English
[CopiedandauthenticatedbytheReverendMathewClark,PresbyterianMinisterofStoneykirk,inWigtownshire]
MaisterFothergillWestandthemeenistersaythatImauntellallIcanabootGeneralHeatherstoneandhishoose,butthatImaunnasaymuckleabootmysel’becausethereaderswouldnacaretohearabootmeormyaffairs.
Iamnasaesureo’that,fortheStakesisafamilyweelkennedandrespeckedonbaithsideso’theBorder,andthere’smonyinNithsdaleandAnnandaleaswouldbegeypleasedtohearnewso’thesono’ArchieStakes,o’Ecclefechan.
Imaune’endoasI’mtauld,however,forMr.West’ssake,hopinghe’llnoforgetmewhenIchancetohaeafavourtaeask.
[1]I’mnoabletaewritemysel’becausemyfeythersentmeoottoscarecrawsinsteado’sendin’metaeschool,butontheitherhondhebroughtmeupinthepreenciplesandpracticeo’therealkirko’theCovenant,forwhichmaytheLordbepraised!
ItwaylastMaytwel’monththatthefactorbody,MaisterMcNeil,camowertaemeinthestreetandspeeredwhetherIwasinwanto’aplaceasacoachmanandgairdner.
AsitfellootIchancedtaebeonthelookootforsomethingo’thesortmysel’atthetime,butIwasnaowerquicktolethimseethatIwantedit.
“Yecantakitorleaveit,”sayshesharplike.
“It’saguidplace,andthere’smonywouldbeglado’t.
Ifyewantityecancomeuptaemyofficeattwathemornandputyourainquestionstaethegentleman.”
Thatwasa’Icouldgetfraehim,forhe’saclosemanandahardoneatabargain—whichshallprofithimleetleinthenextlife,thoughhelaybyastoreo’sillerinthis.
Whenthedaycomesthere’llbeahantleo’factorsonthelefthando’thethrone,andIshouldnabesurprisedifMaisterMcNeilfoundhimsel’amangthem.
Weel,onthemornIgaeduptotheofficeandthereIfoondthefactorandalang,thin,dourmanwi’greyhairandafaceasbrownandcrinkledasawalnut.
Helookedhardatmewi’apairo’eenthatglowedliketwaspunks,andthenhesays,sayshe:
“You’vebeenborninthesepairts,Iunderstan’?”
“Aye,”saysI,“andneverleftthemneither.”
“Neverbeenooto’Scotland?”hespeers.
“TwicetoCarlislefair,”saysI,forIamamanwhalovesthetruth;andbesidesIkennedthatthefactorwouldmindmygaeingthere,forIbargainedfurtwasteersandastirkthathewantedforthestockin’o’theDrumleughFairm.
“IlearnfraeMaisterMcNeil,”saysGeneralHeatherstone—forhimitwasandnaneither—“thatyecannawrite.”
“Na,”saysI.
“Norread?”
“Na,”saysI.
“Itseemstaeme,”sayshe,turnin’taethefactor,“thatthisistheveramanIwant.
Servantsisspoiltnoo-a-days,”sayshe,“byowermuckleeddication.
Ihaenaedoobt,Stakes,thatyewillsuitmewellenough.
Ye’llhaethreepundamonthanda’foond,butIshallresairvetherighto’givin’yetwenty-fourhoors’noticeatanytime.Howwillthatsuitye?”
“It’sveradifferentfraemylastplace,”saysI,discontented-like.
Andthewordsweretrueenough,forauldFairmerScottonlygavemeapundamonthandparritchtwiceaday.
“Weel,weel,”sayshe,“maybewe’llgieyeariseifyesuit.
Meanwhilehere’sthehan’selshillin’thatMaisterMcNeiltellsmeit’sthecustomtaegive,andIshallexpec’taeseeyeatCloomberonMonday.”
WhentheMondaycamroondIwalkedoottaeCloomber,andagreatmucklehooseitis,wi’ahunderdwindowsormair,andspaceenoughtaehideawa’halftheparish.
Astaegairdening,therewasnogairdenformetaeworkat,andthehorsewasnevertakenooto’thestablesfraeweek’sendtaeweek’send.
Iwasbusyenoughfora’that,fortherewasadealo’fencingtaebeputup,andonethingoranither,forbyecleanin’theknivesandbrushin’thebootsandsuch-likejobsasismairfitforanauldwifethanforagrownman.
