guy mannering-第23节

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　bairn　was　near　five　years　auld；　that　the　Laird　had　a　sight　of　his　errors；　and　determined　to　put　these　Egyptians　aff　his　ground；　and　he　caused　them　to　remove；　and　that　Frank　Kennedy；　that　was　a　rough　swearing　fellow；　he　was　sent　to　turn　them　off。　And　he　cursed　and　damned　at　them；　and　they　swure　at　him；　and　that　Meg　Merrilies；　that　was　the　maist　powerfu'　with　the　Enemy　of　Mankind；　she　as　gude　as　said　she　would　have　him；　body　and　soul；　before　three　days　were　ower　his　head。　And　I　have　it　from　a　sure　hand；　and　that's　ane　wha　saw　it；　and　that's　John　Wilson；　that　was　the　laird's　groom；　that　Meg　appeared　to　the　Laird　as　he　was　riding　hame　from　Singleside；　over　Gibbie's…know；　and　threatened　him　wi'　what　she　wad　do　to　his　family；　but　whether　it　was　Meg；　or　something　waur　in　her　likeness；　for　it　seemed　bigger　than　ony　mortal　creature；　John　could　not　say。〃

〃Aweel；〃　said　the　postilion；　〃it　might　be　saeI　canna　say　against　it；　for　I　was　not　in　the　country　at　the　time；　but　John　Wilson　was　a　blustering　kind　of　chield；　without　the　heart　of　a　sprug。〃　＇*Sparrow＇

〃And　what　was　the　end　of　all　this？〃　said　the　stranger；　with　some　impatience。

〃Ou；　the　event　and　upshot　of　it　was；　sir；〃　said　the　precentor；　〃that　while　they　were　all　looking　on；　beholding　a　king's　ship　chase　a　smuggler；　this　Kennedy　suddenly　brake　away　frae　them　without　ony　reason　that　could　be　descriedropes　nor　tows　wad　not　hae　held　himand　made　for　the　wood　of　Warroch　as　fast　as　his　beast　could　carry　him；　and　by　the　way　he　met　the　young　Laird　and　his　governor；　and　he　snatched　up　the　bairn；　and　swure；　if　he　was　bewitched；　the　bairn　should　have　the　same　luck　as　him；　and　the　minister　followed　as　fast　as　he　could；　and　almaist　as　fast　as　them；　for　he　was　wonderfully　swift　of　footand　he　saw　Meg　the　witch；　or　her　master　in　her　similitude；　rise　suddenly　out　of　the　ground；　and　claught　the　bairn　suddenly　out　of　the　gauger's　armsand　then　he　rampauged　and　drew　his　swordfor　ye　ken　a　fie　man　and　a　cusser　fearsna　the　deil。〃

〃I　believe　that's　very　true；〃　said　the　postilion。

〃So；　sir；　she　grippit　him；　and　clodded　＇*Hurled＇　him　like　a　stane　from　the　sling　ower　the　craigs　of　Warroch　Head；　where　he　was　found　that　eveningbut　what　became　of　the　babe；　frankly　I　cannot　say。　But　he　that　was　minister　here　then；　that's　now　in　a　better　place；　had　an　opinion　that　the　bairn　was　only　conveyed　to　Fairyland　for　a　season。〃

The　stranger　had　smiled　slightly　at　some　parts　of　this　recital；　but　ere　he　could　answer；　the　clatter　of　a　horse's　hoofs　was　heard；　and　a　smart　servant；　handsomely　dressed；　with　a　cockade　in　his　hat；　bustled　into　the　kitchen；　with　〃Make　a　little　room；　good　people〃；　when；　observing　the　stranger；　he　descended　at　once　into　the　modest　and　civil　domestic；　his　hat　sunk　down　by　his　side；　and　he　put　a　letter　into　his　master's　hands。　〃The　family　at　Ellangowan；　sir；　are　in　great　distress；　and　unable　to　receive　any　visits。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　replied　his　master。〃And　now；　madam；　it　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　allow　me　to　occupy　the　parlour　you　mentioned；　as　you　are　disappointed　of　your　guests〃

