redgauntlet-第33部分

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Here　Willie's　wife；　who　was　smoking　in　the　chimney　corner；　took　up　the　praises　of　her　'hinnie；'　as　she　called　him；　and　endeavoured　to　awaken　my　generosity　afresh；　by　describing　the　dangers　from　which；　as　she　was　pleased　to　allege；　her　husband's　countenance　had　assuredly　been　the　means　of　preserving　me。　　I　was　not；　however；　to　be　fooled　out　of　more　money　at　this　time；　and　went　to　bed　in　haste；　full　of　vanous　cogitations。

I　have　since　spent　a　couple　of　days　betwixt　Mount　Sharon　and　this　place；　and　betwixt　reading；　writing　to　thee　this　momentous　history；　forming　plans　for　seeing　the　lovely　Lilias；　andpartly；　I　think；　for　the　sake　of　contradictionangling　a　little　in　spite　of　Joshua'a　scruplesthough　I　am　rather　liking　the　amusement　better　as　I　begin　to　have　some　success　in　it。

And　now；　my　dearest　Alan；　you　are　in　full　possession　of　my　secretlet　me　as　frankly　into　the　recesses　of　your　bosom。　　How　do　you　feel　towards　this　fair　ignis　fatuus；　this　lily　of　the　desert？　　Tell　me　honestly；　for　however　the　recollection　of　her　may　haunt　my　own　mind；　my　love　for　Alan　Fairford　surpasses　the　love　of　woman；　I　know；　too；　that　when　you　DO　love；　it　will　be　to

　　Love　once　and　love　no　more。

A　deep…consuming　passion；　once　kindled　in　a　breast　so　steady　as　yours；　would　never　be　extinguished　but　with　life。　　I　am　of　another　and　more　volatile　temper；　and　though　I　shall　open　your　next　with　a　trembling　hand　and　uncertain　heart；　yet　let　it　bring　a　frank　confession　that　this　fair　unknown　has　made　a　deeper　impression　on　your　gravity　than　you　reckoned　for；　and　you　will　see　I　can　tear　the　arrow　from　my　own　wound；　barb　and　all。　　In　the　meantime；　though　I　have　formed　schemes　once　more　to　see　her；　I　will；　you　may　rely　on　it；　take　no　step　for　putting　them　into　practice。　　I　have　refrained　from　this　hitherto；　and　I　give　you　my　word　of　honour；　I　shall　continue　to　do　so；　yet　why　should　you　need　any　further　assurance　from　one　who　is　so　entirely　yours　as　D。L。

PS。I　shall　be　on　thorns　till　I　receive　your　answer。　　I　read；　and　re…read　your　letter；　and　cannot　for　my　soul　discover　what　your　real　sentiments　are。　　Sometimes　I　think　you　write　of　her　as　one　in　jestand　sometimes　I　think　that　cannot　be。　　Put　me　at　ease　as　soon　as　possible。




LETTER　XIII

ALAN　FAIRFORD　TO　DARSIE　LATIMER

I　write　on　the　instant；　as　you　direct；　and　in　a　tragi…comic　humour；　for　I　have　a　tear　in　my　eye　and　a　smile　on　my　cheek。　Dearest　Darsie；　sure　never　a　being　but　yourself　could　be　so　generoussure　never　a　being　but　yourself　could　be　so　absurd！　　I　remember　when　you　were　a　boy　you　wished　to　make　your　fine　new　whip　a　present　to　old　Aunt　Peggy；　merely　because　she　admired　it；　and　now；　with　like　unreflecting　and　inappropriate　liberality；　you　would　resign　your　beloved　to　a　smoke…dried　young　sophister；　who　cares　not　one　of　the　hairs　which　it　is　his　occupation　to　split；　for　all　the　daughters　of　Eve。　　I　in　love　with　your　Liliasyour　Green　Mantleyour　unknown　enchantress！why　I　scarce　saw　her　for　five　minutes；　and　even　then　only　the　tip　of　her　chin　was　distinctly　visible。　　She　was　well　made；　and　the　tip　of　her　chin　was　of　a　most　promising　cast　for　the　rest　of　the　face；　but；　Heaven　save　you！　　she　came　upon　business！　　and　for　a　lawyer　to　fall　in　love　with　a　pretty　client　on　a　single　consultation；　would　be　as　wise　as　if　he　became　enamoured　of　a　particularly　bright　sunbeam　which　chanced　for　a　moment　to　gild　his　bar…wig。　　I　give　you　my　word　I　am　heart…whole　and　moreover；　I　assure　you；　that　before　I　suffer　a　woman　to　sit　near　my　heart's　core；　I　must　see　her　full　face；　without　mask　or　mantle；　aye；　and　know　a　good　deal　of　her　mind　into　the　bargain。　　So　never　fret　yourself　on　my　account；　my　kind　and　generous　Darsie；　but；　for　your　own　sake；　have　a　care　and　let　not　an　idle　attachment；　so　lightly　taken　up；　lead　you　into　serious　danger。

