首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第21章

第21章

  Ibelievenot,’’shereplied。Thispoorcreaturehadabrother,andHeaven,asiftocompensatetothefamilyDaviesdeficiencies,hadgivenhimwhatthehamletthoughtuncommontalents。AnunclecontrivedtoeducatehimfortheScottishkirk,buthecouldnotgetprefermentbecausehecamefromour_ground。_Hereturnedfromcollegehopelessandbrokenhearted,andfellintoadecline。Myfathersupportedhimtillhisdeath,whichhappenedbeforehewasnineteen。Heplayedbeautifullyontheflute,andwassupposedtohaveagreatturnforpoetry。
  Hewasaffectionateandcompassionatetohisbrother,whofollowedhimlikehisshadow,andwethinkthatfromhimDaviegatheredmanyfragments,ofsongsandmusicunlikethoseofthiscountry。Butifweaskhimwherehegotsuchafragmentasheisnowsinging,heeitheranswerswithwildandlongfitsoflaughter,orelsebreaksintotearsoflamentation;butwasneverheardtogiveanyexplanation,ortomentionhisbrother’snamesincehisdeath。’’
  Surely,’’saidEdward,whowasreadilyinterestedbyataleborderingontheromantic,surelymoremightbelearnedbymoreparticularinquiry。’’
  Perhapsso,’’answeredRose,butmyfatherwillnotpermitanyonetopractiseonhisfeelingsonthissubject。’’
  BythistimetheBaron,withthehelpofMr。Saunderson,hadinduedapairofjack-bootsoflargedimensions,andnowinvitedourherotofollowhimashestalkedclatteringdowntheamplestaircase,tappingeachhugebalustradeashepassedwiththebuttofhismassivehorse-whip,andhumming,withtheairofachasseurofLouisQuatorze,Pourlachasseordonneilfautprparertout,Holaho!Vite!vitedebout。
  TheBaronofBradwardine,mountedonanactiveandwell-managedhorse,andseatedonademi-piquesaddle,withdeephousingstoagreewithhislivery,wasnobadrepresentativeoftheoldschool。Hislight-colouredembroideredcoat,andsuperblybarredwaistcoat,hisbrigadierwig,surmountedbyasmallgold-lacedcocked-hat,completedhispersonalcostume;buthewasattendedbytwowell-mountedservantsonhorseback,armedwithholster-pistols。
  Inthisguiseheambledforthoverhillandvalley,theadmirationofeveryfarm-yardwhichtheypassedintheirprogress,till,lowdowninagrassyvale,’’theyfoundDavieGellatleyleadingtwoverytalldeergreyhounds,andpresidingoverhalf-a-dozencurs,andaboutasmanybare-leggedandbare-headedboys,who,toprocurethechosendistinctionofattendingonthechase,hadnotfailedtoticklehisearswiththedulcetappellationof_MaisterGellatley,_thoughprobablyallandeachhadhootedhimonformeroccasionsinthecharacterof_daftDavie。_Butthisisnouncommonstrainofflatterytopersonsinoffice,noraltogetherconfinedtothebare-leggedvillagersofTully-Veolan:itwasinfashionSixtyYearssince,isnow,andwillbesixhundredyearshence,ifthisadmirablecompoundoffollyandknavery,calledtheworld,shallbetheninexistence。
  These_gillie-wet-foots,_astheywerecalled,weredestinedtoAbare-footedHighlandladiscalledagillie-wet-foot。Gillie,ingeneral,meansservantorattendant。
  beatthebushes,whichtheyperformedwithsomuchsuccess,thatafterhalf-an-hour’ssearcharoewasstarted,coursed,andkilled;theBaronfollowingonhiswhitehorse,likeEarlPercyofyore,andmagnanimouslyflayingandembowellingtheslainanimalwhich,heobserved,wascalledbytheFrenchchasseurs_fairelacure_withhisownbaronial_couteaudechasse。_Afterthisceremonyheconductedhisguesthomewardbyapleasantandcircuitousroute,commandinganextensiveprospectofdifferentvillagesandhouses,toeachofwhichMr。Bradwardineattachedsomeanecdoteofhistoryorgenealogy,toldinlanguagewhimsicalfromprejudiceandpedantry,butoftenrespectableforthegoodsenseandhonourablefeelingswhichhisnarrativedisplayed,andalmostalwayscurious,ifnotvaluable,fortheinformationtheycontained。
  Thetruthis,therideseemedagreeabletobothgentlemen,becausetheyfoundamusementineachother’sconversation,althoughtheircharactersandhabitsofthinkingwereinmanyrespectstotallyopposite。Edward,wehaveinformedthereader,waswarminhisfeelings,wildandromanticinhisideasandinhistasteofreading,withastrongdispositiontowardspoetry。
  Mr。Bradwardinewasthereverseofallthis,andpiquedhimselfuponstalkingthroughlifewiththesameupright,starched,stoicalgravitywhichdistinguishedhiseveningpromenadeupontheterraceofTully-Veolan,whereforhourstogether,theverymodelofoldHardyknute,Statelysteppedheeastthewa’,Andstatelysteppedhewest。
