首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第17章

第17章

  Afterhavingsatisfiedhiscuriositybygazingaroundhimforafewminutes,Waverleyappliedhimselftothemassiveknockerofthehalldoor,thearchitraveofwhichborethedate1594。
  Butnoanswerwasreturned,thoughthepealresoundedthroughanumberofapartments,andwasechoedfromthecourt-yardwallswithoutthehouse,startlingthepigeonsfromthevenerablerotundawhichtheyoccupied,andalarminganeweventhedistantvillagecurs,whichhadretiredtosleepupontheirrespectivedunghills。Tiredofthedinwhichhecreated,andtheunprofitableresponseswhichitexcited,WaverleybegantothinkthathehadreachedthecastleofOrgoglio,asenteredbythevictoriousPrinceArthur,When’ganheloudlythroughthehousetocall,Butnomancaredtoanswertohiscry;
  Therereignedasolemnsilenceoverall,Norvoicewasheard,norwightwasseen,inbowerorhall。
  Filledalmostwithexpectationofbeholdingsomeold,oldman,withbeardaswhiteassnow,’’whomhemightquestionconcerningthisdesertedmansion,ourheroturnedtoalittleoakenwicket-door,wellclenchedwithironnails,whichopenedinthecourtyardwallatitsanglewiththehouse。Itwasonlylatched,notwithstandingitsfortifiedappearance,andwhenopenedadmittedhimintothegarden,whichpresentedapleasantscene。Thesouthernsideofthehouse,clothedwithfruit-trees,AtRavelstonmaybeseensuchagarden,whichthetasteoftheproprietor,theauthor’sfriendandkinsman,SirAlexanderKeith,KnightMareschal,hasjudiciouslypreserved。That,aswellasthehouse,is,however,ofsmallerdimensionsthantheBaronofBradwardine’smansionandgardenarepresumedtohavebeen。
  andhavingmanyevergreenstraineduponitswalls,extendeditsirregularyetvenerablefrontalongaterrace,partlypaved,partlygravelled,partlyborderedwithflowersandchoiceshrubs。Thiselevationdescendedbythreeseveralflightsofsteps,placedinitscentreandattheextremities,intowhatmightbecalledthegardenproper,andwasfencedalongthetopbyastoneparapetwithaheavybalustrade,ornamentedfromspacetospacewithhugegrotesquefiguresofanimalsseatedupontheirhaunches,amongwhichthefavouritebearwasrepeatedlyintroduced。Placedinthemiddleoftheterrace,betweenasashed-dooropeningfromthehouseandthecentralflightofsteps,ahugeanimalofthesamespeciessupportedonhisheadandfore-pawsasun-dialoflargecircumferenceinscribedwithmorediagramsthanEdward’smathematicsenabledhimtodecipher。
  Thegarden,whichseemedtobekeptwithgreataccuracy,aboundedinfruit-trees,andexhibitedaprofusionofflowersandevergreens,cutintogrotesqueforms。Itwaslaidoutinterraces,whichdescendedrankbyrankfromthewesternwalltoalargebrook,whichhadatranquilandsmoothappearance,whereitservedasaboundarytothegarden;but,neartheextremity,leaptintumultoverastrongdam,orwear-head,thecauseofitstemporarytranquillity,andthereformingacascade,wasoverlookedbyanoctangularsummer-house,withagildedbearonthetopbywayofvane。Afterthisfeat,thebrook,assumingitsnaturalrapidandfiercecharacter,escapedfromtheeyedownadeepandwoodeddell,fromthecopseofwhicharoseamassive,butruinoustower,theformerhabitationoftheBaronsofBradwardine。Themarginofthebrook,oppositetothegarden,displayedanarrowmeadow,orhaugh,asitwascalled,whichformedasmallwashing-green;thebank,whichretiredbehindit,wascoveredbyancienttrees。
  Thescene,thoughpleasing,wasnotquiteequaltothegardensofAlcina;yetwantednotthe_duedonzellettegarrule_’’
  ofthatenchantedparadise,foruponthegreenaforesaidtwobare-leggeddamsels,eachstandinginaspacioustub,performedwiththeirfeettheofficeofapatentwashing-machine。Thesedidnot,however,likethemaidensofArmida,remaintogreetwiththeirharmonytheapproachingguest,but,alarmedattheappearanceofahandsomestrangerontheoppositeside,droppedtheirgarmentsIshouldsaygarment,tobequitecorrectovertheirlimbs,whichtheiroccupationexposedsomewhattoofreely,and,withashrillexclamationofEh,sirs!’’utteredwithanaccentbetweenmodestyandcoquetry,sprungofflikedeerindifferentdirections。
