guy mannering-第27节
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oceed。
But before he departed； he solicited an interview with the Dominie。 The poor man appeared； on being informed a gentleman wanted to speak to him； with some expression of surprise in his gaunt features； to which recent sorrow had given an expression yet more grisly。 He made two or three profound reverences to Mannering； and then； standing erect； patiently waited an explanation of his commands。
〃You are probably at a loss to guess； Mr。 Sampson；〃 said Mannering； 〃what a stranger may have to say to you？〃
〃Unless it were to request； that I would undertake to train up some youth in polite letters； and humane learningbut I cannotI cannotI have yet a task to perform。〃
〃No； Mr。 Sampson； my wishes are not so ambitious。 I have no son； and my only daughter； I presume； you would not consider as a fit pupil。〃
〃Of a surety； no；〃 replied the simple…minded Sampson。 〃Nathless； it was I who did educate Miss Lucy in all useful learning；albeit it was the housekeeper who did teach her those unprofitable exercises of hemming and shaping。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 replied Mannering； 〃it is of Miss Lucy I meant to speakyou have； I presume； no recollection of me？〃
Sampson； always sufficiently absent in mind； neither remembered the astrologer of past years； nor even the stranger who had taken his patron's part against Glossin； so much had his friend's sudden death embroiled his ideas。
〃Well； that does not signify；〃 pursued the Colonel； 〃I am an old acquaintance of the late Mr。 Bertram； able and willing to assist his daughter in her present circumstances。 Besides； I have thoughts of making this purchase； and I should wish things kept in order about the place； will you have the goodness to apply this small sum in the usual family expenses？〃He put into the Dominie's hand a purse containing some gold。
〃Pro…di…gi…ous！〃 exclaimed Dominie Sampson。 〃But if your honour would tarry〃
〃Impossible； sirimpossible；〃 said Mannering； making his escape from him。
〃Pro…di…gi…ous！〃 again exclaimed Sampson； following to the head of the； stairs； still holding out the purse。 〃But as touching this coined money〃 Mannering escaped downstairs as fast as possible。
〃Pro…di…gi…ous！〃 exclaimed Dominie Sampson； yet the third time； now standing at the front door。 〃But as touching this specie〃
But Mannering was now on horseback； and out of hearing。 The Dominie； who had never； either in his own right； or as trustee for another； been possessed of a quarter part of this sum； though it was not above twenty guineas； 〃took counsel；〃 as he expressed himself； 〃how he should demean himself with respect unto the fine gold thus left in his charge。〃 Fortunately he found a disinterested adviser in Mac…Morlan； who pointed out the most proper means of disposing of it for contributing to Miss Bertram's convenience； being no doubt the purpose to which it was destined by the bestower。
Many of the neighbouring gentry were now sincerely eager in pressing offers of hospitality and kindness upon Miss Bertram。 But she felt a natural reluctance to enter any family； for the first time； as an object rather of benevolence than hospitality； and determined to wait the opinion and advice of her father's nearest female relation； Mrs。 Margaret Bertram of Singleside； an old unmarried lady； to whom she wrote an account of her present distressful Situation。
The funeral of the late Mr。 Bertram was performed with decent privacy； and the unfortunate young lady was now to consider herself as but the temporary tenant of the house in which she had been born； and where her patience and soothing attentions had so long 〃rocked the cradle of declining age。〃 Her communication with Mr。 Mac…Morlan encouraged her to hope that she would not be suddenly or unkindly deprived of this asylum； but fortune had ordered otherwise。
For two days before the appointed day for the sale of the lands and estate of Ellangowan； Mac…Morlan daily expected the appearance of Colonel Mannering； or at least a letter containing powers to act for him。 But none such arrived。 Mr。 Mac…Morlan waked early in the morning；walked over to the Post…office；there were no letters for him。 He endeavoured to persuade himself that he should see Colonel Mannering to breakfast； and ordered his wife to place her best china； and prepare herself accordingly。 But the preparations were in vain。 〃Could I have foreseen this；〃 he said； 〃I would have travelled Scotland over； but I would have found some one to bid against Glossin。〃Alas！ such reflections were all too late。 The appointed hour arrived； and the parties met in the Masons' Lodge at Kippletringan； being the place fixed for the adjourned sale。 