redgauntlet-第15部分

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nce；　perhaps　I　should　have　said　in　his　societyan　inmate；　I　mean；　in　his　house？'

'I　am　totally　unknown　to　the　person　from　whom　we　have　just　parted；'　said　I；　'and　our　connexion　is　only　temporary。　　He　had　the　charity　to　give　me　his　guidance　from　the　Sands；　and　a　night's　harbourage　from　the　tempest。　　So　our　acquaintance　began；　and　there　it　is　likely　to　end；　for　you　may　observe　that　our　friend　is　by　no　means　apt　to　encourage　familiarity。'

'So　little　so；'　answered　my　companion；　'that　thy　case　is；　I　think；　the　first　in　which　I　ever　heard　of　his　receiving　any　one　into　his　house；　that　is；　if　thou　hast　really　spent　the　night　there。'

'Why　should　you　doubt　it？'　　replied　I；　'there　is　no　motive　I　can　have　to　deceive　you；　nor　is　the　object　worth　it。'

'Be　not　angry　with　me；'　said　the　Quaker；　'but　thou　knowest　that　thine　own　people　do　not；　as　we　humbly　endeavour　to　do；　confine　themselves　within　the　simplicity　of　truth；　but　employ　the　language　of　falsehood；　not　only　for　profit；　but　for　compliment；　and　sometimes　for　mere　diversion。　　I　have　heard　various　stories　of　my　neighbour；　of　most　of　which　I　only　believe　a　small　part；　and　even　then　they　are　difficult　to　reconcile　with　each　other。　But　this　being　the　first　time　I　ever　beard　of　his　receiving　a　stranger　within　his　dwelling；　made　me　express　some　doubts。　　I　pray　thee　let　them　not　offend　thee。'

'He　does　not；'　said　I；　'appear　to　possess　in　much　abundance　the　means　of　exercising　hospitality；　and　so　may　be　excused　from　offering　it　in　ordinary　cases。'

'That　is　to　say；　friend；'　replied　Joshua；　'thou　hast　supped　ill；　and　perhaps　breakfasted　worse。　　Now　my　small　tenement；　called　Mount　Sharon；　is　nearer　to　us　by　two　miles　than　thine　inn；　and　although　going　thither　may　prolong　thy　walk；　as　taking　thee　of　the　straighter　road　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　yet　methinks　exercise　will　suit　thy　youthful　limbs；　as　well　as　a　good　plain　meal　thy　youthful　appetite。　　What　sayst　thou；　my　young　acquaintance？'

'If　it　puts　you　not　to　inconvenience；'　I　replied；　for　the　invitation　was　cordially　given；　and　my　bread　and　milk　had　been　hastily　swallowed；　and　in　small　quantity。

'Nay；'　said　Joshua；　'use　not　the　language　of　compliment　with　those　who　renounce　it。　　Had　this　poor　courtesy　been　very　inconvenient；　perhaps　I　had　not　offered　it。'

'I　accept　the　invitation；　then；'　said　I；　'in　the　same　good　spirit　in　which　you　give　it。'

The　Quaker　smiled；　reached　me　his　hand；　I　shook　it；　and　we　travelled　on　in　great　cordiality　with　each　other。　　The　fact　is；　I　was　much　entertained　by　contrasting　in　my　own　mind；　the　open　manner　of　the　kind…hearted　Joshua　Geddes；　with　the　abrupt；　dark；　and　lofty　demeanour　of　my　entertainer　on　the　preceding　evening。　Both　were　blunt　and　unceremonious；　but　the　plainness　of　the　Quaker　had　the　character　of　devotional　simplicity；　and　was　mingled　with　the　more　real　kindness；　as　if　honest　Joshua　was　desirous　of　atoning；　by　his　sincerity；　for　the　lack　of　external　courtesy。　　On　the　contrary；　the　manners　of　the　fisherman　were　those　of　one　to　whom　the　rules　of　good　behaviour　might　be　familiar；　but　who；　either　from　pride　or　misanthropy；　scorned　to　observe　them。　　Still　I　thought　of　him　with　interest　and　curiosity；　notwithstanding　so　much　about　him　that　was　repulsive；　and　I　promised　myself；　in　the　course　of　my　conversation　with　the　Quaker；　to　learn　all　that　he　knew　on　the　subject。　　He　turned　the　conversation；　however；　into　a　different　channel；　and　inquired　into　my　own　condition　of　life；　and　views　in　visiting　this　remote　frontier。

