weir of hermiston-第19节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



and　sensible…like；　but　it　was　a　pity　he　looked　doleful。　　Only　…　the　

moment　after　…　a　memory　of　his　eyes　in　church　embarrassed　her。　　But　for　

this　inconsiderable　check；　all　through　meal…time　she　had　a　good　

appetite；　and　she　kept　them　laughing　at　table；　until　Gib　（who　had　

returned　before　them　from　Crossmichael　and　his　separative　worship）　

reproved　the　whole　of　them　for　their　levity。



Singing　〃in　to　herself〃　as　she　went；　her　mind　still　in　the　turmoil　of　a　

glad　confusion；　she　rose　and　tripped　upstairs　to　a　little　loft；　lighted　

by　four　panes　in　the　gable；　where　she　slept　with　one　of　her　nieces。　　The　

niece；　who　followed　her；　presuming　on　〃Auntie's〃　high　spirits；　was　

flounced　out　of　the　apartment　with　small　ceremony；　and　retired；　smarting　

and　half　tearful；　to　bury　her　woes　in　the　byre　among　the　hay。　　Still　

humming；　Christina　divested　herself　of　her　finery；　and　put　her　treasures　

one　by　one　in　her　great　green　trunk。　　The　last　of　these　was　the　psalm…book；

it　was　a　fine　piece；　the　gift　of　Mistress　Clem；　in　distinct　old…faced　type；

on　paper　that　had　begun　to　grow　foxy　in　the　warehouse　…　not　by　service　…

and　she　was　used　to　wrap　it　in　a　handkerchief　every　Sunday　after　its

period　of　service　was　over；　and　bury　it　end…wise　at　the　head　of　her

trunk。　　As　she　now　took　it　in　hand　the　book　fell　open　where　the　leaf

was　torn；　and　she　stood　and　gazed　upon　that　evidence　of　her　bygone

discomposure。　　There　returned　again　the　vision　of　the　two　brown　eyes

staring　at　her；　intent　and　bright；　out　of　that　dark　corner　of　the　kirk。　　

The　whole　appearance　and　attitude；　the　smile；　the　suggested　gesture　of

young　Hermiston　came　before　her　in　a　flash　at　the　sight　of　the　torn

page。　　〃I　was　surely　fey！〃　she　said；　echoing　the　words　of　Dandie；　and

at　the　suggested　doom　her　high　spirits　deserted　her。　　She　flung　herself

prone　upon　the　bed；　and　lay　there；　holding　the　psalm…book　in　her　hands

for　hours；　for　the　more　part　in　a　mere　stupor　of　unconsenting　pleasure

and　unreasoning　fear。　　The　fear　was　superstitious；　there　came　up　again

and　again　in　her　memory　Dandie's　ill…omened　words；　and　a　hundred　grisly

and　black　tales　out　of　the　immediate　neighbourhood　read　her　a　commentary

on　their　force。　　The　pleasure　was　never　realised。　　You　might　say　the

joints　of　her　body　thought　and　remembered；　and　were　gladdened；　but　her

essential　self；　in　the　immediate　theatre　of　consciousness；　talked

feverishly　of　something　else；　like　a　nervous　person　at　a　fire。　　The

image　that　she　most　complacently　dwelt　on　was　that　of　Miss　Christina

in　her　character　of　the　Fair　Lass　of　Cauldstaneslap；　carrying　all　before

her　in　the　straw…coloured　frock；　the　violet　mantle；　and　the　yellow　cobweb

stockings。　　Archie's　image；　on　the　other　hand；　when　it　presented　itself

was　never　welcomed　…　far　less　welcomed　with　any　ardour；　and　it　was　exposed

at　times　to　merciless　criticism。　　In　the　long　vague　dialogues　she　held　in

