redgauntlet-第96节

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finger　against　his　forehead；　'and　if　you　yourself　crossed　my　path　in　opposition；　I　swear；　by　the　mark　that　darkens　my　brow；　that　a　new　deed　should　be　donea　new　doom　should　be　deserved！'

He　was　silent；　and　his　threats　were　uttered　in　a　tone　of　voice　so　deeply　resolute；　that　Darsie's　heart　sank　within　him；　when　he　reflected　on　the　storm　of　passion　which　he　must　encounter；　if　he　declined　to　join　his　uncle　in　a　project　to　which　prudence　and　principle　made　him　equally　adverse。　　He　had　scarce　any　hope　left　but　in　temporizing　until　he　could　make　his　escape；　and　resolved　to　avail　himself　for　that　purpose　of　the　delay　which　his　uncle　seemed　not　unwilling　to　grant。　　The　stern；　gloomy　look　of　his　companion　became　relaxed　by　degrees；　and　presently　afterwards　he　made　a　sign　to　Miss　Redgauntlet　to　join　the　party；　and　began　a　forced　conversation　on　ordinary　topics；　in　the　course　of　which　Darsie　observed　that　his　sister　seemed　to　speak　under　the　most　cautious　restraint；　weighing　every　word　before　she　uttered　it；　and　always　permitting　her　uncle　to　give　the　tone　to　the　conversation；　though　of　the　most　trifling　kind。　　This　seemed　to　him　（such　an　opinion　had　he　already　entertained　of　his　sister's　good　sense　and　firmness）　the　strongest　proof　he　had　yet　received　of　his　uncle's　peremptory　character；　since　he　saw　it　observed　with　so　much　deference　by　a　young　person　whose　sex　might　have　given　her　privileges；　and　who　seemed　by　no　means　deficient　either　in　spirit　or　firmness。

The　little　cavalcade　was　now　approaching　the　house　of　Father　Crackenthorp；　situated；　as　the　reader　knows；　by　the　side　of　the　Solway；　and　not　far　distant　front　a　rude　pier；　near　which　lay　several　fishing…boats；　which　frequently　acted　in　a　different　capacity。　　The　house　of　the　worthy　publican　was　also　adapted　to　the　various　occupations　which　he　carried　on；　being　a　large　scrambling　assemblage　of　cottages　attached　to　a　house　of　two　stories；　roofed　with　flags　of　sandstonethe　original　mansion；　to　which　the　extensions　of　Mr。　Crackenthorp's　trade　had　occasioned　his　making　many　additions。　　Instead　of　the　single　long　watering…　trough　which　usually　distinguishes　the　front　of　the　English　public…house　of　the　second　class；　there　were　three　conveniences　of　that　kind；　for　the　use；　as　the　landlord　used　to　say；　of　the　troop…horses　when　the　soldiers　came　to　search　his　house；　while　a　knowing　leer　and　a　nod　let　you　understand　what　species　of　troops　he　was　thinking　of。　　A　huge　ash…tree　before　the　door；　which　had　reared　itself　to　a　great　size　and　height；　in　spite　of　the　blasts　from　the　neighbouring　Solway；　overshadowed；　as　usual；　the　ale…　bench；　as　our　ancestors　called　it；　where；　though　it　was　still　early　in　the　day；　several　fellows；　who　seemed　to　be　gentlemen's　servants；　were　drinking　beer　and　smoking。　　One　or　two　of　them　wore　liveries　which　seemed　known　to　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　for　he　muttered　between　his　teeth；　'Fools；　fools！　were　they　on　a　march　to　hell；　they　must　have　their　rascals　in　livery　with　them；　that　the　whole　world　might　know　who　were　going　to　be　damned。'

As　he　thus　muttered；　he　drew　bridle　before　the　door　of　the　place；　from　which　several　other　lounging　guests　began　to　issue；　to　look　with　indolent　curiosity　as　usual；　upon　an　ARRIVAL。

Redgauntlet　sprang　from　his　horse；　and　assisted　his　niece　to　dismount；　but；　forgetting；　perhaps；　his　nephew's　disguise；　he　did　not　pay　him　the　attention　which　his　female　dress　demanded。

The　situation　of　Darsie　was　indeed　something　awkward；　for　Cristal　Nixon；　out　of　caution　perhaps　to　prevent　escape；　had　muffled　the　extreme　folds　of　the　riding…skirt　with　which　he　was　accoutred；　around　his　ankles　and　under　his　feet；　and　there　secured　it　with　large　corking…pins。　　We　presume　that　gentlemen…cavaliers　may　sometimes　cast　their　eyes　to　that　part　of　the　person　of　the　fair　equestrians　whom　they　chance　occasionally　to　escort；　and　if　they　will　conceive　their　own　feet；　like　Darsie's；　muffled　in　such　a　labyrinth　of　folds　and　amplitude　of　robe；　as　modesty　doubtless　induces　the　fair　creatures　to　assume　upon　such　occasions；　they　will　allow　that；　on　a　first　attempt；　they　might　find　some　awkwardness　in　dismounting。　　Darsie；　at　least；　was　in　such　a　predicament；　for；　not　receiving　adroit　assistance　from　the　attendant　of　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　he　stumbled　as　he　dismounted　from　the　horse；　and　might　have　had　a　bad　fall；　had　it　not　been　broken　by　the　gallant　interposition　of　a　gentleman；　who　probably　was；　on　his　part；　a　little　surprised　at　the　solid　weight　of　the　distressed　fair　one　whom　he　had　the　honour　to　receive　in　his　embrace。　　But　what　was　his　surprise　to　that　of　Darsie；　when　the　hurry　of　the　moment　and　of　the　accident；　permitted　him　to　see　that　it　was　his　friend　Alan　Fairford　in　whose　arms　he　found　himself！　　A　thousand　apprehensions　rushed　on　him；　mingled　with　the　full　career　of　hope　and　joy；　inspired　by　the　unexpected　appearance　of　his　beloved　friend　at　the　very　crisis；　it　seemed；　of　his　fate。

