guy mannering-第64节

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〃Na；　sir；　nae　memorial；〃　answered　Dandie　〃for　your　honour　said　before；　Mr。　Pleydell；　ye'll　mind；　that　ye　liked　best　to　bear　us　hill…folk　tell　our　ain　tale　by　word　o'　mounts〃

〃Beshrew　my　tongue　that　said　so！〃　answered　the　counsellor；　〃it　will　cost　my　ears　a　dinning。Well；　say　in　two　words　what　you've　got　to　sayyou　see　the　gentleman　waits。〃

〃Ou；　sir；　if　the　gentleman　likes　he　may　play　his　ain　spring　first；　it's　a'　ane　to　Dandie。〃

〃Now；　you　looby；〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃cannot　you　conceive　that　your　business　can　be　nothing　to　Colonel　Mannering；　but　that　he　may　not　choose　to　have　these　great　ears　of　thine　regaled　with　his　matters？〃

〃Aweel；　sir；　just　as　you　and　he　likeso　ye　see　to　my　business；〃　said　Dandie；　not　a　whit　disconcerted　by　the　roughness　of　this　reception。　〃We're　at　the　auld　wark　o'　the　marches　again；　Jock　o'　Dawston　Cleugh　and　me。　Ye　see　we　march　on　the　tap　o'　Touthop　Rigg　after　we　pass　the　Pomoragrains；　for　the　Pomoragrains；　and　Slackenspool；　and　Bloodylaws；　they　come　in　there；　and　they　belang　to　the　Peel；　but　after　ye　pass　Pomoragrains　at　a　muckle　great　saucer…headed　cutlugged　stane；　that　they　ca'　Charlie's　Chuckie；　there　Dawston　Cleugh　and　Charlies…hope　they　march。　Now；　I　say；　the　march　rins　on　the　tap　o'　the　hill　where　the　wind　and　water　shears；　but　Jock　o'　Dawston　Cleugh　again；　he　contravenes　that；　and　says；　that　it　hauds　down　by　the　auld　drove…road　that　gaes　awa　by　the　Knot　o'　the　Gate　ower　to　Keeldar　Wardand　that　makes　an　unco　＇*Uncommon　＇　difference。〃

〃And　what　difference　does　it　make；　friend？〃　said　Pleydell。　〃How　many　sheep　will　it　feed？〃

〃Ou；　no　mony；〃　said　Dandie；　scratching　his　head；　it's　lying　high　and　exposedit　may　feed　a　hog；　or　aiblins　＇*Perhaps　＇　twa　in　a　good　year。〃

〃And　for　this　grazing；　which　may　be　worth　about　five　shillings　a　year；　you　are　willing　to　throw　away　a　hundred　pound　or　two？〃

〃Na；　sir；　it's　no　for　the　value　of　the　grass；〃　replied　Dinmont；　〃it's　for　justice。〃

〃My　good　friend；〃　said　Pleydell；　〃justice；　like　charity；　should　begin　at　home。　Do　you　justice　to　your　wife　and　family；　and　think　no　more　about…the　matter。〃

Dinmont　still　lingered；　twisting　his　hat　in　his　hand…〃　It's　no　for　that；　sirbut　I　would　like　ill　to　be　bragged　wi'　himhe　threeps　＇*Declares　＇　he'll　bring　a　score　o'　witnesses　and　mairand　I'm　sure　there's　as　mony　will　swear　for　me　as　for　him；　folk　that　lived　a'　their　days　upon　the　Charlies…hope；　and　wadna　like　to　see　the　land　lose　its　right。〃

〃Zounds；　man；　if　it　be　a　point　of　honour；〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃why　don't　your　landlords　take　it　up？〃

〃I　dinna　ken；　sir〃　（scratching　his　head　again）；　〃there's　been　nae　election…dusts　lately；　and　the　lairds　are　unco　neighbourly；　and　Jock　and　me　canna　get　them　to　yoke　thegither　about　it　a'　that　we　can　saybut　if　ye　thought　we　might　keep　up　the　rent〃

〃No！　no！　that　will　never　do；〃　said　Pleydell；〃confound　you；　why　don't　you　take　good　cudgels　and　settle　it？〃