her　mind；　often　with　imaginary；　often　with　unrealised　interlocutors；

Archie；　if　he　were　referred　to　at　all　came　in　for　savage　handling。　　He

was　described　as　〃looking　like　a　stork；〃　〃staring　like　a　caulf；〃　〃a　face

like　a　ghaist's。〃　　〃Do　you　call　that　manners？〃　she　said；　or；　〃I　soon　put

him　in　his　place。〃　〃　‘MISS　CHRISTINA；　IF　YOU　PLEASE；　MR。　　WEIR！'　says　I；

and　just　flyped　up　my　skirt　tails。〃　　With　gabble　like　this　she　would　

entertain　herself　long　whiles　together；　and　then　her　eye　would　perhaps　

fall　on　the　torn　leaf；　and　the　eyes　of　Archie　would　appear　again　from　

the　darkness　of　the　wall；　and　the　voluble　words　deserted　her；　and　she　

would　lie　still　and　stupid；　and　think　upon　nothing　with　devotion；　and　be　

sometimes　raised　by　a　quiet　sigh。　　Had　a　doctor　of　medicine　come　into　

that　loft；　he　would　have　diagnosed　a　healthy；　well…developed；　eminently　

vivacious　lass　lying　on　her　face　in　a　fit　of　the　sulks；　not　one　who　had　

just　contracted；　or　was　just　contracting；　a　mortal　sickness　of　the　mind　

which　should　yet　carry　her　towards　death　and　despair。　　Had　it　been　a　

doctor　of　psychology；　he　might　have　been　pardoned　for　divining　in　the　

girl　a　passion　of　childish　vanity；　self…love　IN　EXCELSIS；　and　no　more。　　

It　is　to　be　understood　that　I　have　been　painting　chaos　and　describing　

the　inarticulate。　　Every　lineament　that　appears　is　too　precise；　almost　

every　word　used　too　strong。　　Take　a　finger…post　in　the　mountains　on　a　

day　of　rolling　mists；　I　have　but　copied　the　names　that　appear　upon　the　

pointers；　the　names　of　definite　and　famous　cities　far　distant；　and　now　

perhaps　basking　in　sunshine；　but　Christina　remained　all　these　hours；　as　

it　were；　at　the　foot　of　the　post　itself；　not　moving；　and　enveloped　in　

mutable　and　blinding　wreaths　of　haze。



The　day　was　growing　late　and　the　sunbeams　long　and　level；　when　she　sat　

suddenly　up；　and　wrapped　in　its　handkerchief　and　put　by　that　psalm…book　

which　had　already　played　a　part　so　decisive　in　the　first　chapter　of　her　

love…story。　　In　the　absence　of　the　mesmerist's　eye；　we　are　told　nowadays　

that　the　head　of　a　bright　nail　may　fill　his　place；　if　it　be　steadfastly　

regarded。　　So　that　torn　page　had　riveted　her　attention　on　what　might　

else　have　been　but　little；　and　perhaps　soon　forgotten；　while　the　ominous　

words　of　Dandie　…　heard；　not　heeded；　and　still　remembered　…　had　lent　to　

her　thoughts；　or　rather　to　her　mood；　a　cast　of　solemnity；　and　that　idea　

of　Fate　…　a　pagan　Fate；　uncontrolled　by　any　Christian　deity；　obscure；　

lawless；　and　august　…　moving　indissuadably　in　the　affairs　of　Christian　

men。　　Thus　even　that　phenomenon　of　love　at　first　sight；　which　is　so　rare　

and　seems　so　simple　and　violent；　like　a　disruption　of　life's　tissue；　may　

be　decomposed　into　a　sequence　of　accidents　happily　concurring。



She　put　on　a　grey　frock　and　a　pink　kerchief；　looked　at　herself　a　moment　

with　approval　in　the　small　square　of　glass　that　served　her　for　a　toilet　

mirror；　and　went　softly　downstairs　through　the　sleeping　house　that　

