Sir Walter Scott
The Antiquary
Introduction
The present Work completes a series of fictitious narratives intended to
illustrate the manners of Scotland at three different periods WAVERLEY embraced
the age of our fathers GUY MANNERING that of our own youth and the ANTIQUARY
refers to the last ten years of the eighteenth century I have in the two last
narratives especially sought my principal personages in the class of society
who are the last to feel the influence of that general polish which assimilates
to each other the manners of different nations Among the same class I have
placed some of the scenes in which I have endeavoured to illustrate the
operation of the higher and more violent passions both because the lower orders
are less restrained by the habit of suppressing their feelings and because I
agree with my friend Wordsworth that they seldom fail to express them in the
strongest and most powerful language This is I think peculiarly the case with
the peasantry of my own country a class with whom I have long been familiar
The antique force and simplicity of their language often tinctured with the
Oriental eloquence of Scripture in the mouths of those of an elevated
understanding give pathos to their grief and dignity to their resentment
I have been more solicitous to describe manners minutely than to arrange in
any case an artificial and combined narrative and have but to regret that I
felt myself unable to unite these two requisites of a good Novel
The knavery of the adept in the following sheets may appear forced and
improbable but we have had very late instances of the force of superstitious
credulity to a much greater extent and the reader may be assured that this
part of the narrative is founded on a fact of actual occurrence
I have now only to express my gratitude to the public for the distinguished
reception which they have given to works that have little more than some truth
of colouring to recommend them and to take my respectful leave as one who is
not likely again to solicit their favour
To the above advertisement which was prefixed to the first edition of the
Antiquary it is necessary in the present edition to add a few words
transferred from the Introduction to the Chronicles of the Canongate respecting
the character of Jonathan Oldbuck
»I may here state generally that although I have deemed historical
personages free subjects of delineation I have never on any occasion violated
the respect due to private life It was indeed impossible that traits proper to
persons both living and dead with whom I have had intercourse in society
should not have risen to my pen in such works as Waverley and those which
followed it But I have always studied to generalise the portraits so that they
should still seem on the whole the productions of fancy though possessing
some resemblance to real individuals Yet I must own my attempts have not in
this last particular been uniformly successful There are men whose characters
are so peculiarly marked that the delineation of some leading and principal
feature inevitably places the whole person before you in his individuality
Thus the character of Jonathan Oldbuck in the Antiquary was partly founded on
that of an old friend of my youth to whom I am indebted for introducing me to
Shakspeare and other invaluable favours but I thought I had so completely
disguised the likeness that it could not be recognised by any one now alive I
was mistaken however and indeed had endangered what I desired should be
considered as a secret for I afterwards learned that a highly respectable
gentleman one of the few surviving friends of my father and an acute critic
had said upon the appearance of the work that he was now convinced who was the
author of it as he recognised in the Antiquary traces of the character of a
very intimate friend of my fathers family«
I have only farther to request the reader not to suppose that my late
respected friend resembled Mr Oldbuck either in his pedigree or the history
imputed to the ideal personage There is not a single incident in the Novel
which is borrowed from his real circumstances excepting the fact that he
resided in an old house near a flourishing seaport and that the author chanced
to witness a scene betwixt him and the female proprietor of a stagecoach very
similar to that which commences the history of the Antiquary An excellent
temper with a slight degree of subacid humour learning wit and drollery the
more poignant that they were a little marked by the peculiarities of an old
bachelor a soundness of thought rendered more forcible by an occasional
quaintness of expression were the author conceives the only qualities in
which the creature of his imagination resembled his benevolent and excellent old
friend
The prominent part performed by the Beggar in the following narrative
induces the author to prefix a few remarks on that character as it formerly
existed in Scotland though it is now scarcely to be traced
Many of the old Scottish mendicants were by no means to be confounded with
the utterly degraded class of beings who now practise that wandering trade Such
of them as were in the habit of travelling through a particular district were
usually well received both in the farmers ha and in the kitchens of the
country gentlemen Martin author of the Reliquiæ Divi Sancti Andreæ written in
1683 gives the following account of one class of this order of men in the
seventeenth century in terms which would induce an antiquary like Mr Oldbuck
to regret its extinction He conceives them to be descended from the ancient
bards and proceeds »They are called by others and by themselves Jockies
who go about begging and use still to recite the Sloggorne gatheringwords or
warcries of most of the true ancient surnames of Scotland from old experience
and observation Some of them I have discoursed and found to have reason and
discretion One of them told me there were not now above twelve of them in the
whole isle but he remembered when they abounded so as at one time he was one
of five that usually met at St Andrews«
The race of Jockies of the above description has I suppose been long
extinct in Scotland but the old remembered beggar even in my own time like
the Baccoch or travelling cripple of Ireland was expected to merit his
quarters by something beyond an exposition of his distresses He was often a
talkative facetious fellow prompt at repartee and not withheld from
exercising his powers that way by any respect of persons his patched cloak
giving him the privilege of the ancient jester To be a gude crack that is to
possess talents for conversation was essential to the trade of a »puir body« of
the more esteemed class and Burns who delighted in the amusement their
discourse afforded seems to have looked forward with gloomy firmness to the
possibility of himself becoming one day or other a member of their itinerant
society In his poetical works it is alluded to so often as perhaps to
indicate that he considered the consummation as not utterly impossible Thus in
the fine dedication of his works to Gavin Hamilton he says
And when I downa yoke a naig
Then Lord be thankit I can beg
Again in his Epistle to Davie a brother Poet he states that in their closing
career
The last ot the warst ot
Is only just to beg
And after having remarked that
To lie in kilns and barns at een
When banes are crazed and blude is thin
Is doubtless great distress
the bard reckons up with true poetical spirit the free enjoyment of the
beauties of nature, which might counterbalance the hardship and uncertainty of
the life even of a mendicant In one of his prose letters to which I have lost
the reference he details this idea yet more seriously and dwells upon it as
not ill adapted to his habits and powers
As the life of a Scottish mendicant of the eighteenth century seems to have
been contemplated without much horror by Robert Burns the author can hardly
have erred in giving to Edie Ochiltree something of poetical character and
personal dignity above the more abject of his miserable calling The class had
in fact some privileges A lodging such as it was was readily granted to them
in some of the outhouses and the usual awmous alms of a handful of meal
called a gowpen was scarce denied by the poorest cottager The mendicant
disposed these according to their different quality in various bags around his
person and thus carried about with him the principal part of his sustenance
which he literally received for the asking At the houses of the gentry his
cheer was mended by scraps of broken meat and perhaps a Scottish »twalpenny«
or English penny which was expended in snuff or whiskey In fact these
indolent peripatetics suffered much less real hardship and want of food than
the poor peasants from whom they received alms
If in addition to his personal qualifications the mendicant chanced to be
a Kings Bedesman or BlueGown he belonged in virtue thereof to the
aristocracy of his order and was esteemed a person of great importance
These Bedesmen are an order of paupers to whom the Kings of Scotland were in
the custom of distributing a certain alms in conformity with the ordinances of
the Catholic Church and who were expected in return to pray for the royal
welfare and that of the state This order is still kept up Their number is
equal to the number of years which his Majesty has lived and one BlueGown
additional is put on the roll for every returning royal birthday On the same
auspicious era each Bedesman receives a new cloak or gown of coarse cloth the
colour light blue with a pewter badge which confers on them the general
privilege of asking alms through all Scotland all laws against sorning
masterful beggary and every other species of mendicity being suspended in
favour of this privileged class With his cloak each receives a leathern purse
containing as many shillings Scots videlicet pennies sterling as the
sovereign is years old the zeal of their intercession for the kings long life
receiving it is to be supposed a great stimulus from their own present and
increasing interest in the object of their prayers On the same occasion one of
the Royal Chaplains preaches a sermon to the Bedesmen who as one of the
reverend gentlemen expressed himself are the most impatient and inattentive
audience in the world Something of this may arise from a feeling on the part of
the Bedesmen that they are paid for their own devotions not for listening to
those of others Or more probably it arises from impatience natural though
indecorous in men bearing so venerable a character to arrive at the conclusion
of the ceremonial of the royal birthday which so far as they are concerned
ends in a lusty breakfast of bread and ale the whole moral and religious
exhibition terminating in the advice of Johnsons »Hermit hoar« to his
proselyte
Come my lad and drink some beer
Of the charity bestowed on these aged Bedesmen in money and clothing there are
many records in the Treasurers accompts The following extract kindly supplied
by Mr Macdonald of the Register House may interest those whose taste is akin
to that of Jonathan Oldbuck of Monkbarns
BLEW GOWNIS
In the Account of Sir Robert Melvill of Murdocarney TreasurerDepute of King
James VI there are the following Payments
»Junij 1590
Item to Mr Peter Young Elimosinar twentie four gownis of blew clayth to be
gevin to xxiiij auld men according to the yeiris of his hienes age extending
to viij xx viij elnis clayth price of the elne xxiiij s
Inde ij c j li xij s
Item for sextene elnis bukrum to the saidis gownis price of the elne x s
Inde viij li
Item twentie four pursis and in ilk purse twentie four schilling
Inde xxviij li xvj s
Item the price of ilk purse iiij d
Inde viij s
Item for making of the saidis gownis
viij li«
In the Account of John Earl of Mar Great Treasurer of Scotland and of Sir
Gideon Murray of Elibank TreasurerDepute the BlueGowns also appear thus
»Junij 1617
Item to James Murray merchant for fyftene scoir sex elnis and ane half elne
of blew claith to be gownis to fyftie ane aigeit men according to the yeiris of
his Majesteis age at xl s the elne
Inde vj c xiij li
Item to workmen for careing the blewis to James Aikman tailyeour his hous
xiij s iiij d
Item for sex elnis and ane half of harden to the saidis gownis at vj s
viij d the elne
Inde xliij s iiij d
Item to the said workmen for careing of the gownis fra the said James
Aikmans hous to the palace of Halyrudehous
xviij s
Item for making the saidis fyftie ane gownis at xij s the peice
Inde xxx li xij s
Item for fyftie ane pursis to the said puire men
lj s
Item to Sir Peter Young lj s to be put in everie ane of the saidis lj
pursis to the said poore men
j c xxx l jj s
Item to the said Sir Peter to buy breid and drink to the said puir men
vj li xiij s iiij d
Item to the said Sir Peter to be delt amang uther puire folk
j c lj
Item upoun the last day of Junij to Doctor Young Deane of Winchester
Elimozinar Deput to his Majestie twentie fyve pund sterling to be gevin to the
puir be the way in his Majesteis progress
Inde iij c li«
I have only to add that although the institution of Kings Bedesmen still
subsists they are now seldom to be seen on the streets of Edinburgh of which
their peculiar dress made them rather a characteristic feature
Having thus given an account of the genus and species to which Edie
Ochiltree appertains the author may add that the individual he had in his eye
was Andrew Gemmells an old mendicant of the character described who was many
years since well known and must still be remembered in the vales of Gala
Tweed Ettrick Yarrow and the adjoining country
The author has in his youth repeatedly seen and conversed with Andrew but
cannot recollect whether he held the rank of BlueGown He was a remarkably fine
old figure very tall and maintaining a soldierlike or military manner and
address His features were intelligent with a powerful expression of sarcasm
His motions were always so graceful that he might almost have been suspected of
having studied them for he might on any occasion have served as a model for
an artist so remarkably striking were his ordinary attitudes Andrew Gemmells
had little of the cant of his calling his wants were food and shelter or a
trifle of money which he always claimed and seemed to receive as his due He
sung a good song told a good story and could crack a severe jest with all the
acumen of Shakspeares jesters though without using like them the cloak of
insanity It was some fear of Andrews satire as much as a feeling of kindness
or charity which secured him the general good reception which he enjoyed
everywhere In fact a jest of Andrew Gemmells especially at the expense of a
person of consequence flew round the circle which he frequented as surely as
the bonmot of a man of established character for wit glides through the
fashionable world Many of his good things are held in remembrance but are
generally too local and personal to be introduced here
Andrew had a character peculiar to himself among his tribe for aught I ever
heard He was ready and willing to play at cards or dice with any one who
desired such amusement This was more in the character of the Irish itinerant
gambler called in that country a carrot than of the Scottish beggar But the
late Reverend Doctor Robert Douglas minister of Galashiels assured the author
that the last time he saw Andrew Gemmells he was engaged in a game at brag with
a gentleman of fortune distinction and birth To preserve the due gradations
of rank the party was made at an open window of the chateau the laird sitting
on his chair in the inside the beggar on a stool in the yard and they played
on the windowsill The stake was a considerable parcel of silver The author
expressing some surprise Dr Douglas observed that the laird was no doubt a
humourist or original but that many decent persons in those times would like
him have thought there was nothing extraordinary in passing an hour either in
cardplaying or conversation with Andrew Gemmells
This singular mendicant had generally or was supposed to have as much
money about his person as would have been thought the value of his life among
modern footpads On one occasion a country gentleman generally esteemed a
very narrow man happening to meet Andrew expressed great regret that he had no
silver in his pocket or he would have given him sixpence »I can give you
change for a note laird« replied Andrew
Like most who have arisen to the head of their profession the modern
