donal grant-第12节

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ascended　the　hill　with　its　dark　ascending　firs；　to　its　crown　of
silvery　birches；　above　which；　as　often　as　the　slowly　circling　road
brought　him　to　the　other　side；　he　saw　rise　like　a　helmet　the　gray
mass　of　the　fortress。　　Turret　and　tower；　pinnacle　and　battlement；
appeared　and　disappeared　as　he　climbed。　　Not　until　at　last　he　stood
almost　on　the　top；　and　from　an　open　space　beheld　nearly　the　whole
front；　could　he　tell　what　it　was　like。　　It　was　a　grand　pile；　but
looked　a　gloomy　one　to　live　in。

He　stood　on　a　broad　grassy　platform；　from　which　rose　a　gravelled
terrace；　and　from　the　terrace　the　castle。　　He　ran　his　eye　along　the
front　seeking　a　door　but　saw　none。　　Ascending　the　terrace　by　a　broad
flight　of　steps；　he　approached　a　deep　recess　in　the　front；　where　two
portions　of　the　house　of　differing　date　nearly　met。　　Inside　this
recess　he　found　a　rather　small　door；　flush　with　the　wall；　thickly
studded　and　plated　with　iron；　surmounted　by　the　Morven　horses　carved
in　gray　stone；　and　surrounded　with　several　mouldings。　　Looking　for
some　means　of　announcing　his　presence；　he　saw　a　handle　at　the　end　of
a　rod　of　iron；　and　pulled；　but　heard　nothing：　the　sound　of　the　bell
was　smothered　in　a　wilderness　of　stone　walls。　　By　and　by；　however；
appeared　an　old　servant；　bowed　and　slow；　with　plentiful　hair　white
as　wool；　and　a　mingled　look　of　childishness　and　caution　in　his
wrinkled　countenance。

〃The　earl　wants　to　see　me；〃　said　Donal。

〃What　name？〃　said　the　man。

〃Donal　Grant；　but　his　lordship　will　be　nothing　the　wiser；　I　suspect；
I　don't　think　he　knows　my　name。　　Tell　himthe　young　man　he　sent　for
to　Andrew　Comin's。〃

The　man　left　him；　and　Donal　began　to　look　about　him。　　The　place
where　he　stood　was　a　mere　entry；　a　cell　in　huge　walls；　with　a
second；　a　low；　round…headed　door；　like　the　entrance　to　a　prison；　by
which　the　butler　had　disappeared。　　There　was　nothing　but　bare　stone
around　him；　with　again　the　Morven　arms　cut　deep　into　it　on　one　side。
The　ceiling　was　neither　vaulted　nor　groined　nor　flat；　but　seemed
determined　by　the　accidental　concurrence　of　ends　of　stone　stairs　and
corners　of　floors　on　different　levels。　　It　was　full　ten　minutes
before　the　man　returned　and　requested　him　to　follow　him。

Immediately　Donal　found　himself　in　a　larger　and　less　irregular
stone…case；　adorned　with　heads　and　horns　and　skins　of　animals。
Crossing　this；　the　man　opened　a　door　covered　with　red　cloth；　which
looked　strange　in　the　midst　of　the　cold　hard　stone；　and　Donal
entered　an　octagonal　space；　its　doors　of　dark　shining　oak；　with
carved　stone　lintels　and　doorposts；　and　its　walls　adorned　with　arms
and　armour　almost　to　the　domed　ceiling。　　Into　it；　as　if　it　descended
suddenly　out　of　some　far　height；　but　dropping　at　last　like　a　gently
alighting　bird；　came　the　end　of　a　turnpike…stair；　of　slow　sweep　and
enormous　diametersuch　a　stair　as　in　wildest　gothic　tale　he　had
never　imagined。　　Like　the　revolving　centre　of　a　huge　shell；　it　went
up　out　of　sight；　with　plain　promise　of　endless　convolutions　beyond。
It　was　of　ancient　stone；　but　not　worn　as　would　have　been　a　narrow
stair。　　A　great　rope　of　silk；　a　modern　addition；　ran　up　along　the
wall　for　a　hand…rail；　and　with　slow…moving　withered　hand　upon　it；　up
the　glorious　ascent　climbed　the　serving　man；　suggesting　to　Donal's
eye　the　crawling　of　an　insect；　to　his　heart　the　redemption　of　the
sons　of　God。

