donal grant-第13节

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an　understanding。〃

〃Try　me　then　for　three　months；　my　lord；　give　me　my　board　and
lodging；　the　use　of　your　library；　and　at　the　end　of　the　quarter　a
ten…pound…note：　by　that　time　you　will　be　able　to　tell　whether　I　suit
you。〃

The　earl　nodded　agreement；　and　Donal　rose　at　once。　　With　a　heart
full　of　thankfulness　and　hope　he　walked　back　to　his　friends。　　He　had
before　him　pleasant　work；　plenty　of　time　and　book…help；　an　abode
full　of　interest；　and　something　for　his　labour！

〃'Surely　the　wrath　of　man　shall　praise　thee！'〃　said　the　cobbler；
rejoicing　against　the　minister；　〃'the　remainder　of　wrath　shalt　thou
restrain。'〃

In　the　afternoon　Donal　went　into　the　town　to　get　some　trifles　he
wanted　before　going　to　the　castle。　　As　he　turned　to　the　door　of　a
draper's　shop；　he　saw　at　the　counter　the　minister　talking　to　him。
He　would　rather　have　gone　elsewhere　but　for　unwillingness　to　turn
his　back　on　anything：　he　went　in。　　Beside　the　minister　stood　a　young
lady；　who；　having　completed　her　purchases；　was　listening　to　their
conversation。　　The　draper　looked　up　as　he　entered。　　A　glance　passed
between　him　and　the　minister。　　He　came　to　Donal；　and　having　heard
what　he　wanted；　left　him；　went　back　to　the　minister；　and　took　no
more　notice　of　him。　　Donal　found　it　awkward；　and　left　the　shop。

〃High　an'　michty！〃　said　the　draper；　annoyed　at　losing　the　customer
to　whose　dispraise　he　had　been　listening。

〃Far　beyond　dissent；　John！〃　said　the　minister；　pursuing　a　remark。

〃Doobtless；　sir；　it　is　that！〃　answered　the　draper。　〃I'm　thankfu'　to
say　I　never　harboured　a　doobt　mysel'；　but　aye　took　what　I　was　tauld；
ohn　argle…barglet。　　What　hae　we　sic　as　yersel'　set　ower's　for；　gien
it　binna　to　haud's　i'　the　straicht　path　o'　what　we're　to　believe　an'
no　to　believe？　　It's　a　fine　thing　no　to　be　accoontable！〃

The　minister　was　an　honest　man　so　far　as　he　knew　himself　and
honesty；　and　did　not　relish　this　form　of　submission。　　But　he　did　not
ask　himself　where　was　the　difference　between　accepting　the　word　of
man　and　accepting　man's　explanation　of　the　word　of　God！　　He　took　a
huge　pinch　from　his　black　snuffbox　and　held　his　peace。

In　the　evening　Donal　would　settle　his　account　with　mistress　Comin：
he　found　her　demand　so　much　less　than　he　had　expected；　that　he
expostulated。　　She　was　firm；　however；　and　assured　him　she　had
gained；　not　lost。　　As　he　was　putting　up　his　things；

〃Lea'　a　buik　or　twa；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃'at　whan　ye　luik　in；　the　place
may　luik　hame…like。　　We　s'　ca'　the　room　yours。　　Come　as　aften　as　ye
can。　　It　does　my　Anerew's　hert　guid　to　hae　a　crack　wi'　ane　'at　kens
something　o'　what　the　Maister　wad　be　at。　　Mony　ane　'll　ca'　him　Lord；
but　feow　'ill　tak　the　trible　to　ken　what　he　wad　hae　o'　them。　　But
there's　my　Anerewhe'll　sit　yon'er　at　his　wark；　thinkin'　by　the
hoor　thegither　ower　something　the　Maister　said　'at　he　canna　win　at
the　richts　o'。　'Depen'　upo'　't；'　he　says　whiles；　'depen'　upo'　't；
lass；　whaur　onything　he　says　disna　luik　richt　to　hiz；　it　maun　be　'at
we　haena　won　at　it！'〃

As　she　ended；　her　husband　came　in；　and　took　up　what　he　fancied　the
thread　of　the　dialogue。

