donal grant-第55节

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seen　something　and　such　as　had　not；　the　apparition　was　naturally
associated　with　the　lost　chamber；　as　the　place　whence　the　spectre
issued；　and　whither　he　returned。

Donal's　spare　hours　were　now　much　given　to　his　friend　Andrew　Comin。
The　good　man　had　so　far　recovered　as　to　think　himself　able　to　work
again；　but　he　soon　found　it　was　little　he　could　do。　His　strength　was
gone；　and　the　exertion　necessary　to　the　lightest　labour　caused　him
pain。　It　was　sad　to　watch　him　on　his　stool；　now　putting　in　a　stitch；
now　stopping　because　of　the　cough　which　so　sorely　haunted　his　thin；
wind…blown　tent。　His　face　had　grown　white　and　thin；　and　he　had
nearly　lost　his　merriment；　though　not　his　cheerfulness；　he　never
looked　other　than　content。　He　had　made　up　his　mind　he　was　not　going
to　get　better；　but　to　go　home　through　a　lingering　illness。　He　was
ready　to　go　and　ready　to　linger；　as　God　pleased。

There　was　nothing　wonderful　in　this；　but　to　some　good　people　even　it
did　appear　wonderful　that　he　showed　no　uneasiness　as　to　how　Doory
would　fare　when　he　was　gone。　The　house　was　indeed　their　own；　but
there　was　no　money　in　itnot　even　enough　to　pay　the　taxes；　and　if
she　sold　it；　the　price　would　not　be　enough　to　live　upon。　The
neighbours　were　severe　on　Andrew's　imagined　indifference　to　his
wife's　future；　and　it　was　in　their　eyes　a　shame　to　be　so　cheerful　on
the　brink　of　the　grave。　Not　one　of　them　had　done　more　than　peep　into
the　world　of　faith　in　which　Andrew　lived。　Not　one　of　them　could　have
understood　that　for　Andrew　to　allow　the　least　danger　of　evil　to　his
Doory；　would　have　been　to　behold　the　universe　rocking　on　the
slippery　shoulders　of　Chance。

A　little　moan　escaping　her　as　she　looked　one　evening　into　her
money…teapot；　made　Donal　ask　her　a　question　or　two。　She　confessed
that　she　had　but　sixpence　left。　Now　Donal　had　spent　next　to　nothing
since　he　came；　and　had　therefore　a　few　pounds　in　hand。　His　father
and　mother　had　sent　back　what　he　sent　them；　as　being　in　need　of
nothing：　sir　Gibbie　was　such　a　good　son　to　them　that　they　were
living　in　what　they　counted　luxury：　Robert　doubted　whether　he　was
not　ministering　to　the　flesh　in　allowing　Janet　to　provide　beef…brose
for　him　twice　in　the　week！　So　Donal　was　free　to　spend　for　his　next
neighboursjust　what　his　people；　who　were　grand　about　money；　would
have　had　him　do。　Never　in　their　cottage　had　a　penny　been　wasted；
never　one　refused　where　was　need。

〃An'rew；〃　he　saidand　found　the　mother…tongue　here　fittest〃I'm
thinkin'　ye　maun　be　growin'　some　short　o'　siller　i'　this　time　o'
warklessness！〃

〃'Deed；　I　wadna　won'er！〃　answered　Andrew。　〃Doory　says　naething　aboot
sic　triffles！〃

〃Weel；〃　rejoined　Donal；　〃I　thank　God　I　hae　some　i'　the　ill　pickle　o'
no　bein'　wantit；　an'　sae　in　danger　o'　cankerin'；　an'　atween　brithers
there　sudna　be　twa　purses！〃

〃Ye　hae　yer　ain　fowk　to　luik　efter；　sir！〃　said　Andrew。

〃They're　weel　luikit　efterbetter　nor　ever　they　war　i'　their　lives；
they're　as　weel　aff　as　I　am　mysel'　up　i'　yon　gran'　castel。　They　hae
a　freen'　wha　but　for　them　wad　ill　hae　lived　to　be　the　great　man　he
is　the　noo；　an'　there's　naething　ower　muckle　for　him　to　du　for　them；
sae　my　siller　's　my　ain；　an'　yours。　An'rew；　an'　Doory's！〃

