the man from glengarry-第48节

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would　treat　De　Lacy　and　that　idiotic　Sims；　I　won't　bring　him！〃　　And
with　that　he　flung　out　of　the　room。

But　Harry　changed　his　mind；　for　next　Sunday　evening　as　the　young
ladies　with　De　Lacy　and　his　friend　were　about　to　sit　down　to　supper
in　their　private　parlor；　Harry　walked　in　with　Ranald；　and　announced
in　triumph：　　〃The　man　from　Glengarry！〃　　Maimie　looked　at　him　in
dismay；　and　indeed　she　well　might；　for　Ranald　was　dressed　in　his
most　gorgeous　shanty　array；　with　red　flannel　shirt　and　silk
handkerchief；　and　trousers　tucked　into　his　boots。　　Sims　gazed　at
him　as　if　he　were　an　apparition。　　It　was　Kate　who　first　broke　the
silence。

〃We　are　delighted　to　see　you；〃　she　cried；　going　forward　to　Ranald
with　hands　outstretched；　〃you　are　become　quite　a　hero　in　this
town。〃

〃Quite；　I　assure　you；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　in　a　languid　voice；　but
shaking　Ranald　heartily　by　the　hand。

Then　Maimie　came　forward　and　greeted　him　with　ceremonious　politeness
and　introduced　him　to　Mr。　Sims；　who　continued　to　gaze　at　the
shantyman's　attire　with　amused　astonishment。

The　supper　was　not　a　success；　Ranald　sat　silent　and　solemn；　eating
little　and　smiling　not　at　all；　although　Mr。　Sims　executed　his　very
best　jokes。　　Maimie　was　nervous　and　visibly　distressed；　and　at　the
earliest　possible　moment　broke　up　the　supper　party　and　engaged　in
conversation　with　the　lieutenant　and　his　witty　friend；　leaving
Harry　and　Kate　to　entertain　Ranald。　　But　in　spite　of　all　they　could
do　a　solemn　silence　would　now　and　then　overtake　the　company；　till
at　length　Maimie　grew　desperate；　and　turning　to　Ranald；　said：
〃What　are　you　thinking　of？　　You　are　looking　very　serious？〃

〃He　is　'thinking　of　home　and　mother；'〃　quoted　Mr。　Sims；　in　a　thin；
piping　voice；　following　his　quotation　with　a　silly　giggle。

Kate　flushed　indignantly。　　〃I　am　quite　sure　his　thoughts　will　bear
telling；〃　she　said。

〃I　am　sure　they　would；〃　said　Maimie；　not　knowing　what　to　say。
〃What　were　they；　RanMr。　Macdonald？〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　you；〃　said　Ranald；　gravely；　looking　straight　at
her。

〃How　lovely；〃　murmured　the　lieutenant。

〃And　of　your　aunt；　Mrs。　Murray；　and　of　what　they　would　be　doing
this　night〃

〃And　what　would　that　be？〃　said　Kate；　coming　to　the　relief　of　her
friend。　　But　Ranald　was　silent。

〃I　know；〃　cried　Harry。　　〃Let's　see；　it　is　ten　o'clock；　they　will
all　be　sitting　in　the　manse　dining…room　before　the　big　fire；　or；
no；　they　will　be　in　the　parlor　where　the　piano　is；　and　John　'Aleck'
will　be　there；　and　they　will　be　singing〃；　and　he　went　on　to
describe　his　last　Sabbath　evening；　two　years　before；　in　the
Glengarry　manse。　　As　he　began　to　picture　his　aunt　and　her　work；
his　enthusiasm　carried　him　away；　and　made　him　eloquent。

〃I　tell　you；〃　he　concluded；　〃she's　a　rare　woman；　and　she　has　a
hundred　men　there　ready　to　die　for　her；　eh；　Ranald？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ranald；　and　his　deep　voice　vibrated　with　intense
feeling。　　〃They　would　just　die　for　her；　and　why　not？　　She　is　a
great　woman　and　a　good。〃　　His　dark　face　was　transformed；　and　his
eyes　glowed　with　an　inner　light。

