guy mannering-第5部分

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e　to　this　unlucky　village　of　Kippletringan。

A　miserable　hut　gave　him　an　opportunity　to　execute　his　purpose。　He　found　out　the　door　with　no　small　difficulty；　and　for　some　time　knocked　without　producing　any　other　answer　than　a　duet　between　a　female　and　a　cur…dog；　the　latter　yelping　as　if　he　would　have　barked　his　heart　out；　the　other　screaming　in　chorus。　By　degrees　the　human　tones　predominated；　but　the　angry　bark　of　the　cur　being　at　the　instant　changed　into　a　howl；　it　is　probable　something　more　than　fair　strength　of　lungs　had　contributed　to　the　ascendency。

〃Sorrow　be　in　your　thrapple　＇*Throat＇　then　these　were　the　first　articulate　words；〃will　ye　no　let　me　hear　what　the　man　wants；　wi'　your　yaffing？〃　＇*　Barking＇

〃Am　I　far　from　Kippletringan；　good　dame？〃

〃Frae　Kippletringan！！！〃　in　an　exalted　tone　of　wonder；　which　we　can　but　faintly　express　by　three　points　of　admiration；　〃Ow；　man！　ye　should　hae　hadden　eassel　to　Kippletringanye　maun　gae　back　as　far　as　the　Whaap；　and　haud　the　Whaap　＇*The　Hope；　often　pronounced　Whaap；　is　the　sheltered　part　or　hollow　of　the　hill　Hoff；　howff；　haaf；　and　haven；　are　all　modifications　of　the　same　word。＇　till　ye　come　to　Ballenloan；　and　then〃

〃This　will　never　do；　good　dame！　my　horse　is　almost　quite　knocked　up　can　you　not　give　me　a　night's　lodgings？〃

〃Troth　can　I　noI　am　a　lone　woman；　for　James　he's　awa　to　Drumshourloch　fair　with　the　year…aulds；　and　I　daurna　for　my　life　open　the　door　to　ony　o'　your　gang…there…out　sort　o'　bodies。〃

〃But　what　must　I　do　then；　good　dame？　for　I　can't　sleep　here　upon　the　road　all　night。〃

〃Troth；　I　kenna；　unless　ye　like　to　gae　down　and　speer　＇*Ask＇　for　quarters　at　the　Place。　I'se　warrant　they'll　tak　ye　in；　whether　ye　be　gentle　or　semple。〃

〃Simple　enough；　to　be　wandering　here　at　such　a　time　of　night；〃　thought　Mannering；　who　was　ignorant　of　the　meaning　of　the　phrase；　〃but　how　shall　I　get　to　the　place；　as　you　call　it？〃

〃Ye　maun　haud　wessel　by　the　end　o'　the　loan；　and　take　tent　o'　the　jaw…hole。〃

〃Oh；　if　ye　get　to　eassel　and　wessel　＇*Eastward　and　Westward＇　again；　I　am　undone！Is　there　nobody　that　could　guide　me　to　this　place？　I　will　pay　him　handsomely。〃

The　ward　pay　operated　like　magic。　〃Jock；　ye　villain；〃　exclaimed　the　voice　from　the　interior；　〃are　ye　lying　routing　there；　and　a。　young　gentleman　seeking　the　way　to　the　Place？　Get　up；　ye　fause　loon；　＇*Young　fellow＇　and　show　him　the　way　down　the　muckle　loaning。　He'll　show　you　the　way；　sir；　and　I'se　warrant　ye'll　be　weel　put　up；　for　they　never　turn　awa　naebody　frae　the　door；　and　ye'll　be　come　in　the　canny　moment；　I'm　thinking；　for　the　Laird's　servant　that's　no　to　say　his　body…servant；　but　the　helper　likerade　express　by　this　e'en　to　fetch　the　houdie；　＇*Midwife＇　and　he　just　staid　the　drinking　o'　twa　pints　o'　tippenny；　to　tell　us　how　my　leddy　was　ta'en　wi'　her　pains。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Mannering；　〃at　such　a　time　a　stranger's　arrival　might　be　inconvenient？〃

〃Hout；　na；　ye　needna　be　blate　about　that；　their　house　is　muckle　eneugh；　and　clecking　＇*Hatching　time＇　time's　aye　canty　time。〃

