redgauntlet-第10部分

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though　trifling；　should　force　themselves　on　my　notice　at　the　time；　and　dwell　in　my　memory　afterwards。

That　a　fisher；　who　pursued　the　sport　perhaps　for　his　amusement　as　well　as　profit；　should　be　well　mounted　and　better　lodged　than　the　lower　class　of　peasantry；　had　in　it　nothing　surprising；　but　there　was　something　about　all　that　I　saw　which　seemed　to　intimate　that　I　was　rather　in　the　abode　of　a　decayed　gentleman；　who　clung　to　a　few　of　the　forms　and　observances　of　former　rank；　than　in　that　of　a　common　peasant；　raised　above　his　fellows　by　comparative　opulence。

Besides　the　articles　of　plate　which　I　have　already　noticed；　the　old　man　now　lighted　and　placed　on　the　table　a　silver　lamp；　or　CRUISIE　as　the　Scottish　term　it；　filled　with　very　pure　oil；　which　in　burning　diffused　an　aromatic　fragrance；　and　gave　me　a　more　perfect　view　of　the　cottage　walls；　which　I　had　hitherto　only　seen　dimly　by　the　light　of　the　fire。　　The　BINK　　＇The　frame　of　wooden　shelves　placed　in　a　Scottish　kitchen　for　holding　plates。＇　　with　its　usual　arrangement　of　pewter　and　earthenware；　which　was　most　strictly　and　critically　clean；　glanced　back　the　flame　of　the　lamp　merrily　from　one　side　of　the　apartment。　　In　a　recess；　formed　by　the　small　bow　of　a　latticed　window；　was　a　large　writing…desk　of　walnut…tree　wood；　curiously　carved；　above　which　arose　shelves　of　the　same；　which　supported　a　few　books　and　papers。　　The　opposite　side　of　the　recess　contained　（as　far　as　I　could　discern；　for　it　lay　in　shadow；　and　I　could　at　any　rate　have　seen　it　but　imperfectly　from　the　place　where　I　was　seated）　one　or　two　guns；　together　with　swords；　pistols；　and　other　arms　a　collection　which；　in　a　poor　cottage；　and　in　a　country　so　peaceful；　appeared　singular　at　least；　if　not　even　somewhat　suspicious。

All　these　observations；　you　may　suppose；　were　made　much　sooner　than　I　have　recorded；　or　you　（if　you　have　not　skipped）　have　been　able　to　read　them。　　They　were　already　finished；　and　I　was　considering　how　I　should　open　some　communication　with　the　mute　inhabitants　of　the　mansion；　when　my　conductor　re…entered　from　the　side…door　by　which　he　had　made　his　exit。

He　had　now　thrown　off　his　rough　riding…cap；　and　his　coarse　jockey…coat；　And　stood　before　me　in　a　grey　jerkin　trimmed　with　black；　which　sat　close　to；　and　set　off；　his　large　and　sinewy　frame；　and　a　pair　of　trousers　of　a　lighter　colour；　cut　as　close　to　the　body　as　they　are　used　by　Highlandmen。　　His　whole　dress　was　of　finer　cloth　than　that　of　the　old　man；　and　his　linen；　so　minute　was　my　observation；　clean　and　unsullied。　　His　shirt　was　without　ruffles；　and　tied　at　the　collar　with　a　black　ribbon；　which　showed　his　strong　and　muscular　neck　rising　from　it　like　that　of　an　ancient　Hercules。　　His　head　was　small；　with　a　large　forehead；　and　well…formed　ears。　　He　wore　neither　peruke　nor　hair…powder；　and　his　chestnut　locks；　curling　close　to　his　head　like　those　of　an　antique　statue；　showed　not　the　least　touch　of　time；　though　the　owner　must　have　been　at　least　fifty。　　His　features　were　high　and　prominent　in　such　a　degree　that　one　knew　not　whether　to　term　them　harsh　or　handsome。　　In　either　case；　the　sparkling　grey　eye；　aquiline　nose；　and　well…formed　mouth；　combined　to　render　his　physiognomy　noble　and　expressive。　　An　air　of　sadness；　or　severity；　or　of　both；　seemed　to　indicate　a　melancholy；　and；　at　the　same　time；　a　haughty　temper。　　I　could　not　help　running　mentally　over　the　ancient　heroes；　to　whom　I　might　assimilate　the　noble　form　and　countenance　before　me。　　He　was　too　young；　and　evinced　too　little　resignation　to　his　fate；　to　resemble　Belisarius。　　Coriolanus；　standing　by　the　hearth　of　Tullus　Aufidius；　came　nearer　the　mark；　yet　the　gloomy　and　haughty　look　of　the　stranger　had；　perhaps；　still　more　of　Marius；　seated　among　the　ruins　of　Carthage。

