greyfriars bobby-第32部分

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these　unfortunates；　too；　and　some　of　them　had　no　other　friend　in　the　world　beside　that　uncalculating　little　dog。

When　the　morning　stream　of　auld　acquaintance　had　gone　by；　and　none　forgot；　Bobby　went　up　to　the　lodge　to　sit　for　an　hour　with　Mistress　Jeanie。　There　he　was　called　〃croodlin'　doo〃which　was　altogether　absurdby　the　fond　old　woman。　As　neat　of　plumage；　and　as　busy　and　talkative　about　small　domestic　matters　as　the　robin；　Bobby　loved　to　watch　the　wifie　stirring　savory　messes　over　the　fire；　watering　her　posies；　cleaning　the　fluttering　skylark's　cage；　or　just　sitting　by　the　hearth　or　in　the　sunny　doorway　with　him；　knitting　warm　stockings　for　her　rheumatic　gude…mon。

Out　in　the　kirkyard　Bobby　trotted　dutifully　at　the　caretaker's　heels。　When　visitors　were　about　he　did　not　venture　to　take　a　nap　in　the　open　unless　Mr。　Brown　was　on　guard；　and；　by　long　and　close　companionship　with　him；　the　aging　man　could　often　tell　what　Bobby　was　dreaming　about。　At　a　convulsive　movement　and　a　jerk　of　his　head　the　caretaker　would　say　to　the　wifie；　if　she　chanced　to　be　near：

〃Leuk　at　that；　noo；　wull　ye？　The　sperity　bit　was　takin'　thae　fou'　vermin。〃　And　again；　when　the　muscles　of　his　legs　worked　rhythmically；　〃He's　rinnin'　wi'　the　laddies　or　the　braw　soldiers　on　the　braes。〃

Bobby　often　woke　from　a　dream　with　a　start；　looked　dazed；　and　then　foolish；　at　the　vivid　imaginings　of　sleep。　But　when；　in　a　doze；　he　half　stretched　himself　up　on　his　short；　shagged　fore　paws；　flattened　out；　and　then　awoke　and　lay　so；　very　still；　for　a　time；　it　was　Mistress　Jeanie　who　said：

〃Preserve　us　a'！　The　bonny　wee　was　dreamin'　o'　his　maister's　deith；　an'　noo　he's　greetin'　sair。〃

At　that　she　took　her　little　stool　and　sat　on　the　grave　beside　him。　But　Mr。　Brown　bit　his　teeth　in　his　pipe；　limped　away；　and　stormed　at　his　daft　helper　laddie；　who　didn't　appear　to　know　a　violet　from　a　burdock。

Ah！　who　can　doubt　that；　so　deeply　were　scene　and　word　graven　on　his　memory；　Bobby　often　lived　again　the　hour　of　his　bereavement；　and　heard　Auld　Jock's　last　words：

〃Gangawa'hameladdie！〃

Homeless　on　earth；　gude　Auld　Jock　had　gone　to　a　place　prepared　for　him。　But　his　faithful　little　dog　had　no　home。　This　sacred　spot　was　merely　his　tarrying　place；　where　he　waited　until　such　a　time　as　that　mysterious　door　should　open　for　him；　perchance　to　an　equal　sky；　and　he　could　slip　through　and　find　his　master。

On　the　morning　of　the　day　when　the　Grand　Leddy　came　Bobby　watched　the　holiday　crowd　gather　on　Heriot's　Hospital　grounds。　The　mothers　and　sisters　of　hundreds　of　boys　were　there；　looking　on　at　the　great　match　game　of　cricket。　Bobby　dropped　over　the　wall　and　scampered　about；　taking　a　merry　part　in　the　play。　When　the　pupils'　procession　was　formed；　and　the　long　line　of　grinning　and　nudging　laddies　marched　in　to　service　in　the　chapel　and　dinner　in　the　hall；　he　was　set　up　over　the　kirkyard　wall；　hundreds　of　hands　were　waved　to　him；　and　voices　called　back：　〃Fareweel；　Bobby！〃　Then　the　time…gun　boomed　from　the　Castle；　and　the　little　dog　trotted　up　for　his　dinner　and　nap　under　the　settle　and　his　daily　visit　with　Mr。　Traill。

