the man from glengarry-第33节

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invitation；　so　just　make　ready。〃

〃Any　day；　or　every　day；　and　the　more　days　the　better；〃　cried　Aleck；
as　he　sat　down　at　the　table；　where　all　had　now　taken　their　places。

The　supper　was　a　great　success。　　With　much　laughter　and　chaffing；
the　girls　flitted　from　place　to　place；　pouring　cups　of　tea　and
passing　the　various　dishes；　urging　the　men　to　eat；　till；　as　Don
said；　they　were　〃full　to　the　neck。〃

When　all　had　finished；　Mr。　Murray；　who　sat　at　the　head　of　the
table；　rose　in　his　place　and　said：　　〃Gentlemen；　before　we　rise　from
this　table；　which　has　been　spread　so　bountifully　for　us；　I　wish　to
return　thanks　on　behalf　of　Mr。　Macdonald　to　the　neighbors　and
friends　who　have　gathered　to…day　to　assist　in　this　work。　　Mr。
Macdonald　asked　me　to　say　that　he　is　all　the　more　surprised　at　this
kindness；　in　that　he　feels　himself　to　be　so　unworthy　of　it。　　I
promised　to　speak　this　word　for　him；　but　I　do　not　agree　with　the
sentiment。　　Mr。　Macdonald　is　a　man　whom　we　all　love；　and　in　whose
misfortune　we　deeply　sympathize；　and　I　only　hope　that　this
Providence　may　be　greatly　blessed　to　him；　and　that　we　will　all　come
to　know　him　better；　and　to　see　God's　hand　in　his　misfortune。〃

The　minister　then；　after　some　further　remarks　expressive　of　the
good　will　of　the　neighbors　for　Mr。　Macdonald；　and　in　appreciation
of　the　kind　spirit　that　prompted　the　bee；　returned　thanks；　and　the
supper　was　over。

As　the　men　were　leaving　the　table；　Aleck　watched　his　opportunity
and　called　to　Maimie；　when　he　was　sure　Ranald　could　hear；　〃Well；
when　will　you　be　ready　for　that　drive？〃

And　Maimie；　who　was　more　indignant　at　Ranald　than　ever　because　he
had　ignored　all　her　advances　at　supper；　and　had　received　her
congratulations　upon　his　victory　with　nothing　more　than　a　grunt；
answered　Aleck　brightly。　　〃Oh；　any　day　that　you　happen　to
remember。〃

〃Remember！〃　cried　Aleck；　〃then　that　will　be　every　day　until　our
ride　comes　off。〃

A　few　minutes　later；　as　Ranald　was　hitching　up　Farquhar's　team；
Aleck　passed　by；　and　in　great　good　humor　with　himself；　chaffingly
called　out　to　Ranald　in　the　presence　of　a　number　of　the　men；
〃That's　a　fine　girl　you've　got；　Ranald。　　But　you　better　keep　your
eye　on　her。〃

Ranald　made　no　reply。　　He　was　fast　losing　command　of　himself。

〃Pretty　skittish　to　handle；　isn't　she？〃　continued　Aleck。

〃What　y're　talkin'　'bout？　　That　Lisette　mare？〃　said　Yankee；　walking
round　to　Ranald's　side。　　〃Purty　slick　beast；　that。　　Guess　there
ain't　anythin'　in　this　country　will　make　her　take　dust。〃

Then　in　a　low　voice　he　said　to　Ranald；　hurriedly；　〃Don't　you　mind
him；　don't　you　mind　him。　　You　can't　touch　him　to…day；　on　your　own
place。　　Let　me　handle　him。〃

〃No；〃　said　Aleck。　　〃We　were　talking　about　another　colt　of　Ranald's。〃

〃What's　that？〃　said　Yankee；　pretending　not　to　hear。　　〃Yes；　you
bet；〃　he　continued。　　〃Ranald　can　handle　her　all　right。　　He　knows
something　about　horses；　as　I　guess　you　have　found　out；　perhaps；　by
this　time。　　Never　saw　anything　so　purty。　　Didn't　know　your　team　had
got　that　move　in　them；　Mr。　McNaughton；〃　Yankee　went　on　to　Farquhar；
who　had　just　come　up。