With　the　stair　yet　ascending　above　them　as　if　it　would　never　stop；
the　man　paused　upon　a　step　no　broader　than　the　rest；　and　opening　a
door　in　the　round　of　the　well；　said；　〃Mr。　Grant；　my　lord；〃　and　stood
aside　for　Donal　to　enter。

He　found　himself　in　the　presence　of　a　tall；　bowed　man；　with　a
large…featured　white　face；　thin　and　worn；　and　a　deep…sunken　eye　that
gleamed　with　an　unhealthy　life。　　His　hair　was　thin；　but　covered　his
head；　and　was　only　streaked　with　gray。　　His　hands　were　long　and　thin
and　white；　his　feet　in　large　shoes；　looking　the　larger　that　they
came　out　from　narrow　trousers；　which　were　of　shepherd…tartan。　　His
coat　was　of　light…blue；　with　a　high　collar　of　velvet；　and　much　too
wide　for　him。　　A　black　silk　neckerchief　tied　carelessly　about　his
throat；　and　a　waistcoat　of　pineapple　shawl…stuff；　completed　his
dress。　　On　one　long　little　finger　shone　a　stone　which　Donal　took　for
an　emerald。　　He　motioned　his　visitor　to　a　seat；　and　went　on　writing；
with　a　rudeness　more　like　that　of　a　successful　contractor　than　a
nobleman。　　But　it　gave　Donal　the　advantage　of　becoming　a　little
accustomed　to　his　surroundings。　　The　room　was　not　large；　was
wainscoted；　and　had　a　good　many　things　on　the　walls：　Donal　noted　two
or　three　riding　whips；　a　fishing　rod；　several　pairs　of　spurs；　a
sword　with　golden　hilt；　a　strange　looking　dagger　like　a　flame　of
fire；　one　or　two　old　engravings；　and　what　seemed　a　plan　of　the
estate。　　At　the　one　window；　small；　with　a　stone　mullion；　the　summer
sun　was　streaming　in。　　The　earl　sat　in　its　flood；　and　in　the　heart
of　it　seemed　cold　and　bloodless。　　He　looked　about　sixty　years　of
age；　and　as　if　he　rarely　or　never　smiled。　　Donal　tried　to　imagine
what　a　smile　would　do　for　his　face；　but　failed。　　He　was　not　in　the
least　awed　by　the　presence　of　the　great　man。　　What　is　rank　to　the
man　who　honours　everything　human；　has　no　desire　to　look　what　he　is
not；　has　nothing　to　conceal　and　nothing　to　compass；　is　fearful　of　no
to…morrow；　and　does　not　respect　riches！　　Toward　such　ends　of　being
the　tide　of　Donal's　life　was　at　least　setting。　　So　he　sat　neither
fidgeting　nor　staring；　but　quietly　taking　things　in。

The　earl　raised　himself；　pushed　his　writing　from　him；　turned　towards
him；　and　said　with　courtesy；

〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Grant；　I　wished　to　talk　to　you　with　the　ease　of　duty
done。〃

More　polite　his　address　could　not　have　been；　but　there　was　a
something　between　him　and　Donal　that　was　not　to　be　passed
anameless　gulf　of　the　negative。

〃My　time　is　at　your　lordship's　service；〃　replied　Donal；　with　the
ease　that　comes　of　simplicity。

〃You　have　probably　guessed　why　I　sent　for　you？〃

〃I　have　hoped；　my　lord。〃

There　was　something　of　old…world　breeding　about　the　lad　that
commended　him　to　the　earl。　　Such　breeding　is　not　rare　among
Celt…born　peasants。

