greyfriars bobby-第5节

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〃Ay；　he　kens　we're　talkin'　aboot　'im。〃

〃He's　a　knowing　bit　dog。　Have　you　attended　to　his　sairous　education；　man？〃

〃Nae；　he's　ower　young。〃

〃Young　is　aye　the　time　to　teach　a　dog　or　a　bairn　that　life　is　no'　all　play。　Man；　you　should　put　a　sma'　terrier　at　the　vermin　an'　mak'　him　usefu'。〃

〃It's　eneugh；　gin　he's　gude　company　for　the　wee　lassie　wha's　fair　fond　o'　'im；〃　Auld　Jock　answered；　briefly。　This　was　a　strange　sentiment　from　the　work…broken　old　man　who；　for　himself；　would　have　held　ornamental　idleness　sinful。　He　finished　his　supper　in　brooding　silence。　At　last　he　broke　out　in　a　peevish　irritation　that　only　made　his　grief　at　parting　with　Bobby　more　apparent　to　an　understanding　man　like　Mr。　Traill。

〃I　dinna　ken　what　to　do　wi'　'im　i'　an　Edinburgh　lodgin'　the　nicht。　The　auld　wifie　I　lodge　wi'　is　dour　by　the　ordinar'；　an'　wadna　bide　'is　blatterin'。　I　couldna　get　'im　past　'er　auld　een；　an'　thae　terriers　are　aye　barkin'　aboot　naethin'　ava。〃

Mr。　Traill's　eyes　sparkled　at　recollection　of　an　apt　literary　story　to　which　Dr。　John　Brown　had　given　currency。　Like　many　Edinburgh　shopkeepers；　Mr。　Traill　was　a　man　of　superior　education　and　an　omnivorous　reader。　And　he　had　many　customers　from　the　near…by　University　to　give　him　a　fund　of　stories　of　Scotch　writers　and　other　worthies。

〃You　have　a　double　plaid；　man？〃

〃Ay。　Ilka　shepherd's　got　a　twa…fold　plaidie。〃　It　seemed　a　foolish　question　to　Auld　Jock；　but　Mr。　Traill　went　on　blithely。

〃There's　a　pocket　in　the　plaidane　end　left　open　at　the　side　to　mak'　a　pouch？　Nae　doubt　you've　carried　mony　a　thing　in　that　pouch？〃

'Nae；　no'　so　mony。　Juist　the　new…born　lambs。〃

〃Weel；　Sir　Walter　had　a　shepherd's　plaid；　and　there　was　a　bit　lassie　he　was　vera　fond　of　Syne；　when　he　had　been　at　the　writing　a'　the　day；　and　was　aff　his　heid　like；　with　too　mony　thoughts；　he'd　go　across　the　town　and　fetch　the　bairnie　to　keep　him　company。　She　was　a　weel…born　lassie；　sax　or　seven　years　auld；　and　sma'　of　her　age；　but　no'　half　as　sma'　as　Bobby；　I'm　thinking。〃　He　stopped　to　let　this　significant　comparison　sink　into　Auld　Jock's　mind。　〃The　lassie　had　nae　liking　for　the　unmannerly　wind　and　snaw　of　Edinburgh。　So　Sir　Walter　just　happed　her　in　the　pouch　of　his　plaid；　and　tumbled　her　out；　snug　as　a　lamb　and　nane　the　wiser；　in　the　big　room　wha's　walls　were　lined　with　books。〃

Auld　Jock　betrayed　not　a　glimmer　of　intelligence　as　to　the　personal　bearing　of　the　story；　but　he　showed　polite　interest。　〃I　ken　naethin'　aboot　Sir　Walter　or　ony　o'　the　grand　folk。〃　Mr。　Traill　sighed；　cleared　the　table　in　silence；　and　mended　the　fire。　It　was　ill　having　no　one　to　talk　to　but　a　simple　old　body　who　couldn't　put　two　and　two　together　and　make　four。

