redgauntlet-第16节

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your　partners　are　using　unlawful　craft　to　destroy　the　fish　in　the　Solway　by　stake…　nets　and　wears；　and　that　we；　who　fish　fairly；　and　like　men；　as　our　fathers　did；　have　daily　and　yearly　less　sport　and　less　profit。　　Do　not　think　gravity　or　hypocrisy　can　carry　it　off　as　you　have　done。　　The　world　knows　you；　and　we　know　you。　　You　will　destroy　the　salmon　which　makes　the　livelihood　of　fifty　poor　families；　and　then　wipe　your　mouth；　and　go　to　make　a　speech　at　meeting。　　But　do　not　hope　it　will　last　thus。　　I　give　you　fair　warning；　we　will　be　upon　you　one　morning　soon；　when　we　will　not　leave　a　stake　standing　in　the　pools　of　the　Solway；　and　down　the　tide　they　shall　every　one　go；　and　well　if　we　do　not　send　a　lessee　along　with　them。'

'Friend；'　replied　Joshua；　with　a　constrained　smile；　'but　that　I　know　thou　dost　not　mean　as　thou　sayst；　I　would　tell　thee　we　are　under　the　protection　of　this　country's　laws；　nor　do　we　the　less　trust　to　obtain　their　protection；　that　our　principles　permit　us　not；　by　any　act　of　violent　resistance；　to　protect　ourselves。'

'All　villainous　cant　and　cowardice；'　exclaimed　the　fisherman；　'and　assumed　merely　as　a　cloak　to　your　hypocritical　avarice。'

'Nay；　say　not　cowardice；　my　friend；'　answered　the　Quaker；　'since　thou　knowest　there　may　be　as　much　courage　in　enduring　as　in　acting；　and　I　will　be　judged　by　this　youth；　or　by　any　one　else；　whether　there　is　not　more　cowardiceeven　in　the　opinion　of　that　world　whose　thoughts　are　the　breath　in　thy　nostrilsin　the　armed　oppressor　who　doth　injury；　than　in　the　defenceless　and　patient　sufferer　who　endureth　it　with　constancy。'

'I　will　change　no　more　words　with　you　on　the　subject；'　said　the　fisherman；　who；　as　if　something　moved　at　the　last　argument　which　Mr。　Geddes　had　used；　now　made　room　for　him　to　pass　forward　on　his　journey。　　'Do　not　forget；　however；'　he　added；　'that　you　have　had　fair　warning；　nor　suppose　that　we　will　accept　of　fair　words　in　apology　for　foul　play。　　These　nets　of　yours　are　unlawfulthey　spoil　our　fishingswe　will　have　them　down　at　all　risks　and　hazards。　　I　am　a　man　of　my　word；　friend　Joshua。'

'I　trust　thou　art；'　said　the　Quaker；　'but　thou　art　the　rather　bound　to　be　cautious　in　rashly　affirming　what　thou　wilt　never　execute。　　For　I　tell　thee；　friend；　that　though　there　is　as　great　a　difference　between　thee　and　one　of　our　people　as　there　is　between　a　lion　and　a　sheep；　yet　I　know　and　believe　thou　hast　so　much　of　the　lion　in　thee；　that　thou　wouldst　scarce　employ　thy　strength　and　thy　rage　upon　that　which　professeth　no　means　of　resistance。　　Report　says　so　much　good　of　thee；　at　least；　if　it　says　little　more。'

'Time　will　try；'　answered　the　fisherman；　'and　hark　thee；　Joshua；　before　we　part　I　will　put　thee　in　the　way　of　doing　one　good　deed；　which；　credit　me；　is　better　than　twenty　moral　speeches。　　Here　is　a　stranger　youth；　whom　Heaven　has　so　scantily　gifted　with　brains；　that　he　will　bewilder　himself　in　the　Sands；　as　he　did　last　night；　unless　thou　wilt　kindly　show　him　the　way　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　for　I　have　been　in　vain　endeavouring　to　make　him　comprehend　the　road　thither。　　Hast　thou　so　much　charity　under　thy　simplicity；　Quaker；　as　to　do　this　good　turn？'