By　this　time　Jock　had　found　his　way　into　all　the　intricacies　of　a　tattered　doublet；　and　more　tattered　pair　of　breeches；　and　sallied　forth；　a　great　white…headed；　bare…legged；　lubberly　boy　of　twelve　years　old；　so　exhibited　by　the　glimpse　of　a　rush…light；　which　his　half…naked　mother　held　in　such　a　manner　as　to　get　a　peep　at　the　stranger；　without　greatly　exposing　herself　to　view　in　return。　Jock　moved　on　westward；　by　the　end　of　the　house；　leading　Mannering's　horse　by　the　bridle；　and　piloting；　with　some　dexterity；　along　the　little　path　which　bordered　the　formidable　jaw…hole；　whose　vicinity　the　stranger　was　made　sensible　of　by　means　of　more　organs　than　one。　His　guide　then　dragged　the　weary　hack　along　a　broken　and　stony　cart…track；　next　over　a　ploughed　field；　then　broke　down　a　slap；　＇*A　gap＇　as　he　called　it；　in　a　dry…stone　fence；　and　lugged　the　unresisting　animal　through　the　breach；　about　a　rood　of　the　simple　masonry　giving　way　in　the　splutter　with　which　he　passed。　Finally；　he　led　the　way；　through　a　wicket；　into　something　which　had　still　the　air　of　an　avenue；　though　many　of　the　trees　were　felled。　The　roar　of　the　ocean　was　now　near　and　full；　and　the　moon；　which　began　to　make　her　appearance；　gleamed　on　a　turreted　and　apparently　a　ruined　mansion；　of　considerable　extent。　Mannering　fixed　his　eyes　upon　it　with　a　disconsolate　sensation。

〃Why；　my　little　fellow；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　a　ruin；　not　a　house？〃

〃Ah；　but　the　lairds　lived　there　langsynethat's　Ellangowan　Auld　Place；　there's　a　hantle　bogles　＇*Ghosts＇　about　itbut　ye　needna　be　fearedI　never　saw　ony　mysell；　and　we're　just　at　the　door　o'　the　New　Place。〃

Accordingly；　leaving　the　ruins　on　the　right；　a　few　steps　brought　the　traveller　in　front　of　a　modern　house　of　moderate　size；　at　which　his　guide　rapped　with　great　importance。　Mannering　told　his　circumstances　to　the　servant；　and　the　gentleman　of　the　house；　who　heard　his　tale　from　the　parlour；　stepped　forward；　and　welcomed　the　stranger　hospitably　to　Ellangowan。　The　boy；　made　happy　with　half　a　crown；　was　dismissed　to　his　cottage；　the　weary　horse　was　conducted　to　a　stall；　and　Mannering　found　himself　in　a　few　minutes　seated　by　a　comfortable　supper；　for　which　his　cold　ride　gave　him　a　hearty　appetite。



CHAPTER　II。

　　Comes　me　cranking　in；　And　cuts　me　from　the　best　of　all　my　land；　　　A　huge　half…moon；　a　monstrous　cantle　out。　　　　　Henry　IV。　Part　I

The　company　in　the　parlour　at　Ellangowan　consisted　of　the　Laird；　and　a　sort　of　person　who　might　be　the　village　schoolmaster；　or　perhaps　the　minister's　assistant；　his　appearance　was　too　shabby　to　indicate　the　minister；　considering　he　was　on　a　visit　to　the　Laird。

The　Laird　himself　was　one　of　those　second…rate　sort　of　persons；　that　are　to　be　found　frequently　in　rural　situations。　Fielding　has　described　one　class　as　feras　consumere　nati；　but　the　love　of　field…sports　indicates　a　certain　activity　of　mind；　which　had　forsaken　Mr。　Bertram；　if　ever　he　possessed　it。　A　good…humoured　listlessness　of　countenance　formed　the　only　remarkable　expression　of　his　features；　although　they　were　rather　handsome　than　otherwise。　In　fact；　his　physiognomy　indicated　the　inanity　of　character　which　pervaded　his　life。　I　will　give　the　reader　some　insight　into　his　state　and　conversation；　before　he　has　finished　a　long　lecture　to　Mannering；　upon　the　propriety　and　comfort　of　wrapping　his　stirrup…irons　round　with　a　wisp　of　straw　when　he　had　occasion　to　ride　in　a　chill　evening。