In　fair　weather；　when　the　last　guest　had　departed　and　the　music　bells　of　St。　Giles　had　ceased　playing；　the　landlord　was　fond　of　standing　in　his　doorway；　bareheaded　and　in　shirt…sleeves　and　apron；　to　exchange　opinions　on　politics；　literature　and　religion；　or　to　tell　Bobby's　story　to　what　passers…by　he　could　beguile　into　talk。　At　his　feet；　there；　was　a　fine　place　for　a　sociable　little　dog　to　spend　an　hour。　When　he　was　ready　to　go　Bobby　set　his　paws　upon　Mr。　Traill　and　waited　for　the　landlord's　hand　to　be　laid　on　his　head　and　the　man　to　say；　in　the　dialect　the　little　dog　best　understood：　〃Bide　a　wee。　Ye're　no'　needin'　to　gang　sae　sune；　laddie！〃

At　that　he　dropped；　barked　politely；　wagged　his　tail；　and　was　off。　If　Mr。　Traill　really　wanted　to　detain　Bobby　he　had　only　to　withhold　the　magic　word　〃laddie；〃　that　no　one　else　had　used　toward　the　little　dog　since　Auld　Jock　died。　But　if　the　word　was　too　long　in　coming；　Bobby　would　thrash　his　tail　about　impatiently；　look　up　appealingly；　and　finally　rise　and　beg　and　whimper。

〃Weel；　then；　bide　wi'　me；　an'　ye'll　get　it　ilka　hour　o'　the　day；　ye　sonsie；　wee；　talon'　bit！　What　are　ye　hangin'　aroond　for？　Ehweelgang　awa'　wi'　ye…　…laddie！〃　The　landlord　sighed　and　looked　down　reproachfully。　With　a　delighted　yelp；　and　a　lick　of　the　lingering　hand；　Bobby　was　off。

It　was　after　three　o'clock　on　this　day　when　he　returned　to　the　kirkyard。　The　caretaker　was　working　at　the　upper　end；　and　the　little　dog　was　lonely。　But；　long　enough　absent　from　his　master；　Bobby　lay　down　on　the　grave；　in　the　stillness　of　the　mid…afternoon。　The　robin　made　a　brief　call　and；　as　no　other　birds　were　about；　hopped　upon　Bobby's　back；　perched　on　his　head；　and　warbled　a　little　song。　It　was　then　that　the　gate　clicked。　Dismissing　her　carriage　and　telling　the　coachman　to　return　at　five；　Lady　Burdett…Coutts　entered　the　kirkyard。

Bobby　trotted　around　the　kirk　on　the　chance　of　meeting　a　friend。　He　looked　up　intently　at　the　strange　lady　for　a　moment；　and　she　stood　still　and　looked　down　at　him。　She　was　not　a　beautiful　lady；　nor　very　young。　Indeed；　she　was　a　few　years　older　than　the　Queen；　and　the　Queen　was　a　widowed　grandmother。　But　she　had　a　sweet　dignity　and　warm　serenityan　unhurried　look；　as　if　she　had　all　the　time　in　the　world　for　a　wee　dog；　and　Bobby　was　an　age…whitened　muff　of　a　plaintive　terrier　that　captured　her　heart　at　once。　Very　certain　that　this　stranger　knew　and　cared　about　how　he　felt；　Bobby　turned　and　led　her　down　to　Auld　Jock's　grave。　And　when　she　was　seated　on　the　table…tomb　he　came　up　to　her　and　let　her　look　at　his　collar；　and　he　stood　under　her　caress；　although　she　spoke　to　him　in　fey　English；　calling　him　a　darling　little　dog。　Then；　entirely　contented　with　her　company；　he　lay　down；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　her　and　lolling　his　tongue。

The　sun　was　on　the　green　and　flowery　slope　of　Greyfriars；　warming　the　weathered　tombs　and　the　rear　windows　of　the　tenements。　The　Grand　Leddy　found　a　great　deal　there　to　interest　her　beside　Bobby　and　the　robin　that　chirped　and　picked　up　crumbs　between　the　little　dog's　paws。　Presently　the　gate　was　opened　again　and'　a　housemaid　from　some　mansion　in　George　Square　came　around　the　kirk。　Trained　by　Mistress　Jeanie；　she　was　a　neat　and　pretty　and　pleasant…　mannered　housemaid；　in　a　black　gown　and　white　apron；　and　with　a　frilled　cap　on　her　crinkly；　gold…brown　hair　that　had　had　more　than　〃a　lick　or　twa　the　nicht　afore。〃

〃It's　juist　Ailie；〃　Bobby　seemed　to　say；　as　he　stood　a　moment　with　crested　neck　and　tail。　〃Ilka　body　kens　Ailie。〃

The　servant　lassie；　with　an　hour　out；　had　stopped　to　speak　to　Bobby。　She　had　not　meant　to　stay　long；　but　the　lady；　who　didn't　look　in　the　least　grand；　began　to　think　friendly　things　aloud。

