annals of the parish(教区年鉴)-第15节
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great pains to instruct Kate； which； with the other things she taught； were
sufficient； as my lady said herself； to qualify poor Kate for a duchess or a
governess； in either of which capacities； her ladyship assured Mrs
Malcolm； she would do honour to her instructor； meaning her own self；
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but I must come to the point anent the affair。
One evening； early in the month of January； as I was sitting by myself
in my closet studying the Scots Magazine； which I well remember the new
number had come but that very night； Mrs Balwhidder being at the time
busy with the lasses in the kitchen； and superintending； as her custom was；
for she was a clever woman； a great wool…spinning we then had； both little
wheel and meikle wheel； for stockings and blanketssitting； as I was
saying； in the study； with the fire well gathered up； for a night's reflection；
a prodigious knocking came to the door； by which the book was almost
startled out of my hand； and all the wheels in the house were silenced at
once。 This was her ladyship's flunkey； to beg me to go to her； whom he
described as in a state of desperation。 Christianity required that I should
obey the summons； so； with what haste I could； thinking that perhaps； as
she had been low…spirited for some time about the young laird's going to
the Indies； she might have got a cast of grace； and been wakened in
despair to the state of darkness in which she had so long lived； I made as
few steps of the road between the manse and her house as it was in my
ability to do。
On reaching the door； I found a great light in the housecandles
burning up stairs and down stairs； and a sough of something extraordinar
going on。 I went into the dining…room； where her ladyship was wont to
sit； but she was not thereonly Kate Malcolm all alone； busily picking bits
of paper from the carpet。 When she looked up； I saw that her eyes were
red with weeping； and I was alarmed； and said； 〃Katy； my dear； I hope
there is no danger？〃 Upon which the poor lassie rose； and； flinging
herself in a chair； covered her face with her hands； and wept bitterly。
〃What is the old fool doing with the wench？〃 cried a sharp angry voice
from the drawing…room〃why does not he come to me？〃 It was the
voice of Lady Macadam herself； and she meant me。 So I went to her； but；
oh！ she was in a far different state from what I had hoped。 The pride of
this world had got the upper hand of her； and was playing dreadful antics
with understanding。 There was she； painted like a Jezebel； with gum…
flowers on her head； as was her custom every afternoon； sitting on a settee；
for she was lame； and in her hand she held a letter。 〃Sir；〃 said she； as I
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came into the room； 〃I want you to go instantly to that young fellow； your
clerk； （meaning Mr Lorimore； the schoolmaster； who was likewise
session… clerk and precentor；） and tell him I will give him a couple of
hundred pounds to marry Miss Malcolm without delay； and undertake to
procure him a living from some of my friends。〃
〃Softly； my lady； you must first tell me the meaning of all this haste of
kindness；〃 said I； in my calm methodical manner。 At the which she
began to cry and sob； like a petted bairn； and to bewail her ruin； and the
dishonour of her family。 I was surprised； and beginning to be
confounded； at length out it came。 The flunkey had that night brought
two London letters from the Irville post； and Kate Malcolm being out of
the way when he came home； he took them both in to her ladyship on the
silver server； as was his custom； and her ladyship； not jealousing that Kate
could have a correspondence with London； thought both the letters were
for herself； for they were franked； so； as it happened； she opened the one
that was for Kate； and this； too； from the young laird； her own son。 She
could not believe her eyes when she saw the first words in his hand of
write； and she read； and she better read； till she read all the letter； by which
she came to know that Kate and her darling were trysted； and that this was
not the first love…letter which had passed between them。 She； therefore；
tore it in pieces； and sent for me； and screamed for Kate； in short； went； as
it were； off at the head； and was neither to bind nor to hold on account of
this intrigue； as she； in her wrath； stigmatised the innocent gallanting of
poor Kate and the young laird。
I listened in patience to all she had to say anent the discovery； and
offered her the very best advice； but she derided my judgment； and
because I would not speak outright to Mr Lorimore； and get him to marry
Kate off hand； she bade me good…night with an air； and sent for him
herself。 He； however； was on the brink of marriage with his present
worthy helpmate； and declined her ladyship's proposals； which angered
her still more。 But although there was surely a great lack of discretion in
all this； and her ladyship was entirely overcome with her passion； she
would not part with Kate； nor allow her to quit the house with me； but
made her sup with her as usual that night； calling her sometimes a
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perfidious baggage； and at other times； forgetting her delirium； speaking to
her as kindly as ever。 At night； Kate as usual helped her ladyship into her
bed； （this she told me with tears in her eyes next morning；） and when Lady
Macadam； as was her wont； bent to kiss her for good…night； she suddenly
recollected 〃the intrigue；〃 and gave Kate such a slap on the side of the
head； as quite dislocated for a time the intellects of the poor young lassie。
Next morning； Kate was solemnly advised never to write again to the laird；
while the lady wrote him a letter； which； she said； would be as good as a
birch to the breech of the boy。 Nothing； therefore； for some time； indeed；
throughout the year； came of the matter； but her ladyship； when Mrs
Balwhidder soon after called on her； said that I was a nose…of…wax； and
that she never would speak to me again； which surely was not a polite
thing to say to Mrs Balwhidder； my second wife。
This stramash was the first time I had interposed in the family
concerns of my people； for it was against my nature to make or meddle
with private actions saving only such as in course of nature came before
the session； but I was not satisfied with the principles of Lady Macadam；
and I began to be weary about Kate Malcolm's situation with her ladyship；
whose ways of thinking I saw were not to be depended on； especially in
those things wherein her pride and vanity were concerned。 But the time
ran onthe butterflies and the blossoms were succeeded by the leaves and
the fruit； and nothing of a particular nature farther molested the general
tranquillity of this year； about the end of which； there came on a sudden
frost； after a tack of wet weather。 The roads were just a sheet of ice； like
a frozen river； insomuch that the coal…carts could not work； and one of our
cows； （Mrs Balwhidder said； after the accident； it was our best； but it was
not so much thought of before；） fell in coming from the glebe to the byre；
and broke its two hinder legs； which obligated us to kill it； in order to put
the beast out of pain。 As this happened after we had salted our mart； it
occasioned us to have a double crop of puddings； and such a show of hams
in the kitchen； as was a marvel to our visitors to see。
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CHAPTER XIII YEAR 1772
On New…Year's night； this year； a thing happened； which； in its own
nature； was
