donal grant-第44节

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his　handy…work。'　I　used；　whan　I　was　a　lad；　to　study　astronomy　a　wee；
i'　the　houp　o'　better　hearin'　what　the　h'avens　declared　aboot　the
glory　o'　God：　I　wud　fain　un'erstan'　the　speech　ae　day　cried　across
the　nicht　to　the　ither。　But　I　was　sair　disapp'intit。　The　things　the
astronomer　tellt　semple　fowk　war　verra　won'erfu'；　but　I　couldna　fin'
i'　my　hert　'at　they　made　me　think　ony　mair　o'　God　nor　I　did　afore。　I
dinna　mean　to　say　they　michtna　be　competent　to　work　that　in　anither；
but　it　wasna　my　experrience　o'　them。　My　hert　was　some　sair　at　this；
for　ye　see　I　was　set　upo'　winnin'　intil　the　presence　o'　him　I
couldna　bide　frae；　an'　at　that　time　I　hadna　learnt　to　gang　straucht
to　him　wha's　the　express　image　o'　's　person；　but；　aye　soucht　him
throuw　the　philosophyeh；　but　it　was　bairnly　philosophy！o'　the
guid　buiks　'at　dwall　upo'　the　natur'　o'　God　an'　a'　that；　an'　his
hatred　o'　sin　an'　a'　thatpairt　an'　pairt　true；　nae　doobt！　but　I
wantit　God　great　an'　near；　an'　they　made　him　oot　sma'；　sma'；　an'
unco'　far　awa'。　Ae　nicht　I　was　oot　by　mysel'　upo'　the　shore；　jist　as
the　stars　war　teetin'　oot。　An'　it　wasna　as　gien　they　war　feart　o'
the　sun；　an'　pleast　'at　he　was　gane；　but　as　gien　they　war　a'　teetin'
oot　to　see　what　had　come　o'　their　Father　o'　Lichts。　A'　at　ance　I　cam
to　mysel'；　like　oot　o'　some　blin'　delusion。　Up　I　cuist　my　e'en
aboonan'　eh；　there　was　the　h'aven　as　God　made　itawfu'！big　an'
deep；　ay　faddomless　deep；　an'　fu'　o'　the　wan'erin'　yet　steady　lichts
'at　naething　can　blaw　oot；　but　the　breath　o'　his　mooth！　Awa'　up　an'
up　it　gaed；　an'　deeper　an'　deeper！　an'　my　e'en　gaed　traivellin'　awa'
an'　awa'；　till　it　seemed　as　though　they　never　could　win　back　to　me。
A'　at　ance　they　drappit　frae　the　lift　like　a　laverock；　an'　lichtit
upo'　the　horizon；　whaur　the　sea　an'　the　sky　met　like　richteousness
an'　peace　kissin'　ane　anither；　as　the　psalm　says。　Noo　I　canna　tell
what　it　was；　but　jist　there　whaur　the　earth　an'　the　sky　cam
thegither；　was　the　meetin'　o'　my　earthly　sowl　wi'　God's　h'avenly
sowl！　There　was　bonny　colours；　an'　bonny　lichts；　an'　a　bonny　grit
star　hingin'　ower　't　a'；　but　it　was　nane　o'　a'　thae　things；　it　was
something　deeper　nor　a'；　an'　heicher　nor　a'！　Frae　that　moment　I
sawno　hoo　the　h'avens　declare　the　glory　o'　God；　but　I　saw　them
declarin'　't；　an'　I　wantit　nae　mair。　Astronomy　for　me　micht　sit　an'
wait　for　a　better　warl'；　whaur　fowk　didna　weir　oot　their　shune；　an'
ither　fowk　hadna　to　men'　them。　For　what　is　the　great　glory　o'　God
but　that；　though　no　man　can　comprehen'　him；　he　comes　doon；　an'　lays
his　cheek　til　his　man's；　an'　says　til　him；　'Eh；　my　cratur！'〃

