greyfriars bobby-第17节

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While　he　was　putting　the　plate　down　under　the　settle　Mr。　Traill　heard　an　amazed　whisper　〃He's　gien　the　doggie　a　chuckie　bane。〃　The　landlord　switched　the　plate　from　under　Bobby's　protesting　little　muzzle　and　turned　to　catch　the　hungry　look　on　the　faces　of　the　children。　Chicken；　indeed；　for　a　little　dog；　before　these　ill…fed　bairns！　Mr。　Traill　had　a　brilliant　thought。

〃Preserve　me！　I　didna　think　to　eat　ma　ain　dinner。　I　hae　so　muckle　to　eat　I　canna　eat　it　by　ma　lane。〃

The　idea　of　having　too　much　to　eat　was　so　preposterously　funny　that　Tammy　doubled　up　with　laughter　and　nearly　tumbled　over　his　crutches。　Mr。　Traill　set　him　upright　again。

〃Did　ye　ever　gang　on　a　picnic；　bairnies？〃　And　what　was　a　picnic？　Tammy　ventured　the　opinion　that　it　might　be　some　kind　of　a　cart　for　lame　laddies　to　ride　in。

〃A　picnic　is　when　ye　gang　gypsying　in　the　summer；〃　Mr。　Traill　explained。　〃Ye　walk　to　a　bonny　green　brae；　an'　sit　doon　under　a　hawthorntree　a'　covered　wi'　posies；　by　a　babblin'　burn；　an'　ye　eat　oot　o'　yer　ain　hands。　An'　syne　ye　hear　a　throstle　or　a　redbreast　sing　an'　a　saucy　blackbird　whustle。〃

〃Could　ye　tak'　a　dog？〃　asked　Tammy。

〃Ye　could　that；　mannie。　It's　no'　a　picnic　wi'oot　a　sonsie　doggie　to　rin　on　the　brae　wi'　ye。〃

〃Oh！〃　Ailie's　blue　eyes　slowly　widened　in　her　pallid　little　face。　〃But　ye　couldna　hae　a　picnic　i'　the　snawy　weather。〃

〃Ay；　ye　could。　It's　the　bonniest　of　a'　when　ye're　no'　expectin'　it。　I　aye　keep　a　picnic　hidden　i'　the　ingleneuk　aboon。〃　He　suddenly　swung　Tammy　up　on　his　shoulder；　and　calling；　gaily；　〃Come　awa'；〃　went　out　the　door；　through　another　beside　it；　and　up　a　flight　of　stairs　to　the　dining…room　above。　A　fire　burned　there　in　the　grate；　the　tables　were　covered　with　linen；　and　there　were　blooming　flowers　in　pots　in　the　front　windows。　Patrons　from　the　University；　and　the　well…to…do　streets　and　squares　to　the　south　and　east；　made　of　this　upper　room　a　sort　of　club　in　the　evenings。　At　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　there　were　no　guests。

〃Noo；〃　said　Mr。　Traill；　when　his　overcome　little　guests　were　seated　at　a　table　in　the　inglenook。　〃A　picnic　is　whaur　ye　hae　onything　ye　fancy　to　eat；　gude　things　ye　wullna　be　haein'　ilka　day；　ye　mind。〃　He　rang　a　call…bell；　and　a　grinning　waiter　laddie　popped　up　so　quickly　the　lassie　caught　her　breath。

〃Eneugh　broo　for　aince；〃　said　Tammy。

〃Porridge　that　isna　burned；〃　suggested　Ailie。　Such　pitiful　poverty　of　the　imagination！

〃Nae；　it's　bread；　an'　butter；　an'　strawberry　jam；　an'　tea　wi'　cream　an'　sugar；　an'　cauld　chuckie　at　a　snawy　picnic；〃　announced　Mr。　Traill。　And　there　it　was；　served　very　quickly　and　silently；　after　some　manner　of　magic。　Bobby　had　to　stand　on　the　fourth　chair　to　eat　his　dinner；　and　when　he　had　despatched　it　he　sat　up　and　viewed　the　little　party　with　the　liveliest　interest　and　happiness。

〃Tammy；〃　Ailie　said；　when　her　shyness　had　worn　off；　〃it's　like　the　grand　tales　ye　mak'　up　i'　yer　heid。〃

