greyfriars bobby-第15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！


nd　went　on　about　his　business。

Discouraged　by　the　unpromising　outlook　for　dinner　that　day；　Bobby　went　slowly　back　to　the　grave。　Twice　afterward　he　made　hopeful　pilgrimages　to　the　gate。　For　diversion　he　fell　noiselessly　upon　a　prowling　cat　and　chased　it　out　of　the　kirkyard。　At　last　he　sat　upon　the　table…tomb。　He　had　escaped　notice　from　the　tenements　all　the　morning　because　the　view　from　most　of　the　windows　was　blocked　by　washings；　hung　out　and　dripping；　then　freezing　and　clapping　against　the　old　tombs。　It　was　half…past　three　o'clock　when　a　tiny；　wizened　face　popped　out　of　one　of　the　rude　little　windows　in　the　decayed　Cunzie　Neuk　at　the　bottom　of　Candlemakers　Row。　Crippled　Tammy　Barr　called　out　in　shrill　excitement

〃Ailie！　O…o…oh；　Ailie　Lindsey；　there's　the　wee　doggie！〃

〃Whaur？〃　The　lassie's　elfin　face　looked　out　from　a　low；　rear　window　of　the　Candlemakers'　Guildhall　at　the　top　of　the　Row。

〃On　the　stane　by　the　kirk　wa'。〃

〃I　see　'im　noo。　Isna　he　bonny？　I　wish　Bobby　could　bide　i'　the　kirkyaird；　but　they　wadna　let　'im。　Tammy；　gin　ye　tak'　'im　up　to　Maister　Traill；　he'll　gie　ye　the　shullin'！〃

〃I　couldna　tak'　'im　by　ma　lane；〃　was　the　pathetic　confession。　〃Wad　ye　gang　wi'　me；　Ailie？　Ye　could　drap　ower　an'　catch　'im；　an'　I　could　come　by　the　gate。　Faither　made　me　some　grand　crutches　frae　an'　auld　chair　back。〃

Tears　suddenly　drowned　the　lassie's　blue　eyes　and　ran　down　her　pinched　little　cheeks。　〃Nae；　I　couldna　gang。　I　haena　ony　shoon　to　ma　feet。〃

〃It's　no'　so　cauld。　Gin　I　had　twa　guile　feet　I　could　gang　the　bit　way　wi'oot　shoon。〃

〃I　ken　it　isna　so　cauld；〃　Ailie　admitted；　〃but　for　a　lassie　it's　no'　respectable　to　gang　to　a　grand　place　barefeeted。〃

That　was　undeniable；　and　the　eager　children　fell　silent　and　tearful。　But　oh；　necessity　is　the　mother　of　makeshifts　among　the　poor！　Suddenly　Ailie　cried：　〃Bide　a　meenit；　Tammy；〃　and　vanished。　Presently　she　was　back；　with　the　difficulty　overcome。　〃Grannie　says　I　can　wear　her　shoon。　She　doesna　wear　'em　i'　the　hoose；　ava。〃

〃I'll　gie　ye　a　saxpence；　Ailie；〃　offered　Tammy。

The　sordid　bargain　shocked　no　feeling　of　these　tenement　bairns　nor　marred　their　pleasure　in　the　adventure。　Presently　there　was　a　tap…tap…tapping　of　crutches　on　the　heavy　gallery　that　fronted　the　Cunzie　Neuk；　and　on　the　stairs　that　descended　from　it　to　the　steep　and　curving　row。　The　lassie　draped　a　fragment　of　an　old　plaid　deftly　over　her　thinly　clad　shoulders；　climbed　through　the　window；　to　the　pediment　of　the　classic　tomb　that　blocked　it；　and　dropped　into　the　kirkyard。　To　her　surprise　Bobby　was　there　at　her　feet；　frantically　wagging　his　tail；　and　he　raced　her　to　the　gate。　She　caught　him　on　the　steps　of　the　dining　room；　and　held　his　wriggling　little　body　fast　until　Tammy　came　up。

It　was　a　tumultuous　little　group　that　burst　in　upon　the　astonished　landlord：　barking　fluff　of　an　excited　dog；　flying　lassie　in　clattering　big　shoes；　and　wee；　tapping　Tammy。　They　literally　fell　upon　him　when　he　was　engaged　in　counting　out　his　money。

〃Whaur　did　you　find　him？〃　asked　Mr　Traill　in　bewilderment。

Six…year…old　Ailie　slipped　a　shy　finger　into　her　mouth；　and　looked　to　the　very　much　more　mature　five…year　old　crippled　laddie　to　answer

〃He　was　i'　the　kirkyaird。〃

〃Sittin'　upon　a　stane　by　'is　ainsel'；〃　added　Ailie。

〃An'　no'　hidin'；　ava。　It　was　juist　like　he　was　leevin'　there。〃

〃An'　syne；　when　I　drapped　oot　o'　the　window　he　louped　at　me　so　bonny；　an'　I　couldna　keep　up　wi'　'im　to　the　gate。〃

