records of a family of engineers(一个工程师的家庭)-第15节
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other side of the island。 The visit was quite overdue； and as he walked
across upon the Monday morning he promised himself that he should at
last take the keepers unprepared。 They were both waiting for him in
uniform at the gate； the fiddler had been there on Saturday！
My grandfather； as will appear from the following extracts； was much
a martinet； and had a habit of expressing himself on paper with an almost
startling emphasis。 Personally； with his powerful voice； sanguine
countenance； and eccentric and original locutions； he was well qualified to
inspire a salutary terror in the service。
‘I find that the keepers have； by some means or another； got into the
way of cleaning too much with rotten…stone and oil。 I take the principal
keeper to TASK on this subject； and make him bring a clean towel and
clean one of the brazen frames； which leaves the towel in an odious state。
This towel I put up in a sheet of paper； seal； and take with me to confront
Mr。 Murdoch； who has just left the station。' ‘This letter' … a stern
enumeration of complaints … ‘to lie a week on the light…room book…place；
and to be put in the Inspector's hands when he comes round。' ‘It is the
most painful thing that can occur for me to have a correspondence of this
kind with any of the keepers； and when I come to the Lighthouse； instead
of having the satisfaction to meet them with approbation； it is distressing
when one is obliged to put on a most angry countenance and demeanour；
but from such culpable negligence as you have shown there is no avoiding
it。 I hold it as a fixed maxim that； when a man or a family put on a
slovenly appearance in their houses； stairs； and lanterns； I always find their
reflectors； burners； windows； and light in general； ill attended to； and；
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therefore； I must insist on cleanliness throughout。' ‘I find you very
deficient in the duty of the high tower。 You thus place your appointment
as Principal Keeper in jeopardy； and I think it necessary； as an old servant
of the Board； to put you upon your guard once for all at this time。 I call
upon you to recollect what was formerly and is now said to you。 The
state of the backs of the reflectors at the high tower was disgraceful； as I
pointed out to you on the spot。 They were as if spitten upon； and greasy
finger…marks upon the back straps。 I demand an explanation of this state
of things。' ‘The cause of the Commissioners dismissing you is expressed
in the minute； and it must be a matter of regret to you that you have been
so much engaged in smuggling； and also that the Reports relative to the
cleanliness of the Lighthouse； upon being referred to； rather added to their
unfavourable opinion。' ‘I do not go into the dwelling…house； but severely
chide the lightkeepers for the disagreement that seems to subsist among
them。' ‘The families of the two lightkeepers here agree very ill。 I have
effected a reconciliation for the present。' ‘Things are in a very
HUMDRUM state here。 There is no painting； and in and out of doors no
taste or tidiness displayed。 Robert's wife GREETS and M'Gregor's
scolds； and Robert is so down…hearted that he says he is unfit for duty。 I
told him that if he was to mind wives' quarrels； and to take them up； the
only way was for him and M'Gregor to go down to the point like Sir G。
Grant and Lord Somerset。' ‘I cannot say that I have experienced a more
unpleasant meeting than that of the lighthouse folks this morning； or ever
saw a stronger example of unfeeling barbarity than the conduct which the …
s exhibited。 These two cold… hearted persons； not contented with having
driven the daughter of the poor nervous woman from her father's house；
BOTH kept POUNCING at her； lest she should forget her great misfortune。
Write me of their conduct。 Do not make any communication of the state
of these families at Kinnaird Head； as this would be like TALE…
BEARING。'
There is the great word out。 Tales and Tale…bearing； always with the
emphatic capitals； run continually in his correspondence。 I will give but
two instances：…
‘Write to David ＇one of the lightkeepers＇ and caution him to be more
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RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
prudent how he expresses himself。 Let him attend his duty to the
Lighthouse and his family concerns； and give less heed to Tale…bearers。'
‘I have not your last letter at hand to quote its date； but； if I recollect； it
contains some kind of tales； which nonsense I wish you would lay aside；
and notice only the concerns of your family and the important charge
committed to you。'
Apparently； however； my grandfather was not himself inaccessible to
the Tale…bearer； as the following indicates：
‘In walking along with Mr。 … ； I explain to him that I should be under
the necessity of looking more closely into the business here from his
conduct at Buddonness； which had given an instance of weakness in the
Moral principle which had staggered my opinion of him。 His answer was；
〃That will be with regard to the lass？〃 I told him I was to enter no farther
with him upon the subject。' ‘Mr。 Miller appears to be master and man。
I am sorry about this foolish fellow。 Had I known his train； I should not；
as I did； have rather forced him into the service。 Upon finding the
windows in the state they were； I turned upon Mr。 Watt； and especially
upon Mr。 Stewart。 The latter did not appear for a length of time to have
visited the light…room。 On asking the cause … did Mr。 Watt and him （SIC）
disagree； he said no； but he had got very bad usage from the assistant；
〃who was a very obstreperous man。〃 I could not bring Mr。 Watt to put in
language his objections to Miller； all I could get was that； he being your
friend； and saying he was unwell； he did not like to complain or to push
the man； that the man seemed to have no liking to anything like work； that
he was unruly； that； being an educated man； he despised them。 I was；
however； determined to have out of these UNWILLING witnesses the
language alluded to。 I fixed upon Mr。 Stewart as chief； he hedged。 My
curiosity increased； and I urged。 Then he said； 〃What would I think； just
exactly； of Mr。 Watt being called an Old B…？〃 You may judge of my
surprise。 There was not another word uttered。 This was quite enough； as
coming from a person I should have calculated upon quite different
behaviour from。 It spoke a volume of the man's mind and want of
principle。' ‘Object to the keeper keeping a Bull…Terrier dog of ferocious
appearance。 It is dangerous； as we land at all times of the night。' ‘Have
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only to complain of the storehouse floor being spotted with oil。 Give
orders for this being instantly rectified； so that on my return to…morrow I
may see things in good order。' ‘The furniture of both houses wants much
rubbing。 Mrs。 …'s carpets are absurd beyond anything I have seen。 I
want her to turn the fenders up with the bottom to the fireplace： the carpets；
when not likely to be in use； folded up and laid as a hearthrug partly under
the fender。'
My grandfather was king in the service to his finger… tips。 All should
go in his way； from the principal lightkeeper's coat to the assistant's fender；
from the gravel in the garden…walks to the bad smell in the kitchen； or the
oil…spots on the store…room floor。 It might be thought there was nothing
more calculated to awake men's resentment； and yet his rule was not more
thorough than it was beneficent。 His thought for the keepers was
continual； and it did not end with their lives。 He tried to manage their
su
