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！
said he； 'and I hope； when your mind is at rest （and it does you
much honour to take it as you do）； that you will sit down with me
to the postponed meal； not forgetting the bottle。 You have my
address？' he added； and gave it me … which was the only thing I
wanted。
At last； at the level of York Place； we parted with mutual
civilities； and I was free to pursue my way； through the mobs of
people returning from church； to my lodgings in St。 James' Square。
Almost at the house door whom should I overtake but my landlady in
a dress of gorgeous severity； and dragging a prize in her wake： no
less than Rowley； with the cockade in his hat； and a smart pair of
tops to his boots！ When I said he was in the lady's wake I spoke
but in metaphor。 As a matter of fact he was squiring her； with the
utmost dignity； on his arm； and I followed them up the stairs；
smiling to myself。
Both were quick to salute me as soon as I was perceived； and Mrs。
McRankine inquired where I had been。 I told her boastfully； giving
her the name of the church and the divine； and ignorantly supposing
I should have gained caste。 But she soon opened my eyes。 In the
roots of the Scottish character there are knots and contortions
that not only no stranger can understand； but no stranger can
follow； he walks among explosives； and his best course is to throw
himself upon their mercy … 'Just as I am； without one plea；' a
citation from one of the lady's favourite hymns。
The sound she made was unmistakable in meaning； though it was
impossible to be written down； and I at once executed the manoeuvre
I have recommended。
'You must remember I am a perfect stranger in your city；' said I。
'If I have done wrong； it was in mere ignorance； my dear lady； and
this afternoon； if you will be so good as to take me； I shall
accompany YOU。'
But she was not to be pacified at the moment； and departed to her
own quarters murmuring。
'Well； Rowley；' said I； 'and have you been to church？'
'If you please； sir；' he said。
'Well； you have not been any less unlucky than I have；' I returned。
'And how did you get on with the Scottish form？'
'Well； sir； it was pretty 'ard； the form was； and reether narrow；'
he replied。 'I don't know w'y it is； but it seems to me like as if
things were a good bit changed since William Wallace！ That was a
main queer church she took me to； Mr。 Anne！ I don't know as I
could have sat it out； if she 'adn't 'a' give me peppermints。 She
ain't a bad one at bottom； the old girl； she do pounce a bit； and
she do worry； but； law bless you； Mr。 Anne； it ain't nothink really
… she don't MEAN it。 W'y； she was down on me like a 'undredweight
of bricks this morning。 You see； last night she 'ad me in to
supper； and； I beg your pardon； sir； but I took the freedom of
playing her a chune or two。 She didn't mind a bit； so this morning
I began to play to myself； and she flounced in； and flew up； and
carried on no end about Sunday！'
'You see； Rowley；' said I； 'they're all mad up here； and you have
to humour them。 See and don't quarrel with Mrs。 McRankine； and；
above all； don't argue with her； or you'll get the worst of it。
Whatever she says； touch your forelock and say； 〃If you please！〃 or
〃I beg pardon； ma'am。〃 And let me tell you one thing： I am sorry；
but you have to go to church with her again this afternoon。 That's
duty； my boy！'
As I had foreseen； the bells had scarce begun before Mrs。 McRankine
presented herself to be our escort； upon which I sprang up with
readiness and offered her my arm。 Rowley followed behind。 I was
beginning to grow accustomed to the risks of my stay in Edinburgh；
and it even amused me to confront a new churchful。 I confess the
amusement did not last until the end； for if Dr。 Gray were long；
Mr。 McCraw was not only longer； but more incoherent； and the matter
of his sermon （which was a direct attack； apparently； on all the
Churches of the world； my own among the number）； where it had not
the tonic quality of personal insult； rather inclined me to
slumber。 But I braced myself for my life； kept up Rowley with the
end of a pin； and came through it awake； but no more。
Bethiah was quite conquered by this 'mark of grace；' though； I am
afraid； she was also moved by more worldly considerations。 The
first is； the lady had not the least objection to go to church on
