the man from glengarry-第19节
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His acute mind reveled in the metaphysics of theology； which made
him the dread of all candidates who appeared before the session
desiring 〃to come forward。〃 It was to many an impressive sight to
see Straight Rory rise in the precentor's box； feel round； with
much facial contortion； for the pitchhe despised a tuning…fork
and then； straightening himself up till he bent over backwards；
raise the chant that introduced the tune to the congregation。 But
to the young men under the gallery he was more humorous than
impressive； and it is to be feared that they waited for the
precentor's weekly performance with a delighted expectation that
never flagged and that was never disappointed。 It was only the
flash of the minister's blue eye that held their faces rigid in
preternatural solemnity； and forced them to content themselves with
winks and nudges for the expression of their delight。
As Maimie's eye went wandering shyly over the rows of brown faces
that turned in solemn and steadfast regard to the minister's pew；
Hughie nudged her and whispered： 〃There's Don。 See； in the back
seat by the window； next to Peter Ruagh yonder； the red…headed
fellow。〃
He pointed to Peter McRae； grandson of 〃Peter the Elder。〃 There
was no mistaking that landmark。
〃Look；〃 cried Hughie； eagerly； pointing with terrible directness
straight at Don； to Maimie's confusion。
〃Whisht； Hughie；〃 said his mother softly。
〃There's Ranald； mother；〃 said the diplomatic Hughie； knowing well
that his mother would rejoice to hear that bit of news。 〃See；
mother； just in front of Don； there。〃
Again Hughie's terrible finger pointed straight into the face of
the gazing congregation。
〃Hush； Hughie；〃 said his mother； severely。
Maimie knew a hundred eyes were looking straight at the minister's
pew； but for the life of her she could not prevent her eye
following the pointing finger； till it found the steady gaze of
Ranald fastened upon her。 It was only for a moment； but in that
moment she felt her heart jump and her face grow hot； and it did
not help her that she knew that the people were all wondering at
her furious blushes。 Of course the story of the sugaring…off had
gone the length of the land and had formed the subject of
conversation at the church door that morning； where Ranald had to
bear a good deal of chaff about the young lady； and her dislike of
forfeits； till he was ready to fight if a chance should but offer。
With unspeakable rage and confusion； he noticed Hughie's pointing
finger。 He caught； too； Maimie's quick look； with the vivid blush
that followed。 Unfortunately； others besides himself had noticed
this； and Don and Peter Ruagh； in the seat behind him； made it the
subject of congratulatory remarks to Ranald。
At this point the minister rose in the pulpit； and all waited with
earnest and reverent mien for the announcing of the psalm。
The Rev。 Alexander Murray was a man to be regarded in any company
and under any circumstances； but when he stood up in his pulpit and
faced his congregation he was truly superb。 He was above the
average height； of faultless form and bearing； athletic； active；
and with a 〃spring in every muscle。〃 He had coal…black hair and
beard； and a flashing blue eye that held his people in utter
subjection and put the fear of death upon evil…doers under the
gallery。 In every movement； tone； and glance there breathed
imperial command。
〃Let us worship God by singing to His praise in the one hundred and
twenty…first psalm：
'I to the hills will lift mine eyes；
From whence doth come mine aid。'〃
His voice rang out over the congregation like a silver bell； and
Maimie thought she had never seen a man of such noble presence。
After the reading of the psalm the minister sat down； and Straight
Rory rose in his box； and after his manner； began feeling about for
the first note of the chant that would introduce the noble old tune
〃St。 Paul's。〃 A few moments he spent twisting his face and
shoulders in a manner that threatened to ruin the solemnity of the
worshipers under the gallery； till finally he seemed to hit upon
the pitch desired； and throwing back his head and closing one eye；
he proceeded on his way。 Each line he chanted alone； after the
ancient Scottish custom； after which the congregation joined with
him in the tune。 The custom survived from the time when psalm…
books were in the hands of but few and the 〃lining〃 of the psalm
was therefore necessary。
There was no haste to be done with the psalm。 Why should there be？