  Waverleybegantodespairofgainingentranceintothissolitaryandseeminglyenchantedmansion,whenamanadvanceduponeofthegardenalleys,wherehestillretainedhisstation。
  Trustingthismightbeagardener,orsomedomesticbelongingtothehouse,Edwarddescendedthestepsinordertomeethim;
  butasthefigureapproached,andlongbeforehecoulddescryitsfeatures,hewasstruckwiththeoddityofitsappearanceandgestures-Sometimesthismisterwightheldhishandsclaspedoverhishead,likeanIndianJogueintheattitudeofpenance;
  sometimesheswungthemperpendicularly,likeapendulum,oneachside;andanonheslappedthemswiftlyandrepeatedlyacrosshisbreast,likethesubstituteusedbyahackney-coachmanforhisusualfloggingexercise,whenhiscattleareidleuponthestandinaclearfrostyday。Hisgaitwasassingularashisgestures,forattimeshehoppedwithgreatperseveranceontherightfoot,thenexchangedthatsupportertoadvanceinthesamemannerontheleft,andthenputtinghisfeetclosetogether,hehoppeduponbothatonce。Hisattire,also,wasantiquatedandextravagant。Itconsistedinasortofgreyjerkin,withscarletcuffsandslashedsleeves,showingascarletlining;theotherpartsofthedresscorrespondedincolour,notforgettingapairofscarletstockings,andascarletbonnet,proudlysurmountedwithaturkey’sfeather。Edward,whomhedidnotseemtoobserve,nowperceivedconfirmationinhisfeaturesofwhatthemienandgestureshadalreadyannounced。
  Itwasapparentlyneitheridiocynorinsanitywhichgavethatwild,unsettled,irregularexpressiontoafacewhichnaturallywasratherhandsome,butsomethingthatresembledacompoundofboth,wherethesimplicityofthefoolwasmixedwiththeextravaganceofacrazedimagination。Hesungwithgreatearnestness,andnotwithoutsometaste,afragmentofanoldScottishditty:-
  Falselove,andhastthouplayedmethusInsummeramongtheflowers?
  IwillrepaytheebackagainInwinteramongtheshowers。
  Unlessagain,again,mylove,Unlessyouturnagain;
  Asyouwithothermaidensrove,I’llsmileonothermen。
  Thisisagenuineancientfragment,withsomealterationinthelasttwolines。
  Hereliftinguphiseyes,whichhadhithertobeenfixedinobservinghowhisfeetkepttimetothetune,hebeheldWaverley,andinstantlydoffedhiscap,withmanygrotesquesignalsofsurprise,respect,andsalutation。Edward,thoughwithlittlehopeofreceivingananswer,toanyconstantquestion,requestedtoknowwhetherMr。Bradwardinewereathome,orwherehecouldfindanyofthedomestics。Thequestionedpartyreplied,-and,likethewitchofThalaba,stillhisspeechwassong,’’-
  TheKnight’stothemountainHisbugletowind;
  TheLady’stogreenwood。
  Hergarlandtobind。
  ThebowerofBurdEllenHasmossonthefloor,ThatthestepofLordWilliamBesilentandsure。
  Thisconveyednoinformation,andEdward,repeatinghisqueries,receivedarapidanswer,inwhich,fromthehasteandpeculiarityofthedialect,thewordbutler’’wasaloneintelligible。
  Waverleythenrequestedtoseethebutler;uponwhichthefellow,withaknowinglookandnodofintelligence,madeasignaltoEdwardtofollow,andbegantodanceandcaperdownthealleyupwhichhehadmadehisapproaches-Astrangeguidethis,thoughtEdward,andnotmuchunlikeoneofShakspeare’sroynishclowns。Iamnotoverprudenttotrusttohispilotage;butwisermenhavebeenledbyfools-Bythistimehereachedthebottomofthealley,where,turningshortonalittleparterreofflowers,shroudedfromtheeastandnorthbyacloseyewhedge,hefoundanoldmanatworkwithouthiscoat,whoseappearancehoveredbetweenthatofanupperservantandgardener;hisrednoseandruffledshirtbelongingtotheformerprofession;hishaleandsun-burntvisage,withhisgreenapron,appearingtoindicateOldAdam’slikeness,settodressthisgarden。
