donal grant-第60节

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time。His　great　passion；　his　keenest　delight；　was　animal　food。　He
ate　enormouslymore；　it　was　said；　than　three　hearty　men。　An　hour
after　he　had　gorged　himself；　he　was　ready　to　gorge　again。　Roast　meat
was　his　main　delight；　but　he　was　fond　of　broth　also。He　must　have
been　more　like　Mrs。　Shelley's　creation　in　Frankenstein　than　any
other。　All　the　time　I　read　that　story；　I　had　the　vision　of　my
far…off　cousin　constantly　before　me；　as　I　saw　him　in　my　mind's　eye
when　my　nurse　described　him；　and　often　I　wondered　whether　Mrs。
Shelley　could　have　heard　of　him。In　an　earlier　age　and　more
practical；　they　would　have　got　rid　of　him　by　readier　and　more
thorough　means；　if　only　for　shame　of　having　brought　such　a　being
into　the　world；　but　they　sent　him　with　his　keeper；　a　little　man　with
a　powerful　eye；　to　that　same　house　down　in　the　town　there：　in　an
altogether　solitary　place　they　could　persuade　no　man　to　live　with
him。　At　night　he　was　always　secured　to　his　bed；　otherwise　his　keeper
would　not　have　had　courage　to　sleep；　for　he　was　as　cunning　as　he　was
hideous。　When　he　slept　during　the　day；　which　he　did　frequently　after
a　meal；　his　attendant　contented　himself　with　locking　his　door；　and
keeping　his　ears　awake。　At　such　times　only　did　he　venture　to　look　on
the　world：　he　would　step　just　outside　the　street…door；　but　would
neither　leave　it；　nor　shut　it　behind　him；　lest　the　savage　should
perhaps　escape　from　his　room；　bar　it；　and　set　the　house　on　fire。

〃One　beautiful　Sunday　morning；　the　brute；　after　a　good　breakfast；
had　fallen　asleep　on　his　bed；　and　the　keeper　had　gone　down　stairs；
and　was　standing　in　the　street　with　the　door　open　behind　him。　All
the　people　were　at　church；　and　the　street　was　empty　as　a　desert。　He
stood　there　for　some　time；　enjoying　the　sweet　air　and　the　scent　of
the　flowers；　went　in　and　got　a　light　to　his　pipe；　put　coals　on　the
fire；　saw　that　the　hugh　cauldron　of　broth　which　the　cook　had　left　in
his　charge　when　he　went　to　churchit　was　to　serve　for　dinner　and
supper　bothwas　boiling　beautifully；　went　back；　and　again　took　his
station　in　front　of　the　open　door。　Presently　came　a　neighbour　woman
from　her　house；　leading　by　the　hand　a　little　girl　too　young　to　go　to
church。　She　stood　talking　with　him　for　some　time。

〃Suddenly　she　cried；　'Good　Lord！　what's　come　o'　the　bairn？'　The　same
instant　came　one　piercing　shriekfrom　some　distance　it　seemed。　The
mother　darted　down　the　neighbouring　close。　But　the　keeper　saw　that
the　door　behind　him　was　shut；　and　was　filled　with　horrible　dismay。
He　darted　to　an　entrance　in　the　close；　of　which　he　always　kept　the
key　about　him；　and　went　straight　to　the　kitchen。　There　by　the　fire
stood　the　savage；　gazing　with　a　fixed　fishy　eye　of　rapture　at　the
cauldron；　which　the　steam；　issuing　in　little　sharp　jets　from　under
the　lid；　showed　to　be　boiling　furiously；　with　grand　prophecy　of
broth。　Ghastly　horror　in　his　very　bones；　the　keeper　lifted　the
lidand　there；　beside　the　beef；　with　the　broth　bubbling　in　waves
over　her；　lay　the　child！　The　demon　had　torn　off　her　frock；　and
thrust　her　into　the　boiling　liquid！