The　old　man　put　him　through　a　catechism　as　to　his　ways　and　means　and
prospects；　and　finding　that　Donal　believed　as　firmly　as　himself　in
the　care　of　the　Master；　and　was　convinced　there　was　nothing　that
Master　would　rather　see　him　do　with　his　money　than　help　those　who
needed　it；　especially　those　who　trusted　in　him；　he　yielded。

〃It's　no；　ye　see；〃　said　Donal；　〃that　I　hae　ony　doobt　o'　the　Lord
providin'　gien　I　had　failt；　but　he　hauds　the　thing　to　my　han'；　jist
as　muckle　as　gien　he　said；　'There's　for　you；　Donal！'　The　fowk　o'
this　warl'　michtna　appruv；　but　you　an'　me　kens　better；　An'rew。　We
ken　there's　nae　guid　in　siller　but　do　the　wull　o'　the　Lord　wi'
'tan'　help　to　ane　anither　is　his　dear　wull。　It's　no　'at　he's　short
o'　siller　himsel'；　but　he　likes　to　gie　anither　a　turn！〃

〃I'll　tak　it；〃　said　the　old　man。

〃There's　what　I　hae；〃　returned　Donal。

〃Na；　na；　nane　o'　that！〃　said　Andrew。　〃Ye're　treatin'　me　like　a
muckle；　reivin'；　sornin'　beggarofferin'　me　a'　that　at　ance！　Whaur
syne　wad　be　the　prolonged　sweetness　o'　haein'　't　i'　portions　frae
yer　han'；　as　frae　the　neb　o'　an　angel…corbie　sent　frae　verra　hame
wi'　yer　denner！〃Here　a　glimmer　of　the　old　merriment　shone　through
the　worn　look　and　pale　eyes。〃Na；　na；　sir；〃　he　went　on；　〃jist　talk
the　thing　ower　wi'　Doory；　an'　lat　her　hae　what　she　wants　an'　nae
mair。　She　wudna　like　it。　Wha　kens　what　may　came　i'　the
meantimeDeith　himsel'；　maybe！　Or　seegie　Doory　a　five　shillins；
an'　whan　that's　dune　she　can　lat　ye　ken！〃

Donal　was　forced　to　leave　it　thus；　but　he　did　his　utmost　to　impress
upon　Doory　that　all　he　had　was　at　her　disposal。

〃I　had　new　clothes；〃　he　said；　〃before　I　came；　I　have　all　I　want　to
eat　and　drink；　and　for　books；　there's　a　whole　ancient　library　at　my
service！what　possibly　could　I　wish　for　more？　It's　a　mere　luxury　to
hand　the　money　over　to　you；　Doory！　I'm　thinkin'；　Doory；〃　for　he　had
by　this　time　got　to　address　her　by　her　husband's　name　for　her；
〃there's　naebody　i'　this　warl'；　'cep'　the　oonseen　Lord　himsel'；
lo'es　yer　man　sae　weel　as　you　an'　me；　an'　weel　ken　I　you　an'　him　wad
share　yer　last　wi'　me；　sae　I'm　only　giein'　ye　o'　yer　ain　gude　wull；
an'　I'll　doobt　that　gien　ye　takna　sae　lang　as　I　hae。〃

Thus　adjured；　and　satisfied　that　her　husband　was　content；　the　old
woman　made　no　difficulty。




CHAPTER　XLIII。

EPPY　AND　KENNEDY。

When　Stephen　Kennedy　heard　that　Eppy　had　gone　back　to　her
grandparents；　a　faint　hope　revived　in　his　bosom；　he　knew　nothing　of
the　late　passage　between　the　two　parties。　He　but　knew　that　she　was
looking　sad：　she　might　perhaps　allow　him　to　be　of　some　service　to
her！　Separation　had　fostered　more　and　more　gentle　thoughts　of　her　in
his　heart；　he　was　ready　to　forgive　her　everything；　and　believe
nothing　serious　against　her；　if　only　she　would　let　him　love　her
again。　Modesty　had　hitherto　kept　him　from　throwing　himself　in　her
way；　but　he　now　haunted　the　house　in　the　hope　of　catching　a　glimpse
of　her；　and　when　she　began　to　go　again　into　the　town；　saw　her
repeatedly；　following　her　to　be　near　her；　but　taking　care　she　should
not　see　him：　partly　from　her　self…absorption　he　had　succeeded　in
escaping　her　notice。

