donal grant-第6节

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body。〃

〃It's　a　some　auld…farrand　joke；〃　said　the　cobbler；　〃but　the　fun
intil　a　thing　doesna　weir　oot　ony　mair　nor　the　poetry　or　the　trowth
intil't。〃

〃Who　will　say　there　was　no　providence　in　the　loss　of　my　shoe…sole！〃
remarked　Donal　to　himself。　〃Here　I　am　with　a　friend　already！〃

The　cobbler　was　submitting　the　shoes；　first　the　sickly　one；　now　the
sound　one；　to　a　thorough　scrutiny。

〃Ye　dinna　think　them　worth　men'in'；　I　doobt！〃　said　Donal；　with　a
touch　of　anxiety　in　his　tone。

〃I　never　thoucht　that　whaur　the　leather　wad　haud　the　steik；〃　replied
the　cobbler。　〃But　whiles；　I　confess；　I'm　jist　a　wheen　tribled　to　ken
hoo　to　chairge　for　my　wark。　　It's　no　barely　to　consider　the　time
it'll　tak　me　to　cloot　a　pair；　but　what　the　weirer　's　like　to　git　oot
o'　them。　　I　canna　tak　mair　nor　the　job　'ill　be　worth　to　the　weirer。
An'　yet　the　waur　the　shune；　an'　the　less　to　be　made　o'　them；　the
mair　time　they　tak　to　mak　them　worth　onything　ava'！〃

〃Surely　ye　oucht　to　be　paid　in　proportion　to　your　labour。〃

〃I'　that　case　I　wad　whiles　hae　to　say　til　a　puir　body　'at　hadna
anither　pair　i'　the　warl'；　'at　her　ae　pair　o'　shune　wasna　worth
men'in'；　an'　that　wad　be　a　hertbrak；　an'　sair　feet　forby；　to　sic　as
couldna；　like　yersel'；　sir；　gang　upo'　the　Lord's　ain　shune。〃

〃But　hoo　mak　ye　a　livin'　that　w'y？〃　suggested　Donal。

〃Hoots；　the　maister　o'　the　trade　sees　to　my　wauges！〃

〃An'　wha　may　he　be？〃　asked　Donal；　well　foreseeing　the　answer。

〃He　was　never　cobbler　himsel'；　but　he　was　ance　carpenter；　an'　noo
he's　liftit　up　to　be　heid　o'　a'　the　trades。　　An'　there's　ae　thing　he
canna　bide；　an'　that's　close　parin'。〃

He　stopped。　　But　Donal　held　his　peace；　waiting；　and　he　went　on。

〃To　them　'at　maks　little；　for　reasons　good；　by　their　neebour；　he
gies　the　better　wauges　whan　they　gang　hame。　　To　them　'at　maks　a'　'at
they　can；　he　says；　'Ye　helpit　yersel'；　help　awa'；　ye　hae　yer　reward。
Only　comena　near　me；　for　I　canna　bide　ye'。But　aboot　thae　shune　o'
yours；　I　dinna　weel　ken！　　They're　weel　eneuch　worth　duin'　the　best　I
can　for　them；　but　the　morn's　Sunday；　an'　what　hae　ye　to　put　on？〃

〃Naethingtill　my　kist　comes；　an'　that；　I　doobt；　winna　be　afore
Monday；　or　maybe　the　day　efter。〃

〃An'　ye　winna　be　able　to　gang　to　the　kirk！〃

〃I'm　no　partic'lar　aboot　gaein'　to　the　kirk；　but　gien　I　wantit　to
gang；　or　gien　I　thoucht　I　was　b'un'　to　gang；　think　ye　I　wad　bide　at
hame　'cause　I　hadna　shune　to　gang　in！　　Wad　I　fancy　the　Lord
affrontit　wi'　the　bare　feet　he　made　himsel'！〃

The　cobbler　caught　up　the　worst　shoe　and　began　upon　it　at　once。

〃Ye　s'　hae't；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃gien　I　sit　a'　nicht　at　it！　　The　ane
'll　du　till　Monday。　　Ye　s'　hae't　afore　kirk…time；　but　ye　maun　come
intil　the　hoose　to　get　it；　for　the　fowk　wud　be　scunnert　to　see　me
workin'　upo'　the　Sabbath…day。　　They　dinna　un'erstan'　'at　the　Maister
works　Sunday　an'　Setterdayan'　his　Father　as　weel！〃

〃Ye　dinna　think；　than；　there's　onything　wrang　in　men'in'　a　pair　o'
shune　on　the　Sabbath…day？〃