〃Preserve　me！　Does　the　wee　mannie　mak'　up　stories？〃

〃It's　juist　fulish　things；　aboot　haein'　mair　to　eat；　an'　a　sonsie　doggie　to　play　wi'；　an'　twa　gude　legs　to　tak'　me　aboot。　I　think　'em　oot　at　nicht　when　I　canna　sleep。〃

〃Eh；　laddie；　do　ye　noo？〃　Mr。　Traill　suddenly　had　a　terrible　〃cauld　in　'is　heid；〃　that　made　his　eyes　water。　〃Hoo　auld　are　ye？〃

〃Five；　gangin'　on　sax。〃

〃Losh！　I　thoucht　ye　war　fifty；　gangin'　on　saxty。〃　Laughter　saved　the　day　from　overmoist　emotions。　And　presently　Mr。　Traill　was　able　to　say　in　a　business…like　tone：

〃We'll　hae　to　tak'　ye　to　the　infirmary。　An'　if　they　canna　mak'　yer　legs　ower　ye'll　get　a　pair　o'　braw　crutches　that　are　the　niest　thing　to　gude　legs。　An'　syne　we'll　see　if　there's　no'　a　place　in　Heriot's　for　a　sma'　laddie　that　mak's　up　bonny　tales　o'　his　ain　in　the　murky　auld　Cunzie　Neuk。〃

Now　the　gay　little　feast　was　eaten；　and　early　dark　was　coming　on。　If　Mr。　Traill　had　entertained　the　hope　that　Bobby　had　recovered　from　his　grief　and　might　remain　with　him；　he　was　disappointed。　The　little　dog　began　to　be　restless。　He　ran　to　the　door　and　back；　he　begged；　and　he　scratched　on　the　panel。　And　then　he　yelped！　As　soon　as　the　door　was　opened　he　shot　out　of　it；　tumbled　down　the　stairway　and　waited　at　the　foot　impatiently　for　the　lower　door　to　be　unlatched。　Ailie's　thin；　swift　legs　were　left　behind　when　Bobby　dashed　to　the　kirkyard。

Tammy　followed　at　a　surprising　pace　on　his　rude　crutches；　and　Mr。　Traill　brought　up　the　rear。　If　the　children　could　not　smuggle　the　frantic　little　dog　inside；　the　landlord　meant　to　put　him　over　the　wicket　and；　if　necessary；　to　have　it　out　with　the　caretaker；　and　then　to　go　before　the　kirk　minister　and　officers　with　his　plea。　He　was　still　concealed　by　the　buildings；　from　the　alcoved　gate；　when　he　heard　Mr。　Brown's　gruff　voice　taking　the　frightened　bairns　to　task。

〃Gie　me　the　dog；　an'　dinna　ye　tak'　him　oot　ony　mair　wi'oot　spierin'　me。〃

The　children　fled。　Peeping　around　the　angle　of　the　Book　Hunter's　Stall；　Mr。　Traill　saw　the　caretaker　lift　Bobby　over　the　wicket　to　his　arms；　and　start　with　him　toward　the　lodge。　He　was　perishing　with　curiosity　about　this　astonishing　change　of　front　on　the　part　of　Mr。　Brown；　but　it　was　a　delicate　situation　in　which　it　seemed　best　not　to　meddle。　He　went　slowly　back　to　the　restaurant；　begrudging　Bobby　to　the　luckier　caretaker。

His　envy　was　premature。　Mr。　Brown　set　Bobby　inside　the　lodge　kitchen　and　announced　briefly　to　his　wife：　〃The　bit　dog　wull　sleep　i'　the　hoose　the　nicht。〃　And　he　went　about　some　business　at　the　upper　end　of　the　kirkyard。　When　he　came　in　an　hour　later　Bobby　was　gone。

〃I　couldna　keep　'im　in；　Jamie。　He　didna　blatter；　but　he　greeted　so　sair　to　be　let　oot；　an　syne　he　scratched　a'　the　paint　aff　the　door。〃

Mr。　Brown　glowered　at　her　in　exasperation。　〃Woman；　they'll　hae　me　up　afore　kirk　sessions　for　brakin'　the　rules；　an'　syne　they'll　turn　us　a'　oot　i'　the　cauld　warld　togither。〃

