guy mannering-第21部分

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〃I　believe　that's　very　true；〃　said　the　postilion。

〃So；　sir；　she　grippit　him；　and　clodded　＇*Hurled＇　him　like　a　stane　from　the　sling　ower　the　craigs　of　Warroch　Head；　where　he　was　found　that　eveningbut　what　became　of　the　babe；　frankly　I　cannot　say。　But　he　that　was　minister　here　then；　that's　now　in　a　better　place；　had　an　opinion　that　the　bairn　was　only　conveyed　to　Fairyland　for　a　season。〃

The　stranger　had　smiled　slightly　at　some　parts　of　this　recital；　but　ere　he　could　answer；　the　clatter　of　a　horse's　hoofs　was　heard；　and　a　smart　servant；　handsomely　dressed；　with　a　cockade　in　his　hat；　bustled　into　the　kitchen；　with　〃Make　a　little　room；　good　people〃；　when；　observing　the　stranger；　he　descended　at　once　into　the　modest　and　civil　domestic；　his　hat　sunk　down　by　his　side；　and　he　put　a　letter　into　his　master's　hands。　〃The　family　at　Ellangowan；　sir；　are　in　great　distress；　and　unable　to　receive　any　visits。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　replied　his　master。〃And　now；　madam；　it　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　allow　me　to　occupy　the　parlour　you　mentioned；　as　you　are　disappointed　of　your　guests〃

〃Certainly；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish；　and　hastened　to　light　the　way　with　all　the　imperative　bustle　which　an　active　landlady　loves　to　display　on　such　occasions。

〃Young　man；〃　said　the　Deacon　to　the　servant；　filling　a　glass；　〃ye'll　no　be　the　waur　o'　this；　after　your　ride。〃

〃Not　a　feather；　sir；thank　yeyour　very　good　health；　sir。〃

〃And　wha　may　your　master　be；　friend？〃

〃What；　the　gentleman　that　was　here？that's　the　famous　Colonel　Mannering；　sir；　from　the　East　Indies。〃

〃What；　him　we　read　of　in　the　newspapers？〃

〃Ay；　ay；　just　the　same。　It　was　he　relieved　Cuddieburn；　and　defended　Chingalore；　and　defeated　the　great　Mahratta　chief；　Ram　Jolli　BundlemanI　was　with　him　in　most　of　his　campaigns。〃

〃Lord　safe　us；〃　said　the　landlady；　〃I　must　go　see　what　he　would　have　for　supperthat　I　should　set　him　down　here！〃

〃Oh；　he　likes　that　all　the　better；　mother；you　never　saw　a　plainer　creature　in　your　life　than　our　old　Colonel；　and　yet　he　has　a　spice　of　the　devil　in　him　too。〃

The　rest　of　the　evening's　conversation　below　stairs　tending　little　to　edification；　we　shall；　with　the　reader's　leave；　step　up　to　the　parlour。



CHAPTER　XII。

　　Reputation？that's　man's　idol　set　up　against　God；　the　　　Maker　of　all　laws；　Who　hath　commanded　us　we　should　not　　　kill；　And　yet　we　say　we　must；　for　Reputation！　What　honest　　　man　can　either　fear　his　own；　Or　else　will　hurt　another's　　　reputation？　Fear　to　do　base　unworthy　things　is　valour；　If　　　they　be　done　to　us；　to　suffer　them　Is　valour　　　too。　　　　　　　　BEN　JONSON；

The　Colonel　was　walking　pensively　up　and　down　the　parlour；　when　the　officious　landlady　re…entered　to　take　his　commands。　Having　given　them　in　the　manner　he　thought　would　be　most　acceptable　〃for　the　good　of　the　house；〃　he　begged　to　detain　her　a　moment。

〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃madam；　if　I　understood　the　good　people　right；　Mr。　Bertram　lost　his　son　in　his　fifth　year？〃

〃Oh　ay；　sir；　there's　nae　doubt　o'　that；　though　there　are　mony　idle　clashes　＇*　Tittle…tattle＇；　about　the　way　and　manner；　for　it's　an　auld　story　now；　and　everybody　tells　it；　as　we　were　doing；　their　ain　way　by　the　ingleside。　But　lost　the　bairn　was　in　his　fifth　year；　as　your　honour　says；　Colonel；　and　the　news　being　rashly　tell'd　to　the　leddy；　then　great　with　child；　cost　her　her　life　that　samyn　nightand　the　Laird　never　throve　after　that　day；　but　was　just　careless　of　everythingthough；　when　his　daughter　Miss　Lucy　grew　up；　she　tried　to　keep　order　within　doorsbut　what　could　she　do；　poor　thing　so　now　they're　out　of　house　and　hauld。〃

