the　

lassies？　　And；　anyway；　my　kingdom　is　no　of　this　world。　　Either　I'm　a　

poet　or　else　I'm　nothing。〃　　Clem　would　remind　him　of　old　age。　　〃I'll　die　

young；　like；　Robbie　Burns；〃　he　would　say　stoutly。　　No　question　but　he　

had　a　certain　accomplishment　in　minor　verse。　　His　〃Hermiston　Burn；〃　with　

its　pretty　refrain　…





〃I　love　to　gang　thinking　whaur　ye　gang　linking；

Hermiston　burn；　in　the　howe；〃





his　〃Auld；　auld　Elliotts；　clay…cauld　Elliotts；　dour；　bauld　Elliotts　of　

auld；〃　and　his　really　fascinating　piece　about　the　Praying　Weaver's　

Stone；　had　gained　him　in　the　neighbourhood　the　reputation；　still　

possible　in　Scotland；　of　a　local　bard；　and；　though　not　printed　himself；　

he　was　recognised　by　others　who　were　and　who　had　become　famous。　　Walter　

Scott　owed　to　Dandie　the　text　of　the　〃Raid　of　Wearie〃　in　the　MINSTRELSY；　

and　made　him　welcome　at　his　house；　and　appreciated　his　talents；　such　as　

they　were；　with　all　his　usual　generosity。　　The　Ettrick　Shepherd　was　his　

sworn　crony；　they　would　meet；　drink　to　excess；　roar　out　their　lyrics　in　

each　other's　faces；　and　quarrel　and　make　it　up　again　till　bedtime。　　And　

besides　these　recognitions；　almost　to　be　called　official；　Dandie　was　

made　welcome　for　the　sake　of　his　gift　through　the　farmhouses　of　several　

contiguous　dales；　and　was　thus　exposed　to　manifold　temptations　which　he　

rather　sought　than　fled。　　He　had　figured　on　the　stool　of　repentance；　for　

once　fulfilling　to　the　letter　the　tradition　of　his　hero　and　model。　　His　

humorous　verses　to　Mr。　Torrance　on　that　occasion　…　〃Kenspeckle　here　my　

lane　I　stand〃　…　unfortunately　too　indelicate　for　further　citation；　ran　

through　the　country　like　a　fiery　cross　…　they　were　recited；　quoted；　

paraphrased；　and　laughed　over　as　far　away　as　Dumfries　on　the　one　hand　

and　Dunbar　on　the　other。



These　four　brothers　were　united　by　a　close　bond；　the　bond　of　that　mutual　

admiration　…　or　rather　mutual　hero…worship　…　which　is　so　strong　among　

the　members　of　secluded　families　who　have　much　ability　and　little　

culture。　　Even　the　extremes　admired　each　other。　　Hob；　who　had　as　much　

poetry　as　the　tongs；　professed　to　find　pleasure　in　Dand's　verses；　Clem；　

who　had　no　more　religion　than　Claverhouse；　nourished　a　heartfelt；　at　

least　an　open…mouthed；　admiration　of　Gib's　prayers；　and　Dandie　followed　

with　relish　the　rise　of　Clem's　fortunes。　　Indulgence　followed　hard　on　

the　heels　of　admiration。　　The　laird；　Clem；　and　Dand；　who　were　Tories　and　

patriots　of　the　hottest　quality；　excused　to　themselves；　with　a　certain　

bashfulness；　the　radical　and　revolutionary　heresies　of　Gib。　　By　another　

division　of　the　family；　the　laird；　Clem；　and　Gib；　who　were　men　exactly　

virtuous；　swallowed　the　dose　of　Dand's　irregularities　as　a　kind　of　clog　

or　drawback　in　the　mysterious　providence　of　God　affixed　to　bards；　and　

distinctly　probative　of　poetical　genius。　　To　appreciate　the　simplicity　

of　their　mutual　admiration　it　was　necessary　to　hear　Clem；　arrived　upon　

one　of　his　visits；　and　dealing　in　a　spirit　of　continuous　irony　with　the　

affairs　and　personalities　of　that　great　city　of　Glasgow　where　he　lived　

and　transacted　business。　　The　various　personages；　ministers　of　the　

church；　municipal　officers；　mercantile　big…wigs；　whom　he　had　occasion　to　

introduce；　were　all　alike　denigrated；　all　served　but　as　reflectors　to　

cast　back　a　flattering　side…light　on　the　house　of　Cauldstaneslap。　　The　

Provost；　for　whom　Clem　by　exception　entertained　a　measure　of　respect；　he　

would　liken　to　Hob。　〃He　minds　me　o'　the　laird　there；〃　he　would　say。　　〃He　

has　some　of　Hob's　grand；　whunstane　sense；　and　the　same　way　with　him　of　

steiking　his　mouth　when　he's　no　very　pleased。〃　　And　Hob；　all　

unconscious；　would　draw　down　his　upper　lip　and　produce；　as　if　for　

comparison；　the　formidable　grimace　referred　to。　　The　unsatisfactory　

incumbent　of　St。　Enoch's　Kirk　was　thus　briefly　dismissed：　〃If　he　had　but　

twa　fingers　o'　Gib's；　he　would　waken　them　up。〃　　And　Gib；　honest　man！　

would　look　down　and　secretly　smile。　　Clem　was　a　spy　whom　they　had　sent　

out　into　the　world　of　men。　　He　had　come　back　with　the　good　news　that　

there　was　nobody　to　compare　with　the　Four　Black　Brothers；　no　position　

that　they　would　not　adorn；　no　official　that　it　would　not　be　well　they　

should　replace；　no　interest　of　mankind；　secular　or　spiritual；　which　

would　not　immediately　bloom　under　their　supervision。　　The　excuse　of　

their　folly　is　in　two　words：　scarce　the　breadth　of　a　hair　divided　them　

from　the　peasantry。　　The　measure　of　their　sense　is　this：　that　these　

symposia　of　rustic　vanity　were　kept　entirely　within　the　family；　like　

some　secret　ancestral　practice。　　To　the　world　their　serious　faces　were　

never　deformed　by　the　sus