按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
self…defence； never showed any resentmenta most improbable
statement； I admit； but nevertheless trueand I think the rest of
his character may be left to the gradual dawn of its historical
manifestation。
He had long ere this discovered who the angel was that had appeared
to him at the top of the stair upon that memorable night； but he
could hardly yet say that he had seen her； for； except one dim
glimpse he had had of her at the window as he passed in the street；
she had not appeared to him save in the vision of that night。
During the whole winter she scarcely left the house； partly from
the state of her health； affected by the sudden change to a northern
climate； partly from the attention required by her aunt； to aid in
nursing whom she had left the warmer south。 Indeed； it was only to
return the visits of a few of Mrs。 Forsyth's chosen； that she had
crossed the threshold at all； and those visits were paid at a time
when all such half…grown inhabitants as Robert were gathered under
the leathery wing of Mr。 Innes。
But long before the winter was over； Rothieden had discovered that
the stranger； the English lady； Mary St。 John； outlandish； almost
heathenish as her lovely name sounded in its ears； had a power as
altogether strange and new as her name。 For she was not only an
admirable performer on the pianoforte； but such a simple enthusiast
in music； that the man must have had no music or little heart in him
in whom her playing did not move all that there was of the deepest。
Occasionally there would be quite a small crowd gathered at night by
the window of Mrs。 Forsyth's drawing…room； which was on the
ground…floor； listening to music such as had never before been heard
in Rothieden。 More than once； when Robert had not found Sandy
Elshender at home on the lesson…night； and had gone to seek him； he
had discovered him lying in wait； like a fowler； to catch the sweet
sounds that flew from the opened cage of her instrument。 He leaned
against the wall with his ear laid over the edge； and as near the
window as he dared to put it； his rough face； gnarled and blotched；
and hirsute with the stubble of neglected beardhis whole ursine
face transfigured by the passage of the sweet sounds through his
chaotic brain； which they swept like the wind of God； when of old it
moved on the face of the waters that clothed the void and formless
world。
'Haud yer tongue！' he would say in a hoarse whisper； when Robert
sought to attract his attention； 'haud yer tongue； man； and hearken。
Gin yon bonny leddy 'at yer grannie keeps lockit up i' the aumry
war to tak to the piano； that's jist hoo she wad play。 Lord； man！
pit yer sowl i' yer lugs； an' hearken。'
The soutar was all wrong in this； for if old Mr。 Falconer's violin
had taken woman…shape； it would have been that of a slight； worn；
swarthy creature； with wild black eyes； great and restless； a voice
like a bird's； and thin fingers that clawed the music out of the
wires like the quills of the old harpsichord； not that of Mary St。
John； who was tall； and could not help being stately； was large and
well…fashioned； as full of repose as Handel's music； with a
contralto voice to make you weep； and eyes that would have seemed
but for their maidenliness to be always ready to fold you in their
lucid gray depths。
Robert stared at the soutar； doubting at first whether he had not
been drinking。 But the intoxication of music produces such a
different expression from that of drink； that Robert saw at once
that if he had indeed been drinking； at least the music had got
above the drink。 As long as the playing went on； Elshender was not
to be moved from the window。
But to many of the people of Rothieden the music did not recommend
the musician； for every sort of music； except the most unmusical of
psalm…singing； was in their minds of a piece with 'dancin' an'
play…actin'； an' ither warldly vainities an' abominations。' And
Robert； being as yet more capable of melody than harmony； grudged to
lose a lesson on Sandy's 'auld wife o' a fiddle' for any amount of
Miss St。 John's playing。
CHAPTER XV。
ERIC ERICSON。
One gusty eveningit was of the last day in MarchRobert well
remembered both the date and the daya bleak wind was driving up
the long street of the town； and Robert was standing looking out of
one of the windows in the gable…room。 The evening was closing into
night。 He hardly knew how he came to he there； but when he thought
about it he found it was play…Wednesday； and that he had been all
the half…holiday trying one thing after another to interest himself
withhal； but in vain。 He knew nothing about east winds； but not the
less did this dreary wind of the dreary March world prove itself
upon his soul。 For such a wind has a shadow wind along with it；
that blows in the minds of men。 There was nothing genial； no growth
in it。 It killed； and killed most dogmatically。 But it is an ill
wind that blows nobody good。 Even an east wind must bear some
blessing on its ugly wings。 And as Robert looked down from the
gable； the wind was blowing up the street before it half…a…dozen
footfaring students from Aberdeen； on their way home at the close of
the session； probably to the farm…labours of the spring。
This was a glad sight； as that of the returning storks in Denmark。
Robert knew where they would put up； sought his cap； and went out。
His grandmother never objected to his going to see Miss Napier； it
was in her house that the weary men would this night rest。
It was not without reason that Lord Rothie had teased his hostess
about receiving foot…passengers； for to such it was her invariable
custom to make some civil excuse； sending Meg or Peggy to show them
over the way to the hostelry next in rank； a proceeding recognized
by the inferior hostess as both just and friendly； for the good
woman never thought of measuring The Star against The Boar's Head。
More than one comical story had been the result of this law of The
Boar's Head； unalterable almost as that of the Medes and Persians。
I say almost； for to one class of the footfaring community the
official ice about the hearts of the three women did thaw； yielding
passage to a full river of hospitality and generosity； and that was
the class to which these wayfarers belonged。
Well may Scotland rejoice in her universities； for whatever may be
said against their systemI have no complaint to makethey are
divine in their freedom： men who follow the plough in the spring and
reap the harvest in the autumn； may； and often do； frequent their
sacred precincts when the winter comesso fierce； yet so
welcomeso severe； yet so blessedopening for them the doors to
yet harder toil and yet poorer fare。 I fear； however； that of such
there will be fewer and fewer； seeing one class which supplied a
portion of them has almost vanished from the countrythat class
which was its truest； simplest； and noblest strengththat class
which at one time rendered it something far other than ridicule to
say that Scotland was pre…eminently a God…fearing nationI mean the
class of cottars。
Of this class were some of the footfaring company。 But there were
others of more means than the men of this lowly origin； who either
could not afford to travel by the expensive coaches； or could find
none to accommodate them。 Possibly some preferred to walk。 However
this may have been； the various groups which at the beginning and
close of the session passed through Rothieden weary and footsore；
were sure of a hearty welcome at The Boar's Head。 And much the men
needed it。 Some of them would have walked between one and two
hundred miles before completing their journey。
Robert made a circuit； and； fleet of foot； was in Miss Napier's
parlour before the travellers made their appearance on the square。
When they knocked at the door； Miss Letty herself went and opened
it。
'Can ye tak 's in； mem？' was on the lips of their spokesman； but
Miss Letty had the first word。
'Come in； come in； gentlemen。 This is the first o' ye； and ye're
the mair welcome。 It's like seein' the first o' the swallows。 An'
sic a day as ye hae had for yer lang traivel！' she went on； leading
the way to her sister's parlour； and followed by all the students；
of whom the one that came hindmost was the most remarkable of the
groupat the same time the most weary and downcast。
Miss Napier gave them a similar welcome； shaking hands with every
one of them。 She knew them all but the last。 To him she
involuntarily showed a more formal respect； partly from his
appearance； and partly that she had never seen him before。 The
whisky…bottle was brought out； and all partook； save still the last。
Miss Lizzie went to order their supper。
'Noo； gentlemen；' said Miss Letty； 'wad ony o' ye like to gang an'
change yer hose； and pit on a pair o' slippers？'
Several declined； say