〃Can　you　recollect；　madam；　about　what　time　of　the　year　the　child　was　lost？〃　The　landlady；　after　a　pause；　and　some　recollection；　answered；　〃she　was　positive　it　was　about　this　season　and　added　some　local　recollections　that　fixed　the　date　in　her　memory；　as　occurring　about　the　beginning　of　November；　17…。〃

The　stranger　took　two　or　three　turns　round　the　room　in　silence；　but　signed　to　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish　not　to　leave　it。

Did　I　rightly　apprehend；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　estate　of　Ellangowan　is　in　the　market？〃

〃In　the　market？it　will　be　sell'd　the　morn　to　the　highest　bidderthat's　no　the　morn；　Lord　help　me！　which　is　the　Sabbath；　but　on　Monday；　the　first　free　day；　and　the　furniture　and　stocking　is　to　be　roupit　＇*Auctioned＇　at　the　same　time　on　the　groundit's　the　opinion　of　the　haill　country；　that　the　sale　has　been　shamefully　forced　on　at　this　time；　when　there's　sae　little　money　stirring　in　Scotland　wi'　this　weary　American　war；　that　somebody　may　get　the　land　a　bargainDeil　be　in　them；　that　I　should　say　sae！〃the　good　lady's　wrath　rising　at　the　supposed　injustice。

〃And　where　will　the　sale　take　place？〃

〃On　the；　premises；　as　the　advertisement　saysthat's　at　the　house　of　Ellangowan；　your　honour；　as　I　understand　it。〃

〃And　who　exhibits　the　title…deeds；　rent…roll；　and　plan？〃

〃A　very　decent　man；　sir；　the　Sheriff…substitute　of　the　county；　who　has　authority　from　the　Court　of　Session。　He's　in　the　town　just　now；　if　your　honour　would　like　to　see　hint；　and　he　can　tell　you　mair　about　the　loss　of　the　bairn　than　onybody；　for　the　Sheriff…depute　（that's　his　principal；　like）　took　much　pains　to　come　at　the　truth　o'　that　matter；　as　I　have　heard。〃

〃And　this　gentleman's　name　is〃

〃Mac…Morlan；　sir；he's　a　man　o'　character；　and　weel　spoken　o'。〃

〃Send　my　complimentsColonel　Mannering's　compliments　to　him；　and　I　would　be　glad　he　would　do　me　the　pleasure　of　supping　with　me；　and　bring　these　papers　with　himand　I　beg；　good　madam；　you　will　say　nothing　of　this　to　any　one　else。〃

〃Me；　sir？　ne'er　a　word　shall　I　sayI　wish　your　honour　（a　curtsey）；　or　ony　honourable　gentleman　that's　fought　for　his　country　（another　curtsey）；　had　the　land；　since　the　auld　family　maun　quit　（a　sigh）；　rather　than　that　wily　scoundrel；　Glossin；　that's　risen　on　the　ruin　of　the　best　friend　he　ever　hadand　now　I　think　on't；　I'll　slip　on　my　hood　and　pattens；　and　gang　to　Mr。　Mac…Morlan　mysellhe's　at　hame　e'en　now…it's　hardly　a　step。〃

〃Do　so；　my　good　landlady；　and　many　thanksand　bid　my　servant　step　here　with　my　portfolio　in　the　meantime。〃

In　a　minute　or　two；　Colonel　Mannering　was　quietly　seated　with　his　writing　materials　before　him。　We　have　the　privilege　of　looking　over　his　shoulder　as　he　writes；　and　we　willingly　communicate　its　substance　to　our　readers。　The　letter　was　addressed　to　Arthur　Mervyn；　Esq。；　of　Mervyn　Hall；　Llanbraithwaite；　Westmoreland。　It　contained　some　account　of　the　writer's　previous　journey　since　parting　with　him；　and　then　proceeded　as　follows：…

