weir of hermiston-第16章

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Archie；　if　he　were　referred　to　at　all　came　in　for　savage　handling。　　He

was　described　as　〃looking　like　a　stork；〃　〃staring　like　a　caulf；〃　〃a　face

like　a　ghaist's。〃　　〃Do　you　call　that　manners？〃　she　said；　or；　〃I　soon　put

him　in　his　place。〃　〃　‘MISS　CHRISTINA；　IF　YOU　PLEASE；　MR。　　WEIR！'　says　I；

and　just　flyped　up　my　skirt　tails。〃　　With　gabble　like　this　she　would　

entertain　herself　long　whiles　together；　and　then　her　eye　would　perhaps　

fall　on　the　torn　leaf；　and　the　eyes　of　Archie　would　appear　again　from　

the　darkness　of　the　wall；　and　the　voluble　words　deserted　her；　and　she　

would　lie　still　and　stupid；　and　think　upon　nothing　with　devotion；　and　be　

sometimes　raised　by　a　quiet　sigh。　　Had　a　doctor　of　medicine　come　into　

that　loft；　he　would　have　diagnosed　a　healthy；　well…developed；　eminently　

vivacious　lass　lying　on　her　face　in　a　fit　of　the　sulks；　not　one　who　had　

just　contracted；　or　was　just　contracting；　a　mortal　sickness　of　the　mind　

which　should　yet　carry　her　towards　death　and　despair。　　Had　it　been　a　

doctor　of　psychology；　he　might　have　been　pardoned　for　divining　in　the　

girl　a　passion　of　childish　vanity；　self…love　IN　EXCELSIS；　and　no　more。　　

It　is　to　be　understood　that　I　have　been　painting　chaos　and　describing　

the　inarticulate。　　Every　lineament　that　appears　is　too　precise；　almost　

every　word　used　too　strong。　　Take　a　finger…post　in　the　mountains　on　a　

day　of　rolling　mists；　I　have　but　copied　the　names　that　appear　upon　the　

pointers；　the　names　of　definite　and　famous　cities　far　distant；　and　now　

perhaps　basking　in　sunshine；　but　Christina　remained　all　these　hours；　as　

it　were；　at　the　foot　of　the　post　itself；　not　moving；　and　enveloped　in　

mutable　and　blinding　wreaths　of　haze。



The　day　was　growing　late　and　the　sunbeams　long　and　level；　when　she　sat　

suddenly　up；　and　wrapped　in　its　handkerchief　and　put　by　that　psalm…book　

which　had　already　played　a　part　so　decisive　in　the　first　chapter　of　her　

love…story。　　In　the　absence　of　the　mesmerist's　eye；　we　are　told　nowadays　

that　the　head　of　a　bright　nail　may　fill　his　place；　if　it　be　steadfastly　

regarded。　　So　that　torn　page　had　riveted　her　attention　on　what　might　

else　have　been　but　little；　and　perhaps　soon　forgotten；　while　the　ominous　

words　of　Dandie　…　heard；　not　heeded；　and　still　remembered　…　had　lent　to　

her　thoughts；　or　rather　to　her　mood；　a　cast　of　solemnity；　and　that　idea　

of　Fate　…　a　pagan　Fate；　uncontrolled　by　any　Christian　deity；　obscure；　

lawless；　and　august　…　moving　indissuadably　in　the　affairs　of　Christian　

men。　　Thus　even　that　phenomenon　of　love　at　first　sight；　which　is　so　rare　

and　seems　so　simple　and　violent；　like　a　disruption　of　life's　tissue；　may　

be　decomposed　into　a　sequence　of　accidents　happily　concurring。