Therewastwabesidesmysel’inthekitchen,thecookEliza,andMarythehoosemaid,puir,benightedbeingsbaitho’them,whahadwasteda’theirlivesinLondon,andkennedleetleabootthewarldorthewayso’theflesh.
Ihadnamuckletaesaytothem,fortheyweresimplefolkwhocouldscarceunderstandEnglish,andhadhardlymairregardfortheirainsoulsthanthetodsonthemoor.
Whenthecooksaidshedidnathinkmuckleo’JohnKnox,andtheitherthatshewouldnagivesaxpencetaehearthediscourseo’MaisterDonaldMcSnawo’thetruekirk,IkenneditwastimeformetaeleavethemtaeahigherJudge.
Therewasfourinfamily,thegeneral,myleddy,MaisterMordaunt,andMissGabriel,anditwasnalongbeforeIfoundthata’wasnajustexactlyasitshouldbe.
Myleddywasasthinandaswhiteasaghaist,andmany’sthetimeasI’vecomeonherandfoundheryammerin’andgreetin’allbyhersel’.
I’vewatchedherwalkin’upanddooninthewoodwhereshethoughtnanecouldseeherandwringin’herhondslikeonedemented.
Therewastheyounggentleman,tae,andhissister—theybaithseemedtohaesometroubleontheirminds,andthegeneralmaistofa’,fortheitherswereupanedayanddownanither;buthewasayethesame,wi’afaceasdourandsadasafelonwhenhefeelsthetowroondhisneck.
Ispeeredo’thehussiesinthekitchenwhethertheykennedwhatwasamisswi’thefamily,butthecooksheansweredmebackthatitwasnaforhertaeinquireintotheaffairso’hersuperiors,andthatitwasnaethingtoheraslongasshedidherworkandhadherwages.
Theywerepuir,fecklessbodies,thetwao’them,andwouldscarcegieananswertaeaceevilquestion,thoughtheycouldclackloodeneughwhentheyhadamind.
Weel,weekspassedintomonthsanda’thingsgrewwaurinsteado’betterintheHall.
Thegeneralhegotmairnairvous,andhisleddymairmelancholyeveryday,andyettherewasnaanyquarrelorbickeringbetweenthem,forwhenthey’vebeentogitherinthebreakfastroomIusedoftentaegangroundandprunetherose-treealongsideo’thewindow,sothatIcouldnahelphearin’agreatpairto’theirconversation,thoughsairagainstthegrain.
Whentheyoungfolkwerewi’themtheywouldspeaklittle,butwhentheyhadgonetheywouldayetalkasifsomewaefu’trialereaboottofa’uponthem,thoughIcouldnevergatherfromtheirwordswhatitwasthattheywereafearedo’.
I’veheardthegeneralsaymairthanancethathewasnafrightedo’death,oranydangerthathecouldfaceandhavedonewi’,butthatitwasthelang,wearywaitin’andtheuncertaintythathadtakena’thestrengthandthemettleooto’him.
Thenmyleddywouldconsolehimandtellhimthatmaybeitwasnaasbadashethocht,andthata’wouldcomerichtintheend—buta’hercheerywordswerecleanthrowedawayuponhim.
Astaetheyoungfolks,Ikennedweelthattheydidnabideinthegroonds,andthattheywereawa’whenevertheygotachancewi’MaisterFothergillWesttaeBranksome,butthegeneralwastoofu’o’hisaintroublestaekenabootit,anditdidnaseemtaemethatitwaspairto’mydutieseitherascoachmanorasgairdnertaemindthebairns.
Heshouldhavelairntthatifyeforbidalassieandaladdietodaeanythingit’sjustthesurestwayo’bringin’itaboot.
TheLordfoondthatootinthegairdeno’Paradise,andthere’snomucklechangebetweenthefolkinEdenandthefolkinWigtown.
There’sanethingthatIhavenaspokeabootyet,butthatshouldbesetdoon.
Thegeneraldidnasharehisroomwi’hiswife,butslepta’alaneinachamberatthefarendo’thehoose,asdistantaspossiblefraeeveryoneelse.
Thisroomwasayelockitwhenhewasnainit,andnaebodywaseverallowedtaegangintoit.
Hewouldmak’hisainbed,andreditupanddustita’byhimsel’,buthewouldnasomuchasallowoneo’ustosetfutonthepassagethatledtaeit.
Atnichthewouldwalka’owerthehoose,andhehadlampshungineveryroomandcorner,sothatnopairtshouldbedark.