In　the　silence　that　followed　Kate　went　to　the　harmonium　and　began
to　play　softly。　　Ranald　stood　up　as　to　go；　but　suddenly　changed　his
mind；　and　went　over　and　stood　beside　her。

〃You　sing；　don't　you？〃　said　Kate；　as　she　played　softly。

〃You　ought　to　just　hear　him；〃　said　Harry。

〃Oh；　what　does　he　sing？〃

〃I　only　sing　the　psalm　tunes　in　church；〃　said　Ranald；　〃and　a　few
hymns。〃

〃Ye　gods！〃　ejaculated　the　lieutenant　to　Maimie；　〃psalms　and　hymns；
and　how　the　fellow　knocked　those　Frenchmen　about！〃

〃Sing　something；　Kate；　won't　you？〃　said　Maimie；　and　Kate；　without　a
word　began　the　beautiful　air　from　Mendelssohn's　St。　Paul：


　　　　　〃But　the　Lord　is　mindful　of　His　own；〃


singing　it　with　a　power　of　expression　marvellous　in　so　young　a
girl。　　Then；　without　further　request；　she　glided　into　the　lovely
aria；　〃O　Rest　in　the　Lord。〃　　It　was　all　new　and　wonderful　to
Ranald。　　He　did　not　dream　that　such　majesty　and　sweetness　could　be
expressed　in　music。　　He　sat　silent　with　eyes　looking　far　away；　and
face　alight　with　the　joy　that　filled　his　soul。

〃Oh；　thanks；　very　much；〃　murmured　the　lieutenant；　when　Kate　had
finished。　　〃Lovely　thing　that　aria；　don't　you　know？〃

〃Very　nice；〃　echoed　Mr。　Sims；　〃and　so　beautifully　done；　too。〃

Ranald　looked　from　one　to　the　other　in　indignant　surprise；　and　then
turning　away　from　them　to　Kate；　said；　in　a　tone　almost　of　command：
〃Sing　it　again。〃

〃I'll　sing　something　else；〃　she　said。　　〃Did　you　ever　hear〃

〃No；　I　never　heard　anything　at　all　like　that；〃　interrupted　Ranald。
〃Sing　some　more　like　the　last。〃

The　deep　feeling　showing　in　his　face　and　in　his　tone　touched　Kate。

〃How　would　this　do？〃　she　replied。　　〃It　is　a　little　high　for　me；　but
I'll　try。〃

She　played　a　few　introductory　chords；　and　then　began　that　sweetest
bit　of　the　greatest　of　all　the　oratorios　〃He　shall　Feed　His　Flock。〃
And　from　that　passed　into　the　soul…moving　〃He　Was　Despised〃　from
the　same　noble　work。　　The　music　suited　the　range　and　quality　of　her
voice　perfectly；　and　she　sang　with　her　heart　thrilling　in　response
to　the　passionate　feeling　in　the　dark　eyes　fixed　upon　her　face。
She　had　never　sung　to　any　one　who　listened　as　Ranald　now　listened
to　her。　　She　forgot　the　others。　　She　was　singing　for　him；　and　he
was　compelling　her　to　her　best。　　She　was　conscious　of　a　subtle
sense　of　mastery　overpowering　her；　and　with　a　strange　delight　she
yielded　herself　to　that　commanding　influence；　but　as　she　sang　she
began　to　realize　that　he　was　thinking　not　of　her；　but　of　her　song；
and　soon　she；　too；　was　thinking　of　it。　　She　knew　that　his　eyes　were
filled　with　the　vision　of　〃The　Man　of　Sorrows〃　of　whom　she　sang；
and　before　she　was　aware；　the　pathos　of　that　lonely　and　despised
life；　set　forth　in　the　noble　words　of　the　ancient　prophet；　was
pouring　forth　in　the　great　Master's　music。

When　the　song　was　ended；　no　one　spoke　for　a　time；　and　even　Mr。　Sims
was　silent。　　Then　the　lieutenant　came　over　to　the　harmonium；　and
leaning　toward　Kate；　said；　in　an　earnest　voice；　unusual　with　him；
〃Thank　you　Miss　Raymond。　　That　was　truly　great。〃

