greyfriars bobby-第9节

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own　with　his　nose　under　the　wicket。

　Just　before　the　closing　hour　a　carriage　stopped　at　the　kirkyard　gate。　A　black…robed　lady；　carrying　flowers；　hurried　through　the　wicket。　Bobby　slipped　in　behind　her　and　disappeared。

After　nightfall；　when　the　lamps　were　lighted　on　the　bridge；　when　Mr。　Traill　had　come　out　to　stand　idly　in　his　doorway；　looking　for　some　one　to　talk　to；　and　James　Brown　had　locked　the　kirkyard　yard　gate　for　the　night　and　gone　into　his　little　stone　lodge　to　supper；　Bobby　came　out　of　hiding　and　stretched　himself　prone　across　Auld　Jock's　grave。



IV。

Fifteen　minutes　after　the　report　of　the　time…gun　on　Monday；　when　the　bells　were　playing　their　merriest　and　the　dining…rooms　were　busiest；　Mr。　Traill　felt　such　a　tiny　tug　at　his　trouser…leg　that　it　was　repeated　before　he　gave　it　attention。　In　the　press　of　hungry　guests　Bobby　had　little　more　than　room　to　rise　in　his　pretty；　begging　attitude。　The　landlord　was　so　relieved　to　see　him　again；　after　five　conscience　stricken　days；　that　he　stooped　to　clap　the　little　dog　on　the　side　and　to　greet　him　with　jocose　approval。

〃Gude　dog　to　fetch　Auld　Jock〃

With　a　faint　and　piteous　cry　that　was　heard　by　no　one　but　Mr。　Traill；　Bobby　toppled　over　on　the　floor。　It　was　a　limp　little　bundle　that　the　landlord　picked　up　from　under　foot　and　held　on　his　arm　a　moment；　while　he　looked　around　for　the　dog's　master。　Shocked　at　not　seeing　Auld　Jock；　by　a　kind　of　inspiration　he　carried　the　little　dog　to　the　inglenook　and　laid　him　down　under　the　familiar　settle。　Bobby　was　little　more　than　breathing；　but　he　opened　his　silkily　veiled　brown　eyes　and　licked　the　friendly　hand　that　had　done　this　refinement　of　kindness。　It　took　Mr。　Traill　more　than　a　moment　to　realize　the　nature　of　the　trouble。　A　dog　with　so　thick　a　fleece　of　wool；　under　so　crisply　waving　an　outer　coat　as　Bobby's；　may　perish　for　lack　of　food　and　show　no　outward　sign　of　emaciation。

〃The　sonsie；　weewhy；　he's　all　but　starved！〃

Pale　with　pity；　Mr。　Traill　snatched　a　plate　of　broth　from　the　hands　of　a　gaping　waiter　laddie；　set　it　under　Bobby's　nose；　and　watched　him　begin　to　lap　the　warm　liquid　eagerly。　In　the　busy　place　the　incident　passed　unnoticed。　With　his　usual；　brisk　decision　Mr。　Traill　turned　the　backs　of　a　couple　of　chairs　over　against　the　nearest　table；　to　signify　that　the　corner　was　reserved；　and　he　went　about　his　duties　with　unwonted　silence。　As　the　crowd　thinned　he　returned　to　the　inglenook　to　find　Bobby　asleep；　not　curled　up　in　a　tousled　ball；　as　such　a　little　dog　should　be；　but　stretched　on　his　side　and　breathing　irregularly。

If　Bobby　was　in　such　straits；　how　must　it　be　with　Auld　Jock？　This　was　the　fifth　day　since　the　sick　old　man　had　fled　into　the　storm。　With　new　disquiet　Mr。　Traill　remembered　a　matter　that　had　annoyed　him　in　the　morning；　and　that　he　had　been　inclined　to　charge　to　mischievous　Heriot　boys。　Low　down　on　the　outside　of　his　freshly　varnished　entrance　door　were　many　scratches　that　Bobby　could　have　made。　He　may　have　come　for　food　on　the　Sabbath　day　when　the　place　was　closed。

