the provost-第19部分
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； that the rest of the officers talked of him； marvelling at the cause； for it was not his wont in other places。
One Sabbath； during the remembering prayer； Mr Pittle put up a few words for criminals under sentence of death； there being two at the time in the Ayr jail； at the which petition I happened to look at Captain Armour； who； with the lave of the officers； were within the magistrates' loft； and I thought he had； at the moment； a likeness to poor Jeanie Gaisling； that was executed for the murder of her bastard bairn。
This notion at the time disturbed me very much； and one thought after another so came into my head； that I could pay no attention to Mr Pittle； who certainly was but a cauldrife preacher； and never more so than on that day。 In short； I was haunted with the fancy； that Captain Armour was no other than the misfortunate lassie's poor brother； who had in so pathetical a manner attended her and the magistrates to the scaffold； and； what was very strange； I was not the only one in the kirk who thought the same thing； for the resemblance； while Mr Pittle was praying； had been observed by many； and it was the subject of discourse in my shop on the Monday following； when the whole history of that most sorrowful concern was again brought to mind。 But； without dwelling at large on the particularities； I need only mention； that it began to be publicly jealoused that he was indeed the identical lad； which moved every body； for he was a very good and gallant officer； having risen by his own merits； and was likewise much beloved in the regiment。 Nevertheless； though his sister's sin was no fault of his； and could not impair the worth of his well…earned character； yet some of the thoughtless young ensigns began to draw off from him； and he was visited； in a manner； with the disgrace of an excommunication。
Being； however； a sensible man； he bore it for a while patiently； may be hoping that the suspicion would wear away； but my lord； with all his retinue； coming from London to the castle for the summer； invited the officers one day to dine with him and the countess； when the fact was established by a very simple accident。
Captain Armour； in going up the stairs； and along the crooked old passages of the castle； happened to notice that the colonel； who was in the van； turned to the wrong hand； and called to him to take the other way； which circumstance convinced all present that he was domestically familiar with the labyrinths of the building； and the consequence was； that； during dinner； not one of the officers spoke to him； some from embarrassment and others from pride。
The earl perceiving their demeanour； enquired of the colonel； when they had returned from the table to the drawing…room； as to the cause of such a visible alienation； and Colonel Cavendish； who was much of the gentleman； explaining it； expressing his grief that so unpleasant a discovery had been made to the prejudice of so worthy a man； my lord was observed to stand some time in a thoughtful posture； after which he went and spoke in a whisper to the countess； who advised him； as her ladyship in the sequel told me herself； to send for me； as a wary and prudent man。 Accordingly a servant was secretly dispatched express to the town on that errand； my lord and my lady insisting on the officers staying to spend the evening with them； which was an unusual civility at the PRO FORMA dinners at the castle。
When I arrived； the earl took me into his private library； and we had some serious conversation about the captain's sister； and； when I had related the circumstantialities of her end to him； he sent for the captain； and with great tenderness； and a manner most kind and gracious； told him what he had noticed in the conduct of the officers； offering his mediation to appease any difference； if it was a thing that could be done。
While my lord was speaking； the captain preserved a steady and unmoved countenance： no one could have imagined that he was listening to any thing but some grave generality of discourse； but when the earl offered to mediate； his breast swelled； and his face grew like his coat； and I saw his eyes fill with water as he turned round； to hide the grief that could not be stifled。 The passion of shame； however； lasted but for a moment。 In less time than I am in writing these heads； he was again himself； and with a modest fortitude that was exceedingly comely； he acknowledged who he was； adding； that he feared his blameless disgrace entailed effects which he could not hope to remove； and therefore it was his intention to resign his commission。 The earl； however； requested that he would do nothing rashly； and that he should first allow him to try what could be done to convince his brother officers that it was unworthy of them to act towards him in the way they did。 His lordship then led us to the drawing…room； on entering which； he said aloud to the countess in a manner that could not be misunderstood； 〃In Captain Armour I have discovered an old acquaintance； who by his own merits； and under circumstances that would have sunk any man less conscious of his own purity and worth； has raised himself； from having once been my servant； to a rank that makes me happy to receive him as my guest。〃
