the poor clare-第3部分

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d；　and　fierce　a　creature　did　she　seem。　　By…　and…by　many　saw　her；　and　those　who　met　her　eye　once　cared　not　to　be　caught　looking　at　her　again。　　She　had　got　into　the　habit　of　perpetually　talking　to　herself；　nay；　more；　answering　herself；　and　varying　her　tones　according　to　the　side　she　took　at　the　moment。　　It　was　no　wonder　that　those　who　dared　to　listen　outside　her　door　at　night　believed　that　she　held　converse　with　some　spirit；　in　short；　she　was　unconsciously　earning　for　herself　the　dreadful　reputation　of　a　witch。

Her　little　dog；　which　had　wandered　half　over　the　Continent　with　her；　was　her　only　companion；　a　dumb　remembrancer　of　happier　days。　　Once　he　was　ill；　and　she　carried　him　more　than　three　miles；　to　ask　about　his　management　from　one　who　had　been　groom　to　the　last　Squire；　and　had　then　been　noted　for　his　skill　in　all　diseases　of　animals。　　Whatever　this　man　did；　the　dog　recovered；　and　they　who　heard　her　thanks；　intermingled　with　blessings　（that　were　rather　promises　of　good　fortune　than　prayers）；　looked　grave　at　his　good　luck　when；　next　year；　his　ewes　twinned；　and　his　meadow…grass　was　heavy　and　thick。

Now　it　so　happened　that；　about　the　year　seventeen　hundred　and　eleven；　one　of　the　guardians　of　the　young　squire；　a　certain　Sir　Philip　Tempest；　bethought　him　of　the　good　shooting　there　must　be　on　his　ward's　property；　and　in　consequence　he　brought　down　four　or　five　gentlemen；　of　his　friends；　to　stay　for　a　week　or　two　at　the　Hall。　From　all　accounts；　they　roystered　and　spent　pretty　freely。　　I　never　heard　any　of　their　names　but　one；　and　that　was　Squire　Gisborne's。　　He　was　hardly　a　middle…aged　man　then；　he　had　been　much　abroad；　and　there；　I　believe；　he　had　known　Sir　Philip　Tempest；　and　done　him　some　service。　　He　was　a　daring　and　dissolute　fellow　in　those　days：　careless　and　fearless；　and　one　who　would　rather　be　in　a　quarrel　than　out　of　it。　　He　had　his　fits　of　ill…temper　besides；　when　he　would　spare　neither　man　nor　beast。　　Otherwise；　those　who　knew　him　well；　used　to　say　he　had　a　good　heart；　when　he　was　neither　drunk；　nor　angry；　nor　in　any　way　vexed。　　He　had　altered　much　when　I　came　to　know　him。

One　day；　the　gentlemen　had　all　been　out　shooting；　and　with　but　little　success；　I　believe；　anyhow；　Mr。　Gisborne　had　none；　and　was　in　a　black　humour　accordingly。　　He　was　coming　home；　having　his　gun　loaded；　sportsman…like；　when　little　Mignon　crossed　his　path；　just　as　he　turned　out　of　the　wood　by　Bridget's　cottage。　　Partly　for　wantonness；　partly　to　vent　his　spleen　upon　some　living　creature。　　Mr。　Gisborne　took　his　gun；　and　firedhe　had　better　have　never　fired　gun　again；　than　aimed　that　unlucky　shot；　he　hit　Mignon；　and　at　the　creature's　sudden　cry；　Bridget　came　out；　and　saw　at　a　glance　what　had　been　done。　She　took　Mignon　up　in　her　arms；　and　looked　hard　at　the　wound；　the　poor　dog　looked　at　her　with　his　glazing　eyes；　and　tried　to　wag　his　tail　and　lick　her　hand；　all　covered　with　blood。　　Mr。　Gisborne　spoke　in　a　kind　of　sullen　penitence：

〃You　should　have　kept　the　dog　out　of　my　waya　little　poaching　varmint。〃

At　this　very　moment；　Mignon　stretched　out　his　legs；　and　stiffened　in　her　armsher　lost　Mary's　dog；　who　had　wandered　and　sorrowed　with　her　for　years。　　She　walked　right　into　Mr。　Gisborne's　path；　and　fixed　his　unwilling；　sullen　look；　with　her　dark　and　terrible　eye。