'Nay；　it　is　thou；　friend；'　answered　Joshua；　'that　dost　lack　charity；　to　suppose　any　one　unwilling　to　do　so　simple　a　kindness。'

'Thou　art　rightI　should　have　remembered　it　can　cost　thee　nothing。　　Young　gentlemen；　this　pious　pattern　of　primitive　simplicity　will　teach　thee　the　right　way　to　the　Shepherd's　Bush　aye；　and　will　himself　shear　thee　like　a　sheep；　if　you　come　to　buying　and　selling　with　him。'

He　then　abruptly　asked　me；　how　long　I　intended　to　remain　at　Shepherd's　Bush。

I　replied；　I　was　at　present　uncertainas　long　probably；　as　I　could　amuse　myself　in　the　neighbourhood。

'You　are　fond　of　sport？'　　he　added；　in　the　same　tone　of　brief　inquiry。

I　answered　in　the　affirmative；　but　added；　I　was　totally　inexperienced。

'Perhaps　if　you　reside　here　for　some　days；'　he　said；　'we　may　meet　again；　and　I　may　have　the　chance　of　giving　you　a　lesson。'

Ere　I　could　express　either　thanks　or　assent；　he　turned　short　round　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　by　way　of　adieu；　and　rode　back　to　the　verge　of　the　dell　from　which　we　had　emerged　together；　and　as　he　remained　standing　upon　the　banks；　I　could　long　hear　his　voice　while　he　shouted　down　to　those　within　its　recesses。

Meanwhile　the　Quaker　and　I　proceeded　on　our　journey　for　some　time　in　silence；　he　restraining　his　sober…minded　steed　to　a　pace　which　might　have　suited　a　much　less　active　walker　than　myself；　and　looking　on　me　from　time　to　time　with　an　expression　of　curiosity；　mingled　with　benignity。　　For　my　part；　I　cared　not　to　speak　first。　It　happened　I　had　never　before　been　in　company　with　one　of　this　particular　sect；　and；　afraid　that　in　addressing　him　I　might　unwittingly　infringe　upon　some　of　their　prejudices　or　peculiarities；　I　patiently　remained　silent。　　At　length　he　asked　me；　whether　I　had　been　long　in　the　service　of　the　laird；　as　men　called　him。

I　repeated　the　words　'in　his　service？'　　with　such　an　accent　of　surprise；　as　induced　him　to　say；　'Nay；　but；　friend；　I　mean　no　offence；　perhaps　I　should　have　said　in　his　societyan　inmate；　I　mean；　in　his　house？'

'I　am　totally　unknown　to　the　person　from　whom　we　have　just　parted；'　said　I；　'and　our　connexion　is　only　temporary。　　He　had　the　charity　to　give　me　his　guidance　from　the　Sands；　and　a　night's　harbourage　from　the　tempest。　　So　our　acquaintance　began；　and　there　it　is　likely　to　end；　for　you　may　observe　that　our　friend　is　by　no　means　apt　to　encourage　familiarity。'

'So　little　so；'　answered　my　companion；　'that　thy　case　is；　I　think；　the　first　in　which　I　ever　heard　of　his　receiving　any　one　into　his　house；　that　is；　if　thou　hast　really　spent　the　night　there。'

'Why　should　you　doubt　it？'　　replied　I；　'there　is　no　motive　I　can　have　to　deceive　you；　nor　is　the　object　worth　it。'