After　an　hour　Bobby　woke　long　enough　to　eat　a　generous　plate　of　that　delectable　and　highly　nourishing　Scotch　dish　known　as　haggis。　He　fell　asleep　again　in　an　easier　attitude　that　relieved　the　tension　on　the　landlord's　feelings。　Confident　that　the　devoted　little　dog　would　lead　him　straight　to　his　master；　Mr。　Traill　closed　the　door　securely；　that　he　might　not　escape　unnoticed；　and　arranged　his　own　worldly　affairs　so　he　could　leave　them　to　hirelings　on　the　instant。　In　the　idle　time　between　dinner　and　supper　he　sat　down　by　the　fire；　lighted　his　pipe；　repented　his　unruly　tongue；　and　waited。　As　the　short　day　darkened　to　its　close　the　sunset　bugle　was　blown　in　the　Castle。　At　the　first　note；　Bobby　crept　from　under　the　settle；　a　little　unsteady　on　his　legs　as　yet；　wagged　his　tail　for　thanks；　and　trotted　to　the　door。

Mr。　Traill　had　no　trouble　at　all　in　keeping　the　little　dog　in　sight　to　the　kirkyard　gate；　for　in　the　dusk　his　coat　shone　silvery　white。　Indeed；　by　a　backward　look　now　and　then；　Bobby　seemed　to　invite　the　man　to　follow；　and　waited　at　the　gate；　with　some　impatience；　for　him　to　come　up。　Help　was　needed　there。　By　rising　and　tugging　at　Mr。　Traill's　clothing　and　then　jumping　on　the　wicket　Bobby　plainly　begged　to　have　it　opened。　He　made　no　noise；　neither　barking　nor　whimpering；　and　that　was　very　strange　for　a　dog　of　the　terrier　breed；　but　each　instant　of　delay　he　became　more　insistent；　and　even　frantic；　to　have　the　gate　unlatched。　Mr。　Traill　refused　to　believe　what　Bobby's　behavior　indicated；　and　reproved　him　in　the　broad　Scotch　to　which　the　country　dog　was　used。

〃Nae；　Bobby；　be　a　gude　dog。　Gang　doon　to　the　Coogate　noo；　an'　find　Auld　Jock。〃

Uttering　no　cry　at　all；　Bobby　gave　the　man　such　a　woebegone　look　and　dropped　to　the　pavement；　with　his　long　muzzle　as　far　under　the　wicket　as　he　could　thrust　it；　that　the　truth　shot　home　to　Mr。　Traill's　understanding。　He　opened　the　gate。　Bobby　slipped　through　and　stood　just　inside　a　moment；　and　looking　back　as　if　he　expected　his　human　friend　to　follow。　Then；　very　suddenly；　as　the　door　of　the　lodge　opened　and　the　caretaker　came　out；　Bobby　disappeared　in　the　shadow　of　the　church。

A　big…boned；　slow…moving　man　of　the　best　country　house…gardener　type；　serviceably　dressed　in　corduroy；　wool　bonnet；　and　ribbed　stockings；　James　Brown　collided　with　the　small　and　wiry　landlord；　to　his　own　very　great　embarrassment。

〃Eh；　Maister　Traill；　ye　gied　me　a　turn。　It's　no'　canny　to　be　proolin'　aboot　the　kirkyaird　i'　the　gloamin'。〃

〃Whaur　did　the　bit　dog　go；　man？〃　demanded　the　peremptory　landlord。

〃Dog？　There's　no'　ony　dog　i'　the　kirkyaird。　It　isna　permeetted。　Gin　it's　a　pussy　ye're　needin'；　noo〃

But　Mr。　Traill　brushed　this　irrelevant　pleasantry　aside。

〃Ay；　there's　a　dog。　I　let　him　in　my　ainsel'。〃

The　caretaker　exploded　with　wrath：　〃Syne　I'll　hae　the　law　on　ye。　Can　ye　no'　read；　man？〃

〃Tut；　tut；　Jeemes　Brown。　Don't　stand　there　arguing。　It's　a　gude　and　necessary　regulation；　but　it's　no'　the　law　o'　the　land。　I　turned　the　dog　in　to　settle　a　matter　with　my　ain　conscience；　and　John　Knox　would　have　done　the　same　thing　in　the　bonny　face　o'　Queen　Mary。　What　it　is；　is　nae　beesiness　of　yours。　The　dog　was　a　sma'　young　terrier　of　the　Highland　breed；　but　with　a　drop　to　his　ears　and　a　crinkle　in　his　frosty　coatno'　just　an　ordinar'　dog。　I　know　him　weel。　He　came　to　my　place　to　be　fed；　near　dead　of　hunger；　then　led　me　here。　If　his　master　lies　in　this　kirkyard；　I'll　tak'　the　bit　dog　awa'　with　me。〃