While　I　was　lost　in　these　imaginations；　my　host　stood　by　the　fire；　gazing　on　me　with　the　same　attention　which　I　paid　to　him；　until；　embarrassed　by　his　look；　I　was　about　to　break　silence　at　all　hazards。　　But　the　supper；　now　placed　upon　the　table；　reminded　me；　by　its　appearance；　of　those　wants　which　I　had　almost　forgotten　while　I　was　gazing　on　the　fine　form　of　my　conductor。　He　spoke　at　length；　and　I　almost　started　at　the　deep　rich　tone　of　his　voice；　though　what　he　said　was　but　to　invite　me　to　sit　down　to　the　table。　　He　himself　assumed　the　seat　of　honour；　beside　which　the　silver　flagon　was　placed；　and　beckoned　to　me　to　sit　down　beside　him。

Thou　knowest　thy　father's　strict　and　excellent　domestic　discipline　has　trained　me　to　bear　the　invocation　of　a　blessing　before　we　break　the　daily　bread；　for　which　we　are　taught　to　pray　I　paused　a　moment；　and；　without　designing　to　do　so；　I　suppose　my　manner　made　him　sensible　of　what　I　expected。　　The　two　domestics　or　inferiors；　as　I　should　have　before　observed；　were　already　seated　at　the　bottom　of　the　table；　when　my　host　shot　a　glance　of　a　very　peculiar　expression　towards　the　old　man；　observing；　with　something　approaching　to　a　sneer；　'Cristal　Nixon；　say　gracethe　gentleman　expects　one。'

'The　foul　fiend　shall　be　clerk；　and　say　amen；　when　I　turn　chaplain；'　growled　out　the　party　addressed；　in　tones　which　might　have　become　the　condition　of　a　dying　bear；　'if　the　gentleman　is　a　whig；　he　may　please　himself　with　his　own　mummery。　　My　faith　is　neither　in　word　nor　writ；　but　in　barley…bread　and　brown　ale。'

'Mabel　Moffat；'　said　my　guide；　looking　at　the　old　woman；　and　raising　his　sonorous　voice；　probably　because　she　was　hard　of　hearing；　'canst　thou　ask　a　blessing　upon　our　victuals？'

The　old　woman　shook　her　head；　kissed　the　cross　which　hung　from　her　rosary；　and　was　silent。

'Mabel　will　say　grace　for　no　heretic；'　said　the　master　of　the　house；　with　the　same　latent　sneer　on　his　brow　and　in　his　accent。

At　the　same　moment；　the　side…door　already　mentioned　opened；　and　the　young　woman　（so　she　proved）　whom　I　had　first　seen　at　the　door　of　the　cottage；　advanced　a　little　way　into　the　room；　then　stopped　bashfully；　as　if　she　had　observed　that　I　was　looking　at　her；　and　asked　the　master　of　the　house；　'if　he　had　called？'

'Not　louder　than　to　make　old　Mabel　hear　me；'　he　replied；　'and　yet；'　be　added；　as　she　turned　to　retire；　'it　is　a　shame　a　stranger　should　see　a　house　where　not　one　of　the　family　can　or　will　say　a　gracedo　thou　be　our　chaplain。'

The　girl；　who　was　really　pretty；　came　forward　with　timid　modesty；　and；　apparently　unconscious　that　she　was　doing　anything　uncommon；　pronounced　the　benediction　in　a　silver…toned　voice；　and　with　affecting　simplicityher　cheek　colouring　just　so　much　as　to　show　that　on　a　less　solemn　occasion　she　would　have　felt　more　embarrassed。

Now；　if　thou　expectest　a　fine　description　of　this　young　woman；　Alan　Fairford；　in　order　to　entitle　thee　to　taunt　me　with　having　found　a　Dulcinea　in　the　inhabitant　of　a　fisherman's　cottage　on　the　Solway　Firth；　thou　shalt　be　disappointed；　for；　having　said　she　seemed　very　pretty；　and　that　she　was　a　sweet　and　gentle…　speaking　creature；　I　have　said　all　concerning　her　that　I　can　tell　thee。　　She　vanished　when　the　benediction　was　spoken。