〃Wrang！in　obeyin'　my　Maister；　whase　is　the　day；　as　weel's　a'　the
days？　　They　wad　fain　tak　it　frae　the　Son　o'　Man；　wha's　the　lord　o'
't；　but　they　canna！〃

He　looked　up　over　the　old　shoe　with　eyes　that　flashed。

〃But　thenexcuse　me；〃　said　Donal；　〃why　shouldna　ye　haud　yer　face
til　't；　an'　work　openly；　i'　the　name　o'　God？〃

〃We're　telt　naither　to　du　oor　gude　warks　afore　men　to　be　seen　o'
them；　nor　yet　to　cast　oor　pearls　afore　swine。　　I　coont　cobblin'　your
shoes；　sir；　a　far　better　wark　nor　gaein'　to　the　kirk；　an'　I　wadna
hae't　seen　o'　men。　　Gien　I　war　warkin'　for　poverty；　it　wad　be
anither　thing。〃

This　last　Donal　did　not　understand；　but　learned　afterwards　what　the
cobbler　meant：　the　day　being　for　rest；　the　next　duty　to　helping
another　was　to　rest　himself。　　To　work　for　fear　of　starving　would　be
to　distrust　the　Father；　and　act　as　if　man　lived　by　bread　alone。

〃Whan　I　think　o'　't；〃　he　resumed　after　a　pause；　〃bein'　Sunday；　I'll
tak　them　hame　to　ye。　　Whaur　wull　ye　be？〃

〃That's　what　I　wad　fain　hae　ye　tell　me；〃　answered　Donal。　〃I　had
thoucht　to　put　up　at　the　Morven　Airms；　but　there's　something　I　dinna
like　aboot　the　lan'lord。　　Ken　ye　ony　dacent；　clean　place；　whaur　they
wad　gie　me　a　room　to　mysel'；　an'　no　seek　mair　nor　I　could　pey　them？〃

〃We　hae　a　bit　roomie　oorsel's；〃　said　the　cobbler；　〃at　the　service　o'
ony　dacent　wayfarin'　man　that　can　stan'　the　smell；　an'　put　up　wi'
oor　w'ys。　　For　peyment；　ye　can　pey　what　ye　think　it's　worth。　　We're
never　varra　partic'lar。〃

〃I　tak　yer　offer　wi'　thankfu'ness；〃　answered　Donal。

〃Weel；　gang　ye　in　at　that　door　jist　'afore　ye；　an'　ye'll　see　the
guidwifethere's　nane　ither　til　see。　　I　wad　gang　wi'　ye　mysel'；　but
I　canna；　wi'　this　shue　o'　yours　to　turn　intil　a　Sunday　ane！〃

Donal　went　to　the　door　indicated。　　It　stood　wide　open；　for　while　the
cobbler　sat　outside　at　his　work；　his　wife　would　never　shut　the　door。
He　knocked；　but　there　came　no　answer。

〃She's　some　dull　o'　hearin'；〃　said　the　cobbler；　and　called　her　by
his　own　name　for　her。

〃Doory！　　Doory！〃　he　said。

〃She　canna　be　that　deif　gien　she　hears　ye！〃　said　Donal；　for　he　spoke
hardly　louder　than　usual。

〃Whan　God　gies　you　a　wife；　may　she　be　ane　to　hear　yer　lichtest
word！〃　answered　the　cobbler。

Sure　enough；　he　had　scarcely　finished　the　sentence；　when　Doory
appeared　at　the　door。

〃Did　ye　cry；　guidman？〃　she　said。

〃Na；　Doory：　I　canna　say　I　cried；　but　I　spak；　an'　ye；　as　is　yer
custom；　hearkent　til　my　word！Here's　a　believin'　ladI'm　thinkin'
he　maun　be　a　gentleman；　but　I'm　no　sure；　it's　hard　for　a　cobbler　to
ken　a　gentleman　'at　comes　til　him　wantin'　shune；　but　he　may　be　a
gentleman　for　a'　that；　an'　there's　nae　hurry　to　ken。　　He's　welcome
to　me；　gien　he　be　welcome　to　you。　　Can　ye　gie　him　a　nicht's
lodgin'？〃