〃Odd；　sir；〃　answered　the　farmer；　〃we　tried　that　three　times　alreadythat's　twice　on　the　land　add　ance　at　Lockerby　fair。But　I　dinna　kenwe're　baith　gey　good　at　single…stick；　and　it　couldna　weel　be　judged。〃

〃Then　take　broadswords；　and　be　d…d　to　you；　as　your　fathers　did　before　you；〃　said　the　counsel　learned　in　the　law。

〃Aweel；　sir；　if　ye　think　it　wadna　be　again　the　law；　it's　a'　ane　to　Dandie。〃

〃Hold！　Hold！〃　exclaimed　Pleydell；　〃we　shall　have　another　Lord　Soulis'　mistakePr'ythee；　man；　comprehend　me；　I　wish　you　to　consider　how　very　trifling　and　foolish　a　lawsuit　you　wish　to　engage　in。〃

〃Ay；　sir？〃　said　Dandie；　in　a　disappointed　tone。　〃So　ye　winna　take　on　wi'　me；　I'm　doubting？〃

〃Me！　not　Igo　home；　go　home；　take　a　pint　and　agree。〃　Dandie　looked　but　half　contented；　and　still　remained　stationary。　〃Anything　more；　my　friend？〃

〃Only；　sir；　about　the　succession　of　this　leddy　that's　dead；　auld　Miss　Margaret　Bertram　o'　Singleside。〃

〃Ay；　what　about　her？〃　said　the　counsellor；　rather　surprised。

〃Ou；　we　have　nae　connection　at　a'　wi'　the　Bertrams；〃　said　Dandie；〃they　were　grand　folk　by　the　like　o'　us。But　Jean　Liltup；　that　was　auld　Singleside's　housekeeper；　and　the　mother　of　these　twa　young　ladies　that　are　ganethe　last　o'　them's　dead　at　a　ripe　age；　I　trowJean　Liltup　came　out　o'　Liddel　water；　and　she　was　as　near　our　connection　as　second　cousin　to　my　mother's　half…sisterShe　drew　up　wi'　Singleside；　nae　doubt；　when　she　was　his　housekeeper；　and　it　was　a　sair　vex　and　grief　to　a'　her　kith　and　kin。　But　he　acknowledged　a　marriage；　and　satisfied　the　kirkand　now　I　wad　ken　frae　you　if　we　hae　not　some　claim　by　law？〃

〃Not　the　shadow　of　a　claim。〃

〃Aweel；　we're　nae　puirer；〃　said　Dandie；〃but　she　may　hae　thought　on　us　if　she　was　minded　to　make　a　testament。Weel；　sir；　I've　said　my　sayI'se　e'en　wish　you　good…night；　and〃putting　his　hand　in　his　pocket。

〃No；　no；　my　friend；　I　never　take　fees　on　Saturday　nights；　or　without　a　memorialaway　with　you；　Dandie。〃　And　Dandie　made　his　reverence；　and　departed　accordingly。


CHAPTER　XXXVII。

　　But　this　poor　farce　has　neither　truth；　nor　art；　　　To　please　the　fancy　or　to　touch　the　heart。　　　Dark　but　not　awful；　dismal　but　yet　mean；　　　With　anxious　bustle　moves　the　cumbrous　scene；　　　Presents　no　objects　tender　or　profound；　　　But　spreads　its　cold　unmeaning　gloom　around。　　　　　Parish　Register。

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　Mannering；　laughing；　〃has　solemnised　your　abdication　by　an　act　of　mercy　and　charityThat　fellow　will　scarce　think　of　going　to　law。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　quite　wrong；〃　said　the　experienced　lawyer。　〃The　only　difference　is；　I　have　lost　my　client　and　my　fee。　He'll　never　rest　till　he　finds　somebody　to　encourage　him　to　commit　the　folly　he　has　predeterminedNo！　no！　I　have　only　shown　you　another　weakness　of　my　characterI　always　speak　truth　of　a　Saturday　night。〃

〃And　sometimes　through　the　week；　I　should　think；〃　said　Mannering；　continuing　the　same　tone。