〃Indeed；　they　are　none　the　worse　of　it；〃　said　Farquhar；　rubbing　his
hands　over　the　sleek　sides　of　his　horses。

〃Worse！〃　cried　Yankee。　　〃They're　worth　a　hundred　dollars　more　from
this　day　on。〃

〃I　don't　know　that。　　The　hundred　dollars　ought　to　go　upon　the
driver；〃　said　Farquhar；　putting　his　hand　kindly　upon　Ranald's
shoulder。

But　this　Ranald　warmly　repudiated。　　〃They　are　a　great　team；〃　he
said　to　Farquhar。　　〃And　they　could　do　better　than　they　did　to…day
if　they　were　better　handled。'

〃Indeed；　it　would　be　difficult　to　get　that；〃　said　Farquhar；　〃for；
in　my　opinion；　there　is　not　a　man　in　the　country　that　could　handle
them　as　well。〃

This　was　too　much　for　Aleck；　who；　having　by　this　time　got　his
horses　hitched；　mounted　his　wagon　seat　and　came　round　to　the　door
at　a　gallop。

〃Saved　you　that　time；　my　boy；〃　said　Yankee　to　Ranald。　　〃You　would
have　made　a　fool　of　yourself　in　about　two　minutes　more；　I　guess。〃

But　Ranald　was　still　too　wrathful　to　be　grateful　for　Yankee's　help。
〃I　will　be　even　with　him　someday；〃　he　said；　between　his　teeth。

〃I　guess　you　will　have　to　learn　two　or　three　things　first；〃　said
Yankee；　slowly。

〃What　things？〃

〃Well；　how　to　use　your　head；　first　place；　and　then　how　to　use　your
hands。　　He　is　too　heavy　for　you。　　He　would　crumple　you　up　in　a
couple　of　minutes。〃

〃Let　him；　then；〃　said　Ranald；　recklessly。

〃Rather　onpleasant。　　Better　wait　awhile　till　you　learn　what　I　told
you。〃

〃Yankee；〃　said　Ranald；　after　a　pause；　〃will　you　show　me？〃

〃Why；　sartin　sure；〃　said　Yankee；　cheerfully。　　〃You　have　got　to　lick
him　some　day；　or　he　won't　be　happy；　and　by　jings！　it　will　be　worth
seein'；　too。〃

By　this　time　Farquhar　had　come　back　from　saying　good　by　to
Macdonald　Dubh　and　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Murray；　who　were　remaining　till
the　last。

〃You　will　be　a　man　yet；〃　said　Farquhar；　shaking　Ranald's　hand。
〃You　have　got　the　patience　and　the　endurance。〃　　These　were　great
virtues　in　Farquhar's　opinion。

〃Not　much　patience；　I　am　afraid；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃But　I　am　glad　you
trusted　me　with　your　team。〃

〃And　any　day　you　want　them　you　can　have　them；〃　said　Farquhar；　his
reckless　mood　leading　him　to　forget　Kirsty　for　the　moment。

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Ranald；　wondering　what　Kirsty　would　look
like　should　he　ever　venture　to　claim　Farquhar's　offer。

One　by　one　the　teams　drove　away　with　their　loads；　till　only　the
minister　and　his　party　were　left。　　Away　under　the　trees　Mr。　Murray
was　standing；　earnestly　talking　to　Macdonald　Dubh。　　He　had　found
the　opportunity　he　had　long　waited　for　and　was　making　the　most　of
it。　　Mrs。　Murray　was　busy　with　Kirsty；　and　Maimie　and　Hughie　came
toward　the　stable　where　Yankee　and　Ranald　were　still　standing。　　As
soon　as　Ranald　saw　them　approaching　he　said　to　Yankee；　abruptly；
〃I　am　going　to　get　the　minister's　horse；〃　and　disappeared　into　the
stable。　　Nor　did　he　come　forth　again　till　he　heard　his　father
calling　to　him：　　〃What　is　keeping　you；　Ranald？　　The　minister　is
waiting　for　his　horse。〃

