redgauntlet-第87部分

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arm　from　any　sudden　exclamation　on　the　part　of　Alan；　there　was　no　saying　what　consequences　might　ensue。

Ere　he　could　decide　what　was　to　be　done；　Redgauntlet；　who　had　entered　the　house；　returned　hastily；　followed　by　Cristal　Nixon。　'I'll　release　you　of　the　charge　of　this　young　lady；　sir；'　he　said；　haughtily；　to　Alan　Fairford；　whom　he　probably　did　not　recognize。

'I　had　no　desire　to　intrude；　sir；'　replied　Alan；　'the　lady's　situation　seemed　to　require　assistanceandbut　have　I　not　the　honour　to　speak　to　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork？'

'You　are　mistaken；　sir；'　said　Redgauntlet；　turning　short　off；　and　making　a　sign　with　his　hand　to　Cristal；　who　hurried　Darsie；　however　unwillingly；　into　the　house；　whispering　in　his　ear；　'Come；　miss；　let　us　have　no　making　of　acquaintance　from　the　windows。　　Ladies　of　fashion　must　be　private。　　Show　us　a　room；　Father　Crackenthorp。'

So　saying；　he　conducted　Darsie　into　the　house；　interposing　at　the　same　time　his　person　betwixt　the　supposed　young　lady　and　the　stranger　of　whom　he　was　suspicious；　so　as　to　make　communication　by　signs　impossible。　　As　they　entered；　they　heard　the　sound　of　a　fiddle　in　the　stone…floored　and　well…sanded　kitchen；　through　which　they　were　about　to　follow　their　corpulent　host；　and　where　several　people　seemed　engaged　in　dancing　to　its　strains。

'Dn　thee；'　said　Nixon　to　Crackenthorp；　'would　you　have　the　lady　go　through　all　the　mob　of　the　parish？　　Hast　thou　no　more　private　way　to　our　sitting…room？'

'None　that　is　fit　for　my　travelling；'　answered　the　landlord；　laying　his　hand　on　his　portly　stomach。　　'I　am　not　Tom　Turnpenny；　to　creep　like　a　lizard　through　keyholes。'

So　saying；　he　kept　moving　on　through　the　revellers　in　the　kitchen；　and　Nixon；　holding　Darsie　by　his　arm；　as　if　to　offer　the　lady　support　but　in　all　probability　to　frustrate　any　effort　at　escape；　moved　through　the　crowd；　which　presented　a　very　motley　appearance；　consisting　of　domestic　servants；　country　fellows；　seamen；　and　other　idlers；　whom　Wandering　Willie　was　regaling　with　his　music。

To　pass　another　friend　without　intimation　of　his　presence　would　have　been　actual　pusillanimity；　and　just　when　they　were　passing　the　blind　man's　elevated　seat；　Darsie　asked　him　with　some　emphasis；　whether　he　could　not　play　a　Scottish　air？　　The　man's　face　had　been　the　instant　before　devoid　of　all　sort　of　expression；　going　through　his　performance　like　a　clown　through　a　beautiful　country；　too　much　accustomed　to　consider　it　as　a　task；　to　take　any　interest　in　the　performance；　and；　in　fact；　scarce　seeming　to　hear　the　noise　that　he　was　creating。　　In　a　word；　he　might　at　the　time　have　made　a　companion　to　my　friend　Wilkie's　inimitable　blind　crowder。　　But　with　Wandering　Willie　this　was　only　an　occasional　and　a　rare　fit　of　dullness；　such　as　will　at　times　creep　over　all　the　professors　of　the　fine　arts；　arising　either　from　fatigue；　or　contempt　of　the　present　audience；　or　that　caprice　which　so　often　tempts　painters　and　musicians　and　great　actors；　in　the　phrase　of　the　latter；　to　walk　through　their　part；　instead　of　exerting　themselves　with　the　energy　which　acquired　their　fame。　　But　when　the　performer　heard　the　voice　of　Darsie；　his　countenance　became　at　once　illuminated；　and　showed　the　complete　mistake　of　those　who　suppose　that　the　principal　point　of　expression　depends　upon　the　eyes。　　With　his　face　turned　to　the　point　from　which　the　sound　came；　his　upper　lip　a　little　curved；　and　quivering　with　agitation；　and　with　a　colour　which　surprise　and　pleasure　had　brought　at　once　into　his　faded　cheek；　he　exchanged　the　humdrum　hornpipe　which　he　had　been　sawing　out　with　reluctant　and　lazy　bow；　for　the　fine　Scottish　air；

