the man from glengarry-第16节

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Meantime　Ranald　superintended　the　sap…boiling；　keeping　on　the
opposite　side　of　the　fire　from　the　ladies；　and　answering　in
monosyllables　any　questions　addressed　to　him。　　But　when　it　was　time
to　make　the　tea；　Mrs。　Cameron　and　Kirsty　insisted　on　taking　charge
of　this；　and　Mrs。　Murray；　coming　round　to　Ranald；　said：　　〃Now；
Ranald；　I　came　to　learn　all　about　sugar…making；　and　while　the
others　are　making　tea；　I　want　you　to　teach　me　how　to　make　sugar。〃

Ranald　gladly　agreed　to　show　her　all　he　knew。　　He　had　been　feeling
awkward　and　miserable　in　the　noisy　crowd；　but　especially　in　the
presence　of　Maimie。　　He　had　not　forgotten　the　smile　of　amusement
with　which　she　had　greeted　him　at　the　manse；　and　his　wounded　pride
longed　for　an　opportunity　to　pour　upon　her　the　vials　of　his
contempt。　　But　somehow；　in　her　presence；　contempt　would　not　arise
within　him；　and　he　was　driven　into　wretched　silence　and　self…
abasement。　　It　was；　therefore；　with　peculiar　gratitude　that　he
turned　to　Mrs。　Murray　as　to　one　who　both　understood　and　trusted
him。

〃I　thank　you　for　the　books；　Mrs。　Murray；〃　he　began；　in　a　low；
hurried　voice。　　〃They　are　just　wonderful。　　That　Rob　Roy　and
Ivanhoe；　oh！　they　are　the　grand　books。〃　　His　face　was　fairly
blazing　with　enthusiasm。　　〃I　never　knew　there　were　such　books　at
all。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　you　like　them；　Ranald；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　in　tones
of　warm　sympathy；　〃and　I　shall　give　you　as　many　as　you　like。〃

〃I　cannot　thank　you　enough。　　I　have　not　the　words；〃　said　the　boy；
looking　as　if　he　might　fall　down　at　her　feet。　　Mrs。　Murray　was
greatly　touched　both　by　his　enthusiasm　and　his　gratitude。

〃It　is　a　great　pleasure　to　me；　Ranald；　that　you　like　them；〃　she
said；　earnestly。　　〃I　want　you　to　love　good　books　and　good　men　and
noble　deeds。〃

Ranald　stood　listening　in　silence。

〃Then　some　day　you　will　be　a　good　and　great　man　yourself；〃　she
added；　〃and　you　will　do　some　noble　work。〃

The　boy　stood　looking　far　away　into　the　woods；　his　black　eyes
filled　with　a　mysterious　fire。　　Suddenly　he　threw　back　his　head　and
said；　as　if　he　had　forgotten　Mrs。　Murray's　presence；　〃Yes；　some　day
I　will　be　a　great　man。　　I　know　it　well。〃

〃And　good；〃　softly　added　Mrs。　Murray。

He　turned　and　looked　at　her　a　moment　as　if　in　a　dream。　　Then；
recalling　himself；　he　answered；　〃I　suppose　that　is　the　best。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　the　best；　Ranald；〃　she　replied。　　〃No　man　is　great　who
is　not　good。　　But　come　now　and　give　me　my　lesson。〃

Ranald　stepped　out　into　the　bush；　and　from　a　tree　near　by　he　lifted
a　trough　of　sap　and　emptied　it　into　the　big　kettle。

〃That's　the　first　thing　you　do　with　the　sap；〃　he　said。

〃How？　　Carry　every　trough　to　the　kettle？〃

〃Oh；　I　see；〃　laughed　Ranald。　　〃You　must　have　every　step。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　she　replied；　with　determination。

〃Well；　here　it　is。〃

He　seized　a　bucket；　went　to　another　tree；　emptied　the　sap　from　the
trough　into　the　bucket；　and　thence　into　the　barrel；　and　from　the
barrel　into　the　big　kettle。

〃Then　from　the　big　kettle　into　the　little　one；〃　he　said；　catching
up　a　big　dipper　tied　to　a　long　pole；　and　transferring　the　boiling
sap　as　he　spoke　from　one　kettle　to　another。