〃So　you　won　a　great　victory；　Ranald；　I　hear；〃　said　the　minister；　as
Ranald　brought　Black　to　the　door。

〃It　was　a　tie；〃　said　Ranald。

〃Oh；　Ranald！〃　cried　Hughie；　〃you　beat　him。　　Everybody　says　so。　　You
had　your　chain　hitched　up　and　everything　before　Aleck。〃

〃I　hear　it　was　a　great　exhibition；　not　only　of　skill；　but　of
endurance　and　patience；　Ranald；〃　said　the　minister。　　〃And　these　are
noble　virtues。　　It　is　a　great　thing　to　be　able　to　endure。〃

But　Ranald　made　no　reply；　busying　himself　with　Black's　bridle。
Mrs。　Murray　noticed　his　gloom　and　guessed　its　cause。

〃We　will　see　you　at　the　Bible　class；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　kindly；　but
still　Ranald　remained　silent。

〃Can　you　not　speak；　man？〃　said　his　father。　　〃Do　you　not　hear　the
minister's　wife　talking　to　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　〃I　will　be　there。〃

〃We　will　be　glad　to　see　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　offering　him　her
hand。　　〃And　you　might　come　in　with　Hughie　for　a　few　minutes
afterward；〃　she　continued；　kindly；　for　she　noted　the　misery　in　his
face。

〃And　we　will　be　glad　to　see　you；　too；　Mr。　Macdonald；　if　it　would
not　be　too　much　for　you；　and　if　you　do　not　scorn　a　woman's
teaching。〃

〃Indeed；　I　would　be　proud；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　courteously；　〃as
far　as　that　is　concerned；　for　I　hear　there　are　better　men　than　me
attending。〃

〃I　am　sure　Mrs。　Murray　will　be　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。　Macdonald；〃
said　the　minister。

〃I　will　be　thinking　of　it；〃　said　Macdonald　Dubh；　cautiously。　　〃And
you　are　both　very　kind；　whatever；〃　he　said；　losing　for　a　time　his
habitual　gloom。

〃Well；　then；　I　will　look　for　you　both；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　as　they
were　about　to　drive　off；　〃so　do　not　disappoint　me。〃

〃Good　by；　Ranald；〃　said　Maimie；　offering　Ranald　her　hand。

〃Good　by；〃　said　Ranald；　holding　her　hand　for　a　moment　and　looking
hard　into　her　eyes；　〃and　I　hope　you　will　enjoy　your　ride；　whatever。〃

Then　Maimie　understood　Ranald's　savage　manner；　and　as　she　thought
it　over　she　smiled　to　herself。　　She　was　taking　her　first　sips　of
that　cup；　to　woman's　lips　the　sweetest；　and　she　found　it　not
unpleasant。　　She　had　succeeded　in　making　one　man　happy　and　another
miserable。　　But　it　was　when　she　said　to　herself；　〃Poor　Ranald！〃
that　she　smiled　most　sweetly。



CHAPTER　XIV

SHE　WILL　NOT　FORGET


If　Mrs。　Murray　was　not　surprised　to　see　Macdonald　Dubh　and　Yankee
walk　in　on　Sabbath　evening　and　sit　down　in　the　back　seat；　her　class
were。　　Indeed　the　appearance　of　these　two　men　at　the　class　was
considered　an　event　so　extraordinary　as　to　give　a　decided　shock　to
those　who　regularly　attended；　and　their　presence　lent　to　the　meeting
an　unusual　interest；　and　an　undertone　of　excitement。　　To　see
Macdonald　Dubh；　whose　attendance　at　the　regular　Sabbath　services　was
something　unusual；　present　at　a　religious　meeting　which　no　one　would
consider　it　a　duty　to　attend；　was　enough　in　itself　to　excite
surprise；　but　when　Yankee　came　in　and　sat　beside　him；　the　surprise
was　considerably　intensified。　　For　Yankee　was　considered　to　be　quite
outside　the　pale；　and　indeed；　in　a　way；　incapable　of　religious
impression。　　No　one　expected　Yankee　to　be　religious。　　He　was　not　a
Presbyter