greyfriars bobby-第14部分

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little　cells　in　the　tall；　old　houses　hummed　and　buzzed　and　clacked　with　life。　The　University　bell　called　scattered　students　to　morning　prayers。　Pinched　and　elfish　faces　of　children　appeared　at　the　windows　overlooking　the　kirkyard。　The　sparrows　had　instant　news　of　that；　and　the　little　winged　beggars　fluttered　up　to　the　lintels　of　certain　deep…set　casements；　where　ill…fed　bairns　scattered　breakfasts　of　crumbs。

Bobby　watched　all　this　without　a　movement。　He　shivered　when　the　lodge　door　was　heard　to　open　and　shut　and　heavy　footsteps　crunched　on　the　gravel　and　snow　around　the　church。　〃Juist　fair　silly〃　on　his　quaking　legs　he　stood　up；　head　and　tail　drooped。　But　he　held　his　ground　bravely；　and　when　the　caretaker　sighted　him　he　trotted　to　meet　the　man；　lifted　himself　on　his　hind　legs；　his　short；　shagged　fore　paws　on　his　breast；　begging　attention　and　indulgence。　Then　he　sprawled　across　the　great　boots；　asking　pardon　for　the　liberty　he　was　taking。　At　last；　all　in　a　flash；　he　darted　back　to　the　grave；　sniffed　at　it；　and　stood　again；　head　up；　plumy　tail　crested；　all　excitement；　as　much　as　to　say：

〃Come　awa'　ower；　man；　an'　leuk　at　the　brave　sicht。〃

If　he　could　have　barked；　his　meaning　would　have　carried　more　convincingly；　but　he　〃hauded　'is　gab〃　loyally。　And；　alas；　the　caretaker　was　not　to　be　beguiled。　Mr。　Traill　had　told　him　Bobby　had　been　sent　back　to　the　hill　farm；　but　here　he　was；　〃perseestent〃　little　rascal；　and　making　some　sort　of　bid　for　the　man's　favor。　Mr。　Brown　took　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth　in　surprised　exasperation；　and　glowered　at　the　dog。

〃Gang　awa'　oot　wi'　ye！〃

But　Bobby　was　back　again　coaxing　undauntedly；　abasing　himself　before　the　angry　man；　insisting　that　he　had　something　of　interest　to　show。　The　caretaker　was　literally　badgered　and　cajoled　into　following　him。　One　glance　at　the　formidable　heap　of　the　slain；　and　Mr。　Brown　dropped　to　a　seat　on　the　slab。

〃Preserve　us　a'！〃

He　stared　from　the　little　dog　to　his　victims；　turned　them　over　with　his　stout　stick　and　counted　them；　and　stared　again。　Bobby　fixed　his　pleading　eyes　on　the　man　and　stood　at　strained　attention　while　fate　hung　in　the　balance。

〃Guile　wark！　Guile　wark！　A　braw　doggie；　an'　an　unco'　fechter。　Losh！　but　ye're　a　deil　o'　a　bit　dog！〃

All　this　was　said　in　a　tone　of　astonished　comment；　so　non…committal　of　feeling　that　Bobby's　tail　began　to　twitch　in　the　stress　of　his　anxiety。　When　the　caretaker　spoke　again；　after　a　long；　puzzled　frowning；　it　was　to　express　a　very　human　bewilderment　and　irritation。

〃Noo；　what　am　I　gangin'　to　do　wi'　ye？〃

Ah；　that　was　encouraging！　A　moment　before；　he　had　ordered　Bobby　out　in　no　uncertain　tone。　After　another　moment　he　referred　the　question　to　a　higher　court。

〃Jeanie；　woman；　come　awa'　oot　a　meenit；　wull　ye？〃

A　hasty　pattering　of　carpet…slippered　feet　on　the　creaking　snow；　around　the　kirk；　and　there　was　the　neatest　little　apple…cheeked　peasant　woman　in　Scotland；　〃snod〃　from　her　smooth；　frosted　hair；　spotless　linen　mutch　and　lawn　kerchief；　to　her　white；　lamb's　wool　stockings。

〃Here's　the　bit　dog　I　was　tellin'　ye　aboot；　an'　see　for　yersel'　what　he's　done　noo。〃

〃The　wee　beastie　couldna　do　a'　that！　It's　as　muckle　as　his　ain　wecht　in　fou'　vermin！〃　she　cried。

〃Ay；　he　did。　Thae　terriers　are　sperity；　by　the　ordinar'。　Ane　o'　them；　let　into　the　corn　exchange　a　murky　nicht；　killed　saxty　in　ten　meenits；　an'　had　to　be　dragged　awa'　by　the　tail。　Noo；　what　I　am　gangin'　to　do　wi'　the　takin'　bit　I　dinna　ken。〃