degradation which mendicity has undergone was often the subject of Andrews
lamentations As a trade he said it was forty pounds ayear worse since he had
first practised it On another occasion he observed begging was in modern times
scarcely the profession of a gentleman and that if he had twenty sons he
would not easily be induced to breed one of them up in his own line When or
where this laudator temporis acti closed his wanderings the author never heard
with certainty but most probably as Burns says
he died a cadgerpownys death
At some dike side
The author may add another picture of the same kind as Edie Ochiltree and Andrew
Gemmells considering these illustrations as a sort of gallery open to the
reception of anything which may elucidate former manners or amuse the reader
The authors contemporaries at the university of Edinburgh will probably
remember the thin wasted form of a venerable old Bedesman who stood by the
PotterrowPort now demolished and without speaking a syllable gently
inclined his head and offered his hat but with the least possible degree of
urgency towards each individual who passed This man gained by silence and the
extenuated and wasted appearance of a palmer from a remote country the same
tribute which was yielded to Andrew Gemmells sarcastic humour and stately
deportment He was understood to be able to maintain a son a student in the
theological classes of the University at the gate of which the father was a
mendicant The young man was modest and inclined to learning so that a student
of the same age and whose parents were rather of the lower order moved by
seeing him excluded from the society of other scholars when the secret of his
birth was suspected endeavoured to console him by offering him some occasional
civilities The old mendicant was grateful for this attention to his son and
one day as the friendly student passed he stooped forward more than usual as
if to intercept his passage The scholar drew out a halfpenny which he
concluded was the beggars object when he was surprised to receive his thanks
for the kindness he had shown to Jemmie and at the same time a cordial
invitation to dine with them next Saturday »on a shoulder of mutton and
potatoes« adding »yell put on your clean sark as I have company« The
student was strongly tempted to accept this hospitable proposal as many in his
place would probably have done but as the motive might have been capable of
misrepresentation he thought it most prudent considering the character and
circumstances of the old man to decline the invitation
Such are a few traits of Scottish mendicity designed to throw light on a
Novel in which a character of that description plays a prominent part We
conclude that we have vindicated Edie Ochiltrees right to the importance
assigned him and have shown that we have known one beggar take a hand at cards
with a person of distinction and another give dinner parties
I know not if it be worth while to observe that the Antiquary was not so
well received on its first appearance as either of its predecessors though in
course of time it rose to equal and with some readers superior popularity
Chapter First
Go call a coach and let a coach be called
And let the man who calleth be the caller
And in his calling let him nothing call
But Coach Coach Coach O for a coach ye gods
Chrononhotonthologos
It was early on a fine summers day near the end of the eighteenth century
when a young man of genteel appearance journeying towards the northeast of
Scotland provided himself with a ticket in one of those public carriages which
travel between Edinburgh and the Queensferry at which place as the name
implies and as is well known to all my northern readers there is a
passageboat for crossing the Firth of Forth The coach was calculated to carry
six regular passengers besides such interlopers as the coachman could pick up
by the way and intrude upon those who were legally in possession The tickets
which conferred right to a seat in this vehicle of little ease were dispensed
by a sharplooking old dame with a pair of spectacles on a very thin nose who
inhabited a »laigh shop« anglicè a cellar opening to the High Street by a
straight and steep stair at the bottom of which she sold tape thread needles
skeins of worsted coarse linen cloth and such feminine gear to those who had
the courage and skill to descend to the profundity of her dwelling without
falling headlong themselves or throwing down any of the numerous articles
which piled on each side of the descent indicated the profession of the trader
below
The written handbill which pasted on a projecting board announced that
the Queensferry Diligence or Hawes Fly departed precisely at twelve oclock on
Tuesday the fifteenth July 17 in order to secure for travellers the
opportunity of passing the Firth with the floodtide lied on the present
occasion like a bulletin for although that hour was pealed from Saint Giless
steeple and repeated by the Tron no coach appeared upon the appointed stand
It is true only two tickets had been taken out and possibly the lady of the
subterranean mansion might have an understanding with her Automedon that in
such cases a little space was to be allowed for the chance of filling up the
vacant places or the said Automedon might have been attending a funeral and
be delayed by the necessity of stripping his vehicle of its lugubrious trappings
or he might have staid to take a halfmutchkin extraordinary with his crony
the hostler or in short he did not make his appearance
The young gentleman who began to grow somewhat impatient was now joined by
a companion in this petty misery of human life the person who had taken out
the other place He who is bent upon a journey is usually easily to be
distinguished from his fellowcitizens The boots the greatcoat the umbrella
the little bundle in his hand the hat pulled over his resolved brows the
determined importance of his pace his brief answers to the salutations of
lounging acquaintances are all marks by which the experienced traveller in
mailcoach or diligence can distinguish at a distance the companion of his
future journey as he pushes onward to the place of rendezvous It is then that
with worldly wisdom the first comer hastens to secure the best berth in the
coach for himself and to make the most convenient arrangement for his baggage
before the arrival of his competitors Our youth who was gifted with little
prudence of any sort and who was moreover by the absence of the coach
deprived of the power of availing himself of his priority of choice amused
himself instead by speculating upon the occupation and character of the
personage who was now come to the coach office
He was a goodlooking man of the age of sixty perhaps older but his hale
complexion and firm step announced that years had not impaired his strength or
health His countenance was of the true Scottish cast strongly marked and
rather harsh in features with a shrewd and penetrating eye and a countenance
in which habitual gravity was enlivened by a cast of ironical humour His dress
was uniform and of a colour becoming his age and gravity a wig well dressed
and powdered surmounted by a slouched hat had something of a professional air
He might be a clergyman yet his appearance was more that of a man of the world
than usually belongs to the kirk of Scotland and his first ejaculation put the
matter beyond question
He arrived with a hurried pace and casting an alarmed glance towards the
dialplate of the church then looking at the place where the coach should have
been exclaimed »Deils in it I am too late after all«
The young man relieved his anxiety by telling him the coach had not yet
appeared The old gentleman apparently conscious of his own want of
punctuality did not at first feel courageous enough to censure that of the
coachman He took a parcel containing apparently a large folio from a little
boy who followed him and patting him on the head bid him go back and tell Mr
B that if he had known he was to have had so much time he would have put
another word or two to their bargain then told the boy to mind his business
and he would be as thriving a lad as ever dusted a duodecimo The boy lingered
perhaps in hopes of a penny to buy marbles but none was forthcoming Our senior
leaned his little bundle upon one of the posts at the head of the staircase
and facing the traveller who had first arrived waited in silence for about
five minutes the arrival of the expected diligence
At length after one or two impatient glances at the progress of the
minutehand of the clock having compared it with his own watch a huge and
antique gold repeater and having twitched about his features to give due
emphasis to one or two peevish pshaws he hailed the old lady of the cavern
»Good woman what the dl is her name Mrs Macleuchar«
Mrs Macleuchar aware that she had a defensive part to sustain in the
encounter which was to follow was in no hurry to hasten the discussion by
returning a ready answer
»Mrs Macleuchar Good woman« with an elevated voice then apart »Old
doited hag shes as deaf as a post I say Mrs Macleuchar«
»I am just serving a customer Indeed hinny it will no be a bodle
cheaper than I tell ye«
»Woman« reiterated the traveller »do you think we can stand here all day
till you have cheated that poor servant wench out of her halfyears fee and
bountith«
»Cheated« retorted Mrs Macleuchar eager to take up the quarrel upon a
defensible ground »I scorn your words sir you are an uncivil person and I
desire you will not stand there to slander me at my ain stairhead«
»The woman« said the senior looking with an arch glance at his destined
travelling companion »does not understand the words of action Woman« again
turning to the vault »I arraign not thy character but I desire to know what is
become of thy coach«
»Whats your wull« answered Mrs Macleuchar relapsing into deafness
»We have taken places maam« said the younger stranger »in your diligence
for Queensferry« »Which should have been halfway on the road before now«
continued the elder and more impatient traveller rising in wrath as he spoke
»and now in all likelihood we shall miss the tide and I have business of
importance on the other side and your cursed coach«
»The coach Gude guide us gentlemen is it no on the stand yet« answered
the old lady her shrill tone of expostulation sinking into a kind of apologetic
whine »Is it the coach ye hae been waiting for«
»What else could have kept us broiling in the sun by the side of the gutter
here you you faithless woman eh«
Mrs Macleuchar now ascended her trap stair for such it might be called
though constructed of stone until her nose came upon a level with the
pavement then after wiping her spectacles to look for that which she well knew
was not to be found she exclaimed with wellfeigned astonishment »Gude guide
us saw ever onybody the like o that«
»Yes you abominable woman« vociferated the traveller »many have seen the
like of it and all will see the like of it that have anything to do with your
trolloping sex« then pacing with great indignation before the door of the
shop still as he passed and repassed like a vessel who gives her broadside as
she comes abreast of a hostile fortress he shot down complaints threats and
reproaches on the embarrassed Mrs Macleuchar He would take a postchaise he
would call a hackney coach he would take four horses he must he would be
on the north side today and all the expense of his journey besides damages
direct and consequential arising from delay should be accumulated on the
devoted head of Mrs Macleuchar
There was something so comic in his pettish resentment that the younger
traveller who was in no such pressing hurry to depart could not help being
amused with it especially as it was obvious that every now and then the old
gentleman though very angry could not help laughing at his own vehemence But
when Mrs Macleuchar began also to join in the laughter he quickly put a stop
to her illtimed merriment
»Woman« said he »is that advertisement thine« showing a bit of crumpled
printed paper »Does it not set forth that God willing as you hypocritically
express it the Hawes Fly or Queensferry Diligence would set forth today at
twelve oclock and is it not thou falsest of creatures now a quarter past
twelve and no such fly or diligence to be seen Dost thou know the
consequence of seducing the lieges by false reports dost thou know it might
be brought under the statute of leasingmaking Answer and for once in thy
long useless and evil life let it be in the words of truth and sincerity
hast thou such a coach is it in rerum natura or is this base annunciation
a mere swindle on the incautious to beguile them of their time their patience
and three shillings of sterling money of this realm Hast thou I say such a
coach ay or no«
»O dear yes sir the neighbours ken the diligence weel green picked out
wi red three yellow wheels and a black ane«
»Woman thy special description will not serve it may be only a lie with a
circumstance«
»O man man« said the overwhelmed Mrs Macleuchar totally exhausted at
having been so long the butt of his rhetoric »take back your three shillings
and make me quit o ye«
»Not so fast not so fast woman Will three shillings transport me to
Queensferry agreeably to thy treacherous program or will it requite the
damage I may sustain by leaving my business undone or repay the expenses which
I must disburse if I am obliged to tarry a day at the South Ferry for lack of
tide Will it hire I say a pinnace for which alone the regular price is
five shillings«
Here his argument was cut short by a lumbering noise which proved to be the
advance of the expected vehicle pressing forward with all the dispatch to which
the brokenwinded jades that drew it could possibly be urged With ineffable
pleasure Mrs Macleuchar saw her tormentor deposited in the leathern
convenience but still as it was driving off his head thrust out of the window
reminded her in words drowned amid the rumbling of the wheels that if the
diligence did not attain the Ferry in time to save the floodtide she Mrs
Macleuchar should be held responsible for all the consequences that might
ensue
The coach had continued in motion for a mile or two before the stranger had
completely repossessed himself of his equanimity as was manifested by the
doleful ejaculations which he made from time to time on the too great
probability or even certainty, of their missing the floodtide By degrees
however his wrath subsided he wiped his brows relaxed his frown and undoing
the parcel in his hand produced his folio on which he gazed from time to time
with the knowing look of an amateur admiring its height and condition and
ascertaining by a minute and individual inspection of each leaf that the
volume was uninjured and entire from titlepage to colophon His
fellowtraveller took the liberty of inquiring the subject of his studies He
lifted up his eyes with something of a sarcastic glance as if he supposed the
young querist would not relish or perhaps understand his answer and
pronounced the book to be Sandy Gordons Itinerarium Septentrionale1 a book
illustrative of the Roman remains in Scotland The querist unappalled by this
learned title proceeded to put several questions which indicated that he had
made good use of a good education and although not possessed of minute
information on the subject of antiquities had yet acquaintance enough with the
classics to render him an interested and intelligent auditor when they were
enlarged upon The elder traveller observing with pleasure the capacity of his
temporary companion to understand and answer him plunged nothing loath into a
sea of discussion concerning urns vases votive altars Roman camps and the
rules of castrametation
The pleasure of this discourse had such a dulcifying tendency that
although two causes of delay occurred each of much more serious duration than
that which had drawn down his wrath upon the unlucky Mrs Macleuchar our
ANTIQUARY only bestowed on the delay the honour of a few episodical poohs and
pshaws which rather seemed to regard the interruption of his disquisition than
the retardation of his journey
The first of these stops was occasioned by the breaking of a spring which
half an hours labour hardly repaired To the second the Antiquary was himself
accessory if not the principal cause of it for observing that one of the
horses had cast a forefoot shoe he apprized the coachman of this important