Many’sthetimefraemyroominthegarretI’veheardhisfutstepscomin’andgangin’,comin’andgangin’doononepassageandupanitherfraemidnighttillcockcraw.
Itwaswearywarktolielistenin’taehisclatterandwonderin’whetherhewascleandaft,orwhethermaybehe’dlairntpaganandidolatroustricksootinIndia,andthathisconsciencenoowaslikethewormwhichgnawethanddiethnot.
I’dha’speeredfraehimwhetheritwouldnaeasehimtospeakwi’theholyDonaldMcSnaw,butitmightha’beenamistake,andthegeneralwasnaamanthatyou’dcaretaemak’amistakewi’.
AnedayIwasworkin’atthegrassborderwhenhecomesupandhesays,sayshe:
“Didyeeverhaveoccasiontaefireapistol,Israel?”
“Godsakes!”saysI,“Ineverhadsiccanathinginmyhondsinmylife.”
“Thenyou’dbestnotbeginnoo,”sayshe.“Everymantaehisainweepon,”hesays.“NowIwarrantyecoulddosomethingwi’aguidcrab-treecudgel!”
portraitofSirArthurConanDoyle
“Aye,couldI,”Iansweredblithely,“aswellasonyladontheBorder.”
“Thisisalonelyhoose,”sayshe,“andwemightbemolestedbysomerascals.
It’sweeltaebereadyforwhatevermaycome.
MeandyouandmysonMordauntandMr.FothergillWestofBranksome,whowouldcomeifhewasrequired,oughttaebeabletaeshowabauldface—whatthinkye?”
“‘Deed,sir,”Isays,“feastin’isayebetterthanfechtin’—butifye’llraisemeapundamonth,I’llno’shirkmyshareo’either.”
“Wewon’tquarrelowerthat,”sayshe,andagreedtaetheextratwal’pundayearaseasyasthoughitwereasmanybawbees.
Farbeitfraemetaethinkevil,butIcouldnahelpsurmisin’atthetimethatmoneythatwassolightlypairtedwi’wasmaybeno’soveryhonestlycamby.
I’mno’acuriousorapryin’munbynature,butIwassairpuzzledinmyainmindtaetellwhyitwasthatthegeneralwalkedabootatnichtandwhatkepthimfraehissleep.
Weel,anedayIwascleanin’doonthepassageswhenmye’efellonagreatmuckleheapo’curtainsandauldcairpetsandsic’likethingsthatwerepiledawayinacorner,noverafarfraethedooro’thegeneral’sroom.
A’o’asuddenathochtcameintaemyheidandIsaystaemysel’:
“Israel,laddie,”saysI,“what’staestopyefraehidin’behindthatthisveranichtandseein’theauldmunwhenhedoesnakenhumane’eisonhim?”
ThemairIthochto’tthemairseempleitappeared,andImadeupmymindtaeputtheideaintaeinstantexecution.
WhenthenichtcamroondItauldthewomen-folkthatIwasbadwi’thejawache,andwouldgangairlytaemyroom.
IkennedfinewhenanceIgottherethattherewasnachanceo’onyanedisturbin’me,soIwaitedaweewhile,andthenwhena’wasquiet,IslippitaffmybootsandrandoontheitherstairuntilIcamtaetheheapo’auldclothes,andthereIlaydoonwi’anee’epeepin’throughakinkanda’therestcoveredupwi’agreat,raggedcairpet.
ThereIbidedasquietasamouseuntilthegeneralpassedmeonhisroadtaebed,anda’wasstillinthehoose.
Mycertie!Iwouldnagangthroughwi’itagainfora’thesillerattheUnionBankofDumfries,Icannathinko’tnoowithootfeelin’caulda’thewaydoonmyback.
Itwasjustawfu’lyin’thereinthedeidsilence,waitin’andwaitin’wi’neverasoondtaebreakthemonotony,excepttheheavytickin’o’anauldclocksomewheredoonthepassage.
FirstIwouldlookdoonthecorridorintheoneway,andsyneI’dlookdoonint’ither,butitayeseemedtomeasthoughtherewassomethingcomingupfraethesidethatIwasnalookin’at.
Ihadacauldsweatonmybroo,andmyhairtwasbeatin’twicetaeilkaticko’theclock,andwhatfearedmemostofa’wasthatthedustfraethecurtainsandthingswasayegettin’doonintaemylungs,anditwasa’Icoulddaetaekeepmysel’fraecoughin’.
