greyfriars bobby-第21节
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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 generation of Heriot laddies and be as fresh as a daisy at nightfall。 Silvery gray all over； the whitening hairs on his face and tufted feet were not visible。 His hazel…brown eyes were still as bright and soft and deep as the sunniest pools of Leith Water。 It was only when he opened his mouth for a tiny； pink cavern of a yawn that the points of his teeth could be seen to be wearing down； and his after…dinner nap was more prolonged than of old。 At such times Mr。 Traill recalled that the longest life of a dog is no more than a fifth of the length of days allotted to man。
On that snarling April day； when only himself and the flossy ball of sleeping Skye were in the place； this thought added to Mr。 Traill's discontent。 There had been few guests。 Those who had come in； soaked and surly； ate their dinner in silence and discomfort and took themselves away； leaving the freshly scrubbed floor as mucky as a moss…hag on the moor。 Late in the afternoon a sergeant； risen from the ranks and cocky about it； came in and turned himself out of a dripping greatcoat； dapper and dry in his red tunic； pipe…clayed belt； and winking buttons。 He ordered tea and toast and Dundee marmalade with an air of gay well…being that was no less than a personal affront to a man in Mr。 Traill's frame of mind。 Trouble brewed with the tea that Ailie Lindsey； a tall lassie of fifteen； but shy and elfish as of old； brought in on a tray from the scullery。
When this spick…and…span non…commissioned officer demanded Mr。 Traill's price for the little dog that took his eye； the landlord replied curtly that Bobby was not for sale。 The soldier was insolently amused。
〃That's vera surprisin'。 I aye thoucht an Edinburgh shopkeeper wad sell ilka thing he had； an' tak' the siller to bed wi' 'im to keep 'im snug the nicht。〃
Mr。 Traill returned； with brief sarcasm； that 〃his lairdship〃 had been misinformed。
〃Why wull ye no' sell the bit dog？〃 the man insisted。
The badgered landlord turned upon him and answered at length； after the elaborate manner of a minister who lays his sermon off in sections
〃First： he's no' my dog to sell。 Second： he's a dog of rare discreemination； and is no' like to tak' you for a master。 Third： you soldiers aye have with you a special brand of shulling…a…day impudence。 And； fourth and last； my brither： I'm no' needing your siller； and I can manage to do fair weel without your conversation。〃
As this bombardment proceeded； the sergeant's jaw dropped。 When it was finished he laughed heartily and slapped his knee。 〃Man； come an' brak bread wi' me or I'll hae to brak yer stiff neck。〃
A truce was declared over a cozy pot of tea； and the two became at least temporary friends。 It was such a day that the landlord would have gossiped with a gaol bird； and when a soldier who has seen years of service； much of it in strange lands； once admits a shopkeeper to equality； he can be affable and entertaining 〃by the ordinar'。〃 Mr。 Traill sketched Bobby's story broadly； and to a sympathetic listener； and the soldier told the landlord of the animals that had lived and died in the Castle。
Parrots and monkeys and strange dogs and cats had been brought there by regiments returning from foreign countries and colonies。 But most of the pets had been native dogs…collies； spaniels and terriers； and animals of mixed breeds and of no breed at all； but just good dogs。 No one knew when the custom began； but there was an old and well…filled cemetery for the Castle pets。 When a dog died a little stone was set up； with the name of the animal and the regiment to which it had belonged on it。 Soldiers often went there among the tiny mounds and told stories of the virtues and taking ways of old favorites。 And visitors read the names of Flora and Guy and Dandie； of Prince Charlie and Rob Roy； of Jeanie and Bruce and Wattie。 It was a merry life for a dog in the Castle。 He was petted and spoiled by homesick men； and when he died there were a thousand mourners at his funeral。
〃Put it to the bit Skye noo。 If he tak's the Queen's shullin' he belongs to the army。〃 The sergeant flipped a coin before Bobby； who was wagging his tail and sniffing at the military boots with his ever lively interest in soldiers。
