robert falconer-第38部分

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awa'。　　Come　awa'。　　Robert；　festen　the　door。'



And　she　led　them　to　the　corner　for　prayer；　and　poured　forth　a

confession　of　sin　for　them　and　for　herself；　such　as　left　little　that

could　have　been　added　by　her　own　profligate　son；　had　he　joined　in

the　prayer。　　Either　there　are　no　degrees　in　guilt；　or　the　Scotch

language　was　equal　only　to　the　confession　of　children　and　holy

women；　and　could　provide　no　more　awful　words　for　the　contrition　of

the　prodigal　or　the　hypocrite。　　But　the　words　did　little　harm；　for

Robert's　mind　was　full　of　the　kite　and　the　violin；　and　was　probably

nearer　God　thereby　than　if　he　had　been　trying　to　feel　as　wicked　as

his　grandmother　told　God　that　he　was。　　Shargar　was　even　more

divinely　employed　at　the　time　than　either；　for　though　he　had　not　had

the　manners　to　thank　his　benefactor；　his　heart　had　all　the　way　home

been　full　of　tender　thoughts　of　Miss　Lammie's　kindness；　and　now；

instead　of　confessing　sins　that　were　not　his；　he　was　loving　her　over

and　over；　and　wishing　to　be　back　with　her　instead　of　with　this

awfully　good　woman；　in　whose　presence　there　was　no　peace；　for　all

the　atmosphere　of　silence　and　calm　in　which　she　sat。



Confession　over；　and　the　boys　at　liberty　again；　a　new　anxiety　seized

them。　　Grannie　must　find　out　that　Robert's　shoes　were　missing；　and

what　account　was　to　be　given　of　the　misfortune；　for　Robert　would

not；　or　could　not　lie？　　In　the　midst　of　their　discussion　a　bright

idea　flashed　upon　Shargar；　which；　however；　he　kept　to　himself：　he

would　steal　them；　and　bring　them　home　in　triumph；　emulating　thus

Robert's　exploit　in　delivering　his　bonny　leddy。



The　shoemaker　sat　behind　his　door　to　be　out　of　the　draught：　Shargar

might　see　a　great　part　of　the　workshop　without　being　seen；　and　he

could　pick　Robert's　shoes　from　among　a　hundred。　　Probably　they　lay

just　where　Robert　had　laid　them；　for　Dooble　Sanny　paid　attention　to

any　job　only　in　proportion　to　the　persecution　accompanying　it。



So　the　next　day　Shargar　contrived　to　slip　out　of　school　just　as　the

writing　lesson　began；　for　he　had　great　skill　in　conveying　himself

unseen；　and；　with　his　book…bag；　slunk　barefooted　into　the　soutar's

entry。



The　shop　door　was　a　little　way　open；　and　the　red　eyes　of　Shargar　had

only　the　corner　next　it　to　go　peering　about　in。　　But　there　he　saw

the　shoes。　　He　got　down　on　his　hands　and　knees；　and　crept　nearer。

Yes；　they　were　beyond　a　doubt　Robert's　shoes。　　He　made　a　long　arm；

like　a　beast　of　prey；　seized　them；　and；　losing　his　presence　of　mind

upon　possession；　drew　them　too　hastily　towards　him。　　The　shoemaker

saw　them　as　they　vanished　through　the　door；　and　darted　after　them。

Shargar　was　off　at　full　speed；　and　Sandy　followed　with　hue　and　cry。

Every　idle　person　in　the　street　joined　in　the　pursuit；　and　all　who

were　too　busy　or　too　respectable　to　run　crowded　to　door　and　windows。

Shargar　made　instinctively　for　his　mother's　old　lair；　but

bethinking　himself　when　he　reached　the　door；　he　turned；　and；　knowing

nowhere　else　to　go；　fled　in　terror　to　Mrs。　Falconer's；　still；

however；　holding　fast　by　the　shoes；　for　they　were　Robert's。



As　Robert　came　home　from　school；　wondering　what　could　have　become　of

his　companion；　he　saw　a　crowd　about　his　grandmother's　door；　and

pushing　his　way　through　it　in　some　dismay；　found　Dooble　Sanny　and

Shargar　confronting　each　other　before　the　stern　justice　of　Mrs。

Falconer。



'Ye're　a　leear；'　the　soutar　was　panting　out。　'I　haena　had　a　pair　o'

shune　o'　Robert's　i'　my　han's　this　three　month。　　Thae　shunelat　me

see　themthey'reHere's　Robert　himsel'。　　Are　thae　shune　yours；

noo；　Robert？'



