greyfriars bobby-第20节

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came　out　to　galleries　and　stairs　to　study　their　catechisms。　Only　the　birds　were　unaware　of　the　seventh　day；　and　went　about　their　melodious　business；　and　flower　buds　opened　to　the　sun。

In　mid…morning　there　suddenly　broke　on　the　sweet　stillness　that　clamor　of　discordant　bells　that　made　the　wayfarer　in　Edinburgh　stop　his　ears。　All　the　way　from　Leith　Harbor　to　the　Burghmuir　eight　score　of　warring　bells　contended　to　be　heard。　Greyfriars　alone　was　silent　in　that　babblement；　for　it　had　lost　tower　and　bell　in　an　explosion　of　gunpowder。　And　when　the　din　ceased　at　last　there　was　a　sound　of　military　music。　The　Castle　gates　swung　wide；　and　a　kilted　regiment　marched　down　High　Street　playing　〃God　Save　the　Queen。〃　When　Bobby　was　in　good　spirits　the　marching　music　got　into　his　legs　and　set　him　to　dancing　scandalously。　The　caretaker　and　his　wifie　always　came　around　the　kirk　on　pleasant　mornings　to　see　the　bonny　sight　of　the　gay　soldiers　going　to　church。

To　wee　Bobby　these　good；　comfortable；　everyday　friends　of　his　must　have　seemed　strange　in　their　black　garments　and　their　serious　Sunday　faces。　And；　ah！　the　Sabbath　must；　indeed；　have　been　a　dull　day　to　the　little　dog。　He　had　learned　that　when　the　earliest　comer　clicked　the　wicket　he　must　go　under　the　table…tomb　and　console　himself　with　the　extra　bone　that　Mr。　Traill　never　failed　to　remember。　With　an　hour's　respite　for　dinner　at　the　lodge；　between　the　morning　and　afternoon　services；　he　lay　there　all　day。　The　restaurant　was　closed；　and　there　was　no　running　about　for　good　dogs。　In　the　early　dark　of　winter　he　could　come　out　and　trot　quietly　about　the　silent；　deserted　place。

As　soon　as　the　crocuses　pushed　their　green　noses　through　the　earth　in　the　spring　the　congregation　began　to　linger　among　the　graves；　for　to　see　an　old　burying　ground　renew　its　life　is　a　peculiar　promise　of　the　resurrection。　By　midsummer　visitors　were　coming　from　afar；　some　even　from　over…sea；　to　read　the　quaint　inscriptions　on　the　old　tombs；　or　to　lay　tributes　of　flowers　on　the　graves　of　poets　and　religious　heroes。　It　was　not　until　the　late　end　of　such　a　day　that　Bobby　could　come　out　of　hiding　to　stretch　his　cramped　legs。　Then　it　was　that　tenement　children　dropped　from　low　windows；　over　the　tombs；　and　ate　their　suppers　of　oat　cake　there　in　the　fading　light。

When　Mr。　Traill　left　the　kirkyard　in　the　bright　evening　of　the　last　Sunday　in　May　he　stopped　without　to　wait　for　Dr。　Lee；　the　minister　of　Greyfriars　auld　kirk；　who　had　been　behind　him　to　the　gate。　Now　he　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　With　Bobby　ever　in　the　background　of　his　mind；　at　such　times　of　possible　discovery；　Mr。　Traill　reentered　the　kirkyard。　The　minister　was　sitting　on　the　fallen　slab；　tall　silk　hat　off；　with　Mr。　Brown　standing　beside　him；　uncovered　and　miserable　of　aspect；　and　Bobby　looking　up　anxiously　at　this　new　element　in　his　fate。

〃Do　you　think　it　seemly　for　a　dog　to　be　living　in　the　churchyard；　Mr。　Brown？〃　The　minister's　voice　was　merely　kind　and　inquiring；　but　the　caretaker　was　in　fault；　and　this　good　English　was　disconcerting。　However；　his　conscience　acquitted　him　of　moral　wrong；　and　his　sturdy　Scotch　independence　came　to　the　rescue。

〃Gin　a　bit　dog；　wha　hands　'is　gab；　isna　seemly；　thae　pussies　are　the　deil's　ain　bairns。〃