the arm of an elegantly dressed young gentleman； and be followed by
a spruce servant with a cockade in his hat。 I could see it by the
way she took possession of us； found us the places in the Bible；
whispered to me the name of the minister； passed us lozenges； which
I （for my part） handed on to Rowley； and at each fresh attention
stole a little glance about the church to make sure she was
observed。 Rowley was a pretty boy； you will pardon me if I also
remembered that I was a favourable…looking young man。 When we grow
elderly； how the room brightens； and begins to look as it ought to
look； on the entrance of youth； grace； health； and comeliness！ You
do not want them for yourself； perhaps not even for your son； but
you look on smiling； and when you recall their images … again； it
is with a smile。 I defy you to see or think of them and not smile
with an infinite and intimate； but quite impersonal； pleasure。
Well； either I know nothing of women； or that was the case with
Bethiah McRankine。 She had been to church with a cockade behind
her； on the one hand； on the other； her house was brightened by the
presence of a pair of good…looking young fellows of the other sex；
who were always pleased and deferential in her society and accepted
her views as final。
These were sentiments to be encouraged； and； on the way home from
church … if church it could be called … I adopted a most insidious
device to magnify her interest。 I took her into the confidence；
that is； of my love affair； and I had no sooner mentioned a young
lady with whom my affections were engaged than she turned upon me a
face of awful gravity。
'Is she bonny？' she inquired。
I gave her full assurances upon that。
'To what denoamination does she beloang？' came next； and was so
unexpected as almost to deprive me of breath。
'Upon my word； ma'am； I have never inquired；' cried I； 'I only know
that she is a heartfelt Christian； and that is enough。'
'Ay！' she sighed； 'if she has the root of the maitter！ There's a
remnant practically in most of the denoaminations。 There's some in
the McGlashanites； and some in the Glassites； and mony in the
McMillanites； and there's a leeven even in the Estayblishment。'
'I have known some very good Papists even； if you go to that；' said
I。
'Mr。 Ducie； think shame to yoursel'！' she cried。
'Why； my dear madam！ I only … ' I began。
'You shouldnae jest in sairious maitters；' she interrupted。
On the whole； she entered into what I chose to tell her of our
idyll with avidity； like a cat licking her whiskers over a dish of
cream； and； strange to say … and so expansive a passion is that of
love！ … that I derived a perhaps equal satisfaction from confiding
in that breast of iron。 It made an immediate bond： from that hour
we seemed to be welded into a family…party； and I had little
difficulty in persuading her to join us and to preside over our
tea…table。 Surely there was never so ill…matched a trio as Rowley；
Mrs。 McRankine； and the Viscount Anne！ But I am of the Apostle's
way； with a difference： all things to all women！ When I cannot
please a woman； hang me in my cravat！
CHAPTER XXVIII … EVENTS OF MONDAY： THE LAWYER'S PARTY
BY half…past eight o'clock on the next morning； I was ringing the
bell of the lawyer's office in Castle Street； where I found him
ensconced at a business table； in a room surrounded by several
tiers of green tin cases。 He greeted me like an old friend。
'Come away； sir； come away！' said he。 'Here is the dentist ready
for you； and I think I can promise you that the operation will be
practically painless。'
'I am not so sure of that； Mr。 Robbie；' I replied； as I shook hands
with him。 'But at least there shall be no time lost with me。'
I had to confess to having gone a…roving with a pair of drovers and
their cattle； to having used a false name； to having murdered or
half…murdered a fellow…creature in a scuffle on the moors； and to
having suffered a couple of quite innocent men to lie some time in
prison on a charge from which I could have immediately freed them。
All this I gave him first of all； to be done with the worst of it；
and all this he took with gravity； but without the least appearance
of surprise。
'Now； sir；' I continued； 'I expect to have to pay for my unhappy
frolic； but I would like very well if it could be managed without
my per