〃My　sons　told　me　that　they　had　met　a　young　man　in　the　grounds〃

〃For　which　I　beg　your　lordship's　pardon；〃　said　Donal。　〃I　did　not
know　the　place　was　forbidden。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　soon　be　familiar　with　it。　　I　am　glad　of　your
mistake。　　From　what　they　said；　I　supposed　you　might　be　a　student　in
want　of　a　situation；　and　I　had　been　looking　out　for　a　young　man　to
take　charge　of　the　boy：　it　seemed　possible　you　might　serve　my
purpose。　　I　do　not　question　you　can　show　yourself　fit　for　such　an
office：　I　presume　it　would　suit　you。　　Do　you　believe　yourself　one　to
be　so　trusted？〃

Donal　had　not　a　glimmer　of　false　modesty；　he　answered　immediately；

〃I　do；　my　lord。〃

〃Tell　me　something　of　your　history：　where　were　you　born？　what　were
your　parents？〃

Donal　told　him　all　he　thought　it　of　any　consequence　he　should　know。

His　lordship　did　not　once　interrupt　him　with　question　or　remark。
When　he　had　ended

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　like　all　you　tell　me。　　You　have　testimonials？〃

〃I　have　from　the　professors；　my　lord；　and　one　from　the　minister　of
the　parish；　who　knew　me　before　I　went　to　college。　　I　could　get　one
from　Mr。　Sclater　too；　whose　church　I　attended　while　there。〃

〃Show　me　what　you　have；〃　said　his　lordship。

Donal　took　the　papers　from　the　pocket…book　his　mother　had　made　him；
and　handed　them　to　him。　　The　earl　read　them　with　some　attention；
returning　each　to　him　without　remark　as　he　finished　it；　only　saying
with　the　last；

〃Quite　satisfactory。〃

〃But；〃　said　Donal；　〃there　is　one　thing　I　should　be　more　at　ease　if　I
told　your　lordship：　Mr。　Carmichael；　the　minister　of　this　parish；
would　tell　you　I　was　an　atheist；　or　something　very　like
ittherefore　an　altogether　unsafe　person。　　But　he　knows　nothing　of
me。〃

〃On　what　grounds　then　would　he　say　so？〃　asked　the　earlshowing　not
the　least　discomposure。　〃I　thought　you　were　a　stranger　to　this
place！〃

Donal　told　him　how　they　had　met；　what　had　passed　between　them；　and
how　the　minister　had　behaved　in　consequence。　　His　lordship　heard　him
gravely；　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；

〃Should　Mr。　Carmichael　address　me　on　the　subject；　which　I　do　not
think　likely；　he　will　find　me　already　too　much　prejudiced　in　your
favour。　　But　I　can　imagine　his　mistaking　your　freedom　of　speech：　you
are　scarcely　prudent　enough。　　Why　say　all　you　think？〃

〃I　fear　nothing；　my　lord。〃

The　earl　was　silent；　his　gray　face　seemed　to　grow　grayer；　but　it
might　be　that　just　then　the　sun　went　under　a　cloud；　and　he　was
suddenly　folded　in　shadow。　　After　a　moment　he　spoke　again。

〃I　am　quite　satisfied　with　you　so　far；　Mr。　Grant；　and　as　I　should
not　like　to　employ　you　in　direct　opposition　to　Mr。　Carmichelnot
that　I　belong　to　his　churchwe　will　arrange　matters　before　he　can
hear　of　the　affair。　　What　salary　do　you　want？〃

Donal　replied　he　would　prefer　leaving　the　salary　to　his　lordship's
judgment　upon　trial。

〃I　am　not　a　wealthy　man；〃　returned　his　lordship；　〃and　would　prefer
an　understanding。〃

〃Try　me　then　for　three　months；　my　lord；　give　me　my　board　and
lodging；　the　use　of　y