The　minister　lifted　his　hand　in　rebuke。　〃Remember　the　Sabbath　Day。　And　I　see　no　cats；　Mr。　Brown。〃

〃Ye　wullna　see　ony　as　lang　as　the　wee　doggie　is　leevin'　i'　the　kirkyaird。　An'　the　vermin　hae　sneekit　awa'　the　first　time　sin'　Queen　Mary's　day。　An'　syne　there's　mair　singin'　birdies　than　for　mony　a　year。〃

Mr。　Traill　had　listened；　unseen。　Now　he　came　forward　with　a　gay　challenge　in　broad　Scotch　to　put　the　all　but　routed　caretaker　at　his　ease。

〃Doctor；　I　hae　a　queistion　to　spier　ye。　Which　is　mair　unseemly：　a　weel…behavin'　bittie　tyke　i'　the　kirkyaird　or　a　scandalous　organ　i'　the　kirk？〃

〃Ah；　Mr。　Traill；　I'm　afraid　you're　a　sad；　irreverent　young　dog　yourself；　sir。〃　The　minister　broke　into　a　genial　laugh。　〃Man；　you've　spoiled　a　bit　of　fun　I　was　having　with　Mr。　Brown；　who　takes　his　duties　'sairiously。〃'　He　sat　looking　down　at　the　little　dog　until　Bobby　came　up　to　him　and　stood　confidingly　under　his　caressing　hand。　Then　he　added：　〃I　have　suspected　for　some　months　that　he　was　living　in　the　churchyard。　It　is　truly　remarkable　that　an　active；　noisy　little　Skye　could　keep　so　still　about　it。〃

At　that　Mr。　Brown　retreated　to　the　martyrs'　monument　to　meditate　on　the　unministerial　behavior　of　this　minister　and　professor　of　Biblical　criticism　in　the　University。　Mr。　Traill；　however；　sat　himself　down　on　the　slab　for　a　pleasant　probing　into　the　soul　of　this　courageous　dominie；　who　had　long　been　under　fire　for　his　innovations　in　the　kirk　services。

〃I　heard　of　Bobby　first　early　in　the　winter；　from　a　Bible…reader　at　the　Medical　Mission　in　the　Cowgate；　who　saw　the　little　dog's　master　buried。　He　sees　many　strange；　sad　things　in　his　work；　but　nothing　ever　shocked　him　so　as　the　lonely　death　of　that　pious　old　shepherd　in　such　a　picturesque　den　of　vice　and　misery。〃

〃Ay；　he　went　from　my　place；　fair　ill；　into　the　storm。　I　never　knew　whaur　the　auld　man　died。〃

The　minister　looked　at　Mr。　Traill；　struck　by　the　note　of　remorse　in　his　tone。

〃The　missionary　returned　to　the　churchyard　to　look　for　the　dog　that　had　refused　to　leave　the　grave。　He　concluded　that　Bobby　had　gone　away　to　a　new　home　and　master；　as　most　dogs　do　go　sooner　or　later。　Some　weeks　afterward　the　minister　of　a　small　church　in　the　hills　inquired　for　him　and　insisted　that　he　was　still　here。　This　last　week；　at　the　General　Assembly；　I　heard　of　the　wee　Highlander　from　several　sources。　The　tales　of　his　escapes　from　the　sheep…farm　have　grown　into　a　sort　of　Odyssey　of　the　Pentlands。　I　think；　perhaps；　if　you　had　not　continued　to　feed　him；　Mr。　Traill；　he　might　have　remained　at　his　old　home。〃

〃Nae；　I'm　no'　thinking　so；　and　I　was　no'　willing　to　risk　the　starvation　of　the　bonny；　leal　Highlander。〃

Until　the　stars　came　out　Mr。　Traill　sat　there　telling　the　story。　At　mention　of　his　master's　name　Bobby　returned　to　the　mound　and　stretched　himself　across　it。　〃I　will　go　before　the　kirk　officers；　Doctor　Lee；　and　tak'　full　responseebility。　Mr。　Brown　is　no'　to　blame。　It　would　have　tak'n　a　man　with　a　heart　of　trap…rock　to　have　turned　the　woeful　bit　dog　out。〃

