donal grant-第17节

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you；　else　we　shall　never　understand　each　other！〃

〃How　kind　you　are；　Mr。　Grant！　　You　treat　me　just　like　another　one！〃
said　Davie。

〃But　we　must　not　forget　that　I　am　the　big　one　and　you　the　little
one；　and　that　we　can't　be　the　other　one　to　each　other　except　the
little　one　does　what　the　big　one　tells　him！　　That's　the　way　to　fit
into　each　other。〃

〃Oh；　of　course！〃　answered　Davie；　as　if　there　could　not　be　two　minds
about　that。




CHAPTER　XV。

HORSE　AND　MAN。

During　the　first　day　and　the　next；　Donal　did　not　even　come　in　sight
of　any　other　of　the　family；　but　on　the　third　day；　after　their　short
early　schoolfor　he　seldom　let　Davie　work　till　he　was　tired；　and
never　aftergoing　with　him　through　the　stable…yard；　they　came　upon
lord　Forgue　as　he　mounted　his　horsea　nervous；　fiery；　thin…skinned
thoroughbred。　　The　moment　his　master　was　on　him；　he　began　to　back
and　rear。　　Forgue　gave　him　a　cut　with　his　whip。　　He　went　wild；
plunging　and　dancing　and　kicking。　　The　young　lord　was　a　horseman　in
the　sense　of　having　a　good　seat；　but　he　knew　little　about　horses；
they　were　to　him　creatures　to　be　compelled；　not　friends　with　whom　to
hold　sweet　concert。　　He　had　not　learned　that　to　rule　ill　is　worse
than　to　obey　ill。　　Kings　may　be　worse　than　it　is　in　the　power　of　any
subject　to　be。　　As　he　was　raising　his　arm　for　a　second　useless；
cruel；　and　dangerous　blow；　Donal　darted　to　the　horse's　head。

〃You　mustn't　do　that；　my　lord！〃　he　said。　〃You'll　drive　him　mad。〃

But　the　worst　part　of　Forgue's　nature　was　uppermost；　in　his　rage　all
the　vices　of　his　family　rushed　to　the　top。　　He　looked　down　on　Donal
with　a　fury　checked　only　by　contempt。

〃Keep　off；〃　he　said；　〃or　it　will　be　the　worse　for　you。　　What　do　you
know　about　horses？〃

〃Enough　to　know　that　you　are　not　fair　to　him。　　I　will　not　let　you
strike　the　poor　animal。　　Just　look　at　this　water…chain！〃

〃Hold　your　tongue；　and　stand　away；　or；　by〃

〃Ye　winna　fricht　me；　sir；〃　said　Donal；　whose　English　would；　for
years；　upon　any　excitement；　turn　cowardly　and　run　away；　leaving　his
mother…tongue　to　bear　the　brunt；　〃I'm　no　timorsome。〃

Forgue　brought　down　his　whip　with　a　great　stinging　blow　upon　Donal's
shoulder　and　back。　　The　fierce　blood　of　the　highland　Celt　rushed　to
his　brain；　and　had　not　the　man　in　him　held　by　God　and　trampled　on
the　devil；　there　might　then　have　been　miserable　work。　　But　though　he
clenched　his　teeth；　he　fettered　his　hands；　and　ruled　his　tongue；　and
the　Master　of　men　was　master　still。

〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　after　one　instant's　thunderous　silence；　〃there's
that　i'　me　wad　think　as　little　o'　throttlin'　ye　as　ye　du　o'
ill…usin'　yer　puir　beast。　　But　I'm　no　gaein'　to　drop　his　quarrel；
an'　tak　up　my　ain：　that　wad　be　cooardly。〃　　Here　he　patted　the
creature's　neck；　and　recovering　his　composure　and　his　English；　went
on。　〃I　tell　you；　my　lord；　the　curb…chain　is　too　tight！　　The　animal
is　suffering　as　you　can　have　no　conception　of；　or　you　would　pity
him。〃

〃Let　him　go；〃　cried　Forgue；　〃or　I　will　make　you。〃

He　raised　his　whip　again；　the　more　enraged　that　the　groom　stood
looking　on　with　his　mouth　open。

〃I　tell　your　lordship；〃　said　Donal；　〃it　is　my　turn　to　strike；　and　if
you　hit　the　animal　again　before　that　chain　is　slackened；　I　will
pitch　you　out　of　the　saddle。〃

