christie johnstone-第23节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　wee　beastie？〃

Christie；　looking　askant　at　the　animal；　explained：　〃A　moose　is　an　awesome
beastit's　no　like　a　mon！〃　and　still　her　eye　was　fixed　by　fascination
upon　the　four…footed　danger。

Jean；　who　had　not　been　herself　in　genuine　tranquillity；　now　turned
savagely　on　the　little　Wombwelless。　〃An'　div　ye　really　think　ye　are　to
come　here　wi'　a'　the　beasts　i'　the　Airk？　Come；　awa　ye　go；　the　pair　o'
ye。〃

These　severe　words；　and　a　smart　push；　sent　the　poor　little　biped　off
roaring；　with　the　string　over　her　shoulder；　recklessly　dragging　the
terrific　quadruped；　which　made　fruitless　grabs　at　the　shingle。_Moral。_
Don't　terrify　bigger　folk　than　yourself。

Christie　had　intended　to　go　up　to　Edinburgh　with　her　eighty　pounds；　but
there　was　more　trouble　in　store　this　eventful　day。

Flucker　went　out　after　dinner；　and　left　her　with　Sandy　Liston；　who　was　in
the　middle　of　a　yarn；　when　some　one　came　running　in　and　told　her　Flucker
was　at　the　pier　crying　for　her。　She　inquired　what　was　the　matter。　〃Come；
an'　ye'll　see；〃　was　all　the　answer。　She　ran　down　to　the　pier。　There　was
poor　Flucker　lying　on　his　back；　he　had　slipped　from　the　pier　into　a　boat
that　lay　alongside；　the　fall　was　considerable；　for　a　minute　he　had　been
insensible；　then　he　had　been　dreadfully　sick；　and　now　he　was　beginning　to
feel　his　hurt；　he　was　in　great　anguish；　nobody　knew　the　extent　of　his
injuries；　he　would　let　nobody　touch　him；　all　his　cry　was　for　his　sister。
At　last　she　came；　they　all　made　way　for　her；　he　was　crying　for　her　as　she
came　up。

〃My　bairn！　my　bairn！〃　cried　she；　and　the　poor　little　fellow　smiled；　and
tried　to　raise　himself　toward　her。

She　lifted　him　gently　in　her　armsshe　was　powerful；　and　affection　made
her　stronger；　she　carried　him　in　her　arms　all　the　way　home；　and　laid　him
on　her　own　bed。　Willy　Liston；　her　discarded　suitor；　ran　for　the　surgeon。
There　were　no　bones　broken；　but　his　ankle　was　severely　sprained；　and　he
had　a　terrible　bruise　on　the　loins；　his　dark；　ruddy　face　was　streaked　and
pale；　but　he　never　complained　after　he　found　himself　at　home。

Christie　hovered　round　him；　a　ministering　angel；　applying　to　him　with　a
light　and　loving　hand　whatever　could　ease　his　pain；　and　he　watched　her
with　an　expression　she　had　never　noticed　in　his　eye　before。

At　last；　after　two　hours'　silence；　he　made　her　sit　in　full　view；　and　then
he　spoke　to　her；　and　what　think　you　was　the　subject　of　his　discourse？

He　turned　to　and　told　her；　one　after　another；　without　preface；　all　the
loving　things　she　had　done　to　him　ever　since　he　was　five　years　old。　Poor
boy；　he　had　never　shown　much　gratitude；　but　he　had　forgotten　nothing；
literally　nothing。

Christie　was　quite　overcome　with　this　unexpected　trait；　she　drew　him
gently　to　her　bosom；　and　wept　over　him；　and　it　was　sweet　to　see　a　brother
and　sister　treat　each　other　almost　like　lovers；　as　these　two　began　to
dothey　watched　each　other's　eye　so　tenderly。

This　new　care　kept　the　sister　in　her　own　house　all　the　next　day；　but
toward　the　evening　Jean；　who　knew　her　other　anxiety；　slipped　in　and
offered　to　take　her　place　for　an　hour　by　Flucker's　side；　at　the　same　time
she　looked　one　of　those　signals　which　are　too　subtle　for　any　but　woman　to
understand。

