greyfriars bobby-第23节

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But　presently　the　landlord　found　himself　on　his　feet；　and　not　so　ill　at　ease。　A　Scottish　court；　high　or　low；　civil　or　criminal；　had　a　flavor　all　its　own。　Law　points　were　threshed　over　with　gusto；　but　counsel；　client；　and　witness　gained　many　a　point　by　ready　wit；　and　there　was　no　lack　of　dry　humor　from　the　bench。　About　the　Burgh　court；　for　all　its　stately　setting；　there　was　little　formality。　The　magistrate　of　the　day　sat　behind　a　tall　desk；　with　a　clerk　of　record　at　his　elbow；　and　the　officer　gave　his　testimony　briefly：　Edinburgh　being　quite　overrun　by　stray　and　unlicensed　dogs；　orders　had　recently　been　given　the　Burgh　police　to　report　such　animals。　In　Mr。　Traill's　place　he　had　seen　a　small　terrier　that　appeared　to　be　at　home　there；　and；　indeed；　on　the　dog's　going　out；　Mr。　Traill　had　called　a　servant　lassie　to　fetch　a　bone；　and　to　open　the　door　for　him。　He　noticed　that　the　animal　wore　no　collar；　and　felt　it　his　duty　to　report　the　matter。

By　the　time　Mr。　Traill　was　called　to　answer　to　the　charge　a　number　of　curious　idlers　had　gathered　on　the　back　benches。　He　admitted　his　name　and　address；　but　denied　that　he　either　owned　or　was　harboring　a　dog。　The　magistrate　fixed　a　cold　eye　upon　him；　and　asked　if　he　meant　to　contradict　the　testimony　of　the　officer。

〃Nae；　your　Honor；　and　he　might　have　seen　the　same　thing　ony　week…day　of　the　past　eight　and　a　half　years。　But　the　bit　terrier　is　no'　my　ain　dog。〃　Suddenly；　the　memory　of　the　stormy　night；　the　sick　old　man　and　the　pathos　of　his　renunciation　of　the　only　beating　heart　in　the　world　that　loved　him〃Bobby　isna　ma　ain　dog！〃　swept　over　the　remorseful　landlord。　He　was　filled　with　a　fierce　championship　of　the　wee　Highlander；　whose　loyalty　to　that　dead　master　had　brought　him　to　this　strait。

To　the　magistrate　Mr。　Traill's　tossed…up　head　had　the　effect　of　defiance；　and　brought　a　sharp　rebuke。　〃Don't　split　hairs；　Mr。　Traill。　You　are　wasting　the　time　of　the　court。　You　admit　feeding　the　dog。　Who　is　his　master　and　where　does　he　sleep？〃

〃His　master　is　in　his　grave　in　auld　Greyfriars　kirkyard；　and　the　dog　has　aye　slept　there　on　the　mound。〃

The　magistrate　leaned　over　his　desk。　〃Man；　no　dog　could　sleep　in　the　open　for　one　winter　in　this　climate。　Are　you　fond　of　romancing；　Mr。　Traill？〃

〃No'　so　overfond；　your　Honor。　The　dog　is　of　the　subarctic　breed　of　Skye　terriers；　the　kind　with　a　thick　under…jacket　of　fleece；　and　a　weather　thatch　that　turns　rain　like　a　crofter's　cottage　roof。〃

〃There　should　be　witnesses　to　such　an　extraordinary　story。　The　dog　could　not　have　lived　in　this　strictly　guarded　churchyard　without　the　consent　of　those　in　authority。〃　The　magistrate　was　plainly　annoyed　and　skeptical；　and　Mr。　Traill　felt　the　sting　of　it。

〃Ay；　the　caretaker　has　been　his　gude　friend；　but　Mr。　Brown　is　ill　of　rheumatism；　and　can　no'　come　out。　Nae　doubt；　if　necessary；　his　deposeetion　could　be　tak'n。　Permission　for　the　bit　dog　to　live　in　the　kirkyard　was　given　by　the　meenister　of　Greyfriars　auld　kirk；　but　Doctor　Lee　is　in　failing　health　and　has　gone　to　the　south　of　France。　The　tenement　children　and　the　Heriot　laddies　have　aye　made　a　pet　of　Bobby；　but　they　would　no'　be　competent　witnesses。〃