For　answer　Forgue　struck　the　horse　over　the　head。　　The　same　moment
he　was　on　the　ground；　Donal　had　taken　him　by　the　leg　and　thrown　him
off。　　He　was　not　horseman　enough　to　keep　his　hold　of　the　reins；　and
Donal　led　the　horse　a　little　way　off；　and　left　him　to　get　up　in
safety。　　The　poor　animal　was　pouring　with　sweat；　shivering　and
trembling；　yet　throwing　his　head　back　every　moment。　　Donal　could
scarcely　undo　the　chain；　it　was　twistedhis　lordship　had　fastened
it　himselfand　sharp　edges　pressed　his　jaw　at　the　least　touch　of
the　rein。　　He　had　not　yet　rehooked　it；　when　Forgue　was　upon　him　with
a　second　blow　of　his　whip。　　The　horse　was　scared　afresh　at　the
sound；　and　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　hold　him；　but　he　succeeded　at
length　in　calming　him。　　When　he　looked　about　him；　Forgue　was　gone。
He　led　the　horse　into　the　stable；　put　him　in　his　stall；　and
proceeded　to　unsaddle　him。　　Then　first　he　was　re…aware　of　the
presence　of　Davie。　　The　boy　was　stampingwith　fierce　eyes　and　white
facechoking　with　silent　rage。

〃Davie；　my　child！〃　said　Donal；　and　Davie　recovered　his　power　of
speech。

〃I'll　go　and　tell　my　father！〃　he　said；　and　made　for　the　stable　door。

〃Which　of　us　are　you　going　to　tell　upon？〃　asked　Donal　with　a　smile。

〃Percy；　of　course！〃　he　replied；　almost　with　a　scream。　〃You　are　a
good　man；　Mr。　Grant；　and　he　is　a　bad　fellow。　　My　father　will　give　it
him　well。　　He　doesn't　oftenbut　oh；　can't　he　just！　　To　dare　to
strike　you！　　I'll　go　to　him　at　once；　whether　he's　in　bed　or　not！〃

〃No；　you　won't；　my　boy！　　Listen　to　me。　　Some　people　think　it's　a
disgrace　to　be　struck：　I　think　it　a　disgrace　to　strike。　　I　have　a
right　over　your　brother　by　that　blow；　and　I　mean　to　keep　itfor　his
good。　　You　didn't　think　I　was　afraid　of　him？〃

〃No；　no；　anybody　could　see　you　weren't　a　bit　afraid　of　him。　　I　would
have　struck　him　again　if　he　had　killed　me　for　it！〃

〃I　don't　doubt　you　would。　　But　when　you　understand；　you　will　not　be
so　ready　to　strike。　　I　could　have　killed　your　brother　more　easily
than　held　his　horse。　　You　don't　know　how　strong　I　am；　or　what　a　blow
of　my　fist　would　be　to　a　delicate　fellow　like　that。　　I　hope　his　fall
has　not　hurt　him。〃

〃I　hope　it　hasa　little；　I　mean；　only　a　little；〃　said　the　boy；
looking　in　the　face　of　his　tutor。　〃But　tell　me　why　you　did　not
strike　him。　　It　would　be　good　for　him　to　be　well　beaten。〃

〃It　will；　I　hope；　be　better　for　him　to　be　well　forgiven：　he　will　be
ashamed　of　himself　the　sooner；　I　think。　　But　why　I　did　not　strike
him　was；　that　I　am　not　my　own　master。〃

〃But　my　father；　I　am　sure；　would　not　have　been　angry　with　you。　　He
would　have　said　you　had　a　right　to　do　it。〃

〃Perhaps；　but　the　earl　is　not　the　master　I　mean。〃

〃Who　is；　then？〃

〃Jesus　Christ。〃

〃Ooh！〃

〃He　says　I　must　not　return　evil　for　evil；　a　blow　for　a　blow。　　I
don't　mind　what　people　say　about　it：　he　would　not　have　me　disgrace
myself！　　He　never　even　threatened　those　that　struck　him。〃

