首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第40章

第40章

  WaverleyforgotFloraMac-Ivor’sprejudicesinhermagnanimity,andalmostpardonedherindifferencetowardshisaffection,whenherecollectedthegrandanddecisiveobjectwhichseemedtofillherwholesoul。She,whosesenseofdutysowhollyengrossedherinthecauseofabenefactor,-whatwouldbeherfeelingsinfavourofthehappyindividualwhoshouldbesofortunateastoawakenthem?Thencamethedoubtfulquestion,whetherhemightnotbethathappyman,-aquestionwhichfancyendeavouredtoanswerintheaffirmative,byconjuringupallshehadsaidinhispraise,withtheadditionofacommentmuchmoreflatteringthanthetextwarranted。Allthatwascommon-place-allthatbelongedtotheevery-dayworld-wasmeltedawayandobliteratedinthosedreamsofimagination,whichonlyrememberedwithadvantagethepointsofgraceanddignitythatdistinguishedFlorafromthegeneralityofhersex,nottheparticularswhichsheheldincommonwiththem。Edwardwas,inshort,inthefairwayofcreatingagoddessoutofahigh-spirited,accomplished,andbeautifulyoungwoman;andthetimewaswastedincastle-building,until,atthedescentofasteephill,hesawbeneathhimthemarket-townof。
  TheHighlandpolitenessofCallumBeg-therearefewnations,bytheway,whocanboastofsomuchnaturalpolitenessastheHighlanders-theHighlandcivilityofhisattendantTheHighlander,informertimes,hadalwaysahighideaofhisowngentility,andwasanxioustoimpressthesameuponthosewithwhomheconversed。Hislanguageaboundedinthephrasesofcourtesyandcompliment;
  andthehabitofcarryingarms,andmixingwiththosewhodidso,madeitparticularlydesirabletheyshouldusecautiouspolitenessintheirintercoursewitheachother。
  hadnotpermittedhimtodisturbthereveriesofourhero。Butobservinghimrousehimselfatthesightofthevillage,Callumpressedclosertohisside,andhopedWhentheycamtothepublic,hishonourwadnotsaynothingaboutVichIanVohr,fortapeoplewerebitterWhigs,deilbursttem。’’
  Waverleyassuredtheprudentpagethathewouldbecautiousandashenowdistinguished,notindeedtheringingofbells,butthetinklingofsomethinglikeahammeragainstthesideofanoldmossy,green,invertedporridge-pot,thathunginanopenbooth,ofthesizeandshapeofaparrot’scage,erectedtogracetheeastendofabuildingresemblinganoldbarn,heaskedCallumBegifitwereSunday。
  Couldnasayjustpreceesely-SundayseldomcamaboonthepawofBally-Brough。’’
  Onenteringthetown,however,andadvancingtowardsthemostapparentpublichousewhichpresenteditself,thenumbersofoldwomen,intartanscreensandredcloaks,whostreamedfromthebarn-resemblingbuilding,debatingastheywentthecomparativemeritsoftheblessedyouthJabeshRentowel,andthatchosenvesselMaisterGoukthrapple,inducedCallumtoassurehistemporarymaster,thatitwaseithertamuckleSundayherself,ortalittlegovernmentSundaythattheyca’dtafast。’’
  OnalightingatthesignoftheSeven-branchedGoldenCandlestick,which,forthefurtherdelectationoftheguests,wasgracedwithashortHebrewmotto,theywerereceivedbyminehost,atallthinpuritanicalfigure,whoseemedtodebatewithhimselfwhetherheoughttogivesheltertothosewhotravelledonsuchaday。Reflecting,however,inallprobability,thathepossessedthepowerofmulctingthemforthisirregularity,apenaltywhichtheymightescapebypassingintoGregorDuncanson’s,atthesignoftheHighlanderandtheHawickGill,Mr。EbenezerCruickshankscondescendedtoadmitthemintohisdwelling。
  TothissanctifiedpersonWaverleyaddressedhisrequestthathewouldprocurehimaguide,withasaddle-horse,tocarryhisportmanteautoEdinburgh。
  Andwharmayyebecomingfrom?’’demandedminehostoftheCandlestick。
  IhavetoldyouwhereIwishtogo;Idonotconceiveanyfurtherinformationnecessaryeitherfortheguideorhissaddle-horse。’’
  Hem!Ahem!’’returnedheoftheCandlestick,somewhatdisconcertedatthisrebuff。It’sthegeneralfast,sir,andI
  cannotenterintoonycarnaltransactionsonsicaday,whenthepeopleshouldbehumbled,andthebackslidersshouldreturn,asworthyMr。Goukthrapplesaid;andmoreoverwhen,asthepreciousMr。JabeshRentoweldidweelobserve,thelandwasmourningforcovenantsburnt,broken,andburied。’’
  Mygoodfriend,’’saidWaverley,ifyoucannotletmehaveahorseandguide,myservantshallseekthemelsewhere。’’
  Aweel!Yourservant?-andwhatforgangshenotforwardwi’youhimsell?’’