The　landlord　lighted　his　pipe　meditatively；　and　he　lighted　his　cruisey　lamp　for　reading。　Auld　Jock　was　dry　and　warm　again；　oh；　very；　very　warm；　so　that　he　presently　fell　into　a　doze。　The　dining…room　was　so　compassed　on　all　sides　but　the　front　by　neighboring　house　and　kirkyard　wall　and　by　the　floors　above；　that　only　a　murmur　of　the　storm　penetrated　it。　It　was　so　quiet；　indeed；　that　a　tiny；　scratching　sound　in　a　distant　corner　was　heard　distinctly。　A　streak　of　dark　silver；　as　of　animated　mercury；　Bobby　flashed　past。　A　scuffle；　a　squeak；　and　he　was　back　again；　dropping　a　big　rat　at　the　landlord's　feet　and；　wagging　his　tail　with　pride。

〃Weel　done；　Bobby！　There's　a　bite　and　a　bone　for　you　here　ony　time　o'　day　you　call　for　it。　Ay；　a　sensible　bit　dog　will　attend　to　his　ain　education　and　mak'　himsel'　usefu'。〃

Mr。　Traill　felt　a　sudden　access　of　warm　liking　for　the　attractive　little　scrap　of　knowingness　and　pluck。　He　patted　the　tousled　head；　but　Bobby　backed　away。　He　had　no　mind　to　be　caressed　by　any　man　beside　his　master。　After　a　moment　the　landlord　took　〃Guy　Mannering〃　down　from　the　book…shelf。　Knowing　his　〃Waverley〃　by　heart；　he　turned　at　once　to　the　passages　about　Dandie　Dinmont　and　his　terriersMustard　and　Pepper　and　other　spicy　wee　rascals。

〃Ay；　terriers　are　sonsie；　leal　dogs。　Auld　Jock　will　have　ane　true　mourner　at　his　funeral。　I　would　no'　mind　if〃

On　impulse　he　got　up　and　dropped　a　couple　of　hard　Scotch　buns；　very　good　dog…biscuit；　indeed；　into　the　pocket　of　Auld　Jock's　greatcoat　for　Bobby。　The　old　man　might　not　be　able　to　be　out　the　morn。　With　the　thought　in　his　mind　that　some　one　should　keep　a　friendly　eye　on　the　man；　he　mended　the　fire　with　such　an　unnecessary　clattering　of　the　tongs　that　Auld　Jock　started　from　his　sleep　with　a　cry。

〃Whaur　is　it　you　have　your　lodging；　Jock？〃　the　landlord　asked；　sharply；　for　the　man　looked　so　dazed　that　his　understanding　was　not　to　be　reached　easily。　He　got　the　indefinite　information　that　it　was　at　the　top　of　one　of　the　tall；　old　tenements　〃juist　aff　the　Coogate。〃

〃A　lang　climb　for　an　auld　man；〃　John　Traill　said；　compassionately；　then；　optimistic　as　usual；　〃but　it's　a　lang　climb　or　a　foul　smell；　in　the　poor　quarters　of　Edinburgh。〃

〃Ay。　It's　weel　aboon　the　fou'　smell。〃　With　some　comforting　thought　that　he　did　not　confide　to　Mr。　Traill　but　that　ironed　lines　out　of　his　old　face；　Auld　Jock　went　to　sleep　again。　Well；　the　landlord　reflected；　he　could　remain　there　by　the　fire　until　the　closing　hour　or　later；　if　need　be；　and　by　that　time　the　storm　might　ease　a　bit；　so　that　he　could　get　to　his　lodging　without　another　wetting。

For　an　hour　the　place　was　silent；　except　for　the　falling　clinkers　from　the　grate；　the　rustling　of　book…leaves；　and　the　plumping　of　rain　on　the　windows；　when　the　wind　shifted　a　point。　Lost　in　the　romance；　Mr。　Traill　took　no　note　of　the　passing　time　or　of　his　quiet　guests　until　he　felt　a　little　tug　at　his　trouser…leg。

〃Eh；　laddie？〃　he　questioned。　Up　the　little　dog　rose　in　the　begging　attitude。　Then；　with　a　sharp　bark；　he　dashed　back　to　his　master。

Something　was　very　wrong；　indeed。　Auld　Jock　had　sunk　down　in　his　seat。　His　arms　hung　helplessly　over　the　end　and　back　of　the　settle；　and　his　legs　were　sprawled　limply　before　him。　The　bonnet　that　he　always　wore；　outdoors　and　in；　had　fallen　from　his　scant；　gray　locks；　and　his　head　had　dropped　forward　on　his　chest。　His　breathing　was　labored；　and　he　muttered　in　his　sleep。