Mac…Morlan spent as much time in preliminaries as decency would permit； and read over the articles of sale as slowly as if hehad been reading his own death…warrant。 He turned his eye every time the door of the room opened； with hopes which grew fainter and fainter。 He listened to every noise in the street of the village； and endeavoured to distinguish in it the sound of hoofs or wheels。 It was all in vain。 A bright idea then occurred； that Colonel Mannering might have employed some other person in the transactionhe would not have wasted a moment's thought upon the want of confidence in himself； which such a manoeuvre would have evinced。 But this hope also was groundless。 After a solemn pause； Mr。 Glossin offered the upset price for the lands and barony of Ellangowan。 No reply was made； and no competitor appeared； so； after a lapse of the usual interval by the running of a sand…glass； upon the intended purchaser entering the proper sureties； Mr。 Mac…Morlan was obliged； in technical terms； to 〃find and declare the sale lawfully completed； and to prefer the said Gilbert Glossin as the purchaser of the said lands and estate。〃 The honest writer refused to partake of a splendid entertainment with which Gilbert Glossin； Esquire； now of Ellangowan； treated the rest of the company； and returned home in huge bitterness of spirit； which he vented in complaints against the fickleness and caprice of these Indian nabobs； who never knew what they would be at for ten days together。 Fortune generously determined to take the blame upon herself； and cut off even this vent of Mac…Morlan's resentment。
An express arrived about six o'clock at night； 〃very particularly drunk；〃 the maidservant said； with a packet from Colonel Mannering； dated four days back； at a town about a hundred miles' distance from Kippletringan； containing full powers to Mr。 Mac…Morlan； or any one whom he might employ； to make the intended purchase； and stating； that some family business of consequence called the Colonel himself to Westmoreland； where a letter would find him； addressed to the care of Arthur Mervyn； Esq。； of Mervyn Hall。
Mac…Morlan； in the transports of his wrath； flung the power of attorney at the head of the innocent maid…servant； and was only forcibly withheld from horsewhipping the rascally messenger； by whose sloth and drunkenness the disappointment had taken place。
CHAPTER XV。
My gold is gone； my money is spent； My land now take it unto thee。 Give me thy gold； good John o' Scales； And thine for aye my land shall be。 Then John he did him to record draw； And John he caste him a gods…pennie； But for every pounde that John agreed； The land； I wis； was well worth three。 Heir of Linne。
The Galwegian John o' the Scales was a more clever fellow than his prototype。 He contrived to make himself heir of Lione without the disagreeable ceremony of 〃telling down the good red gold。〃 Miss Bertram no sooner heard this painful； and of late unexpected intelligence； than she proceeded in the preparations she had already made for leaving the mansion…house immediately。 Mr。 Mac…Morlan assisted her in these arrangements； and pressed upon her so kindly the hospitality and protection of his roof； until she should receive an answer from her cousin' or be enabled to adopt some settled plan of life； that she felt there would be unkindness in refusing an invitation urged with such earnestness。 Mrs。 Mac…Morlan was a lady…like person； and well qualified by birth and manners to receive the visit； and to make her house agreeable to Miss Bertram。 A home； therefore； and an hospitable reception； were secured to her； and she went on； with better heart； to pay the wages and receive the adieus of the few domestics of her father's family。
Where there are estimable qualities or； either side； this task is always affectingthe present circumstances rendered it doubly so。 All received their due； and even a trifle more； and with thanks and good wishes； to which some added tears； took farewell of their young mistress。 There remained in the parlour only Mr。 Mac…Morlan； who came to attend his guest to his house； Dominie Sampson； and Miss Bertram。 〃And now；〃 said the poor girl； 〃I must bid farewell to one of my oldest and kindest friends。God bless you； Mr。 Sampson； and requite to you all the kindness of your instructions to your poor pupil； and your friendship to him that is goneI hope I shall often hear from you。〃 She slid into his hand a paper containing some pieces of gold； and rose； as if to leave the room。
Dominie Sampson also rose； but it was to stand aghast with utter astonishment。 The id
