greyfriars bobby-第23部分

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The　children　fled。　There　was　no　use　at　all　in　wasting　time　on　folk　who　did　not　know　Bobby；　for　it　would　take　too　long　to　explain　him。　But；　alas；　they　soon　discovered　that　〃maist　ilka　body〃　did　not　know　the　little　dog；　as　they　had　so　confidently　supposed。　He　was　sure　to　be　known　only　in　the　rooms　at　the　rear　that　overlooked　the　kirkyard；　and；　as　one　went　upward；　his　identity　became　less　and　less　distinct。　He　was　such　a　wee；　wee；　canny　terrier；　and　so　many　of　the　windows　had　their　views　constantly　shut　out　by　washings。　Around　the　inner　courts；　where　unkempt　women　brought　every　sort　of　work　out　to　the　light　on　the　galleries　and　mended　worthless　rags；　gossiped；　and　nursed　their　babies　on　the　stairs；　Bobby　had　sometimes　been　heard　of；　but　almost　never　seen。　Children　often　knew　him　where　their　elders　did　not。　By　the　time　Ailie　and　Tammy　had　worked　swiftly　down。　to　the　bottom　of　the　Row　other　children　began　to　follow　them；　moved　by　the　peril　of　the　little　dog　to　sympathy　and　eager　sacrifice。

〃Bide　a　wee；　Ailie！〃　cried　one；　running　to　overtake　the　lassie。　〃Here's　a　penny。　I　was　gangin'　for　milk　for　the　porridge。　We　can　do　wi'oot　the　day。〃

And　there　was　the　money　for　the　broth　bone；　and　the　farthing　that　would　have　filled　the　gude…man's　evening　pipe；　and　the　ha'penny　for　the　grandmither's　tea。　It　was　the　world…over　story　of　the　poor　helping　the　poor。　The　progress　of　Ailie　and　Tammy　through　the　tenements　was　like　that　of　the　piper　through　Hamelin。　The　children　gathered　and　gathered；　and　followed　at　their　heels；　until　a　curiously　quiet　mob　of　threescore　or　more　crouched　in　the　court　of　the　old　hall　of　the　Knights　of　St。　John；　in　the　Grassmarket；　to　count　the　many　copper　coins　in　Tammy's　woolen　bonnet。

〃Five　shullin's；　ninepence；　an'　a　ha'penny；〃　Tammy　announced。　And　then；　after　calculation　on　his　fingers；　〃It'll　tak'　a　shullin'　an'　twapenny　ha'penny　mair。〃

There　was　a　gasping　breath　of　bitter　disappointment；　and　one　wee　laddie　wailed　for　lost　Bobby。　At　that　Ailie　dashed　the　tears　from　her　own　eyes　and　sprang　up；　spurred　to　desperate　effort。　She　would　storm　the　all　but　hopeless　attic　chambers。　Up　the　twisting　turnpike　stairs　on　the　outer　wall　she　ran；　to　where　the　swallows　wheeled　about　the　cornices；　and　she　could　hear　the　iron　cross　of　the　Knights　Templars　creak　above　the　gable。　Then；　all　the　way　along　a　dark　passage；　at　one　door　after　another；　she　knocked；　and　cried；

〃Do　ye　ken　Greyfriars　Bobby？〃

At　some　of　the　doors　there　was　no　answer。　At　others　students　stared　out　at　the　bairn；　not　in　the　least　comprehending　this　wild　crying。　Tears　of　anger　and　despair　flooded　the　little　maid's　blue　eyes　when　she　beat　on　the　last　door　of　the　row　with　her　doubled　fist。

〃Do　ye　ken　Greyfriars　Bobby？　The　police　are　gangin'　to　mak'　'im　be　deid〃　As　the　door　was　flung　open　she　broke　into　stormy　weeping。

〃Hey；　lassie。　I　know　the　dog。　What　fashes　you？〃

There　stood　a　tall　student；　a　wet　towel　about　his　head；　and；　behind　him；　the　rafters　of　the　dormer…lighted　closet　were　as　thickly　hung　with　bunches　of　dried　herbs　from　the　Botanical　Garden　as　any　auld　witch　wife's　kitchen。

〃Oh；　are　ye　kennin'　'im？　Isna　he　bonny　an'　sonsie？　Gie　me　the　shullin'　an'　twapenny　ha'　penny　we're　needin'；　so　the　police　wullna　put　'im　awa'。〃

〃Losh！　It's　a　license　you're　wanting？　I　wish　I　had　as　many　shullings　as　I've　had　gude　times　with　Bobby；　and　naething　to　pay　for　his　braw　company。〃