〃An'　what　are　we　to　think　o'　the　man；〃　he　said；　〃at's　content　no　to
un'erstan'　what　he　was　at　the　trible　to　say？　　Wad　he　say　things　'at
he　didna　mean　fowk　to　un'erstan'　whan　he　said　them？〃　〃Weel；　Anerew；〃
said　his　wife；　〃there's　mony　a　thing　he　said　'at　I　can　not
un'erstan'；　naither　am　I　muckle　the　better　for　your　explainin'　o'
the　same；　I　maun　jist　lat　it　sit。〃

Andrew　laughed　his　quiet　pleased　laugh。

〃Weel；　lass；〃　he　said；　〃the　duin'　o'　ae　thing　's　better　nor　the
un'erstan'in'　o'　twenty。　　Nor　wull　ye　be　lang　ohn　un'erstan't　muckle
'at's　dark　to　ye　noo；　for　the　maister　likes　nane　but　the　duer　o'　the
word；　an'　her　he　likes　weel。　　Be　blythe；　lass；　ye　s'　hae　yer　fill　o'
un'erstan'in'　yet！〃

〃I'm　fain　to　believe　ye　speyk　the　trowth；　Anerew！〃

〃It　's　great　trowth；〃　said　Donal。




CHAPTER　XII。

THE　CASTLE。

The　next　morning　came　a　cart　from　the　castle　to　fetch　his　box；　and
after　breakfast　he　set　out　for　his　new　abode。

He　took　the　path　by　the　river…side。　　The　morning　was　glorious。　　The
sun　and　the　river　and　the　birds　were　jubilant；　and　the　wind　gave
life　to　everything。　　It　rippled　the　stream；　and　fluttered　the　long
webs　bleaching　in　the　sun：　they　rose　and　fell　like　white　waves　on
the　bright　green　lake；　and　women；　homely　Nereids　of　the　grassy　sea；
were　besprinkling　them　with　spray。　　There　were　dull　sounds　of　wooden
machinery　near；　but　they　made　no　discord　with　the　sweetness　of　the
hour；　speaking　only　of　activity；　not　labour。　　From　the　long
bleaching　meadows　by　the　river…side　rose　the　wooded　base　of　the
castle。　　Donal's　bosom　swelled　with　delight；　then　came　a　sting：　was
he　already　forgetting　his　inextinguishable　grief？　〃But；〃　he　answered
himself；　〃God　is　more　to　me　than　any　woman！　　When　he　puts　joy　in　my
heart；　shall　I　not　be　glad？　　When　he　calls　my　name　shall　I　not
answer？〃

He　stepped　out　joyfully；　and　was　soon　climbing　the　hill。　　He　was
again　admitted　by　the　old　butler。

〃I　will　show　you　at　once；〃　he　said；　〃how　to　go　and　come　at　your　own
will。〃

He　led　him　through　doors　and　along　passages　to　a　postern　opening　on
a　little　walled　garden　at　the　east　end　of　the　castle。

〃This　door；〃　he　said；　〃is；　you　observe；　at　the　foot　of　Baliol's
tower；　and　in　that　tower　is　your　room；　I　will　show　it　you。〃

He　led　the　way　up　a　spiral　stair　that　might　almost　have　gone　inside
the　newel　of　the　great　staircase。　　Up　and　up　they　went；　until　Donal
began　to　wonder；　and　still　they　went　up。

〃You're　young；　sir；〃　said　the　butler；　〃and　sound　of　wind　and　limb；
so　you'll　soon　think　nothing　of　it。〃

〃I　never　was　up　so　high　before；　except　on　a　hill…side；〃　returned
Donal。　〃The　college…tower　is　nothing　to　this！〃

〃In　a　day　or　two　you'll　be　shooting　up　and　down　it　like　a　bird。　　I
used　to　do　so　myself。　　I　got　into　the　way　of　keeping　a　shoulder
foremost；　and　screwing　up　as　if　I　was　a　blob　of　air！　　Old　age　does
make　fools　of　us！〃

