greyfriars bobby-第35节
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weather he took his frequent naps on the turf above his master； or he sat on the fallen table…tomb in the sun。 On foul days he watched the grave from under the slab； and to that spot he returned from every skirmish against the enemy。 Visitors stopped to speak to him。 Favored ones were permitted to read the inscription on his collar and to pat his head。 It seemed； therefore； the most natural thing in the world when the greatest lady in England； beside the Queen； the Baroness Burdett…Coutts； came all the way from London to see Bobby。
Except that it was the first Monday in June； and Founder's Day at Heriot's Hospital； it was like any other day of useful work； innocent pleasure； and dreaming dozes on Auld Jock's grave to wee Bobby。 As years go； the shaggy little Skye was an old dog； but he was not feeble or blind or unhappy。 A terrier； as a rule； does not live as long as more sluggish breeds of dogs； but； active to the very end； he literally wears himself out tearing around； and then goes； little soldier； very suddenly； dying gallantly with his boots on。
In the very early mornings of the northern summer Bobby woke with the birds； a long time before the reveille was sounded from the Castle。 He scampered down to the circling street of tombs at once； and not until the last prowler had been dispatched； or frightened into his burrow； did he return for a brief nap on Auld Jock's grave。
All about him the birds fluttered and hopped and gossiped and foraged； unafraid。 They were used； by this time； to seeing the little dog lying motionless； his nose on his paws。 Often some tidbit of food lay there； brought for Bobby by a stranger。 He had learned that a Scotch bun dropped near him was a feast that brought feathered visitors about and won their confidence and cheerful companionship。 When he awoke he lay there lolling and blinking； following the blue rovings of the titmice and listening to the foolish squabbles of the sparrows and the shrewish scoldings of the wrens。 He always started when a lark sprang at his feet and a cataract of melody tumbled from the sky。
But； best of all； Bobby loved a comfortable and friendly robin redbreastnot the American thrush that is called a robin； but the smaller Old World warbler。 It had its nest of grass and moss and feathers； and many a silver hair shed by Bobby； low in a near…by thorn bush。 In sweet and plaintive talking notes it told its little dog companion all about the babies that had left the nest and the new brood that would soon be there。 On the morning of that wonderful day of the Grand Leddy's first coming； Bobby and the redbreast had a pleasant visit together before the casements began to open and the tenement bairns called down their morning greeting：
〃A gude day to ye； Bobby。〃
By the time all these courtesies had been returned Tammy came in at the gate with his college books strapped on his back。 The old Cunzic Neuk had been demolished by Glenormiston； and Tammy； living in better quarters； was studying to be a teacher at Heriot's。 Bobby saw him settled； and then he had to escort Mr。 Brown down from the lodge。 The caretaker made his way about stiffly with a cane and； with the aid of a young helper who exasperated the old gardener by his cheerful inefficiency； kept the auld kirkyard in beautiful order。
〃Eh； ye gude…for…naethin' tyke；〃 he said to Bobby； in transparent pretense of his uselessness。 〃Get to wark； or I'll hae a young dog in to gie ye a lift； an' syne whaur'll ye be？〃
Bobby jumped on him in open delight at this； as much as to say： 〃Ye may be as dour as ye like； but ilka body kens ye're gude…hearted。〃
Morning and evening numerous friends passed the gate；。 and the wee dog waited for them on the wicket。 Dr。 George Ross and Mr。 Alexander McGregor shook Bobby's lifted paw and called him a sonsie rascal。 Small merchants； students； clerks； factory workers； house servants； laborers and vendors； all honest and useful people； had come up out of these old tenements within Bobby's memory； and others had gone down； alas！ into the Cowgate。 But Bobby's tail wagged for these unfortunates； too； and some of them had no other friend in the world beside that uncalculating little dog。
When the morning stream of auld acquaintance had gone by； and none forgot； Bobby went up to the lodge to sit for an hour with Mistress Jeanie。 There he was called 〃croodlin' doo〃which was altogether absurdby the fond old woman。 As neat of plumage； and as busy and talkative about small domestic matters as the robin； Bobby loved to watch the wifie stirring savory messes over the fire； watering her posies； cleaning the fluttering skylark's cage； or just sitting by the hearth or in the sunny doorway with him； knitting warm stockings for her rheumatic gude…mon。