deficiency »Its Jamie Martingale that furnishes the naigs on contract and
uphauds them« answered John »and I am not entitled to make any stop or to
suffer prejudice by the like of these accidents«
»And when you go to I mean to the place you deserve to go to you
scoundrel who do you think will uphold you on contract If you dont stop
directly and carry the poor brute to the next smithy Ill have you punished if
theres a justice of peace in MidLothian« and opening the coachdoor out he
jumped while the coachman obeyed his orders muttering that »if the gentlemen
lost the tide now they could not say but it was their ain fault since he was
willing to get on«
I like so little to analyze the complication of the causes which influence
actions that I will not venture to ascertain whether our Antiquarys humanity
to the poor horse was not in some degree aided by his desire of showing his
companion a Picts camp or Roundabout a subject which he had been elaborately
discussing and of which a specimen »very curious and perfect indeed« happened
to exist about a hundred yards distant from the spot where this interruption
took place But were I compelled to decompose the motives of my worthy friend
for such was the gentleman in the sober suit with powdered wig and slouched
hat I should say that although he certainly would not in any case have
suffered the coachman to proceed while the horse was unfit for service and
likely to suffer by being urged forward yet the man of whipcord escaped some
severe abuse and reproach by the agreeable mode which the traveller found out to
pass the interval of delay
So much time was consumed by these interruptions of their journey that when
they descended the hill above the Hawes for so the inn on the southern side of
the Queensferry is denominated the experienced eye of the Antiquary at once
discerned from the extent of wet sand and the number of black stones and
rocks covered with seaweed which were visible along the skirts of the shore
that the hour of tide was past The young traveller expected a burst of
indignation but whether as Croaker says in »The Goodnatured Man« our hero
had exhausted himself in fretting away his misfortunes beforehand so that he
did not feel them when they actually arrived or whether he found the company in
which he was placed too congenial to lead him to repine at anything which
delayed his journey it is certain that he submitted to his lot with much
resignation
»The dls in the diligence and the old hag it belongs to Diligence
quoth I Thou shouldst have called it the Sloth Fly quoth she why it moves
like a fly through a gluepot as the Irishman says But however time and tide
tarry for no man and so my young friend well have a snack here at the Hawes
which is a very decent sort of a place and Ill be very happy to finish the
account I was giving you of the difference between the mode of entrenching
castra stativa and castra oestiva things confounded by too many of our
historians Lackaday if they had taen the pains to satisfy their own eyes
instead of following each others blind guidance Well we shall be pretty
comfortable at the Hawes and besides after all we must have dined somewhere
and it will be pleasanter sailing with the tide of ebb and the evening breeze«
In this Christian temper of making the best of all occurrences our
travellers alighted at the Hawes
Chapter Second
Sir they do scandal me upon the road here
A poor quotidian rack of mutton roasted
Dry to be grated and that driven down
With beer and buttermilk mingled together
It is against my freehold my inheritance
Wine is the word that glads the heart of man
And mines the house of wine Sack says my bush
Be merry and drink Sherry thats my posie
Ben Jonsons New Inn
As the senior traveller descended the crazy steps of the diligence at the inn
he was greeted by the fat gouty pursy landlord with that mixture of
familiarity and respect which the Scotch innkeepers of the old school used to
assume towards their more valued customers
»Have a care o us Monkbarns distinguishing him by his territorial
epithet always most agreeable to the ear of a Scottish proprietor is this
you I little thought to have seen your honour here till the summer session was
ower«
»Ye donnard auld deevil« answered his guest his Scottish accent
predominating when in anger though otherwise not particularly remarkable »ye
donnard auld crippled idiot what have I to do with the session or the geese
that flock to it or the hawks that pick their pinions for them«
»Troth and thats true« said mine host who in fact only spoke upon a
very general recollection of the strangers original education yet would have
been sorry not to have been supposed accurate as to the station and profession
of him or any other occasional guest »Thats very true but I thought ye had
some law affair of your ain to look after I have ane mysell a ganging plea
that my father left me and his father afore left to him Its about our
backyard yell maybe hae heard of it in the Parliamenthouse Hutchison
against Mackitchinson its a weelkennd plea its been four times in afore
the fifteen and deil ony thing the wisest o them could make ot but just to
send it out again to the outerhouse O its a beautiful thing to see how lang
and how carefully justice is considered in this country«
»Hold your tongue you fool« said the traveller but in great goodhumour
»and tell us what you can give this young gentleman and me for dinner«
»Ou theres fish nae doubt thats seatrout and caller haddocks« said
Mackitchinson twisting his napkin »and yell be for a muttonchop and theres
cranberry tarts very weel preserved and and theres just ony thing else ye
like«
»Which is to say there is nothing else whatever Well well the fish and
the chop and the tarts will do very well But dont imitate the cautious delay
that you praise in the courts of justice Let there be no remits from the inner
to the outer house hear ye me«
»Na na« said Mackitchinson whose long and heedful perusal of volumes of
printed session papers had made him acquainted with some law phrases »the
denner shall be served quam primum and that peremptorie« And with the
flattering laugh of a promising host he left them in his sanded parlour hung
with prints of the Four Seasons
As notwithstanding his pledge to the contrary the glorious delays of the
law were not without their parallel in the kitchen of the inn our younger
traveller had an opportunity to step out and make some inquiry of the people of
the house concerning the rank and station of his companion The information
which he received was of a general and less authentic nature but quite
sufficient to make him acquainted with the name history and circumstances of
the gentleman whom we shall endeavour in a few words to introduce more
accurately to our readers
Jonathan Oldenbuck or Oldinbuck by popular contraction Oldbuck of
Monkbarns was the second son of a gentleman possessed of a small property in
the neighbourhood of a thriving seaport town on the northeastern coast of
Scotland which for various reasons we shall denominate Fairport They had
been established for several generations as landowners in the county and in
most shires of England would have been accounted a family of some standing But
the shire of was filled with gentlemen of more ancient descent and larger
fortune In the last generation also the neighbouring gentry had been almost
uniformly Jacobites while the proprietors of Monkbarns like the burghers of
the town near which they were settled were steady assertors of the Protestant
succession The latter had however a pedigree of their own on which they
prided themselves as much as those who despised them valued their respective
Saxon Norman or Celtic genealogies The first Oldenbuck who had settled in
their family mansion shortly after the Reformation was they asserted
descended from one of the original printers of Germany and had left his country
in consequence of the persecutions directed against the professors of the
Reformed religion He had found a refuge in the town near which his posterity
dwelt the more readily that he was a sufferer in the Protestant cause and
certainly not the less so that he brought with him money enough to purchase the
small estate of Monkbarns then sold by a dissipated laird to whose father it
had been gifted with other church lands on the dissolution of the great and
wealthy monastery to which it had belonged The Oldenbucks were therefore loyal
subjects on all occasions of insurrection and as they kept up a good
intelligence with the borough it chanced that the Laird of Monkbarns who
flourished in 1745 was provost of the town during that illfated year and had
exerted himself with much spirit in favour of King George and even been put to
expenses on that score which according to the liberal conduct of the existing
government towards their friends had never been repaid him By dint of
solicitation however and borough interest he contrived to gain a place in the
customs and being a frugal careful man had found himself enabled to add
considerably to his paternal fortune He had only two sons of whom as we have
hinted the present laird was the younger and two daughters one of whom still
flourished in single blessedness and the other who was greatly more juvenile
made a lovematch with a captain in the Fortytwa who had no other fortune but
his commission and a Highland pedigree Poverty disturbed a union which love
would otherwise have made happy and Captain MIntyre in justice to his wife
and two children a boy and girl had found himself obliged to seek his fortune
in the East Indies Being ordered upon an expedition against Hyder Ally the
detachment to which he belonged was cut off and no news ever reached his
unfortunate wife whether he fell in battle or was murdered in prison or
survived in what the habits of the Indian tyrant rendered a hopeless captivity
She sunk under the accumulated load of grief and uncertainty and left a son and
daughter to the charge of her brother the existing Laird of Monkbarns
The history of that proprietor himself is soon told Being as we have said
a second son his father destined him to a share in a substantial mercantile
concern carried on by some of his maternal relations From this Jonathans mind
revolted in the most irreconcilable manner He was then put apprentice to the
profession of a writer or attorney in which he profited so far that he made
himself master of the whole forms of feudal investitures and showed such
pleasure in reconciling their incongruities and tracing their origin that his
master had great hope he would one day be an able conveyancer But he halted
upon the threshold and though he acquired some knowledge of the origin and
system of the law of his country he could never be persuaded to apply it to
lucrative and practical purposes It was not from any inconsiderate neglect of
the advantages attending the possession of money that he thus deceived the hopes
of his master »Were he thoughtless or lightheaded or rei suoe prodigus« said
his instructor »I would know what to make of him But he never pays away a
shilling without looking anxiously after the change makes his sixpence go
farther than another lads halfcrown and will ponder over an old blackletter
copy of the acts of parliament for days rather than go to the golf or the
changehouse and yet he will not bestow one of these days on a little business
of routine that would put twentyshillings in his pocket a strange mixture of
frugality and industry and negligent indolence I dont know what to make of
him«
But in process of time his pupil gained the means of making what he pleased
of himself for his father having died was not long survived by his eldest son
an arrant fisher and fowler who departed this life in consequence of a cold
caught in his vocation while shooting ducks in the swamp called
Kittlefittingmoss notwithstanding his having drunk a bottle of brandy that very
night to keep the cold out of his stomach Jonathan therefore succeeded to the
estate and with it to the means of subsisting without the hated drudgery of the
law His wishes were very moderate and as the rent of his small property rose
with the improvement of the country it soon greatly exceeded his wants and
expenditure and though too indolent to make money he was by no means
insensible to the pleasure of beholding it accumulate The burghers of the town
near which he lived regarded him with a sort of envy as one who affected to
divide himself from their rank in society and whose studies and pleasures
seemed to them alike incomprehensible Still however a sort of hereditary
respect for the Laird of Monkbarns augmented by the knowledge of his being a
readymoney man kept up his consequence with this class of his neighbours The
country gentlemen were generally above him in fortune and beneath him in
intellect and excepting one with whom he lived in habits of intimacy had
little intercourse with Mr Oldbuck of Monkbarns He had however the usual
resources the company of the clergyman and of the doctor when he chose to
request it and also his own pursuits and pleasures being in correspondence
with most of the virtuosi of his time who like himself measured decayed
entrenchments made plans of ruined castles read illegible inscriptions and
wrote essays on medals in the proportion of twelve pages to each letter of the
legend Some habits of hasty irritation he had contracted partly it was said
in the borough of Fairport from an early disappointment in love in virtue of
which he had commenced misogynist as he called it but yet more by the
obsequious attention paid to him by his maiden sister and his orphan niece whom
he had trained to consider him as the greatest man upon earth and whom he used
to boast of as the only women he had ever seen who were well broke in and bitted
to obedience though it must be owned Miss Grizzy Oldbuck was sometimes apt to
gib when he pulled the reins too tight The rest of his character must be
gathered from the story and we dismiss with pleasure the tiresome task of
recapitulation
During the time of dinner Mr Oldbuck actuated by the same curiosity which
his fellowtraveller had entertained on his account made some advances which
his age and station entitled him to do in a more direct manner towards
ascertaining the name destination and quality of his young companion
His name the young gentleman said was Lovel
»What the cat the rat and Lovel our dog Was he descended from King
Richards favourite«
»He had no pretensions« he said »to call himself a whelp of that litter
his father was a northofEngland gentleman He was at present travelling to
Fairport the town near to which Monkbarns was situated and if he found the
place agreeable might perhaps remain there for some weeks«
»Was Mr Lovels excursion solely for pleasure«
»Not entirely«
»Perhaps on business with some of the commercial people of Fairport«
»It was partly on business but had no reference to commerce«
Here he paused and Mr Oldbuck having pushed his inquiries as far as good
manners permitted was obliged to change the conversation The Antiquary though
by no means an enemy to good cheer was a determined foe to all unnecessary
expense on a journey and upon his companion giving a hint concerning a bottle
of port wine he drew a direful picture of the mixture which he said was
usually sold under that denomination and affirming that a little punch was more
genuine and better suited for the season he laid his hand upon the bell to
order the materials But Mackitchinson had in his own mind settled their
beverage otherwise and appeared bearing in his hand an immense double quart
bottle or magnum as it is called in Scotland covered with sawdust and
cobwebs the warrants of its antiquity
»Punch« said he catching that generous sound as he entered the parlour
»the deil a drap punch yese get here the day Monkbarns and that ye may lay
your account wi«
»What do you mean you impudent rascal«
»Ay ay its nae matter for that but do you mind the trick ye served me
the last time ye were here«
»I trick you«
»Ay just yoursell Monkbarns The Laird o Tamlowrie and Sir Gilbert
Grizzlecleuch and Auld Rossballoh and the Bailie were just setting in to make
an afternoon ot and you wi some o your auldwarld stories that the mind o
man canna resist whirld them to the back o beyont to look at the auld Roman
camp Ah sir« turning to Lovel »he wad wile the bird aff the tree wi the
tales he tells about folk lang syne and did not I lose the drinking o sax