I need not add； that this benevolence of his lordship was followed with a most bountiful alteration towards the captain from all present； in so much that； before the regiment was removed from the town； we had the satisfaction of seeing him at divers of the town… ploys； where he received every civility。
CHAPTER XXXTHE TRADES' BALL
At the conclusion of my second provostry； or rather； as I think； after it was over； an accident happened in the town that might have led to no little trouble and contention but for the way and manner that I managed the same。 My friend and neighbour； Mr Kilsyth； an ettling man； who had been wonderful prosperous in the spirit line； having been taken on for a bailie； by virtue of some able handling on the part of Deacon Kenitweel； proposed and propounded； that there should be a ball and supper for the trades； and to testify his sense of the honour that he owed to all the crafts； especially the wrights； whereof Mr Kenitweel was then deacon； he promised to send in both wine； rum； and brandy； from his cellar； for the company。 I did not much approve of the project； for divers reasons； the principal of which was； because my daughters were grown into young ladies； and I was； thank God； in a circumstance to entitle them to hold their heads something above the trades。 However； I could not positively refuse my compliance； especially as Mrs Pawkie was requested by Bailie Kilsyth； and those who took an active part in furtherance of the ploy； to be the lady directress of the occasion。 And； out of an honour and homage to myself； I was likewise entreated to preside at the head of the table； over the supper that was to ensue after the dancing。
In its own nature； there was surely nothing of an objectionable principle； in a 〃trades' ball；〃 but we had several young men of the gentle sort about the town； blythe and rattling lads； who were welcome both to high and low； and to whom the project seemed worthy of a ridicule。 It would； as I said at the time； have been just as well to have made it really a trades' ball； without any adulteration of the gentry； but the hempies alluded to jouked themselves in upon us； and obligated the managers to invite them； and an ill return they made for this discretion and civility； as I have to relate。
On the nightset for the occasion； the company met in the assembly… room； in the New…inns； where we had bespoke a light genteel supper； and had M'Lachlan； the fiddler； over from Ayr； for the purpose。 Nothing could be better while the dancing lasted； the whole concern wore an appearance of the greatest genteelity。 But when supper was announced； and the company adjourned to partake of it； judge of the universal consternation that was visible in every countenance； when； instead of the light tarts； and nice jellies and sillybobs that were expected； we beheld a long table； with a row down the middle of rounds of beef； large cold veal…pies on pewter plates like tea… trays； cold boiled turkeys； and beef and bacon hams； and； for ornament in the middle； a perfect stack of celery。
The instant I entered the supper…room； I saw there had been a plot： poor Bailie Kilsyth； who had all the night been in triumph and glory； was for a season speechless； and when at last he came to himself； he was like to have been the death of the landlord on the spot； while I could remark； with the tail of my eye； that secret looks of a queer satisfaction were exchanged among the beaux before mentioned。 This observe； when I made it； led me to go up to the bailie as he was storming at the bribed and corrupt innkeeper； and to say to him； that if he would leave the matter to me； I would settle it to the content of all present； which he； slackening the grip he had taken of the landlord by the throat； instantly conceded。 Whereupon； I went back to the head of the table； and said aloud； 〃that the cold collection had been provided by some secret friends； and although it was not just what the directors could have wished； yet it would be as well to bring to mind the old proverb； which instructs us no to be particular about the mouth of a gi'en horse。〃 But I added； 〃before partaking thereof； wel'll hae in our bill frae the landlord； and settle it；〃and it was called accordingly。 I could discern； that this was a turn that the conspirators did not look for。 It； however； put the company a thought into spirits； and they made the best o't。 But； while they were busy at the table； I took a canny opportunity of saying； under the rose to one of the gentlemen； 〃that I saw through the joke； and could relish it just as well as the plotters； but as the thing was so plainly felt as an insult by the generality of the company； the less that was said about it the better； and that if the whole bill； including the cost of Bailie Kilsyth's wine and spirits； was defrayed； I would make no enquiries； and the authors might never be known。〃 This admonishment was not lost； for by…and…by； I saw the gentleman confabbing together； and the next morning； through the pos