〃There　rose　such　an　outcry　that　they　were　compelled　to　put　him　in
chains　and　carry　him　no　one　knew　whither；　but　nurse　said　he　lived　to
old　age。　Ever　since；　the　house　has　been　uninhabited；　with；　of
course；　the　reputation　of　being　haunted。　If　you　happen　to　be　in　its
neighbourhood　when　it　begins　to　grow　dark；　you　may　see　the　children
hurry　past　it　in　silence；　now　and　then　glancing　back　in　dread；　lest
something　should　have　opened　the　never…opened　door；　and　be　stealing
after　them。　They　call　that　something　The　Red　Etin；only　this　ogre
was　black；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　red　was　the　proper　colour　for　him。〃

〃It　is　a　horrible　story！〃　said　Donal。

〃I　want　you　to　go　to　the　house　for　me：　you　do　not　mind　going；　do
you？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；〃　answered　Donal。

〃I　want　you　to　search　a　certain　bureau　there　for　some　papers。By
the　way；　have　you　any　news　to　give　me　about　Forgue？〃

〃No；　my　lord；〃　answered　Donal。　〃I　do　not　even　know　whether　or　not
they　meet；　but　I　am　afraid。〃

〃Oh；　I　daresay；〃　rejoined　his　lordship；　〃the　whim　is　wearing　off！
One　pellet　drives　out　another。　Behind　the　love　in　the　popgun　came
the　conviction　that　it　would　be　simple　ruin！　But　we　Graemes　are
stiff…necked　both　to　God　and　man；　and　I　don't　trust　him　much。〃

〃He　gave　you　no　promise；　if　you　remember；　my　lord。〃

〃I　remember　very　well；　why　the　deuce　should　I　not　remember？　I　am　not
in　the　way　of　forgetting　things！　No；　by　God！　nor　forgiving　them
either！　Where　there's　anything　to　forgive　there's　no　fear　of　my
forgetting！〃

He　followed　the　utterance　with　a　laugh；　as　if　he　would　have　it　pass
for　a　joke；　but　there　was　no　ring　in　the　laugh。

He　then　gave　Donal　detailed　instructions　as　to　where　the　bureau
stood；　how　he　was　to　open　it　with　a　curious　key　which　he　told　him
where　to　find　in　the　room；　how　also　to　open　the　secret　part　of　the
bureau　in　which　the　papers　lay。

〃Forget！〃　he　echoed；　turning　and　sweeping　back　on　his　trail；　〃I　have
not　been　in　that　house　for　twenty　years：　you　can　judge　whether　I
forget！No！〃　he　added　with　an　oath；　〃if　I　found　myself　forgetting　I
should　think　it　time　to　look　out；　but　there　is　no　sign　of　that　yet；
thank　God！　There！　take　the　keys；　and　be　off！　Simmons　will　give　you
the　key　of　the　house。　You　had　better　take　that　of　the　door　in　the
close：　it　is　easier　to　open。〃

Donal　went　away　wondering　at　the　pleasure　his　frightful　tale
afforded　the　earl：　he　had　seemed　positively　to　gloat　over　the
details　of　it！　These　were　much　worse　than　I　have　recorded：　he　showed
special　delight　in　narrating　how　the　mother　took　the　body　of　her
child　out　of　the　pot！

He　sought　Simmons　and　asked　him　for　the　key。　The　butler　went　to　find
it；　but　returned　saying　he　could　not　lay　his　hands　upon　it；　there
was；　however；　the　key　of　the　front　door：　it　might　prove　stiff！　Donal
took　it；　and　having　oiled　it　well；　set　out　for　Morven　House。　But　on
his　way　he　turned　aside　to　see　the　Comins。

Andrew　looked　worse；　and　he　thought　he　must　be　sinking。　The　moment
he　saw　Donal　he　requested　they　might　be　left　alone　for　a　few
minutes。

〃My　yoong　freen'；〃　he　said；　〃the　Lord　has　fauvoured　me　greatly　in
grantin'　my　last　days　the　licht　o'　your　coontenance。　I　hae　learnt　a
heap　frae　ye　'at　I　kenna　hoo　I　could　hae　come　at　wantin'　ye。〃

〃Eh；　An'rew！〃　interrupted　Donal；　〃I　dinna　weel　ken　hoo　that　can　be；
for　it　aye　seemt　to　me　ye　had　a'　the　knowledge　'at　was　gaein'！〃