pints o gude claret for the deil ane wad hae stirred till he had seen that out
at the least«
»Dye hear the impudent scoundrel« said Monkbarns but laughing at the same
time for the worthy landlord as he used to boast knew the measure of a
guests foot as well as eer a souter on this side Solway »well well you may
send us in a bottle of port«
»Port na na ye maun leave port and punch to the like o us its claret
thats fit for you lairds and I dare say nane of the folk ye speak so much o
ever drank either of the twa«
»Do you hear how absolute the knave is Well my young friend we must for
once prefer the Falernian to the vile Sabinum«
The ready landlord had the cork instantly extracted decanted the wine into
a vessel of suitable capaciousness and declaring it parfumed the very room
left his guests to make the most of it
Mackitchinsons wine was really good and had its effect upon the spirits of
the elder guest who told some good stories cut some sly jokes and at length
entered into a learned discussion concerning the ancient dramatists a ground on
which he found his new acquaintance so strong that at length he began to
suspect he had made them his professional study »A traveller partly for
business and partly for pleasure Why the stage partakes of both it is a
labour to the performers and affords or is meant to afford pleasure to the
spectators He seems in manner and rank above the class of young men who take
that turn but I remember hearing them say that the little theatre at Fairport
was to open with the performance of a young gentleman being his first
appearance on any stage If this should be thee Lovel Lovel yes Lovel or
Belville are just the names which youngsters are apt to assume on such occasions
on my life I am sorry for the lad«
Mr Oldbuck was habitually parsimonious but in no respects mean his first
thought was to save his fellowtraveller any part of the expense of the
entertainment which he supposed must be in his situation more or less
inconvenient He therefore took an opportunity of settling privately with Mr
Mackitchinson The young traveller remonstrated against his liberality and only
acquiesced in deference to his years and respectability
The mutual satisfaction which they found in each others society induced Mr
Oldbuck to propose and Lovel willingly to accept a scheme for travelling
together to the end of their journey Mr Oldbuck intimated a wish to pay
twothirds of the hire of a postchaise saying that a proportional quantity of
room was necessary to his accommodation but this Mr Lovel resolutely declined
Their expense then was mutual unless when Lovel occasionally slipt a shilling
into the hand of a growling postilion for Oldbuck tenacious of ancient
customs never extended his guerdon beyond eighteenpence a stage In this
manner they travelled until they arrived at Fairport about two oclock on the
following day
Lovel probably expected that his travelling companion would have invited him
to dinner on his arrival but his consciousness of a want of ready preparation
for unexpected guests and perhaps some other reasons prevented Oldbuck from
paying him that attention He only begged to see him as early as he could make
it convenient to call in a forenoon recommended him to a widow who had
apartments to let and to a person who kept a decent ordinary cautioning both
of them apart that he only knew Mr Lovel as a pleasant companion in a
postchaise and did not mean to guarantee any bills which he might contract
while residing at Fairport The young gentlemans figure and manners not to
mention a wellfurnished trunk which soon arrived by sea to his address at
Fairport probably went as far in his favour as the limited recommendation of
his fellowtraveller
Chapter Third
He had a routh o auld nicknackets
Rusty airn caps and jinglinjackets
Would held the Loudons three in tackets
A towmond gude
And parritchpats and auld sautbackets
Afore the flude
Burns
After he had settled himself in his new apartments at Fairport Mr Lovel
bethought him of paying the requested visit to his fellowtraveller He did not
make it earlier because with all the old gentlemans goodhumour and
information there had sometimes glanced forth in his language and manner
towards him an air of superiority which his companion considered as being fully
beyond what the difference of age warranted He therefore waited the arrival of
his baggage from Edinburgh that he might arrange his dress according to the
fashion of the day and make his exterior corresponding to the rank in society
which he supposed or felt himself entitled to hold
It was the fifth day after his arrival that having made the necessary
inquiries concerning the road he went forth to pay his respects at Monkbarns A
footpath leading over a heathy hill and through two or three meadows conducted
him to this mansion which stood on the opposite side of the hill aforesaid and
commanded a fine prospect of the bay and shipping Secluded from the town by the
rising ground which also screened it from the northwest wind the house had a
solitary and sheltered appearance The exterior had little to recommend it It
was an irregular oldfashioned building some part of which had belonged to a
grange or solitary farmhouse inhabited by the bailiff or steward of the
monastery when the place was in possession of the monks It was here that the
community stored up the grain which they received as groundrent from their
vassals for with the prudence belonging to their order all their conventional
revenues were made payable in kind and hence, as the present proprietor loved
to tell came the name of Monkbarns To the remains of the bailiffs house the
succeeding lay inhabitants had made various additions in proportion to the
accommodation required by their families and as this was done with an equal
contempt of convenience within and architectural regularity without the whole
bore the appearance of a hamlet which had suddenly stood still when in the act
of leading down one of Amphions or Orpheuss country dances It was
surrounded by tall clipped hedges of yew and holly some of which still
exhibited the skill of the topiarian artist2 and presented curious armchairs
towers and the figures of Saint George and the Dragon The taste of Mr Oldbuck
did not disturb these monuments of an art now unknown and he was the less
tempted so to do as it must necessarily have broken the heart of the old
gardener One tall embowering holly was however sacred from the shears and
on a garden seat beneath its shade Lovel beheld his old friend with spectacles
on nose and pouch on side busily employed in perusing the London Chronicle
soothed by the summer breeze through the rustling leaves and the distant dash
of the waves as they rippled upon the sand
Mr Oldbuck immediately rose and advanced to greet his travelling
acquaintance with a hearty shake of the hand »By my faith« said he »I began
to think you had changed your mind and found the stupid people of Fairport so
tiresome that you judged them unworthy of your talents and had taken French
leave as my old friend and brotherantiquary MacCribb did when he went off
with one of my Syrian medals«
»I hope my good sir I should have fallen under no such imputation«
»Quite as bad let me tell you if you had stolen yourself away without
giving me the pleasure of seeing you again I had rather you had taken my copper
Otho himself But come let me show you the way into my sanctum sanctorum my
cell I may call it for except two idle hussies of womankind« by this
contemptuous phrase borrowed from his brotherantiquary the cynic Anthony
aWood Mr Oldbuck was used to denote the fair sex in general and his sister
and niece in particular »that on some idle pretext of relationship have
established themselves in my premises I live here as much a Coenobite as my
predecessor John o the Girnell whose grave I will show you by and by«
Thus speaking the old gentleman led the way through a low door but before
entrance suddenly stopped short to point out some vestiges of what he called an
inscription and shaking his head as he pronounced it totally illegible »Ah
if you but knew Mr Lovel the time and trouble that these mouldering traces of
letters have cost me No mother ever travailed so for a child and all to no
purpose although I am almost positive that these two last marks imply the
figures or letters LV and may give us a good guess at the real date of the
building since we know aliunde that it was founded by Abbot Waldimir about
the middle of the fourteenth century and I profess I think that centre
ornament might be made out by better eyes than mine«
»I think« answered Lovel willing to humour the old man »it has something
the appearance of a mitre«
»I protest you are right you are right it never struck me before see
what it is to have younger eyes A mitre a mitre it corresponds in every
respect«
The resemblance was not much nearer than that of Poloniuss cloud to a
whale or an owzel it was sufficient however to set the Antiquarys brains to
work »A mitre my dear sir« continued he as he led the way through a
labyrinth of inconvenient and dark passages and accompanied his disquisition
with certain necessary cautions to his guest »A mitre my dear sir will suit
our abbot as well as a bishop he was a mitred abbot and at the very top of
the roll take care of these three steps I know MacCribb denies this but it
is as certain as that he took away my Antigonus no leave asked youll see the
name of the Abbot of Trotcosey Abbas Trottocosiensis at the head of the rolls
of parliament in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries there is very little
light here and these cursed womankind always leave their tubs in the passage
now take care of the corner ascend twelve steps and ye are safe«
Mr Oldbuck had by this time attained the top of the winding stair which led
to his own apartment and opening a door and pushing aside a piece of tapestry
with which it was covered his first exclamation was »What are you about here
you sluts« A dirty barefooted chambermaid threw down her duster detected in
the heinous fact of arranging the sanctum sanctorum and fled out of an opposite
door from the face of her incensed master A genteellooking young woman who
was superintending the operation stood her ground but with some timidity
»Indeed uncle your room was not fit to be seen and I just came to see
that Jenny laid everything down where she took it up«
»And how dare you or Jenny either presume to meddle with my private
matters« Mr Oldbuck hated putting to rights as much as Dr Orkborne or any
other professed student »Go sew your sampler you monkey and do not let me
find you here again as you value your ears I assure you Mr Lovel that the
last inroad of these pretended friends to cleanliness was almost as fatal to my
collection as Hudibrass visit to that of Sidrophel and I have ever since
missed
My copperplate with almanacks
Engraved upont and other knacks
My moondial with Napiers bones
And several constellation stones
My flea my morpeon and punaise
I purchased for my proper ease
And so forth as old Butler has it«
The young lady after courtesying to Lovel had taken the opportunity to
make her escape during this enumeration of losses »Youll be poisoned here with
the volumes of dust they have raised« continued the Antiquary »but I assure
you the dust was very ancient peaceful quiet dust about an hour ago and
would have remained so for a hundred years had not these gipsies disturbed it
as they do everything else in the world«
It was indeed some time before Lovel could through the thick atmosphere
perceive in what sort of den his friend had constructed his retreat It was a
lofty room of middling size obscurely lighted by high narrow latticed windows
One end was entirely occupied by bookshelves greatly too limited in space for
the number of volumes placed upon them which were therefore drawn up in ranks
of two or three files deep while numberless others littered the floor and the
tables amid a chaos of maps engravings scraps of parchment bundles of
papers pieces of old armour swords dirks helmets and Highland targets
Behind Mr Oldbucks seat which was an ancient leatherncovered easychair
worn smooth by constant use was a huge oaken cabinet decorated at each corner
with Dutch cherubs having their little duck displayed and great jolterheaded
visages placed between them The top of this cabinet was covered with busts and
Roman lamps and pateræ intermingled with one or two bronze figures The walls
of the apartment were partly clothed with grim old tapestry representing the
memorable story of Sir Gawaines wedding in which full justice was done to the
ugliness of the Lothely Lady although to judge from his own looks the gentle
knight had less reason to be disgusted with the match on account of disparity of
outward favour than the romancer has given us to understand The rest of the
room was panelled or wainscotted with black oak against which hung two or
three portraits in armour being characters in Scottish history favourites of
Mr Oldbuck and as many in tiewigs and laced coats staring representatives of
his own ancestors A large oldfashioned oaken table was covered with a
profusion of papers parchments books and nondescript trinkets and gewgaws
which seemed to have little to recommend them besides rust and the antiquity
which it indicates In the midst of this wreck of ancient books and utensils
with a gravity equal to Marius among the ruins of Carthage sat a large black
cat which to a superstitious eye might have presented the genius loci the
tutelar demon of the apartment The floor as well as the table and chairs was
overflowed by the same mare magnum of miscellaneous trumpery where it would
have been as impossible to find any individual article wanted as to put it to
any use when discovered
Amid this medley it was no easy matter to find ones way to a chair
without stumbling over a prostrate folio or the still more awkward mischance of
overturning some piece of Roman or ancient British pottery And when the chair
was attained it had to be disencumbered with a careful hand of engravings
which might have received damage and of antique spurs and buckles which would
certainly have occasioned it to any sudden occupant Of this the Antiquary made
Lovel particularly aware adding that his friend the Rev Doctor Heavysterne
from the Low Countries had sustained much injury by sitting down suddenly and
incautiously on three ancient calthrops or crawtaes which had been lately dug
up in the bog near Bannockburn and which dispersed by Robert Bruce to lacerate
the feet of the English chargers came thus in process of time to endamage the
sitting part of a learned professor of Utrecht
Having at length fairly settled himself and being nothing loath to make
inquiry concerning the strange objects around him which his host was equally
ready as far as possible to explain Lovel was introduced to a large club or
bludgeon with an iron spike at the end of it which it seems had been lately
found in a field on the Monkbarns property adjacent to an old buryingground
It had mightily the air of such a stick as the Highland reapers use to walk with
on their annual peregrinations from their mountains but Mr Oldbuck was
strongly tempted to believe that as its shape was singular it might have been
one of the clubs with which the monks armed their peasants in lieu of more
martial weapons whence he observed the villains were called Colvecarles
or Kolbkerls that is Clavigeri or clubbearers For the truth of this
custom he quoted the chronicle of Antwerp and that of St Martin against which
authorities Lovel had nothing to oppose having never heard of them till that
moment
Mr Oldbuck next exhibited thumbscrews which had given the Covenanters of
former days the cramp in their joints and a collar with the name of a fellow
convicted of theft whose services as the inscription bore had been adjudged
to a neighbouring baron in lieu of the modern Scottish punishment which as
Oldbuck said sends such culprits to enrich England by their labour and
themselves by their dexterity Many and various were the other curiosities which
he showed but it was chiefly upon his books that he prided himself
repeating with a complacent air as he led the way to the crowded and dusty
shelves the verses of old Chaucer
For he would rather have at his bedhead
A twenty books clothed in black or red
Of Aristotle or his philosophy
