greyfriars bobby-第16节

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imself　by　rolling　on　the　heather　and　running　before　the　wind。　Now　he　was　bundled　up　ignominiously　in　an　old　flannel　petticoat；　carried　across　a　sanded　kitchen　floor　and　laid　on　a　warm　hearth。

〃Doon　wi'　ye！〃　was　the　gruff　order。　Bobby　turned　around　and　around　on　the　hearth；　like　some　little　wild　dog　making　a　bed　in　the　jungle；　before　he　obeyed。　He　kept　very　still　during　the　reading　of　a　chapter　and　the　singing　of　a　Psalm；　as　he　had　been　taught　to　do　at　the　farm　by　many　a　reminder　from　Auld　Jock's　boot。　And　he　kept　away　from　the　breakfast…table；　although　the　walls　of　his　stomach　were　collapsed　as　flat　as　the　sides　of　an　empty　pocket。

It　was　such　a　clean；　shining　little　kitchen；　with　the　scoured　deal　table；　chairs　and　cupboard；　and　the　firelight　from　the　grate　winked　so　on　pewter　mugs；　copper　kettle；　willow…patterned　plates　and　diamond　panes；　that　Bobby　blinked　too。　Flowers　bloomed　in　pots　on　the　casement　sills；　and　a　little　brown　skylark　sang；　fluttering　as　if　it　would　soar；　in　a　gilded　cage。　After　the　morning　meal　Mr。　Brown　lighted　his　pipe　and　put　on　his　bonnet　to　go　out　again；　when　he　bethought　him　that　Bobby　might　be　needing　something　to　eat。

〃What'll　ye　gie　'im；　Jeanie？　At　the　laird's；　noo；　the　terriers　were　aye　fed　wi'　bits　o'　livers　an'　cheese　an'　moor　fowls'　eggs；　an'　sic…like；　fried。〃

〃Havers；　Jamie；　it's　no'　releegious　to　feed　a　dog　better　than　puir　bairns。　He'll　do　fair　weel　wi'　table…scraps。〃

She　set　down　a　plate　with　a　spoonful　of　porridge　on　it；　a　cold　potato；　some　bread　crusts；　and　the　leavings　of　a　broiled　caller　herrin'。　It　was　a　generous　breakfast　for　so　small　a　dog；　but　Bobby　had　been　without　food　for　quite　forty　hours；　and　had　done　an　amazing　amount　of　work　in　the　meantime。　When　he　had　eaten　all　of　it；　he　was　still　hungry。　As　a　polite　hint；　he　polished　the　empty　plate　with　his　pink　tongue　and　looked　up　expectantly；　but　the　best…intentioned　people；　if　they　have　had　little　to　do　with　dogs；　cannot　read　such　signs。

〃Ye　needna　lick　the　posies　aff；〃　the　wifie　said；　good　humoredly；　as　she　picked　the　plate　up　to　wash　it。　She　thought　to　put　down　a　tin　basin　of　water。　Bobby　lapped　a'　it　so　eagerly；　yet　so　daintily；　that　she　added：　〃He's　a　weel…broucht…up　tyke；　Jamie。〃

〃He　is　so。　Noo；　we'll　see　hoo　weel　he　can　leuk。〃　In　a　shamefaced　way　he　fetched　from　a　tool…box　a　long…forgotten；　strong　little　currycomb；　such　as　is　used　on　shaggy　Shetland　ponies。　With　that　he　proceeded　to　give　Bobby　such　a　grooming　as　he　had　never　had　before。　It　was　a　painful　operation；　for　his　thatch　was　a　stubborn　mat　of　crisp　waves　and　knotty　tangles　to　his　plumy　tail　and　down　to　his　feathered　toes。　He　braced　himself　and　took　the　punishment　without　a　whimper；　and　when　it　was　done　he　stood　cascaded　with　dark…silver　ripples　nearly　to　the　floor。

〃The　bonny　wee！〃　cried　Mistress　Jeanie。　〃I　canna　tak'　ma　twa　een　aff　o'　'im。〃

〃Ay；　he's　bonny　by　the　ordinar'。　It　wad　be　grand；　noo；　gin　the　meenister'd　fancy　'im　an'　tak'　'im　into　the　manse。〃