Godfrey　Bertram；　of　Ellangowan；　succeeded　to　a　long　pedigree；　and　a　short　rent…roll；　like　many　lairds　of　that　period。　His　list　of　forefathers　ascended　so　high；　that　they　were　lost　in　the　barbarous　ages　of　Galwegian　independence；　so　that　his　genealogical　tree；　besides　the　Christian　and　crusading　names　of　Godfreys；　and　Gilberts；　and　Dennises；　and　Rolands；　without　end；　bore　heathen　fruit　of　yet　darker　ages；Arths；　and　Knarths；　and　Donagilds；　and　Hanlons。　In　truth；　they　had　been　formerly　the　stormy　chiefs　of　a　desert；　but　extensive　domain；　and　the　heads　of　a　numerous　tribe；　called　Mac…Dingawaie；　though　they　afterwards　adopted　the　Norman　surname　of　Bertram。　They　had　made　war；　raised　rebellions；　been　defeated；　beheaded；　and　hanged；　as　became　a　family　of　importance；　for　many　centuries。　But　they　had　gradually　lost　ground　in　the　world；　and；　from　being　themselves　the　heads　of　treason　and　traitorous　conspiracies；　the　Bertrams；　or　Mac…Dingawaies；　of　Ellangowan；　had　sunk　into　subordinate　accomplices。　Their　most　fatal　exhibitions　in　this　capacity　took　place　in　the　seventeenth　century；　when　the　foul　fiend　possessed　them　with　a　spirit　of　contradiction；　which　uniformly　involved　them　in　controversy　with　the　ruling　powers。　They　reversed　the　conduct　of　the　celebrated　Vicar　of　Bray；　and　adhered　as　tenaciously　to　the　weaker　side；　as　that　worthy　divine　to　the　stronger。　And　truly；　like　him；　they　had　their　reward。

Allan　Bertram　of　Ellangowan；　who　flourished　tempore　Caroli　primi　was；　says　my　authority；　Sir　Robert　Douglas；　in　his　Scottish　Baronage　（see　the　title　Ellangowan）；　〃a　steady　loyalist；　and　full　of　zeal　for　the　cause　of　his　sacred　majesty；　in　which　he　united　with　the　great　Marquis　of　Montrose；　and　other　truly　zealous　and　honourable　patriots；　and　sustained　great　losses　in　that　behalf。　He　had　the　honour　of　knighthood　conferred　upon　him　by　his　most　sacred　majesty；　and　was　sequestrated　as　a　malignant　by　the　parliament；　1642；　and　afterwards　as　a　resolutioner；　in　the　year　1648。〃These　two　cross…grained　epithets　of　malignant　and　resolutioner　cost　poor　Sir　Allan　one　half　of　the　family　estate。　His　son　Dennis　Bertram　married　a　daughter　of　an　eminent　fanatic；　who　had　a　seat　in　the　council　of　state；　and　saved　by　that　union　the　remainder　of　the　family　property。　But；　as　ill　chance　would　have　it；　he　became　enamoured　of　the　lady's　principles　as　well　as　of　her　charms；　and　my　author　gives　him　this　character：　〃He　was　a　man　of　eminent　parts　and　resolution；　for　which　reason　he　was　chosen　by　the　western　counties　one　of　the　committee　of　noblemen　and　gentlemen；　to　report　their　griefs　to　the　privy　council　of　Charles　II；　anent　the　coming　in　of　the　Highland　host　in　1678。〃　For　undertaking　this　patriotic　task　he　underwent　a　fine；　to　pay　which　he　was　obliged　to　mortgage　half　of　the　remaining　moiety　of　his　paternal　property。　This　loss　he　might　have　recovered　by　dint　of　severe　economy；　but　on　the　breaking　out　of　Argyle's　rebellion；　Dennis　Bertram　was　again　suspected　by　government；　apprehended；　sent　to　Dunnottar　Castle　on　the　coast　of　the　Mearns；　and　there　broke　his　neck　in　an　attempt　to　escape　from　a　subterranean　habitation；　called　the　Whigs'　Vault；　in　which　he　was　confined　with　some　eighty　of　the　same　persuasion。　The　apprizer；　therefore　（as　the　holder　of　a　mortgage　was　then　called）；　entered　upon　possession；　and；　in　the　language　of　Hotspur；　〃came　me　cranking　in；〃　and　cut　the　family　out　of　another　monstrous　cantle　of　their　remaining　property。

Donohoe　Bertram；　with　somewhat　of　an　Irish　name；　and　somewhat　of　an　Irish　temper；　succeeded　to　the　diminished　property　of　Ellangowan。　He　turned　out　of　doors　the　Rev。　Aaron　Macbriar；　his　mother's　chaplain　（it　is　said　they　quarrelled　about　the　good　graces　of　a　milkmaid）；　drank　himself　daily　drunk　with　brimming　healths　to　the　king；　council；　and　bishops；　held　orgies　with　the　Laird　of　Lagg；　T