Than robes rich rebeck or saltery
This pithy motto he delivered shaking his head and giving each guttural the
true AngloSaxon enunciation which is now forgotten in the southern parts of
this realm
The collection was indeed a curious one and might well be envied by an
amateur Yet it was not collected at the enormous prices of modern times which
are sufficient to have appalled the most determined as well as earliest
bibliomaniac upon record whom we take to have been none else than the renowned
Don Quixote de la Mancha as among other slight indications of an infirm
understanding he is stated by his veracious historian Cid Hamet Benengeli to
have exchanged fields and farms for folios and quartos of chivalry In this
species of exploit the good knighterrant has been imitated by lords knights
and squires of our own day though we have not yet heard of any that has
mistaken an inn for a castle or laid his lance in rest against a windmill Mr
Oldbuck did not follow these collectors in such excess of expenditure but
taking a pleasure in the personal labour of forming his library saved his purse
at the expense of his time and toil He was no encourager of that ingenious race
of peripatetic middlemen who trafficking between the obscure keeper of a
stall and the eager amateur make their profit at once of the ignorance of the
former, and the dearbought skill and taste of the latter When such were
mentioned in his hearing he seldom failed to point out how necessary it was to
arrest the object of your curiosity in its first transit and to tell his
favourite story of Snuffy Davie and Caxtons Game at Chess »Davy Wilson« he
said »commonly called Snuffy Davy from his inveterate addiction to black
rappee was the very prince of scouts for searching blind alleys cellars and
stalls for rare volumes He had the scent of a slowhound sir and the snap of
a bulldog He would detect you an old blackletter ballad among the leaves of a
law-paper and find an editio princeps under the mask of a school Corderius
Snuffy Davy bought the Game of Chess 1474 the first book ever printed in
England from a stall in Holland for about two groschen or twopence of our
money He sold it to Osborne for twenty pounds and as many books as came to
twenty pounds more Osborne resold this inimitable windfall to Dr Askew for
sixty guineas At Dr Askews sale« continued the old gentleman kindling as he
spoke »this inestimable treasure blazed forth in its full value and was
purchased by Royalty itself for one hundred and seventy pounds Could a copy
now occur Lord only knows« he ejaculated with a deep sigh and liftedup hands
»Lord only knows what would be its ransom and yet it was originally secured
by skill and research for the easy equivalent of twopence sterling3 Happy
thrice happy Snuffy Davie and blessed were the times when thy industry could
be so rewarded«
»Even I sir« he went on »though far inferior in industry and discernment
and presence of mind to that great man can show you a few a very few things
which I have collected not by force of money as any wealthy man might
although as my friend Lucian says he might chance to throw away his coin only
to illustrate his ignorance but gained in a manner that shows I know
something of the matter See this bundle of ballads not one of them later than
1700 and some of them an hundred years older I wheedled an old woman out of
these who loved them better than her psalmbook Tobacco sir snuff and the
Complete Syren were the equivalent For that mutilated copy of the Complaynt of
Scotland I sat out the drinking of two dozen bottles of strong ale with the
late learned proprietor who in gratitude bequeathed it to me by his last
will These little Elzevirs are the memoranda and trophies of many a walk by
night and morning through the Cowgate the Canongate the Bow St Marys Wynd
wherever in fine there were to be found brokers and trokers those
miscellaneous dealers in things rare and curious How often have I stood
haggling on a halfpenny lest by a too ready acquiescence in the dealers first
price he should be led to suspect the value I set upon the article how have
I trembled lest some passing stranger should chop in between me and the prize
and regarded each poor student of divinity that stopped to turn over the books
at the stall as a rival amateur or prowling bookseller in disguise And
then Mr Lovel the sly satisfaction with which one pays the consideration and
pockets the article affecting a cold indifference while the hand is trembling
with pleasure Then to dazzle the eyes of our wealthier and emulous rivals by
showing them such a treasure as this« displaying a little black smoked book
about the size of a primer »to enjoy their surprise and envy shrouding
meanwhile under a veil of mysterious consciousness our own superior knowledge
and dexterity these my young friend these are the white moments of life
that repay the toil and pains and sedulous attention which our profession
above all others so peculiarly demands«
Lovel was not a little amused at hearing the old gentleman run on in this
manner and however incapable of entering into the full merits of what he
beheld he admired as much as could have been expected the various treasures
which Oldbuck exhibited Here were editions esteemed as being the first and
there stood those scarcely less regarded as being the last and best here was a
book valued because it had the authors final improvements and there another
which strange to tell was in request because it had them not One was
precious because it was a folio another because it was a duodecimo some
because they were tall some because they were short the merit of this lay in
the titlepage of that in the arrangement of the letters in the word Finis
There was it seemed no peculiar distinction however trifling or minute which
might not give value to a volume providing the indispensable quality of
scarcity or rare occurrence was attached to it
Not the least fascinating was the original broadside the Dying Speech
Bloody Murder or Wonderful Wonder of Wonders in its primary tattered guise
as it was hawked through the streets and sold for the cheap and easy price of
one penny though now worth the weight of that penny in gold On these the
Antiquary dilated with transport and read with a rapturous voice the
elaborate titles which bore the same proportion to the contents that the
painted signs without a showmans booth do to the animals within Mr Oldbuck
for example, piqued himself especially in possessing an unique broadside
entitled and called »Strange and Wonderful News from ChippingNorton in the
County of Oxon of certain dreadful Apparitions which were seen in the Air on
the 26th of July 1610 at Half an Hour after Nine oClock at Noon and continued
till Eleven in which Time was seen Appearances of several flaming Swords
strange Motions of the superior Orbs with the unusual Sparkling of the Stars
with their dreadful Continuations With the Account of the Opening of the
Heavens and strange Appearances therein disclosing themselves with several
other prodigious Circumstances not heard of in any Age to the great Amazement
of the Beholders as it was communicated in a Letter to one Mr Colley living
in West Smithfield and attested by Thomas Brown Elizabeth Greenaway and Anne
Gutheridge who were Spectators of the dreadful Apparitions And if any one
would be further satisfied of the Truth of this Relation, let them repair to Mr
Nightingales at the Bear Inn in West Smithfield and they may be satisfied«4
»You laugh at this« said the proprietor of the collection »and I forgive
you I do acknowledge that the charms on which we doat are not so obvious to the
eyes of youth as those of a fair lady but you will grow wiser and see more
justly when you come to wear spectacles Yet stay I have one piece of
antiquity which you perhaps will prize more highly«
So saying Mr Oldbuck unlocked a drawer and took out a bundle of keys
then pulled aside a piece of the tapestry which concealed the door of a small
closet into which he descended by four stone steps and after some tinkling
among bottles and cans produced two longstalked wineglasses with bell mouths
such as are seen in Teniers pieces and a small bottle of what he called rich
racy canary with a little bit of diet cake on a small silver server of
exquisite old workmanship »I will say nothing of the server« he remarked
»though it is said to have been wrought by the old mad Florentine Benvenuto
Cellini But Mr Lovel our ancestors drank sack you who admire the drama
know where thats to be found Heres success to your exertions at Fairport
sir«
»And to you sir and an ample increase to your treasure with no more
trouble on your part than is just necessary to make the acquisitions valuable«
After a libation so suitable to the amusement in which they had been
engaged Lovel rose to take his leave and Mr Oldbuck prepared to give him his
company a part of the way and show him something worthy of his curiosity on his
return to Fairport
Chapter Fourth
The pawkie auld carle cam ower the lea
Wi mony goodeens and goodmorrows to me
Saying Kind Sir for your courtesy
Will ye lodge a silly puir man
The Gaberlunzie Man
Our two friends moved through a little orchard where the aged appletrees well
loaded with fruit showed as is usual in the neighbourhood of monastic
buildings that the days of the monks had not always been spent in indolence
but often dedicated to horticulture and gardening Mr Oldbuck failed not to
make Lovel remark that the planters of those days were possessed of the modern
secret of preventing the roots of the fruittrees from penetrating the till and
compelling them to spread in a lateral direction by placing pavingstones
beneath the trees when first planted so as to interpose between their fibres
and the subsoil »This old fellow« he said »which was blown down last summer
and still though half reclined on the ground is covered with fruit has been
as you may see accommodated with such a barrier between his roots and the
unkindly till That other tree has a story the fruit is called the Abbots
Apple the lady of a neighbouring baron was so fond of it that she would often
pay a visit to Monkbarns to have the pleasure of gathering it from the tree
The husband a jealous man belike suspected that a taste so nearly resembling
that of Mother Eve prognosticated a similar fall As the honour of a noble
family is concerned I will say no more on the subject only that the lands of
Lochard and Cringlecut still pay a fine of six bolls of barley annually to
atone the guilt of their audacious owner who intruded himself and his worldly
suspicions upon the seclusion of the Abbot and his penitent Admire the little
belfry rising above the ivymantled porch there was here a hospitium
hospitale or hospitamentum for it is written all these various ways in the old
writings and evidents in which the monks received pilgrims I know our
minister has said in the Statistical Account that the hospitium was situated
either in the lands of Haltweary or upon those of Halfstarvet but he is
incorrect Mr Lovel that is the gate called still the Palmers Port and my
gardener found many hewn stones when he was trenching the ground for winter
celery several of which I have sent as specimens to my learned friends and to
the various antiquarian societies of which I am an unworthy member But I will
say no more at present I reserve something for another visit and we have an
object of real curiosity before us«
While he was thus speaking he led the way briskly through one or two rich
pasturemeadows to an open heath or common and so to the top of a gentle
eminence »Here« he said »Mr Lovel is a truly remarkable spot«
»It commands a fine view« said his companion looking around him
»True but it is not for the prospect I brought you hither do you see
nothing else remarkable nothing on the surface of the ground«
»Why yes I do see something like a ditch indistinctly marked«
»Indistinctly pardon me sir but the indistinctness must be in your
powers of vision Nothing can be more plainly traced a proper agger or vallum
with its corresponding ditch or fossa Indistinctly why Heaven help you the
lassie my niece as lightheaded a goose as womankind affords saw the traces
of the ditch at once Indistinct why the great station at Ardoch or that at
Burnswark in Annandale may be clearer doubtless because they are stative
forts whereas this was only an occasional encampment Indistinct why you
must suppose that fools boors and idiots have ploughed up the land and like
beasts and ignorant savages have thereby obliterated two sides of the square
and greatly injured the third but you see yourself the fourth side is quite
entire«
Lovel endeavoured to apologize and to explain away his illtimed phrase
and pleaded his inexperience But he was not at once quite successful His first
expression had come too frankly and naturally not to alarm the Antiquary and he
could not easily get over the shock it had given him
»My dear sir« continued the senior »your eyes are not inexperienced you
know a ditch from level ground I presume when you see them Indistinct why
the very common people the very least boy that can herd a cow calls it the
Kaim of Kinprunes and if that does not imply an ancient camp I am ignorant
what does«
Lovel having again acquiesced and at length lulled to sleep the irritated
and suspicious vanity of the Antiquary he proceeded in his task of cicerone
»You must know« he said »our Scottish antiquaries have been greatly divided
about the local situation of the final conflict between Agricola and the
Caledonians some contend for Ardoch in Strathallan some for Innerpeffry some
for the Raedykes in the Mearns and some are for carrying the scene of action as
far north as Blair in Athole Now after all this discussion« continued the old
gentleman with one of his slyest and most complacent looks »what would you
think Mr Lovel I say what would you think if the memorable scene of
conflict should happen to be on the very spot called the Kaim of Kinprunes the
property of the obscure and humble individual who now speaks to you« Then
having paused a little to suffer his guest to digest a communication so
important he resumed his disquisition in a higher tone »Yes my good friend I
am indeed greatly deceived if this place does not correspond with all the marks
of that celebrated place of action It was near to the Grampian mountains lo
yonder they are mixing and contending with the sky on the skirts of the
horizon It was in conspectu classis in sight of the Roman fleet and would
any admiral Roman or British wish a fairer bay to ride in than that on your
right hand It is astonishing how blind we professed antiquaries sometimes are
Sir Robert Sibbald Saunders Gordon General Roy Dr Stukely why it escaped
all of them I was unwilling to say a word about it till I had secured the
ground for it belonged to auld Johnnie Howie a bonnetlaird5 hard by and many
a communing we had before he and I could agree At length I am almost ashamed
to say it but I even brought my mind to give acre for acre of my good
cornland for this barren spot But then it was a national concern and when the
scene of so celebrated an event became my own I was overpaid Whose
patriotism would not grow warmer as old Johnson says on the plains of
Marathon I began to trench the ground to see what might be discovered and the
third day sir we found a stone which I have transported to Monkbarns in
order to have the sculpture taken off with plaster of Paris it bears a
sacrificing vessel and the letters ADLL which may stand without much
violence for Agricola Dicavit Libens Lubens«
»Certainly sir for the Dutch Antiquaries claim Caligula as the founder of
a lighthouse on the sole authority of the letters CCPF which they
interpret Caius Caligula Pharum Fecit«
»True and it has ever been recorded as a sound exposition I see we shall
make something of you even before you wear spectacles notwithstanding you
thought the traces of this beautiful camp indistinct when you first observed
them«
»In time sir and by good instruction«
» You will become more apt I doubt it not You shall peruse upon your
next visit to Monkbarns my trivial Essay upon Castrametation with some
particular Remarks upon the Vestiges of Ancient Fortifications lately discovered
by the Author at the Kaim of Kinprunes I think I have pointed out the
infallible touchstone of supposed antiquity I premise a few general rules on
that point on the nature namely of the evidence to be received in such cases