resounded　with　the　sound　of　afternoon　snoring。　　Just　outside　the　door；　

Dandie　was　sitting　with　a　book　in　his　hand；　not　reading；　only　honouring　

the　Sabbath　by　a　sacred　vacancy　of　mind。　　She　came　near　him　and　stood　

still。



〃I'm　for　off　up　the　muirs；　Dandie；〃　she　said。



There　was　something　unusually　soft　in　her　tones　that　made　him　look　up。　　

She　was　pale；　her　eyes　dark　and　bright；　no　trace　remained　of　the　levity　

of　the　morning。



〃Ay；　lass？　　Ye'll　have　yer　ups　and　downs　like　me；　I'm　thinkin'；〃　he　

observed。



〃What　for　do　ye　say　that？〃　she　asked。



〃O；　for　naething；〃　says　Dand。　　〃Only　I　think　ye're　mair　like　me　than　the　

lave　of　them。　　Ye've　mair　of　the　poetic　temper；　tho'　Guid　kens　little　

enough　of　the　poetic　taalent。　　It's　an　ill　gift　at　the　best。　　Look　at　

yoursel'。　　At　denner　you　were　all　sunshine　and　flowers　and　laughter；　and　

now　you're　like　the　star　of　evening　on　a　lake。〃



She　drank　in　this　hackneyed　compliment　like　wine；　and　it　glowed　in　her　

veins。



〃But　I'm　saying；　Dand〃　…　she　came　nearer　him　…　〃I'm　for　the　muirs。　　I　

must　have　a　braith　of　air。　　If　Clem　was　to　be　speiring　for　me；　try　and　

quaiet　him；　will　ye　no？〃



〃What　way？〃　said　Dandie。　　〃I　ken　but　the　ae　way；　and　that's　leein'。〃　　

I'll　say　ye　had　a　sair　heid；　if　ye　like。〃



〃But　I　havena；〃　she　objected。



〃I　daursay　no；〃　he　returned。　　〃I　said　I　would　say　ye　had；　and　if　ye　like　

to　nay…say　me　when　ye　come　back；　it'll　no　mateerially　maitter；　for　my　

chara'ter's　clean　gane　a'ready　past　reca'。〃



〃O；　Dand；　are　ye　a　lecar？〃　she　asked；　lingering。



〃Folks　say　sae；〃　replied　the　bard。



〃Wha　says　sae？〃　she　pursued。



〃Them　that　should　ken　the　best；〃　he　responded。　　〃The　lassies；　for　ane。〃



〃But；　Dand；　you　would　never　lee　to　me？〃　she　asked。



〃I'll　leave　that　for　your　pairt　of　it；　ye　girzie；〃　said　he。　　〃Ye'll　lee　

to　me　fast　eneuch；　when　ye　hae　gotten　a　jo。　　I'm　tellin'　ye　and　it's　

true；　when　you　have　a　jo；　Miss　Kirstie；　it'll　be　for　guid　and　ill。　　I　

ken：　I　was　made　that　way　mysel'；　but　the　deil　was　in　my　luck！　　Here；　

gang　awa　wi'　ye　to　your　muirs；　and　let　me　be；　I'm　in　an　hour　of　

inspiraution；　ye　upsetting　tawpie！〃



But　she　clung　to　her　brother's　neighbourhood；　she　knew　not　why。



〃Will　ye　no　gie's　a　kiss；　Dand？〃　she　said。　　〃I　aye　likit　ye　fine。〃



He　kissed　her　and　considered　her　a　moment；　he　found　something　strange　in　

her。　　But　he　was　a　libertine　through　and　through；　nourished　equal　

contempt　and　suspicion　of　all　womankind；　and　paid　his　way　among　them　

habitually　with　idle　compliments。



〃Gae　wa'　wi'　ye！〃　said　he。　　〃Ye're　a　dentie　baby；　and　be　content　wi'　

that！〃



That　was　Dandie's　way；　a　kiss　and　a　comfit　to　Jenny　…　a　bawbee　and　my　

blessing　to　Jill　…　and　goodnight　to　the　whole　clan　of　ye；　my　dears！　　

When　anything　approached　the　serious；　it　became　a　matter　for　men；　he　

both　thought　and　said。　　Women；　when　they　did　not　absorb；　were　only　

children　to　be　shoo'd　away。　　Merely　in　his　character　of　connoisseur；　

however；　Dandie　glanced　carelessly　after　his　sister　as　she　c