redgauntlet-第81节

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us　break　the　door　first；　and　thy　pate　afterwards？　　for　I　won't　see　my　comrade　die　at　your　door　be　assured　of　that。'

'Why；　I　dunna　know；'　said　the　fellow；　'but　what　cattle　were　those　that　rode　by　in　such　hurry？'

'Why；　some　of　our　folk　from　Bowness；　Stoniecultrum；　and　thereby；'　answered　Skelton；　'Jack　Lowther；　and　old　Jephson；　and　broad　Will　Lamplugh；　and　such　like。'

'Well；'　said　Dick　Gardener；　'as　sure　as　there　is　savour　in　salt；　and　scent　in　rosemary；　I　thought　it　had　been　the　troopers　from　Carlisle　and　Wigton；　and　the　sound　brought　my　heart　to　my　mouth。'

'Had　thought　thou　wouldst　have　known　the　clatter　of　a　cask　from　the　clash　of　a　broadsword；　as　well　as　e'er　a　quaffer　in　Cumberland；'　said　Skelton。

'Come；　brother；　less　of　your　jaw　and　more　of　your　legs；　if　you　please；'　said　Nanty；　'every　moment　we　stay　is　a　moment　lost。　　Go　to　the　ladies；　and　tell　them　that　Nanty　Ewart；　of　the　JUMPING　JENNY；　has　brought　a　young　gentleman；　charged　with　letters　from　Scotland　to　a　certain　gentleman　of　consequence　in　Cumberland　that　the　soldiers　are　out；　and　the　gentleman　is　very　ill　and　if　he　is　not　received　at　Fairladies　he　must　be　left　either　to　die　at　the　gate；　or　to　be　taken；　with　all　his　papers　about　him；　by　the　redcoats。'

Away　ran　Dick　Gardener　with　this　message；　and；　in　a　few　minutes；　lights　were　seen　to　flit　about；　which　convinced　Fairford；　who　was　now；　in　consequence　of　the　halt；　a　little　restored　to　self…　possession；　that　they　were　traversing　the　front　of　a　tolerably　large　mansion…house。

'What　if　thy　friend；　Dick　Gardener；　comes　not　back　again？'　　said　Jephson　to　Skelton。

'Why；　then；'　said　the　person　addressed；　'I　shall　owe　him　just　such　a　licking　as　thou；　old　Jephson；　had　from　Dan　Cooke；　and　will　pay　as　duly　and　truly　as　he　did。'

The　old　man　was　about　to　make　an　angry　reply；　when　his　doubts　were　silenced　by　the　return　of　Dick　Gardener；　who　announced　that　Miss　Arthuret　was　coming　herself　as　far　as　the　gateway　to　speak　with　them。

Nanty　Ewart　cursed　in　a　low　tone　the　suspicions　of　old　maids　and　the　churlish　scruples　of　Catholics；　that　made　so　many　obstacles　to　helping　a　fellow　creature；　and　wished　Miss　Arthuret　a　hearty　rheumatism　or　toothache　as　the　reward　of　her　excursion；　but　the　lady　presently　appeared；　to　cut　short　further　grumbling。　　She　was　attended　by　a　waiting…maid　with　a　lantern；　by　means　of　which　she　examined　the　party　on　the　outside；　as　closely　as　the　imperfect　light；　and　the　spars　of　the　newly…erected　gate；　would　permit。

'I　am　sorry　we　have　disturbed　you　so　late；　Madam　Arthuret；'　said　Nanty；　'but　the　case　is　this'

'Holy　Virgin；'　said　she；　'why　do　you　speak　so　loud？　　Pray；　are　you　not　the　captain　of　the　SAINTE　GENEVIEVE？'

'Why；　aye；　ma'am；'　answered　Ewart；　'they　call　the　brig　so　at　Dunkirk；　sure　enough；　but　along　shore　here；　they　call　her　the　JUMPING　JENNY。'

'You　brought　over　the　holy　Father　Buonaventure；　did　you　not？'

'Aye；　aye；　madam；　I　have　brought　over　enough　of　them　black　cattle；'　answered　Nanty。　　'Fie！　　fie！　　friend；'　said　Miss　Arthuret；　'it　is　a　pity　that　the　saints　should　commit　these　good　men　to　a　heretic's　care。'