'Ay　are　they。　　Ye　made　them　yersel'。'



'Hoo　cam　they　in　my　chop；　than？'



'Speir　nae　mair　quest'ons　nor's　worth　answerin'；'　said　Robert；　with

a　look　meant　to　be　significant。　'They're　my　shune；　and　I'll　keep

them。　　Aiblins　ye　dinna　aye　ken　wha's　shune　ye　hae；　or　whan　they　cam

in　to　ye。'



'What　for　didna　Shargar　come　an'　speir　efter　them；　than；　in　place　o'

makin'　a　thief　o'　himsel'　that　gait？'



'Ye　may　haud　yer　tongue；'　returned　Robert；　with　yet　more

significance。



'I　was　aye　a　gowk　（idiot）；'　said　Shargar；　in　apologetic　reflection；

looking　awfully　white；　and　afraid　to　lift　an　eye　to　Mrs。　Falconer；

yet　reassured　a　little　by　Robert's　presence。



Some　glimmering　seemed　now　to　have　dawned　upon　the　soutar；　for　he

began　to　prepare　a　retreat。　　Meantime　Mrs。　Falconer　sat　silent；

allowing　no　word　that　passed　to　escape　her。　　She　wanted　to　be　at　the

bottom　of　the　mysterious　affair；　and　therefore　held　her　peace。



'Weel；　I'm　sure；　Robert；　ye　never　tellt　me　aboot　the　shune；'　said

Alexander。　'I　s'　jist　tak　them　back　wi'　me；　and　du　what's　wantit　to

them。　　And　I'm　sorry　that　I　hae　gien　ye　this　tribble；　Mistress

Faukner；　but　it　was　a'　that　fule's　wite　there。　　I　didna　even　ken　it

was　him；　till　we　war　near…han'　the　hoose。'



'Lat　me　see　the　shune；'　said　Mrs。　Falconer；　speaking　almost　for　the

first　time。　'What's　the　maitter　wi'　them？'



Examining　the　shoes；　she　saw　they　were　in　a　perfectly　sound　state；

and　this　confirmed　her　suspicion　that　there　was　more　in　the　affair

than　had　yet　come　out。　　Had　she　taken　the　straightforward　measure　of

examining　Robert；　she　would　soon　have　arrived　at　the　truth。　　But　she

had　such　a　dread　of　causing　a　lie　to　be　told；　that　she　would　adopt

any　roundabout　way　rather　than　ask　a　plain　question　of　a　suspected

culprit。　　So　she　laid　the　shoes　down　beside　her；　saying　to　the

soutar；



'There's　naething　amiss　wi'　the　shune。　　Ye　can　lea'　them。'



Thereupon　Alexander　went　away；　and　Robert　and　Shargar　would　have

given　more　than　their　dinner　to　follow　him。　　Grannie　neither　asked

any　questions；　however；　nor　made　a　single　remark　on　what　had　passed。

Dinner　was　served　and　eaten；　and　the　boys　returned　to　their

afternoon　school。



No　sooner　was　she　certain　that　they　were　safe　under　the

school…master's　eye　than　the　old　lady　put　on　her　black　silk　bonnet

and　her　black　woollen　shawl；　took　her　green　cotton　umbrella；　which

served　her　for　a　staff；　and；　refusing　Betty's　proffered　assistance；

set　out　for　Dooble　Sanny's　shop。



As　she　drew　near　she　heard　the　sounds　of　his　violin。　　When　she

entered；　he　laid　his　auld　wife　carefully　aside；　and　stood　in　an

expectant　attitude。



'Mr。　Elshender；　I　want　to　be　at　the　boddom　o'　this；'　said　Mrs。

Falconer。



'Weel；　mem；　gang　to　the　boddom　o'　't；'　returned　Dooble　Sanny；

dropping　on　his　stool；　and　taking　his　stone　upon　his　lap　and

stroking　it；　as　if　it　had　been　some　quadrupedal　pet。　　Full　of　rough

but　real　politeness　to　women　when　in　good　humour；　he　lost　all　his

manners　along　with　his　temper　upon　the　slightest　provocation；　and

her　tone　irritated　him。



'Hoo　cam　Robert's　shune　to　be　i'　your　shop？'



