the man from glengarry-第21节

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something。〃　　And　Murdie　walked　away　with　her；　followed　by　the　winks
and　nods　of　the　others。

What　she　said　Murdie　never　told；　but　he　came　back　to　them　more
determined　upon　peace　than　ever。　　The　difficulty　lay；　not　with　the
good…natured　Peter；　who　was　ready　enough　to　settle　with　Ranald；　but
with　the　fiery　Aleck；　who　represented　the　non…respectable　section
of　the　clan　McRae；　who　lived　south　of　the　Sixteenth；　and　had　a
reputation　for　wildness。　　Fighting　was　their　glory；　and　no　one
cared　to　enter　upon　a　feud　with　any　one　of　them。　　Murdie　had
interfered　on　Ranald's　behalf；　chiefly　because　he　was　Don's　friend；
but　also　because　he　was　unwilling　that　Ranald　should　be　involved　in
a　quarrel　with　the　McRaes；　which　he　knew　would　be　a　serious　affair
for　him。　　But　now　his　strongest　reason　for　desiring　peace　was　that
he　had　pledged　himself　to　the　minister's　wife　to　bring　it　about　in
some　way　or　other。　　So　he　took　Peter　off　by　himself；　and　without
much　difficulty；　persuaded　him　to　act　the　magnanimous　part　and　drop
the　quarrel。

With　Ranald　he　had　a　harder　task。　　That　young　man　was　prepared　to
see　his　quarrel　through　at　whatever　consequences　to　himself。　　He
knew　the　McRaes；　and　knew　well　their　reputation；　but　that　only　made
it　more　impossible　for　him　to　retreat。　　But　Murdie　knew　better　than
to　argue　with　him；　so　he　turned　away　from　him　with　an　indifferent
air；　saying：　　〃Oh；　very　well。　　Peter　is　willing　to　let　it　drop。
You　can　do　as　you　please；　only　I　know　the　minister's　wife　expects
you　to　make　it　up。〃

〃What　did　she　say　to　you；　then？〃　asked　Ranald；　fiercely。

〃She　said　a　number　of　things　that　you　don't　need　to　know；　but　she
said　this；　whatever；　'He　will　make　it　up　for　my　sake；　I　know。'〃

Ranald　stood　a　moment　silent；　then　said；　suddenly：　　〃I　will；　too；〃
and　walking　straight　over　to　Peter；　he　offered　his　hand；　saying；　〃I
was　too　quick；　Peter；　and　I　am　willing　to　take　as　much　as　I　gave。
You　can　go　on。〃

But　Peter　was　far　too　soft…hearted　to　accept　that　invitation；　and
seizing　Ranald's　hand；　said；　heartily：　　〃Never　mind；　Ranald；　it　was
my　own　fault。　　We　will　just　say　nothing　more　about　it。〃

〃There　is　the　singing；　boys；〃　said　Murdie。　　〃Come　away。　　Let　us　go
in。

He　was　all　the　more　anxious　to　get　the　boys　into　the　church　when　he
saw　Aleck　making　toward　them。　　He　hurried　Peter　in　before　him；　well
pleased　with　himself　and　his　success　as　peacemaker；　but　especially
delighted　that　he　could　now　turn　his　face　toward　the　minister's
pew；　without　shame。　　And　as　he　took　his　place　in　the　back　seat；
with　Peter　Ruagh　beside　him；　the　glance　of　pride　and　gratitude　that
flashed　across　the　congregation　to　him　from　the　gray…brown　eyes
made　Murdie　feel　more　than　ever　pleased　at　what　he　had　been　able　to
do。　　But　he　was　somewhat　disturbed　to　notice　that　neither　Ranald
nor　Don　nor　Aleck　had　followed　him　into　the　church；　and　he　waited
uneasily　for　their　coming。

In　the　meantime　Straight　Rory　was　winding　his　sinuous　way　through
Coleshill；　the　Gaelic　rhythm　of　the　psalm　allowing　of　quavers　and
turns　impossible　in　the　English。