  Themajordomo-forsuchhewas,andindisputablythesecondofficerofstateinthebaronynay,aschiefministeroftheinterior,superioreventoBailieMacwheeble,inhisowndepartmentofthekitchenandcellar-themajordomolaiddownhisspade,slippedonhiscoatinhaste,andwithawrathfullookatEdward’sguide,probablyexcitedbyhishavingintroducedastrangerwhilehewasengagedinthislaborious,and,ashemightsupposeit,degradingoffice,requestedtoknowthegentleman’scommands。Beinginformedthathewishedtopayhisrespectstohismaster,thathisnamewasWaverley,andsoforth,theoldman’scountenanceassumedagreatdealofrespectfulimportance。Hecouldtakeituponhisconsciencetosay,hishonourwouldhaveexceedingpleasureinseeinghim。
  WouldnotMr。Waverleychoosesomerefreshmentafterhisjourney?Hishonourwaswiththefolkwhoweregettingdoonthedarkhag;thetwagardenerladsanemphasisontheword_twa_hadbeenorderedtoattendhim;andhehadbeenjustamusinghimselfinthemeantimewithdressingMissRose’sflower-bed,thathemightbeneartoreceivehishonour’sorders,ifneedwere:hewasveryfondofagarden,buthadlittletimeforsuchdivertisements。’’
  Hecannagetitwroughtinabunetwadaysintheweekatnoratewhatever,’’saidEdward’sfantasticconductor。
  Agrimlookfromthebutlerchastisedhisinterference,andhecommandedhimbythenameofDavieGellatley,inatonewhichadmittednodiscussion,tolookforhishonouratthedarkhag,andtellhimtherewasagentlemanfromthesouthhadarrivedattheHa’。
  Canthispoorfellowdeliveraletter?’’askedEdward。
  Withallfidelity,Sir,toanyonewhomherespects。Iwouldhardlytrusthimwithalongmessagebywordofmouth-thoughheismoreknavethanfool。’’
  WaverleydeliveredhiscredentialstoMr。Gellatley,whoseemedtoconfirmthebutler’slastobservation,bytwistinghisfeaturesathim,whenhewaslookinganotherway,intotheresemblanceofthegrotesquefaceonthebowlofaGermantobacco-pipe;afterwhich,withanoddcongtoWaverley,hedancedofftodischargehiserrand。
  Heisaninnocent,sir,’’saidthebutler;thereisonesuchinalmosteverytowninthecountry,butoursisbroughtfarben。Heusedtoworkaday’sturnweeleneugh;butheAglossaryofprovincialtermswillbefoundattheendofthevolume。
  help’dMissRosewhenshewasflemitwiththeLairdofKillancureit’snewEnglishbull,andsincethattimeweca’himDavieDo-little;indeedwemightca’himDavieDo-naething,forsincehegotthatgayclothing,topleasehishonourandmyyoungmistressgreatfolkswillhavetheirfancies,hehasdonenaethingbutdanceupanddownaboutthe_toun,_withoutdoingasingleturn,unlesstrimmingthelairdsfishing-wandorbuskinghisflies,ormaybecatchingadishoftroutsatanorra-time。
  ButherecomesMissRose,who,Itakeburdenuponmeforher,willbeespeciallygladtoseeoneofthehouseofWaverleyatherfather’smansionatTully-Veolan。’’
  ButRoseBradwardinedeservesbetterofherunworthyhistorian,thantobeintroducedattheendofachapter。Inthemeanwhileitmaybenoticed,thatWaverleylearnedtwothingsfromthiscolloquy;thatinScotlandasinglehousewascalleda_town,_andanaturalfoolan_innocent。_
  IamignoranthowlongtheancientandestablishedcustomofkeepingfoolshasbeendisusedinEngland。SwiftwritesanepitaphontheEarlofSuffolk’sfool,-
  WhosenamewasDickiePearce。’’
  InScotlandthecustomsubsistedtilllateinthelastcentury。AtGlammisCastleispreservedthedressofoneofthejesters,veryhandsome,andornamentedwithmanybells。ItisnotabovethirtyyearssincesuchacharacterstoodbythesideboardofanoblemanofthefirstrankinScotland,andoccasionallymixedintheconversation,tillhecarriedthejokerathertoofar,inmakingproposalstooneoftheyoungladiesofthefamily,andpublishingthebannsbetwixtherandhimselfinthepublicchurch。
