redgauntlet-第20部分

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　handsome；　accomplished　inmate　of　his　family；　who　has　so　lately　made　Themis　his　bow　and　declined　the　honour　of　following　her　farther。　　You　laugh　at　me　for　my　air…drawn　castles；　but　confess；　have　they　not　surer　footing；　in　general；　than　two　words　spoken　by　such　a　man　as　Herries？　　And　yetand　yetI　would　rally　the　matter　off；　Alan；　but　in　dark　nights　even　the　glow…worm　becomes　an　object　of　lustre；　and　to　one　plunged　in　my　uncertainty　and　ignorance；　the　slightest　gleam　that　promises　intelligence　is　interesting。　　My　life　is　like　the　subterranean　river　in　the　Peak　of　Derby；　visible　only　where　it　crosses　the　celebrated　cavern。　　I　am　here；　and　this　much　I　know；　but　where　I　have　sprung　from；　or　whither　my　course　of　life　is　like　to　tend；　who　shall　tell　me？　　Your　father；　too；　seemed　interested　and　alarmed；　and　talked　of　writing；　would　to　Heaven　he　may！I　send　daily　to　the　post…town　for　letters。



LETTER　VIII

ALAN　FAIRFORD　TO　DARSIE　LATIMER

Thou　mayst　clap　thy　wings　and　crow　as　thou　pleasest。　　You　go　in　search　of　adventures；　but　adventures　come　to　me　unsought　for；　and　oh！　　in　what　a　pleasing　shape　came　mine；　since　it　arrived　in　the　form　of　a　clientand　a　fair　client　to　boot！　　What　think　you　of　that；　Darsie！　　you　who　are　such　a　sworn　squire　of　dames？　　Will　this　not　match　my　adventures　with　thine；　that　hunt　salmon　on　horseback；　and　will　it　not；　besides；　eclipse　the　history　of　a　whole　tribe　of　Broadbrims？But　I　must　proceed　methodically。

When　I　returned　to…day　from　the　College；　I　was　surprised　to　see　a　broad　grin　distending　the　adust　countenance　of　the　faithful　James　Wilkinson；　which；　as　the　circumstance　seldom　happens　above　once　a　year；　was　matter　of　some　surprise。　　Moreover；　he　had　a　knowing　glance　with　his　eye；　which　I　should　have　as　soon　expected　from　a　dumb…waiteran　article　of　furniture　to　which　James；　in　his　usual　state；　may　be　happily　assimilated。　　'What　the　devil　is　the　matter；　James？'

'The　devil　may　be　in　the　matter；　for　aught　I　ken；'　said　James；　with　another　provoking　grin；　'for　here　has　been　a　woman　calling　for　you；　Maister　Alan。'

'A　woman　calling　for　me？'　　said　I　in　surprise；　for　you　know　well；　that　excepting　old　Aunt　Peggy；　who　comes　to　dinner　of　a　Sunday；　and　the　still　older　Lady　Bedrooket；　who　calls　ten　times　a　year　for　the　quarterly　payment　of　her　jointure　of　four　hundred　merks；　a　female　scarce　approaches　our　threshold；　as　my　father　visits　all　his　female　clients　at　their　own　lodgings。　　James　protested；　however；　that　there　had　been　a　lady　calling；　and　for　me。　　'As　bonny　a　lass　as　I　have　seen；'　added　James；　'since　I　was　in　the　Fusileers；　and　kept　company　with　Peg　Baxter。'　　Thou　knowest　all　James's　gay　recollections　go　back　to　the　period　of　his　military　service；　the　years　he　has　spent　in　ours　having　probably　been　dull　enough。

'Did　the　lady　leave　no　name　nor　place　of　address？'

'No；'　replied　James；　'but　she　asked　when　you　wad　be　at　hame；　and　I　appointed　her　for　twelve　o'clock；　when　the　house　wad　be　quiet；　and　your　father　at　the　Bank。'

'For　shame；　James！　　how　can　you　think　my　father's　being　at　home　or　abroad　could　be　of　consequence？The　lady　is　of　course　a　decent　person？'

'I'se　uphaud　her　that；　sirshe　is　nane　of　yourWHEW'（Here　James　supplied　a　blank　with　a　low　whistle）'but　I　didna　kenmy　maister　makes　an　unco　wark　if　a　woman　comes　here。'