He　slammed　the　door　and　stormed　angrily　around　the　kirk。　It　was　still　light　enough　to　see　the　little　creature　on　the　snowy　mound　and；　indeed；　Bobby　got　up　and　wagged　his　tail　in　friendly　greeting。　At　that　all　the　bluster　went　out　of　the　man；　and　he　began　to　argue　the　matter　with　the　dog。

〃Come　awa'；　Bobby。　Ye　canna　be　leevin'　i'　the　kirkyaird。〃

Bobby　was　of　a　different　opinion。　He　turned　around　and　around；　thoughtfully；　several　times；　then　sat　up　on　the　grave。　Entirely　willing　to　spend　a　social　hour　with　his　new　friend；　he　fixed　his　eyes　hospitably　upon　him。　Mr。　Brown　dropped　to　the　slab；　lighted　his　pipe；　and　smoked　for　a　time；　to　compose　his　agitated　mind。　By　and　by　he　got　up　briskly　and　stooped　to　lift　the　little　dog。　At　that　Bobby　dug　his　claws　in　the　clods　and　resisted　with　all　his　muscular　body　and　determined　mind。　He　clung　to　the　grave　so　desperately；　and　looked　up　so　piteously；　that　the　caretaker　surrendered。　And　there　was　snod　Mistress　Jeanie；　forgetting　her　spotless　gown　and　kneeling　in　the　snow。

〃Puir　Bobby；　puir　wee　Bobby！〃　she　cried；　and　her　tears　fell　on　the　little　tousled　head。　The　caretaker　strode　abruptly　away　and　waited　for　the　wifie　in　the　shadow　of　the　auld　kirk。　Bobby　lifted　his　muzzle　and　licked　the　caressing　hand。　Then　he　curled　himself　up　comfortably　on　the　mound　and　went　to　sleep。



VIII。

In　no　part　of　Edinburgh　did　summer　come　up　earlier；　or　with　more　lavish　bloom；　than　in　old　Greyfriars　kirkyard。　Sheltered　on　the　north　and　east；　it　was　open　to　the　moist　breezes　of　the　southwest；　and　during　all　the　lengthening　afternoons　the　sun　lay　down　its　slope　and　warmed　the　rear　windows　of　the　overlooking　tenements。　Before　the　end　of　May　the　caretaker　had　much　ado　to　keep　the　growth　in　order。　Vines　threatened　to　engulf　the　circling　street　of　sepulchers　in　greenery　and　bloom；　and　grass　to　encroach　on　the　flower　plots。

A　half　century　ago　there　were　no　rotary　lawnmowers　to　cut　off　clover　heads；　and；　if　there　had　been；　one　could　not　have　been　used　on　these　dropping　terraces；　so　populous　with　slabs　and　so　closely　set　with　turfed　mounds　and　oblongs　of　early　flowering　annuals　and　bedding　plants。　Mr。　Brown　had　to　get　down　on　his　hands　and　knees；　with　gardener's　shears；　to　clip　the　turfed　borders　and　banks；　and　take　a　sickle　to　the　hummocks。　Thus　he　could　dig　out　a　root　of　dandelion　with　the　trowel　kept　ever　in　his　belt；　consider　the　spreading　crocuses　and　valley　lilies；　whether　to　spare　them；　give　a　country　violet　its　blossoming　time；　and　leave　a　screening　burdock　undisturbed　until　fledglings　were　out　of　their　nests　in　the　shrubbery。

Mistress　Jeanie　often　brought　out　a　little　old　milking　stool　on　balmy　mornings；　and　sat　with　knitting　or　mending　in　one　of　the　narrow　aisles；　to　advise　her　gude…mon　in　small　matters。　Bobby　trotted　quietly　about；　sniffing　at　everything　with　the　liveliest　interest；　head　on　this　side　or　that；　alertly。　His　business；　learned　in　his　first　summer　in　Greyfriars；　was　to　guard　the　nests　of　foolish　skylarks；　song…thrushes；　redbreasts　and　wrens；　that　built　low　in　lilac；　laburnum；　and　flowering　currant　bushes；　in　crannies　of　wall　and　vault；　and　on　the　ground。　It　cannot　but　be　a　pleasant　thing　to　be　a　wee　young　dog；　full　of　life　and　good　intentions；　and　to　play　one's　dramatic　part　in　making　an　old　garden　of　souls　tuneful　with　bird　song。　A　cry　of　alarm　from　parent　or　nestling　was　answered　instantly　by　the　tiny；　tousled　policem