He looked up at the tossed coin indifferently； and when it fell to the floor he let it lie。 〃Siller 〃 has no meaning to a dog。 His love can be purchased with nothing less than his chosen master's heart。 The soldier sighed at Bobby's indifference。 He introduced himself as Sergeant Scott； of the Royal Engineers； detailed from headquarters to direct the work in the Castle crafts shops。 Engineers rank high in pay and in consideration； and it was no ordinary Jack of all trades who had expert knowledge of so many skilled handicrafts。 Mr。 Traill's respect and liking for the man increased with the passing moments。
As the sergeant departed he warned Mr。 Traill； laughingly； that he meant to kidnap Bobby the very first chance he got。 The Castle pet had died； and Bobby was altogether too good a dog to be wasted on a moldy auld kirkyard and thrown on a dust…cart when he came to die。
Mr。 Traill resented the imputation。 〃He'll no' be thrown on a dust…cart！〃
The door was shut on the mocking retort 〃Hoo do ye ken he wullna？〃
And there was food for gloomy reflection。 The landlord could not know； in truth； what Bobby's ultimate fate might be。 But little over nine years of age； he should live only five or six years longer at most。 Of his friends； Mr。 Brown was ill and aging； and might have to give place to a younger man。 He himself was in his prime； but he could not be certain of living longer than this hardy little dog。 For the first time he realized the truth of Dr。 Lee's saying that everybody's dog was nobody's dog。 The tenement children held Bobby in a sort of community affection。 He was the special pet of the Heriot laddies； but a class was sent into the world every year and was scattered far。 Not one of all the hundreds of bairns who had known and loved this little dog could give him any real care or protection。
For the rest； Bobby had remained almost unknown。 Many of the congregations of old and new Greyfriars had never seen or heard of him。 When strangers were about he seemed to prefer lying in his retreat under the fallen tomb。 His Sunday…afternoon naps he usually took in the lodge kitchen。 And so； it might very well happen that his old age would be friendless； that he would come to some forlorn end； and be carried away on the dustman's cart。 It might； indeed； be better for him to end his days in love and honor in the Castle。 But to this solution of the problem Mr。 Traill himself was not reconciled。
Sensing some shifting of the winds in the man's soul； Bobby trotted over to lick his hand。 Then he sat up on the hearth and lolled his tongue； reminding the good landlord that he had one cheerful friend to bear him company on the blaw…weary day。 It was thus they sat； companionably； when a Burgh policeman who was well known to Mr。 Traill came in to dry himself by the fire。 Gloomy thoughts were dispelled at once by the instinct of hospitality。
〃You're fair wet； man。 Pull a chair to the hearth。 And you have a bit smut on your nose； Davie。〃
〃It's frae the railway engine。 Edinburgh was a reekie toon eneugh afore the engines cam' in an' belched smuts in ilka body's faces。〃 The policeman was disgusted and discouraged by three days of wet clothing； and he would have to go out into the rain again before he got dry。 Nothing occurred to him to talk about but grievances。
〃Did ye ken the Laird Provost； Maister Chambers； is intendin' to knock a lang hole aboon the tap o' the Coogate wynds？ It wull mak' a braid street ye can leuk doon frae yer doorway here。 The gude auld days gangin' doon in a muckle dust！〃
〃Ay； the sun will peep into foul places it hasn't seen sin' Queen Mary's day。 And； Davie； it would be more according to the gude auld customs you're so fond of to call Mr。 William Chambers 'Glenormiston' for his bit country place。〃
〃He's no' a laird。〃
〃Nae； but he'll be a laird the next time the Queen shows her bonny face north o' the Tweed。 Tak' 'a cup o' kindness' with me； man。 Hot tay will tak' the cauld out of vour disposeetion。〃 Mr。 Traill pulled a bell…cord and Ailie； unused as yet to bells； put her startled little face in at the door to the scullery。 At sight of the policeman she looked more than ever like a scared rabbit； and her hands shook when she set the tray down before him。 A tenement child grew up in an atmosphere of hostility to uniformed authority； which seldom appeared except to interfere with what were considered personal affairs。
The tea mollified the dour man； but there was one more rumbling。 〃I'm no' denyin' the Provost's gude…hearted。 Ance he got up a hame for gaen…aboot dogs； an' he had naethin' to mak' by that。 But he canna keep 'is spoon oot o' ilka body's porridge。 He's fair daft to tear doon the wa's that cut St。 Giles up into fower； snod； white kirks； an' mak' it the ane muckle kirk it was in auld Papist days。 There are folk that say； gin he doesna l
