guy mannering-第26节
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〃Alas！〃 she said； 〃this is distressing even to a stranger； but it may be better for my poor father to be in this way； than if he knew and could feel all。〃
A servant in livery now came up the path； and spoke in an undertone to the young gentleman〃Mr。 Charles； my lady's wanting you yonder sadly； to bid for her for the black ebony cabinet； and Lady Jean Devorgoil is wi' her an' a'ye maun come away directly。〃
〃Tell them ye could not find me； Tom； or； stay；say I am looking at the horses。〃
〃No； no； no；〃 said Lucy Bertram earnestly； 〃if you would not add to the misery of this miserable moment； go to the company directly。This gentleman； I am sure； will see us to the carriage。〃
〃Unquestionably； madam；〃 said Mannering； 〃your young friend may rely on my attention。〃
〃Farewell； then；〃 said young Hazlewood； and whispered a word in her earthen ran down the steep hastily； as if not trusting his resolution at a slower pace。
〃Where's Charles Hazlewood running？〃 said the invalid； who apparently was accustomed to his presence and attentions； 〃where's Charles Hazlewood running？what takes him away now？〃
〃He'll return in a little while；〃 said Lucy gently。
The sound of voices was now heard from the ruins。 The reader may remember there was a communication between the castle and the beach； up which the speakers had ascended。
〃Yes； there's plenty of shells and sea…ware for manure； as you observeand if one inclined to build a new house； which might indeed be necessary； there's a great deal of good hewn stone about this old dungeon for the devil here〃
〃Good God！〃 said Miss Bertram hastily to Sampson； 〃'tis that wretch Glossin's voice！if my father sees him； it will kill him outright！〃
Sampson wheeled perpendicularly round； and moved with long strides to confront the attorney； as he issued from beneath the portal arch of the ruin。 〃Avoid ye！〃 he said〃I avoid ye！ wouldst thou kill and take possession？〃
〃Come； come； Master Dominie Sampson；〃 answered Glossin insolently； 〃if ye cannot preach in the pulpit； we'll have no preaching here。 We go by the law； my good friend； we leave the gospel to you。〃
The very mention of this man's name had been of late a subject of the most violent irritation to the unfortunate patient。 The sound of his voice now produced an instantaneous effect。 Mr。 Bertram started up without assistance； and turned round towards him； the ghastliness of his features forming a strange contrast with the violence of his exclamations。〃Out of my sight； ye viper！ye frozen viper； that I warmed till ye stung me！Art thou not afraid that the walls of my father's dwelling should fall and crush thee limb and bone？Are ye not afraid the very lintels of the door of Ellangowan castle should break open and swallow you up？Were ye not friendless；houseless；penniless；when I took ye by the handand are Ye not expelling meme； and that innocent girl friendless； houseless； and penniless； from the house that has sheltered us and ours for a thousand years？〃
Had Glossin been alone； he would probably have slunk off； but the consciousness that a stranger was present； besides the person who came with him （a sort of land…surveyor）； determined him to resort to impudence。 The task； however； was almost too hard； even for his effrontery〃SirSirMr。 BertramSir； you should not blame me； but your own imprudence； Sir〃
The indignation of Mannering was mounting very high。 〃Sir；〃 he said to Glossin； 〃without entering into the merits of this controversy； I must inform you； that you have chosen a very improper place； time； and presence for it。 And you will oblige me by withdrawing without more words。〃
Glossin； being a tall； strong； muscular man； was not unwilling rather to turn upon a stranger whom he hoped to bully； than maintain his wretched cause against his injured patron：〃I do not know who you are； sir；〃 he said； 〃and I shall permit no man to use such d…d freedom with me。〃
Mannering was naturally hot…temperedhis eyes flashed a dark lighthe compressed his nether lip so closely that the blood sprung； and approaching Glossin〃Look you； sir；〃 he said； 〃that you do not know me is of little consequence。 I know you； and； if you do not instantly descend that bank； without uttering a single syllable； by the Heaven that is above us； you shall make but one step from the top to the bottom！〃
The commanding tone of rightful anger silenced at once the ferocity of the bully。 He hesitated； turned on his heel； and； muttering something between his teeth about unwillingness to alarm the lady； relieved them of his hateful company。
