redgauntlet-第13部分

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'He　is　well　entitled；'　said　my　father；　'representing　Herries　of　Birrenswork；　a　branch　of　that　great　and　once　powerful　family　of　Herries；　the　elder　branch　whereof　merged　in　the　house　of　Nithesdale　at　the　death　of　Lord　Robin　the　Philosopher；　Anno　Domini　sixteen　hundred　and　sixty…seven。'

'Has　he　still；'　said　I；　'his　patrimonial　estate　of　Birrenswork？'

'No；'　replied　my　father；　'so　far　back　as　his　father's　time；　it　was　a　mere　designationthe　property　being　forfeited　by　Herbert　Herries　following　his　kinsman　the　Earl　of　Derwentwater　to　the　Preston　affair　in　1715。　　But　they　keep　up　the　designation；　thinking；　doubtless；　that　their　claims　may　be　revived　in　more　favourable　times　for　Jacobites　and　for　popery；　and　folks　who　in　no　way　partake　of　their　fantastic　capriccios　do　yet　allow　it　to　pass　unchallenged；　EX　COMITATE；　if　not　EX　MISERICORDIA。But　were　he　the　Pope　and　the　Pretender　both；　we　must　get　some　dinner　ready　for　him；　since　he　has　thought　fit　to　offer　himself。　　So　hasten　home；　my　lad；　and　tell　Hannah；　Cook　Epps；　and　James　Wilkinson；　to　do　their　best；　and　do　thou　look　out　a　pint　or　two　of　Maxwell's　bestit　is　in　the　fifth　binthere　are　the　keys　of　the　wine…　cellar。　　Do　not　leave　them　in　the　lockyou　know　poor　James's　failing；　though　he　is　an　honest　creature　under　all　other　temptationsand　I　have　but　two　bottles　of　the　old　brandy　left　we　must　keep　it　for　medicine；　Alan。'

Away　went　Imade　my　preparationsthe　hour　of　dinner　came；　and　so　did　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork。

If　I　had　thy　power　of　imagination　and　description；　Darsie；　I　could　make　out　a　fine；　dark；　mysterious；　Rembrandt…looking　portrait　of　this　same　stranger；　which　should　be　as　far　superior　to　thy　fisherman　as　a　shirt　of　chain…mail　is　to　a　herring…net。　　I　can　assure　you　there　is　some　matter　for　description　about　him；　but　knowing　my　own　imperfections；　I　can　only　say；　I　thought　him　eminently　disagreeable　and　ill…bred。No；　ILL…BRED　is　not　the　proper　word　on　the　contrary；　he　appeared　to　know　the　rules　of　good…breeding　perfectly；　and　only　to　think　that　the　rank　of　the　company　did　not　require　that　he　should　attend　to　thema　view　of　the　matter　infinitely　more　offensive　than　if　his　behaviour　had　been　that　of　uneducated　and　proper　rudeness。　　While　my　father　said　grace；　the　laird　did　all　but　whistle　aloud；　and　when　I；　at　my　father's　desire；　returned　thanks；　he　used　his　toothpick；　as　if　he　had　waited　that　moment　for　its　exercise。

So　much　for　Kirkwith　King；　matters　went　even　worse。　　My　father；　thou　knowest；　is　particularly　full　of　deference　to　his　guests；　and　in　the　present　care；　he　seemed　more　than　usually　desirous　to　escape　every　cause　of　dispute。　　He　so　far　compromised　his　loyalty　as　to　announce　merely　'The　King'　as　his　first　toast　after　dinner；　instead　of　the　emphatic　'King　George'；　which　is　his　usual　formula。　　Our　guest　made　a　motion　with　his　glass；　so　as　to　pass　it　over　the　water…decanter　which　stood　beside　him；　and　added；　'Over　the　water。'

My　father　coloured；　but　would　not　seem　to　hear　this。　　Much　more　there　was　of　careless　and　disrespectful　in　the　stranger's　manner　and　tone　of　conversation；　so　that；　though　I　know　my　father's　prejudices　in　favour　of　rank　and　birth；　and　though　I　am　aware　his　otherwise　masculine　understanding　has　never　entirely　shaken　off　the　slavish　awe　of　the　great　which　in　his　earlier　days　they　had　so　many　modes　of　commanding；　still　I　could　hardly　excuse　him　for　enduring　so　much　insolencesuch　it　seemed　to　be　as　this　self…　invited　guest　was　disposed　to　offer　to　him　at　his　own　table。