〃And　now；　why　will　you　still　upbraid　me　with　my　melancholy；　Mervyn？Do　you　think；　after　the　lapse　of　twenty…five　years；　battles；　wounds；　imprisonment；　you；　who　have　remained　in　the　bosom　of　domestic　happiness；　experience　little　change；　that　your　step　is　as　light；　and　your　fancy　as　full　of　sunshine；　is　a　blessed　effect　of　health　and　temperament；　co…operating　with　content　and　a　smooth　current　down　the　course　of　life。　But　my　career　has　been　one　of　difficulties；　and　doubts；　and　errors。　From　my　infancy　I　have　been　the　sport　of　accident；　and　though　the　wind　has　often　borne　me　into　harbour；　it　has　seldom　been　into　that　which　the　pilot　destined。　Let　me　recall　to　youbut　the　task　must　be　briefthe　odd　and　wayward　fates　of　my　youth；　and　the　misfortunes　or　my　manhood。

〃The　former；　you　will　say；　had　nothing　very　appalling。　All　was　not　for　the　best；　but　all　was　tolerable。　My　father；　the　eldest　son　of　an　ancient　but　reduced　family；　left　me　with　little；　save　the　name　of　the　head　of　the　house；　to　the　protection　of　his　more　fortunate　brothers。　They　were　so　fond　of　me　that　they　almost　quarrelled　about　me。　My　uncle；　the　bishop；　would　have　had　me　in　orders；　and　offered　me　a　livingmy　uncle；　the　merchant；　would　have　put　me　into　a　counting…house；　and　proposed　to　give　me　a　share　in　the　thriving　concern　of　Mannering　and　Marshall；　in　Lombard'　StreetSo；　between　these　two　stools；　or　rather　these　two　soft；　easy；　well…stuffed　chairs　of　divinity　and　commerce；　my　unfortunate　person　slipped　down；　and　pitched　upon　a　dragoon　saddle。　Again；　the　bishop　wished　me　to　marry　the　niece　and　heiress　of　the　Dean　of　Lincoln；　and　my　uncle；　the　alderman；　proposed　to　me　the　only　daughter　of　old　Sloethorn；　the　great　wine…merchant；　rich　enough　to　play　at　span…counters　with　moidores；　and　make　thread…papers　of　bank　notesand　somehow　I　slipped　my　neck　out　of　both　nooses；　and　marriedpoorpoor　Sophia　Wellwood。

〃You　will　say；　my　military　career　in　India；　when　I　followed　my　regiment　there；　should　have　given　me　some　satisfaction；　and　so　it　assuredly　has。　You　will　remind　me　also；　that　if　I　disappointed　the　hopes　of　my　guardians；　I　did　not　incur　their　displeaslurethat　the　bishop；　at　his　death；　bequeathed　me　his　blessing；　his　manuscript　sermons；　and　a　curious　portfolio；　containing　the　heads　of　eminent　divines　of　the　Church　of　England；　and　that　my　uncle；　Sir　Paul　Mannering；　left　me　sole　heir　and　executor　to　his　large　fortune。

〃Yet　this　availeth　me　nothingI　told　you　I　had　that　upon　my　mind　which　I　should　carry　to　my　grave　with　me；　a　perpetual　aloes　in　the　draught　of　existence。　I　will　tell　you　the　cause　more　in　detail　than　I　had　the　heart　to　do　while　under　your　hospitable　roof。　You　will　often　hear　it　mentioned；　and　perhaps　with　different　and　unfounded　circumstances。　I　will；　therefore；　speak　it　out；　and　then　let　the　event　itself；　and　the　sentiments　of　melancholy　with　which　it　has　impressed　me；　never　again　be　subject　of　discussion　between　us。

〃Sophia；　as　you　well　know；　followed　me　to　India。　She　was　as　innocent　as　gay；　but；　unfortunately　for　us　both；　as　gay　as　innocent。　My　own　manners　were　partly　formed　by　studies　I　had　forsaken；　and　habits　of　seclusion；　not　quite　consistent　with　my　situation　as　commandant　of　a　regiment　in　a　country；　where　universal　hospitality　is　offered　and　expected　by　every　settler　claiming　the　rank　of　a　gentleman。　In　a　moment　of　peculiar　pressure　（you　know　how　hard　we　were　sometimes　run　to　obtain　white　faces　to　countenance　our　line…of…battle）；　a　young　man；　named　Brown；　joined　our　regiment　as　a　volunteer；　and　finding　the　military　duty　more　to　his　fancy　than　commerce；　in　which　he　had　been　engaged；　remained　with　us　as　a　cadet。　Let　me　do　my　unhappy　victim　justicehe　behaved　with　such　gallantry　on　every　occasion　that　offered；　that　the　first　v