〃Those　never　throve　that　did　me　harm；〃　said　she。　　〃I'm　alone　in　the　world；　and　helpless；　the　more　do　the　saints　in　heaven　hear　my　prayers。　　Hear　me；　ye　blessed　ones！　hear　me　while　I　ask　for　sorrow　on　this　bad；　cruel　man。　　He　has　killed　the　only　creature　that　loved　me　the　dumb　beast　that　I　loved。　　Bring　down　heavy　sorrow　on　his　head　for　it；　O　ye　saints！　　He　thought　that　I　was　helpless；　because　he　saw　me　lonely　and　poor；　but　are　not　the　armies　of　heaven　for　the　like　of　me？〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　he；　half　remorseful；　but　not　one　whit　afraid。　〃Here's　a　crown　to　buy　thee　another　dog。　　Take　it；　and　leave　off　cursing！　　I　care　none　for　thy　threats。〃

〃Don't　you？〃　said　she；　coming　a　step　closer；　and　changing　her　imprecatory　cry　for　a　whisper　which　made　the　gamekeeper's　lad；　following　Mr。　Gisborne；　creep　all　over。　　〃You　shall　live　to　see　the　creature　you　love　best；　and　who　alone　loves　youay；　a　human　creature；　but　as　innocent　and　fond　as　my　poor；　dead　darlingyou　shall　see　this　creature；　for　whom　death　would　be　too　happy；　become　a　terror　and　a　loathing　to　all；　for　this　blood's　sake。　　Hear　me；　O　holy　saints；　who　never　fail　them　that　have　no　other　help！〃

She　threw　up　her　right　hand；　filled　with　poor　Mignon's　life…drops；　they　spirted；　one　or　two　of　them；　on　his　shooting…dress；an　ominous　sight　to　the　follower。　　But　the　master　only　laughed　a　little；　forced；　scornful　laugh；　and　went　on　to　the　Hall。　　Before　he　got　there；　however；　he　took　out　a　gold　piece；　and　bade　the　boy　carry　it　to　the　old　woman　on　his　return　to　the　village。　　The　lad　was　〃afeared；〃　as　he　told　me　in　after　years；　he　came　to　the　cottage；　and　hovered　about；　not　daring　to　enter。　　He　peeped　through　the　window　at　last；　and　by　the　flickering　wood…flame；　he　saw　Bridget　kneeling　before　the　picture　of　Our　Lady　of　the　Holy　Heart；　with　dead　Mignon　lying　between　her　and　the　Madonna。　　She　was　praying　wildly；　as　her　outstretched　arms　betokened。　　The　lad　shrunk　away　in　redoubled　terror；　and　contented　himself　with　slipping　the　gold　piece　under　the　ill…fitting　door。　　The　next　day　it　was　thrown　out　upon　the　midden；　and　there　it　lay；　no　one　daring　to　touch　it。

Meanwhile　Mr。　Gisborne；　half　curious；　half　uneasy；　thought　to　lessen　his　uncomfortable　feelings　by　asking　Sir　Philip　who　Bridget　was？　　He　could　only　describe　herhe　did　not　know　her　name。　　Sir　Philip　was　equally　at　a　loss。　　But　an　old　servant　of　the　Starkeys；　who　had　resumed　his　livery　at　the　Hall　on　this　occasiona　scoundrel　whom　Bridget　had　saved　from　dismissal　more　than　once　during　her　palmy　dayssaid：…

〃It　will　be　the　old　witch；　that　his　worship　means。　　She　needs　a　ducking；　if　ever　a　woman　did；　does　that　Bridget　Fitzgerald。〃

〃Fitzgerald！〃　said　both　the　gentlemen　at　once。　　But　Sir　Philip　was　the　first　to　continue：…

〃I　must　have　no　talk　of　ducking　her；　Dickon。　　Why；　she　must　be　the　very　woman　poor　Starkey　bade　me　have　a　care　of；　but　when　I　came　here　last　she　was　gone；　no　one　knew　where。　　I'll　go　and　see　her　to…morrow。　But　mind　you；　sirrah；　if　any　harm　comes　to　her；　or　any　more　talk　of　her　being　a　witchI've　a　pack　of　hounds　at　home；　who　can　follow　the　scent　of　a　lying　knave　as　well　as　ever　they　followed　a　dog…fox；　so　take　care　how　you　talk　about　ducking　a　faithful　old　servant　of　your　dead　master's。〃

〃Had　she　ever　a　daughter？〃　asked　Mr。　Gisborne；　after　a　while。

〃I　don't　knowyes！　　I've　a　notion　she　had；　a　kind　of　waiting　woman　to　Madam　Starkey。〃