At　length；　however；　one　night；　he　tried　to　summon　up　courage　to
accost　her。　It　was　a　lovely；　moonlit　night；　half　the　street　black
with　quaint　shadows；　the　other　half　shining　like　sand　in　the　yellow
light。　On　the　moony　side　people　standing　at　their　doors　could
recognize　each　other　two　houses　away；　but　on　the　other；　friends
might　pass　without　greeting。　Eppy　had　gone　into　the　baker's；　Kennedy
had　seen　her　go　in；　and　stood　in　the　shadow；　waiting；　all　but
determined　to　speak　to　her。　She　staid　a　good　while；　but　one
accustomed　to　wait　for　fish　learns　patience。　At　length　she　appeared。
By　this　time；　however；　though　not　his　patience；　Kennedy's　courage
had　nearly　evaporated；　and　when　he　saw　her　he　stepped　under　an
archway；　let　her　pass；　and　followed　afresh。　All　at　once　resolve；
which　yet　was　no　resolve；　awoke　in　him。　It　was　as　if　some　one　took
him　and　set　him　before　her。　She　started　when　he　stepped　in　front；
and　gave　a　little　cry。

〃Dinna　be　feart；　Eppy；〃　he　said；　〃I　wudna　hurt　a　hair　o'　yer　heid。　I
wud　raither　be　skinned　mysel'！〃

〃Gang　awa；〃　said　Eppy。　〃Ye　hae　no　richt　to　stan'　i'　my　gait！〃

〃Nane　but　the　richt　o'　lo'ein'　ye　better　nor　ever！〃　said　Kennedy；
〃gien　sae　be　as　ye'll　lat　me　ony　gait　shaw　't！〃

The　words　softened　her；　she　had　dreaded　reproach；　if　not　indignant
remonstrance。　She　began　to　cry。

〃Gien　onything　i'　my　pooer　wud　mak　the　grief　lichter　upo'　ye；　Eppy；〃
he　said；　〃ye　hae　but　to　name　't！　I'm　no　gauin'　to　ask　ye　to　merry
me；　for　that　I　ken　ye　dinna　care　aboot；　but　gien　I　micht　be　luikit
upon　as　a　freen'；　if　no　to　you；　yet　to　yoursalloot　onyw'y　to　help
i'　yer　trible；　I　mean；　I'm　ready　to　lay　me　i'　the　dirt　afore　ye。　I
hae　nae　care　for　mysel'　ony　mair；　an'　maun　do　something　for
somebodyan'　wha　sae　soon　as　yersel'；　Eppy！〃

For　sole　answer；　Eppy　went　on　crying。　She　was　far　from　happy。　She
had　nearly　persuaded　herself　that　all　was　over　between　her　and　lord
Forgue；　and　almost　she　could；　but　for　shame；　have　allowed　Kennedy　to
comfort　her　as　an　old　friend。　Everything　in　her　mind　was　so
confused；　and　everything　around　her　so　miserable；　that　she　could　but
cry。　She　continued　crying；　and　as　they　were　in　a　walled　lane　into
which　no　windows　looked；　Kennedy；　in　the　simplicity　of　his　heart；
and　the　desire　to　comfort　her　who　little　from　him　deserved　comfort；
came　up　to　her；　and　putting　his　arm　round　her；　said　again；

〃Dinna　be　feart　of　me；　Eppy。　I'm　a　man　ower　sair…hertit　to　do　ye　ony
hurt。　It's　no　as　thinkin'　ye　my　ain；　Eppy；　I　wud　preshume　to　du
onything　for　ye；　but　as　an　auld　freen'；　fain　to　tak　the　dog　aff　o'
ye。　Are　ye　in　want　o'　onything？　Ye　maun　hae　a　heap　o'　trible；　I　weel
ken；　wi'　yer　gran'father's　mischance；　an'　it's　easy　to　un'erstan'
'at　things　may　well　be　turnin'　scarce　aboot　ye；　but　be　sure　o'　this；
that　as　lang's　my　mither　has　onything；　she'll　be　blyth　to　share　the
same　wi'　you　an'　yours。