guy mannering-第44节
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a like to see onybody do a thing better than himself。〃
〃Ay；〃 said another； 〃he's sair shamed o' himself； else he would have been up here the nightGabriel likes a little o' the gude thing as weel as ony o' us。〃
〃Is he of this country？〃 said Brown。
〃Na； na； he's been but shortly in office； but he's a fell hunter…he's frae down the country； some gate on the Dumfries side。〃
〃And what's his name； pray？〃
〃Gabriel。〃
〃But Gabriel what？〃
〃Oh； Lord kens that； we dinna mind folk's after…names muckle here； they run sae muckle into clans。〃
〃Ye see； sir；〃 said an old shepherd； rising； and speaking very slow； 〃the folks hereabout are a' Armstrongs and Elliats； ＇* See Note IV。 Clan Surnames。＇ and sic liketwa or three given namesand so； for distinction's sake； the lairds and farmers have the names of their places that they live atas for example； Tam o' Todshaw； Will o' the Flat； Hobbie o' Sorbietrees； and our good master here； o' the Charlies…hope。Aweel； sir； and then the inferior sort o' people； ye'll observe； are kend by sorts o' by…names some o' them； as Glaiket Christie； and the Deuke's Davie； or maybe； like this lad Gabriel； by his employment； as for example； Tod Gabble； or Hunter Gabble。 He's no been lang here； sir； and I dinna think onybody kens him by ony other name。 But it's no right to rin him doun ahint his back； for he's a fell fox…hunter； though he's maybe no just sae clever as some o' the folk hereawa wi' the waster。〃
After some further desultory conversation； the superior sportsmen retired to conclude the evening after their own manner； leaving the others to enjoy themselves； unawed by their presence。 That evening； like all those which Brown had passed at Charlies…hope； was spent in much innocent mirth and conviviality。 The latter might have approached to the verge of riot but for the good women； for several of the neighbouring mistresses （a phrase of a signification how different from what it bears in more fashionable life！） had assembled at Charliesl hope to witness the event of this memorable evening。 Finding the punch…bowl was so often replenished； that there was some danger of their gracious presence being forgotten； they rushed in valorously upon the recreant revellers； headed by our good Mistress Ailie； so that Venus speedily routed Bacchus。 The fiddler and piper next made their appearance； and the best part of the night was gallantly consumed in dancing to their music。
An otter…hunt the next day； and a badger…baiting the day after； consumed the time merrily。I hope our traveller will not sink in the reader's estimation； sportsman though he may be； when I inform him； that on this last occasion； after young Pepper had lost a fore…foot； and Mustard the second had been nearly throttled； he begged； as a particular and personal favour of Mr。 Dinmont； that the poor badger； who had made so gallant a defence； should he permitted to retire to his earth without further molestation。
The farmer； who would probably have treated this request with supreme contempt had it come from any other person； was contented； in Brown's case； to express the utter extremity of his wonder。 〃Weel；〃 he said； 〃that's queer aneugh！But since ye take his part； deil a tyke shall meddle wi' him mair in my daywe'll e'en mark him； and ca' him the Captain's brock…and I'm sure I'm glad I can do onything to oblige youbut； Lord save us； to care about a brock！〃 ＇*Badger＇ After a week spent in rural sport； and distinguished by the most frank attentions on the part of his honest landlord； Brown bade adieu to the banks of the Liddel； and the hospitality of Charlies…hope。 The children； with all of whom he had now become an intimate and a favourite； roared manfully in full chorus at his departure； and he was obliged to promise twenty times； that he would soon return and play over all their favourite tunes upon the flageolet till they had got them by heart。〃Come back again； Captain；〃 said one little sturdy fellow； 〃and Jenny will be your wife。〃 Jenny was about eleven years oldshe ran and hid herself behind her mammy。
〃Captain； come back；〃 said a little fat roll…about girl of six； holding her mouth up to be kissed； 〃and I'll be your wife my ainsell。〃
〃They must be of harder mould than I；〃 thought Brown； 〃who could part from so many kind hearts with indifference。 〃The good dame too； with matron modesty； and an affectionate simplicity that marked the olden time； offered her cheek to the departing guest〃It's little the like of us can do；〃 she said； 〃little indeedbut yetif there were but anything〃