  Waverleyhadbutverylittleofacaptainofhorse’sspiritwithinhim-ImeanofthatsortofspiritwhichIhavebeenobligedtowhenIhappened,inamail-coach,ordiligence,tomeetsomemilitarymanwhohaskindlytakenuponhimthediscipliningofthewaiters,andthetaxingofreckonings。
  Someofthisusefultalentourherohad,however,acquiredduringhismilitaryservice,andonthisgrossprovocationitbeganseriouslytoarise。Lookye,sir;Icamehereformyownaccommodation,andnottoanswerimpertinentquestions。
  Eithersayyoucan,orcannot,getmewhatIwant;Ishallpursuemycourseineithercase。’’
  Mr。EbenezerCruickshankslefttheroomwithsomeindistinctmuttering;butwhethernegativeoracquiescent,Edwardcouldnotwelldistinguish。Thehostess,acivil,quiet,laboriousdrudge,cametotakehisordersfordinner,butdeclinedtomakeansweronthesubjectofthehorseandguide;fortheSaliquelaw,itseems,extendedtothestablesoftheGoldenCandlestick。
  FromawindowwhichoverlookedthedarkandnarrowcourtinwhichCallumBegrubbeddownthehorsesaftertheirjourney,Waverleyheardthefollowingdialoguebetwixtthesubtilefoot-pageofVichIanVohrandhislandlord:-
  Yellbefraethenorth,youngman?’’beganthelatter。
  Andyemaysaythat,’’answeredCallum。
  Andyellhaeriddenalangwaytheday,itmayweelbe?’’
  Saelang,thatIcouldweeltakadram。’’
  Gudewife,bringthegillstoup。’’
  Heresomecomplimentspassed,fittingtheoccasion,whenmyhostoftheGoldenCandlestick,having,ashethought,openedhisguest’sheartbythishospitablepropitiation,resumedhisscrutiny。
  Ye’llnohaemicklebetterwhiskythanthataboonthePass?’’
  IamnaefraeaboonthePass。’’
  Ye’reaHighlandmanbyyourtongue?’’
  Na;IambutjustAberdeen-a-way。’’
  AnddidyourmastercomefraeAberdeenwi’you?’’
  Ay-that’swhenIleftitmysell,’’answeredthecoolandimpenetrableCallumBeg。
  Andwhatkindofagentlemanishe?’’
  Ibelieveheisaneo’KingGeorge’sstateofficers;atleast,he’sayeforgangingontothesouth,andhehasahantlesiller,andnevergrudgesonythingtillapoorbody,orinthewayofalawing。’’
  HewantsaguideandahorsefraehencetoEdinburgh?’’
  Ay,andyemaunfindithimforthwith。’’
  Ahem!Itwillbechargeable。’’
  Hecaresnaforthatabodle。’’
  Aweel,Duncan-didyesayyournamewasDuncan,orDonald?’’
  Na,man-Jamie-JamieSteenson-Iteltyebefore。’’
  ThislastundauntedparryaltogetherfoiledMr。Cruickshanks,who,thoughnotquitesatisfiedeitherwiththereserveofthemaster,ortheextremereadinessoftheman,wascontentedtolayataxonthereckoningandhorse-hire,thatmightcompoundforhisungratifiedcuriosity。Thecircumstanceofitsbeingthefast-daywasnotforgotteninthecharge,which,onthewhole,didnot,however,amounttomuchmorethandoublewhatinfairnessitshouldhavebeen。
  CallumBegsoonafterannouncedinpersontheratificationofthistreaty,adding,Taaulddeevilwasgaugingtoridewi’taDuinh-wasselhersell。’’
  Thatwillnotbeverypleasant,Callum,noraltogethersafe,forourhostseemsapersonofgreatcuriosity;butatravellermustsubmittotheseinconveniences。Meanwhile,mygoodlad,hereisatrifleforyoutodrinkVichIanVohr’shealth。’’
  Thehawk’seyeofCallumflasheddelightuponagoldenguinea,withwhichtheselastwordswereaccompanied。Hehastened,notwithoutacurseontheintricaciesofaSaxonbreechespocket,or_spleuchan,_ashecalledit,todepositthetreasureinhisfob;andthen,asifheconceivedthebenevolencecalledforsomerequitalonhispart,hegatheredcloseuptoEdward,withanexpressionofcountenancepeculiarlyknowing,andspokeinanundertone,IfhishonourthoughttaaulddeevilWhigcarlewasabitdangerous,shecouldeasilyprovideforhim,andteilanetawiser。’’
  How,andinwhatmanner?’’
  Herainsell,’’repliedCallum,couldwaitforhimaweebitfraethetoun,andkittlehisquarterswi’her_skene-occle。_’’
  Skene-occle!what’sthat?’’