〃Certainly；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish；　and　hastened　to　light　the　way　with　all　the　imperative　bustle　which　an　active　landlady　loves　to　display　on　such　occasions。

〃Young　man；〃　said　the　Deacon　to　the　servant；　filling　a　glass；　〃ye'll　no　be　the　waur　o'　this；　after　your　ride。〃

〃Not　a　feather；　sir；thank　yeyour　very　good　health；　sir。〃

〃And　wha　may　your　master　be；　friend？〃

〃What；　the　gentleman　that　was　here？that's　the　famous　Colonel　Mannering；　sir；　from　the　East　Indies。〃

〃What；　him　we　read　of　in　the　newspapers？〃

〃Ay；　ay；　just　the　same。　It　was　he　relieved　Cuddieburn；　and　defended　Chingalore；　and　defeated　the　great　Mahratta　chief；　Ram　Jolli　BundlemanI　was　with　him　in　most　of　his　campaigns。〃

〃Lord　safe　us；〃　said　the　landlady；　〃I　must　go　see　what　he　would　have　for　supperthat　I　should　set　him　down　here！〃

〃Oh；　he　likes　that　all　the　better；　mother；you　never　saw　a　plainer　creature　in　your　life　than　our　old　Colonel；　and　yet　he　has　a　spice　of　the　devil　in　him　too。〃

The　rest　of　the　evening's　conversation　below　stairs　tending　little　to　edification；　we　shall；　with　the　reader's　leave；　step　up　to　the　parlour。



CHAPTER　XII。

　　Reputation？that's　man's　idol　set　up　against　God；　the　　　Maker　of　all　laws；　Who　hath　commanded　us　we　should　not　　　kill；　And　yet　we　say　we　must；　for　Reputation！　What　honest　　　man　can　either　fear　his　own；　Or　else　will　hurt　another's　　　reputation？　Fear　to　do　base　unworthy　things　is　valour；　If　　　they　be　done　to　us；　to　suffer　them　Is　valour　　　too。　　　　　　　　BEN　JONSON；

The　Colonel　was　walking　pensively　up　and　down　the　parlour；　when　the　officious　landlady　re…entered　to　take　his　commands。　Having　given　them　in　the　manner　he　thought　would　be　most　acceptable　〃for　the　good　of　the　house；〃　he　begged　to　detain　her　a　moment。

〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃madam；　if　I　understood　the　good　people　right；　Mr。　Bertram　lost　his　son　in　his　fifth　year？〃

〃Oh　ay；　sir；　there's　nae　doubt　o'　that；　though　there　are　mony　idle　clashes　＇*　Tittle…tattle＇；　about　the　way　and　manner；　for　it's　an　auld　story　now；　and　everybody　tells　it；　as　we　were　doing；　their　ain　way　by　the　ingleside。　But　lost　the　bairn　was　in　his　fifth　year；　as　your　honour　says；　Colonel；　and　the　news　being　rashly　tell'd　to　the　leddy；　then　great　with　child；　cost　her　her　life　that　samyn　nightand　the　Laird　never　throve　after　that　day；　but　was　just　careless　of　everythingthough；　when　his　daughter　Miss　Lucy　grew　up；　she　tried　to　keep　order　within　doorsbut　what　could　she　do；　poor　thing　so　now　they're　out　of　house　and　hauld。〃

〃Can　you　recollect；　madam；　about　what　time　of　the　year　the　child　was　lost？〃　The　landlady；　after　a　pause；　and　some　recollection；　answered；　〃she　was　positive　it　was　about　this　season　and　added　some　local　recollections　that　fixed　the　date　in　her　memory；　as　occurring　about　the　beginning　of　November；　17…。〃

The　stranger　took　two　or　three　turns　round　the　room　in　silence；　but　signed　to　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish　not　to　leave　it。

Did　I　rightly　apprehend；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　estate　of　Ellangowan　is　in　the　market？〃