〃He　is　well　cared　for　and　is　of　a　hardy　breed；　so　he　is　not　likely　to　suffer；　but　a　dog；　no　more　than　a　man；　cannot　live　on　bread　alone。　His　heart　hungers　for　love。〃

〃Losh！〃　cried　Mr。　Brown。　〃Are　ye　thinkin'　he　isna　gettin'　it？　Oor　bairns　are　a'　oot　o'　the　hame　nest；　an'　ma　woman；　Jeanie；　is　fair　daft　aboot　Bobby；　aye　thinkin'　he'll　tak'　the　measles。　An'　syne；　there's　a'　the　tenement　bairns　cryin'　oot　on　'im　ilka　meenit；　an'　ane　crippled　laddie　he　een　lets　fondle　'im。〃

〃Still；　it　would　be　better　if　he　belonged　to　some　one　master。　Everybody's　dog　is　nobody's　dog；〃　the　minister　insisted。　〃I　wish　you　could　attach　him　to　you；　Mr。　Traill。〃

〃Ay；　it's　a　disappointment　to　me　that　he'll　no'　bide　with　me。　Perhaps；　in　time〃

〃It's　nae　use；　ava；〃　Mr。　Brown　interrupted；　and　he　related　the　incident　of　the　evening　before。　〃He's　cheerfu'　eneugh　maist　o'　the　time；　an'　likes　to　be　wi'　the　laddies　as　weel　as　ony　dog；　but　he　isna　forgettin'　Auld　Jock。　The　wee　doggie　cam'　again　to　'is　maister's　buryin'。　Man；　ye　ne'er　saw　the　like　o'　it。　The　wifie　found　'im　flattened　oot　to　a　furry　door…mat；　an'　greetin'　to　brak　'is　heart。〃

〃It's　a　remarkable　story；　and　he's　a　beautiful　little　dog；　and　a　leal　one。〃　The　minister　stooped　and　patted　Bobby；　and　he　was　thoughtful　all　the　way　to　the　gate。

〃The　matter　need　not　be　brought　up　in　any　formal　way。　I　will　speak　to　the　elders　and　deacons　about　it　privately；　and　refer　those　wanting　details　to　you；　Mr。　Traill。　Mr。　Brown；〃　he　called　to　the　caretaker　who　stood　in　the　lodge　door；　〃it　cannot　be　pleasing　to　God　to　see　the　little　creature　restrained。　Give　Bobby　his　liberty　on　the　Sabbath。〃



VIII。

It　was　more　than　eight　years　after　Auld　Jock　fled　from　the　threat　of　a　doctor　that　Mr。　Traill's　prediction；　that　his　tongue　would　get　him　into　trouble　with　the　magistrates；　was　fulfilled；　and　then　it　was　because　of　the　least…considered　slip　in　speaking　to　a　boyhood　friend　who　happened　to　be　a　Burgh　policeman。

Many　things　had　tried　the　landlord　of　Ye　Olde　Greyfriars　Dining…Rooms。　After　a　series　of　soft　April　days；　in　which　lilacs　budded　and　birds　sang　in　the　kirkyard；　squalls　of　wind　and　rain　came　up　out　of　the　sea…roaring　east。　The　smoky　old　town　of　Edinburgh　was　so　shaken　and　beaten　upon　and　icily　drenched　that　rattling　finials　and　tiles　were　torn　from　ancient　gables　and　whirled　abroad。　Rheumatic　pains　were　driven　into　the　joints　of　the　elderly。　Mr。　Brown　took　to　his　bed　in　the　lodge；　and　Mr。　Traill　was　touchy　in　his　temper。

A　sensitive　little　dog　learns　to　read　the　human　barometer　with　a　degree　of　accuracy　rarely　attained　by　fellowmen　and；　in　times　of　low　pressure；　wisely　effaces　himself。　His　rough　thatch　streaming；　Bobby　trotted　in　blithely　for　his　dinner；　ate　it　under　the　settle；　shook　himself　dry；　and　dozed　half　the　afternoon。

To　the　casual　observer　the　wee　terrier　was　no　older　than　when　his　master　died。　As　swift　of　foot　and　as　sound　of　wind　as　he　had　ever　been；　he　could　tear　across　country　at　the　heels　of　a　new