  Callumunbuttonedhiscoat,raisedhisleftarm,andwithanemphaticnod,pointedtothehiltofasmalldirk,snuglydepositedunderit,intheliningofhisjacket。Waverleythoughthehadunderstoodhismeaning;hegazedinhisface,anddiscoveredinCallum’sveryhandsome,thoughembrownedfeatures,justthedegreeofroguishmalicewithwhichaladofthecameageinEnglandwouldhavebroughtforwardaplanforrobbinganorchard。
  GoodGod,Callum,wouldyoutaketheman’slife?’’
  Indeed,’’answeredtheyoungdesperado,andIthinkhehashadjustalangenoughleaseo’t,whenhe’sforbetrayinghonestfolk,thatcometospendsillerathispublic。’’
  Edwardsawnothingwastobegainedbyargument,andthereforecontentedhimselfwithenjoiningCallumtolayasideallpracticesagainstthepersonofMr。EbenezerCruickshanks;
  inwhichinjunctionthepageseemedtoacquiescewithanairofgreatindifference。
  TaDuinh-wasselmightpleasehimsell;taauldrudasloonhadneverdoneCallumnaeill。Buthere’sabitlinefraetaTighearna,tathebademegieyourhonourereIcameback。’’
  TheletterfromtheChiefcontainedmoralslinesonthefateofCaptainWogan,whoseenterprisingcharacterissowelldrawnbyClarendon。HehadoriginallyengagedintheserviceoftheParliament,buthadabjuredthatpartyupontheexecutionofCharlesI。;anduponhearingthattheroyalstandardwassetupbytheEarlofGlencairnandGeneralMiddletonintheHighlandsofScotland,tookleaveofCharlesII。,whowasthenatParis,passedintoEngland,assembledabodyofcavaliersintheneighbourhoodofLondon,andtraversedthekingdom,whichhadbeensolongunderdominationoftheusurper,bymarchesconductedwithsuchskill,dexterity,andspirit,thathesafelyunitedhishandfulofhorsemenwiththebodyofHighlanderstheninarms。Afterseveralmonthsofdesultorywarfare,inwhichWogan’sskillandcouragegainedhimthehighestreputation,hehadthemisfortunetobewoundedinadangerousmanner,andnosurgicalassistancebeingwithinreach,heterminatedhisshortbutgloriouscareer。
  TherewereobviousreasonswhythepoliticChieftainwasdesiroustoplacetheexampleofthisyoungheroundertheeyeofWaverley,withwhoseromanticdispositionitcoincidedsopeculiarly。ButhisletterturnedchieflyuponsometriflingcommissionswhichWaverleyhadpromisedtoexecuteforhiminEngland,anditwasonlytowardtheconclusionthatEdwardfoundthesewords:-IoweFloraagrudgeforrefusingushercompanyyesterday;andasIamgivingyouthetroubleofreadingtheselines,inordertokeepinyourmemoryyourpromisetoprocuremethefishing-tackleandcross-bowfromLondon,IwillencloseherversesontheGraveofWogan。ThisIknowwillteaseher;for,totellyouthetruth,Ithinkhermoreinlovewiththememoryofthatdeadhero,thansheislikelytobewithanylivingone,unlessheshalltreadasimilarpath。ButEnglishsquiresofourdaykeeptheiroak-treestosheltertheirdeer-parks,orrepairthelossesofaneveningatWhite’s,andneitherinvokethemtowreaththeirbrows,norsheltertheirgraves。Letmehopeforonebrilliantexceptioninadearfriend,towhomIwouldmostgladlygiveadearertitle。’’
  Theverseswereinscribed,ToAnOak-Tree。
  _IntheChurchyardof,intheHighlandsofScotland,saidtomarktheGraveofCaptainWogan,killedin1649。_
  EmblemofEngland’sancientfaith,Fullproudlymaythybrancheswave,Whereloyaltylieslowindeath,Andvalourfillsatimelessgrave。
  Andthou,bravetenantofthetomb!
  Repinenotifourclimedeny,Abovethinehonouredsodtobloom,Thefloweretsofamildersky。
  TheseowetheirbirthtogenialMay;
  Beneathafiercersuntheypine,Beforethewinterstormdecay-
  Andcantheirworthbetypeofthine?
  No!for’midstormsofFateopposing,Stillhigherswell’dthydauntlessheart,And,whileDespairthescenewasclosing,Commencedthybriefbutbrilliantpart。
  ’Twasthenthousought’st,onAlbyn’shill,WhenEngland’ssonsthestriferesigned,Aruggedrace,resistingstill,Andunsubdued,thoughunrefined。
  Thydeath’shourheardnokindredwail,Noholyknellthyrequiemrung;
  ThymournersweretheplaidedGael;
  Thydirgetheclamorouspibrochsung。
  Yetwho,inFortune’ssummer-shine,Towastelife’slongesttermaway,Wouldchangethatgloriousdawnofthine,Thoughdarkenedereitsnoontideday。
  BethinetheTreewhosedauntlessboughs,Bravesummer’sdroughtandwinter’sgloom!