The　wifie　considered　this　ruefully。　〃Jamie；　I　was　wishin'　ye　didna　hae　to〃

But　what　she　wished　he　did　not　have　to　do；　Mr。　Brown　did　not　stop　to　hear。　He　suddenly　clapped　his　bonnet　on　his　head　and　went　out。　He　had　an　urgent　errand　on　High　Street；　to　buy　grass　and　flower　seeds　and　tools　that　would　certainly　be　needed　in　April。　It　took　him　an　hour　or　more　of　shrewd　looking　about　for　the　best　bargains；　in　a　swarm　of　little　barnacle　and　cellar　shops；　to　spend　a　few　of　the　kirk's　shillings。　When　he　found　himself；　to　his　disgust；　looking　at　a　nail　studded　collar　for　a　little　dog　he　called　himself　a　〃doited　auld　fule；〃　and　tramped　back　across　the　bridge。

At　the　kirkyard　gate　he　stopped　and　read　the　notice　through　twice：　〃No　dogs　permitted。〃　That　was　as　plain　as　〃Thou　shalt　not。〃　To　the　pious　caretaker　and　trained　servant　it　was　the　eleventh　commandment。　He　shook　his　head；　sighed；　and　went　in　to　dinner。　Bobby　was　not　in　the　house；　and　the　master　of　it　avoided　inquiring　for　him。　He　also　avoided　the　wifie's　wistful　eye；　and　he　busied　himself　inside　the　two　kirks　all　the　afternoon。

Because　he　was　in　the　kirks；　and　the　beautiful　memorial　windows　of　stained　glass　were　not　for　the　purpose　of　looking　out；　he　did　not　see　a　dramatic　incident　that　occurred　in　the　kirkyard　after　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　The　prelude　to　it　really　began　with　the　report　of　the　timegun　at　one。　Bobby　had　insisted　upon　being　let　out　of　the　lodge　kitchen；　and　had　spent　the　morning　near　Auld　Jock's　grave　and　in　nosing　about　neighboring　slabs　and　thorn　bushes。　When　the　time…gun　boomed　he　trotted　to　the　gate　quite　openly　and　waited　there　inside　the　wicket。

In　such　nipping　weather　there　were　no　visitors　to　the　kirkyard　and　the　gate　was　not　opened。　The　music　bells　ran　the　gamut　of　old　Scotch　airs　and　ceased；　while　he　sat　there　and　waited　patiently。　Once　a　man　stopped　to　look　at　the　little　dog；　and　Bobby　promptly　jumped　on　the　wicket；　plainly　begging　to　have　it　unlatched。　But　the　passer…by　decided　that　some　lady　had　left　her　pet　behind；　and　would　return　for　him。　So　he　patted　the　attractive　little　Highlander　on　the　head　and　went　on　about　his　business。

Discouraged　by　the　unpromising　outlook　for　dinner　that　day；　Bobby　went　slowly　back　to　the　grave。　Twice　afterward　he　made　hopeful　pilgrimages　to　the　gate。　For　diversion　he　fell　noiselessly　upon　a　prowling　cat　and　chased　it　out　of　the　kirkyard。　At　last　he　sat　upon　the　table…tomb。　He　had　escaped　notice　from　the　tenements　all　the　morning　because　the　view　from　most　of　the　windows　was　blocked　by　washings；　hung　out　and　dripping；　then　freezing　and　clapping　against　the　old　tombs。　It　was　half…past　three　o'clock　when　a　tiny；　wizened　face　popped　out　of　one　of　the　rude　little　windows　in　the　decayed　Cunzie　Neuk　at　the　bottom　of　Candlemakers　Row。　Crippled　Tammy　Barr　called　out　in　shrill　excitement

〃Ailie！　O…o…oh；　Ailie　Lindsey；　there's　the　wee　doggie！〃

〃Whaur？〃　The　lassie's　elfin　face　looked　out　from　a　low；　rear　window　of　the　Candlemakers'　Guildhall　at　the　top　of　the　Row。

〃On　the　stane　by　the　kirk　wa'。〃

〃I　see　'im　noo。　Isna　he　bonny？　I　wish　Bobby　could　bide　i'　the　kirkyaird；　but　they　wadna　let　'im。　Tammy；　gin　ye　tak'　'im　up　to　Maister　Traill；　he'll　gie　ye　the　shullin'！〃