〃In　the　market？it　will　be　sell'd　the　morn　to　the　highest　bidderthat's　no　the　morn；　Lord　help　me！　which　is　the　Sabbath；　but　on　Monday；　the　first　free　day；　and　the　furniture　and　stocking　is　to　be　roupit　＇*Auctioned＇　at　the　same　time　on　the　groundit's　the　opinion　of　the　haill　country；　that　the　sale　has　been　shamefully　forced　on　at　this　time；　when　there's　sae　little　money　stirring　in　Scotland　wi'　this　weary　American　war；　that　somebody　may　get　the　land　a　bargainDeil　be　in　them；　that　I　should　say　sae！〃the　good　lady's　wrath　rising　at　the　supposed　injustice。

〃And　where　will　the　sale　take　place？〃

〃On　the；　premises；　as　the　advertisement　saysthat's　at　the　house　of　Ellangowan；　your　honour；　as　I　understand　it。〃

〃And　who　exhibits　the　title…deeds；　rent…roll；　and　plan？〃

〃A　very　decent　man；　sir；　the　Sheriff…substitute　of　the　county；　who　has　authority　from　the　Court　of　Session。　He's　in　the　town　just　now；　if　your　honour　would　like　to　see　hint；　and　he　can　tell　you　mair　about　the　loss　of　the　bairn　than　onybody；　for　the　Sheriff…depute　（that's　his　principal；　like）　took　much　pains　to　come　at　the　truth　o'　that　matter；　as　I　have　heard。〃

〃And　this　gentleman's　name　is〃

〃Mac…Morlan；　sir；he's　a　man　o'　character；　and　weel　spoken　o'。〃

〃Send　my　complimentsColonel　Mannering's　compliments　to　him；　and　I　would　be　glad　he　would　do　me　the　pleasure　of　supping　with　me；　and　bring　these　papers　with　himand　I　beg；　good　madam；　you　will　say　nothing　of　this　to　any　one　else。〃

〃Me；　sir？　ne'er　a　word　shall　I　sayI　wish　your　honour　（a　curtsey）；　or　ony　honourable　gentleman　that's　fought　for　his　country　（another　curtsey）；　had　the　land；　since　the　auld　family　maun　quit　（a　sigh）；　rather　than　that　wily　scoundrel；　Glossin；　that's　risen　on　the　ruin　of　the　best　friend　he　ever　hadand　now　I　think　on't；　I'll　slip　on　my　hood　and　pattens；　and　gang　to　Mr。　Mac…Morlan　mysellhe's　at　hame　e'en　now…it's　hardly　a　step。〃

〃Do　so；　my　good　landlady；　and　many　thanksand　bid　my　servant　step　here　with　my　portfolio　in　the　meantime。〃

In　a　minute　or　two；　Colonel　Mannering　was　quietly　seated　with　his　writing　materials　before　him。　We　have　the　privilege　of　looking　over　his　shoulder　as　he　writes；　and　we　willingly　communicate　its　substance　to　our　readers。　The　letter　was　addressed　to　Arthur　Mervyn；　Esq。；　of　Mervyn　Hall；　Llanbraithwaite；　Westmoreland。　It　contained　some　account　of　the　writer's　previous　journey　since　parting　with　him；　and　then　proceeded　as　follows：…

〃And　now；　why　will　you　still　upbraid　me　with　my　melancholy；　Mervyn？Do　you　think；　after　the　lapse　of　twenty…five　years；　battles；　wounds；　imprisonment；　you；　who　have　remained　in　the　bosom　of　domestic　happiness；　experience　little　change；　that　your　step　is　as　light；　and　your　fancy　as　full　of　sunshine；　is　a　blessed　effect　of　health　and　temperament；　co…operating　with　content　and　a　smooth　current　down　the　course　of　life。　But　my　career　has　been　one　of　difficulties；　and　doubts；　and　errors。　From　my　infancy　I　have　been　the　sport　of　accident；　and　though　the　wind　has　often　borne　me　into　harbour；　it　has　seldom　been　into　that　which　the　pilot　destined。　Let　me　recall　to　youbut　the　task　must　be　briefthe　odd　and　wayward　fates　of　my　youth；　and　the　misfortune