〃Now； my dear Mrs。 Dinmont； you embolden me to make a requestwould you but have the kindness to weave me； or work me； just such a gray plaid as the goodman wears？〃 He had learned the language and feelings of the country even during the short time of his residence； and was aware of the pleasure the request would confer。
〃A tait o' woo' ＇*Tuft of wool＇ would be scarce amang us；〃 said the gudewife； brightening； 〃if ye shouldna hae that； and as gude a tweel as ever cam aff a pirn。 I'll speak to Johnnie Goodsire； the weaver at the Castletown； the morn。 Fare ye wee＇； sir！and may ye be just as happy yourself as ye like to see a' body elseand that would be a sair wish to some folk。〃 I must not omit to mention； that our traveller left his trusty attendant Wasp to be a guest at Charlies…hope for a season。 He foresaw that he might prove a troublesome attendant in the event of his being in any situation where secrecy and concealment might he necessary。 He； was therefore consigned to the care of the eldest boy； who promised； in the words of the old song； that he should have A bit of his supper； a bit of his bed； and that he should be engaged in none of those perilous pastimes in which the race of Mustard and Pepper had suffered frequent mutilation。 Brown now prepared for his journey； having taken a temporary farewell of his trusty little companion。
There is an old prejudice in these hills in favour of riding。 Every farmer rides well； and rides the whole day。 Probably the extent of their large pasture farms； and the necessity of surveying them rapidly； first introduced this custom； or a very zealous antiquary might derive it from the times of the Lay o the Last Minstrel； when twenty thousand horsemen assembled at the light of the beacon…fires。 ＇*It would be affectation to alter this reference。 But the reader will understand it was inserted to keep up the author's incognito； as he was not likely to be suspected of quoting his own works。 This explanation is also applicable to one or two similar passages； in this and the other novels； introduced for the same reason。＇ But the truth is undeniable； they like to be on horseback； and can be with difficulty convinced that any one chooses walking from other motives than those of convenience or necessity。 Accordingly； Dinmont insisted upon mounting his guest； and accompanying him on horseback as far as the nearest town in Dumfriesshire； where he had directed his baggage to be sent； and from which he proposed to pursue his intended journey towards Woodbourne； the residence of Julia Mannering。
Upon the way he questioned his companion concerning the character of the fox…hunter； but gained little information； as he had been called to that office while Dinmont was making the round of the Highland fairs。 〃He was a shake…rag like fellow；〃 he said； 〃and； he dared to say； had gipsy blood in his veinsbut at ony rate he was nane o' the smacks ＇*Rogues＇ that had been on their quarters in the mosshe would ken them weel if he saw them again。 There are some no bad folk amang the gipsies too； to be sic a gang；〃 added Dandie； 〃if ever I see that auld randle…tree of a wife again； I'll gie her something to buy tobaccoI have a great notion she meant me very fair after a'。〃
When they were about finally to part； the good farmer held Brown long by the hand； and at length said； 〃Captain； the woo's sae weel up the year that it's paid a' the rent； and we have naething to do wi' the rest o' the siller when Ailie has had her new gown； and the bairns their bits o' duds ＇*Clothes＇now I was thinking of some safe hand to put it into； for it's ower muckle to ware on brandy and sugarnow I have heard that you army gentlemen can sometimes buy yoursells up a step； and if a hundred or twa would help ye on such an occasion； the bit scrape o' your pen would be as good to me as the siller； and ye might just take yere ane time o' settling itit wad be a great convenience to me。〃 Brown； who felt the full delicacy that wished to disguise the conferring an obligation under the show of asking a favour； thanked his grateful friend most heartily； and assured him he would have recourse to his purse； without scruple； should circumstances ever render it convenient for him。 And thus they parted with many expressions of mutual regard。
CHAPTER XXVII。
If thou hast any love of mercy in thee； Turn me upon my face that I may die。 Joanna Baillie。
Our traveller hired a post…chaise at the place where he separated from Dinmont； with the purpose of proceeding to Kippletringan； there to inquire into the state of the family at Woodbourne； before he should venture to make his presence in the country known to Miss Mannering。 The stage was a long one of eighteen
