donal grant-第26部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


knowledge　of　all　that　was　going　on；　that　his　entertainer　soon　saw
his　opinion　must　be　worth　something　whether　his　fancies　were　or　not。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

STEPHEN　KENNEDY。

The　great　comforts　of　Donal's　life；　next　to　those　of　the　world　in
which　his　soul　livedthe　eternal　world；　whose　doors　are　ever　open
to　him　who　prayswere　the　society　of　his　favourite　books；　the
fashioning　of　his　thoughts　into　sweetly　ordered　sounds　in　the　lofty
solitude　of　his　chamber；　and　not　infrequent　communion　with　the
cobbler　and　his　wife。　　To　these　he　had　as　yet　said　nothing　of　what
went　on　at　the　castle：　he　had　learned　the　lesson　the　cobbler　himself
gave　him。　　But　many　a　lesson　of　greater　value　did　he　learn　from　the
philosopher　of　the　lapstone。　　He　who　understands　because　he
endeavours；　is　a　freed　man　of　the　realm　of　human　effort。　　He　who　has
no　experience　of　his　own；　to　him　the　experience　of　others　is　a
sealed　book。　　The　convictions　that　in　Donal　rose　vaporous　were
rapidly　condensed　and　shaped　when　he　found　his　new　friend　thought
likewise。

By　degrees　he　made　more　and　more　of　a　companion　of　Davie；　and　such
was　the　sweet　relation　between　them　that　he　would　sometimes　have　him
in　his　room　even　when　he　was　writing。　　When　it　was　time　to　lay　in
his　winter…fuel；　he　said　to　him

〃Up　here；　Davie；　we　must　have　a　good　fire　when　the　nights　are　long；
the　darkness　will　be　like　solid　cold。　　Simmons　tells　me　I　may　have
as　much　coal　and　wood　as　I　like：　will　you　help　me　to　get　them　up？〃

Davie　sprang　to　his　feet：　he　was　ready　that　very　minute。

〃I　shall　never　learn　my　lessons　if　I　am　cold；〃　added　Donal；　who
could　not　bear　a　low　temperature　so　well　as　when　he　was　always　in
the　open　air。

〃Do　you　learn　lessons；　Mr。　Grant？〃

〃Yes　indeed　I　do；〃　replied　Donal。　〃One　great　help　to　the
understanding　of　things　is　to　brood　over　them　as　a　hen　broods　over
her　eggs：　words　are　thought…eggs；　and　their　chickens　are　truths；　and
in　order　to　brood　I　sometimes　learn　by　heart。　　I　have　set　myself　to
learn；　before　the　winter　is　over　if　I　can；　the　gospel　of　John　in　the
Greek。〃

〃What　a　big　lesson！〃　exclaimed　Davie。

〃Ah；　but　how　rich　it　will　make　me！〃　said　Donal；　and　that　set　Davie
pondering。

They　began　to　carry　up　the　fuel；　Donal　taking　the　coals；　and　Davie
the　wood。　　But　Donal　got　weary　of　the　time　it　took；　and　set　himself
to　find　a　quicker　way。　　So　next　Saturday　afternoon；　the　rudimentary
remnant　of　the　Jewish　Sabbath；　and　the　schoolboy's　weekly　carnival
before　Lent；　he　directed　his　walk　to　a　certain　fishing　village；　the
nearest　on　the　coast；　about　three　miles　off；　and　there　succeeded　in
hiring　a　spare　boat…spar　with　a　block　and　tackle。　　The　spar　he　ran
out；　through　a　notch　of　the　battlement；　near　the　sheds；　and　having
stayed　it　well　back；　rove　the　rope　through　the　block　at　the　peak　of
it；　and　lowered　it　with　a　hook　at　the　end。　　A　moment　of　Davie's　help
below；　and　a　bucket　filled　with　coals　was　on　its　way　up：　this　part
of　the　roof　was　over　a　yard　belonging　to　the　household　offices；　and
Davie　filled　the　bucket　from　a　heap　they　had　there　made。　〃Stand
back；　Davie；〃　Donal　would　cry；　and　up　would　go　the　bucket；　to　the
ever　renewed　delight　of　the　boy。　　When　it　reached　the　block；　Donal；
by　means　of　a　guy；　swung　the　spar　on　its　but…end；　and　the　bucket
came　to　the　roof　through　the　next　notch　of　the　battlement。　　There　he
would　empty　it；　and　in　a　moment　it　would　be　down　again　to　be
re…filled。　　When　he　thought　he　had　enough　of　coal；　he　turned　to　the
wood；　and　thus　they　spent　an　hour　of　a　good　many　of　the　cool
evenings　of　autumn。　　Davie　enjoyed　it　immensely；　and　it　was　no　small
thing　for　a　boy　delicately　nurtured　to　be　helped　out　of　the　feeling
that　he　must　have　every　thing　done　for　him。　　When　after　a　time　he
saw　the　heap　on　the　roof；　he　was　greatly　impressed　with　the　amount
that　could　be　done　by　little　and　little。　　In　return　Donal　told　him
that　if　he　worked　well　through　the　week；　he　should　every　Saturday
evening　spend　an　hour　with　him　by　the　fire　he　had　thus　helped　to
provide；　and　they　would　then　do　something　together。