In　the　pause　following　the　second　verse；　Murdie　was　startled　at　the
sound　of　angry　voices　from　without。　　More　than　Murdie　heard　that
sound。　　As　Murdie　glanced　toward　the　pulpit　he　saw　that　the
minister　had　risen　and　was　listening　intently。

〃Beholdthesparrowfindethout〃　chanted　the　precentor。

〃You　are　a　liar！〃　　The　words；　in　Aleck's　fiery　voice　outside；　fell
distinctly　upon　Murdie's　ear；　though　few　in　the　congregation　seemed
to　have　heard。　　But　while　Murdie　was　making　up　his　mind　to　slip
out；　the　minister　was　before　him。　　Quickly　he　stepped　down　the
pulpit　stairs；　psalm…book　in　hand；　and　singing　as　he　went；　walked
quietly　to　the　back　door；　and　leaving　his　book　on　the　window…sill；
passed　out。　　The　singing　went　calmly　on；　for　the　congregation　were
never　surprised　at　anything　their　minister　did。

The　next　verse　was　nearly　through；　when　the　door　opened；　and　in
came　Don；　followed　by　Aleck；　looking　somewhat　disheveled　and　shaken
up；　and　two　or　three　more。　　In　a　few　moments　the　minister　came　in；
took　his　psalm…book　from　the　window…sill；　and　striking　up　with　the
congregation；　〃Blest　is　the　man　whose　strength　thou　art；〃　marched
up　to　the　pulpit　again；　with　only　an　added　flash　in　his　blue　eyes
and　a　little　more　triumphant　swing　to　his　coat…tails　to　indicate
that　anything　had　taken　place。　　But　Murdie　looked　in　vain　for
Ranald　to　appear；　and　waited；　uncertain　what　to　do。　　He　had　a
wholesome　fear　of　the　minister；　more　especially　in　his　present
mood。　　Instinctively　he　turned　toward　the　minister's　pew；　and
reading　the　look　of　anxious　entreaty　from　the　pale　face　there；　he
waited　till　the　congregation　rose　for　prayer　and　then　slipped　out；
and　was　seen　no　more　in　church　that　day。

On　the　way　home　not　a　word　was　said　about　the　disturbance。　　But
after　the　evening　worship；　when　the　minister　had　gone　to　his　study
for　a　smoke；　Hughie；　who　had　heard　the　whole　story　from　Don；　told
it　to　his　mother　and　Maimie　in　his　most　graphic　manner。

〃It　was　not　Ranald's　fault；　mother；〃　he　declared。　　〃You　know　Peter
would　not　let　him　alone；　and　Ranald　hit　him　in　the　nose；　and　served
him　right；　too。　　But　they　made　it　all　up；　and　they　were　just　going
into　the　church　again；　when　that　Aleck　McRae　pulled　Ranald　back；
and　Ranald　did　not　want　to　fight　at　all；　but　he　called　Ranald　a
liar；　and　he　could　not　help　it；　but　just　hit　him。〃

〃Who　hit　who？〃　said　Maimie。　　〃You're　not　making　it　very　clear；
Hughie。〃

〃Why；　Ranald；　of　course；　hit　Aleck；　and　knocked　him　over；　too；〃
said　Hughie；　with　much　satisfaction；　〃and　then　Aleckhe　is　an
awful　fighter；　you　knowjumped　on　Ranald　and　was　pounding　him　just
awful；　the　great　big　brute；　when　out　came　papa。　　He　stepped　up　and
caught　Aleck　by　the　neck　and　shook　him　just　like　a　baby；　saying；
all　the　time；　'Would　ye？　　I　will　teach　you　to　fight　on　the　Sabbath
day！　　Here！　in　with　you；　every　one　of　you！'　and　he　threw　him　nearly
into　the　door；　and　then　they　all　skedaddled　into　the　church；　I　tell
you；　Don　said。　　They　were　pretty　badly　scart；　too；　but　Don　did　not
know　what　papa　did　to　Ranald；　and　he　did　not　know　where　Ranald
went；　but　he　is　pretty　badly　hurted；　I　am　sure。　　That　great　big
Aleck　McRae　is　old　enough　to　be　his　father。　　Wasn't　it　mean　of　him；
mother？〃