Wonder　of　wonders！　It　was　plain　that　Bobby　had　made　his　way　back　from　the　hill　farm　and；　from　his　appearance　and　manner；　as　well　as　from　this　account；　it　was　equally　clear　that　some　happy　change　in　his　fortunes　had　taken　place。　He　sat　up　on　his　haunches　listening　with　interest　and　lolling　his　tongue！　And　that　was　a　thing　the　bereft　little　dog　had　not　done　since　his　master　died。　In　the　first　pause　in　the　talk　he　rose　and　begged　for　his　dinner。

〃Noo；　what　am　I　to　pay？　It　took　ane；　twa；　three　o'　ye　to　fetch　ane　sma'　dog。　A　saxpence　for　the　laddie；　a　saxpence　for　the　lassie；　an'　a　bit　meal　for　Bobby。〃

While　he　was　putting　the　plate　down　under　the　settle　Mr。　Traill　heard　an　amazed　whisper　〃He's　gien　the　doggie　a　chuckie　bane。〃　The　landlord　switched　the　plate　from　under　Bobby's　protesting　little　muzzle　and　turned　to　catch　the　hungry　look　on　the　faces　of　the　children。　Chicken；　indeed；　for　a　little　dog；　before　these　ill…fed　bairns！　Mr。　Traill　had　a　brilliant　thought。

〃Preserve　me！　I　didna　think　to　eat　ma　ain　dinner。　I　hae　so　muckle　to　eat　I　canna　eat　it　by　ma　lane。〃

The　idea　of　having　too　much　to　eat　was　so　preposterously　funny　that　Tammy　doubled　up　with　laughter　and　nearly　tumbled　over　his　crutches。　Mr。　Traill　set　him　upright　again。

〃Did　ye　ever　gang　on　a　picnic；　bairnies？〃　And　what　was　a　picnic？　Tammy　ventured　the　opinion　that　it　might　be　some　kind　of　a　cart　for　lame　laddies　to　ride　in。

〃A　picnic　is　when　ye　gang　gypsying　in　the　summer；〃　Mr。　Traill　explained。　〃Ye　walk　to　a　bonny　green　brae；　an'　sit　doon　under　a　hawthorntree　a'　covered　wi'　posies；　by　a　babblin'　burn；　an'　ye　eat　oot　o'　yer　ain　hands。　An'　syne　ye　hear　a　throstle　or　a　redbreast　sing　an'　a　saucy　blackbird　whustle。〃

〃Could　ye　tak'　a　dog？〃　asked　Tammy。

〃Ye　could　that；　mannie。　It's　no'　a　picnic　wi'oot　a　sonsie　doggie　to　rin　on　the　brae　wi'　ye。〃

〃Oh！〃　Ailie's　blue　eyes　slowly　widened　in　her　pallid　little　face。　〃But　ye　couldna　hae　a　picnic　i'　the　snawy　weather。〃

〃Ay；　ye　could。　It's　the　bonniest　of　a'　when　ye're　no'　expectin'　it。　I　aye　keep　a　picnic　hidden　i'　the　ingleneuk　aboon。〃　He　suddenly　swung　Tammy　up　on　his　shoulder；　and　calling；　gaily；　〃Come　awa'；〃　went　out　the　door；　through　another　beside　it；　and　up　a　flight　of　stairs　to　the　dining…room　above。　A　fire　burned　there　in　the　grate；　the　tables　were　covered　with　linen；　and　there　were　blooming　flowers　in　pots　in　the　front　windows。　Patrons　from　the　University；　and　the　well…to…do　streets　and　squares　to　the　south　and　east；　made　of　this　upper　room　a　sort　of　club　in　the　evenings。　At　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　there　were　no　guests。

〃Noo；〃　said　Mr。　Traill；　when　his　overcome　little　guests　were　seated　at　a　table　in　the　inglenook。　〃A　picnic　is　whaur　ye　hae　onything　ye　fancy　to　eat；　gude　things　ye　wullna　be　haein'　ilka　day；　ye　mind。〃　He　rang　a　call…bell；　and　a　grinning　waiter　laddie　popped　up　so　quickly　the　lassie　caught　her　breath。

〃Eneugh　broo　for　aince；〃　said　Tammy。

〃Porridge　that　isna　burned；〃　suggested　Ailie。　Such　pitiful　poverty　of　the　imagination！

〃Nae；　it's　bread；　an'　butter；　an'　strawberry　jam；　an'　tea　wi'　cream　an'　sugar；　an'　cauld　chuckie　at　a　snawy　picnic；〃　announced　Mr。　Traill。　And　there　it　was；　served　very　quickly　and　silently；　after　some　manner　of　magic。　Bobby　had　to　stand　on　the　fourth　chair　to　eat　his　dinner；　and　when　he　had　despatched　it　he　sat　up　and　viewed　the　little　party　with　the　liveliest　interest　and　happiness。