〃But　he　wasn't　a　man；　you　know！〃

〃Not　a　man！　　What　was　he　then？〃

〃He　was　God；　you　know。〃

〃And　isn't　God　a　manand　ever　so　much　more　than　a　man？〃

The　boy　made　no　answer；　and　Donal　went　on。

〃Do　you　think　God　would　have　his　child　do　anything　disgraceful？
Why；　Davie；　you　don't　know　your　own　Father！　　What　God　wants　of　us
is　to　be　down…right　honest；　and　do　what　he　tells　us　without　fear。〃

Davie　was　silent。　　His　conscience　reproved　him；　as　the　conscience　of
a　true…hearted　boy　will　reprove　him　at　the　very　mention　of　the　name
of　God；　until　he　sets　himself　consciously　to　do　his　will。　　Donal
said　no　more；　and　they　went　for　their　walk。




CHAPTER　XVI。

COLLOQUIES。

In　the　evening　Donal　went　to　see　Andrew　Comin。

〃Weel；　hoo　are　ye　gettin'　on　wi'　the　yerl？〃　asked　the　cobbler。

〃You　set　me　a　good　example　of　saying　nothing　about　him；〃　answered
Donal；　〃and　I　will　follow　itat　least　till　I　know　more：　I　have
scarce　seen　him　yet。〃

〃That's　right！〃　returned　the　cobbler　with　satisfaction。　〃I'm
thinkin'　ye'll　be　ane　o'　the　feow　'at　can　rule　their　ane　hoosethat
is；　haud　their　ain　tongues　till　the　hoor　for　speech　be　come。　　Stick
ye　to　that；　my　dear　sir；　an'　mair　i'll　be　weel　nor　in　general　is
weel。〃

〃I'm　come　to　ye　for　a　bit　o'　help　though；　I　want　licht　upon　a
queston　'at　's　lang　triblet　me。What　think　ye？hoo　far　does　the
comman'　laid　upo'　's；　as　to　warfare　'atween　man　an'　man；　reach？　　Are
we　never　ta　raise　the　han'　to　human　bein'；　think　ye？〃

〃Weel；　I　hae　thoucht　a　heap　aboot　it；　an'　I　daurna　say　'at　I'm　jist
absolute　clear　upo'　the　maitter。　　But　there　may　be　pairt　clear　whaur
a'　's　no　clear；　an'　by　what　we　un'erstan'　we　come　the　nearer　to　what
we　dinna　un'erstan'。　　There's　ae　thing　unco　plain'at　we're　on　no
accoont　to　return　evil　for　evil：　onybody　'at　ca's　himsel'　a
Christian　maun　un'erstan'　that　muckle。　　We're　to　gie　no　place　to
revenge；　inside　or　oot。　　Therefore　we're　no　to　gie　blow　for　blow。
Gien　a　man　hit　ye；　ye're　to　take　it　i'　God's　name。　　But　whether
things　mayna　come　to　a　p'int　whaurat　ye're　bu'n'；　still　i'　God's
name；　to　defen'　the　life　God　has　gien　ye；　I　canna　sayI　haena　the
licht　to　justifee　me　in　denyin'　't。　　There　maun　surely；　I　hae　said
to　mysel'；　be　a　time　whan　a　man　may　hae　to　du　what　God　dis　sae
aftenmak　use　o'　the　strong　han'！　　But　it's　clear　he　maunna　do　't
in　ragethat's　ower　near　hatean'　hate　's　the　deevil's　ain。　　A　man
may；　gien　he　live　varra　near　the　Lord；　be　whiles　angry　ohn　sinned：
but　the　wrath　o'　man　worketh　not　the　richteousness　o'　God；　an'　the
wrath　that　rises　i'　the　mids　o'　encoonter；　is　no　like　to　be　o'　the
natur　o'　divine　wrath。　　To　win　at　it；　gien　't　be　possible；　lat's
consider　the　Lordhoo　he　did。　　There's　no　word　o'　him　ever　liftin'
han'　to　protec'　himsel'。　　The　only　thing　like　it　was　for　ithers。　　To
gar　them　lat　his　disciples　alanemaybe　till　they　war　like　eneuch
til　himsel'　no　to　rin；　he　pat　oot　mair　nor　his　han'　upo'　them　'at
cam　to　tak　him：　he　strak　them　sair　wi'　the　pooer　itsel'　'at　muvs　a'
airms。　　But　no　varra　sa