〃You　don't　like　it　then？〃

〃No；　I　do　not：　who　does？〃

〃It's　only　that　you　get　spent　as　you　go　up。　　The　fresh　air　at　the
top　of　the　stair　will　soon　revive　you；〃　said　Donal。

But　his　conductor　did　not　understand　him。

〃That's　all　very　well　so　long　as　you're　young；　but　when　it　has　got
you；　you'll　pant　and　grumble　like　the　rest　of　us。〃

In　the　distance　Donal　saw　Age　coming　slowly　after　him；　to　claw　him
in　his　clutch；　as　the　old　song　says。　〃Please　God；〃　he　thought；　〃by
the　time　he　comes　up；　I'll　be　ready　to　try　a　fall　with　him！　　O　Thou
eternally　young；　the　years　have　no　hold　on　thee；　let　them　have　none
on　thy　child。　　I　too　shall　have　life　eternal。〃

Ere　they　reached　the　top　of　the　stair；　the　man　halted　and　opened　a
door。　　Donal　entering　saw　a　small　room；　nearly　round；　a　portion　of
the　circle　taken　off　by　the　stair。　　On　the　opposite　side　was　a
window　projecting　from　the　wall；　whence　he　could　look　in　three
different　directions。　　The　wide　country　lay　at　his　feet。　　He　saw　the
winding　road　by　which　he　had　ascended；　the　gate　by　which　he　had
entered；　the　meadow　with　its　white　stripes　through　which　he　had
come；　and　the　river　flowing　down。　　He　followed　it　with　his
eyes：lo；　there　was　the　sea；　shining　in　the　sun　like　a　diamond
shield！　　It　was　but　the　little　German　Ocean；　yet　one　with　the　great
world…ocean。　　He　turned　to　his　conductor。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　old　man；　answering　his　look；　〃it's　a　glorious　sight！
When　first　I　looked　out　there　I　thought　I　was　in　eternity。〃

The　walls　were　bare　even　of　plaster；　he　could　have　counted　the
stones　in　them；　but　they　were　dry　as　a　bone。

〃You　are　wondering；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃how　you　are　to　keep　warm　in
the　winter！　　Look　here：　you　shut　this　door　over　the　window！　　See　how
thick　and　strong　it　is！　　There　is　your　fireplace；　and　for　fuel；
there's　plenty　below！　　It　is　a　labour　to　carry　it　up；　I　grant；　but
if　I　was　you；　I　would　set　to　o'　nights　when　nobody　was　about；　and
carry　till　I　had　a　stock　laid　in！〃

〃But；〃　said　Donal；　〃I　should　fill　up　my　room。　　I　like　to　be　able　to
move　about　a　little！〃

〃Ah；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃you　don't　know　what　a　space　you　have　up
here　all　to　yourself！　　Come　this　way。〃

Two　turns　more　up　the　stair；　and　they　came　to　another　door。　　It
opened　into　wide　space：　from　it　Donal　stepped　on　a　ledge　or
bartizan；　without　any　parapet；　that　ran　round　the　tower；　passing
above　the　window　of　his　room。　　It　was　well　he　had　a　steady　brain；
for　he　found　the　height　affect　him　more　than　that　of　a　precipice　on
Glashgar：　doubtless　he　would　get　used　to　it；　for　the　old　man　had
stepped　out　without　the　smallest　hesitation！　　Round　the　tower　he
followed　him。

On　the　other　side　a　few　steps　rose　to　a　watch…towera　sort　of
ornate　sentry…box　in　stone；　where　one　might　sit　and　regard　with　wide
vision　the　whole　country。　　Avoiding　this；　another　step　or　two　led
them　to　the　roof　of　the　castleof　great　stone　slabs。　　A　broad
passage　ran　between　the　rise　of　the　roof　and　a　battlemented　parapet。
By　this　time　they　came　to　a　flat　roof；　on　to　which　they　descended
by　a　few　steps。　　Here　stood　two　rough　sheds；　with　nothing　in　them。

〃There's　stowage！〃　said　the　old　man。

〃Yes；　indeed！〃　answered　Donal；　to　whom　the　idea　of　his　aerie　was
growing　more　and　mo