I　only　thought　it　necessary　to　mention　my　name；　and　add；　that　I　had　been　educated　to　the　law；　but　finding　myself　possessed　of　some　independence；　I　had　of　late　permitted　myself　some　relaxation；　and　was　residing　at　Shepherd's　Bush　to　enjoy　the　pleasure　of　angling。

'I　do　thee　no　harm；　young　man；'　said　my　new　friend；　'in　wishing　thee　a　better　employment　for　thy　grave　hours；　and　a　more　humane　amusement　（if　amusement　thou　must　have）　for　those　of　a　lighter　character。'

'You　are　severe；　sir；'　I　replied。　　'I　heard　you　but　a　moment　since　refer　yourself　to　the　protection　of　the　laws　of　the　countryif　there　be　laws；　there　must　be　lawyers　to　explain；　and　judges　to　administer　them。'

Joshua　smiled；　and　pointed　to　the　sheep　which　were　grazing　on　the　downs　over　which　we　were　travelling。　　'Were　a　wolf；'　he　said；　'to　come　even　now　upon　yonder　flocks；　they　would　crowd　for　protection；　doubtless；　around　the　shepherd　and　his　dogs；　yet　they　are　bitten　and　harassed　daily　by　the　one；　shorn；　and　finally　killed　and　eaten　by　the　other。　　But　I　say　not　this　to　shock　you；　for；　though　laws　and　lawyers　are　evils；　yet　they　are　necessary　evils　in　this　probationary　state　of　society；　till　man　shall　learn　to　render　unto　his　fellows　that　which　is　their　due；　according　to　the　light　of　his　own　conscience；　and　through　no　other　compulsion。　Meanwhile；　I　have　known　many　righteous　men　who　have　followed　thy　intended　profession　in　honesty　and　uprightness　of　walk。　　The　greater　their　merit；　who　walk　erect　in　a　path　which　so　many　find　slippery。

'And　angling；'　said　I：'you　object　to　that　also　as　an　amusement；　you　who；　if　I　understood　rightly　what　passed　between　you　and　my　late　landlord；　are　yourself　a　proprietor　of　fisheries。'

'Not　a　proprietor；'　he　replied；　'I　am　only；　in　copartnery　with　others；　a　tacksman　or　lessee　of　some　valuable　salmon…fisheries　a　little　down　the　coast。　　But　mistake　me　not。　　The　evil　of　angling；　with　which　I　class　all　sports；　as　they　are　called；　which　have　the　sufferings　of　animals　for　their　end　and　object；　does　not　consist　in　the　mere　catching　and　killing　those　animals　with　which　the　bounty　of　Providence　hath　stocked　the　earth　for　the　good　of　man；　but　in　making　their　protracted　agony　a　principle　of　delight　and　enjoyment。　　I　do　indeed　cause　these　fisheries　to　be　conducted　for　the　necessary　taking；　killing；　and　selling　the　fish；　and；　in　the　same　way；　were　I　a　farmer；　I　should　send　my　lambs　to　market。　　But　I　should　as　soon　think　of　contriving　myself　a　sport　and　amusement　out　of　the　trade　of　the　butcher　as　out　of　that　of　the　fisher。'

We　argued　the　point　no　further；　for　though　I　thought　his　arguments　a　little　too　high…strained；　yet　as　my　mind　acquitted　me　of　having　taken　delight　in　aught　but　the　theory　of　field…sports；　I　did　not　think　myself　called　upon　stubbornly　to　advocate　a　practice　which　had　afforded　me　so　little　pleasure。

We　had　by　this　time　arrived　at　the　remains　of　an　old　finger…post；　which　my　host　had　formerly　pointed　out　as　a　landmark。　　Here；　a　ruinous　wooden　bridge；　supported　by　long　posts　resembling　crutches；　served　me　to　get　across　the　water；　while　my　new　friend　sought　a　ford　a　good　way　higher　up；　for　the　stream　was　considerably　swelled。