  MissBradwardinewasbutseventeen;yet,atthelastracesofthecountytownof,uponherhealthbeingproposedamongaroundofbeauties,theLairdofBumperquaigh,permanenttoastmasterandcroupieroftheBautherwhilleryClub,notonlysaid_More_tothepledgeinapintbumperofBourdeaux,but,erepouringforththelibation,denominatedthedivinitytowhomitwasdedicated,theRoseofTully-Veolan;’’uponwhichfestiveoccasion,threecheersweregivenbyallthesittingmembersofthatrespectablesociety,whosethroatsthewinehadleftcapableofsuchexertion。Nay,Iamwellassured,thatthesleepingpartnersofthecompanysnortedapplause,andthatalthoughstrongbumpersandweakbrainshadconsignedtwoorthreetothefloor,yeteventhese,fallenastheywerefromtheirhighestate,andweltering-Iwillcarrytheparodynofarther-uttereddiversinarticulatesounds,intimatingtheirassenttothemotion。
  Suchunanimousapplausecouldnotbeextortedbutbyacknowledgedmerit;andRoseBradwardinenotonlydeservedit,butalsotheapprobationofmuchmorerationalpersonsthantheBautherwhilleryClubcouldhavemustered,evenbeforediscussionofthefirst_magnum。_ShewasindeedaveryprettygirloftheScotchcastofbeauty,thatis,withaprofusionofhairofpaleygold,andaskinlikethesnowofherownmountainsinwhiteness。Yetshehadnotapallidorpensivecastofcountenance;herfeatures,aswellashertemper,hadalivelyexpression;hercomplexion,thoughnotflorid,wassopureastoseemtransparent,andtheslightestemotionsentherwholebloodatoncetoherfaceandneck。Herform,thoughunderthecommonsize,wasremarkablyelegant,andhermotionslight,easy,andunembarrassed。ShecamefromanotherpartofthegardentoreceiveCaptainWaverley,withamannerthathoveredbetweenbashfulnessandcourtesy。
  Thefirstgreetingspast,Edwardlearnedfromherthatthe_darkhag,_whichhadsomewhatpuzzledhiminthebutler’saccountofhismaster’savocations,hadnothingtodoeitherwithablackcatorabroomstick,butwassimplyaportionofoakcopsewhichwastobefelledthatday。Sheoffered,withdiffidentcivility,toshowthestrangerthewaytothespot,which,itseems,wasnotfardistant;buttheywerepreventedbytheappearanceoftheBaronofBradwardineinperson,who,summonedbyDavidGellatley,nowappeared,onhospitablethoughtsintent,’’clearingthegroundataprodigiousratewithswiftandlongstrides,whichremindedWaverleyoftheseven-leaguebootsofthenurseryfable。Hewasatall,thin,athleticfigure;oldindeed,andgrey-haired,butwitheverymusclerenderedastoughaswhip-cordbyconstantexercise。Hewasdressedcarelessly,andmorelikeaFrenchmanthananEnglishmanoftheperiod,while,fromhishardfeaturesandperpendicularrigidityofstature,heboresomeresemblancetoaSwissofficeroftheguards,whohadresidedsometimeatParis,andcaughtthe_costume,_butnottheeaseormannerofitsinhabitants。
  Thetruthwas,thathislanguageandhabitswereasheterogeneousashisexternalappearance。
  Owingtohisnaturaldispositiontostudy,orperhapstoaverygeneralScottishfashionofgivingyoungmenofrankalegaleducation,hehadbeenbredwithaviewtothebar。Butthepoliticsofhisfamilyprecludingthehopeofhisrisinginthatprofession,Mr。Bradwardinetravelledwithhighreputationforseveralyears,andmadesomecampaignsinforeignservice。
  Afterhis_dml_withthelawofhightreasonin1715,hehadlivedinretirement,conversingalmostentirelywiththoseofhisownprinciplesinthevicinage。Thepedantryofthelawyer,superinduceduponthemilitaryprideofthesoldier,mightremindamodernofthedaysofthezealousvolunteerservice,whenthebar-gownofourpleaderswasoftenflungoverablazinguniform。TothismustbeaddedtheprejudicesofancientbirthandJacobitepolitics,greatlystrengthenedbyhabitsofsolitaryandsecludedauthority,which,thoughexercisedonlywithintheboundsofhishalf-cultivatedestate,wasthereindisputableandundisputed。For,asheusedtoobserve,thelandsofBradwardine,Tully-Veolan,andothers,hadbeenerectedintoafreebaronybyacharterfromDavidtheFirst,_cumliberalipotest。habendicuriasetjusticias,cumfossaetfurca_