While　the　cobbler　was　thus　talking；　they　had　gone　the　length　of　the
avenue；　and　were　within　less　than　two　trees　of　the　door　of　the
fruit…garden；　when　it　opened；　and　was　hurriedly　shut　againnot；
however；　before　Donal　had　caught　sight；　as　he　believed；　of　the　form
of　Eppy。　He　called　her　by　name；　and　ran　to　the　door；　followed　by
Andrew：　the　same　suspicion　had　struck　both　of　them　at　once！　Donal
lifted　the　latch；　and　would　have　opened　the　door；　but　some　one　held
it　against　him；　and　he　heard　the　noise　of　an　attempt　to　push　the
rusty　bolt　into　the　staple。　He　set　his　strength　to　it；　and　forced
the　door　open。　Lord　Forgue　was　on　the　other　side　of　it；　and　a　little
way　off　stood　Eppy　trembling。　Donal　turned　away　from　his　lordship；
and　said　to　the　girl；

〃Eppy；　here's　your　grandfather　come　to　see　you！〃

The　cobbler；　however；　went　up　to　lord　Forgue。

〃You're　a　young　man；　my　lord；〃　he　said；　〃an'　may　regard　it　as　folly
in　an　auld　man　to　interfere　between　you　an'　your　wull；　but　I　warn
ye；　my　lord；　excep'　you　cease　to　carry　yourself　thus　towards　my
granddaughter；　his　lordship；　your　father；　shall　be　informed　of　the
matter。　Eppy；　you　come　home　with　me。〃

〃I　will　not；〃　said　Eppy；　her　voice　trembling　with　passion；　though
which　passion　it　were　hard　to　say；　〃I　am　a　free　woman。　I　make　my　own
living。　I　will　not　be　treated　like　a　child！〃

〃I　will　speak　to　mistress　Brookes；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　sad
dignity。

〃And　make　her　turn　me　away！〃　said　Eppy。

She　seemed　quite　changedbold　and　determinedwas　probably　relieved
that　she　could　no　more　play　a　false　part。　His　lordship　stood　and
said　nothing。

〃But　don't　you　think；　grandfather；〃　continued　Eppy；　〃that　whatever
mistress　Brookes　says　or　does；　I'll　go　home　with　you！　I've　saved
money；　and；　as　I　can't　get　another　place　here　when　you've　taken　away
my　character；　I'll　leave　the　country。〃

His　lordship　advanced；　and　with　strained　composure　said；

〃I　confess；　Mr。　Comin；　things　do　look　against　us。　It　is　awkward　you
should　have　found　us　together；　but　you　know〃and　here　he　attempted
a　laugh〃we　are　told　not　to　judge　by　appearances！〃

〃We　may　be　forced　to　act　by　them；　though；　my　lord！〃　said　Andrew。　〃I
should　be　sorry　to　judge　aither　of　you　by　them。　Eppy　must　come　home
with　me；　or　it　will　be　more　awkward　yet　for　both　of　you！〃

〃Oh；　if　you　threaten　us；〃　said　Forgue　contemptuously；　〃then　of
course　we　are　very　frightened！　But　you　had　better　beware！　You　will
only　make　it　the　more　difficult　for　me　to　do　your　granddaughter　the
justice　I　always　intended。〃

〃What　your　lordship's　notion　o'　justice　may　be；　I　wull　not　trouble
you　to　explain；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃All　I　desire　for　the　present　is；
that　she　come　home　with　me。〃

〃Let　us　leave　the　matter　to　mistress　Brookes！〃　said　Forgue。　〃I　shall
easily　satisfy　her　that　there　is　no　occasion　for　any　hurry。　Believe
me；　you　will　only　bring　trouble　on　the　innocent！〃

〃Then　it　canna　be　on　you；　my　lord！　for　in　this　thing　you　have　not
behaved　as　a　gentleman　ought！〃　said　the　cobbler。

〃You　dare　tell　me　so！〃　cried　Forgue；　striding　up　to　the　little　old
man；　as　if　he　would　sweep　him　away　with　the　very　wind　of　his
approach。

〃Yes；　for　else　how　should　I　say　it　to　another；　an'　that　may　soon　be
necessar'！〃　answered　the　cobbler。　〃Didna　yer　lordship　promise　an　en'
to　the　haill　meeserable　affair？〃