Godsakes!Iwondermyhairwasnagreywi’a’thatIwentthrough.IwouldnadaeitagaintobemadeLordProvosto’Glasgie.
Weel,itmayhavebeentwao’clockinthemornin’ormaybealittlemair,andIwasjustthinkin’thatIwasnataeseeonythingaftera’—andIwasnaverysorryneither—whenallo’asuddenasoondcamtaemyearsclearanddistinctthroughthestillnesso’thenicht.
I’vebeenaskedaforenootaedescribethatsoond,butI’veayefoondthatit’sno’veraeasytaegieaclearideao’t,thoughitwasunlikeanyothersoondthateverIhearkenedtae.
Itwasashairp,ringin’clang,likewhatcouldbecausedbyflippin’therimo’awineglass,butitwasfarhigherandthinnerthanthat,andhadinit,tae,akindo’splash,likethetinkleo’arain-dropintaeawater-butt.
InmyfearIsatupamangmycairpets,likeapuddockamonggowan-leaves,andIlistenedwi’a’myears.A’wasstillagainnoo,exceptforthedulltickin’o’thedistantclock.
Suddenlythesoondcamagain,asclear,asshrill,asshairpasever,andthistimethegeneralheardit,forIheardhimgieakindo’groan,asatiredmanmightwhahasbeenroosedooto’hissleep.
Hegotupfraehisbed,andIcouldmakeootarustlingnoise,asthoughheweredressin’himsel’,andpresentlyhisfootfa’ashebegantaewalkupanddooninhisroom.
Mysakes!itdidnataklangformetaedrapdoonamangthecairpetsagainandcovermysel’ower.
ThereIlaytremblin’ineverylimb,andsayin’asmonyprayersasIcouldmind,wi’mye’estillpeepin’throughthekeek-hole,and’fixeduponthedooro’thegeneral’sroom.
Iheardtherattleo’thehandlepresently,andthedoorswungslowlyopen.
Therewasalichtburnin’intheroombeyond,an’Icouldjustcatchaglimpseo’whatseemedtaemelikearowo’swordsstuckalangthesideo’thewa’,whenthegeneralsteppedootandshutthedoorbehindhim.
Hewasdressedinadressin’goon,wi’aredsmokin’-caponhisheid,andapairo’slipperswi’theheelscutoffandthetaesturnedup.
Foramomentitcamintomyheldthatmaybehewaswalkin’inhissleep,butashecamtowardsmeIcouldseetheglinto’thelichtinhise’en,andhisfacewasa’twistin’,likeamanthat’sinsairdistresso’mind.
Onmyconscience,itgiesmetheshakesnoowhenIthinko’histallfigureandhisyelleyfacecomin’saesolemnandsilentdoonthelang,lonepassage.
Ihaudmybreathandlayclosewatchin’him,butjustashecamtaewhereIwasmyverahairtstoodstillinmybreast,for“ting!”
—loudandclear,withinayairdo’mecamtheringin’,clangin’soondthatIhada’readyhairkenedtae.
WhereitcamfraeismairthanIcantellorwhatwasthecauseo’t.
Itmightha’beenthatthegeneralmadeit,butIwassairpuzzledtaetellhoo,forhishondswerebaithdoonbyhissideashepassedme.
Itcamfraehisdirection,certainly,butitappearedtaemetaecomefraeowerhisheid,butitwassiccanathin,eerie,high-pitched,uncannykindo’soondthatitwasnaeasytaesayjustexactlywhereitdidcomefrae.
Thegeneraltuknaeheedo’t,butwalkedonandwassoonooto’sicht,andIdidnaloseaminuteincreepin’ootfraemyhidin’placeandscamperin’awa’backtaemyroom,andifa’thebogiesintheRedSeaweretrapesin’upanddoonthehalenichtthrough,Iwudneverputmyheidootagaintaehaeaglimpseo’them.
IdidnasayawordtaeanybodyabootwhatI’dseen,butImadeupmymindthatIwudnastaymucklelangeratCloomberHa’.
Fourpundamonthisagoodwage,butitisnaenoughtaepayamanforthelosso’hispeaceo’mind,andmaybethelosso’hissoulasweel,forwhenthedeilisabootyecannatellwhatsorto’atraphemaylayforye,andthoughtheysaythatProvidenceisstrongerthanhim,it’smaybeasweelno’toriskit.