〃You　should　have　counsel。　There　are　some　legal　difficulties　here。〃

〃I'm　no'　needing　a　lawyer。　The　law　in　sic　a　matter　can　no'　be　so　complicated；　and　I　have　a　tongue　in　my　ain　head　that　has　aye　served　me；　your　Honor。〃　The　magistrate　smiled；　and　the　spectators　moved　to　the　nearer　benches　to　enjoy　this　racy　man。　The　room　began　to　fill　by　that　kind　of　telepathy　that　causes　crowds　to　gather　around　the　human　drama。　One　man　stood；　unnoticed；　in　the　doorway。　Mr。　Traill　went　on；　quietly：　〃If　the　court　permits　me　to　do　so；　I　shall　be　glad　to　pay　for　Bobby's　license；　but　I'm　thinking　that　carries　responsibeelity　for　the　bit　dog。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　Mr。　Traill。　You　would　have　to　assume　responsibility。　Masterless　dogs　have　become　a　serious　nuisance　in　the　city。〃

〃I　could　no'　tak'　responsibeelity。　The　dog　is　no'　with　me　more　than　a　couple　of　hours　out　of　the　twenty…four。　I　understand　that　most　of　his　time　is　spent　in　the　kirkyard；　in　weel…behaving；　usefu'　ways；　but　I　could　no'　be　sure。〃

〃But　why　have　you　fed　him　for　so　many　years？　Was　his　master　a　friend？〃

〃Nae；　just　a　customer；　your　Honor；　a　simple　auld　shepherd　who　ate　his　market…day　dinner　in　my　place。　He　aye　had　the　bit　dog　with　him；　and　I　was　the　last　man　to　see　the　auld　body　before　he　went　awa'　to　his　meeserable　death　in　a　Cowgate　wynd。　Bobby　came　to　me；　near　starved；　to　be　fed；　two　days　after　his　master's　burial。　I　was　tak'n　by　the　wee　Highlander's　leal　spirit。〃

And　that　was　all　the　landlord　would　say。　He　had　no　mind　to　wear　his　heart　upon　his　sleeve　for　this　idle　crowd　to　gape　at。

After　a　moment　the　magistrate　spoke　warmly：　〃It　appears；　then；　that　the　payment　of　the　license　could　not　be　accepted　from　you。　Your　humanity　is　commendable；　Mr。　Traill；　but　technically　you　are　in　fault。　The　minimum　fine　should　be　imposed　and　remitted。〃

At　this　utterly　unlooked…for　conclusion　Mr。　Traill　seemed　to　gather　his　lean　shoulders　together　for　a　spring；　and　his　gray　eyes　narrowed　to　blades。

〃With　due　respect　to　your　Honor；　I　must　tak'　an　appeal　against　sic　a　deceesion；　to　the　Lord　Provost　and　a'　the　magistrates；　and　then　to　the　Court　of　Sessions。〃

〃You　would　get　scant　attention；　Mr。　Traill。　The　higher　judiciary　have　more　important　business　than　reviewing　dog　cases。　You　would　be　laughed　out　of　court。〃

The　dry　tone　stung　him　to　instant　retort。　〃And　in　gude　company　I'd　be。　Fifty　years　syne　Lord　Erskine　was　laughed　down　in　Parliament　for　proposing　to　give　legal　protection　to　dumb　animals。　But　we're　getting　a　bit　more　ceevilized。〃

〃Tut；　tut；　Mr。　Traill；　you　are　making　far　too　much　of　a　small　matter。〃

〃It's　no'　a　sma'　matter　to　be　entered　in　the　records　of　the　Burgh　court　as　a　petty　law…breaker。　And　if　I　continued　to　feed　the　dog　I　would　be　in　contempt　of　court。〃

The　magistrate　was　beginning　to　feel　badgered。　〃The　fine　carries　the　interdiction　with　it；　Mr。　Traill；　if　you　are　asking　for　information。〃