He　was　about　to　whisper　in　his　ear；　cautioning　him　at　the　same　time　to　be　silent；　yet　he　hesitated　for　a　second　or　two　to　effect　his　purpose；　since；　should　Redgauntlet　take　the　alarm　from　any　sudden　exclamation　on　the　part　of　Alan；　there　was　no　saying　what　consequences　might　ensue。

Ere　he　could　decide　what　was　to　be　done；　Redgauntlet；　who　had　entered　the　house；　returned　hastily；　followed　by　Cristal　Nixon。　'I'll　release　you　of　the　charge　of　this　young　lady；　sir；'　he　said；　haughtily；　to　Alan　Fairford；　whom　he　probably　did　not　recognize。

'I　had　no　desire　to　intrude；　sir；'　replied　Alan；　'the　lady's　situation　seemed　to　require　assistanceandbut　have　I　not　the　honour　to　speak　to　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork？'

'You　are　mistaken；　sir；'　said　Redgauntlet；　turning　short　off；　and　making　a　sign　with　his　hand　to　Cristal；　who　hurried　Darsie；　however　unwillingly；　into　the　house；　whispering　in　his　ear；　'Come；　miss；　let　us　have　no　making　of　acquaintance　from　the　windows。　　Ladies　of　fashion　must　be　private。　　Show　us　a　room；　Father　Crackenthorp。'

So　saying；　he　conducted　Darsie　into　the　house；　interposing　at　the　same　time　his　person　betwixt　the　supposed　young　lady　and　the　stranger　of　whom　he　was　suspicious；　so　as　to　make　communication　by　signs　impossible。　　As　they　entered；　they　heard　the　sound　of　a　fiddle　in　the　stone…floored　and　well…sanded　kitchen；　through　which　they　were　about　to　follow　their　corpulent　host；　and　where　several　people　seemed　engaged　in　dancing　to　its　strains。

'Dn　thee；'　said　Nixon　to　Crackenthorp；　'would　you　have　the　lady　go　through　all　the　mob　of　the　parish？　　Hast　thou　no　more　private　way　to　our　sitting…room？'

'None　that　is　fit　for　my　travelling；'　answered　the　landlord；　laying　his　hand　on　his　portly　stomach。　　'I　am　not　Tom　Turnpenny；　to　creep　like　a　lizard　through　keyholes。'

So　saying；　he　kept　moving　on　through　the　revellers　in　the　kitchen；　and　Nixon；　holding　Darsie　by　his　arm；　as　if　to　offer　the　lady　support　but　in　all　probability　to　frustrate　any　effort　at　escape；　moved　through　the　crowd；　which　presented　a　very　motley　appearance；　consisting　of　domestic　servants；　country　fellows；　seamen；　and　other　idlers；　whom　Wandering　Willie　was　regaling　with　his　music。

To　pass　another　friend　without　intimation　of　his　presence　would　have　been　actual　pusillanimity；　and　just　when　they　were　passing　the　blind　man's　elevated　seat；　Darsie　asked　him　with　some　emphasis；　whether　he　could　not　play　a　Scottish　air？　　The　man's　face　had　been　the　instant　before　devoid　of　all　sort　of　expression；　going　through　his　performance　like　a　clown　through　a　beautiful　country；　too　much　accustomed　to　consider　it　as　a　task；　to　take　any　interest　in　the　performance；　and；　in　fact；　scarce　seeming　to　hear　the　noise　that　he　was　creating。　　In　a　word；　he　might　at　the　time　have　made　a　companion　to　my　friend　Wilkie's　inimitable　blind　crowder。　　But　with　Wandering　Willie　this　was　only　an　occasional　and　a　rare　fit　of　dullness；　such　as　will　at　times　creep　over　all　the　professors　of　the　fine　arts；　arising　either　from　fatigue；　or　contempt　of　the　present　audience；　or　that　caprice　which　so　often　tempts　painters　and　musicians　and　great　actors；　in　the　phrase　of　the　latter；　to　walk　through　their　part；　instead　of　exerting　themselves　with　the　energy　which　acquired　their　fame。　　But　when　the　performer　heard　the　voice　of　Darsie；　his　countenance　became　at　once　illuminated；　and　showed　the　complete　mistake　of　those　who　suppose　that　the　principal　point　of　expression　depends　upon　the　eyes。　　With　his　face　turned　to　the　point　from　which　the　sound　came；　his　upper　lip　a　little　curved；　and　quivering　with　agitation；　and　with　a　colour　which　surprise　and　pleasure　had　brought　at　once　into　his　faded　cheek；　he　exchanged　the　humdrum　hornpipe　which　he　had　been　sawing　out　with　reluctant　and　lazy　bow；　for　the　fine　Scottish　air；

　　You're　welcome；　Charlie　Stuart；

which　flew　from　his　strings　as　if　by　inspiration　and　after　a　breathless　pause　of　admiration　among　the　audience；　was　received　with　a　clamour　of　applause；　which　seemed　to　show　that　the　name　and　tendency；　as　well　as　the　execution　of　the　tune；　was　in　the　highest　degree　acceptable　to　all　the　party　assembled。

In　the　meantime；　Cristal　Nixon；　still　keeping　hold　of　Darsie；　and　following　the　landlord；　forced　his　way　with　some　difficulty　through　the　crowded　kitchen；　and　entered　a　small　apartment　on　the　other