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！
she put the key in her pocket； and left her mistress a prisoner。 He
looked first to the right； along the passage； and saw that his
grandmother's door was shut； then across the passage to the left；
and saw that the kitchen door was likewise shut； because of the
cold； for its normal position was against the wall。 Thereupon；
closing the door； but keeping the handle in his hand； and the bolt
drawn back； he turned to the street and whistled soft and low。
Shargar had； in a moment； dragged his heavy feet； ready to part
company with their shoes at any instant； to Robert's side。 He bent
his ear to Robert's whisper。
'Gang in there； and creep like a moose to the fit o' the stair。 I
maun close the door ahin' 's；' said he； opening the door as he
spoke。
'I'm fleyt （frightened）； Robert。'
'Dinna be a fule。 Grannie winna bite aff yer heid。 She had ane
till her denner； the day； an' it was ill sung （singed）。'
'What ane o'？'
'A sheep's heid； ye gowk （fool）。 Gang in direckly。'
Shargar persisted no longer； but； taking about four steps a minute；
slunk past the kitchen like a thiefnot so carefully； however； but
that one of his soles yet looser than the other gave one clap upon
the flagged passage； when Betty straightway stood in the kitchen
door； a fierce picture in a deal frame。 By this time Robert had
closed the outer door； and was following at Shargar's heels。
'What's this？' she cried； but not so loud as to reach the ears of
Mrs。 Falconer； for； with true Scotch foresight； she would not
willingly call in another power before the situation clearly
demanded it。 'Whaur's Shargar gaein' that gait？'
'Wi' me。 Dinna ye see me wi' him？ I'm nae a thief； nor yet's
Shargar。'
'There may be twa opingons upo' that； Robert。 I s' jist awa' benn
to the mistress。 I s' hae nae sic doin's i' my hoose。'
'It's nae your hoose； Betty。 Dinna lee。'
'Weel； I s' hae nae sic things gang by my kitchie door。 There；
Robert！ what 'll ye mak' o' that？ There's nae offence； there； I
houp； gin it suldna be a'thegither my ain hoose。 Tak Shargar oot o'
that； or I s' awa' benn the hoose； as I tell ye。'
Meantime Shargar was standing on the stones； looking like a
terrified white rabbit； and shaking from head to foot with cold and
fright combined。
'I'll tak him oot o' this； but it's up the stair； Betty。 An' gin ye
gang benn the hoose aboot it； I sweir to ye； as sure 's death； I'll
gang doon to Muckledrum upo' Setterday i' the efternune。'
'Gang awa' wi' yer havers。 Only gin the mistress speirs onything
aboot it； what am I to say？'
'Bide till she speirs。 Auld Spunkie says； 〃Ready…made answers are
aye to seek。〃 And I say； Betty； hae ye a cauld pitawta （potato）？'
'I'll luik and see。 Wadna ye like it het up？'
'Ow ay； gin ye binna lang aboot it。'
Suddenly a bell rang； shrill and peremptory； right above Shargar's
head； causing in him a responsive increase of trembling。
'Haud oot o' my gait。 There's the mistress's bell；' said Betty。
'Jist bide till we're roon' the neuk and on to the stair；' said
Robert； now leading the way。
Betty watched them safe round the corner before she made for the
parlour； little thinking to what she had become an unwilling
accomplice； for she never imagined that more than an evening's visit
was intended by Shargar； which in itself seemed to her strange and
improper enough even for such an eccentric boy as Robert to
encourage。
Shargar followed in mortal terror； for； like Christian in The
Pilgrim's Progress； he had no armour to his back。 Once round the
corner； two strides of three steps each took them to the top of the
first stair； Shargar knocking his head in the darkness against the
never…opened door。 Again three strides brought them to the top of
the second flight； and turning once more； still to the right； Robert
led Shargar up the few steps into the higher of the two garrets。
Here there was just glimmer enough from the sky to discover the
hollow of a close bedstead； built in under the sloping roof； which
served it for a tester； while the two ends and most of the front
were boarded up to the roof。 This bedstead fortunately was not so
bare as the one in the other room； although it had not been used for
many years； for an old mattress covered the boards with which it was
bottomed。
'Gang in there； Shargar。 Ye'll be warmer there than upo' the
door…step ony gait。 Pit aff yer shune。'
Shargar obeyed； full of delight at finding himself in such good
quarters。 Robert went to a forsaken press in the room； and brought
out an ancient cloak of tartan； of the same form as what is now
called an Inverness cape； a blue dress…coat； with plain gilt
buttons； which shone even now in the all but darkness； and several
other garments； amongst them a kilt； and heaped them over Shargar as
he lay on the mattress。 He then handed him the twopenny and the
penny loaves； which were all his stock had reached to the purchase
of； and left him； saying；
'I maun awa' to my tay； Shargar。 I'll fess ye a cauld tawtie het
again； gin Betty has ony。 Lie still； and whatever ye do； dinna come
oot o' that。'
The last injunction was entirely unnecessary。
'Eh； Bob； I'm jist in haven！' said the poor creature； for his skin
began to feel the precious possibility of reviving warmth in the
distance。
Now that he had gained a new burrow； the human animal soon recovered
from his fears as well。 It seemed to him； in the novelty of the
place； that he had made so many doublings to reach it； that there
could be no danger of even the mistress of the house finding him
out； for she could hardly be supposed to look after such a remote
corner of her dominions。 And then he was boxed in with the bed； and
covered with no end of warm garments； while the friendly darkness
closed him and his shelter all round。 Except the faintest blue
gleam from one of the panes in the roof； there was soon no hint of
light anywhere； and this was only sufficient to make the darkness
visible； and thus add artistic effect to the operation of it upon
Shargar's imaginationa faculty certainly uneducated in Shargar；
but far； very far from being therefore non…existent。 It was；
indeed； actively operative； although； like that of many a fine lady
and gentleman； only in relation to such primary questions as： 'What
shall we eat？ And what shall we drink？ And wherewithal shall we be
clothed？' But as he lay and devoured the new 'white breid；' his
satisfactionthe bare delight of his animal existencereached a
pitch such as even this imagination； stinted with poverty； and
frost…bitten with maternal oppression； had never conceived possible。
The power of enjoying the present without anticipation of the
future or regard of the past； is the especial privilege of the
animal nature； and of the human nature in proportion as it has not
been developed beyond the animal。 Herein lies the happiness of ca