guy mannering-第25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！


n　days　together。　Fortune　generously　determined　to　take　the　blame　upon　herself；　and　cut　off　even　this　vent　of　Mac…Morlan's　resentment。

An　express　arrived　about　six　o'clock　at　night；　〃very　particularly　drunk；〃　the　maidservant　said；　with　a　packet　from　Colonel　Mannering；　dated　four　days　back；　at　a　town　about　a　hundred　miles'　distance　from　Kippletringan；　containing　full　powers　to　Mr。　Mac…Morlan；　or　any　one　whom　he　might　employ；　to　make　the　intended　purchase；　and　stating；　that　some　family　business　of　consequence　called　the　Colonel　himself　to　Westmoreland；　where　a　letter　would　find　him；　addressed　to　the　care　of　Arthur　Mervyn；　Esq。；　of　Mervyn　Hall。

Mac…Morlan；　in　the　transports　of　his　wrath；　flung　the　power　of　attorney　at　the　head　of　the　innocent　maid…servant；　and　was　only　forcibly　withheld　from　horsewhipping　the　rascally　messenger；　by　whose　sloth　and　drunkenness　the　disappointment　had　taken　place。



CHAPTER　XV。

　　My　gold　is　gone；　my　money　is　spent；　My　land　now　take　it　　　unto　thee。　　Give　me　thy　gold；　good　John　o'　Scales；　And　　　thine　for　aye　my　land　shall　be。　　Then　John　he　did　him　to　　　record　draw；　And　John　he　caste　him　a　gods…pennie；　But　for　　　every　pounde　that　John　agreed；　The　land；　I　wis；　was　well　　　worth　three。　　　　　　　Heir　of　Linne。

The　Galwegian　John　o'　the　Scales　was　a　more　clever　fellow　than　his　prototype。　He　contrived　to　make　himself　heir　of　Lione　without　the　disagreeable　ceremony　of　〃telling　down　the　good　red　gold。〃　Miss　Bertram　no　sooner　heard　this　painful；　and　of　late　unexpected　intelligence；　than　she　proceeded　in　the　preparations　she　had　already　made　for　leaving　the　mansion…house　immediately。　Mr。　Mac…Morlan　assisted　her　in　these　arrangements；　and　pressed　upon　her　so　kindly　the　hospitality　and　protection　of　his　roof；　until　she　should　receive　an　answer　from　her　cousin'　or　be　enabled　to　adopt　some　settled　plan　of　life；　that　she　felt　there　would　be　unkindness　in　refusing　an　invitation　urged　with　such　earnestness。　Mrs。　Mac…Morlan　was　a　lady…like　person；　and　well　qualified　by　birth　and　manners　to　receive　the　visit；　and　to　make　her　house　agreeable　to　Miss　Bertram。　A　home；　therefore；　and　an　hospitable　reception；　were　secured　to　her；　and　she　went　on；　with　better　heart；　to　pay　the　wages　and　receive　the　adieus　of　the　few　domestics　of　her　father's　family。

Where　there　are　estimable　qualities　or；　either　side；　this　task　is　always　affectingthe　present　circumstances　rendered　it　doubly　so。　All　received　their　due；　and　even　a　trifle　more；　and　with　thanks　and　good　wishes；　to　which　some　added　tears；　took　farewell　of　their　young　mistress。　There　remained　in　the　parlour　only　Mr。　Mac…Morlan；　who　came　to　attend　his　guest　to　his　house；　Dominie　Sampson；　and　Miss　Bertram。　〃And　now；〃　said　the　poor　girl；　〃I　must　bid　farewell　to　one　of　my　oldest　and　kindest　friends。God　bless　you；　Mr。　Sampson；　and　requite　to　you　all　the　kindness　of　your　instructions　to　your　poor　pupil；　and　your　friendship　to　him　that　is　goneI　hope　I　shall　often　hear　from　you。〃　She　slid　into　his　hand　a　paper　containing　some　pieces　of　gold；　and　rose；　as　if　to　leave　the　room。

Dominie　Sampson　also　rose；　but　it　was　to　stand　aghast　with　utter　astonishment。　The　idea　of　parting　from　Miss　Lucy；　go　where　she　might；　had　never　once　occurred　to　the　simplicity　of　his　understanding。He　laid　the　money　on　the　table。　〃It　is　certainly　inadequate；〃　said　Mac…Morlan；　mistaking　his　meaning；　〃but　the　circumstances〃