〃Why；　yes；　as　far　as　my　vocation　will　permit。　I　am；　as　Hamlet　says；　indifferent　honest；　when　my　clients　and　their　solicitors　do　not　make　me　the　medium　of　conveying　their　double…distilled　lies　to　the　bench。　But　oportet　vivere！　it　is　a　sad　thing。And　now　to　our　business。　I　am　glad　my　old　friend　MacMorlan　has　sent　you　to　me；　he　is　an　active；　honest；　and　intelligent　man；　long　Sheriff…substitute　of　the　county　ofunder　me；　and　still　holds　the　office。　He　knows　I　have　a　regard　for　that　unfortunate　family　of　Ellangowan；　and　for　poor　Lucy。　I　have　not　seen　her　since　she　was　twelve　years　old；　and　she　was　then　a　sweet　pretty　girl　under　the　management　of　a　very　silly　father。　But　my　interest　in　her　is　of　an　early　date。　I　was　called　upon；　Mr。　Mannering；　being　then　Sheriff　of　that　county；　to　investigate　the　particulars　of　a　murder　which　had　been　committed　near　Ellangowan　the　day　on　which　this　poor　child　was　born；　and　which；　by　a　strange　combination　that　I　was　unhappily　not　able　to　trace；　involved　the　death　or　abstraction　of　her　only　brother；　a　boy　of　about　five　years　old。　No；　Colonel；　I　shall　never　forget　the　misery　of　the　house　of　Ellangowan　that　morning！the　father　half　distractedthe　mother　dead　in　premature　travailthe　helpless　infant；　with　scarce　any　one　to　attend　it；　coming　wawling　and　crying　into　this　miserable　world　at　such　a　moment　of　unutterable　misery。　We　lawyers　are　not　of　iron；　sir；　or　of　brass；　any　more　than　you　soldiers　are　of　steel。　We　are　conversant　with　the　crimes　and　distresses　of　civil　society；　as　you　are　with　those　that　occur　in　a　state　of　war；　and　to　do　our　duty　in　either　case　a　little　apathy　is　perhaps　necessaryBut　the　devil　take　a　soldier　whose　heart　can　be　as　hard　as　his　sword；　and　his　dam　catch　the　lawyer　who　bronzes　his　bosom　instead　of　his　forehead！But　come；　I　am　losing　my　Saturday　at　e'enwill　you　have　the　kindness　to　trust　me　with　these　papers　which　relate　to　Miss　Bertram's　business？　　and　stayto…morrow　you'll　take　a　bachelor's　dinner　with　an　old　lawyer；I　insist　upon　it；　at　three　preciselyand　come　an　hour　sooner。The　old　lady　is　to　be　buried　on　Monday；　it　is　the　orphan's　cause；　and　we'll　borrow　an　hour　from　the　Sunday　to　talk　over　this　businessalthough　I　fear　nothing　can　be　done　if　she　has　altered　her　settlementunless　perhaps　it　occurs　within　the　sixty　days；　and　then　if　Miss　Bertram　can　show　that　she　possesses　the　character　of　heir…at…law；　why

〃But；　hark！　my　lieges　are　impatient　of　their　inter…regnumI　do　not　invite　you　to　rejoin　us；　Colonel；　it　would　be　a　trespass　on　your　complaisance；　unless　you　had　begun　the　day　with　us；　and　gradually　glided　on　front　wisdom　to　mirth；　and　from　mirth　tototoextravagance。Good…night…Harry；　go　home　with　Mr。　Mannering　to　his　lodging…Colonel；　I　expect　you　at　a　little　past　two　to…morrow。〃

The　Colonel　returned　to　his　inn；　equally　surprised　at　the　childish　frolics　in　which　he　had　found　his　learned　counsellor　engaged；　at　the　candour　and　sound　sense　which　he　had　in　a　moment　summoned　up　to　meet　the　exigencies　of　his　profession；　and　at　the　tone　of　feeling　which　he　displayed　when　he　spoke　of　the　friendless　orphan。

In　the　morning；　while　the　Colonel　and　his　most　quiet　and　silent　of　all　retainers；　Dominie　Sampson；　were　finishing　the　breakfast　which　Barnes　had　made　and　poured　out；　after　the　Dominie　had　scalded　himself　in　the　attempt；　Mr。　Pleydell　was　suddenly　ushered　in。　A　nicely　dressed　bob…wig；　upon　every　hair　of　which　a　zealous　and　careful　barber　had　bestowed　its　proper　allowanc