'Why；　no　more　they　would；　ma'am；'　answered　Nanty；　'could　they　find　a　Papist　lubber　that　knew　the　coast　as　I　do；　then　I　am　trusty　as　steel　to　owners；　and　always　look　after　cargolive　lumber；　or　dead　flesh；　or　spirits；　all　is　one　to　me；　and　your　Catholics　have　such　dd　large　hoods；　with　pardon；　ma'am；　that　they　can　sometimes　hide　two　faces　under　them。　　But　here　is　a　gentleman　dying；　with　letters　about　him　from　the　Laird　of　Summertrees　to　the　Laird　of　the　Lochs；　as　they　call　him；　along　Solway；　and　every　minute　he　lies　here　is　a　nail　in　his　coffin。'

'Saint　Mary！　　what　shall　we　do？'　　said　Miss　Arthuret；　'we　must　admit　him；　I　think；　at　all　risks。　　You；　Richard　Gardener；　help　one　of　these　men　to　carry　the　gentleman　up　to　the　Place；　and　you；　Selby；　see　him　lodged　at　the　end　of　the　long　gallery。　　You　are　a　heretic；　captain；　but　I　think　you　are　trusty；　and　I　know　you　have　been　trustedbut　if　you　are　imposing　on　me'

'Not　I；　madamnever　attempt　to　impose　on　ladies　of　your　experiencemy　practice　that　way　has　been　all　among　the　young　ones。　　Come；　cheerly；　Mr。　Fairfordyou　will　be　taken　good　care　oftry　to　walk。'

Alan　did　so；　and；　refreshed　by　his　halt；　declared　himself　able　to　walk　to　the　house　with　the　sole　assistance　of　the　gardener。

'Why；　that's　hearty。　　Thank　thee；　Dick；　for　lending　him　thine　arm'and　Nanty　slipped　into　his　hand　the　guinea　he　had　promised。'Farewell；　then；　Mr。　Fairford；　and　farewell；　Madam　Arthuret；　for　I　have　been　too　long　here。'

So　saying；　he　and　his　two　companions　threw　themselves　on　horseback；　and　went　off　at　a　gallop。　　Yet；　even　above　the　clatter　of　their　hoofs　did　the　incorrigible　Nanty　hollo　out　the　old　ballad

　　A　lovely　lass　to　a　friar　came；　　　To　confession　a…morning　early；　　　'In　what；　my　dear；　are　you　to　blame？　　　Come　tell　me　most　sincerely？'　　　'Alas！　　my　fault　I　dare　not　name　　　But　my　lad　he　loved　me　dearly。'

'Holy　Virgin！'　　exclaimed　Miss　Seraphina；　as　the　unhallowed　sounds　reached　her　ears；　'what　profane　heathens　be　these　men；　and　what　frights　and　pinches　we　be　put　to　among　them！　　The　saints　be　good　to　us；　what　a　night　has　this　been！the　like　never　seen　at　Fairladies。　　Help　me　to　make　fast　the　gate；　Richard；　and　thou　shalt　come　down　again　to　wait　on　it；　lest　there　come　more　unwelcome　visitorsNot　that　you　are　unwelcome；　young　gentleman；　for　it　is　sufficient　that　you　need　such　assistance　as　we　can　give　you；　to　make　you　welcome　to　Fairladiesonly；　another　time　would　have　done　as　wellbut；　hem！　　I　dare　say　it　is　all　for　the　best。　The　avenue　is　none　of　the　smoothest；　sir；　look　to　your　feet。　Richard　Gardener　should　have　had　it　mown　and　levelled；　but　he　was　obliged　to　go　on　a　pilgrimage　to　Saint　Winifred's　Well；　in　Wales。'　　（Here　Dick　gave　a　short　dry　cough；　which；　as　if　he　had　found　it　betrayed　some　internal　feeling　a　little　at　variance　with　what　the　lady　said；　he　converted　into　a　muttered　SANCTA　WINIFREDA；　ORA　PRO　NOBIS。　　Miss　Arthuret；　meantime；　proceeded）　'We　never　interfere　with　our　servants'　vows　or　penances；　Master　FairfordI　know　a　very　worthy　father　of　your　name；　perhaps　a　relationI　say；　we　never　interfere　with　our　servants　vows。　　Our　Lady　forbid　they　should　not　know　some　difference　between　our　service　and　a　heretic's。Take　care；　sir；　you　will　fall　if　you　have　not　a　care。　　Alas！　　by　night　and　day　there　are　many　stumbling…blocks　in　our　paths！'