As　I　paused　for　his　rejoining　me；　I　observed　an　angler　at　a　little　distance　pouching　trout　after　trout；　as　fast　almost　as　he　could　cast　his　line；　and　I　own；　in　spite　of　Joshua's　lecture　on　humanity；　I　could　not　but　envy　his　adroitness　and　success；　so　natural　is　the　love　of　sport　to　our　minds；　or　so　easily　are　we　taught　to　assimilate　success　in　field…sports　with　ideas　of　pleasure；　and　with　the　praise　due　to　address　and　agility。　　I　soon　recognized　in　the　successful　angler　little　Benjie；　who　had　been　my　guide　and　tutor　in　that　gentle　art；　as　you　have　learned　from　my　former　letters。　　I　calledI　whistledthe　rascal　recognized　me；　and；　starting　like　a　guilty　thing；　seemed　hesitating　whether　to　approach　or　to　run　away；　and　when　he　determined　on　the　former；　it　was　to　assail　me　with　a　loud；　clamorous；　and　exaggerated　report　of　the　anxiety　of　all　at　the　Shepherd's　Bush　for　my　personal　　safety；　how　my　landlady　had　wept；　how　Sam　and　the　ostler　had　not　the　heart　to　go　to　bed；　but　sat　up　all　night　drinkingand　how　he　himself　had　been　up　long　before　daybreak　to　go　in　quest　of　me。

'And　you　were　switching　the　water；　I　suppose；'　said　I；　'to　discover　my　dead　body？'

This　observation　produced　a　long　'Naaa'　of　acknowledged　detection；　but；　with　his　natural　impudence；　and　confidence　in　my　good　nature；　he　immediately　added；　'that　he　thought　I　would　like　a　fresh　trout　or　twa　for　breakfast；　and　the　water　being　in　such　a　rare　trim　for　the　saumon　raun；　＇The　bait　made　of　salmon…roe　salted　and　preserved。　　In　a　swollen　river；　and　about　the　month　of　October；　it　is　a　most　deadly　bait。＇　　he　couldna　help　taking　a　cast。'

While　we　were　engaged　in　this　discussion；　the　honest　Quaker　returned　to　the　farther　end　of　the　wooden　bridge　to　tell　me　he　could　not　venture　to　cross　the　brook　in　its　present　state：　　but　would　be　under　the　necessity　to　ride　round　by　the　stone　bridge；　which　was　a　mile　and　a　half　higher　up　than　his　own　house。　　He　was　about　to　give　me　directions　how　to　proceed　without　him；　and　inquire　for　his　sister；　when　I　suggested　to　him　that；　if　he　pleased　to　trust　his　horse　to　little　Benjie；　the　boy　might　carry　him　round　by　the　bridge；　while　we　walked　the　shorter　and　more　pleasant　road。

Joshua　shook　his　head；　for　he　was　well　acquainted　with　Benjie；　who；　he　said；　was　the　naughtiest　varlet　in　the　whole　neighbourhood。　　Nevertheless；　rather　than　part　company；　he　agreed　to　put　the　pony　under　his　charge　for　a　short　season；　with　many　injunctions　that　he　should　not　attempt　to　mount；　but　lead　the　pony　（even　Solomon）　by　the　bridle；　under　the　assurances　of　sixpence　in　case　of　proper　demeanour；　and　penalty　that　if　he　transgressed　the　orders　given　him；　'verily　he　would　be　scourged。'

Promises　cost　Benjie　nothing；　and　he　showered　them　out　wholesale；　till　the　Quaker　at　length　yielded　up　the　bridle　to　him；　repeating　his　charges；　and　enforcing　them　by　holding　up　his　forefinger。　　On　my　part；　I　called　to　Benjie　to　leave　the　fish　he　had　taken　at　Mount　Sharon；　making；　at　the　same　time；　an　apologetic　countenance　to　my　new　friend；　not　being　quite　aware　whether　the　compliment　would　be　agreeable　to　such　a　condemner　of　field…sports。

He　understood　me　at　once；　and　reminded　me　of　the　practical　distinction　betwixt　catching　the　animals　as　an　object　of　cruel　and　wanton　sport；　and　eating　them　as　lawful　and　gratifying　articles　of　food；　after　they　were　killed。　　On　the　latter　point　he　had　no　scruples；　but；　on　the　contrary；　assured　me　that　this　brook　contained　the　real　red　trout；　so　highly　esteemed　by　all　connoisseurs；　and　that；　when　eaten　within　an　hour　of　their　being　caught；　they　had　a　peculiar　firmness　of　substanc