Poor　Hughie　was　almost　in　tears；　and　his　mother；　who　sat　listening
too　eagerly　to　correct　her　little　boy's　ethics　or　grammar；　was　as
nearly　overcome　as　he。　　She　wished　she　knew　where　Ranald　was。　　He
had　not　appeared　at　the　evening　Bible　class；　and　Murdie　had
reported　that　he　could　not　find　him　anywhere。

She　put　Hughie　to　bed；　and　then　saw　Maimie　to　her　room。　　But　Maimie
was　very　unwilling　to　go　to　bed。

〃Oh；　auntie；〃　she　whispered；　as　her　aunt　kissed　her　good　night；　〃I
cannot　go　to　sleep！〃　　And　then；　after　a　pause；　she　said；　shyly；　〃Do
you　think　he　is　badly　hurt？〃

Then　the　minister's　wife；　looking　keenly　into　the　girl's　face；　made
light　of　Ranald's　misfortune。

〃Oh；　he　will　be　all　right；〃　she　said；　〃as　far　as　his　hurt　is
concerned。　　That　is　the　least　part　of　his　trouble。　　You　need　not
worry　about　that。　　Good　night；　my　dear。〃　　And　Maimie；　relieved　by
her　aunt's　tone；　said　〃good　night〃　with　her　heart　at　rest。

Then　Mrs。　Murray　went　into　the　study；　determined　to　find　out　what
had　passed　between　her　husband　and　Ranald。　　She　found　him　lying　on
his　couch；　luxuriating　in　the　satisfaction　of　a　good　day's　work
behind　him；　and　his　first　pipe　nearly　done。　　She　at　once　ventured
upon　the　thing　that　lay　heavy　upon　her　heart。　　She　began　by　telling
all　she　knew　of　the　trouble　from　its　beginning　in　the　church；　and
then　waited　for　her　husband's　story。

For　some　moments　he　lay　silently　smoking。

〃Ah；　well；〃　he　said；　at　length；　knocking　out　his　pipe；　〃perhaps　I
was　a　little　severe　with　the　lad。　　He　may　not　have　been　so　much　to
blame。〃

〃Oh；　papa！　　What　did　you　do？〃　said　his　wife；　in　an　anxious　voice。

〃Well；〃　said　the　minister；　hesitating；　〃I　found　that　the　young
rascal　had　struck　Aleck　McRae　first；　and　a　very　bad　blow　it　was。
So　I　administered　a　pretty　severe　rebuke　and　sent　him　home。〃

〃Oh；　what　a　shame！〃　cried　his　wife；　in　indignant　tears。　　〃It　was
far　more　the　fault　of　Peter　and　Aleck　and　the　rest。　　Poor　Ranald！〃

〃Now；　my　dear；〃　said　the　minister；　〃you　need　not　fear　for　Ranald。
I　do　not　suppose　he　cares　much。　　Besides；　his　face　was　not　fit　to
be　seen；　so　I　sent　him　home。　　Well；　it〃

〃Yes；〃　burst　in　his　wife；　〃great；　brutal　fellow；　to　strike　a　boy
like　that！〃

〃Boy？〃　said　her　husband。　　〃Well；　he　may　be；　but　not　many　men　would
dare　to　face　him。〃　　Then　he　added；　〃I　wish　I　had　knownI　fear　I
spokeperhaps　the　boy　may　feel　unjustly　treated。　　He　is　as　proud
as　Lucifer。〃

〃Oh；　papa！〃　said　his　wife；　〃what　did　you　say？〃

〃Nothing　but　what　was　true。　　I　just　told　him　that　a　boy　who　would
break　the　Lord's　Day　by　fighting；　and　in　the　very　shadow　of　the
Lord's　house；　when　Christian　people　were　worshiping　God；　was　acting
like　a　savage；　and　was　not　fit　for　the　company　of　decent　folk。〃

To　this　his　wife　made　no　reply；　but　went　out　of　the　study；　leaving
the　minister　feeling　very　uncomfortable　indeed。　　But　by　the　end　of
the　second　pipe　he　began　to　feel　that；　after　all；　Rana