She　put　on　a　grey　frock　and　a　pink　kerchief；　looked　at　herself　a　moment　

with　approval　in　the　small　square　of　glass　that　served　her　for　a　toilet　

mirror；　and　went　softly　downstairs　through　the　sleeping　house　that　

resounded　with　the　sound　of　afternoon　snoring。　　Just　outside　the　door；　

Dandie　was　sitting　with　a　book　in　his　hand；　not　reading；　only　honouring　

the　Sabbath　by　a　sacred　vacancy　of　mind。　　She　came　near　him　and　stood　

still。



〃I'm　for　off　up　the　muirs；　Dandie；〃　she　said。



There　was　something　unusually　soft　in　her　tones　that　made　him　look　up。　　

She　was　pale；　her　eyes　dark　and　bright；　no　trace　remained　of　the　levity　

of　the　morning。



〃Ay；　lass？　　Ye'll　have　yer　ups　and　downs　like　me；　I'm　thinkin'；〃　he　

observed。



〃What　for　do　ye　say　that？〃　she　asked。



〃O；　for　naething；〃　says　Dand。　　〃Only　I　think　ye're　mair　like　me　than　the　

lave　of　them。　　Ye've　mair　of　the　poetic　temper；　tho'　Guid　kens　little　

enough　of　the　poetic　taalent。　　It's　an　ill　gift　at　the　best。　　Look　at　

yoursel'。　　At　denner　you　were　all　sunshine　and　flowers　and　laughter；　and　

now　you're　like　the　star　of　evening　on　a　lake。〃



She　drank　in　this　hackneyed　compliment　like　wine；　and　it　glowed　in　her　

veins。



〃But　I'm　saying；　Dand〃　…　she　came　nearer　him　…　〃I'm　for　the　muirs。　　I　

must　have　a　braith　of　air。　　If　Clem　was　to　be　speiring　for　me；　try　and　

quaiet　him；　will　ye　no？〃



〃What　way？〃　said　Dandie。　　〃I　ken　but　the　ae　way；　and　that's　leein'。〃　　

I'll　say　ye　had　a　sair　heid；　if　ye　like。〃



〃But　I　havena；〃　she　objected。



〃I　daursay　no；〃　he　returned。　　〃I　said　I　would　say　ye　had；　and　if　ye　like　

to　nay…say　me　when　ye　come　back；　it'll　no　mateerially　maitter；　for　my　

chara'ter's　clean　gane　a'ready　past　reca'。〃



〃O；　Dand；　are　ye　a　lecar？〃　she　asked；　lingering。



〃Folks　say　sae；〃　replied　the　bard。



〃Wha　says　sae？〃　she　pursued。



〃Them　that　should　ken　the　best；〃　he　responded。　　〃The　lassies；　for　ane。〃



〃But；　Dand；　you　would　never　lee　to　me？〃　she　asked。



〃I'll　leave　that　for　your　pairt　of　it；　ye　girzie；〃　said　he。　　〃Ye'll　lee　

to　me　fast　eneuch；　when　ye　hae　gotten　a　jo。　　I'm　tellin'　ye　and　it's　

true；　when　you　have　a　jo；　Miss　Kirstie；　it'll　be　for　guid　and　ill。　　I　

ken：　I　was　made　that　way　mysel'；　but　the　deil　was　in　my　luck！　　Here；　

gang　awa　wi'　ye　to　your　muirs；　and　let　me　be；　I'm　in　an　hour　of　

inspiraution；　ye　upsetting　tawpie！〃



But　she　clung　to　her　brother's　neighbourhood；　she　knew　not　why。



〃Will　ye　no　gie's　a　kiss；　Dand？〃　she　said。　　〃I　aye　likit　ye　fine。〃



He　kissed　her　and　considered　her　a　moment；　he　found　something　strange　in　

her。　　But　he　was　a　libertine　through　and　through；　nourished　equal　

contempt　and　suspicion　of　all　womankind；　and　paid　his　way　among　them　

habitually　with　idle　compliments。



〃Gae　wa'　wi'　ye！〃　said　he。　　〃Ye're　a　dentie　baby；　and　be　content　wi'　