〃I　couldna　tak'　'im　by　ma　lane；〃　was　the　pathetic　confession。　〃Wad　ye　gang　wi'　me；　Ailie？　Ye　could　drap　ower　an'　catch　'im；　an'　I　could　come　by　the　gate。　Faither　made　me　some　grand　crutches　frae　an'　auld　chair　back。〃

Tears　suddenly　drowned　the　lassie's　blue　eyes　and　ran　down　her　pinched　little　cheeks。　〃Nae；　I　couldna　gang。　I　haena　ony　shoon　to　ma　feet。〃

〃It's　no'　so　cauld。　Gin　I　had　twa　guile　feet　I　could　gang　the　bit　way　wi'oot　shoon。〃

〃I　ken　it　isna　so　cauld；〃　Ailie　admitted；　〃but　for　a　lassie　it's　no'　respectable　to　gang　to　a　grand　place　barefeeted。〃

That　was　undeniable；　and　the　eager　children　fell　silent　and　tearful。　But　oh；　necessity　is　the　mother　of　makeshifts　among　the　poor！　Suddenly　Ailie　cried：　〃Bide　a　meenit；　Tammy；〃　and　vanished。　Presently　she　was　back；　with　the　difficulty　overcome。　〃Grannie　says　I　can　wear　her　shoon。　She　doesna　wear　'em　i'　the　hoose；　ava。〃

〃I'll　gie　ye　a　saxpence；　Ailie；〃　offered　Tammy。

The　sordid　bargain　shocked　no　feeling　of　these　tenement　bairns　nor　marred　their　pleasure　in　the　adventure。　Presently　there　was　a　tap…tap…tapping　of　crutches　on　the　heavy　gallery　that　fronted　the　Cunzie　Neuk；　and　on　the　stairs　that　descended　from　it　to　the　steep　and　curving　row。　The　lassie　draped　a　fragment　of　an　old　plaid　deftly　over　her　thinly　clad　shoulders；　climbed　through　the　window；　to　the　pediment　of　the　classic　tomb　that　blocked　it；　and　dropped　into　the　kirkyard。　To　her　surprise　Bobby　was　there　at　her　feet；　frantically　wagging　his　tail；　and　he　raced　her　to　the　gate。　She　caught　him　on　the　steps　of　the　dining　room；　and　held　his　wriggling　little　body　fast　until　Tammy　came　up。

It　was　a　tumultuous　little　group　that　burst　in　upon　the　astonished　landlord：　barking　fluff　of　an　excited　dog；　flying　lassie　in　clattering　big　shoes；　and　wee；　tapping　Tammy。　They　literally　fell　upon　him　when　he　was　engaged　in　counting　out　his　money。

〃Whaur　did　you　find　him？〃　asked　Mr　Traill　in　bewilderment。

Six…year…old　Ailie　slipped　a　shy　finger　into　her　mouth；　and　looked　to　the　very　much　more　mature　five…year　old　crippled　laddie　to　answer

〃He　was　i'　the　kirkyaird。〃

〃Sittin'　upon　a　stane　by　'is　ainsel'；〃　added　Ailie。

〃An'　no'　hidin'；　ava。　It　was　juist　like　he　was　leevin'　there。〃

〃An'　syne；　when　I　drapped　oot　o'　the　window　he　louped　at　me　so　bonny；　an'　I　couldna　keep　up　wi'　'im　to　the　gate。〃

Wonder　of　wonders！　It　was　plain　that　Bobby　had　made　his　way　back　from　the　hill　farm　and；　from　his　appearance　and　manner；　as　well　as　from　this　account；　it　was　equally　clear　that　some　happy　change　in　his　fortunes　had　taken　place。　He　sat　up　on　his　haunches　listening　with　interest　and　lolling　his　tongue！　And　that　was　a　thing　the　bereft　little　dog　had　not　done　since　his　master　died。　In　the　first　pause　in　the　talk　he　rose　and　begged　for　his　dinner。

〃Noo；　what　am　I　to　pay？　It　took　ane；　twa；　three　o'　ye　to　fetch　ane　sma'　dog。　A　saxpence　for　the　laddie；　a　saxpence　for　the　lassie；　an'　a　bit　meal　for　Bobby。〃

While　he　was　putting　the　plate　down　under　the　settle　Mr。　Traill　heard　an　amazed　whisper　〃He's　gien　the　d