Christie　drew　her　aside；　and　learned　that　Gatty　and　his　mother　were　just
coming　through　from　Leith；　Christie　ran　for　her　eighty　pounds；　placed
them　in　her　bosom；　cast　a　hasty　glance　at　a　looking…glass；　little　larger
than　an　oyster…shell；　and　ran　out。

〃Hech！　What　pleased　the　auld　wife　will　be　to　see　he　has　a　lass　that　can
mak　auchty　pund　in　a　morning。〃

This　was　Christie's　notion。

At　sight　of　them　she　took　out　the　banknotes；　and　with　eyes　glistening　and
cheeks　flushing　she　cried：

〃Oh；　Chairles；　ye'll　no　gang　to　jailI　hae　the　siller！〃　and　she　offered
him　the　money　with　both　hands；　and　a　look　of　tenderness　and　modesty　that
embellished　human　nature。

Ere　he　could　speak；　his　mother　put　out　her　hand；　and　not　rudely；　but　very
coldly；　repelling　Christie's　arm；　said　in　a　freezing　manner：

〃We　are　much　obliged　to　you；　but　my　son's　own　talents　have　rescued　him
from　his　little　embarrassment。〃

〃A　nobleman　has　bought　my　picture；〃　said　Gatty；　proudly。

〃For　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds；〃　said　the　old　lady；　meaning　to　mark
the　contrast　between　that　sum　and　what　Christie　had　in　her　hand。

Christie　remained　like　a　statue；　with　her　arms　extended；　and　the
bank…notes　in　her　hand；　her　features　workedshe　had　much　ado　not　to　cry；
and　any　one　that　had　known　the　whole　story；　and　seen　this　unmerited
repulse；　would　have　felt　for　her；　but　her　love　came　to　her　aid；　she　put
the　notes　in　her　bosom；　sighed　and　said：

〃I　would　hae　likeit　to　hae　been　the　first；　ye　ken；　but　I'm　real　pleased。〃

〃But；　mother；〃　said　Gatty；　〃it　was　very　kind　of　Christie　all　the　same。
Oh；　Christie！〃　said　he；　in　a　tone　of　despair。

At　this　kind　word　Christie's　fortitude　was　sore　tried；　she　turned　away
her　head；　she　was　far　too　delicate　to　let　them　know　who　had　sent　Lord
Ipsden　to　buy　the　picture。

While　she　turned　away；　Mrs。　Gatty　said　in　her　son's　ear：

〃Now；　I　have　your　solemn　promise　to　do　it　here；　and　at　once；　you　will
find　me　on　the　beach　behind　these　boatsdo　it。〃

The　reader　will　understand　that　during　the　last　few　days　Mrs。　Gatty　had
improved　her　advantage；　and　that　Charles　had　positively　consented　to　obey
her；　the　poor　boy　was　worn　out　with　the　strugglehe　felt　he　must　have
peace　or　die；　he　was　thin　and　pale；　and　sudden　twitches　came　over　him；
his　temperament　was　not　fit　for　such　a　battle；　and；　it　is　to　be　observed；
nearly　all　the　talk　was　on　one　side。　He　had　made　one　expiring
strugglehe　described　to　his　mother　an　artist's　nature；　his　strength；
his　weaknesshe　besought　her　not　to　be　a　slave　to　general　rules；　but　to
inquire　what　sort　of　a　companion　the　individual　Gatty　needed；　he　lashed
with　true　but　brilliant　satire　the　sort　of　wife　his　mother　was　ready　to
see　him　saddled　witha　stupid；　unsympathizing　creature；　whose　ten
children　would；　by　nature's　law；　be　also　stupid；　and　so　be　a　weight　on
him　till　his　dying　day。　He　painted　Christie　Johnstone；　mind　and　body；　in
words　as　true　and　bright　as　his　colors；　he　showed　his　own　weak　points；
her　strong　ones；　and　how　the　latter　would　fortify　the　former。