On　this　subject　I　feel　so　apprehensive；　that　now　when　I　am　decorated　with　the　honours　of　the　gown；　I　should　have　abandoned　my　career　at　the　very　starting　to　come　to　you；　but　for　my　father　having　contrived　to　clog　my　heels　with　fetters　of　a　professional　nature。　　I　will　tell　you　the　matter　at　length；　for　it　is　comical　enough；　and　why　should　not　you　list　to　my　juridical　adventures；　as　well　as　I　to　those　of　your　fiddling　knight…errantry？

It　was　after　dinner；　and　I　was　considering　how　I　might　best　introduce　to　my　father　the　private　resolution　I　had　formed　to　set　off　for　Dumfriesshire；　or　whether　I　had　not　better　run　away　at　once；　and　plead　my　excuse　by　letter；　when；　assuming　the　peculiar　look　with　which　he　communicates　any　of　his　intentions　respecting　me；　that　he　suspects　may　not　be　altogether　acceptable；　'Alan；'　he　said；　'ye　now　wear　a　gownye　have　opened　shop；　as　we　would　say　of　a　more　mechanical　profession；　and；　doubtless；　ye　think　the　floor　of　the　courts　is　strewed　with　guineas；　and　that　ye　have　only　to　stoop　down　to　gather　them？'

'I　hope　I　am　sensible；　sir；'　I　replied；　'that　I　have　some　knowledge　and　practice　to　acquire；　and　must　stoop　for　that　in　the　first　place。'

'It　is　well　said；'　answered　my　father；　and；　always　afraid　to　give　too　much　encouragement；　added；　'Very　well　said；　if　it　be　well　acted　up　toStoop　to　get　knowledge　and　practice　is　the　very　word。　　Ye　know　very　well；　Alan；　that　in　the　other　faculty　who　study　the　ARS　MEDENDI；　before　the　young　doctor　gets　to　the　bedsides　of　palaces；　he　must；　as　they　call　it；　walk　the　hospitals；　and　cure　Lazarus　of　his　sores；　before　he　be　admitted　to　prescribe　for　Dives；　when　he　has　gout　or　indigestion'

'I　am　aware；　sir；　that'

'Whishtdo　not　interrupt　the　court。　　Wellalso　the　chirurgeons　have　a　useful　practice；　by　which　they　put　their　apprentices　and　tyrones　to　work；　upon　senseless　dead　bodies；　to　which；　as　they　can　do　no　good；　so　they　certainly　can　do　as　little　harm；　while　at　the　same　time　the　tyro；　or　apprentice；　gains　experience；　and　becomes　fit　to　whip　off　a　leg　or　arm　from　a　living　subject；　as　cleanly　as　ye　would　slice　an　onion。'

'I　believe　I　guess　your　meaning；　sir；'　answered　I；　'and　were　it　not　for　a　very　particular　engagement'

'Do　not　speak　to　me　of　engagements　；　but　whishtthere　is　a　good　ladand　do　not　interrupt　the　court。'

My　father；　you　know；　is　aptbe　it　said　with　all　filial　dutyto　be　a　little　prolix　in　his　harangues。　　I　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　lean　back　and　listen。

'Maybe　you　think；　Alan；　because　I　have；　doubtless；　the　management　of　some　actions　in　dependence；　whilk　my　worthy　clients　have　intrusted　me　with；　that　I　may　think　of　airting　them　your　way　INSTANTER；　and　so　setting　you　up　in　practice；　so　far　as　my　small　business　or　influence　may　go；　and；　doubtless；　Alan；　that　is　a　day　whilk　I　hope　may　come　round。　　But　then；　before　I　give；　as　the　proverb　hath　it；　〃My　own　fish…guts　to　my　own　sea…maws；〃　I　must；　for　the　sake　of　my　own　character；　be　very　sure　that　my　sea…maw　can　pick　them　to　some　purpose。　　What　say　ye？'

'I　am　so　far；'　answered　I；　'from　wishing　to　get　early　into　practice；　sir；　that　I　would　willingly　bestow　a　few　days'