〃But　how　can　you　tell　when　it　is　ready？〃　asked　Mrs。　Murray。

〃Only　by　tasting。　　When　it　is　very　sweet　it　must　go　into　the　little
kettle。〃

〃And　then？〃

Her　eager　determination　to　know　all　the　details　delighted　him
beyond　measure。

〃Then　you　must　be　very　careful　indeed；　or　you　will　lose　all　your
day's　work；　and　your　sugar　besides；　for　it　is　very　easy　to　burn。〃

〃But　how　can　you　tell　when　it　is　ready？〃

〃Oh；　you　must　just　keep　tasting　every　few　minutes　till　you　think
you　have　the　syrup；　and　then　for　the　sugar　you　must　just　boil　it　a
little　longer。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　〃when　it　is　ready　what　do　you　do？〃

〃Then；〃　he　said；　〃you　must　quickly　knock　the　fire　from　under　it；
and　pour　it　into　the　pans；　stirring　it　till　it　gets　nearly　cool。〃

〃And　why　do　you　stir　it？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　to　keep　it　from　getting　too　hard。〃

〃Now　I　have　learned　something　I　never　knew　before；〃　said　the
minister's　wife；　delightedly；　〃and　I　am　very　grateful　to　you。
We　must　help　each　other；　Ranald。〃

〃Indeed；　it　is　little　I　can　do　for　you；〃　he　said；　shyly。

〃You　do　not　know　how　much　I　am　going　to　ask　you　to　do；〃　she　said；
lightly。　　〃Wait　and　see。〃

At　that　moment　a　series　of　shrieks　rose　high　above　the　shouting　and
laughter　of　the　games；　and　Maimie　came　flying　down　toward　the　camp；
pursued　by　Don；　with　the　others　following。

〃Oh；　auntie！〃　she　panted；　he's　going　togoing　to〃　she　paused；
with　cheeks　burning。

〃It's　forfeits；　Mrs。　Murray；〃　explained　Don。

〃Hoot；　lassie；〃　said　Mrs。　Cameron；　〃it　will　not　much　hurt　you；
anyway。　　They　that　kiss　in　the　light　will　not　kiss　in　the　dark。〃

〃She　played；　and　lost　her　forfeit；〃　said　Don；　unwilling　to　be
jeered　at　by　the　others　for　faint…heartedness。　　〃She　ought　to　pay。〃

〃I'm　afraid；　Don；　she　does　not　understand　our　ways；〃　said　Mrs。
Murray；　apologetically。

〃Be　off；　Don；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Kiss　Marget　there；　if　you　canit
will　not　hurt　herand　leave　the　young　lady　alone。〃

〃It's　just　horrid　of　them；　auntie；〃　said　Maimie；　indignantly；　as
the　others　went　back　to　their　games。

〃Indeed；〃　said　Mrs。　Cameron；　warmly；　〃if　you　will　never　do　worse
than　kiss　a　laddie　in　a　game；　it's　little　harm　will　be　coming　to
you。〃

But　Maimie　ignored　her。

〃Is　it　not　horrid；　auntie？〃　she　said。

〃Well；　my　dear；　if　you　think　so；　it　is。　　But　not　for　these　girls；
who　play　the　game　with　never　a　thought　of　impropriety　and　with　no
shock　to　their　modesty。　　Much　depends　on　how　you　think　about　these
things。〃

But　Maimie　was　not　satisfied。　　She　was　indignant　at　Don　for
offering　to　kiss　her；　but　as　she　stood　and　watched　the　games　going
on　under　the　treesthe　tag；　the　chase；　the　catch；　and　the　kiss
she　somehow　began　to　feel　as　if　it　were　not　so　terrible　after　all；
and　to　think　that　perhaps　these　girls　might　play　the　game　and　still
be　nice　enough。　　But　she　had　no　thought　of　going　back　to　them；　and
so　she　turned　her　attention　to　the　preparations　for　tea；　now　almost
complete。　　Her　aunt　and　Ranald　were　toasting　slices　of　bread　at　the
big　blazing　fire；　on　forks　made　out　of　long　switches。