  Asforliterature,hereadtheclassicpoets,tobesure,andtheEpithalamiumofGeorgiusBuchanan,andArthurJohnston’sPsalms,ofaSunday;andtheDeliciPoetarumScotorum,andSirDavidLindsaysWorks,andBarboux’sBruce,andBlindHarry’sWallace,andtheGentleShepherd,andtheCherryandtheSlae。ButthoughhethusfarsacrificedhistimetotheMuses,hewould,ifthetruthmustbespoken,havebeenmuchbetterpleasedhadthepiousorsapientapothegms,aswellasthehistoricalnarratives,whichthesevariousworkscontained,beenpresentedtohimintheformofsimpleprose。Andhesometimescouldnotrefrainfromexpressingcontemptofthevainandunprofitableartofpoem-making,’’inwhich,hesaid,theonlyonewhohadexcelledinhistimewasAllanRamsay,theperiwig-maker。’’
  TheBaronoughttohaverememberedthatthejoyousAllanliterallydrewhisbloodfromthehouseofthenobleEarl,whomheterms
  Dalhousieofanolddescent,Mystoup,mypride,myornament。
  ButalthoughEdwardandhediffered_totoclo,_astheBaronwouldhavesaid,uponthissubject,yettheymetuponhistoryasonaneutralground,inwhicheachclaimedaninterest。
  TheBaron,indeed,onlycumberedhismemorywithmattersoffact-thecold,dry,hardoutlineswhichhistorydelineates。
  Edward,onthecontrary,lovedtofillupandroundthesketchwiththecolouringofawarmandvividimagination,whichgiveslightandlifetotheactorsandspeakersinthedramaofpastages。Yetwithtastessoopposite,theycontributedgreatlytoeachother’samusement。Mr。Bradwardine’sminutenarrativesandpowerfulmemorysuppliedtoWaverleyfreshsubjectsofthekinduponwhichhisfancylovedtolabour,andopenedtohimanewmineofincidentandofcharacter。Andherepaidthepleasurethuscommunicatedbyanearnestattention,valuabletoallstory-tellers,moreespeciallytotheBaron,whofelthishabitsofself-respectflatteredbyit;andsometimesalsobyreciprocalcommunications,whichinterestedMr。Bradwardine,asconfirmingorillustratinghisownfavouriteanecdotes。
  Besides,Mr。Bradwardinelovedtotalkofthescenesofhisyouth,whichhadbeenspentincampsandforeignlands,andhadmanyinterestingparticularstotellofthegeneralsunderwhomhehadserved,andtheactionshehadwitnessed。
  BothpartiesreturnedtoTully-Veolaningreatgoodhumourwitheachother;Waverleydesirousofstudyingmoreattentivelywhatheconsideredasasingularandinterestingcharacter,giftedwithamemorycontainingacuriousregisterofancientandmodemanecdotes;andBradwardinedisposedtoregardEdwardas_puer_orrather_juvenis__bonesspeietmagnindolis,_
  ayouthdevoidofthatpetulantvolatilitywhichisimpatientof,orviliends,theconversationandadviceofhisseniors,fromwhichhepredictedgreatthingsofhisfuturesuccessanddeportmentinlife。TherewasnootherguestexceptMr。
  Rubrick,whoseinformationanddiscourse,asaclergymanandascholar,harmonizedverywellwiththatoftheBaronandhisguest。
  Shortlyafterdinner,theBaron,asiftoshowthathistemperancewasnotentirelytheoretical,proposedavisittoRose’sapartment,or,ashetermedit,her_TroisimeEtage。_
  Waverleywasaccordinglyconductedthroughoneortwoofthoselongawkwardpassageswithwhichancientarchitectsstudiedtopuzzletheinhabitantsofthehouseswhichtheyplanned,attheendofwhichMr。Bradwardinebegantoascend,bytwostepsatonce,averysteep,narrow,andwindingstair,leavingMr。RubrickandWaverleytofollowatmoreleisure,whileheshouldannouncetheirapproachtohisdaughter。
  Afterhavingclimbedthisperpendicularcorkscrewuntiltheirbrainswerealmostgiddy,theyarrivedinalittlemattedlobby,whichservedmanante-roomtoRose’s_sanctumsanctorum,_andthroughwhichtheyenteredherparlour。Itwasasmallbutpleasantapartment,openingtothesouth,andhungwithtapestry;
  adornedbesideswithtwopictures,oneofhermother,inthedressofashepherdess,withabell-hoop;theotheroftheBaron,inhistenthyear,inabluecoat,embroideredwaistcoat,lacedhat,andbag-wig,withabowinhishand。Edwardcouldnothelpsmilingatthecostume,andattheoddresemblancebetweentheround,smooth,red-checked,staringvisageintheportrait,andthegaunt,bearded,hollow-eyed,swarthyfeatures,whichtravelling,fatiguesofwar,andadvancedage,hadbestowedontheoriginal。TheBaronjoinedinthelaugh。