〃It　was　no'　for　information；　but　just　to　mak'　plain　my　ain　line　of　conduct。　I'm　no'　intending　to　abandon　the　dog。　I　am　commended　here　for　my　humanity；　but　the　bit　dog　I　must　let　starve　for　a　technicality。〃　Instantly；　as　the　magistrate　half　rose　from　the　bench；　the　landlord　saw　that　he　had　gone　too　far；　and　put　the　court　on　the　defensive。　In　an　easy；　conversational　tone；　as　if　unaware　of　the　point　he　had　scored；　he　asked　if　he　might　address　his　accuser　on　a　personal　matter。　〃We　knew　each　other　weel　as　laddies。　Davie；　when　you're　in　my　neeborhood　again　on　a　wet　day；　come　in　and　dry　yoursel'　by　my　fire　and　tak'　another　cup　o'　kindness　for　auld　lang　syne。　You'll　be　all　the　better　man　for　a　lesson　in　morals　the　bit　dog　can　give　you：　no'　to　bite　the　hand　that　feeds　you。〃

The　policeman　turned　purple。　A　ripple　of　merriment　ran　through　the　room。　The　magistrate　put　his　hand　up　to　his　mouth；　and　the　clerk　began　to　drop　pens。　Before　silence　was　restored　a　messenger　laddie　ran　up　with　a　note　for　the　bench。　The　magistrate　read　it　with　a　look　of　relief；　and　nodded　to　the　man　who　had　been　listening　from　the　doorway；　but　who　disappeared　at　once。

〃The　case　is　ordered　continued。　The　defendant　will　be　given　time　to　secure　witnesses；　and　notified　when　to　appear。　The　next　case　is　called。〃

Somewhat　dazed　by　this　sudden　turn；　and　annoyed　by　the　delayed　settlement　of　the　affair；　Mr。　Traill　hastened　from　the　court…room。　As　he　gained　the　street　he　was　overtaken　by　the　messenger　with　a　second　note。　And　there　was　a　still　more　surprising　turn　that　sent　the　landlord　off　up　swarming　High　Street；　across　the　bridge；　and　on　to　his　snug　little　place　of　business；　with　the　face　and　the　heart　of　a　school…boy。　When　Bobby；　draggled　by　three　days　of　wet　weather；　came　in　for　his　dinner；　Mr。　Traill　scanned　him　critically　and　in　some　perplexity。　At　the　end　of　the　day's　work；　as　Ailie　was　dropping　her　quaint　curtsy　and　giving　her　adored　employer　a　shy　〃gude　nicht；〃　he　had　a　sudden　thought　that　made　him　call　her　back。

〃Did　you　ever　give　a　bit　dog　a　washing；　lassie？〃

〃Ye　mean　Bobby；　Maister　Traill？　Nae；　I　didna。〃　Her　eyes　sparkled。　〃But　Tammy's　hauded　'im　for　Maister　Brown；　an'　he　says　it's　sonsie　to　gie　the　bonny　wee　a　washin'。〃

〃Weel；　Mr。　Brown　is　fair　ill；　and　there　has　been　foul　weather。　Bobby's　getting　to　look　like　a　poor　'gaen　aboot'　dog。　Have　him　at　the　kirkyard　gate　at　a　quarter　to　eight　o'clock　the　morn　looking　like　a　leddy's　pet　and　I'll　dance　a　Highland　fling　at　your　wedding。〃

〃Are　ye　gangin'　to　tak'　Bobby　on　a　picnic；　Maister　Traill？〃

He　answered　with　a　mock　solemnity　and　a　twinkle　in　his　eyes　that　mystified　the　little　maid。　〃Nae；　lassie；　I'm　going　to　tak'　him　to　a　meeting　in　a　braw　kirk。〃



IX

When　Ailie　wanted　to　get　up　unusually　early　in　the　morning　she　made　use　of　Tammy　for　an　alarm…clock。　A　crippled　laddie　who　must　〃mak'　'is　leevin'　wi'　'is　heid〃　can　waste　no　moment　of　daylight；　and　in　the　ancient　buildings　around　Greyfriars　the　maximum　of　daylight　was　to　be　had　only　by　those　able　and　willing　to　climb　to　the　gables。　Tammy；　having　to　live　on　the　lowest；　darkest　floor　of　all；　used　the　kirkyard　for　a　study；　by　special　indulgence　of　the　caretaker；　whenever　t