Meanwhile be pleased to observe for example, that I could press into my service
Claudians famous line
Ille Caledoniis posuit qui castra pruinis
For pruinis though interpreted to mean hoar frosts to which I own we are
somewhat subject in this northeastern seacoast may also signify a locality
namely Prunes the Castra Pruinis posita would therefore be the Kaim of
Kinprunes But I waive this for I am sensible it might be laid hold of by
cavillers as carrying down my Castra to the time of Theodosius sent by
Valentinian into Britain as late as the year 367 or thereabout No my good
friend I appeal to peoples eyesight Is not here the Decuman gate and there
but for the ravage of the horrid plough as a learned friend calls it would be
the Prætorian gate On the left hand you may see some slight vestiges of the
porta sinistra and on the right one side of the porta dextra wellnigh entire
Here then let us take our stand on this tumulus exhibiting the foundation of
ruined buildings the central point the proetorium doubtless of the camp
From this place now scarce to be distinguished but by its slight elevation and
its greener turf from the rest of the fortification we may suppose Agricola to
have looked forth on the immense army of Caledonians occupying the declivities
of yon opposite hill the infantry rising rank over rank as the form of
ground displayed their array to its utmost advantage the cavalry and
covinarii by which I understand the charioteers another guise of folks from
your Bondstreet fourinhand men I trow scouring the more level space below
See then Lovel See
See that huge battle moving from the mountains
Their gilt coats shine like dragon scales their march
Like a rough tumbling storm See them and view them
And then see Rome no more
Yes my dear friend from this stance it is probable nay it is nearly
certain that Julius Agricola beheld what our Beaumont has so admirably
described From this very Prætorium«
A voice from behind interrupted his ecstatic description »Prætorian here
Prætorian there I mind the bigging ot«
Both at once turned round Lovel with surprise and Oldbuck with mingled
surprise and indignation at so uncivil an interruption An auditor had stolen
upon them unseen and unheard amid the energy of the Antiquarys enthusiastic
declamation and the attentive civility of Lovel He had the exterior appearance
of a mendicant A slouched hat of huge dimensions a long white beard which
mingled with his grizzled hair an aged but strongly marked and expressive
countenance hardened by climate and exposure to a right brickdust
complexion a long blue gown with a pewter badge on the right arm two or three
wallets or bags slung across his shoulder for holding the different kinds of
meal when he received his charity in kind from those who were but a degree
richer than himself all these marked at once a beggar by profession and one
of that privileged class which are called in Scotland the Kings Bedesmen or
vulgarly BlueGowns
»What is that you say Edie« said Oldbuck hoping perhaps that his ears
had betrayed their duty »what were you speaking about«
»About this bit bourock your honour« answered the undaunted Edie »I mind
the bigging ot«
»The devil you do Why you old fool it was here before you were born and
will be after you are hanged man«
»Hanged or drowned here or awa dead or alive I mind the bigging ot«
»You you you « said the Antiquary stammering between confusion and
anger »you strolling old vagabond what the devil do you know about it«
»Ou I ken this about it Monkbarns and what profit have I for telling ye
a lie I just ken this about it that about twenty years syne I and a wheen
hallenshakers like mysell and the masonlads that built the lang dike that gaes
down the loaning and twa or three herds maybe just set to wark and built this
bit thing here that ye ca the the Prætorian and a just for a bield at
auld Aiken Drums bridal and a bit blithe gaedown wi had int some sair
rainy weather Mair by token Monkbarns if ye howk up the bourock as ye seem
to have begun yell find if ye hae not fund it already a stane that ane o
the masoncallants cut a ladle on to have a bourd at the bridegroom and he put
four letters ont thats ADLL Aiken Drums Lang Ladle for Aiken was ane
o the kalesuppers o Fife«
»This« thought Lovel to himself »is a famous counterpart to the story of
Keip on this syde« He then ventured to steal a glance at our Antiquary but
quickly withdrew it in sheer compassion For gentle reader if thou hast ever
beheld the visage of a damsel of sixteen whose romance of true love has been
blown up by an untimely discovery or of a child of ten years whose castle of
cards has been blown down by a malicious companion I can safely aver to you
that Jonathan Oldbuck of Monkbarns looked neither more wise nor less
disconcerted
»There is some mistake about this« he said abruptly turning away from the
mendicant
»Deil a bit on my side o the wa« answered the sturdy beggar »I never
deal in mistakes they aye bring mischances Now Monkbarns that young
gentleman thats wi your honour thinks little of a carle like me and yet
Ill wager Ill tell him whar he was yestreen at the gloamin only he maybe
wadna like to haet spoken o in company«
Lovels soul rushed to his cheeks with the vivid blush of twoandtwenty
»Never mind the old rogue« said Mr Oldbuck »dont suppose I think the
worse of you for your profession they are only prejudiced fools and coxcombs
that do so You remember what old Tully says in his oration pro Archia poeta
concerning one of your confraternity quis nostrum tam animo agresti ac duro
fuit ut ut I forget the Latin the meaning is which of us was so rude
and barbarous as to remain unmoved at the death of the great Roscius whose
advanced age was so far from preparing us for his death that we rather hoped
one so graceful so excellent in his art ought to be exempted from the common
lot of mortality So the Prince of Orators spoke of the stage and its
professors«
The words of the old man fell upon Lovels ears but without conveying any
precise idea to his mind which was then occupied in thinking by what means the
old beggar who still continued to regard him with a countenance provokingly sly
and intelligent had contrived to thrust himself into any knowledge of his
affairs He put his hand in his pocket as the readiest mode of intimating his
desire of secrecy and securing the concurrence of the person whom he addressed
and while he bestowed on him an alms the amount of which rather bore proportion
to his fears than to his charity looked at him with a marked expression which
the mendicant a physiognomist by profession seemed perfectly to understand
»Never mind me sir I am no talepyet but there are mair een in the warld
than mine« answered he as he pocketed Lovels bounty but in a tone to be heard
by him alone and with an expression which amply filled up what was left
unspoken Then turning to Oldbuck »I am awa to the manse your honour Has
your honour ony word there or to Sir Arthur for Ill come in by Knockwinnock
Castle again een«
Oldbuck started as from a dream and in a hurried tone where vexation
strove with a wish to conceal it paying at the same time a tribute to Edies
smooth greasy unlined hat he said »Go down go down to Monkbarns let them
give you some dinner Or stay if you do go to the manse or to Knockwinnock
ye need say nothing about that foolish story of yours«
»Who I« said the mendicant »Lord bless your honour naebody sall ken a
word about it frae me mair than if the bit bourock had been there since Noahs
flood But Lord they tell me your honour has gien Johnnie Howie acre for acre
of the laigh crofts for this heathery knowe Now if he has really imposed the
bourock on ye for an ancient wark its my real opinion the bargain will never
haud gude if you would just bring down your heart to try it at the law and say
that he beguiled ye«
»Provoking scoundrel« muttered the indignant Antiquary between his teeth
»Ill have the hangmans lash and his back acquainted for this« And then in a
louder tone »Never mind Edie it is all a mistake«
»Troth I am thinking sae« continued his tormentor who seemed to have
pleasure in rubbing the galled wound »troth I aye thought sae and its no sae
lang since I said to Luckie Gemmels Never think you luckie said I that his
honour Monkbarns would hae done sic a daftlike thing as to gie grund weel worth
fifty shillings an acre for a mailing that would be dear o a pund Scots Na
na quo I depend upont the lairds been imposed upon wi that wily dolittle
deevil Johnnie Howie But Lord haud a care o us sirs how can that be quo
she again when the lairds sae booklearned theres no the like o him in the
country side and Johnnie Howie has hardly sense eneugh to ca the cows out o
his kaleyard Aweel aweel quo I but yell hear hes circumvented him with
some of his auldwarld stories for ye ken laird yon other time about the
bodle that ye thought was an auld coin«
»Go to the devil« said Oldbuck and then in a more mild tone as one that
was conscious his reputation lay at the mercy of his antagonist he added
»Away with you down to Monkbarns and when I come back Ill send ye a bottle of
ale to the kitchen«
»Heaven reward your honour« This was uttered with the true mendicant whine
as setting his pikestaff before him he began to move in the direction of
Monkbarns »But did your honour« turning round »ever get back the siller ye
gae to the travelling packman for the bodle«
»Curse thee go about thy business«
»Aweel aweel sir God bless your honour I hope yell ding Johnnie Howie
yet and that Ill live to see it« And so saying the old beggar moved off
relieving Mr Oldbuck of recollections which were anything rather than
agreeable
»Who is this familiar old gentleman« said Lovel when the mendicant was out
of hearing
»O one of the plagues of the country I have been always against
poorsrates and a workhouse I think Ill vote for them now to have that
scoundrel shut up O your oldremembered guest of a beggar becomes as well
acquainted with you as he is with his dish as intimate as one of the beasts
familiar to man which signify love and with which his own trade is especially
conversant Who is he why he has gone the vole has been soldier
balladsinger travelling tinker and is now a beggar He is spoiled by our
foolish gentry who laugh at his jokes and rehearse Edie Ochiltrees good
things as regularly as Joe Millers«
»Why he uses freedom apparently which is the soul of wit« answered Lovel
»O ay freedom enough« said the Antiquary »he generally invents some
damned improbable lie or another to provoke you like that nonsense he talked
just now not that Ill publish my tract till I have examined the thing to the
bottom«
»In England« said Lovel »such a mendicant would get a speedy check«
»Yes your churchwardens and dogwhips would make slender allowance for his
vein of humour But here curse him he is a sort of privileged nuisance one
of the last specimens of the old fashioned Scottish mendicant who kept his
rounds within a particular space, and was the newscarrier the minstrel and
sometimes the historian of the district That rascal now knows more old
ballads and traditions than any other man in this and the four next parishes
And after all« continued he softening as he went on describing Edies good
gifts »the dog has some good humour He has borne his hard fate with unbroken
spirits and its cruel to deny him the comfort of a laugh at his betters The
pleasure of having quizzed me as you gay folk would call it will be meat and
drink to him for a day or two But I must go back and look after him or he will
spread his dd nonsensical story over half the country«6
So saying our heroes parted Mr Oldbuck to return to his hospitium at
Monkbarns and Lovel to pursue his way to Fairport where he arrived without
farther adventure
Chapter Fifth
Launcelot Gobbo Mark me now Now will I raise the waters
Merchant of Venice
The theatre at Fairport had opened but no Mr Lovel appeared on the boards nor
was there anything in the habits or deportment of the young gentleman so named
which authorised Mr Oldbucks conjecture that his fellowtraveller was a
candidate for the public favour Regular were the Antiquarys inquiries at an
oldfashioned barber who dressed the only three wigs in the parish which in
defiance of taxes and times were still subjected to the operation of powdering
and frizzling and who for that purpose divided his time among the three
employers whom fashion had yet left him regular I say were Mr Oldbucks
inquiries at this personage concerning the news of the little theatre at
Fairport expecting every day to hear of Mr Lovels appearance on which
occasion the old gentleman had determined to put himself to charges in honour of
his young friend and not only to go to the play himself but to carry his
womankind along with him But old Jacob Caxon conveyed no information which
warranted his taking so decisive a step as that of securing a box
He brought information on the contrary that there was a young man residing
at Fairport of whom the town by which he meant all the gossips who having no
business of their own fill up their leisure moments by attending to that of
other people could make nothing He sought no society but rather avoided that
which the apparent gentleness of his manners and some degree of curiosity
induced many to offer him Nothing could be more regular or less resembling an
adventurer than his mode of living which was simple but so completely well
arranged that all who had any transactions with him were loud in their
approbation
»These are not the virtues of a stagestruck hero« thought Oldbuck to
himself and however habitually pertinacious in his opinions he must have been
compelled to abandon that which he had formed in the present instance but for a
part of Caxons communication »The young gentleman« he said »was sometimes
heard speaking to himsell and rampauging about in his room just as if he was
ane o the player folk«
Nothing however excepting this single circumstance occurred to confirm
Mr Oldbucks supposition and it remained a high and doubtful question what a
wellinformed young man without friends connections or employment of any
kind could have to do as a resident at Fairport Neither port wine nor whist
had apparently any charms for him He declined dining with the mess of the
volunteer cohort which had been lately embodied and shunned joining the
convivialities of either of the two parties which then divided Fairport as they
did more important places He was too little of an aristocrat to join the club
of Royal True Blues and too little of a democrat to fraternise with an
affiliated society of the soidisant Friends of the People which the borough
had also the happiness of possessing A coffeeroom was his detestation and I
grieve to say it he had as few sympathies with the teatable In short since
the name was fashionable in novelwriting and that is a great while agone
there was never a Master Lovel of whom so little positive was known and who was
so universally described by negatives
One negative however was important nobody knew any harm of Lovel
Indeed had such existed it would have been speedily made public for the
natural desire of speaking evil of our neighbour could in his case have been
checked by no feelings of sympathy for a being so unsocial On one account alone
he fell somewhat under suspicion As he made free use of his pencil in his
solitary walks and had drawn several views of the harbour in which the signal
tower and even the fourgun battery were introduced some zealous friends of
the public sent abroad a whisper that this mysterious stranger must certainly
be a French spy The Sheriff paid his respects to Mr Lovel accordingly but in
the interview which followed it would seem that he had entirely removed that
magistrates suspicions since he not only suffered him to remain undisturbed in
his retirement but it was credibly reported sent him two invitations to
dinnerparties both which were civilly declined But what the nature of the
explanation was the magistrate kept a profound secret not only from the public
at large but from his substitute his clerk his wife and his two daughters
who formed his privy council on all questions of official duty
All these particulars being faithfully reported by Mr Caxon to his patron
at Monkbarns tended much to raise Lovel in the opinion of his former
fellowtraveller »A decent sensible lad« said he to himself »who scorns to