He　displayed；　in　short；　in　one　minute；　more　intellect　than　his　mother　had
exhibited　in　sixty　years；　and　that　done；　with　all　his　understanding；　wit
and　eloquence；　he　succumbed　like　a　child　to　her　stronger　willhe
promised　to　break　with　Christie　Johnstone。

When　Christie　had　recovered　her　composure　and　turned　round　to　her
companions；　she　found　herself　alone　with　Charles。

〃Chairles；〃　said　she；　gravely。

〃Christie；〃　said　he；　uneasily。

〃Your　mother　does　na　like　me。　Oh；　ye　need　na　deny　it；　and　we　are　na
together　as　we　used　to　be；　my　lad。〃

〃She　is　prejudiced；　but　she　has　been　the　best　of　mothers　to　me；
Christie。〃

〃Aweel。〃

〃Circumstances　compel　me　to　return　to　England。〃

（Ah；　coward！　anything　but　the　real　truth！）

〃Aweel；　Chairles；　it　will　no　be　for　lang。〃

〃I　don't　know；　you　will　not　be　so　unhappy　as　I　shallat　least　I　hope
not。〃

〃Hoow　do　ye　ken　that？〃

〃Christie；　do　you　remember　the　first　night　we　danced　together？〃

〃Ay。〃

〃And　we　walked　in　the　cool　by　the　seaside；　and　I　told　you　the　names　of
the　stars；　and　you　said　those　were　not　their　real　names；　but　nicknames　we
give　them　here　on　earth。　I　loved　you　that　first　night。〃

〃And　I　fancied　you　the　first　time　I　set　eyes　on　you。〃

〃How　can　I　leave　you；　Christie？　What　shall　I　do？〃

〃I　ken　what　I　shall　do；〃　answered　Christie　coolly；　then；　bursting　into
tears；　she　added；　〃I　shall　dee！　I　shall　dee！〃

〃No！　you　must　not　say　so；　at　least　I　will　never　love　any　one　but　you。〃

〃An'　I'll　live　as　I　am　a'　my　days　for　your　sake。　Oh；　England！　I　hae
likeit　ye　sae　weel；　ye　suld　na　rob　me　o'　my　ladhe's　a'　the　joy　I　hae！〃

〃I　love　you；〃　said　Gatty。　〃Do　you　love　me？〃

All　the　answer　was；　her　head　upon　his　shoulder。

〃I　can't　do　it；〃　thought　Gatty；　〃and　I　won't！　Christie；〃　said　he；　〃stay
here；　don't　move　from　here。〃　And　he　dashed　among　the　boats　in　great
agitation。

He　found　his　mother　rather　near　the　scene　of　the　late　conference。

〃Mother；〃　said　he；　fiercely；　like　a　coward　as　he　was；　〃ask　me　no　more；　my
mind　is　made　up　forever；　I　will　not　do　this　scoundrelly；　heartless；
beastly；　ungrateful　action　you　have　been　pushing　me　to　so　long。〃

〃Take　care；　Charles；　take　care；〃　said　the　old　woman；　trembling　with
passion；　for　this　was　a　new　tone　for　her　son　to　take　with　her。　〃You　had
my　blessing　the　other　day；　and　you　saw　what　followed　it；　do　not　tempt　me
to　curse　an　undutiful；　disobedient；　ungrateful　son。〃

〃I　must　take　my　chance；〃　said　he；　desperately；　〃for　I　am　under　a　curse
any　way！　I　placed　my　ring　on　her　finger；　and　held　up　my　hand　to　God　and
swore　she　should　be　my　wife；　she　has　my　ring　and　my　oath；　and　I　will　not
perjure　myself　even　for　my　mother。〃

〃Your　ring！　Not　the　ruby　ring　I　gave　you　from　your　dead　father's
fingernot　that！　not　that！〃

〃Yes！　yes！　I　tell　you　yes！　and　if　he　was　alive；　and　saw　her；　and　knew　her
goodness；　he　would　have　pity　on　me；　but　I　have　no　friend；　you　see　how　ill
you　have　made　me；　but　you　have　no　pity；　I　could　not　have　believ