〃I　remember　nothing　of　the　sort。〃

〃You　did　to　me！〃　said　Donal。

〃Do　hold　your　tongue；　Grant；　and　don't　make　things　worse。　To　you　I
can　easily　explain　it。　Besides；　you　have　nothing　to　do　with　it　now
this　good　fellow　has　taken　it　up。　It　is　quite　possible；　besides；　to
break　one's　word　to　the　ear　and　yet　keep　it　to　the　sense。〃

〃The　only　thing　to　justify　that　suggestion；〃　said　Donal；　〃would　be
that　you　had　married　Eppy；　or　were　about　to　marry　her！〃

Eppy　would　have　spoken；　but　she　only　gave　a　little　cry；　for　Forgue
put　his　hand　over　her　mouth。

〃You　hold　your　tongue！〃　he　said；　〃you　will　only　complicate　matters！〃

〃And　there's　another　point；　my　lord；〃　resumed　Donal：　〃you　say　I　have
nothing　to　do　now　with　the　affair：　if　not　for　my　friend's　sake；　I
have　for　my　own。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃That　I　am　in　the　house　a　paid　servant；　and　must　not　allow　anything
mischievous　to　go　on　in　it　without　acquainting　my　master。〃

〃You　acknowledge；　Mr。　Grant；　that　you　are　neither　more　nor　less　than
a　paid　servant；　but　you　mistake　your　duty　as　such：　I　shall　be　happy
to　explain　it　to　you。You　have　nothing　whatever　to　do　with　what
goes　on　in　the　house；　you　have　but　to　mind　your　work。　I　told　you
before；　you　are　my　brother's　tutor；　not　mine！　To　interfere　with　what
I　do；　is　nothing　less　than　a　piece　of　damned　impertinence！〃

〃That　impertinence；　however；　I　intend　to　be　guilty　of　the　moment　I
can　get　audience　of　your　father。〃

〃You　will　not；　if　I　give　you　such　explanation　as　satisfies　you　I
have　done　the　girl　no　harm；　and　mean　honestly　by　her！〃　said　Forgue
in　a　confident；　yet　somewhat　conciliatory　tone。

〃In　any　case；〃　returned　Donal；　〃you　having　once　promised；　and　then
broken　your　promise；　I　shall　without　fail　tell　your　father　all　I
know。〃

〃And　ruin　her；　and　perhaps　me　too；　for　life？〃

〃The　truth　will　ruin　only　those　that　ought　to　be　ruined！〃　said
Donal。

Forgue　sprang　upon　him；　and　struck　him　a　heavy　blow　between　the
eyes。　He　had　been　having　lessons　in　boxing　while　in　Edinburgh；　and
had　confidence　in　himself。　It　was　a　well…planted　blow；　and　Donal
unprepared　for　it。　He　staggered　against　the　wall；　and　for　a　moment
could　neither　see　nor　think：　all　he　knew　was　that　there　was
something　or　other　he　had　to　attend　to。　His　lordship；　excusing
himself　perhaps　on　the　ground　of　necessity；　there　being　a　girl　in
the　case；　would　have　struck　him　again；　but　Andrew　threw　himself
between；　and　received　the　blow　for　him。

As　Donal　came　to　himself；　he　heard　a　groan　from　the　ground；　and
looking；　saw　Andrew　at　his　feet；　and　understood。

〃Dear　old　man！〃　he　said；　〃he　dared　to　strike　you！〃

〃He　didna　mean　't；〃　returned　Andrew　feebly。　〃Are　ye　winnin'　ower　't；
sir？　He　gae　ye　a　terrible　ane！　Ye　micht　hae　h'ard　it　across　the
street！〃

〃I　shall　be　all　right　in　a　minute！〃　answered　Donal；　wiping　the　blood
out　of　his　eyes。　〃I've　a　good　hard　head；　thank　God！But　what　has
become　of　them？〃

〃Ye　didna　think　he　wud　be　waitin'　to　see　's　come　to　oorsel's！〃　said
the　cobbler。

With　Donal's　help；　and　great　difficulty；　he　rose；　and　they　stood
looking　at　each　other　through　the　starlight；　bewildered　and
uncertain。　The　cobbler　was　the　first　to　recover　his　wits。

〃It's　o'　no　mainner　of　use；〃　he　said；　〃to　rouse　the　castel　wi'　hue
an'　cry！　What　hae　we　to　say　but　'at　we　faund　the　t