david elginbrod-第4章
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accepting the offer； Hugh could not conjecture。 He stood for some
moments looking after her； and then retraced his steps towards the
house。
It would have been something； in the monotony of one of the most
trying of positions； to meet one who snatched at the offered means
of spiritual growth； even if that disciple had not been a lovely
girl； with the woman waking in her eyes。 He commenced the duties of
the day with considerably more of energy than he had yet brought to
bear on his uninteresting pupils； and this energy did not flag
before its effects upon the boys began to react in fresh impulse
upon itself。
CHAPTER IV。
THE COTTAGE。
O little Bethlem！ poor in walls；
But rich in furniture。
JOHN MASON'S Spiritual Songs。
There was one great alleviation to the various discomforts of
Sutherland's tutor…life。 It was； that； except during school…hours；
he was expected to take no charge whatever of his pupils。 They ran
wild all other times； which was far better； in every way； both for
them and for him。 Consequently； he was entirely his own master
beyond the fixed margin of scholastic duties； and he soon found that
his absence； even from the table； was a matter of no interest to the
family。 To be sure； it involved his own fasting till the next
meal…time came roundfor the lady was quite a household martinet；
but that was his own concern。
That very evening； he made his way to David's cottage； about the
country supper…time； when he thought he should most likely find him
at home。 It was a clear； still； moonlit night； with just an air of
frost。 There was light enough for him to see that the cottage was
very neat and tidy； looking； in the midst of its little forest； more
like an English than a Scotch habitation。 He had had the advantage
of a few months' residence in a leafy region on the other side of
the Tweed； and so was able to make the comparison。 But what a
different leafage that was from this！ That was soft； floating；
billowy； this hard； stiff； and straight…lined； interfering so little
with the skeleton form； that it needed not to be put off in the
wintry season of death； to make the trees in harmony with the
landscape。 A light was burning in the cottage； visible through the
inner curtain of muslin； and the outer one of frost。 As he
approached the door； he heard the sound of a voice； and from the
even pitch of the tone； he concluded at once that its owner was
reading aloud。 The measured cadence soon convinced him that it was
verse that was being read； and the voice was evidently that of
David； and not of Margaret。 He knocked at the door。 The voice
ceased； chairs were pushed back； and a heavy step approached。 David
opened the door himself。
〃Eh！ Maister Sutherlan'；〃 said he； 〃I thocht it micht aiblins be
yersel。 Ye're welcome； sir。 Come butt the hoose。 Our place is but
sma'； but ye'll no min' sitttin' doon wi' our ain sels。 Janet；
ooman； this is Maister Sutherlan'。 Maggy； my doo； he's a frien' o'
yours； o' a day auld； already。 Ye're kindly welcome； Maister
Sutherlan'。 I'm sure it's verra kin' o' you to come an' see the
like o' huz。〃
As Hugh entered； he saw his own bright volume lying on the table；
evidently that from which David had just been reading。
Margaret had already placed for him a cushioned arm…chair； the only
comfortable one in the house； and presently； the table being drawn
back； they were all seated round the peat…fire on the hearth； the
best sort for keeping feet warm at least。 On the crook； or hooked
iron…chain suspended within the chimney； hung a three…footed pot； in
which potatoes were boiling away merrily for supper。 By the side of
the wide chimney； or more properly lum； hung an iron lamp； of an old
classical form common to the country； from the beak of which
projected； almost horizontally； the lighted wickthe pith of a
rush。 The light perched upon it was small but clear； and by it
David had been reading。 Margaret sat right under it； upon a
creepie； or small three…legged wooden stool。 Sitting thus； with the