Itwascleartaemethatthegeneralandhishoosewerebaithundersomecurse,anditwasfitthatthatcurseshouldfa’onthemthathadearnedit,andno’onarighteousPresbyterian,whahadevertrodthenarrowpath.
MyhairtwassairforyoungMissGabriel—forshewasabonnieandwinsomelassie—butfora’that,Ifeltthatmydutywastaemysel’andthatIshouldgangforth,evenasLotgangedooto’thewickedcitieso’theplain.
Thatawfu’cling-clangwasayedingin’inmylugs,andIcouldnabeartobealaneinthepassagesforfearo’hearin’itanceagain.
Ionlywantedachanceoranexcusetaegiethegeneralnotice,andtaegangbacktosomeplacewhereIcouldseeChristianfolk,andhavethekirkwithinastone-casttaefa’backupon.
Butitprovedtaebeordainedthat,insteado’mysayingtheword,itshouldcomefraethegeneralhimsel’.
ItwasanedayabootthebeginningofOctober,Iwascomin’ooto’thestable,aftergiein’itsoatstaethehorse,whenIseedagreatmucklelooncomehoppin’onanelegupthedrive,mairlikeabig,ill-fauredcrawthanaman.
WhenIclappedmyeenonhimIthochtthatmaybethiswasaneoftherascalsthatthemaisterhadbeenspeakin’aboot,sowithootmairadoIfetchedootmybitstickwiththeintentiono’tryin’ituponthelimmer’sheid.
Heseedmecomin’towardshim,andreadin’myintentionfraemylookmaybe,orfraethestickinmyhand,hepu’edootalangknifefraehispocketandsworewi’themostawfu’oathsthatifIdidnastan’backhe’dbethedeatho’me.
Maconscience!Thewordsthechielusedwaseneughtaemak’thehairstandstraightonyourheid.Iwonderhewasnastruckdeidwherehestood.
Wewerestillstandin’oppositeeachither—hewi’hisknifeandmewi’thestick—whenthegeneralhecamupthedriveandfoondus.
Taemysurprisehebegantaetalktaethestrangerasifhe’dkennedhima’hisdays.
“Putyourknifeinyourpocket,Corporal,”sayshe.“Yourfearshaveturnedyourbrain.”
“Bloodan’wounds!”saystheother.“He’dha’turnedmybraintaesomepurposewi’thatmucklesticko’hisifIhadnadrawnmysnickersnee.Youshouldnakeepsiccananauldsavageonyourpremises.”
Themaisterhefroonedandlookedblackathim,asthoughhedidnarelishadvicecomin’fraesuchasource.
Thenturnin’taeme—“Youwon’tbewantedafterto-day,Israel,”hesays;“youhavebeenaguidservant,andIha’naethingtaecomplainofwi’ye,butcircumstanceshavearisenwhichwillcausemetaechangemyarrangements.”
“Veraguid,sir,”saysI.
“Youcangothisevening,”sayshe,“andyoushallhaveanextramonth’spaytaemakupt’yeforthisshortnotice.”
Wi’thathewentintaethehoose,followedbythemanthatheca’edthecorporal,andfraethatdaytaethisIhaveneverclappedeeneitherontheaneortheither.
Mymoneywassentoottaemeinanenvelope,andhavin’saidafewpairtin’wordstaethecookandthewenchwi’referencetaethewrathtaecomeandthetreasurethatisricherthanrubies,Ishookthedusto’Cloomberfraemyfeetforever.
MaisterFothergillWestsaysImaunnaexpressanopeenionastaewhatcamabootafterwards,butmaunconfinemysel’taewhatIsawmysel’.
Naedoubthehashisreasonsforthis—andfarbeitfraemetaehintthattheyareno’guidanes—butImaunsaythis,thatwhathappeneddidnasurpriseme.
ItwasjustasIexpeckit,andsoIsaidtaeMaisterDonaldMcSnaw.
I’vetauldyea’abootitnoo,andIhavenaawordtaeaddortaewithdraw.
I’mmuckleobleegedtaeMaisterMathewClairkforputtin’ita’dooninwritin’forme,andifthere’sonywouldwishtaespeeronythingmairo’meI’mwellkennedandrespeckitinEcclefechan,andMaisterMcNeil,thefactoro’Wigtown,canayetellwhereIamtaebefoond.
[1]Theoldrascalwaswellpaidforhistrouble,soheneednothavemadesuchafavourofit.—J.F.W.
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