I　passed　into　my　own　room；　not　ill…pleased　that　my　father　was　absent；　notwithstanding　I　had　thought　it　proper　to　rebuke　James　for　having　so　contrived　it；　I　disarranged　my　books；　to　give　them　the　appearance　of　a　graceful　confusion　on　the　table；　and　laying　my　foils　（useless　since　your　departure）　across　the　mantelpiece；　that　the　lady　might　see　I　was　TAM　MARTE　QUAM　MERCURIOI　endeavoured　to　dispose　my　dress　so　as　to　resemble　an　elegant　morning　deshabillegave　my　hair　the　general　shade　of　powder　which　marks　the　gentlemanlaid　my　watch　and　seals　on　the　table；　to　hint　that　I　understood　the　value　of　time；and　when　I　had　made　all　these　arrangements；　of　which　I　am　a　little　ashamed　when　I　think　of　them；　I　had　nothing　better　to　do　than　to　watch　the　dial…　plate　till　the　index　pointed　to　noon。　　Five　minutes　elapsed；　which。　　I　allowed　for　variation　of　clocksfive　minutes　more　rendered　me　anxious　and　doubtfuland　five　minutes　more　would　have　made　me　impatient。

Laugh　as　thou　wilt；　but　remember；　Darsie；　I　was　a　lawyer；　expecting　his　first　clienta　young　man；　how　strictly　bred　up　I　need　not　remind　you；　expecting　a　private　interview　with　a　young　and　beautiful　woman。　　But　ere　the　third　term　of　five　minutes　had　elapsed；　the　door…bell　was　heard　to　tinkle　low　and　modestly；　as　if　touched　by　some　timid　hand。

James　Wilkinson；　swift　in　nothing；　is；　as　thou　knowest；　peculiarly　slow　in　answering　the　door…bell；　and　I　reckoned　on　five　minutes　good；　ere　his　solemn　step　should　have　ascended　the　stair。　　Time　enough；　thought　I；　for　a　peep　through　the　blinds；　and　was　hastening　to　the　window　accordingly。　　But　I　reckoned　without　my　host；　for　James；　who　had　his　own　curiosity　as　well　as　I；　was　lying　PERDU　in　the　lobby；　ready　to　open　at　the　first　tinkle；　and　there　was；　'This　way；　ma'amYes；　ma'amThe　lady；　Mr。　Alan；'　before　I　could　get　to　the　chair　in　which　I　proposed　to　be　discovered；　seated　in　all　legal　dignity。　　The　consciousness　of　being　half…caught　in　the　act　of　peeping；　joined　to　that　native　air　of　awkward　bashfulness　of　which　I　am　told　the　law　will　soon　free　me；　kept　me　standing　on　the　floor　in　some　confusion；　while　the　lady；　disconcerted　on　her　part；　remained　on　the　threshold　of　the　room。　　James　Wilkinson；　who　had　his　senses　most　about　him；　and　was　perhaps　willing　to　prolong　his　stay　in　the　apartment；　busied　himself　in　setting　a　chair　for　the　lady；　and　recalled　me　to　my　good…breeding　by　the　hint。　　I　invited　her　to　take　possession　of　it；　and　bid　James　withdraw。

My　visitor　was　undeniably　a　lady；　and　probably　considerably　above　the　ordinary　rankvery　modest；　too；　judging　from　the　mixture　of　grace　and　timidity　with　which　she　moved；　and　at　my　entreaty　sat　down。　　Her　dress　was；　I　should　suppose；　both　handsome　and　fashionable；　but　it　was　much　concealed　by　a　walking…cloak　of　green　silk；　fancifully　embroidered；　in　which；　though　heavy　for　the　season；　her　person　was　enveloped；　and　which；　moreover；　was　furnished　with　a　hood。

The　devil　take　that　hood；　Darsie！　　for　I　was　just　able　to　distinguish　that；　pulled　as　it　was　over　the　face；　it　concealed　from　me；　as　I　was　convinced；　one　of　the　prettiest　countenances　I　have　seen；　and　which；　from　a　sense　of　embarrassment；　seemed　to　be　crimsoned　with　a　deep　blush。　　I　could　see　her　complexion　was　beautifulher　chin　finely　turnedher　lips　coraland　her　teeth　rivals　to　ivory。　　But　further　the　deponent　sayeth　not；　for　a　clasp　of　gold；　ornamented　with　it　sapphire；　closed　the　envious　mantle　under　the　incognita's　throat；　and　the　cursed　hood　concealed　entirely　the　upper　part　of　the　face。