enter into the fooleries and nonsense of these idiot people at Fairport I must
do something for him I must give him a dinner and I will write Sir Arthur
to come to Monkbarns to meet him I must consult my womankind«
Accordingly such consultation having been previously held a special
messenger being no other than Caxon himself was ordered to prepare for a walk
to Knockwinnock Castle with a letter »For the honoured Sir Arthur Wardour of
Knockwinnock Bart« The contents ran thus
»Dear Sir Arthur
On Tuesday the 17th curt stilo novo I hold a coenobitical
symposion at Monkbarns and pray you to assist thereat at four oclock
precisely If my fair enemy Miss Isabel can and will honour us by
accompanying you my womankind will be but too proud to have the aid of
such an auxiliary in the cause of resistance to awful rule and right
supremacy If not I will send the womankind to the manse for the day I
have a young acquaintance to make known to you who is touched with some
strain of a better spirit than belongs to these giddypaced times
reveres his elders and has a pretty notion of the classics and as
such a youth must have a natural contempt for the people about Fairport
I wish to show him some rational as well as worshipful society I am
Dear Sir Arthur etc etc etc«
»Fly with this letter Caxon« said the senior holding out his missive
signatum atque sigillatum »fly to Knockwinnock and bring me back an answer Go
as fast as if the towncouncil were met and waiting for the provost and the
provost was waiting for his new wig«
»Ah sir« answered the messenger with a deep sigh »thae days hae lang gane
by Deil a wig has a provost of Fairport worn sin auld Provost Jervies time
and he had a quean of a servantlass that dressed it herself wi the doup o a
candle and a drudgingbox But I hae seen the day Monkbarns when the
towncouncil of Fairport wad hae as soon wanted their townclerk or their gill
of brandy owerhead after the haddies as they wad hae wanted ilk ane a
weelfavoured sonsy decent periwig on his pow Hegh sirs nae wonder the
commons will be discontent and rise against the law when they see magistrates
and bailies and deacons and the provost himsell wi heads as bald and as bare
as ane o my blocks«
»And as well furnished within Caxon But away with you you have an
excellent view of public affairs and I dare say have touched the cause of our
popular discontent as closely as the provost could have done himself But away
with you Caxon«
And off went Caxon upon his walk of three miles
He hobbled but his heart was good
Could he go faster than he could
While he is engaged in his journey and return it may not be impertinent to
inform the reader to whose mansion he was bearing his embassy
We have said that Mr Oldbuck kept little company with the surrounding
gentlemen excepting with one person only This was Sir Arthur Wardour a
baronet of ancient descent and of a large but embarrassed fortune His father
Sir Anthony had been a Jacobite and had displayed all the enthusiasm of that
party while it could be served with words only No man squeezed the orange with
more significant gesture no one could more dexterously intimate a dangerous
health without coming under the penal statutes and above all none drank
success to the cause more deeply and devoutly But on the approach of the
Highland army in 1745 it would appear that the worthy baronets zeal became a
little more moderate just when its warmth was of most consequence He talked
much indeed of taking the field for the rights of Scotland and Charles Stuart
but his demipique saddle would suit only one of his horses and that horse
could by no means be brought to stand fire Perhaps the worshipful owner
sympathized in the scruples of this sagacious quadruped and began to think
that what was so much dreaded by the horse could not be very wholesome for the
rider At any rate while Sir Anthony Wardour talked and drank and hesitated
the sturdy provost of Fairport who as we before noticed was the father of our
Antiquary sallied from his ancient burgh heading a body of whigburghers and
seized at once in the name of George II upon the Castle of Knockwinnock and
on the four carriagehorses and person of the proprietor Sir Anthony was
shortly after sent off to the Tower of London by a secretary of states warrant
and with him went his son Arthur then a youth But as nothing appeared like an
overt act of treason both father and son were soon set at liberty and returned
to their own mansion of Knockwinnock to drink healths five fathoms deep and
talk of their sufferings in the royal cause This became so much a matter of
habit with Sir Arthur that even after his fathers death the nonjuring
chaplain used to pray regularly for the restoration of the rightful sovereign
for the downfall of the usurper and for deliverance from their cruel and
bloodthirsty enemies although all idea of serious opposition to the House of
Hanover had long mouldered away and this treasonable liturgy was kept up rather
as a matter of form than as conveying any distinct meaning So much was this the
case that about the year 1770 upon a disputed election occurring in the
county the worthy knight fairly gulped down the oaths of abjuration and
allegiance in order to serve a candidate in whom he was interested thus
renouncing the heir for whose restoration he weekly petitioned Heaven and
acknowledging the usurper whose dethronement he had never ceased to pray for
And to add to this melancholy instance of human inconsistency Sir Arthur
continued to pray for the House of Stuart even after the family had been
extinct and when in truth though in his theoretical loyalty he was pleased to
regard them as alive yet in all actual service and practical exertion he was
a most zealous and devoted subject of George III
In other respects Sir Arthur Wardour lived like most country gentlemen in
Scotland hunted and fished gave and received dinners attended races and
county meetings was a deputylieutenant and trustee upon turnpike acts But
in his more advanced years as he became too lazy or unwieldy for fieldsports
he supplied them by now and then reading Scottish history and having gradually
acquired a taste for antiquities though neither very deep nor very correct he
became a crony of his neighbour Mr Oldbuck of Monkbarns and a jointlabourer
with him in his antiquarian pursuits
There were however points of difference between these two humourists
which sometimes occasioned discord The faith of Sir Arthur as an antiquary
was boundless and Mr Oldbuck notwithstanding the affair of the Prætorium at
the Kaim of Kinprunes was much more scrupulous in receiving legends as current
and authentic coin Sir Arthur would have deemed himself guilty of the crime of
lezemajesty had he doubted the existence of any single individual of that
formidable beadroll of one hundred and four kings of Scotland received by
Boethius and rendered classical by Buchanan in virtue of whom James VI
claimed to rule his ancient kingdom and whose portraits still frown grimly upon
the walls of the gallery of Holyrood Now Oldbuck a shrewd and suspicious man
and no respecter of divine hereditary right was apt to cavil at this sacred
list and to affirm that the procession of the posterity of Fergus through the
pages of Scottish history was as vain and unsubstantial as the gleamy pageant
of the descendants of Banquo through the cavern of Hecate
Another tender topic was the good fame of Queen Mary of which the knight
was a most chivalrous assertor while the esquire impugned it in spite both of
her beauty and misfortunes When unhappily their conversation turned on yet
later times motives of discord occurred in almost every page of history
Oldbuck was upon principle a staunch Presbyterian a ruling elder of the kirk
and a friend to revolution principles and Protestant succession while Sir
Arthur was the very reverse of all this They agreed it is true in dutiful
love and allegiance to the sovereign who now fills7 the throne but this was
their only point of union It therefore often happened that bickerings hot
broke out between them in which Oldbuck was not always able to suppress his
caustic humour while it would sometimes occur to the Baronet that the
descendant of a German printer whose sires had »sought the base fellowship of
paltry burghers« forgot himself and took an unlicensed freedom of debate
considering the rank and ancient descent of his antagonist This with the old
feud of the coachhorses and the seizure of his manorplace and tower of
strength by Mr Oldbucks father would at times rush upon his mind and inflame
at once his cheeks and his arguments And lastly as Mr Oldbuck thought his
worthy friend and compeer was in some respects little better than a fool he was
apt to come more near communicating to him that unfavourable opinion than the
rules of modern politeness warrant In such cases they often parted in deep
dudgeon and with something like a resolution to forbear each others company in
future
But with the morning calm reflection came
and as each was sensible that the society of the other had become through
habit essential to his comfort the breach was speedily made up between them
On such occasions Oldbuck considering that the Baronets pettishness resembled
that of a child usually showed his superior sense by compassionately making the
first advances to reconciliation But it once or twice happened that the
aristocratic pride of the fardescended knight took a flight too offensive to
the feelings of the representative of the typographer In these cases the
breach between these two originals might have been immortal but for the kind
exertion and interposition of the Baronets daughter Miss Isabella Wardour
who with a son now absent upon foreign and military service formed his whole
surviving family She was well aware how necessary Mr Oldbuck was to her
fathers amusement and comfort and seldom failed to interpose with effect when
the office of a mediator between them was rendered necessary by the satirical
shrewdness of the one or the assumed superiority of the other Under Isabellas
mild influence the wrongs of Queen Mary were forgotten by her father and Mr
Oldbuck forgave the blasphemy which reviled the memory of King William However
as she used in general to take her fathers part playfully in these disputes
Oldbuck was wont to call Isabella his fair enemy though in fact he made more
account of her than any other of her sex of whom as we have seen he was no
admirer
There existed another connection betwixt these worthies which had
alternately a repelling and attractive influence upon their intimacy Sir Arthur
always wished to borrow Mr Oldbuck was not always willing to lend Mr
Oldbuck per contra always wished to be repaid with regularity Sir Arthur was
not always nor indeed often prepared to gratify this reasonable desire and
in accomplishing an arrangement between tendencies so opposite little miffs
would occasionally take place Still there was a spirit of mutual accommodation
upon the whole and they dragged on like dogs in couples with some difficulty
and occasional snarling but without absolutely coming to a standstill or
throttling each other
Some little disagreement such as we have mentioned arising out of
business or politics had divided the houses of Knockwinnock and Monkbarns
when the emissary of the latter arrived to discharge his errand In his ancient
Gothic parlour whose windows on one side looked out upon the restless ocean
and on the other upon the long straight avenue was the Baronet seated now
turning over the leaves of a folio now casting a weary glance where the sun
quivered on the darkgreen foliage and smooth trunks of the large and branching
limes with which the avenue was planted At length sight of joy a moving
object is seen and it gives rise to the usual inquiries Who is it and what
can be his errand The old whitishgrey coat the hobbling gait the hat
halfslouched halfcocked announced the forlorn maker of periwigs and left
for investigation only the second query This was soon solved by a servant
entering the parlour »A letter from Monkbarns Sir Arthur«
Sir Arthur took the epistle with a due assumption of consequential dignity
»Take the old man into the kitchen and let him get some refreshment« said
the young lady whose compassionate eye had remarked his thin grey hair and
wearied gait
»Mr Oldbuck my love invites us to dinner on Tuesday the 17th« said the
Baronet pausing »he really seems to forget that he has not of late conducted
himself so civilly towards me as might have been expected«
»Dear sir you have so many advantages over poor Mr Oldbuck that no wonder
it should put him a little out of humour but I know he has much respect for
your person and your conversation nothing would give him more pain than to be
wanting in any real attention«
»True true Isabella and one must allow for the original descent
something of the German boorishness still flows in the blood something of the
whiggish and perverse opposition to established rank and privilege You may
observe that he never has any advantage of me in dispute unless when he avails
himself of a sort of pettifogging intimacy with dates names and trifling
matters of fact a tiresome and frivolous accuracy of memory which is entirely
owing to his mechanical descent«
»He must find it convenient in historical investigation I should think
sir« said the young lady
»It leads to an uncivil and positive mode of disputing and nothing seems
more unreasonable than to hear him impugn even Bellendens rare translation of
Hector Boece which I have the satisfaction to possess and which is a
blackletter folio of great value upon the authority of some old scrap of
parchment which he has saved from its deserved destiny of being cut up into
tailors measures And besides that habit of minute and troublesome accuracy
leads to a mercantile manner of doing business which ought to be beneath a
landed proprietor whose family has stood two or three generations I question if
theres a dealers clerk in Fairport that can sum an account of interest better
than Monkbarns«
»But youll accept his invitation sir«
»Why ye yes we have no other engagement on hand I think Who can the
young man be he talks of he seldom picks up new acquaintance and he has no
relation that I ever heard of«
»Probably some relation of his brotherinlaw Captain MIntyre«
»Very possibly yes we will accept the MIntyres are of a very ancient
Highland family You may answer his card in the affirmative Isabella I believe
I have no leisure to be Dear Sirring myself«
So this important matter being adjusted Miss Wardour intimated »her own and
Sir Arthurs compliments and that they would have the honour of waiting upon
Mr Oldbuck Miss Wardour takes this opportunity to renew her hostility with Mr
Oldbuck on account of his late long absence from Knockwinnock where his visits
give so much pleasure« With this placebo she concluded her note with which old
Caxon now refreshed in limbs and wind set out on his return to the Antiquarys
mansion
Chapter Sixth
Moth By Woden God of Saxons
From whence comes Wensday that is Wodnesday
Truth is a thing that I will ever keep
Unto thylke day in which I creep into
My sepulcre
Cartwrights Ordinary
Our young friend Lovel who had received a corresponding invitation punctual to
the hour of appointment arrived at Monkbarns about five minutes before four
oclock on the 17th of July The day had been remarkably sultry and large drops
of rain had occasionally fallen though the threatened showers had as yet passed
away
Mr Oldbuck received him at the Palmersport in his complete brown suit
grey silk stockings and wig powdered with all the skill of the veteran Caxon
who having smelt out the dinner had taken care not to finish his job till the
hour of eating approached
»You are welcome to my symposion Mr Lovel And now let me introduce you to
my Clogdogdos as Tom Otter calls them my unlucky and goodfornothing
womankind maloe bestioe Mr Lovel«
»I shall be disappointed sir if I do not find the ladies very undeserving
of your satire«
»Tilleyvalley Mr Lovel which by the way one commentator derives from
tittivillitium and another from talleyho but tilleyvalley I say a truce
with your politeness You will find them but samples of womankind But here
they be Mr Lovel I present to you in due order my most discreet sister
Griselda who disdains the simplicity as well as patience annexed to the poor
old name of Grizzel and my most exquisite niece Maria whose mother was called