'Somebody　bude　till　hae　brocht　them；　mem。　　In　a'　my　expairience；　and

that's　no　sma'；　I　never　kent　pair　o'　shune　gang　ohn　a　pair　o'　feet

i'　the　wame　o'　them。'



'Hoots！　what　kin'　o'　gait　's　that　to　speyk　till　a　body？　　Whase　feet

was　inside　the　shune？'



'De'il　a　bit　o'　me　kens；　mem。'



'Dinna　sweir；　whatever　ye　du。'



'De'il　but　I　will　sweir；　mem；　an'　gin　ye　anger　me；　I'll　jist　sweir

awfu'。'



'I'm　sure　I　hae　nae　wuss　to　anger　ye；　man！　　Canna　ye　help　a　body　to

win　at　the　boddom　o'　a　thing　ohn　angert　an'　sworn？'



'Weel；　I　kenna　wha　brocht　the　shune；　as　I　tellt　ye　a'ready。'



'But　they　wantit　nae　men'in'。'



'I　micht　hae　men't　them　an'　forgotten　't；　mem。'



'Noo　ye're　leein'。'



'Gin　ye　gang　on　that　gait；　mem；　I　winna　speyk　a　word　o'　trowth　frae

this　moment　foret。'



'Jist　tell　me　what　ye　ken　aboot　thae　shune；　an'　I'll　no　say　anither

word。'



'Weel；　mem；　I'll　tell　ye　the　trowth。　　The　de'il　brocht　them　in　ae

day　in　a　lang　taings；　and　says　he；　〃Elshender；　men'　thae　shune　for

puir　Robby　Faukner；　an'　dooble…sole　them　for　the　life　o'　ye；　for

that　auld　luckie…minnie　o'　his　'ill　sune　hae　him　doon　oor　gait；　and

the　grun'　's　het　i'　the　noo；　an'　I　dinna　want　to　be　ower　sair　upon

him；　for　he's　a　fine　chield；　an'　'll　mak　a　fine　fiddler　gin　he　live

lang　eneuch。〃'



Mrs。　Falconer　left　the　shop　without　another　word；　but　with　an　awful

suspicion　which　the　last　heedless　words　of　the　shoemaker　had　aroused

in　her　bosom。　　She　left　him　bursting　with　laughter　over　his

lapstone。　　He　caught　up　his　fiddle　and　played　The　De'il's　i'　the

Women　lustily　and　with　expression。　　But　he　little　thought　what　he

had　done。



As　soon　as　she　reached　her　own　room；　she　went　straight　to　her　bed

and　disinterred　the　bonny　leddy's　coffin。　　She　was　gone；　and　in　her

stead；　horror　of　horrors！　lay　in　the　unhallowed　chest　that　body　of

divinity　known　as　Boston's　Fourfold　State。　　Vexation；　anger；

disappointment；　and　grief　possessed　themselves　of　the　old　woman's

mind。　　She　ranged　the　house　like　the　'questing　beast'　of　the　Round

Table；　but　failed　in　finding　the　violin　before　the　return　of　the

boys。　　Not　a　word　did　she　say　all　that　evening；　and　their　oppressed

hearts　foreboded　ill。　　They　felt　that　there　was　thunder　in　the

clouds；　a　sleeping　storm　in　the　air；　but　how　or　when　it　would　break

they　had　no　idea。



Robert　came　home　to　dinner　the　next　day　a　few　minutes　before

Shargar。　　As　he　entered　his　grandmother's　parlour；　a　strange　odour

greeted　his　sense。　　A　moment　more；　and　he　stood　rooted　with　horror；

and　his　hair　began　to　rise　on　his　head。　　His　violin　lay　on　its　back

on　the　fire；　and　a　yellow　tongue　of　flame　was　licking　the　red　lips

of　a　hole　in　its　belly。　　All　its　strings　were　shrivelled　up　save

one；　which　burst　as　he　gazed。　　And　beside；　stern　as　a　Druidess；　sat

his　grandmother　in　her　chair；　feeding　her　eyes　with　grim

satisfaction　on　the　detestable　sacrifice。　　At　length　the　rigidity　of

Robert's　whole　being　relaxed　in　an　involuntary　howl　like　that　of　a

wild　beast；　and　he　turned　and　rushed　from　the　house　in　a　helpless

agony　of　horror。　　Where　he　was　going　he　knew　not；　only　a　blind

instinct　of　modesty　drove　him　to　hide　his　pass