I　ought　to　have　spoken　first；　that　is　certain；　but　ere　I　could　get　my　phrases　well　arranged；　the　young　lady；　rendered　desperate　I　suppose　by　my　hesitation　opened　the　conversation　herself。

'I　fear　I　am　an　intruder；　sirI　expected　to　meet　an　elderly　gentleman。'

This　brought　me　to　myself。　　'My　father；　madam；　perhaps。　　But　you　inquired　for　Alan　Fairfordmy　father's　name　is　Alexander。'

'It　is　Mr。　Alan　Fairford；　undoubtedly；　with　whom　I　wished　to　speak；'　she　said；　with　greater　confusion；　'but　I　was　told　that　he　was　advanced　in　life。'

'Some　mistake；　madam；　I　presume；　betwixt　my　father　and　myself　our　Christian　names　have　the　same　initials；　though　the　terminations　are　different。　　III　would　esteem　it　a　most　fortunate　mistake　if　I　could　have　the　honour　of　supplying　my　father's　place　in　anything　that　could　be　of　service　to　you。'

'You　are　very　obliging；　sir；'　A　pause；　during　which　she　seemed　undetermined　whether　to　rise　or　sit　still。

'I　am　just　about　to　be　called　to　the　bar；　madam；'　said　I；　in　hopes　to　remove　her　scruples　to　open　her　case　to　me；　'and　if　my　advice　or　opinion　could　be　of　the　slightest　use；　although　I　cannot　presume　to　say　that　they　are　much　to　be　depended　upon；　yet'

The　lady　arose。　　'I　am　truly　sensible　of　your　kindness；　sir；　and　I　have　no　doubt　of　your　talents。　　I　will　be　very　plain　with　you　it　is　you　whom　I　came　to　visit；　although；　now　that　we　have　met；　I　find　it　will　be　much　better　that　I　should　commit　my　communication　to　writing。'

'I　hope；　madam；　you　will　not　be　so　cruelso　tantalizing；　I　would　say。　　Consider；　you　are　my　first　clientyour　business　my　first　consultationdo　not　do　me　the　displeasure　of　withdrawing　your　confidence　because　I　am　a　few　years　younger　than　you　seem　to　have　expected。　　My　attention　shall　make　amends　for　my　want　of　experience。'

'I　have　no　doubt　of　either；'　said　the　lady；　in　a　grave　tone；　calculated　to　restrain　the　air　of　gallantry　with　which　I　had　endeavoured　to　address　her。　　'But　when　you　have　received　my　letter　you　will　find　good　reasons　assigned　why　a　written　communication　will　best　suit　my　purpose。　　I　wish　you；　sir；　a　good　morning。'　　And　she　left　the　apartment；　her　poor　baffled　counsel　scraping；　and　bowing；　and　apologizing　for　anything　that　might　have　been　disagreeable　to　her；　although　the　front　of　my　offence　seems　to　be　my　having　been　discovered　to　be　younger　than　my　father。

The　door　was　openedout　she　wentwalked　along　the　pavement；　turned　down　the　close；　and　put　the　sun；　I　believe；　into　her　pocket　when　she　disappeared；　so　suddenly　did　dullness　and　darkness　sink　down　on　the　square；　when　she　was　no　longer　visible。　I　stood　for　a　moment　as　if　I　had　been　senseless；　not　recollecting　what　a　fund　of　entertainment　I　must　have　supplied　to　our　watchful　friends　on　the　other　side　of　the　green。　　Then　it　darted　on　my　mind　that　I　might　dog　her；　and　ascertain　at　least　who　or　what　she　was。　　Off　I　setran　down　the　close；　where　she　was　no　longer　to　be　seen；　and　demanded　of　one　of　the　dyer's　lads　whether　he　had　seen　a　lady　go　down　the　close；　or　had　observed　which　way　she　turned。

'A　leddy！'said　the　dyer；　staring　at　me　with　his　rainbow　countenance。　　'Mr。　Alan；　what　takes　you　out；　rinning　like　daft；　without　your　hat？'

'The　devil　take　my　hat！'　　answered　I；　running　back；　however；　in　quest　of　it；　snatched　it　up；　and　again　sallied　forth。　　But　as　I　reached　the　head　of　the　close　once　more；　I　had　sense　enough　to　recollect　that　all　pursuit　would　be　now　in　vain。　　Besides；　I　saw　my　frien