After　his　first　visit　Donal　went　again　and　again　to　the　village：　he
had　made　acquaintance　with　some　of　the　people；　and　liked　them。
There　was　one　man；　however；　who；　although；　attracted　by　his　look
despite　its　apparent　sullenness；　he　had　tried　to　draw　him　into
conversation；　seemed　to　avoid；　almost　to　resent　his　advances。　　But
one　day　as　he　was　walking　home；　Stephen　Kennedy　overtook　him；　and
saying　he　was　going　in　his　direction；　walked　alongside　of　himto
the　pleasure　of　Donal；　who　loved　all　humanity；　and　especially　the
portion　of　it　acquainted　with　hard　work。　　He　was　a　middle…sized
young　fellow；　with　a　slouching　walk；　but　a　well　shaped　and　well　set
head；　and　a　not　uncomely　countenance。　　He　was　brown　as　sun　and　salt
sea…winds　could　make　him；　and　had　very　blue　eyes　and　dark　hair；
telling　of　Norwegian　ancestry。　　He　lounged　along　with　his　hands　in
his　pockets；　as　if　he　did　not　care　to　walk；　yet　got　over　the　ground
as　fast　as　Donal；　who；　with　yet　some　remnant　of　the　peasant's
stride；　covered　the　ground　as　if　he　meant　walking。　　After　their
greeting　a　great　and　enduring　silence　fell；　which　lasted　till　the
journey　was　half…way　over；　then　all　at　once　the　fisherman　spoke。

〃There's　a　lass　at　the　castel；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃they　ca'　Eppy　Comin。〃

〃There　is；〃　answered　Donal。

〃Do　ye　ken　the　lass；　sirto　speak　til　her；　I　mean？〃

〃Surely；〃　replied　Donal。　〃I　know　her　grandfather　and　grandmother
well。〃

〃Dacent　fowk！〃　said　Stephen。

〃They　are　that！〃　responded　Donal；　〃as　good　people　as　I　know！〃

〃Wud　ye　du　them　a　guid　turn？〃　asked　the　fisherman。

〃Indeed　I　would！〃

〃Weel；　it's　this；　sir：　I　hae　grit　doobts　gien　a'　be　gaein'　verra
weel　wi'　the　lass　at　the　castel。〃

As　he　said　the　words　he　turned　his　head　aside；　and　spoke　so　low　and
in　such　a　muffled　way　that　Donal　could　but　just　make　out　what　he
said。

〃You　must　be　a　little　plainer　if　you　would　have　me　do　anything；〃　he
returned。

〃I'll　be　richt　plain　wi'　ye；　sir；〃　answered　Stephen；　and　then　fell
silent　as　if　he　would　never　speak　again。

Donal　waited；　nor　uttered　a　sound。　　At　last　he　spoke　once　more。

〃Ye　maun　ken；　sir；〃　he　said　〃I　hae　had　a　fancy　to　the　lass　this　mony
a　day；　for　ye'll　alloo　she's　baith　bonny　an'　winsome！〃

Donal　did　not　reply；　for　although　he　was　ready　to　grant　her　bonny；
he　had　never　felt　her　winsome。

〃Weel；〃　he　went　on；　〃her　an'　me　's　been　coortin'　this　twa　year；　an'
guid　freen's　we　aye　was　till　this　last　spring；　whan　a'　at　ance　she
turnt　highty…tighty　like；　nor；　du　what　I　micht；　could　I　get　her　to
say　what　it　was　'at　cheengt　her：　sae　far　as　I　kenned　I　had　dune
naething；　nor　wad　she　say　I　had　gi'en　her　ony　cause　o'　complaint。
But　though　she　couldna　say　I　had　ever　gi'en　mair　nor　a　ceevil　word
to　ony　lass　but　hersel'；　she　appeart　unco　wullin'　to　fix　me　wi'　this
ane　an'　that　ane　or　ony　ane！　　I　couldna　think　what　had　come　ower
her！　　But　at　lastan'　a　sair　last　it　is！I　hae　come　to　the
un'erstan'in　o'　't：　she　wud　fain　hae　a　pretence　for　br'akin'　wi'　me！
She　wad　hae　't　'at　I　was　duin'　as　she　was　duin'　hersel'haudin'
company　wi'　anither！〃

