The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 1. Вальтер Скотт

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ ye are to get the free scule o' Dumfries or no, after hinging on and teaching it a' the simmer?"

      "No, Mrs. Saddletree – I am not to have it," replied Butler, more collectedly. "The Laird of Black-at-the-Bane had a natural son bred to the kirk, that the Presbytery could not be prevailed upon to license; and so"

      "Ay, ye need say nae mair about it; if there was a laird that had a puir kinsman or a bastard that it wad suit, there's enough said. – And ye're e'en come back to Liberton to wait for dead men's shoon? – and for as frail as Mr. Whackbairn is, he may live as lang as you, that are his assistant and successor."

      "Very like," replied Butler, with a sigh; "I do not know if I should wish it otherwise."

      "Nae doubt, it's a very vexing thing," continued the good lady, "to be in that dependent station; and you that hae right and title to sae muckle better, I wonder how ye bear these crosses."

      "Quos diligit castigat," answered Butler; "even the pagan Seneca could see an advantage in affliction, The Heathens had their philosophy, and the Jews their revelation, Mrs. Saddletree, and they endured their distresses in their day. Christians have a better dispensation than either – but doubtless"

      He stopped and sighed.

      "I ken what ye mean," said Mrs. Saddletree, looking toward her husband; "there's whiles we lose patience in spite of baith book and Bible – But ye are no gaun awa, and looking sae poorly – ye'll stay and take some kale wi' us?"

      Mr. Saddletree laid aside Balfour's Practiques (his favourite study, and much good may it do him), to join in his wife's hospitable importunity. But the teacher declined all entreaty, and took his leave upon the spot.

      "There's something in a' this," said Mrs. Saddletree, looking after him as he walked up the street; "I wonder what makes Mr. Butler sae distressed about Effie's misfortune – there was nae acquaintance atween them that ever I saw or heard of; but they were neighbours when David Deans was on the Laird o' Dumbiedikes' land. Mr. Butler wad ken her father, or some o' her folk. – Get up, Mr. Saddletree – ye have set yoursell down on the very brecham that wants stitching – and here's little Willie, the prentice. – Ye little rin-there-out deil that ye are, what takes you raking through the gutters to see folk hangit? – how wad ye like when it comes to be your ain chance, as I winna ensure ye, if ye dinna mend your manners? – And what are ye maundering and greeting for, as if a word were breaking your banes? – Gang in by, and be a better bairn another time, and tell Peggy to gie ye a bicker o' broth, for ye'll be as gleg as a gled, I'se warrant ye. – It's a fatherless bairn, Mr. Saddletree, and motherless, whilk in some cases may be waur, and ane would take care o' him if they could – it's a Christian duty."

      "Very true, gudewife," said Saddletree in reply, "we are in loco parentis to him during his years of pupillarity, and I hae had thoughts of applying to the Court for a commission as factor loco tutoris, seeing there is nae tutor nominate, and the tutor-at-law declines to act; but only I fear the expense of the procedure wad not be in rem versam, for I am not aware if Willie has ony effects whereof to assume the administration."

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

      1

      Author's connection with Quakerism.

      2

      Tombstone to Helen Walker.

      3

      His honour Gilbert Goslinn of Gandercleugh; for I love to be precise in matters of importance. – J. C.

      4

      [A well-known debating club in Edinburgh.]

      5

      The Lord Provost was ex-officio commander and colonel of the corps, which might be increased to three hundred men when the times required it. No other drum but theirs was allowed to sound

1

Author's connection with Quakerism.

2

Tombstone to Helen Walker.

3

His honour Gilbert Goslinn of Gandercleugh; for I love to be precise in matters of importance. – J. C.

4

[A well-known debating club in Edinburgh.]

5

The Lord Provost was ex-officio commander and colonel of the corps, which might be increased to three hundred men when the times required it. No other drum but theirs was allowed to sound on the High Street between the Luckenbooths and the Netherbow.

6

[Robert Fergusson, the Scottish Poet, born 1750, died 1774.]

7

This hook was to enable the bearer of the Lochaber-axe to scale a gateway, by grappling the top of the door, and swinging himself up by the staff of his weapon.

8

This ancient corps is now entirely disbanded. Their last march to do duty at Hallowfair had something in it affecting. Their drums and fifes had been wont on better days to play, on this joyous occasion, the lively tune of "Jockey to the fair;" but on his final occasion the afflicted veterans moved slowly to the dirge of

"The last time I came ower the muir."

9

The signatures affixed to the death-warrant of Captain Porteous were – Andrew Fletcher of Milton, Lord Justice-Clerk. Sir James Mackenzie, Lord Royston. David Erskine, Lord Dun. Sir Walter Pringle, Lord Newhall. Sir Gilbert Elliot, Lord Minto.

10

There is a tradition, that while a little stream was swollen into a torrent by recent showers, the discontented voice of the Water Spirit was heard to pronounce these words. At the some moment a man, urged on by his fate, or, in Scottish language, fey, arrived at a gallop, and prepared to cross the water. No remonstrance from the bystanders was of power to stop him – he plunged into the stream, and perished.

Kelpie.

11

[Maitland calls it Best's Wynd, and later writers Beth's Wynd. As the name implies, it was an open thoroughfare or alley leading from the Lawnmarket, and extended in a direct line between the old Tolbooth to near the head of the Cowgate. It was partly destroyed by fire in 1786, and was totally removed in 1809, preparatory to the building of the new libraries of the Faculty of Advocates and writers to the Signet.]

12

A nobleman was called a Lord of State. The Senators of the College * of Justice were termed Lords of Seat, or of the Session.

13

[Close-head, the entrance of a blind alley.]

СКАЧАТЬ