For　this　was　Geordie　Ross；　going　through　the　Medical　College　with　the　help　of　Heriot's　fund　that；　large　as　it　was；　was　never　quite　enough　for　all　the　poor　and　ambitious　youths　of　Edinburgh。　And　so；　although　provided　for　in　all　necessary　ways；　his　pockets　were　nearly　as　empty　as　of　old。　He　could　spare　a　sixpence　if　he　made　his　dinner　on　a　potato　and　a　smoked　herring。　That　he　was　very　willing　to　do；　once　he　had　heard　the　tale；　and　he　went　with　Ailie　to　the　lodgings　of　other　students；　and　demanded　their　siller　with　no　explanation　at　all。

〃Give　the　lassie　what　you　can　spare；　man；　or　I'll　have　to　give　you　a　licking；〃　was　his　gay　and　convincing　argument；　from　door　to　door；　until　the　needed　amount　was　made　up。　Ailie　fled　recklessly　down　the　stairs；　and　cried　triumphantly　to　the　upward…looking；　silent　crowd　that　had　grown　and　grown　around　Tammy；　like　some　host　of　children　crusaders。

While　Ailie　and　Tammy　were　collecting　the　price　of　his　ransom　Bobby　was　exploring　the　intricately　cut…up　interior　of　old　St。　Giles；　sniffing　at　the　rifts　in　flimsily　plastered　partitions　that　the　Lord　Provost　pointed　out　to　Mr。　Traill。　Rats　were　in　those　crumbling　walls。　If　there　had　been　a　hole　big　enough　to　admit　him；　the　plucky　little　dog　would　have　gone　in　after　them。　Forbidden　to　enlarge　one；　Bobby　could　only　poke　his　indignant　muzzle　into　apertures；　and　brace　himself　as　for　a　fray。　And；　at　the　very　smell　of　him；　there　were　such　squeakings　and　scamperings　in　hidden　runways　as　to　be　almost　beyond　a　terrier's　endurance。　The　Lord　Provost　watched　him　with　an　approving　eye。

〃When　these　partitions　are　tak'n　down　Bobby　would　be　vera　useful　in　ridding　our　noble　old　cathedral　of　vermin。　But　that　will　not　be　in　this　wee　Highlander's　day　nor；　I　fear；　in　mine。〃　About　the　speech　of　this　Peebles　man；　who　had　risen　from　poverty　to　distinction；　learning；　wealth；　and　many　varieties　of　usefulness；　there　was　still　an　engaging　burr。　And　his　manner　was　so　simple　that　he　put　the　humblest　at　his　ease。

There　had　been　no　formality　about　the　meeting　at　all。　Glenormiston　was　standing　in　a　rear　doorway　of　the　cathedral　near　the　Regent's　Tomb；　looking　out　into　the　sunny　square　of　Parliament　Close；　when　Mr。　Traill　and　Bobby　appeared。　Near　seventy；　at　that　time；　a　backward　sweep　of　white　hair　and　a　downward　flow　of　square…cut；　white　beard　framed　a　boldly　featured　face　and　left　a　generous　mouth　uncovered。

〃Gude　morning；　Mr。　Traill。　So　that　is　the　famous　dog　that　has　stood　sentinel　for　more　than　eight　years。　He　should　be　tak'n　up　to　the　Castle　and　shown　to　young　soldiers　who　grumble　at　twenty…four　hours'　guard　duty。　　How　do　you　do；　sir！〃　The　great　man；　whom　the　Queen　knighted　later；　and　whom　the　University　he　was　too　poor　to　attend　as　a　lad　honored　with　a　degree；　stooped　from　the　Regent's　Tomb　and　shook　Bobby's　lifted　paw　with　grave　courtesy。　Then；　leaving　the　little　dog　to　entertain　himself；　he　turned　easily　to　his　own　most　absorbing　interest　of　the　moment。

〃Do　you　happen　to　care　for　Edinburgh　antiquities；　Mr。　Traill？　Reformation　piety　made　sad　havoc　of　art　everywhere。　Man；　come　here！〃