that！〃



That　was　Dandie's　way；　a　kiss　and　a　comfit　to　Jenny　…　a　bawbee　and　my　

blessing　to　Jill　…　and　goodnight　to　the　whole　clan　of　ye；　my　dears！　　

When　anything　approached　the　serious；　it　became　a　matter　for　men；　he　

both　thought　and　said。　　Women；　when　they　did　not　absorb；　were　only　

children　to　be　shoo'd　away。　　Merely　in　his　character　of　connoisseur；　

however；　Dandie　glanced　carelessly　after　his　sister　as　she　crossed　the　

meadow。　　〃The　brat's　no　that　bad！〃　he　thought　with　surprise；　for　though　

he　had　just　been　paying　her　compliments；　he　had　not　really　looked　at　

her。　　〃Hey！　what's　yon？〃　　For　the　grey　dress　was　cut　with　short　sleeves　

and　skirts；　and　displayed　her　trim　strong　legs　clad　in　pink　stockings　of　

the　same　shade　as　the　kerchief　she　wore　round　her　shoulders；　and　that　

shimmered　as　she　went。　　This　was　not　her　way　in　undress；　he　knew　her　

ways　and　the　ways　of　the　whole　sex　in　the　country…side；　no　one　better；　

when　they　did　not　go　barefoot；　they　wore　stout　〃rig　and　furrow〃　woollen　

hose　of　an　invisible　blue　mostly；　when　they　were　not　black　outright；　and　

Dandie；　at　sight　of　this　daintiness；　put　two　and　two　together。　　It　was　a　

silk　handkerchief；　then　they　would　be　silken　hose；　they　matched　…　then　

the　whole　outfit　was　a　present　of　Clem's；　a　costly　present；　and　not　

something　to　be　worn　through　bog　and　briar；　or　on　a　late　afternoon　of　

Sunday。　　He　whistled。　　〃My　denty　May；　either　your　heid's　fair　turned；　or　

there's　some　ongoings！〃　he　observed；　and　dismissed　the　subject。



She　went　slowly　at　first；　but　ever　straighter　and　faster　for　the　

Cauldstaneslap；　a　pass　among　the　hills　to　which　the　farm　owed　its　name。　　

The　Slap　opened　like　a　doorway　between　two　rounded　hillocks；　and　through　

this　ran　the　short　cut　to　Hermiston。　　Immediately　on　the　other　side　it　

went　down　through　the　Deil's　Hags；　a　considerable　marshy　hollow　of　the　

hill　tops；　full　of　springs；　and　crouching　junipers；　and　pools　where　the　

black　peat…water　slumbered。　　There　was　no　view　from　here。　　A　man　might　

have　sat　upon　the　Praying　Weaver's　stone　a　half　century；　and　seen　none　

but　the　Cauldstaneslap　children　twice　in　the　twenty…four　hours　on　their　

way　to　the　school　and　back　again；　an　occasional　shepherd；　the　irruption　

of　a　clan　of　sheep；　or　the　birds　who　haunted　about　the　springs；　drinking　

and　shrilly　piping。　　So；　when　she　had　once　passed　the　Slap；　Kirstie　was　

received　into　seclusion。　　She　looked　back　a　last　time　at　the　farm。　　It　

still　lay　deserted　except　for　the　figure　of　Dandie；　who　was　now　seen　to　

be　scribbling　in　his　lap；　the　hour　of　expected　inspiration　having　come　

to　him　at　last。　　Thence　she　passed　rapidly　through　the　morass；　and　came　

to　the　farther　end　of　it；　where　a　sluggish　burn　discharges；　and　the　path　

for　Hermiston　accompanies　it　on　the　beginning　of　its　downward　path。　　

From　this　corner　a　wide　view　was　opened　to　her　of　the　whole　stretch　of　

braes　upon　the　other　side；　still　sallow　and　in　places　rusty　with　the　

winter；　with　the　path　marked　boldly；　here　and　there　by　the　burn…side　a　

tuft　of　birches；　and　…　two　miles　off　as　the　crow　flies　…　from　its　

enclosures　and　young　plantations；　the　windows　of　Hermiston　glittering　in　

the　western　sun。



Here　she　sat　down　and　waited；　and　looked　for　a　long　time　at　these　far…

away　bright　panes　of　glass。　　It　amused　her　to　have　so　extended　a　view；　

she　thought。　　It　amused　her　to　see　the　house　of　Hermiston　…　to　see　

〃folk〃；　and　there　was　an　indistinguishable　human　unit；　perhaps　the　

gardener；　visibly　sauntering　on　the　gravel　paths。



By　the　time　the　sun　was　down　and　all　the　easterly　braes　lay　plunged　in　

clear　shadow；　she　was　aware　of　another　figure　coming　up　the　path　at　a　

most　unequal　rate　of　approach；　now　half　running；　now　pausing　and　seeming　

to　hesitate。　　She　watched　him　at　first　with　a　total　suspension　of　

thought。　　She　held　her　thought　as　a　person　holds　his　breathing。　　Then　

she　consented　to　recognise　him。　　〃He'll　no　be　coming　here；　he　canna　be；　

it's　no　possible。〃　　And　there　began　to　grow　upon　her　a　subdued　choking　

suspense。　　He　WAS　coming；　his　hesitations　had　quite　ceased；　his　step　

grew　firm　and　swift；　no　doubt　remained；　and　the　question　loomed　up　

before　her　instant：　what　was　she　to　do？　　It　was　all　very　well　to　say　

that　her　brother　was　a　laird　himself：　it　was　all　very　well　to　speak　of　

casual　intermarriages　and　to　count　cousinship；　like　Auntie　Kirstie。　　The　

difference　in　their　social　station　was　trenchant；　propriety；　prudence；　

all　that　she　had　ever　learned；　all　that　she　knew；　bade　her　flee。　　But　on　

the　other　hand　the　cup　of　life　now　offered　to　her　was　too　enchanting。　　

For　one　moment；　she　saw　the　question　clearly；　and　definitely　made　her　

choice。　　She　stood　up　and　showed　herself　an　instant　in　the　gap　relieved　

upon　the　sky　line；　and　the　next；　fled　trembling　and　sat　down　glowing　

with　excitement　on　the　Weaver's　stone。　　She　shut　her　eyes；　seeking；　

praying　for　composure。　　Her　hand　shook　in　her　lap；　and　her　mind　was　full　

of　incongruous　and　futile　speeches。　　What　was　there　to　make　a　work　

about？　　She　could　take　care　of　herself；　she　supposed！　　There　was　no　harm　

in　seeing　the　laird。　　It　was　the　best　thing　that　could　happen。　　She　

would　mark　a　proper　distance　to　him　once　and　for　all。　　Gradually　the　

wheels　of　her　nature　ceased　to　go　round　so　madly；　and　she　sat　in　passive　

expectation；　a　quiet；　solitary　figur