'Be　not　angry　with　me；'　said　the　Quaker；　'but　thou　knowest　that　thine　own　people　do　not；　as　we　humbly　endeavour　to　do；　confine　themselves　within　the　simplicity　of　truth；　but　employ　the　language　of　falsehood；　not　only　for　profit；　but　for　compliment；　and　sometimes　for　mere　diversion。　　I　have　heard　various　stories　of　my　neighbour；　of　most　of　which　I　only　believe　a　small　part；　and　even　then　they　are　difficult　to　reconcile　with　each　other。　But　this　being　the　first　time　I　ever　beard　of　his　receiving　a　stranger　within　his　dwelling；　made　me　express　some　doubts。　　I　pray　thee　let　them　not　offend　thee。'

'He　does　not；'　said　I；　'appear　to　possess　in　much　abundance　the　means　of　exercising　hospitality；　and　so　may　be　excused　from　offering　it　in　ordinary　cases。'

'That　is　to　say；　friend；'　replied　Joshua；　'thou　hast　supped　ill；　and　perhaps　breakfasted　worse。　　Now　my　small　tenement；　called　Mount　Sharon；　is　nearer　to　us　by　two　miles　than　thine　inn；　and　although　going　thither　may　prolong　thy　walk；　as　taking　thee　of　the　straighter　road　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　yet　methinks　exercise　will　suit　thy　youthful　limbs；　as　well　as　a　good　plain　meal　thy　youthful　appetite。　　What　sayst　thou；　my　young　acquaintance？'

'If　it　puts　you　not　to　inconvenience；'　I　replied；　for　the　invitation　was　cordially　given；　and　my　bread　and　milk　had　been　hastily　swallowed；　and　in　small　quantity。

'Nay；'　said　Joshua；　'use　not　the　language　of　compliment　with　those　who　renounce　it。　　Had　this　poor　courtesy　been　very　inconvenient；　perhaps　I　had　not　offered　it。'

'I　accept　the　invitation；　then；'　said　I；　'in　the　same　good　spirit　in　which　you　give　it。'

The　Quaker　smiled；　reached　me　his　hand；　I　shook　it；　and　we　travelled　on　in　great　cordiality　with　each　other。　　The　fact　is；　I　was　much　entertained　by　contrasting　in　my　own　mind；　the　open　manner　of　the　kind…hearted　Joshua　Geddes；　with　the　abrupt；　dark；　and　lofty　demeanour　of　my　entertainer　on　the　preceding　evening。　Both　were　blunt　and　unceremonious；　but　the　plainness　of　the　Quaker　had　the　character　of　devotional　simplicity；　and　was　mingled　with　the　more　real　kindness；　as　if　honest　Joshua　was　desirous　of　atoning；　by　his　sincerity；　for　the　lack　of　external　courtesy。　　On　the　contrary；　the　manners　of　the　fisherman　were　those　of　one　to　whom　the　rules　of　good　behaviour　might　be　familiar；　but　who；　either　from　pride　or　misanthropy；　scorned　to　observe　them。　　Still　I　thought　of　him　with　interest　and　curiosity；　notwithstanding　so　much　about　him　that　was　repulsive；　and　I　promised　myself；　in　the　course　of　my　conversation　with　the　Quaker；　to　learn　all　that　he　knew　on　the　subject。　　He　turned　the　conversation；　however；　into　a　different　channel；　and　inquired　into　my　own　condition　of　life；　and　views　in　visiting　this　remote　frontier。

I　only　thought　it　necessary　to　mention　my　name；　and　add；　that　I　had　been　educated　to　the　law；　but　finding　myself　possessed　of　some　independence；　I　had　of　late　permitted　myself　some　relaxation；　and　was　residing　at　Shepherd's　Bush　to　enjoy　the　pleasure　of　angling。

'I　do　thee　no　harm；　young　man；'　said　my　new　friend；　'in　wishing　thee　a　better　employment　for　thy　grave　hours；　and　a　more　humane　amusement　（if　amusement　thou　must　have）　for　those　of　a　lighter　character。'

'You　are　severe；　sir；'　I　replied。　　'I　heard　you　but　a　moment　since　refer　yourself　to　the　protection　of　the　laws　of　the　countryif　there　be　laws；　there　must　be　lawyers　to　explain；　and　judges　to　administer　t