〃The　man　can　ill　taich　wha's　no　gaein'　on　learnin'；　an'　maybe　whiles
he　learns　mair　frae　his　scholar　nor　the　scholar　learns　frae　him。　But
it's　a'　frae　the　Lord；　the　Lord　is　that　speeritan'　first　o'　a'　the
speerit　o'　obeddience；　wi'oot　which　there's　no　learnin'。　Still；　my
son；　it　may　comfort　ye　a　wee　i'　the　time　to　come；　to　think　the　auld
cobbler　Anerew　Comin　gaed　intil　the　new　warl'　fitter　company　for　the
help　ye　gied　him　afore　he　gaed。　May　the　Lord　mak　a　sicht　o'　use　o'
ye！　Fowk　say　a　heap　aboot　savin'　sowls；　but　ower　aften；　I　doobt；
they　help　to　tak　frae　them　the　sense　o'　hoo　sair　they're　in　want　o'
savin'。　Surely　a　man　sud　ken　in　himsel'　mair　an'　mair　the　need　o'
bein'　saved；　till　he　cries　oot　an'　shoots；　'I　am　saved；　for　there's
nane　in　h'aven　but　thee；　an'　there's　nane　upo'　the　earth　I　desire
besides　thee！　Man；　wuman；　child；　an'　live　cratur；　is　but　a　portion
o'　thee；　whauron　to　lat　the　love　o'　thee　rin　ower！'　Whan　a　man　can
say　that；　he's　saved；　an'　no　till　than；　though　for　lang　years　he　may
hae　been　aye　comin'　nearer　to　that　goal　o'　a'　houp；　the　hert　o'　the
father　o'　me；　an'　you；　an'　Doory；　an'　Eppy；　an'　a'　the　nations　o'
the　earth！〃

He　stopped　weary；　but　his　eyes；　fixed　on　Donal；　went　on　where　his
voice　had　ended；　and　for　a　time　Donal　seemed　to　hear　what　his　soul
was　saying；　and　to　hearken　with　content。　But　suddenly　their　light
went　out；　the　old　man　gave　a　sigh；　and　said：

〃It's　ower　for　this　warl'；　my　freen'。　It's　comin'the　hoor　o'
darkness。　But　the　thing　'at's　true　whan　the　licht　shines；　is　as　true
i'　the　dark：　ye　canna　work；　that's　a'。　God　'ill　gie　me　grace　to　lie
still。　It's　a'　ane。　I　wud　lie　jist　as　I　used　to　sit；　i'　the　days
whan　I　men'it　fowk's　shune；　an'　Doory　happent　to　tak　awa'　the　licht
for　a　moment；I　wud　sit　aye　luikin'　doon　throuw　the　mirk　at　my
wark；　though　I　couldna　see　a　stime　o'　't；　the　alison　（awl）　i'　my
han'　ready　to　put　in　the　neist　steek　the　moment　the　licht　fell　upo'
the　spot　whaur　it　was　to　gang。　That's　hoo　I　wud　lie　whan　I'm　deein'；
jist　waitin'　for　the　licht；　no　for　the　dark；　an'　makin'　an
incense…offerin'　o'　my　patience　whan　I　hae　naething　ither　to　offer；
naither　thoucht　nor　glaidness　nor　sorrow；　naething　but　patience
burnin'　in　pain。　He'll　accep'　that；　for；　my　son；　the　maister's　jist
as　easy　to　please　as　he's　ill　to　saitisfee。　Ye　hae　seen　a　mither
ower　her　wee　lassie's　sampler？　She'll　praise　an'　praise　't；　an'　be
richt　pleast　wi'　't；　but　wow　gien　she　was　to　be　content　wi'　the
thing　in　her　han'！　the　lassie's　man；　whan　she　cam　to　hae　ane；　wud
hae　an　ill　time　o'　't　wi'　his　hose　an'　his　sarks！　But　noo　I　hae　a
fauvour　to　beg　o'　yeno　for　my　sake　but　for　hers：　gien　ye　hae　the
warnin'；　ye'll　be　wi'　me　whan　I　gang？　It　may　be　a　comfort　to
mysel'I　dinna　kennane　can　tell　'at　hasna　dee'd