'In　further　study；　ye　would　say；　Alan。　　But　that　is　not　the　way　eitherye　must　walk　the　hospitalsye　must　cure　Lazarusye　must　cut　and　carve　on　a　departed　subject；　to　show　your　skill。'

'I　am　sure；'　I　replied；　'I　will　undertake　the　cause　of　any　poor　man　with　pleasure；　and　bestow　as　much　pains　upon　it　as　if　it　were　a　duke's；　but　for　the　next　two　or　three　days'

'They　must　be　devoted　to　close　study；　Alanvery　close　study　indeed；　for　ye　must　stand　primed　for　a　hearing；　IN　PRESENTIA　DOMINORUM；　upon　Tuesday　next。'

'I；　sir？'　　I　replied　in　astonishment'I　have　not　opened　my　mouth　in　the　Outer　House　yet！'

'Never　mind　the　court　of　the　Gentiles；　man；'　said　my　father；　'we　will　have　you　into　the　Sanctuary　at　onceover　shoes；　over　boots。'

'But；　sir；　I　should　really　spoil　any　cause　thrust　on　me　so　hastily。'

'Ye　cannot　spoil　it；　Alan；'　said　my　father；　rubbing　his　hands　with　much　complacency　；　'that　is　the　very　cream　of　the　business；　manit　is　just；　as　I　said　before；　a　subject　upon　whilk　all　the　TYRONES　have　been　trying　their　whittles　for　fifteen　years；　and　as　there　have　been　about　ten　or　a　dozen　agents　concerned；　and　each　took　his　own　way；　the　case　is　come　to　that　pass；　that　Stair　or　Amiston　could　not　mend　it；　and　I　do　not　think　even　you；　Alan；　can　do　it　much　harmye　may　get　credit　by　it；　but　ye　can　lose　none。'

'And　pray　what　is　the　name　of　my　happy　client；　sir？'　　said　I；　ungraciously　enough；　I　believe。

'It　is　a　well…known　name　in　the　Parliament　House；'　replied　my　father。　　'To　say　the　truth；　I　expect　him　every　moment；　it　is　Peter　Peebles。'　　＇See　Note　4。＇

'Peter　Peebles！'　　exclaimed　I；　in　astonishment；　'he　is　an　insane　beggaras　poor　as　Job；　and　as　mad　as　a　March　hare！'

'He　has　been　pleaing　in　the　court　for　fifteen　years；'　said　my　father；　in　a　tone　of　commiseration；　which　seemed　to　acknowledge　that　this　fact　was　enough　to　account　for　the　poor　man's　condition　both　in　mind　and　circumstances。

'Besides；　sir；'　I　added；　'he　is　on　the　Poor's　Roll；　and　you　know　there　are　advocates　regularly　appointed　to　manage　those　cases；　and　for　me　to　presume　to　interfere'

'Whisht；　Alan！never　interrupt　the　courtall　THAT　is　managed　for　ye　like　a　tee'd　ball'　（my　father　sometimes　draws　his　similes　from　his　once　favourite　game　of　golf）；　'you　must　know；　Alan；　that　Peter's　cause　was　to　have　been　opened　by　young　Dumtoustieye　may　ken　the　lad；　a　son　of　Dumtoustie　of　that　ilk；　member　of　Parliament　for　the　county　of　；　and　a　nephew　of　the　laird's　younger　brother；　worthy　Lord　Bladderskate；　whilk　ye　are　aware　sounds　as　like　being　akin　to　a　peatship　＇Formerly；　a　lawyer；　supposed　to　be　under　the　peculiar　patronage　of　any　particular　judge；　was　invidiously　termed　his　PEAT　or　PET。＇　and　a　sheriffdom；　as　a　sieve　is　sib　to　a　riddle。　　Now；　Peter　Drudgeit；　my　lord's　clerk；　came　to　me　this　morning　in　the　House；　like　ane　bereft　of　his　wits；　for　it　seems　that　young　Dumtoustie　is　ane　of　the　Poor's　lawyers；　and　Peter　Peebles's　process　had　been　remitted　to　him　of　course。　　But　so　soon　as　the　harebrained　goose　saw　the　pokes　＇Process…bags。＇　　（as　indeed；　Alan；　they　are　none　of　the　least）　he　took　fright；　called　for　his　nag；　lap　on；　and　away　to　the　country　is　he　gone；　and　so？　　said　Peter；　my　lord　is　at　his　wit's　end　wi'　vexation；　and　shame；　to　see　his　nevoy　break　off　the　course　at　the　very　starting。　　〃I'll　tell　you；　Peter；〃　said　I；　〃wer