It　is　very　certain　that　simple　Mistress　Jean　Brown　had　never　heard　of　Mr。　Dick's　advice　to　Miss　Betsy　Trotwood　on　the　occasion　when　young　David　Copperfield　presented　himself；　travel…stained　and　weary；　before　his　good　aunt。　But　out　of　her　experience　of　wholesome　living　she　brought　forth　the　same　wise　opinion。

〃I'd　gie　him　a　gude　washin'　first　of　a'；　Jamie。　He　leuks　like　some　puir；　gaen…aboot　dog。〃　And　she　drew　her　short；　blue…stuff　gown　back　from　Bobby's　grateful　attentions。

Mr。　Brown　slapped　his　corduroy…breeked　knee　and　nodded　his　grizzled　head。　〃Richt　ye　are。　It's　maist　michty；　noo；　I　wadna　think　o'　that。　When　I　was　leevin'　as　an　under　gairdener　wi'　a　laird　i'　Argyleshire　I　was　aye　aboot　the　kennels　wi'　the　gillies。　That　was　lang　syne。　The　sma'　terrier　dogs　were　aye　washed　i'　claes　tubs　wi'　warm　water　an'　soap。　Come　awa'；　Bobby。〃

The　caretaker　got　up　stiffly；　for　such　snell　weather　was　apt　to　give　him　twinges　in　his　joints。　In　him　a　youthful　enthusiasm　for　dogs　had　suddenly　revived。　Besides；　although　he　would　have　denied　it；　he　was　relieved　at　having　the　main　issue；　as　to　what　was　to　be　done　with　this　four…footed　trespasser；　side…tracked　for　a　time。　Bobby　followed　him　to　the　lodge　at　an　eager　trot；　and　he　dutifully　hopped　into　the　bath　that　was　set　on　the　rear　doorstep。　Mr。　Brown　scrubbed　him　vigorously；　and　Bobby　splashed　and　swam　and　churned　the　soapy　water　to　foam。　He　scrambled　out　at　once；　when　told　to　do　so；　and　submitted　to　being　dried　with　a　big；　tow…linen　towel。　This　was　all　a　delightful　novelty　to　Bobby。　Heretofore　he　had　gone　into　any　convenient　tam　or　burn　to　swim；　and　then　dried　himself　by　rolling　on　the　heather　and　running　before　the　wind。　Now　he　was　bundled　up　ignominiously　in　an　old　flannel　petticoat；　carried　across　a　sanded　kitchen　floor　and　laid　on　a　warm　hearth。

〃Doon　wi'　ye！〃　was　the　gruff　order。　Bobby　turned　around　and　around　on　the　hearth；　like　some　little　wild　dog　making　a　bed　in　the　jungle；　before　he　obeyed。　He　kept　very　still　during　the　reading　of　a　chapter　and　the　singing　of　a　Psalm；　as　he　had　been　taught　to　do　at　the　farm　by　many　a　reminder　from　Auld　Jock's　boot。　And　he　kept　away　from　the　breakfast…table；　although　the　walls　of　his　stomach　were　collapsed　as　flat　as　the　sides　of　an　empty　pocket。

It　was　such　a　clean；　shining　little　kitchen；　with　the　scoured　deal　table；　chairs　and　cupboard；　and　the　firelight　from　the　grate　winked　so　on　pewter　mugs；　copper　kettle；　willow…patterned　plates　and　diamond　panes；　that　Bobby　blinked　too。　Flowers　bloomed　in　pots　on　the　casement　sills；　and　a　little　brown　skylark　sang；　fluttering　as　if　it　would　soar；　in　a　gilded　cage。　After　the　morning　meal　Mr。　Brown　lighted　his　pipe　and　put　on　his　bonnet　to　go　out　again；　when　he　bethought　him　that　Bobby　might　be　needing　something　to　eat。

〃What'll　ye　gie　'im；　Jeanie？　At　the　laird's；　noo；　the　terriers　were　aye　fed　wi'　bits　o'　livers　an'　cheese　an'　moor　fowls'　eggs；　an'　sic…like；　fried。〃

〃Havers；　Jamie；　it's　no'　releegious　to　feed　a　dog　better　than　puir　bairns。　He'll　do　fair　weel　wi'　table…scraps。〃

She　set　down　a　plate　with　a　spoonful　of　porridge　on　it；　a　cold　potato；　some　bread　crusts；　and　the　leavings　of　a　broiled　caller　herrin'。　It　was　a　generous　breakfast　for　so　small　a　dog；　but　Bobby　had　been　without　food　for　quite　forty　hours；　and　had　done　an　amazing　amount　of　work　in　the　meantime。　When　he　had　eaten　all　of　it；　he　was　still　hungry。　As　a　polite　hint；　he　polished　the　empty　plate　with　his　pink　tongue　and　looked　up　expectantly；　but　the　best…intentioned　people；　if　they　have　had　little　to　do　with　dogs；　cannot　read　such　signs。