Out in the kirkyard Bobby trotted dutifully at the caretaker's heels。 When visitors were about he did not venture to take a nap in the open unless Mr。 Brown was on guard； and； by long and close companionship with him； the aging man could often tell what Bobby was dreaming about。 At a convulsive movement and a jerk of his head the caretaker would say to the wifie； if she chanced to be near：
〃Leuk at that； noo； wull ye？ The sperity bit was takin' thae fou' vermin。〃 And again； when the muscles of his legs worked rhythmically； 〃He's rinnin' wi' the laddies or the braw soldiers on the braes。〃
Bobby often woke from a dream with a start； looked dazed； and then foolish； at the vivid imaginings of sleep。 But when； in a doze； he half stretched himself up on his short； shagged fore paws； flattened out； and then awoke and lay so； very still； for a time； it was Mistress Jeanie who said：
〃Preserve us a'！ The bonny wee was dreamin' o' his maister's deith； an' noo he's greetin' sair。〃
At that she took her little stool and sat on the grave beside him。 But Mr。 Brown bit his teeth in his pipe； limped away； and stormed at his daft helper laddie； who didn't appear to know a violet from a burdock。
Ah！ who can doubt that； so deeply were scene and word graven on his memory； Bobby often lived again the hour of his bereavement； and heard Auld Jock's last words：
〃Gangawa'hameladdie！〃
Homeless on earth； gude Auld Jock had gone to a place prepared for him。 But his faithful little dog had no home。 This sacred spot was merely his tarrying place； where he waited until such a time as that mysterious door should open for him； perchance to an equal sky； and he could slip through and find his master。
On the morning of the day when the Grand Leddy came Bobby watched the holiday crowd gather on Heriot's Hospital grounds。 The mothers and sisters of hundreds of boys were there； looking on at the great match game of cricket。 Bobby dropped over the wall and scampered about； taking a merry part in the play。 When the pupils' procession was formed； and the long line of grinning and nudging laddies marched in to service in the chapel and dinner in the hall； he was set up over the kirkyard wall； hundreds of hands were waved to him； and voices called back： 〃Fareweel； Bobby！〃 Then the time…gun boomed from the Castle； and the little dog trotted up for his dinner and nap under the settle and his daily visit with Mr。 Traill。
In fair weather； when the last guest had departed and the music bells of St。 Giles had ceased playing； the landlord was fond of standing in his doorway； bareheaded and in shirt…sleeves and apron； to exchange opinions on politics； literature and religion； or to tell Bobby's story to what passers…by he could beguile into talk。 At his feet； there； was a fine place for a sociable little dog to spend an hour。 When he was ready to go Bobby set his paws upon Mr。 Traill and waited for the landlord's hand to be laid on his head and the man to say； in the dialect the little dog best understood： 〃Bide a wee。 Ye're no' needin' to gang sae sune； laddie！〃
At that he dropped； barked politely； wagged his tail； and was off。 If Mr。 Traill really wanted to detain Bobby he had only to withhold the magic word 〃laddie；〃 that no one else had used toward the little dog since Auld Jock died。 But if the word was too long in coming； Bobby would thrash his tail about impatiently； look up appealingly； and finally rise and beg and whimper。
〃Weel； then； bide wi' me； an' ye'll get it ilka hour o' the day； ye sonsie； wee； talon' bit！ What are ye hangin' aroond for？ Ehweelgang awa' wi' ye… …laddie！〃 The landlord sighed and looked down reproachfully。 With a delighted yelp； and a lick of the lingering hand； Bobby was off。
It was after three o'clock on this day when he returned to the kirkyard。 The caretaker was working at the upper end； and the little dog was lonely。 But； long enough absent from his master； Bobby lay down on the grave； in the stillness of the mid…afternoon。 The robin made a brief call and； as no other birds were about； hopped upon Bobby's back； perched on his head； and warbled a little song。 It was then that the gate clicked。 Dismissing her carriage and telling the coachman to return at five； Lady Burdett…Coutts entered the kirkyard。
Bobby trotted around the kirk on the chance of meeting a friend。 He looked up intently at the strange lady for a moment； and she stood still and looked down at him。 She was not a beautiful lady； nor very young。 Indeed； she was a few ye
