the man from glengarry-第9节

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frequent　changessheets　and　clothing；　you　understand。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Kirsty；　suspiciously。

〃I　am　sure　you　have　plenty　of　beautiful　sheets；　and　we　will　change
these　when　he　wakes　from　his　sleep。〃

〃Indeed；　they　are　very　clean；　for　there　is　no　one　but　myself　has
slept　in　them　since　he　went　away　last　fall　to　the　shanties。〃

Mrs。　Murray　felt　the　delicacy　of　the　position　to　be　sensibly
increased。

〃Indeed；　that　is　right；　Kirsty；　one　can　never　tell　just　what　sort
of　people　are　traveling　about　nowadays。〃

〃Indeed；　and　it's　true；〃　said　Kirsty；　heartily；　〃but　I　never　let
them　in　here。　　I　just　keep　them　to　the　bunk。〃

〃But；〃　pursued　Mrs。　Murray；　returning　to　the　subject　in　hand；　〃it
is　very　important　that　for　sick　people　the　sheets　should　be
thoroughly　aired　and　warmed。　　Why；　in　the　hospital　in　Montreal　they
take　the　very　greatest　care　to　air　and　change　the　sheets　every　day。
You　see　so　much　poison　comes　through　the　pores　of　the　skin。〃

〃Do　you　hear　that　now？〃　said　Kirsty；　amazed。　　〃Indeed；　I　would　be
often　hearing　that　those　French　people　are　just　full　of　poison　and
such；　and　indeed；　it　is　no　wonder；　for　the　food　they　put　inside　of
them。〃

〃O；　no；　〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　〃it　is　the　same　with　all　people；　but
especially　so　with　sick　people。〃

Kirsty　looked　as　doubtful　as　was　consistent　with　her　respect　for
the　minister's　wife；　and　Mrs。　Murray　went　on。

〃So　you　will　just　get　the　sheets　ready　to　change；　and；　Kirsty；　a
clean　night…shirt。〃

〃Night…shirt！　and　indeed；　he　has　not　such　a　thing　to　his　name。〃
Kirsty's　tone　betrayed　her　thankfulness　that　her　brother　was　free
from　the　effeminacy　of　a　night…shirt；　but　noting　the　dismay　and
confusion　on　Mrs。　Murray's　face；　she　suggested；　hesitatingly；　〃He
might　have　one　of　my　own；　but　I　am　thinking　it　will　be　small　for
him　across　the　back。〃

〃I　am　afraid　so；　Kirsty；〃　said　the　minister's　wife；　struggling　hard
with　a　smile。　　〃We　will　just　use　one　of　his　own　white　shirts。〃　　But
this　scandalized　Kirsty　as　an　unnecessary　and　wasteful　luxury。

〃Indeed；　there　is　plenty　of　them　in　the　chist；　but　he　will　be
keeping　them　for　the　communion　season；　and　the　funerals；　and　such。
He　will　not　be　wearing　them　in　his　bed；　for　no　one　will　be　seeing
him　there　at　all。〃

〃But　he　will　feel　so　much　better；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　and　her　smile
was　so　sweet　and　winning　that　Kirsty's　opposition　collapsed；　and
without　more　words　both　sheets　and　shirt　were　produced。

As　Kirsty　laid　them　out　she　observed　with　a　sigh：　　〃Aye；　aye；　she
was　the　clever　womanthe　wife；　I　mean。　　She　was　good　with　the
needle；　and　indeed；　at　anything　she　tried　to　do。〃

〃I　did　not　know　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　softly；　〃but　every　one
tells　me　she　was　a　good　housekeeper　and　a　good　woman。〃

〃She　was　that；〃　said　Kirsty；　emphatically；　〃and　she　was　the　light
of　his　eyes；　and　it　was　a　bad　day　for　Hugh　when　she　went　away。〃

〃Now；　Kirsty；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　after　a　pause；　〃before　we　put　on
these　clean　things；　we　will　just　give　him　a　sponge　bath。〃

Kirsty　gasped。

〃Mercy　sakes！　　He　will　not　be　needing　that　in　the　winter；　and　he
will　be　getting　a　cold　from　it。　　In　the　summer…time　he　will　be
going　to　the　river　himself。　　And　how　will　you　be　giving　him　a　bath
whatever？〃