〃The　windows　of　the　tenements　are　very　clean。〃

〃Ay。　The　bairnies　couldna　see　Bobby　gin　the　windows　warna　washed。〃　The　lassie　was　pulling　her　adored　little　pet's　ears；　and　Bobby　was　nuzzling　up　to　her。

〃In　many　of　the　windows　there　is　a　box　of　flowers；　or　of　kitchen　herbs　to　make　the　broth　savory。〃

〃It　wasna　so　i'　the　auld　days。　It　was　aye　washin's　clappin'　aboon　the　stanes。　Noo；　mony　o'　the　mithers　hang　the　claes　oot　at　nicht。　Ilka　thing　is　changed　sin'　I　was　a　wean　an'　leevin'　i'　the　auld　Guildhall；　the　bairnies　haen　Bobby　to　lo'e；　an'　no'　to　be　neglectet。〃　She　continued　the　conversation　to　include　Tammy　as　he　came　around　the　kirk　on　his　tapping　crutches。

〃Hoo　mony　years　is　it；　Tammy；　sin'　Bobby's　been　leevin'　i'　the　auld　kirkyaird？　At　Maister　Traill's　snawy　picnic　ye　war　five　gangin'　on　sax。〃　They　exchanged　glances　in　which　lay　one　of　the　happy　memories　of　sad　childhoods。

〃Noo　I'm　nineteen　going　on　twenty。　It's　near　fourteen　years　syne；　Ailie。〃　Nearly　all　the　burrs　had　been　pulled　from　Tammy's　tongue；　but　he　used　a　Scotch　word　now　and　then；　no'　to　shame　Ailie's　less　cultivated　speech。

〃So　long？〃　murmured　the　Grand　Leddy。　〃Bobby　is　getting　old；　very　old　for　a　terrier。〃

As　if　to　deny　that；　Bobby　suddenly　shot　down　the　slope　in　answer　to　a　cry　of　alarm　from　a　song　thrush。　Still　good　for　a　dash；　when　he　came　back　he　dropped　panting。　The　lady　put　her　hand　on　his　rippling　coat　and　felt　his　heart　pounding。　Then　she　looked　at　his　worn　down　teeth　and　lifted　his　veil。　Much　of　the　luster　was　gone　from　Bobby's　brown　eyes；　but　they　were　still　soft　and　deep　and　appealing。

From　the　windows　children　looked　down　upon　the　quiet　group　and；　without　in　the　least　knowing　why　they　wanted　to　be　there；　too；　the　tenement　bairns　began　to　drop　into　the　kirkyard。　Almost　at　once　it　raineda　quick；　bright；　dashing　shower　that　sent　them　all　flying　and　laughing　up　to　the　shelter　of　the　portico　to　the　new　kirk。　Bobby　scampered　up；　too；　and　with　the　bairns　in　holiday　duddies　crowding　about　her；　and　the　wee　dog　lolling　at　her　feet；　the　Grand　Leddy　talked　fairy　stories。

She　told　them　all　about　a　pretty　country　place　near　London。　It　was　called　Holly　Lodge　because　its　hedges　were　bright　with　green　leaves　and　red　berries；　even　in　winter。　A　lady　who　had　no　family　at　all　lived　there；　and　to　keep　her　company　she　had　all　sorts　of　pets。　Peter　and　Prince　were　the　dearest　dogs；　and　Cocky　was　a　parrot　that　could　say　the　most　amusing　things。　Sir　Garnet　was　the　llama　goat；　or　sheepshe　didn't　know　which。　There　was　a　fat　and　lazy　old　pony　that　had　long　been　pensioned　off　on　oats　and　clover；　andoh　yesthe　white　donkey　must　not　be　forgotten！

〃O…o…o…oh！　I　didna　ken　there　wad　be　ony　white　donkeys！〃　cried　a　big…eyed　laddie。

〃There　cannot　be　many；　and　there's　a　story　about　how　the　lady　came　to　have　this　one。　One　day；　driving　in　a　poor　street；　she　saw　a　costerthat　is　a　London　peddlerbeating　his　tired　donkey　that　refused　to　pull　the　load。　The　lady　got　out　of　her　carriage；　fed　the　animal　some　carrots　from　the　cart；　talked　kindly　to　him　right　into　his　big；　surprised　ear；　and　stroked　his　nose。　Presently　the　poor　beast　felt　better　and　started　off　cheerfully　with　the　heavy　cart。　When　many　costers　learned　that　it　was　not　only　wicked　but　foolish　to　abuse　their　patient　animals；　they　hunted　for　a　white　donkey　to　give　the　lady。　They　put　a　collar　of　flowers　about　his　neck；　and　brought　him　up　on　a　platform　before　a　crowd　of　people。　Everybody　laughed；　for　he　was　a　cl