〃Let　me　try；　auntie；〃　she　said；　pushing　up　to　the　fire　between　her
aunt　and　Ranald。　　〃I　am　sure　I　can　do　that。〃

〃Be　careful　of　that　fire；〃　said　Ranald；　sharply；　pulling　back　her
skirt；　that　had　blown　dangerously　near　the　blaze。　　〃Stand　back
further；〃　he　commanded。

Mamie　looked　at　him；　surprise；　indignation；　and　fear　struggling
for　the　mastery。　　Was　this　the　awkward　boy　that　had　blushed　and
stammered　before　her　a　week　ago？

〃It's　very　dangerous；〃　he　explained　to　Mrs。　Murray；　〃the　wind　blows
out　the　flames。〃

As　he　spoke　he　handed　Maimie　his　toasting　stick　and　retired　to　the
other　side　of　the　fire；　and　began　to　attend　to　the　boiling　sap。

〃He　needn't　be　such　a　bear；〃　pouted　Maimie。

〃My　dear；〃　replied　her　aunt；　〃what　Ranald　says　is　quite　true。　　You
cannot　be　too　careful　in　moving　about　the　fire。〃

〃Well；　he　needn't　be　so　cross　about　it；〃　said　Maimie。　　She　had
never　been　ordered　about　before　in　her　life；　and　she　did　not　enjoy
the　experience；　and　all　the　more　at　the　hands　of　an　uncouth　country
boy。　　She　watched　Ranald　attending　to　the　fire　and　the　kettles；
however；　with　a　new　respect。　　He　certainly　had　no　fear　of　the　fire；
but　moved　about　it　and　handled　it　with　the　utmost　sang…froid。　　He
had　a　certain　grace；　too；　in　his　movements　that　caught　her　eye；　and
she　wished　he　would　come　nearer　so　that　she　could　speak　to　him。
She　had　considerable　confidence　in　her　powers　of　attraction。　　As　if
to　answer　her　wish；　Ranald　came　straight　to　where　her　aunt　and　she
were　standing。

〃I　think　it　will　be　time　for　tea　now；〃　he　said；　with　a　sudden
return　of　his　awkward　manner；　that　made　Maimie　wonder　why　she　had
ever　been　afraid　of　him。　　〃I　will　tell　Don；〃　he　added；　striding　off
toward　the　group　of　boys　and　girls；　still　busy　with　their　games
under　the　trees。

Soon　Don's　shout　was　heard：　　〃Tea；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　take　your
seats　at　the　tables。〃　　And　speedily　there　was　a　rush　and　scramble；
and　in　a　few　moments　the　great　heaps　of　green　balsam　boughs
arranged　around　the　fire　were　full　of　boys　and　girls　pulling；
pinching；　and　tumbling　over　one　another　in　wild　glee。

The　toast　stood　in　brown　heaps　on　birch…bark　plates　beside　the
fire；　and　baskets　were　carried　out　of　the　shanty　bulging　with
cakes；　the　tea　was　bubbling　in　the　big　tin　tea…pail；　and　everything
was　ready　for　the　feast。　　But　Ranald　had　caught　Mrs。　Murray's　eye；
and　at　a　sign　from　her；　stood　waiting　with　the　tea…pail　in　his
hand。

〃Come　on　with　the　tea；　Ranald；〃　cried　Don；　seizing　a　plate　of
toast。

〃Wait　a　minute；　Don；〃　said　Ranald；　in　a　low　tone。

〃What's　the　matter？〃

But　Ranald　stood　still；　looking　silently　at　the　minister's　wife。
Then；　as　all　eyes　turned　toward　her；　she　said；　in　a　gentle；　sweet
voice；　〃I　think　we　ought　to　give　thanks　to　our　Father　in　heaven　for
all　this　beauty　about　us　and　for　all　our　joy。〃

At　once　Ranald　took　off　his　hat；　and　as　the　boys　followed　his
example；　Mrs。　Murray　bowed　her　head　and　in　a　few；　simple　words
lifted　up　the　hearts　of　all　with　her　own　in　thanksgiving　fo