〃Ye　needna　lick　the　posies　aff；〃　the　wifie　said；　good　humoredly；　as　she　picked　the　plate　up　to　wash　it。　She　thought　to　put　down　a　tin　basin　of　water。　Bobby　lapped　a'　it　so　eagerly；　yet　so　daintily；　that　she　added：　〃He's　a　weel…broucht…up　tyke；　Jamie。〃

〃He　is　so。　Noo；　we'll　see　hoo　weel　he　can　leuk。〃　In　a　shamefaced　way　he　fetched　from　a　tool…box　a　long…forgotten；　strong　little　currycomb；　such　as　is　used　on　shaggy　Shetland　ponies。　With　that　he　proceeded　to　give　Bobby　such　a　grooming　as　he　had　never　had　before。　It　was　a　painful　operation；　for　his　thatch　was　a　stubborn　mat　of　crisp　waves　and　knotty　tangles　to　his　plumy　tail　and　down　to　his　feathered　toes。　He　braced　himself　and　took　the　punishment　without　a　whimper；　and　when　it　was　done　he　stood　cascaded　with　dark…silver　ripples　nearly　to　the　floor。

〃The　bonny　wee！〃　cried　Mistress　Jeanie。　〃I　canna　tak'　ma　twa　een　aff　o'　'im。〃

〃Ay；　he's　bonny　by　the　ordinar'。　It　wad　be　grand；　noo；　gin　the　meenister'd　fancy　'im　an'　tak'　'im　into　the　manse。〃

The　wifie　considered　this　ruefully。　〃Jamie；　I　was　wishin'　ye　didna　hae　to〃

But　what　she　wished　he　did　not　have　to　do；　Mr。　Brown　did　not　stop　to　hear。　He　suddenly　clapped　his　bonnet　on　his　head　and　went　out。　He　had　an　urgent　errand　on　High　Street；　to　buy　grass　and　flower　seeds　and　tools　that　would　certainly　be　needed　in　April。　It　took　him　an　hour　or　more　of　shrewd　looking　about　for　the　best　bargains；　in　a　swarm　of　little　barnacle　and　cellar　shops；　to　spend　a　few　of　the　kirk's　shillings。　When　he　found　himself；　to　his　disgust；　looking　at　a　nail　studded　collar　for　a　little　dog　he　called　himself　a　〃doited　auld　fule；〃　and　tramped　back　across　the　bridge。

At　the　kirkyard　gate　he　stopped　and　read　the　notice　through　twice：　〃No　dogs　permitted。〃　That　was　as　plain　as　〃Thou　shalt　not。〃　To　the　pious　caretaker　and　trained　servant　it　was　the　eleventh　commandment。　He　shook　his　head；　sighed；　and　went　in　to　dinner。　Bobby　was　not　in　the　house；　and　the　master　of　it　avoided　inquiring　for　him。　He　also　avoided　the　wifie's　wistful　eye；　and　he　busied　himself　inside　the　two　kirks　all　the　afternoon。

Because　he　was　in　the　kirks；　and　the　beautiful　memorial　windows　of　stained　glass　were　not　for　the　purpose　of　looking　out；　he　did　not　see　a　dramatic　incident　that　occurred　in　the　kirkyard　after　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　The　prelude　to　it　really　began　with　the　report　of　the　timegun　at　one。　Bobby　had　insisted　upon　being　let　out　of　the　lodge　kitchen；　and　had　spent　the　morning　near　Auld　Jock's　grave　and　in　nosing　about　neighboring　slabs　and　thorn　bushes。　When　the　time…gun　boomed　he　trotted　to　the　gate　quite　openly　and　waited　there　inside　the　wicket。

In　such　nipping　weather　there　were　no　visitors　to　the　kirkyard　and　the　gate　was　not　opened。　The　music　bells　ran　the　gamut　of　old　Scotch　airs　and　ceased；　while　he　sat　there　and　waited　patiently。　Once　a　man　stopped　to　look　at　the　little　dog；　and　Bobby　promptly　jumped　on　the　wicket；　plainly　begging　to　have　it　unlatched。　But　the　passer…by　decided　that　some　lady　had　left　her　pet　behind；　and　would　return　for　him。　So　he　patted　the　attractive　little　Highlander　on　the　head　and　went　on　about　his　business。

Discouraged　by　the　unpromising　outlook　for　dinner　that　day；　Bobby