〃Please　your　worship；〃　said　humbled　Dickon；　〃Mistress　Bridget　had　a　daughterone　Mistress　Marywho　went　abroad；　and　has　never　been　heard　on　since；　and　folk　do　say　that　has　crazed　her　mother。〃

Mr。　Gisborne　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hand。

〃I　could　wish　she　had　not　cursed　me；〃　he　muttered。　　〃She　may　have　powerno　one　else　could。〃　　After　a　while；　he　said　aloud；　no　one　understanding　rightly　what　he　meant；　〃Tush！　it　is　impossible！〃and　called　for　claret；　and　he　and　the　other　gentlemen　set…to　to　a　drinking…bout。



CHAPTER　II。



I　now　come　to　the　time　in　which　I　myself　was　mixed　up　with　the　people　that　I　have　been　writing　about。　　And　to　make　you　understand　how　I　became　connected　with　them；　I　must　give　you　some　little　account　of　myself。　　My　father　was　the　younger　son　of　a　Devonshire　gentleman　of　moderate　property；　my　eldest　uncle　succeeded　to　the　estate　of　his　forefathers；　my　second　became　an　eminent　attorney　in　London；　and　my　father　took　orders。　　Like　most　poor　clergymen；　he　had　a　large　family；　and　I　have　no　doubt　was　glad　enough　when　my　London　uncle；　who　was　a　bachelor；　offered　to　take　charge　of　me；　and　bring　me　up　to　be　his　successor　in　business。

In　this　way　I　came　to　live　in　London；　in　my　uncle's　house；　not　far　from　Gray's　Inn；　and　to　be　treated　and　esteemed　as　his　son；　and　to　labour　with　him　in　his　office。　　I　was　very　fond　of　the　old　gentleman。　He　was　the　confidential　agent　of　many　country　squires；　and　had　attained　to　his　present　position　as　much　by　knowledge　of　human　nature　as　by　knowledge　of　law；　though　he　was　learned　enough　in　the　latter。　He　used　to　say　his　business　was　law；　his　pleasure　heraldry。　　From　his　intimate　acquaintance　with　family　history；　and　all　the　tragic　courses　of　life　therein　involved；　to　hear　him　talk；　at　leisure　times；　about　any　coat　of　arms　that　came　across　his　path　was　as　good　as　a　play　or　a　romance。　　Many　cases　of　disputed　property；　dependent　on　a　love　of　genealogy；　were　brought　to　him；　as　to　a　great　authority　on　such　points。　　If　the　lawyer　who　came　to　consult　him　was　young；　he　would　take　no　fee；　only　give　him　a　long　lecture　on　the　importance　of　attending　to　heraldry；　if　the　lawyer　was　of　mature　age　and　good　standing；　he　would　mulct　him　pretty　well；　and　abuse　him　to　me　afterwards　as　negligent　of　one　great　branch　of　the　profession。　　His　house　was　in　a　stately　new　street　called　Ormond　Street；　and　in　it　he　had　a　handsome　library；　but　all　the　books　treated　of　things　that　were　past；　none　of　them　planned　or　looked　forward　into　the　future。　　I　worked　awaypartly　for　the　sake　of　my　family　at　home；　partly　because　my　uncle　had　really　taught　me　to　enjoy　the　kind　of　practice　in　which　he　himself　took　such　delight。　　I　suspect　I　worked　too　hard；　at　any　rate；　in　seventeen　hundred　and　eighteen　I　was　far　from　well；　and　my　good　uncle　was　disturbed　by　my　ill　looks。

One　day；　he　rang　the　bell　twice　into　the　clerk's　room　at　the　dingy　office　in　Grey's　Inn　Lane。　　It　was　the　summons　for　me；　and　I　went　into　his　private　room　just　as　a　gentlemanwhom　I　knew　well　enough　by　sight　as　an　Irish　lawyer　of　more　reputation　than　he　deservedwas　leaving。

My　uncle　was　slowly　rubbing　his　hands　together　and　considering。　　I　was　there　two　or　three　minutes　before　he　spoke。　　Then　he　told　me　that　I　must　pack　up　my　portmanteau　that　very　afternoon；　and　start　that　night　by　post…horse　for　West　Chester。　　I　should　get　there；　if　all　went　well；　at　the　end　of　five　days'　time；　and　must　then　wait　for　a　packet　to　cross　over　to　Dublin；　from　thence　I　must　proceed　to　a　certain　town　named　Kildoon；　and　in　that　neighbourhood　I　was　to　remain；　making　certain　inquiries　as　to　the　existe