Mr。　Sampson　waved　his　hand　impatiently。〃It　is　not　the　lucreit　is　not　the　lucrebut　that　I；　that　have　ate　of　her　father's　loaf；　and　drank　of　his　cup；　for　twenty　years　and　moreto　think　that　I　am　going　to　leave　herand　to　leave　her　in　distress　and　dolourNo；　Miss　Lucy；　you　need　never　think　it！　You　would　not　consent　to　put　forth　your　father's　poor　dog；　and　would　you　use　me　waur　than　a　messan？　No；　Miss　Lucy　Bertram；　while　I　live　I　will　not　separate　from　you。　I'll　be　no　burdenI　have　thought　how　to　prevent　that。　But；　as　Ruth　said　unto　Naomi；　'Entreat　me　not　to　leave　thee；　nor　to　depart　from　thee；　for　whither　thou　goest　I　will　go；　and　where　thou　dwellest　I　will　dwell；　thy　people　shall　be　my　people；　and　thy　God　shall　be　my　God。　Where　thou　diest　will　I　die；　and　there　will　I　be　buried。　The　Lord　do　so　to　me；　and　more　also；　if　aught　but　death　do　part　thee　and　me。'　〃

During　this　speech；　the　longest　ever　Dominie　Sampson　was　known　to　utter；　the　affectionate　creature's　eyes　streamed　with　tears；　and　neither　Lucy　nor　Mac…Morlan　could　refrain　from　sympathising　with　this　unexpected　burst　of　feeling　and　attachment。　〃Mr。　Sampson；〃　said　Mac…Morlan；　after　having　had　recourse　to　his　snuff…box　and　handkerchief　alternately；　〃my　house　is　large　enough；　and　if　you　will　accept　of　a　bed　there；　while　Miss　Bertram　honours　us　with　her　residence；　I　shall　think　myself　very　happy；　and　my　roof　much　favoured　by　receiving　a　man　of　your　worth　and　fidelity。〃　And　then；　with　a　delicacy　which　was　meant　to　remove　any　objection　on　Miss　Bertram's　part　to　bringing　with　her　this　unexpected　satellite；　he　added；　〃My　business　requires　my　frequently　having　occasion　for　a　better　accountant　than　any　of　my　present　clerks；　and　I　should　be　glad　to　have　recourse　to　your　assistance　in　that　way　now　and　then。〃

〃Of　a　surety；　of　a　surety；〃　said　Sampson　eagerly；　〃I　understand　book…keeping　by　double　entry　and　the　Italian　method。〃

Our　postilion　had　thrust　himself　into　the　room　to　announce　his　chaise　and　horses；　he　tarried；　unobserved；　during　this　extraordinary　scene；　and　assured　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish　it　was　the　most　moving　thing　he　ever　saw；　〃the　death　of　the　gray　mare；　puir　hizzie；　was　naething　till't。〃　This　trifling　circumstance　afterwards　had　consequences　of　greater　moment　to　the　Dominie。

The　visitors　were　hospitably　welcomed　by　Mrs。　Mac…Morlan；　to　whom；　as　well　as　to　others；　her　Husband　intimated　that　he　had　engaged　。　Dominie　Sampson's　assistance　to　disentangle　some　perplexed　accounts；　during　which　occupation　he　would；　for　convenience'　sake；　reside　with　the　family。　Mr。　MacMorlan's　knowledge　of　the　world　induced　him　to　put　this　colour　upon　the　matter；　aware；　that　however　honourable　the　fidelity　of　the　Dominie's　attachment　might　be；　both　to　his　own　heart　and　to　the　family　of　Ellangowan；　his　exterior　ill　qualified　him　to　be　a　〃squire　of　dames；〃　and　rendered　him；　upon　the　whole；　rather　a　ridiculous　appendage　to　a　beautiful　young　woman　of　seventeen。

Dominie　Sampson　achieved　with　great　zeal　such　tasks　as　Mr。　Mac…Morlan　chose　to　intrust　him　with；　but　it　was　speedily　observed　that　at　a　certain　hour　after　breakfast　he　regularly　disappeared；　and　returned　again　about　dinner…time。　The　evening　he　occupied　in　the　labour　of　the　office。　On　Saturday；　he　appeared　before　Mac…Morlan　with　a　look　of　great　triumph；　and　laid　on　the　table　two　pieces　of　gold。　〃What　is　this　for；　Dominie？〃　said　Mac…Morlan。

〃First　to　indemnify　you　of　your　charges　in　my　behalf；　worthy　sirand　the　balance　for　the　use　of　Miss　Lucy　Bertram。〃