One　can　endure　a　traveller　in　the　same　carriage；　if　he　treads　upon　your　toes　by　accident；　or　even　through　negligence；　but　it　is　very　different　when；　knowing　that　they　are　rather　of　a　tender　description；　he　continues　to　pound　away　at　them　with　his　hoofs。　In　my　poor　opinionand　I　am　a　man　of　peaceyou　can；　in　that　case；　hardly　avoid　a　declaration　of　war。

I　believe　my　father　read　my　thoughts　in　my　eye；　for；　pulling　out　his　watch；　he　said；　'Half…past　four；　Alanyou　should　be　in　your　own　room　by　this　timeBirrenswork　will　excuse　you。'

Our　visitor　nodded　carelessly；　and　I　had　no　longer　any　pretence　to　remain。　　But　as　I　left　the　room；　I　heard　this　magnate　of　Nithesdale　distinctly　mention　the　name　of　Latimer。　　I　lingered；　but　at　length　a　direct　hint　from　my　father　obliged　me　to　withdraw；　and　when；　an　hour　afterwards；　I　was　summoned　to　partake　of　a　cup　of　tea；　our　guest　had　departed。　　He　had　business　that　evening　in　the　High　Street；　and　could　not　spare　time　even　to　drink　tea。　　I　could　not　help　saying；　I　considered　his　departure　as　a　relief　from　incivility。　　'What　business　has　he　to　upbraid　us；'　I　said；　'with　the　change　of　our　dwelling　from　a　more　inconvenient　to　a　better　quarter　of　the　town？　　What　was　it　to　him　if　we　chose　to　imitate　some　of　the　conveniences　or　luxuries　of　an　English　dwelling…house；　instead　of　living　piled　up　above　each　other　in　flats？　　Have　his　patrician　birth　and　aristocratic　fortunes　given　him　any　right　to　censure　those　who　dispose　of　the　fruits　of　their　own　industry；　according　to　their　own　pleasure？'

My　father　took　a　long　pinch　of　snuff；　and　replied；　'Very　well；　Alan；　very　well　indeed。　　I　wish　Mr。　Crossbite　or　Counsellor　Pest　had　heard　you；　they　must　have　acknowledged　that　you　have　a　talent　for　forensic　elocution；　and　it　may　not　be　amiss　to　try　a　little　declamation　at　home　now　and　then；　to　gather　audacity　and　keep　yourself　in　breath。　　But　touching　the　subject　of　this　paraffle　of　words；　it's　not　worth　a　pinch　of　tobacco。　　D'ye　think　that　I　care　for　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork　more　than　any　other　gentleman　who　comes　here　about　business；　although　I　do　not　care　to　go　tilting　at　his　throat；　because　he　speaks　like　a　grey　goose；　as　he　is？　But　to　say　no　more　about　him；　I　want　to　have　Darsie　Latimer's　present　direction；　for　it　is　possible　I　may　have　to　write　the　lad　a　line　with　my　own　handand　yet　I　do　not　well　knowbut　give　me　the　direction　at　all　events。'

I　did　so；　and　if　you　have　heard　from　my　father　accordingly；　you　know　more；　probably；　about　the　subject　of　this　letter　than　I　who　write　it。　　But　if　you　have　not；　then　shall　I　have　discharged　a　friend's　duty；　in　letting　you　know　that　there　certainly　is　something　afloat　between　this　disagreeable　laird　and　my　father；　in　which　you　are　considerably　interested。

Adieu！　　and　although　I　have　given　thee　a　subject　for　waking　dreams；　beware　of　building　a　castle　too　heavy　for　the　foundation；　which；　in　the　present　instance；　is　barely　the　word　Latimer　occurring　in　a　conversation　betwixt　a　gentleman　of　Dumfriesshire　and　a　W。S。　of　EdinburghCAETERA　PRORSUS　IGNORO。




LETTER　VI

DARSIE　LATIMER　TO　ALAN　FAIRFORD

（In　continuation　of　Letters　III　and　IV。）

I　told　thee　I　walked　out　into　the　open　air　with　my　grave　and　stern　landlord。　　I　could　now　see　more　perfectly　than　on　the　preceding　night　the　secluded　glen　in　which　stood　the　two　or　three　cottages　which　appeared　to　be　the　abode　of　him　and　his　family。