〃Are　you　quite　sure　of　what　you　say？〃　asked　Donal。

〃Ower　sure；　sir；　though　I'm　no　at　leeberty　to　tell　ye　hoo　I　cam　to
be。Dinna　think；　sir；　'at　I'm　ane　to　haud　a　lass　til　her　word　whan
her　hert　disna　back　it；　I　wud　hae　said　naething　aboot　it；　but　jist
borne　the　hert…brak　wi'　the　becomin'　silence；　for　greitin'　nor
ragin'　men'　no　nets；　nor　tak　the　life　o'　nae　dogfish。　　But　it's
God's　trowth；　sir；　I'm　terrible　feart　for　the　lassie　hersel'。　　She's
that　ta'en　up　wi'　him；　they　tell　me；　'at　she　can　think　o'　naething
but　him；　an'　he's　a　yoong　lord；　no　a　puir　lad　like　mean'　that's
what　fears　me！〃

A　great　dread　and　a　great　compassion　together　laid　hold　of　Donal；
but　he　did　not　speak。

〃Gien　it　cam　to　that；〃　resumed　Stephen；　〃I　doobt　the　fisher…lad　wud
win　her　better　breid　nor　my　lord；　for　gien　a'　tales　be　true；　he　wud
hae　to　work　for　his　ain　breid；　the　castel　's　no　his；　nor　canna　be
'cep'　he　merry　the　leddy　o'　't。　　But　it's　no　merryin'　Eppy　he'll　be
efter；　or　ony　the　likes　o'　'im！〃

〃You　don't　surely　hint；〃　said　Donal；　〃that　there's　anything　between
her　and　lord　Forgue？　　She　must　be　an　idle　girl　to　take　such　a　thing
into　her　head！〃

〃I　wuss　weel　she　hae　ta'en　't　intil　her　heid！　she'll　get　it　the
easier　oot　o'　her　hert？　　But　'deed；　sir；　I'm　sair　feart！　　I　speakna
o'　't　for　my　ain　sake；　for　gien　there　be　trowth　intil't；　there　can
never　be　mair　'atween　her　and　me！　　But；　eh；　sir；　the　peety　o'　't　wi'
sic　a　bonny　lass！for　he　canna　mean　fair　by　her！　　Thae　gran'　fowk
does　fearsome　things！　　It's　sma'　won'er　'at　whiles　the　puir　fowk
rises　wi'　a　roar；　an'　tears　doon　a'；　as　they　did　i'　France！〃

〃All　you　say　is　quite　true；　but　the　charge　is　such　a　serious　one！〃

〃It　is　that；　sir！　　But　though　it　be　true；　I'm　no　gaein'　to　mak　it
'afore　the　warl'。〃

〃You　are　right　there：　it　could　do　no　good。〃

〃I　fear　it　may　du　as　little　whaur　I　am　gaein'　to　mak　it！　　I'm　upo'
my　ro'd　to　gar　my　lord　gie　an　accoont　o'　himsel'。　　Faith；　gien　it
bena　a　guid　ane；　I'll　thraw　the　neck　o'　'im！　　It's　better　me　to
hang；　nor　her　to　gang　disgraced；　puir　thing！　　She　can　be　naething
mair　to　me；　as　I　say；　but　I　wud　like　weel　the　wringin'　o'　a　lord's
neck！　　It　wud　be　like　killin'　a　shark！〃

〃Why　do　you　tell　me　this？〃　asked　Donal。

〃'Cause　I　look　to　you　to　get　me　to　word　o'　the　man。〃

〃That　you　may　wring　his　neck？You　should　not　have　told　me　that：　I
should　be　art　and　part　in　his　murder！〃

〃Wud　ye　hae　me　lat　the　lassie　tak　her　chance　ohn　dune　onything？〃
said　the　fisherman　with　scorn。

〃By　no　means。　　I　would　do　something　myself　whoever　the　girl　wasand
she　is　the　granddaughter　of　my　best　friends。〃

〃Sir；　ye　winna　surely　fail　me！〃

〃I　will　help　you　somehow；　but　I　will　not　do　what　you　want　me。　　I
will　turn　the　thing　over　in　my　mind。　　I　promise　you　I　will　do
somethingwhat；　I　cannot　say　offhand。　　You　had　better　go　home
again；　and　I　will　come　to　you　to…morrow。〃

〃Na；　na；　that　winna　do！〃　said　the　man；　half　doggedly；　half　fiercely。
〃The　hert　ill　be　oot　o'　my　body　gien　I　dinna　du　something！　　This
verra　nicht　it　maun　be　dune！　　I　canna　bide　in　hell　ony　langer。　　The
thoucht　o'　the　rasc