  Truly,’’hesaid,thatpicturewasawoman’sfantasyofmygoodmother’sadaughteroftheLairdofTulliellum,CaptainWaverley;IindicatedthehousetoyouwhenwewereonthetopoftheShinnyheuch;itwasburntbytheDutchauxiliariesbroughtinbytheGovernmentin1715;Ineversateformypourtraicturebutoncesincethatwaspainted,anditwasatthespecialandreiteratedrequestoftheMarechalDukeofBerwick。’’
  ThegoodoldgentlemandidnotmentionwhatMr。RubrickafterwardstoldEdward,thattheDukehaddonehimthishonouronaccountofhisbeingthefirsttomountthebreachofafortinSavoyduringthememorablecampaignof1709,andhishavingtheredefendedhimselfwithhishalf-pikefornearlytenminutesbeforeanysupportreachedhim。TodotheBaronjustice,althoughsufficientlypronetodwellupon,andeventoexaggerate,hisfamilydignityandconsequence,hewastoomuchamanofrealcourageevertoalludetosuchpersonalactsofmeritashehadhimselfmanifested。
  MissRosenowappearedfromtheinteriorroomofherapartment,towelcomeherfatherandhisfriends。Thelittlelaboursinwhichshehadbeenemployedobviouslyshowedanaturaltaste,whichrequiredonlycultivation。HerfatherhadtaughtherFrenchandItalian,andafewoftheordinaryauthorsinthoselanguagesornamentedhershelves。Hehadendeavouredalsotobeherpreceptorinmusic;butashebeganwiththemoreabstrusedoctrinesofthescience,andwasnotperhapsmasterofthemhimself,shehadmadenoproficiencyfartherthantobeabletoaccompanyhervoicewiththeharpsichord;
  buteventhiswasnotverycommoninScotlandatthatperiod。
  Tomakeamends,shesungwithgreattasteandfeeling,andwitharespecttothesenseofwhatsheutteredthatmightbeproposedinexampletoladiesofmuchsuperiormusicaltalent。
  Hernaturalgoodsensetaughther,thatif,asweareassuredbyhighauthority,musicbemarriedtoimmortalverse,’’theyareveryoftendivorcedbytheperformerinamostshamefulmanner。Itwasperhapsowingtothissensibilitytopoetry,andpowerofcombiningitsexpressionwiththoseofthemusicalnotes,thathersinginggavemorepleasuretoalltheunlearnedinmusic,andeventomanyofthelearned,thancouldhavebeencommunicatedbyamuchfinervoiceandmorebrilliantexecution,unguidedbythesamedelicacyoffeeling。
  Abartizan,orprojectinggallery,beforethewindowsofherparlour,servedtoillustrateanotherofRose’spursuits;foritwascrowdedwithflowersofdifferentkinds,whichshehadtakenunderherspecialprotection。AprojectingturretgaveaccesstothisGothicbalcony,whichcommandedamostbeautifulprospect。Theformalgarden,withitshighboundingwalls,laybelow,contracted,asitseemed,toamereparterre;
  whiletheviewextendedbeyondthemdownawoodedglen,wherethesmallriverwassometimesvisible,sometimeshiddenincopse。Theeyemightbedelayedbyadesiretorestontherocks,whichhereandthererosefromthedellwithmassiveorspiryfronts,oritmightdwellonthenoble,thoughruinedtower,whichwasherebeheldinallitsdignity,frowningfromapromontoryovertheriver。Totheleftwereseentwoorthreecottages,apartofthevillage;thebrowofthehillconcealedtheothers。Theglen,ordell,wasterminatedbyasheetofwater,calledLoch-Veolan,intowhichthebrookdischargeditself,andwhichnowglistenedinthewesternsun。Thedistantcountryseemedopenandvariedinsurface,thoughnotwooded;
  andtherewasnothingtointerrupttheviewuntilthescenewasboundedbyaridgeofdistantandbluehills,whichformedthesouthernboundaryofthestrathorvalley。TothispleasantstationMissBradwardinehadorderedcoffee。
  Theviewoftheoldtower,orfortalice,introducedsomefamilyanecdotesandtalesofScottishchivalry,whichtheBarontoldwithgreatenthusiasm。Theprojectingpeakofanimpendingcragwhichrosenearit,hadacquiredthenameofSt。Swithin’sChair。Itwasthesceneofapeculiarsuperstition,ofwhichMr。Rubrickmentionedsomecuriousparticulars,whichremindedWaverleyofarhymequotedbyEdgarinKingLear;andRosewascalledupontosingalittlelegend,inwhichtheyhadbeeninterwovenbysomevillagepoet,Who,notelessastheracefromwhichhesprung,Savedothers’names,butlefthisownunsung。
  Thesweetnessofhervoice,andthesimplebeautyofhermusic,gavealltheadvantagewhichtheminstrelcouldhavedesiredandwhichhispoetrysomuchwanted。Ialmostdoubtifitcanbereadwithpatience,destituteoftheseadvantages;