〃Weel　that！　an'　wi'　a'　my　hert！〃　said　Doory。　〃He's　welcome　to　what
we　hae。〃

Turning；　she　led　the　way　into　the　house。




CHAPTER　VI。

DOORY。

She　was　a　very　small；　spare　woman；　in　a　blue　print　with　little　white
spotsstraight；　not　bowed　like　her　husband。　　Otherwise　she　seemed
at　first　exactly　like　him。　　But　ere　the　evening　was　over；　Donal　saw
there　was　no　featural　resemblance　between　the　two　faces；　and　was
puzzled　to　understand　how　the　two　expressions　came　to　be　so　like：　as
they　sat　it　seemed　in　the　silence　as　if　they　were　the　same　person
thinking　in　two　shapes　and　two　places。

Following　the　old　woman；　Donal　ascended　a　steep　and　narrow　stair；
which　soon　brought　him　to　a　landing　where　was　light；　coming　mainly
through　green　leaves；　for　the　window　in　the　little　passage　was
filled　with　plants。　　His　guide　led　him　into　what　seemed　to　him　an
enchanting　roomhomely　enough　it　was；　but　luxurious　compared　to
what　he　had　been　accustomed　to。　　He　saw　white　walls　and　a　brown…hued
but　clean…swept　wooden　floor；　on　which　shone　a　keen…eyed　little　fire
from　a　low　grate。　　Two　easy　chairs；　covered　with　some　party…coloured
striped　stuff；　stood　one　on　each　side　of　the　fire。　　A　kettle　was
singing　on　the　hob。　　The　white　deal…table　was　set　for　teawith　a
fat　brown　teapot；　and　cups　of　a　gorgeous　pattern　in　bronze；　that
shone　in　the　firelight　like　red　gold。　　In　one　of　the　walls　was　a
box…bed。

〃I'll　lat　ye　see　what　accommodation　we　hae　at　yer　service；　sir；〃
said　Doory；　〃an'　gien　that'll　shuit　ye；　ye　s'　be　welcome。〃

So　saying；　she　opened　what　looked　like　the　door　of　a　cupboard　at　the
side　of　the　fireplace。　　It　disclosed　a　neat　little　parlour；　with　a
sweet　air　in　it。　　The　floor　was　sanded；　and　so　much　the　cleaner　than
if　it　had　been　carpeted。　　A　small　mahogany　table；　black　with　age；
stood　in　the　middle。　　On　a　side…table　covered　with　a　cloth　of　faded
green；　lay　a　large　family　bible；　behind　it　were　a　few　books　and　a
tea…caddy。　　In　the　side　of　the　wall　opposite　the　window；　was　again　a
box…bed。　　To　the　eyes　of　the　shepherd…born　lad；　it　looked　the　most
desirable　shelter　he　had　ever　seen。　　He　turned　to　his　hostess　and
said；

〃I'm　feart　it's　ower　guid　for　me。　　What　could　ye　lat　me　hae't　for　by
the　week？　　I　wad　fain　bide　wi'　ye；　but　whaur　an'　whan　I　may　get　wark
I　canna　tell；　sae　I　maunna　tak　it　ony　gait　for　mair　nor　a　week。〃

〃Mak　yersel'　at　ease　till　the　morn　be　by；〃　said　the　old　woman。　〃Ye
canna　du　naething　till　that　be　ower。　　Upo'　the　Mononday　mornin'　we
s'　haud　a　cooncil　thegitheryou　an'　me　an'　my　man：　I　can　du
naething　wantin'　my　man；　we　aye　pu'　thegither　or　no　at　a'。〃

Well　content；　and　with　hearty　thanks；　Donal　committed　his　present
fate　into　the　hands　of　the　humble　pair；　his　heaven…sent　helpers；　and
after　much　washing　and　brushing；　all　that　was　possible　to　him　in　the
way　of　dressing；　reappeared　in　the　kitchen。　　Their　tea　was　ready；
and　the　cobbler　seated　in　the　window　with　a　book　in　his　hand；
leaving　for　Donal　his　easy　chair。

〃I　canna　tak　yer　ain　cheir　frae　ye；〃　said　Donal。

〃Hoots！〃　returned　the　cobbler；　〃what's　onything　oors　for　but　to　gie
the　neeper　'at　stan's　i'　need　o'　't。〃

〃But　ye　hae　had　a　sair　day's　wark！〃

〃An'　you　a　sair　day's　traivel！〃

〃But　I'm　yoong！〃

〃An'　I'm　auld；　an'　my　labour　the　nearer　ower。〃

〃But　I'm　strong！〃

〃There's　nane　the　less　need　ye　sud　be　hauden　sae。　　Sit　ye　doon；　an'
wastena　yer　backbane。　　My　business　is　to　luik　to　the　bodies　o'　men；
an'　specially　to　their　puir　feet　'at　has