　　You're　welcome；　Charlie　Stuart；

which　flew　from　his　strings　as　if　by　inspiration　and　after　a　breathless　pause　of　admiration　among　the　audience；　was　received　with　a　clamour　of　applause；　which　seemed　to　show　that　the　name　and　tendency；　as　well　as　the　execution　of　the　tune；　was　in　the　highest　degree　acceptable　to　all　the　party　assembled。

In　the　meantime；　Cristal　Nixon；　still　keeping　hold　of　Darsie；　and　following　the　landlord；　forced　his　way　with　some　difficulty　through　the　crowded　kitchen；　and　entered　a　small　apartment　on　the　other　side　of　it；　where　they　found　Lilias　Redgauntlet　already　seated。　　Here　Nixon　gave　way　to　his　suppressed　resentment；　and　turning　sternly　on　Crackenthorp；　threatened　him　with　his　master's　severest　displeasure；　because　things　were　in　such　bad　order　to　receive　his　family；　when　he　had　given　such　special　advice　that　he　desired　to　be　private。　　But　Father　Crackenthorp　was　not　a　man　to　be　brow…beaten。

'Why；　brother　Nixon；　thou　art　angry　this　morning；'　he　replied；　'hast　risen　from　thy　wrong　side；　I　think。　　You　know；　as　well　as　I；　that　most　of　this　mob　is　of　the　squire's　own　makinggentlemen　that　come　with　their　servants；　and　so　forth；　to　meet　him　in　the　way　of　business；　as　old　Tom　Turnpenny　saysthe　very　last　that　came　was　sent　down　with　Dick　Gardener　from　Fairladies。'

'But　the　blind　scraping　scoundrel　yonder；'　said　Nixon；　'how　dared　you　take　such　a　rascal　as　that　across　your　threshold　at　such　a　time　as　this？　　If　the　squire　should　dream　you　have　a　thought　of　peachingI　am　only　speaking　for　your　good；　Father　Crackenthorp。'

'Why；　look　ye；　brother　Nixon；'　said　Crackenthorp；　turning　his　quid　with　great　composure；　'the　squire　is　a　very　worthy　gentleman；　and　I'll　never　deny　it；　but　I　am　neither　his　servant　nor　his　tenant；　and　so　he　need　send　me　none　of　his　orders　till　he　hears　I　have　put　on　his　livery。　　As　for　turning　away　folk　from　my　door；　I　might　as　well　plug　up　the　ale…tap；　and　pull　down　the　signand　as　for　peaching；　and　such　like；　the　squire　will　find　the　folk　here　are　as　honest　to　the　full　as　those　he　brings　with　him。'

'How；　you　impudent　lump　of　tallow；'　said　Nixon；　'what　do　you　mean　by　that？'

'Nothing；'　said　Crackenthorp；　'but　that　I　can　tour　out　as　well　as　anotheryou　understand　mekeep　good　lights　in　my　upper　story　know　a　thing　or　two　more　than　most　folk　in　this　country。　　If　folk　will　come　to　my　house　on　dangerous　errands；　egad　they　shall　not　find　Joe　Crackenthorp　a　cat's…paw。　　I'll　keep　myself　clear；　you　may　depend　on　it；　and　let　every　man　answer　for　his　own　actions　that's　my　way。　　Anything　wanted；　Master　Nixon？'

'Noyesbegone！'　　said　Nixon；　who　seemed　embarrassed　with　the　landlord's　contumacy；　yet　desirous　to　conceal　the　effect　it　produced　on　him。

The　door　was　no　sooner　closed　on　Crackenthorp；　than　Miss　Redgauntlet；　addressing　Nixon；　commanded　him　to　leave　the　room　and　go　to　his　proper　place。

'How；　madam？'　　said　the　fellow　sullenly；　yet　with　an　air　of　respect；　'Would　you　have　your　uncle　pistol　me　for　disobeying　his　orders？'

'He　may　perhaps　pistol　you　for　some　other　reason；　if　you　do　not　obey　mine；'　said　Lilias；　composedly。

