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！
It was in this year that the Earl of Eaglesham ordered the fair to be established in the village； and it was a day of wonderful festivity to all the bairns； and lads and lassies； for miles round。 I think； indeed； that there has never been such a fair as the first since； for although we have more mountebanks and merry…andrews now； and richer cargoes of groceries and packman's stands； yet there has been a falling off in the light…hearted daffing； while the hobleshows in the change…houses have been awfully augmented。 It was on this occasion that Punch's opera was first seen in our country side； and surely never was there such a funny curiosity； for although Mr Punch himself was but a timber idol； he was as droll as a true living thing； and napped with his head so comical； but oh！ he was a sorrowful contumacious captain； and it was just a sport to see how he rampaged； and triumphed； and sang。 For months after； the laddie weans did nothing but squeak and sing like Punch。 In short； a blithe spirit was among us throughout this year； and the briefness of the chronicle bears witness to the innocency of the time。
CHAPTER XII YEAR 1771
It was in this year that my troubles with Lady Macadam's affair began。 She was a woman； as I have by hint here and there intimated； of a prelatic disposition； seeking all things her own way； and not overly scrupulous about the means； which I take to be the true humour of prelacy。 She was come of a high episcopal race in the east country； where sound doctrine had been long but little heard； and she considered the comely humility of a presbyter as the wickedness of hypocrisy； so that； saving in the way of neighbourly visitation； there was no sincere communion between us。 Nevertheless； with all her vagaries； she had the element of a kindly spirit； that would sometimes kythe in actions of charity； that showed symptoms of a true Christian grace； had it been properly cultivated； but her morals had been greatly neglected in her youth； and she would waste her precious time in the long winter nights； playing at the cards with her visitors； in the which thriftless and sinful pastime； she was at great pains to instruct Kate Malcolm； which I was grieved to understand。 What； however； I most misliked in her ladyship； was a lightness and juvenility of behaviour altogether unbecoming her years； for she was far past three…score； having been long married without children。 Her son； the soldier officer； came so late； that it was thought she would have been taken up as an evidence in the Douglas cause。 She was； to be sure； crippled with the rheumatics； and no doubt the time hung heavy on her hands； but the best friends of recreation and sport must allow； that an old woman； sitting whole hours jingling with that paralytic chattel a spinnet； was not a natural object！ What； then； could be said for her singing Italian songs； and getting all the newest from Vauxhall in London； a boxful at a time； with new novel…books； and trinkum…trankum flowers and feathers； and sweetmeats； sent to her by a lady of the blood royal of Paris？ As for the music； she was at 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； 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 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