Down　into　the　lime　dust　the　Lord　Provost　and　the　landlord　went；　in　their　good　black　clothes；　for　a　glimpse　of　a　bit　of　sculpturing　on　a　tomb　that　had　been　walled　in　to　make　a　passage。　A　loose　brick　removed；　behind　and　above　it；　the　sun　flashed　through　fragments　of　emerald　and　ruby　glass　of　a　saint's　robe；　in　a　bricked　up　window。　Such　buried　and　forgotten　treasure；　Glenormiston　explained；　filled　the　entire　south　transept。　In　the　High　Kirk；　that　then　filled　the　eastern　end　of　the　cathedral；　they　went　up　a　cheap　wooden　stairway；　to　the　pew…filled　gallery　that　was　built　into　the　old　choir；　and　sat　down。　Mr。　Traill's　eyes　sparkled。　Glenormiston　was　a　man　after　his　own　heart；　and　they　were　getting　along　famously；　but；　oh！　it　began　to　seem　more　and　more　unlikely　that　a　Lord　Provost；　who　was　concerned　about　such　braw　things　as　the　restoration　of　the　old　cathedral　and　letting　the　sun　into　the　ancient　tenements；　should　be　much　interested　in　a　small；　masterless　dog。

〃Man；　auld　John　Knox　will　turn　over　in　his　bit　grave　in　Parliament　Close　if　you　put　a　'kist　o'　whustles'　in　St。　Giles。〃　Mr。　Traill　laughed。

〃I　admit　I　might　have　stopped　short　of　the　organ　but　for　the　courageous　example　of　Doctor　Lee　in　Greyfriars。　It　was　from　him　that　I　had　a　quite　extravagant　account　of　this　wee；　leal　Highlander　a　few　years　ago。　I　have　aye　meant　to　go　to　see　him；　but　I'm　a　busy　man　and　the　matter　passed　out　of　mind。　Mr。　Traill；　I'm　your　sadly　needed　witness：　I　heard　you　from　the　doorway　of　the　court…room；　and　I　sent　up　a　note　confirming　your　story　and　asking；　as　a　courtesy；　that　the　case　be　turned　over　to　me　for　some　exceptional　disposal。　Would　you　mind　telling　another　man　the　tale　that　so　moved　Doctor　Lee？　I've　aye　had　a　fondness　for　the　human　document。〃

So　there；　above　the　pulpit　of　the　High　Kirk　of　St。　Giles；　the　tale　was　told　again；　so　strangely　did　this　little　dog's　life　come　to　be　linked　with　the　highest　and　lowest；　the　proudest　and　humblest　in　the　Scottish　capital。　Now；　at　mention　of　Auld　Jock；　Bobby　put　his　shagged　paws　up　inquiringly　on　the　edge　of　the　pew；　so　that　Mr。　Traill　lifted　him。　He　lay　down　flat　between　the　two　men；　with　his　nose　on　his　paws；　and　his　little　tousled　head　under　the　Lord　Provost's　hand。

Auld　Jock　lived　again　in　that　recital。　Glenormiston；　coming　from　the　country　of　the　Ettrick　shepherd；　knew　such　lonely　figures；　and　the　pathos　of　old　age　and　waning　powers　that　drove　them　in　to　the　poor　quarters　of　towns。　There　was　pictured　the　stormy　night　and　the　simple　old　man　who　sought　food　and　shelter；　with　the　devoted　little　dog　that　〃wasna　'is　ain。〃　Sick　unto　death　he　was；　and　full　of　ignorant　prejudices　and　fears　that　needed　wise　handling。　And　there　was　the　well…meaning　landlord's　blunder；　humbly　confessed；　and　the　obscure　and　tragic　result　of　it；　in　a　foul　and　swarming　rookery　〃juist　aff　the　Coogate。〃

〃Man；　it　was　Bobby　that　told　me　of　his　master's　condition。　He　begged　me　to　help　Auld　Jock；　and　what　did　I　do　but　let　my　fule　tongue　wag　about　doctors。　I　nae　more　than　turned　my　back　than　the　auld　body　was　awa'　to　his　meeserable　death。　It　has　aye　eased　my　conscience　a　bit　to　feed　the　dog。〃

〃That's　not　the　only　reason　why　you　have　fed　him。〃　There　was　a　twinkle　in　the　Lord　Provost's　eye；　and　Mr。　Traill　blushed。

〃Weel；　I'll　admit　to　you　that　I'm　fair　fulish　about　Bobby。　Man；　I've　courted　that　sma'　terrier　for　eight　and　a　half　years。　He's　as　polite　and　friendly　as　the　deil；　but　he'll　have　naething　to　do　with　me　or　with　onybody。　I　wonder　the　intelligent　bit　doesn't　bite　me　for　the　ill　turn　I　did　his　master。〃

Then　there　was　the　story　of　Bobby's　devotion　to　Auld　Jock's　memory　to　be　toldthe　days　when　he　faced　starvation　rather　than　desert　that　grave；　the　days　when　he　lay　cramped　under　the　fallen　table…tomb；　and　his　repeated；　dramatic