With　more　talk　to　the　same　purpose；　all　of　which　tended　to　show　a　charitable　and　somewhat　silly　woman　with　a　strong　inclination　to　her　superstitious　devotion；　Miss　Arthuret　entertained　her　new　guest；　as；　stumbling　at　every　obstacle　which　the　devotion　of　his　guide；　Richard；　had　left　in　the　path；　he　at　last；　by　ascending　some　stone　steps　decorated　on　the　side　with　griffins；　or　some　such　heraldic　anomalies；　attained　a　terrace　extending　in　front　of　the　Place　of　Fairladies；　an　old…fashioned　gentleman's　house　of　some　consequence；　with　its　range　of　notched　gable…ends　and　narrow　windows；　relieved　by　here　and　there　an　old　turret　about　the　size　of　a　pepper…box。　　The　door　was　locked　during　the　brief　absence　of　the　mistress；　a　dim　light　glimmered　through　the　sashed　door　of　the　hall；　which　opened　beneath　a　huge　stone　porch；　loaded　with　jessamine　and　other　creepers。　　All　the　windows　were　dark　as　pitch。

Miss　Arthuret　tapped　at　the　door。　　'Sister；　sister　Angelica。'　'Who　is　there？'　　was　answered　from　within；　'is　it　you；　sister　Seraphina？'

'Yes；　yes；　undo　the　door；　do　you　not　know　my　voice？'

'No　doubt；　sister；'　said　Angelica；　undoing　bolt　and　bar；　'but　you　know　our　charge；　and　the　enemy　is　watchful　to　surprise　us　INCEDIT　SICUT　LEO　VORANS；　saith　the　breviary。　　Whom　have　you　brought　here？　　Oh；　sister；　what　have　you　done？'

'It　is　a　young　man；'　said　Seraphina；　hastening　to　interrupt　her　sister's　remonstrance；　'a　relation；　I　believe；　of　our　worthy　Father　Fairford；　left　at　the　gate　by　the　captain　of　that　blessed　vessel　the　SAINTE　GENEVIEVEalmost　deadand　charged　with　dispatches　to　'

She　lowered　her　voice　as　she　mumbled　over　the　last　words。

'Nay；　then；　there　is　no　help；'　said　Angelica；　'but　it　is　unlucky。'

During　this　dialogue　between　the　vestals　of　Fairladies；　Dick　Gardener　deposited　his　burden　in　a　chair；　where　the　young　lady；　after　a　moment　of　hesitation；　expressing　a　becoming　reluctance　to　touch　the　hand　of　a　stranger；　put　her　finger　and　thumb　upon　Fairford's　wrist；　and　counted　his　pulse。

'There　is　fever　here；　sister；'　she　said；　'Richard　must　call　Ambrose；　and　we　must　send　some　of　the　febrifuge。'

Ambrose　arrived　presently；　a　plausible　and　respectable…looking　old　servant；　bred　in　the　family；　and　who　had　risen　from　rank　to　rank　in　the　Arthuret　service　till　he　was　become　half…physician；　half…almoner；　half…butler；　and　entire　governor；　that　is；　when　the　Father　Confessor；　who　frequently　eased　him　of　the　toils　of　government；　chanced　to　be　abroad。　　Under　the　direction；　and　with　the　assistance　of　this　venerable　personage；　the　unlucky　Alan　Fairford　was　conveyed　to　a　decent　apartment　at　the　end　of　a　long　gallery；　and；　to　his　inexpressible　relief；　consigned　to　a　comfortable　bed。　　He　did　not　attempt　to　resist　the　prescription　of　Mr。　Ambrose；　who　not　only　presented　him　with　the　proposed　draught；　but　proceeded　so