My　host；　with　a　muttered　remark　on　the　cold　of　our　ride；　and　the　keen　air　of　the　Solway　Sands；　to　which　he　did　not　seem　to　wish　an　answer；　loaded　my　plate　from　Mabel's　grillade；　which；　with　a　large　wooden　bowl　of　potatoes；　formed　our　whole　meal。　　A　sprinkling　from　the　lemon　gave　a　much　higher　zest　than　the　usual　condiment　of　vinegar；　and　I　promise　you　that　whatever　I　might　hitherto　have　felt；　either　of　curiosity　or　suspicion；　did　not　prevent　me　from　making　a　most　excellent　supper；　during　which　little　passed　betwixt　me　and　my　entertainer；　unless　that　he　did　the　usual　honours　of　the　table　with　courtesy；　indeed；　but　without　even　the　affectation　of　hearty　hospitality；　which　those　in　his　（apparent）　condition　generally　affect　on　such　occasions；　even　when　they　do　not　actually　feel　it。　　On　the　contrary；　his　manner　seemed　that　of　a　polished　landlord　towards　an　unexpected　and　unwelcome　guest；　whom；　for　the　sake　of　his　own　credit；　he　receives　with　civility；　but　without　either　goodwill　or　cheerfulness。

If　you　ask　how　I　learned　all　this；　I　cannot　tell　you；　nor；　were　I　to　write　down　at　length　the　insignificant　intercourse　which　took　place　between　us；　would　it　perhaps　serve　to　justify　these　observations。　　It　is　sufficient　to　say；　that　in　helping　his　dogs；　which　he　did　from　time　to　time　with　great　liberality；　he　seemed　to　discharge　a　duty　much　more　pleasing　to　himself；　than　when　he　paid　the　same　attention　to　his　guest。　　Upon　the　whole；　the　result　on　my　mind　was　as　I　tell　it　you。

When　supper　was　over；　a　small　case…bottle　of　brandy；　in　a　curious　frame　of　silver　filigree；　circulated　to　the　guests。　　I　had　already　taken　a　small　glass　of　the　liquor；　and；　when　it　had　passed　to　Mabel　and　to　Cristal　and　was　again　returned　to　the　upper　end　of　the　table；　I　could　not　help　taking　the　bottle　in　my　hand；　to　look　more　at　the　armorial　bearings　which　were　chased　with　considerable　taste　on　the　silver　framework。　　Encountering　the　eye　of　my　entertainer；　I　instantly　saw　that　my　curiosity　was　highly　distasteful；　he　frowned；　bit　his　lip；　and　showed　such　uncontrollable　signs　of　impatience；　that；　setting　the　bottle　immediately　down；　I　attempted　some　apology。　　To　this　he　did　not　deign　either　to　reply；　or　even　to　listen；　and　Cristal；　at　a　signal　from　his　master；　removed　the　object　of　my　curiosity；　as　well　as　the　cup；　upon　which　the　same　arms　were　engraved。

Then　ensued　an　awkward　pause；　which　I　endeavoured　to　break　by　observing；　that　'I　feared　my　intrusion　upon　his　hospitality　had　put　his　family　to　some　inconvenience'。

'I　hope　you　see　no　appearance　of　it；　sir；'　he　replied；　with　cold　civility。　　'What　inconvenience　a　family　so　retired　as　ours　may　suffer　from　receiving　an　unexpected　guest　is　like　to　be　trifling；　in　comparison　of　what　the　visitor　himself　sustains　from　want　of　his　accustomed　comforts。　　So　far；　therefore；　as　our　connexion　stands；　our　accounts　stand　clear。'

Notwithstanding　this　discouraging　reply；　I　blundered　on；　as　is　usual　in　such　cases；　wishing　to　appear　civil；　and　being；　perhaps；　in　reality　the　very　reverse。　　'I　was　afraid；'　I　said；　that　my　presence　had　banished　one　of　the　family'　（looking　at　the　side…　door）　'from　his　table。'

'If；'　he　coldly　replied；　'I　meant　the　young　woman　whom　I　had　seen　in　the　apartment；　he　bid　me　observe　that　there　was　room