Mrs。　Murray　carefully　explained　the　process；　again　fortifying　her
position　by　referring　to　the　practices　of　the　Montreal　hospital；
till；　as　a　result　of　her　persuasions　and　instructions；　in　an　hour
after　Macdonald　had　awakened　from　his　sleep　he　was　lying　in　his
Sabbath　white　shirt　and　between　fresh　sheets；　and　feeling　cleaner
and　more　comfortable　than　he　had　for　many　a　day。　　The　fever　was
much　reduced；　and　he　fell　again　into　a　deep　sleep。

The　two　women　watched　beside　him；　for　neither　would　leave　the　other
to　watch　alone。　　And　Ranald；　who　could　not　be　persuaded　to　go　up　to
his　loft；　lay　on　the　bunk　in　the　kitchen　and　dozed。　　After　an　hour
had　passed；　Mrs。　Murray　inquired　as　to　the　nourishment　Kirsty　had
given　her　brother。

〃Indeed；　he　will　not　be　taking　anything　whatever；〃　said　Kirsty；　in
a　vexed　tone。　　〃And　it　is　no　matter　what　I　will　be　giving　him。〃

〃And　what　does　he　like；　Kirsty？〃

〃Indeed；　he　will　be　taking　anything　when　he　is　not　seek；　and　he　is
that　fond　of　buckwheat　pancakes　and　pork　gravy　with　maple　syrup
over　them；　but　would　he　look　at　it！　　And　I　made　him　new　porridge
to…night；　but　he　would　not　touch　them。〃

〃Did　you　try　him　with　gruel；　Kirsty？〃

〃Mercy　me；　and　is　it　Macdonald　Dubh　and　gruel？　　He　would　be
flinging　the　'feushionless'　stuff　out　of　the　window。〃

〃But　I　am　sure　it　would　be　good　for　him　if　he　could　be　persuaded　to
try　it。　　I　should　like　to　try　him。〃

〃Indeed；　and　you　may　try。　　It　will　be　easy　enough；　for　the　porridge
are　still　in　the　pot。〃

Kirsty　took　the　pot　from　the　bench；　with　the　remains　of　the
porridge　that　had　been　made　for　supper　still　in　it；　set　it　on　the
fire；　and　pouring　some　water　in　it；　began　to　stir　it　vigorously。
It　was　thick　and　slimy；　and　altogether　a　most　repulsive…looking
mixture；　and　Mrs。　Murray　no　longer　wondered　at　Macdonald　Dubh's
distaste　for　gruel。

〃I　think　I　will　make　some　fresh；　if　you　will　let　me；　Kirstyin　the
way　I　make　it　for　the　minister；　you　know。〃

Kirsty；　by　this　time；　had　completely　surrendered　to　Mrs。　Murray's
guidance；　and　producing　the　oatmeal；　allowed　her　to　have　her　way；
so　that　when　Macdonald　awoke　he　found　Mrs。　Murray　standing　beside
him　with　a　bowl　of　the　nicest　gruel　and　a　slice　of　thin　dry　toast。

He　greeted　the　minister's　wife　with　grave　courtesy；　drank　the
gruel；　and　then　lay　down　again　to　sleep。

〃Will　you　look　at　that　now？〃　said　Kirsty；　amazed　at　Macdonald
Dubh's　forbearance。　　〃He　would　not　like　to　be　offending　you。〃

Then　Mrs。　Murray　besought　Kirsty　to　go　and　lie　down　for　an　hour；
which　Kirsty　very　unwillingly　agreed　to　do。

It　was　not　long　before　Macdonald　began　to　toss　and　mutter　in　his
sleep；　breaking　forth　now　and　then　into　wild　cries　and　curses。　　He
was　fighting　once　more　his　great　fight　in　the　Glengarry　line；　and
beating　back　LeNoir。

〃Back；　ye　devil！　　Would　ye？　　Take　that；　then。　　Come　back；　Mack！〃
Then　followed　a　cry　so　wild　that　Ranald　awoke　and　came　into　the
room。