It　was　so　narrow；　in　proportion　to　its　depth；　that　no　ray　of　the　morning　sun　was　likely　to　reach　it　till　it　should　rise　high　in　the　horizon。　　Looking　up　the　dell；　you　saw　a　brawling　brook　issuing　in　foamy　haste　from　a　covert　of　underwood；　like　a　race…　horse　impatient　to　arrive　at　the　goal；　and；　if　you　gazed　yet；　more　earnestly；　you　might　observe　part　of　a　high　waterfall　glimmering　through　the　foliage；　and　giving　occasion；　doubtless；　to　the　precipitate　speed　of　the　brook。　　Lower　down；　the　stream　became　more　placid；　and　opened　into　a　quiet　piece　of　water　which　afforded　a　rude　haven　to　two　or　three　fishermen's　boats；　then　lying　high　and　dry　on　the　sand；　the　tide　being　out。　　Two　or　three　miserable　huts　could　be　seen　beside　this　little　haven；　inhabited　probably　by　the　owners　of　the　boats；　but　inferior　in　every　respect　to　the　establishment　of　mine　host；　though　that　was　miserable　enough。

I　had　but　a　minute　or　two　to　make　these　observations；　yet　during　that　space　my　companion　showed　symptoms　of　impatience；　and　more　than　once　shouted；　'CristalCristal　Nixon；'　until　the　old　man　of　the　preceding　evening　appeared　at　the　door　of　one　of　the　neighbouring　cottages　or　outhouses；　leading　the　strong　black　horse　which　I　before　commemorated；　ready　bridled　and　saddled。　　My　conductor　made　Cristal　a　sign　with　his　finger；　and；　turning　from　the　cottage　door；　led　the　way　up　the　steep　path　or　ravine　which　connected　the　sequestered　dell　with　the　open　country。

Had　I　been　perfectly　aware　of　the　character　of　the　road　down　which　I　had　been　hurried　with　so　much　impetuosity　on　the　preceding　evening；　I　greatly　question　if　I　should　have　ventured　the　descent；　for　it　deserved　no　better　name　than　the　channel　of　a　torrent；　now　in　a　good　measure　filled　with　water；　that　dashed　in　foam　and　fury　into　the　dell；　being　swelled　with　the　rains　of　the　preceding　night。　　I　ascended　this　ugly　path　with　some　difficulty　although　on　foot；　and　felt　dizzy　when　I　observed；　from　such　traces　as　the　rains　had　not　obliterated；　that　the　horse　seemed　almost　to　have　slid　down　it　upon　his　haunches　the　evening　before。

My　host　threw　himself　on　his　horse's　back；　without　placing　a　foot　in　the　stirruppassed　me　in　the　perilous　ascent；　against　which　he　pressed　his　steed　as　if　the　animal　had　had　the　footing　of　a　wild　cat。　　The　water　and　mud　splashed　from　his　heels　in　his　reckless　course；　and　a　few　bounds　placed　him　on　the　top　of　the　bank；　where　I　presently　joined　him；　and　found　the　horse　and　rider　standing　still　as　a　statue；　the　former　panting　and　expanding　his　broad　nostrils　to　the　morning　wind；　the　latter　motionless；　with　his　eye　fixed　on　the　first　beams　of　the　rising　sun；　which　already　began　to　peer　above　the　eastern　horizon　and　gild　the　distant　mountains　of　Cumberland　and　Liddesdale。

He　seemed　in　a　reverie；　from　which　he　started　at　my　approach；　and；　putting　his　horse　in　motion；　led　the　way　at　a　leisurely　pace　through　a　broken　and　sandy　road；　which　traversed　a　waste；　level；　and　uncultivated　tract　of　downs；　intermixed　with　morass；　much　like　that　in　the　neighbourhood　of　my　quarters　at　Shepherd's　Bush。　Indeed；　the　whole　open　ground　of　this　district；　where　it　approaches　the　sea；　has；　except　in　a　few　favoured　spots；　the　same　uniform　and　dreary　character。

Advancing　about　a　hundred　yards　from　the　brink　of　the　glen；　we　gained　a　still　more　extensive　command　of　this　desolate　prospect；　which　seemed　even　more