weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第18节
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imbecility of the public； and the youngest； in honour of his perpetual
wanderings； was known by the sobriquet of Randy Dand。
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It will be understood that not all this information was communicated
by the aunt； who had too much of the family failing herself to appreciate it
thoroughly in others。 But as time went on； Archie began to observe an
omission in the family chronicle。
〃Is there not a girl too？〃 he asked。
〃Ay： Kirstie。 She was named for me； or my grandmother at least … it's
the same thing；〃 returned the aunt； and went on again about Dand； whom
she secretly preferred by reason of his gallantries。
〃But what is your niece like？〃 said Archie at the next opportunity。
〃Her？ As black's your hat！ But I dinna suppose she would maybe be
what you would ca' ILL…LOOKED a'thegither。 Na； she's a kind of a
handsome jaud … a kind o' gipsy；〃 said the aunt； who had two sets of scales
for men and women … or perhaps it would be more fair to say that she had
three； and the third and the most loaded was for girls。
〃How comes it that I never see her in church？〃 said Archie。
〃 'Deed； and I believe she's in Glesgie with Clem and his wife。 A heap
good she's like to get of it！ I dinna say for men folk； but where weemen
folk are born； there let them bide。 Glory to God； I was never far'er from
here than Crossmichael。〃
In the meanwhile it began to strike Archie as strange； that while she
thus sang the praises of her kinsfolk； and manifestly relished their virtues
and （I may say） their vices like a thing creditable to herself； there should
appear not the least sign of cordiality between the house of Hermiston and
that of Cauldstaneslap。 Going to church of a Sunday； as the lady
housekeeper stepped with her skirts kilted； three tucks of her white
petticoat showing below； and her best India shawl upon her back （if the
day were fine） in a pattern of radiant dyes； she would sometimes overtake
her relatives preceding her more leisurely in the same direction。 Gib of
course was absent： by skreigh of day he had been gone to Crossmichael
and his fellow…heretics； but the rest of the family would be seen marching
in open order： Hob and Dand； stiff…necked； straight…backed six…footers；
with severe dark faces； and their plaids about their shoulders； the convoy
of children scattering （in a state of high polish） on the wayside； and every
now and again collected by the shrill summons of the mother； and the
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mother herself； by a suggestive circumstance which might have afforded
matter of thought to a more experienced observer than Archie； wrapped in
a shawl nearly identical with Kirstie's； but a thought more gaudy and
conspicuously newer。 At the sight； Kirstie grew more tall … Kirstie showed
her classical profile； nose in air and nostril spread； the pure blood came in
her cheek evenly in a delicate living pink。
〃A braw day to ye； Mistress Elliott；〃 said she； and hostility and
gentility were nicely mingled in her tones。 〃A fine day； mem；〃 the laird's
wife would reply with a miraculous curtsey； spreading the while her
plumage … setting off； in other words； and with arts unknown to the mere
man； the pattern of her India shawl。 Behind her； the whole Cauldstaneslap
contingent marched in closer order； and with an indescribable air of being
in the presence of the foe； and while Dandie saluted his aunt with a certain
familiarity as of one who was well in court； Hob marched on in awful
immobility。 There appeared upon the face of this attitude in the family the
consequences of some dreadful feud。 Presumably the two women had
been principals in the original encounter； and the laird had probably been
drawn into the quarrel by the ears； too late to be included in the present
skin…deep reconciliation。
〃Kirstie；〃 said Archie one day； 〃what is this you have against your
family？〃
〃I dinna complean；〃 said Kirstie； with a flush。 〃I say naething。〃
〃I see you do not … not even good…day to your own nephew；〃 said he。
〃I hae naething to be ashamed of；〃 said she。 〃I can say the Lord's
prayer with a good grace。 If Hob was ill； or in preeson or poverty； I would
see to him blithely。 But for curtchying and complimenting and colloguing；
thank ye kindly！〃
Archie had a bit of a smile： he leaned back in his chair。 〃I think you
and Mrs。 Robert are not very good friends；〃 says he slyly； 〃when you have
your India shawls on？〃
She looked upon him in silence； with a sparkling eye but an
indecipherable expression； and that was all that Archie was ever destined
to learn of the battle of the India shawls。
〃Do none of them ever come here to see you？〃 he inquired。
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〃Mr。 Archie；〃 said she； 〃I hope that I ken my place better。 It would be a
queer thing； I think； if I was to clamjamfry up your faither's house … that I
should say it！ … wi' a dirty； black…a…vised clan； no ane o' them it was worth
while to mar soap upon but just mysel'！ Na； they're all damnifeed wi' the
black Ellwalds。 I have nae patience wi' black folk。〃 Then； with a sudden
consciousness of the case of Archie； 〃No that it maitters for men sae
muckle；〃 she made haste to add； 〃but there's naebody can deny that it's
unwomanly。 Long hair is the ornament o' woman ony way； we've good
warrandise for that … it's in the Bible … and wha can doubt that the Apostle
had some gowden…haired lassie in his mind … Apostle and all； for what was
he but just a man like yersel'？〃
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CHAPTER VI … A LEAF FROM
CHRISTINA'S PSALM…BOOK
ARCHIE was sedulous at church。 Sunday after Sunday he sat down
and stood up with that small company； heard the voice of Mr。 Torrance
leaping like an ill…played clarionet from key to key； and had an
opportunity to study his moth…eaten gown and the black thread mittens
that he joined together in prayer； and lifted up with a reverent solemnity in
the act of benediction。 Hermiston pew was a little square box； dwarfish in
proportion with the kirk itself； and enclosing a table not much bigger than
a footstool。 There sat Archie； an apparent prince； the only undeniable
gentleman and the only great heritor in the parish； taking his ease in the
only pew； for no other in the kirk had doors。 Thence he might command an
undisturbed view of that congregation of solid plaided men； strapping
wives and daughters； oppressed children； and uneasy sheep…dogs。 It was
strange how Archie missed the look of race； except the dogs； with their
refined foxy faces and inimitably curling tails； there was no one present
with the least claim to gentility。 The Cauldstaneslap party was scarcely an
exception； Dandie perhaps； as he amused himself making verses through
the interminable burden of the service； stood out a little by the glow in his
eye and a certain superior animation of face and alertness of body； but
even Dandie slouched like a rustic。 The rest of the congregation； like so
many sheep； oppressed him with a sense of hob…nailed routine； day
following day … of physical labour in the open air； oatmeal porridge； peas
bannock the somnolent fireside in the evening； and the night…long nasal
slumbers in a box…bed。 Yet he knew many of them to be shrewd and
humorous； men of character； notable women； making a bustle in the world
and radiating an influence from their low…browed doors。 He knew besides
they were like other men； below the crust of custom； rapture found a way；
he had heard them beat the timbrel before Bacchus … had heard them shout
and carouse over their whisky…toddy； and not the most Dutch… bottomed
and severe faces among them all； not even the solemn elders themselves；