Mrs。 Mac…Candlish's postilion； who had come up in time to hear what passed； said aloud； 〃If he had stuck by the way； I would have lent him a heezie； ＇* Kick＇ the dirty scoundrel； as willingly as ever I pitched a boddle。〃 ＇* A small copper coin＇
He then stepped forward to announce that his horses were in readiness for the invalid and his daughter。
But they were no longer necessary。 The debilitated frame of Mr。 Bertram was exhausted by this last effort of indignant anger； and when he sunk again upon his chair； he expired almost without a struggle or groan。 So little alteration did the extinction of the vital spark make upon his external appearance； that the screams of his daughter； when she saw his eye fix and felt his pulse stop； first announced his death to the spectators。
CHAPTER XIV。
The bell strikes one。We take no note of time But from its loss。 To give it then a tongue Is wise in man。 As if an angel spoke； I feel the solemn sound。 YOUNG。
The moral which the poet has rather quaintly deduced from the necessary mode of measuring time； may he well applied to our feelings respecting that portion of it which constitutes human life。 We observe the aged； the infirm； and those engaged in occupations of immediate hazard； trembling as it were upon the very brink of non…existence； but we derive no lesson from the precariousness of their tenure until it has altogether failed。 Then； for a moment at least；
Our hopes and fears Start up alarm'd； and o'er life's narrow verge Look downOn what？ a fathomless abyss； A dark eternity；how surely ours！
The crowd of assembled gazers and idlers at Ellangowan had followed the views of amusement； or what they called business； which brought them there； with little regard to the feelings of those who were sufferingupon that occasion。 Few； indeed； knew anything of the family。 The father； betwixt seclusion； misfortune； and imbecility； had drifted； as it were； for many years out of the notice of his contemporaries…the daughter had never been known to them。 But when the general murmur announced that the unfortunate Mr。 Bertram had broken his heart in the effort to leave the mansion of his forefathers； there poured forth a torrent of sympathy； like the waters from the rock when stricken by the wand of the； prophet。 The ancient descent and unblemished integrity of the family were respectfully remembered； above all； the sacred veneration due to misfortune； which in Scotland seldom demands its tribute in vain； then claimed and received it。
Mr。 Mac…Morlan hastily announced； that he would suspend all further proceedings in the sale of the estate and other property； and relinquish the possession of the premises to the young lady； until she could consult with her friends； and provide for the burial of her father。
Glossin had cowered for a few minutes under the general expression of sympathy； till； hardened by observing that no appearance of popular indignation was directed his way； he had the audacity to require that the sale should proceed。
〃I will take it upon my own authority to adjourn it；〃 said the Sheriff…substitute；〃 and will be responsible for the consequences。 I will also give due notice when it is again to go forward。 It is for the benefit of all concerned that the lands should bring the highest price the state of the market will admit； and this is surely no time to expect itI will take the responsibility upon myself。〃
Glossin left the room； and the house too； with secrecy and despatch； and it was probably well for him he did so； since our friend Jock Jabos was already haranguing a numerous tribe of barelegged boys on the propriety of pelting him off the estate。
Some of the rooms were hastily put in order for the reception of the young lady； and of her father's dead body。 Mannering now found his further interference would be unnecessary； and might be misconstrued。 He observed； too； that several families connected with that of Ellangowan； and who indeed derived their principal claim of gentility from the alliance； were now disposed to pay to their trees of genealogy a tribute； which the adversity of their supposed relatives had been inadequate to call forth； and that the honour of superintending the funeral rites of the dead Godfrey Bertram （as in the memorable case of Homer's birthplace） was likely to be debated by seven gentlemen of rank and fortune； none of whom had offered him an asylum while living。 He therefore resolved； as his presence was altogether useless； to make a short tour of a fortnight； at the end of which period the adjourned sale of the estate of Ellangowan was to proceed。
But before he departed； he solicited an inter