〃Bring　in　some　snow；　Ranald；〃　said　the　minister's　wife；　〃we　will
lay　some　on　his　head。〃

She　bathed　the　hot　face　and　hands　with　ice…cold　water；　and　then
laid　a　snow　compress　on　the　sick　man's　head；　speaking　to　him　in
quiet；　gentle　tones；　till　he　was　soothed　again　to　sleep。

When　the　gray　light　of　the　morning　came　in　through　the　little
window；　Macdonald　woke　sane　and　quiet。

〃You　are　better；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray　to　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　very　well；　thank　you；　except　for　the　pain
here。〃　　He　pointed　to　his　chest。

〃You　have　been　badly　hurt；　Ranald　tells　me。　　How　did　it　happen？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Macdonald；　slowly；　〃it　is　very　hard　to　say。〃

〃Did　the　tree　fall　on　you？〃　asked　Mrs。　Murray。

Macdonald　glanced　at　her　quickly；　and　then　answered：　　〃It　is　very
dangerous　work　with　the　trees。　　It　is　wonderful　how　quick　they　will
fall。〃

〃Your　face　and　breast　seem　very　badly　bruised　and　cut。〃

〃Aye；　yes；〃　said　Macdonald。　　〃The　breast　is　bad　whatever。〃

〃I　think　you　had　better　send　for　Doctor　Grant；〃　Mrs。　Murray　said。
〃There　may　be　some　internal　injury。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Macdonald；　decidedly。　　〃I　will　have　no　doctor　at　me；
and　I　will　soon　be　round　again；　if　the　Lord　will。　　When　will　the
minister　be　home？〃

But　Mrs。　Murray；　ignoring　his　attempt　to　escape　the　subject；　went
on：　　〃Yes；　but；　Mr。　Macdonald；　I　am　anxious　to　have　Doctor　Grant
see　you；　and　I　wish　you　would　send　for　him　to…morrow。〃

〃Ah；　well；〃　said　Macdonald；　not　committing　himself；　〃we　will　be
seeing　about　that。　　But　the　doctor　has　not　been　in　this　house　for
many　a　day。〃　　Then；　after　a　pause；　he　added；　in　a　low　voice；　〃Not
since　the　day　she　was　taken　from　me。〃

〃Was　she　ill　long？〃

〃Indeed；　no。　　It　was　just　one　night。　　There　was　no　doctor；　and　the
women　could　not　help　her；　and　she　was　very　badand　when　it　came　it
was　a　girland　it　was　deadand　then　the　doctor　arrived；　but　he
was　too　late。〃　　Macdonald　Dubh　finished　with　a　great　sigh；　and　the
minister's　wife　said　gently　to　him：

〃That　was　a　very　sad　day；　and　a　great　loss　to　you　and　Ranald。〃

〃Aye；　you　may　say　it；　she　was　a　bonnie　woman　whatever；　and　grand　at
the　spinning　and　the　butter。　　And；　oich…hone；　it　was　a　sad　day　for
us。〃

The　minister's　wife　sat　silent；　knowing　that　such　grief　cannot　be
comforted；　and　pitying　from　her　heart　the　lonely　man。　　After　a　time
she　said　gently；　〃She　is　better　off。〃

A　look　of　doubt　and　pain　and　fear　came　into　Macdonald's　eyes。

〃She　never　came　forward；〃　he　said；　hesitatingly。　　〃She　was　afraid
to　come。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　her　often；　Mr。　Macdonald；　and　I　have　heard　that
she　was　a　good　and　gentle　woman。〃

〃Aye；　she　was　that。〃

〃And　kind　to　the　sick。〃

〃You　may　believe　it。〃

〃And　she　loved　the　house　of　God。〃

〃Aye；　and　neither　rain　nor　snow　nor　mud　would　be　keeping　her　from
it；　but　she　would　be　going　every　Sabbath　day；　bringing　her
stockings　with　her。〃

〃Her　stockings？〃

〃Aye；　to　change　her　feet　in　the　church。　　What　else？　　Her　stockings
would　be　wet　with　the　snow　and　water。〃

Mrs。　Murray　nodded。　　〃And　she　loved　her　Saviour；　Mr。　Macdonald。〃