〃Great　indeed；〃　said　Harry；　with　enthusiasm。　　〃I　never　heard　you
sing　like　that　before；　Kate。〃

But　Ranald　sat　silent；　finding　no　words　in　which　to　express　the
thoughts　and　feelings　her　singing　had　aroused　in　him。

There　is　that　in　noble　music　which　forbids　unreality；　rebukes
frivolity　into　silence；　subdues　ignoble　passions；　soothes　the
heart's　sorrow；　and　summons　to　the　soul　high　and　holy　thoughts。　　It
was　difficult　to　begin　the　conversation；　the　trivial　themes　of　the
earlier　part　of　the　evening　seemed　foreign　to　the　mood　that　had
fallen　upon　the　company。　　At　length　Mr。　Sims　ventured　to　remark；
with　a　giggle：　　〃It's　awfully　fine；　don't　you　know；　but　a　trifle
funereal。　　Makes　one　think　of　graves　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　Very
nice；　of　course；〃　he　added；　apologetically；　to　Kate。　　Ranald　turned
and　regarded　the　little　man　for　some　moments　in　silence；　and　then；
with　unutterable　scorn；　exclaimed：　　〃Nice！　man；　it's　wonderful；
wonderful　to　me　whatever！　　Makes　me　think　of　all　the　great　things　I
ever　saw。〃

〃What　things？〃　Kate　ventured　to　say。

For　a　few　moments　Ranald　paused；　and　then　replied：　　〃It　makes　me
think　of　the　big　pine　trees　waving　and　wailing　over　me　at　night；
and　the　big　river　rolling　down　with　the　moonlight　on　itandother
things。〃

〃What　other　things；　Ranald；〃　persisted　Kate。

But　Ranald　shook　his　head　and　sat　silent　for　some　time。　　Then　he
rose　abruptly。

〃I　will　be　going　now；〃　he　said。

〃You　will　come　again　soon；　Ranald；〃　said　Maimie；　coming　toward　him
with　a　look　on　her　face　that　reminded　him　of　the　days　in　the
Glengarry　manse。　　She　had　forgotten　all　about　his　red　shirt　and
silk　handkerchief。　　As　Ranald　caught　that　look　a　great　joy　leaped
into　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　faded　into　a　gaze　of　perplexity。

〃Yes；　do　come；〃　added　Kate。

〃Will　you　sing　again？〃　he　asked；　bluntly。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　she　replied；　with　a　slight　blush；　〃if　you　want　me
to。〃

〃I　will　come。　　When？　　To…morrow　night？〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　to…morrow　night；〃　said　Kate；　blushing　deeply　now；
for　she　noticed　the　slight　smile　on　Harry's　face；　and　the　glance
that　passed　between　Mr。　Sims　and　the　lieutenant。　　Then　Ranald　said
good　night。

〃I　have　never　had　such　pleasure　in　my　life；〃　he　said；　holding　her
hand　a　moment；　and　looking　into　her　eyes　that　sparkled　with　a　happy
light。　　〃That　is；〃　he　added；　with　a　swift　glance　at　Maimie；　〃from
music　or　things　like　that。〃

Kate　caught　the　glance；　and　the　happy　light　faded　from　her　eyes。

〃Good　night；〃　said　Ranald；　offering　his　hand　to　Maimie。　　〃I　am　glad
I　came　now。　　It　makes　me　think　of　the　last　night　at　the　manse；
although　I　am　always　thinking　of　it；〃　he　added；　simply；　with　a
touch　of　sadness　in　his　voice。　　Maimie's　face　grew　hot　with　blushes。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　hurriedly。　　〃Dear　Aunt　Murray！〃

He　stood　a　moment　or　two　as　if　about　to　speak；　while　Maimie
waited　in　an　agony　of　fear；　not　knowing　what　to　expect　in　this
extraordinary　young　man。　　Then　he　turned　abruptly　away；　and　with　a
good　night　to　De　Lacy　and　a　nod　to　Mr。　Sims；　strode　from　the　room。

〃Great　Caesar's　ghost！〃　exclaimed　the　lieute