'You　abuse　your　advantage　over　me；　madamI　really　dare　not　goI　am　on　guard　over　this　other　miss　here；　and　if　I　should　desert　my　post；　my　life　were　not　worth　five　minutes'　purchase。'

'Then　know　your　post；　sir；'　said　Lilias；　'and　watch　on　the　outside　of　the　door。　　You　have　no　commission　to　listen　to　our　private　conversation；　I　suppose？　　Begone；　sir；　without　further　speech　or　remonstrance；　or　I　will　tell　my　uncle　that　which　you　would　have　reason　to　repent　be　should　know。'

The　fellow　looked　at　her　with　a　singular　expression　of　spite；　mixed　with　deference。　　'You　abuse　your　advantages；　madam；'　he　said；　'and　act　as　foolishly　in　doing　so　as　I　did　in　affording　you　such　a　hank　over　me。　　But　you　are　a　tyrant；　and　tyrants　have　commonly　short　reigns。'

So　saying；　he　left　the　apartment。

'The　wretch's　unparalleled　insolence；'　said　Lilias　to　her　brother；　'has　given　me　one　great　advantage　over　him。　　For　knowing　that　my　uncle　would　shoot　him　with　as　little　remorse　as　a　woodcock；　if　he　but　guessed　at　his　brazen…faced　assurance　towards　me；　he　dares　not　since　that　time　assume；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned；　the　air　of　insolent　domination　which　the　possession　of　my　uncle's　secrets；　and　the　knowledge　of　his　most　secret　plans；　have　led　him　to　exert　over　others　of　his　family。'

'In　the　meantime；'　said　Darsie；　'I　am　happy　to　see　that　the　landlord　of　the　house　does　not　seem　so　devoted　to　him　as　I　apprehended；　and　this　aids　the　hope　of　escape　which　I　am　nourishing　for　you　and　for　myself。　　O　Lilias！　　the　truest　of　friends；　Alan　Fairford；　is　in　pursuit　of　me；　and　is　here　at　this　moment。　　Another　humble；　but；　I　think；　faithful　friend；　is　also　within　these　dangerous　walls；'

Lilias　laid　her　finger　on　her　lips；　and　pointed　to　the　door。　Darsie　took　the　hint；　lowered　his　voice；　and　informed　her　in　whispers　of　the　arrival　of　Fairford；　and　that　he　believed　he　had　opened　a　communication　with　Wandering　Willie。　　She　listened　with　the　utmost　interest；　and　had　just　begun　to　reply；　when　a　loud　noise　was　heard　in　the　kitchen；　caused　by　several　contending　voices；　amongst　which　Darsie　thought　he　could　distinguish　that　of　Alan　Fairford。

Forgetting　how　little　his　own　condition　permitted　him　to　become　the　assistant　of　another；　Darsie　flew　to　the　door　of　the　room；　and　finding　it　locked　and　bolted　on　the　outside；　rushed　against　it　with　all　his　force；　and　made　the　most　desperate　efforts　to　burst　it　open；　notwithstanding　the　entreaties　of　his　sister　that　he　would　compose　himself　and　recollect　the　condition　in　which　he　was　placed。　　But　the　door；　framed　to　withstand　attacks　from　excisemen；　constables；　and　other　personages；　considered　as　worthy　to　use　what　are　called　the　king's　keys；　＇In　common　parlance；　a　crowbar　and　hatchet。＇　　'and　therewith　to　make　lockfast　places　open　and　patent；'　set　his　efforts　at　defiance。　　Meantime　the　noise　continued　without；　and　we　are　to　give　an　account　of　its　origin　in　our　next　chapter。




CHAPTER　XX

NARRATIVE　OF　DARSIE　LATIMER；　CONTINUED

Joe　Crackenthorp's　public…house　had　never；　since　it　first　reared　its　chimneys　on　the　banks　of　the　Solway；　been　frequented　by　such　a　miscellaneous　group　of　visitors　as　had　that　morning　become　its　guests。　　Several　of　them　were　persons　whose　quality　seemed　much　superior　to　their　dresses　and　modes　of　travelling。　　The　servants　who　attended　them　contradicted　the　inferences　to　be　drawn　from　the　garb　of　their　masters；　and；　according　to　the　custom　of　the　knights　of　the　rainbow；　gave　many　hints　that　they　were　not　people　to　serve　any　but　men　of　first…rate　consequence。　　Th