〃But；　Mr。　Sampson；　your　labour　in　the　office　much　more　than

recompenses　meI　am　your　debtor；　my　good　friend。〃

〃Then　be　it　all；〃　said　the　Dominie；　waving　his　hand；　〃for　Miss　Lucy　Bertram's　behoof。〃

〃Well；　but；　Dominie；　this　money〃

〃It　is　honestly　come　by；　Mr。　Mac…Morlan；　it　is　the　bountiful　reward　of　a　young　gentleman；　to　whom　I　am　teaching　the　tongues；　reading　with　him　three　hours　daily〃

A　few　more　questions　extracted　from　the　Dominie　that　this　liberal　pupil　was　young　Hazlewood；　and　that　he　met　his　preceptor　daily　at　the　house　of　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish；　whose　proclamation　of　Sampson's　disinterested　attachment　to　the　young　lady　had　procured　him　this　indefatigable　and　bounteous　scholar。

Mac…Morlan　was　much　struck　with　what　he　heard。

Dominie　Sampson　was　doubtless　a　very　good　scholar；　and　an　excellent　man；　and　the　classics　were　unquestionably　very　well　worth　reading；　yet　that　a　young　man　of　twenty　should　ride　seven　miles　and　back　again　each　day　in　the　week；　to　hold　this　sort　of　tete…a…tete　of　three　hours；　was　a　zeal　for　literature　to　which　he　was　not　prepared　to　give　entire　credit。　Little　art　was　necessary　to　sift　the　Dominie；　for　the　honest　man's　head　never　admitted　any　but　the　most　direct　and　simple　ideas。　〃Does　Miss　Bertram　know　how　your　time　is　engaged；　my　good　friend？〃

〃Surely　not　as　yetMr。　Charles　recommended　it　should　be　concealed　from　her；　lest　she　should　scruple　to　accept　of　the　small　assistance　arising　from　it；　but；〃　he　added；　〃it　would　not　be　possible　to　conceal　it　long；　since　Mr。　Charles　proposed　taking　his　lessons　occasionally　in　this　house。〃

〃Oh；　he　does！〃　said　Mac…Morlan　Yes；　yes；　I　can　understand　that　better。And　pray；　Mr。　Sampson；　are　these　three　hours　entirely　spent　in　construing　and　translating？〃

〃Doubtless；　nowe　have　also　colloquial　intercourse　to　sweeten　studyneque　semper　arcum　tendit　Apollo。〃

The　querist　proceeded　to　elicit　from　this　Galloway　Phoebus　what　their　discourse　chiefly　turned　upon。

〃Upon　our　past　meetings　at　Ellangowanand；　truly；　I　think　very　often　we　discourse　concerning　Miss　Lucyfor　Mr。　Charles　Hazlewood；　in　that　particular；　resembleth　me；　Mr。　Mac…Morlan。　When　I　begin　to　speak　of　her　I　never　know　when　to　stopand；　as　I　say　（jocularly）；　she　cheats　us　out　of　half　our　lessons。〃

〃Oh　ho！〃　thought　Mr。　Mac…Morlan；　〃sits　the　wind　in　that　quarter？　I've　heard　something　like　this　before。〃

He　then　began　to　consider　what　conduct　was　safest　for　his　protege；　and　even　for　himself；　for　the　senior　Mr。　Hazlewood　was　powerful；　wealthy；　ambitious；　and　vindictive；　and　looked　for　both　fortune　and　title　in　any　connection　which　his　son　might　form。　At　length；　having　the　highest　opinion　of　his　guest's　good　sense　and　penetration；　he　determined　to　take　an　opportunity；　when　they　should　happen　to　be　alone；　to　communicate　the　matter　to　her　as　a　simple　piece　of　intelligence。　He　did　so　in　as　natural　a　manner　as　he　could；〃I　wish　you　joy　of　your　friend　Mr。　Sampson's　good　fortune；　Miss　Bertram；　he　has　got　a　pupil　who　pays　him　two　guineas　for　twelve　lessons　of　Greek　and　Latin。〃

〃Indeed！I　am　equally　happy　and　surprisedwho　can　be　so　liberal？is　Colonel　Mannering　returned？〃

〃No；　no；　not　Colonel　Mannering；　but　what　do　you　think　of　your　acquaintance；　Mr。　Charles　Hazlewood？He　talks　of　taking　his　lessons　hereI　wish　we　may　have　accommodation　for　him。〃

Lucy　blushed　deeply。　〃For　Heaven's　sake；　no；　Mr。　Mac…Morlando　not　let　that　beCharle