Mr。　Traill's　astonishing　fluency　always　carried　all　walls　of　resistance　before　it　with　men　of　slower　wit　and　speech。　Only　a　superior　man　could　brush　time…honored　rules　aside　so　curtly　and　stand　on　his　human　rights　so　surely。　James　Brown　pulled　his　bonnet　off　deferentially；　scratched　his　shock　head　and　shifted　his　pipe。　Finally　he　admitted：

〃Weel；　there　was　a　bit　tyke　i'　the　kirkyaird　twa　days　syne。　I　put　'im　oot；　an'　haena　seen　'im　aboot　ony　main〃　He　offered；　however；　to　show　the　new…made　mound　on　which　he　had　found　the　dog。　Leading　the　way　past　the　church；　he　went　on　down　the　terraced　slope；　prolonging　the　walk　with　conversation；　for　the　guardianship　of　an　old　churchyard　offers　very　little　such　lively　company　as　John　Traill's。

〃I　mind；　noo；　it　was　some　puir　body　frae　the　Coogate；　wi'　no'　ony　mourners　but　the　sma'　terrier　aneath　the　coffin。　I　let　'im　pass；　no'　to　mak'　a　disturbance　at　a　buryin'。　The　deal　box　was　fetched　up　by　the　police；　an'　carried　by　sic　a　crew　o'　gaol…birds　as　wad　mak'　ye　turn　ower　in　yer　ain　God's　hole。　But　he　paid　for　his　buryin'　wi'　his　ain　siller；　an'　noo　lies　as　canny　as　the　nobeelity。　Nae　boot　here's　the　place；　Maister　Traill；　an'　ye　can　see　for　yer　ainsel'　there's　no'　any　dog。〃

〃Ay；　that　would　be　Auld　Jock　and　Bobby　would　no'　be　leaving　him；〃　insisted　the　landlord；　stubbornly。　He　stood　looking　down　at　the　rough　mound　of　frozen　clods　heaped　in　a　little　space　of　trampled　snow。

〃Jeemes　Brown；〃　Mr。　Trail　said；　at　last；　〃the　man　wha　lies　here　was　a　decent；　pious　auld　country　body；　and　I　drove　him　to　his　meeserable　death　in　the　Cowgate。〃

〃Man；　ye　dinna　ken　what　ye're　sayin'！〃　was　the　shocked　response。

〃Do　I　no'？　I'm　canny；　by　the　ordinar'；　but　my　fule　tongue　will　get　me　into　trouble　with　the　magistrates　one　of　these　days。　It　aye　wags　at　both　ends；　and　is　no'　tied　in　the　middle。〃

Then；　stanch　Calvinist　that　he　was；　and　never　dreaming　that　he　was　indulging　in　the　sinful　pleasure　of　confession；　Mr。　Traill　poured　out　the　story　of　Auld　Jock's　plight　and　of　his　own。　shortcomings。　It　was　a　bitter；　upbraiding　thing　that　he；　an　uncommonly　capable　man；　had　meant　so　well　by　a　humble　old　body；　and　done　so　ill。　And　he　had　failed　again　when　he　tried　to　undo　the　mischief。　The　very　next　morning　he　had　gone　down　into　the　perilous　Cowgate；　and　inquired　in　every　place　where　it　might　be　possible　for　such　a　timid　old　shepherd　to　be　known。　But　there！　As　well　look　for　a　burr　thistle　in　a　bin　of　oats；　as　look　for　a　human　atom　　in　the　Cowgate　and　the　wynds　〃juist　aff。〃

〃Weel；　noo；　ye　couldna　hae　dune　aething　wi'　the　auld　body；　ava；　gin　he　wouldna　gang　to　the　infairmary。〃　The　caretaker　was　trying　to　console　the　self…accusing　man。

〃Could　I　no'？　Ye　dinna　ken　me　as　weel　as　ye　micht。〃　The　disgusted　l