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！
like an aspen； and mowing at the man with speechless lips。 And
this was the soldier of Napoleon； and the gentleman who intended
going next night to an Assembly Ball！ I am the more particular in
telling of my breakdown； because it was my only experience of the
sort； and it is a good tale for officers。 I will allow no man to
call me coward； I have made my proofs； few men more。 And yet I
（come of the best blood in France and inured to danger from a
child） did； for some ten or twenty minutes； make this hideous
exhibition of myself on the streets of the New Town of Edinburgh。
With my first available breath I begged his pardon。 I was of an
extremely nervous disposition； recently increased by late hours； I
could not bear the slightest start。
He seemed much concerned。 'You must be in a devil of a state！'
said he； 'though of course it was my fault … damnably silly； vulgar
sort of thing to do！ A thousand apologies！ But you really must be
run down； you should consult a medico。 My dear sir； a hair of the
dog that bit you is clearly indicated。 A touch of Blue Ruin； now？
Or； come： it's early； but is man the slave of hours？ what do you
say to a chop and a bottle in Dumbreck's Hotel？'
I refused all false comfort； but when he went on to remind me that
this was the day when the University of Cramond met； and to propose
a five…mile walk into the country and a dinner in the company of
young asses like himself； I began to think otherwise。 I had to
wait until to…morrow evening； at any rate； this might serve as well
as anything else to bridge the dreary hours。 The country was the
very place for me： and walking is an excellent sedative for the
nerves。 Remembering poor Rowley； feigning a cold in our lodgings
and immediately under the guns of the formidable and now doubtful
Bethiah； I asked if I might bring my servant。 'Poor devil！ it is
dull for him；' I explained。
'The merciful man is merciful to his ass；' observed my sententious
friend。 'Bring him by all means！
〃The harp； his sole remaining joy；
Was carried by an orphan boy；〃
and I have no doubt the orphan boy can get some cold victuals in
the kitchen； while the Senatus dines。'
Accordingly； being now quite recovered from my unmanly condition；
except that nothing could yet induce me to cross the North Bridge；
I arranged for my ball dress at a shop in Leith Street； where I was
not served ill； cut out Rowley from his seclusion； and was ready
along with him at the trysting…place； the corner of Duke Street and
York Place； by a little after two。 The University was represented
in force： eleven persons； including ourselves； Byfield the
aeronaut； and the tall lad； Forbes； whom I had met on the Sunday
morning； bedewed with tallow； at the 'Hunters' Rest。' I was
introduced； and we set off by way of Newhaven and the sea beach； at
first through pleasant country roads； and afterwards along a
succession of bays of a fairylike prettiness； to our destination …
Cramond on the Almond … a little hamlet on a little river；
embowered in woods； and looking forth over a great flat of
quicksand to where a little islet stood planted in the sea。 It was
miniature scenery； but charming of its kind。 The air of this good
February afternoon was bracing； but not cold。 All the way my
companions were skylarking； jesting and making puns； and I felt as
if a load had been taken off my lungs and spirits； and skylarked
with the best of them。
Byfield I observed； because I had heard of him before； and seen his
advertisements； not at all because I was disposed to feel interest
in the man。 He was dark and bilious and very silent； frigid in his
manners； but burning internally with a great fire of excitement；
and he was so good as to bestow a good deal of his company and
conversation （such as it was） upon myself； who was not in the least
grateful。 If I had known how I was to be connected with him in the
immediate future； I might have taken more pains。
In the hamlet of Cramond there is a hostelry of no very promising
appearance； and here a room had been prepared for us； and we sat
down to table。
'Here you will find no guttling or gormandising； no turtle or
nightingales' tongues；' said the extravagant； whose name； by the
way； was Dalmahoy。 'The device； sir； of the University of Cramond
is Plain Living and High Drinking。'
Grace was said by the Professor of Divinity； in a macaronic Latin；
which I could by no means follow； only I could hear it rhymed； and
I guessed it to be more witty than reverent。 After which the
SENATUS ACADEMICUS sat down to rough plenty in the shape of
rizzar'd haddocks and mustard； a sheep's head； a haggis； and other
delicacies of Scotland。 The dinner was washed down with brown
stout in bottle； and as soon as the cloth was removed； glasses；
boiling water； sugar； and whisky were set out for the manufacture
of toddy。 I played a good knife and fork； did not shun the bowl；
and took part； so far as I was able； in the continual fire of
pleasantry with which the meal was seasoned。 Greatly daring； I
ventured； before all these Scotsmen； to tell Sim's Tale of
Tweedie's dog； and I was held to have done such extraordinary
justice to the dialect； 'for a Southron；' that I was immediately
voted into the Chair of Scots； and became； from that moment； a full
member of the University of Cramond。 A little after； I found
myself entertaining them with a song； and a little after … perhaps
a little in consequence … it occurred to me that I had had enough；
and would be very well inspired to take French leave。 It was not
difficult to manage； for it was nobody's business to observe my
movements； and conviviality had banished suspicion。
I got easily forth of the chamber； which reverberated with the
voices of these merry and learned gentlemen； and breathed a long
breath。 I had passed an agreeable afternoon and evening； and I had
apparently escaped scot free。 Alas！ when I looked into the
kitchen； there was my monkey； drunk as a lord； toppling on the edge
of the dresser； and performing on the flageolet to an audience of
the house lasses and some neighbouring ploughmen。
I routed him promptly from his perch； stuck his hat on； put his
instrument in his pocket； and set off with him for Edinburgh。
His limbs were of paper； his mind quite in abeyance； I must uphold
and guide him； prevent his frantic dives； and set him continually
on his legs again。 At first he sang wildly； with occasional
outbursts of causeless laughter。 Gradually an inarticulate
melancholy succeeded； he wept gently at times； would stop in the
middle of the road； say firmly 'No； no； no；' and then fall on his
back： or else address me solemnly as 'M'lord' and fall on his face
by way of variety。 I am afraid I was not always so gentle with the
little pig as I might have been； but really the positio