In　a　moment　Mr。　Traill　was　inside　his　own　greatcoat；　storm　boots　and　bonnet。　At　the　door　he　turned　back。　The　shop　was　unguarded。　Although　Greyfriars　Place　lay　on　the　hilltop；　with　the　sanctuary　of　the　kirkyard　behind　it；　and　the　University　at　no　great　distance　in　front；　it　was　but　a　step　up　from　the　thief…infested　gorge　of　the　Cowgate。　The　landlord　locked　his　moneydrawer；　pushed　his　easy…chair　against　it；　and　roused　Auld　Jock　so　far　as　to　move　him　over　from　the　settle。　The　chief　responsibility　he　laid　on　the　anxious　little　dog；　that　watched　his　every　movement。

〃Lie　down；　Bobby；　and　mind　Auld　Jock。　And　you're　no'　a　gude　dog　if　you　canna　bark　to　waken　the　dead　in　the　kirkyard；　if　ony　strange　body　comes　about。〃

〃Whaur　are　ye　gangin'？〃　cried　Auld　Jock。　He　was　wide　awake；　with　burning；　suspicious　eyes　fixed　on　his　host。

〃Sit　you　down；　man；　with　your　back　to　my　siller。　I'm　going　for　a　doctor。〃　The　noise　of　the　storm；　as　he　opened　the　door；　prevented　his　hearing　the　frightened　protest：

〃Dinna　ging！〃

The　rain　had　turned　to　sleet；　and　Mr。　Traill　had　trouble　in　keeping　his　feet。　He　looked　first　into　the　famous　Book　Hunter's　Stall　next　door；　on　the　chance　of　finding　a　medical　student。　The　place　was　open；　but　it　had　no　customers。　He　went　on　to　the　bridge；　but　there　the　sheriff's　court；　the　Martyr's　church；　the　society　halls　and　all　the　smart　shops　were　closed；　their　dark　fronts　lighted　fitfully　by　flaring　gas…lamps。　The　bitter　night　had　driven　all　Edinburgh　to　private　cover。

From　the　rear　came　a　clear　whistle。　Some　Heriot　laddie　who；　being　not　entirely　a　〃puir　orphan；〃　but　only　〃faderless〃　and；　therefore；　living　outside　the　school　with　his　mother；　had　been　kept　after　nightfall　because　of　ill…prepared　lessons　or　misbehavior。　Mr。　Traill　turned；　passed　his　own　door；　and　went　on　southward　into　Forest　Road；　that　skirted　the　long　arm　of　the　kirkyard。

From　the　Burghmuir；　all　the　way　to　the　Grassmarket　and　the　Cowgate；　was　downhill。　So；　with　arms　winged；　and　stout　legs　spread　wide　and　braced；　Geordie　Ross　was　sliding　gaily　homeward；　his　knitted　tippet　a　gallant　pennant　behind。　Here　was　a　Mercury　for　an　urgent　errand。

〃Laddie；　do　you　know　whaur's　a　doctor　who　can　be　had　for　a　shulling　or　two　for　a　poor　auld　country　body　in　my　shop？〃

〃Is　he　so　awfu'　ill？〃　Geordie　asked　with　the　morbid　curiosity　of　lusty　boyhood。

〃He's　a'　that。　He's　aff　his　heid。　Run；　laddie；　and　dinna　be　standing　there　wagging　your　fule　tongue　for　naething。〃

Geordie　was　off　with　speed　across　the　bridge　to　High　Street。　Mr。　Traill　struggled　back　to　his　shop；　against　wind　and　treacherous　ice；　thinking　what　kind　of　a　bed　might　be　contrived　for　the　sick　man　for　the　night。　In　the　morning　the　daft　auld　body　could　be　hurried；　willy…nilly；　to　a　bed　in　the　infirmary。　As　for　wee　Bobby　he　wouldn't　mind　if

And　there　he　ran　into　his　own　wide…flung　door。　A　gale　blew　through　the　hastily　deserted　place。　Ashes　were　scattered　about　the　hearth；　and　the　cruisey　lamp　flared　in　the　gusts。　Auld　Jock　and　Bobby　were　gone。



III。

Although　dismayed　and　self…accusing　for　having　frightened　Auld　Jock　into　taking　flight　by　his　incautious　talk　of