〃Tammy；〃　Ailie　said；　when　her　shyness　had　worn　off；　〃it's　like　the　grand　tales　ye　mak'　up　i'　yer　heid。〃

〃Preserve　me！　Does　the　wee　mannie　mak'　up　stories？〃

〃It's　juist　fulish　things；　aboot　haein'　mair　to　eat；　an'　a　sonsie　doggie　to　play　wi'；　an'　twa　gude　legs　to　tak'　me　aboot。　I　think　'em　oot　at　nicht　when　I　canna　sleep。〃

〃Eh；　laddie；　do　ye　noo？〃　Mr。　Traill　suddenly　had　a　terrible　〃cauld　in　'is　heid；〃　that　made　his　eyes　water。　〃Hoo　auld　are　ye？〃

〃Five；　gangin'　on　sax。〃

〃Losh！　I　thoucht　ye　war　fifty；　gangin'　on　saxty。〃　Laughter　saved　the　day　from　overmoist　emotions。　And　presently　Mr。　Traill　was　able　to　say　in　a　business…like　tone：

〃We'll　hae　to　tak'　ye　to　the　infirmary。　An'　if　they　canna　mak'　yer　legs　ower　ye'll　get　a　pair　o'　braw　crutches　that　are　the　niest　thing　to　gude　legs。　An'　syne　we'll　see　if　there's　no'　a　place　in　Heriot's　for　a　sma'　laddie　that　mak's　up　bonny　tales　o'　his　ain　in　the　murky　auld　Cunzie　Neuk。〃

Now　the　gay　little　feast　was　eaten；　and　early　dark　was　coming　on。　If　Mr。　Traill　had　entertained　the　hope　that　Bobby　had　recovered　from　his　grief　and　might　remain　with　him；　he　was　disappointed。　The　little　dog　began　to　be　restless。　He　ran　to　the　door　and　back；　he　begged；　and　he　scratched　on　the　panel。　And　then　he　yelped！　As　soon　as　the　door　was　opened　he　shot　out　of　it；　tumbled　down　the　stairway　and　waited　at　the　foot　impatiently　for　the　lower　door　to　be　unlatched。　Ailie's　thin；　swift　legs　were　left　behind　when　Bobby　dashed　to　the　kirkyard。

Tammy　followed　at　a　surprising　pace　on　his　rude　crutches；　and　Mr。　Traill　brought　up　the　rear。　If　the　children　could　not　smuggle　the　frantic　little　dog　inside；　the　landlord　meant　to　put　him　over　the　wicket　and；　if　necessary；　to　have　it　out　with　the　caretaker；　and　then　to　go　before　the　kirk　minister　and　officers　with　his　plea。　He　was　still　concealed　by　the　buildings；　from　the　alcoved　gate；　when　he　heard　Mr。　Brown's　gruff　voice　taking　the　frightened　bairns　to　task。

〃Gie　me　the　dog；　an'　dinna　ye　tak'　him　oot　ony　mair　wi'oot　spierin'　me。〃

The　children　fled。　Peeping　around　the　angle　of　the　Book　Hunter's　Stall；　Mr。　Traill　saw　the　caretaker　lift　Bobby　over　the　wicket　to　his　arms；　and　start　with　him　toward　the　lodge。　He　was　perishing　with　curiosity　about　this　astonishing　change　of　front　on　the　part　of　Mr。　Brown；　but　it　was　a　delicate　situation　in　which　it　seemed　best　not　to　meddle。　He　went　slowly　back　to　the　restaurant；　begrudging　Bobby　to　the　luckier　caretaker。

His　envy　was　premature。　Mr。　Brown　set　Bobby　inside　the　lodge　kitchen　and　announced　briefly　to　his　wife：　〃The　bit　dog　wull　sleep　i'　the　hoose　the　nicht。〃　And　he　went　about　some　business　at　the　upper　end　of　the　kirkyard。　When　he　came　in　an　hour　later　Bobby　was　gone。

〃I　couldna　keep　'im　in；　Jamie。　He　didna　blatter；　but　he　greeted　so　sair　to　be　let　oot；　an　syne　he　scratched　a'　the　paint　aff　the　door。〃

Mr。　Brown　glowered　at　her　in　exasperation。　〃Woman；　they'll　hae　me　up　afore　kirk　sessions　for　brakin'　the　rules；　an'　syne　they'll　turn　us　a'　oot　i'　the　cauld　warld　togither。〃

He　slammed　the　door　and　stormed　angrily　around　the　kirk。　It　was　still　light　enough　to　see　the　little　creature　on　the　snowy　mound　and；　indeed；　Bobby　got　up　and　wagged　his　tail　in　friendly　greeting。　At　that　all　the　bluster　went　out　of　the　man；　and　he　began　to　argue　the　matter　with　the　dog。

〃Come　awa'；　Bobby。　Ye　canna　be　leevin'　i'　the　kirkyaird。〃

Bobby　was　of