They had only one Sabbath in the week； and the whole day was before
them。 The people surrendered themselves to the lead of Straight
Rory with unmistakable delight in that part of 〃the exercises〃 of
the day in which they were permitted to audibly join。 But of all
the congregation； none enjoyed the singing more than the dear old
women who sat in the front seats near the pulpit； their quiet old
faces looking so sweet and pure under their snow…white 〃mutches。〃
There they sat and sang and quavered； swaying their bodies with the
tune in an ecstasy of restful joy。
Maimie had often heard St。 Paul's before； but never as it was
chanted by Straight Rory and sung by the Indian Lands congregation
that day。 The extraordinary slides and slurs almost obliterated
the notes of the original tune； and the 〃little kick；〃 as Maimie
called it； at the end of the second line； gave her a little start。
〃Auntie；〃 she whispered； 〃isn't it awfully queer？〃
〃Isn't it beautiful？〃 her aunt answered； with an uncertain smile。
She was remembering how these winding； sliding； slurring old tunes
had affected her when first she heard them in her husband's church
years ago。 The stately movement； the weird quavers； and the
pathetic cadences had in some mysterious way reached the deep
places in her heart； and before she knew； she had found the tears
coursing down her cheeks and her breath catching in sobs。 Indeed；
as she listened to…day； remembering these old impressions； the
tears began to flow； till Hughie； not understanding； crept over to
his mother； and to comfort her； slipped his hand into hers； looking
fiercely at Maimie as if she were to blame。 Maimie； too； noticed
the tears and sat wondering； and as the congregation swung on
through the verses of the grand old psalm there crept into her
heart a new and deeper emotion than she had ever known。
〃Listen to the words； Maimie dear；〃 whispered her aunt。 And as
Maimie listened； the noble words； borne on the mighty swing of St。
Paul's； lifted up by six hundred voicesfor men； women； and
children were singing with all their heartsawakened echoes from
great deeps within her as yet unsounded。 The days for such singing
are； alas！ long gone。 The noble rhythm； the stately movement； the
continuous curving stream of melody； that once marked the praise
service of the old Scottish church； have given place to the light；
staccato tinkle of the revival chorus； or the shorn and mutilated
skeleton of the ancient psalm tune。
But while the psalm had been moving on in its solemn and stately
way； Ranald had been enduring agony at the hands of Peter Ruagh
sitting just behind him。 Peter； whose huge； clumsy body was a
fitting tabernacle for the soul within； labored under the impression
that he was a humorist； and indulged a habit of ponderous joking；
trying enough to most people； but to one of Ranald's temperament
exasperating to a high degree。 His theme was Ranald's rescue of
Maimie； and the pauses of the singing he filled in with humorous
comments that； outside； would have produced only weariness； but in
the church； owing to the strange perversity of human nature； sent a
snicker along the seat。 Unfortunately for him； Ranald's face was so
turned that he could not see it； and so he had no hint of the wrath
that was steadily boiling up to the point of overflow。
They were nearing the close of the last verse of the psalm； when
Hughie； whose eyes never wandered long from Ranald's direction；
uttered a sharp 〃Oh； my！〃 There was a shuffling confusion under
the gallery； and when Maimie and her aunt looked； Peter Ruagh's
place was vacant。
By this time the minister was standing up for prayer。 His eye；
too； caught the movement in the back seat。
〃Young men；〃 he said； sternly； 〃remember you are in God's house。
Let me not have to mention your names before the congregation。 Let
us pray。〃
As the congregation rose for prayer； Mrs。 Murray noticed Peter
Ruagh appear from beneath the book…board and quietly slip out by
the back door with his hand to his face and the blood streaming
between his fingers； and though Ranald was standing up straight and
stiff in his place； Mrs。 Murray could read from his rigid look the
explanation of Peter's bloody face。 She gave her mind to the
prayer with a sore heart； for she had learned enough of those wild；
hot…headed youths to know that before Peter Ruagh's face would be
healed more blood would have to flow。
The prayer proceeded in its leisurely way； indulging here and there
in quiet reverie； or in exultant jubilation over the 〃attributes；〃
embracing in its worldwide sweep 〃the interests of the kingdom〃 far
and near； an