light falling on her from above； Hugh could not help thinking she
looked very pretty。 Almost the only object in the distance from
which the feeble light was reflected； was the patch…work counterpane
of a little bed filling a recess in the wall； fitted with doors
which stood open。 It was probably Margaret's refuge for the night。
〃Well；〃 said the tutor； after they had been seated a few minutes；
and had had some talk about the weathersurely no despicable
subject after such a morningthe first of Spring〃well； how do you
like the English poet； Mr。 Elginbrod？〃
〃Spier that at me this day week； Maister Sutherlan'； an' I'll
aiblins answer ye； but no the nicht； no the nicht。〃
〃What for no？〃 said Hugh； taking up the dialect。
〃For ae thing； we're nae clean through wi' the auld sailor's story
yet； an' gin I hae learnt ae thing aboon anither； its no to pass
jeedgment upo' halves。 I hae seen ill weather half the simmer； an'
a thrang corn…yard after an' a'； an' that o' the best。 No that I'm
ill pleased wi' the bonny ballant aither。〃
〃Weel； will ye jist lat me read the lave o't till ye？〃
〃Wi' muckle pleesur； sir； an' mony thanks。〃
He showed Hugh how far they had got in the reading of the 〃Ancient
Mariner〃； whereupon he took up the tale； and carried it on to the
end。 He had some facility in reading with expression； and his few
affectationsfor it must be confessed he was not free of such
faultswere not of a nature to strike uncritical hearers。 When he
had finished； he looked up； and his eye chancing to light upon
Margaret first； he saw that her cheek was quite pale； and her eyes
overspread with the film； not of coming tears； but of emotion
notwithstanding。
〃Well；〃 said Hugh； again； willing to break the silence； and turning
towards David； 〃what do you think of it now you have heard it all？〃
Whether Janet interrupted her husband or not； I cannot tell； but she
certainly spoke first：
〃Tsh鈜ah！〃equivalent to pshaw〃it's a' lees。 What for are ye
knittin' yer broos ower a leein' ballanta' havers as weel as
lees？〃
〃I'm no jist prepared to say sae muckle； Janet；〃 replied David；
〃there's mony a thing 'at's lees； as ye ca't； 'at's no lees a'
through。 Ye see； Maister Sutherlan'； I'm no gleg at the uptak； an'
it jist taks me twise as lang as ither fowk to see to the ootside o'
a thing。 Whiles a sentence 'ill leuk to me clean nonsense
a'thegither； an' maybe a haill ook efter； it'll come upo' me a' at
ance； an' fegs！ it's the best thing in a' the beuk。〃
Margaret's eyes were fixed on her father with a look which I can
only call faithfulness； as if every word he spoke was truth； whether
she could understand it or not。
〃But perhaps we may look too far for meanings sometimes；〃 suggested
Sutherland。
〃Maybe； maybe； but when a body has a suspeecion o' a trowth； he sud
never lat sit till he's gotten eyther hit； or an assurance that
there's nothing there。 But there's jist ae thing； in the poem 'at I
can pit my finger upo'； an' say 'at it's no richt clear to me
whether it's a' straucht…foret or no？〃
〃What's that； Mr。 Elginbrod？〃
〃It's jist thiswhat for a' thae sailor…men fell doon deid； an' the
chield 'at shot the bonnie burdie； an' did a' the mischeef； cam' to
little hurt i' the 'encomparateevely。〃
〃Well；〃 said Hugh； 〃I confess I'm not prepared to answer the
question。 If you get any light on the subject〃
〃Ow； I daursay I may。 A heap o' things comes to me as I'm takin' a
daunder by mysel' i' the gloamin'。 I'll no say a thing's wrang till
I hae tried it ower an' ower； for maybe I haena a richt grip o' the
thing ava。〃
〃What can ye expec； Dawvid； o' a leevin' corp； an' a' that？ay； twa
hunner corpsfower times fifty's twa hunneran' angels turnin'
sailors； an' sangs gaein fleein' aboot like laverocks； and tummelin'
doon again； tired like？Gude preserve's a'！〃
〃Janet； do ye believe 'at ever a serpent spak？〃
〃Hoot！ Dawvid； the deil was in him； ye ken。〃
〃The deil a word o' that's i' the word itsel； though；〃 rejoined
David with a smile。
〃Dawvid；〃 said Janet； solemnly； and with some consternation； 〃ye're
no gaein' to tell me； sittin'