Mary and sometimes Molly«
The elderly lady rustled in silks and satins and bore upon her head a
structure resembling the fashion in the ladies memorandumbook for the year
1770 a superb piece of architecture not much less than a modern Gothic
castle of which the curls might represent the turrets the black pins the
chevaux de frise and the lappets the banners
The face which like that of the ancient statues of Vesta was thus crowned
with towers was large and long and peaked at nose and chin and bore in other
respects such a ludicrous resemblance to the physiognomy of Mr Jonathan
Oldbuck that Lovel had they not appeared at once like Sebastian and Viola in
the last scene of the »Twelfth Night« might have supposed that the figure
before him was his old friend masquerading in female attire An antique flowered
silk gown graced the extraordinary person to whom belonged this unparalleled
tête which her brother was wont to say was fitter for a turban for Mahound or
Termagant than a headgear for a reasonable creature or Christian gentlewoman
Two long and bony arms were terminated at the elbows by triple blond ruffles
and being folded saltireways in front of her person and decorated with long
gloves of a bright vermilion colour presented no bad resemblance to a pair of
gigantic lobsters Highheeled shoes and a short silk cloak thrown in easy
negligence over her shoulders completed the exterior of Miss Griselda Oldbuck
Her niece the same whom Lovel had seen transiently during his first visit
was a pretty young woman genteelly dressed according to the fashion of the day
with an air of espièglerie which became her very well and which was perhaps
derived from the caustic humour peculiar to her uncles family though softened
by transmission
Mr Lovel paid his respects to both ladies and was answered by the elder
with the prolonged courtesy of 1760 drawn from the righteous period
When folks conceived a grace
Of half an hours space,
And rejoiced in a Fridays capon
and by the younger with a modern reverence which like the festive benediction
of a modern divine was of much shorter duration
While this salutation was exchanging Sir Arthur with his fair daughter
hanging upon his arm having dismissed his chariot appeared at the garden door
and in all due form paid his respects to the ladies
»Sir Arthur« said the Antiquary »and you my fair foe let me make known
to you my young friend Mr Lovel a gentleman who during the scarletfever
which is epidemic at present in this our island has the virtue and decency to
appear in a coat of a civil complexion You see however that the fashionable
colour has mustered in his cheeks which appears not in his garments Sir Arthur
let me present to you a young gentleman whom your farther knowledge will find
grave wise courtly and scholarlike well seen deeply read and thoroughly
grounded in all the hidden mysteries of the greenroom and stage from the days
of Davie Lindsay down to those of Dibdin he blushes again which is a sign of
grace«
»My brother« said Miss Griselda addressing Lovel »has a humorous way of
expressing himself sir nobody thinks anything of what Monkbarns says so I
beg you will not be so confused for the matter of his nonsense but you must
have had a warm walk beneath this broiling sun would you take onything a
glass of balmwine«
Ere Lovel could answer the Antiquary interposed »Aroint thee witch
wouldst thou poison my guests with thy infernal decoctions Dost thou not
remember how it fared with the clergyman whom you seduced to partake of that
deceitful beverage«
»O fy fy brother Sir Arthur did you ever hear the like he must have
everything his ain way or he will invent such stories But there goes Jenny
to ring the old bell to tell us that the dinner is ready«
Rigid in his economy Mr Oldbuck kept no male servant This he disguised
under the pretext that the masculine sex was too noble to be employed in those
acts of personal servitude which in all early periods of society were
uniformly imposed on the female »Why« would he say »did the boy Tam
Rintherout whom at my wise sisters instigation I with equal wisdom took
upon trial why did he pilfer apples take birds nests break glasses and
ultimately steal my spectacles except that he felt that noble emulation which
swells in the bosom of the masculine sex which has conducted him to Flanders
with a musket on his shoulder and doubtless will promote him to a glorious
halbert or even to the gallows And why does this girl his full sister Jenny
Rintherout move in the same vocation with safe and noiseless step shod or
unshod soft as the pace of a cat and docile as a spaniel Why but because
she is in her vocation Let them minister to us Sir Arthur let them
minister I say its the only thing they are fit for All ancient
legislators from Lycurgus to Mahommed corruptly called Mahomet agree in
putting them in their proper and subordinate rank and it is only the crazy
heads of our old chivalrous ancestors that erected their Dulcineas into despotic
princesses«
Miss Wardour protested loudly against this ungallant doctrine but the bell
now rung for dinner
»Let me do all the offices of fair courtesy to so fair an antagonist« said
the old gentleman offering his arm »I remember Miss Wardour Mahommed
vulgarly Mahomet had some hesitation about the mode of summoning his Moslemah
to prayer He rejected bells as used by Christians trumpets as the summons of
the Guebres and finally adopted the human voice I have had equal doubt
concerning my dinnercall Gongs now in present use seemed a newfangled and
heathenish invention and the voice of the female womankind I rejected as
equally shrill and dissonant wherefore contrary to the said Mahommed or
Mahomet I have resumed the bell It has a local propriety since it was the
conventual signal for spreading the repast in their refectory and it has the
advantage over the tongue of my sisters prime minister Jenny that though not
quite so loud and shrill it ceases ringing the instant you drop the bellrope
whereas we know by sad experience that any attempt to silence Jenny only
wakes the sympathetic chime of Miss Oldbuck and Mary MIntyre to join in
chorus«
With this discourse he led the way to his diningparlour which Lovel had
not yet seen it was wainscotted and contained some curious paintings The
diningtable was attended by Jenny but an old superintendent a sort of female
butler stood by the sideboard and underwent the burden of bearing several
reproofs from Mr Oldbuck and innuendos not so much marked but not less
cutting from his sister
The dinner was such as suited a professed antiquary comprehending many
savoury specimens of Scottish viands now disused at the tables of those who
affect elegance There was the relishing Solan goose whose smell is so powerful
that he is never cooked within doors Bloodraw he proved to be on this
occasion so that Oldbuck half threatened to throw the greasy seafowl at the
head of the negligent housekeeper who acted as priestess in presenting this
odoriferous offering But by goodhap she had been most fortunate in the
hotchpotch which was unanimously pronounced to be inimitable »I knew we
should succeed here« said Oldbuck exultingly »for Davie Dibble the gardener
an old bachelor like myself takes care the rascally women do not dishonour
our vegetables And here is fish and sauce and crappitheads I acknowledge
our womankind excel in that dish it procures them the pleasure of scolding
for half an hour at least twice aweek with auld Maggy Mucklebackit our
fishwife The chickenpie Mr Lovel is made after a recipe bequeathed to me
by my departed grandmother of happy memory And if you will venture on a glass
of wine you will find it worthy of one who professes the maxim of King Alphonso
of Castile Old wood to burn old books to read old wine to drink and old
friends Sir Arthur ay Mr Lovel and young friends too to converse with«
»And what news do you bring us from Edinburgh Monkbarns« said Sir Arthur
»how wags the world in Auld Reekie«
»Mad Sir Arthur mad irretrievably frantic far beyond dipping in the
sea shaving the crown or drinking hellebore The worst sort of frenzy a
military frenzy hath possessed man woman and child«
»And high time I think« said Miss Wardour »when we are threatened with
invasion from abroad and insurrection at home«
»O I did not doubt you would join the scarlet host against me women like
turkeys are always subdued by a red rag But what says Sir Arthur whose
dreams are of standing armies and German oppression«
»Why I say Mr Oldbuck« replied the knight »that so far as I am capable
of judging we ought to resist cum toto corpore regni as the phrase is unless
I have altogether forgotten my Latin an enemy who comes to propose to us a
Whiggish sort of government a republican system and who is aided and abetted
by a sort of fanatics of the worst kind in our own bowels I have taken some
measures I assure you such as become my rank in the community for I have
directed the constables to take up that old scoundrelly beggar Edie Ochiltree
for spreading disaffection against church and state through the whole parish He
said plainly to old Caxon that Willie Howies Kilmarnock cowl covered more
sense than all the three wigs in the parish I think it is easy to make out
that innuendo But the rogue shall be taught better manners«
»O no my dear sir« exclaimed Miss Wardour »not old Edie that we have
known so long I assure you no constable shall have my good graces that
executes such a warrant«
»Ay there it goes« said the Antiquary »you to be a staunch Tory Sir
Arthur have nourished a fine sprig of Whiggery in your bosom Why Miss
Wardour is alone sufficient to control a whole quartersession a
quartersession ay a general assembly or convocation to boot a Boadicea she
an Amazon a Zenobia«
»And yet with all my courage Mr Oldbuck I am glad to hear our people are
getting under arms«
»Under arms Lord love thee didst thou ever read the history of Sister
Margaret which flowed from a head that though now old and somewhat grey has
more sense and political intelligence than you find nowadays in the whole
synod Dost thou remember the Nurses dream in that exquisite work which she
recounts in such agony to Hubble Bubble When she would have taken up a piece
of broadcloth in her vision lo it exploded like a great iron cannon when she
put out her hand to save a pirn it perked up in her face in the form of a
pistol My own vision in Edinburgh has been something similar I called to
consult my lawyer he was clothed in a dragoons dress belted and casqued and
about to mount a charger which his writingclerk habited as a sharpshooter
walked to and fro before his door I went to scold my agent for having sent me
to advise with a madman he had stuck into his head the plume which in more
sober days he wielded between his fingers and figured as an artillery officer
My mercer had his spontoon in his hand as if he measured his cloth by that
implement instead of a legitimate yard The bankers clerk who was directed to
sum my cashaccount blundered it three times being disordered by the
recollection of his military tellingsoff at the morningdrill I was ill and
sent for a surgeon
He came but valour so had fired his eye
And such a falchion glittered on his thigh
That by the gods with such a load of steel
I thought he came to murder not to heal
I had recourse to a physician but he also was practising a more wholesale mode
of slaughter than that which his profession had been supposed at all times to
open to him And now since I have returned here even our wise neighbours of
Fairport have caught the same valiant humour I hate a gun like a hurt wild duck
I detest a drum like a quaker and they thunder and rattle out yonder upon
the towns common so that every volley and roll goes to my very heart«
»Dear brother dinna speak that gate o the gentlemen volunteers I am sure
they have a most becoming uniform Weel I wot they have been wet to the very
skin twice last week I met them marching in terribly droukit an mony a sair
hoast was amang them And the trouble they take I am sure it claims our
gratitude«
»And I am sure« said Miss MIntyre »that my uncle sent twenty guineas to
help out their equipments«
»It was to buy liquorice and sugarcandy« said the cynic »to encourage the
trade of the place and to refresh the throats of the officers who had bawled
themselves hoarse in the service of their country«
»Take care Monkbarns we shall set you down among the blacknebs by and
by«
»No Sir Arthur a tame grumbler I I only claim the privilege of croaking
in my own corner here without uniting my throat to the grand chorus of the
marsh Ni quito Rey ni pongo Rey I neither make king nor mar king as Sancho
says but pray heartily for our own sovereign pay scot and lot and grumble at
the exciseman But here comes the ewemilk cheese in good time it is a better
digestive than politics«
When dinner was over and the decanters placed on the table Mr Oldbuck
proposed the Kings health in a bumper which was readily acceded to both by
Lovel and the Baronet the Jacobitism of the latter being now a sort of
speculative opinion merely, the shadow of a shade
After the ladies had left the apartment the landlord and Sir Arthur entered
into several exquisite discussions in which the younger guest either on
account of the abstruse erudition which they involved or for some other reason
took but a slender share till at length he was suddenly started out of a
profound reverie by an unexpected appeal to his judgment
»I will stand by what Mr Lovel says he was born in the north of England
and may know the very spot«
Sir Arthur thought it unlikely that so young a gentleman should have paid
much attention to matters of that sort
»I am advised of the contrary« said Oldbuck »How say you Mr Lovel
speak up for your own credit man«
Lovel was obliged to confess himself in the ridiculous situation of one
alike ignorant of the subject of conversation and controversy which had engaged
the company for an hour
»Lord help the lad his head has been woolgathering I thought how it
would be when the womankind were admitted no getting a word of sense out of a
young fellow for six hours after Why man there was once a people called the
Piks«
»More properly Picts« interrupted the Baronet
»I say the Pikar Pihar Piochtar Piaghter or Peughtar« vociferated
Oldbuck »they spoke a Gothic dialect«
»Genuine Celtic« again asseverated the knight
»Gothic Gothic Ill go to death upon it« counterasseverated the squire
»Why gentlemen« said Lovel »I conceive that is a dispute which may be
easily settled by philologists if there are any remains of the language«
»There is but one word« said the Baronet »but in spite of Mr Oldbucks
pertinacity it is decisive of the question«
»Yes in my favour« said Oldbuck »Mr Lovel you shall be judge I have
the learned Pinkerton on my side«
»I on mine the indefatigable and erudite Chalmers«
»Gordon comes into my opinion«
»Sir Robert Sibbald holds mine«
»Innes is with me« vociferated Oldbuck
»Ritson has no doubt« shouted the Baronet
»Truly gentlemen« said Lovel »before you muster your forces and overwhelm
me with authorities I should like to know the word in dispute«
»Benval« said both the disputants at once
»Which signifies caput valli« said Sir Arthur
»The head of the wall« echoed Oldbuck
There was a deep pause »It is rather a narrow foundation to build a
hypothesis upon« observed the arbiter
»Not a whit not a whit« said Oldbuck »men fight best in a narrow ring
an inch is as good as a mile for a homethrust«
»It is decidedly Celtic« said the Baronet »every hill in the Highlands
begins with Ben«
»But what say you to Val Sir Arthur is it not decidedly the Saxon wall«
»It is the Roman vallum« said Sir Arthur »the Picts borrowed that part
of the word«
»No such thing if they borrowed anything it must have been your Ben which
they might have from the neighbouring Britons of Strath Cluyd«
»The Piks or Picts« said Lovel »must have been singularly poor in
dialect since in the only remaining word of their vocabulary and that
consisting only of two syllables they have been confessedly obliged to borrow
one of them from another language and methinks gentlemen with submission
the controversy is not unlike that which the two knights fought concerning the
shield that had one side white and the other black Each of you claim onehalf
of the word and seem to resign the other But what strikes me most is the
poverty of the language which has left such slight vestiges behind it«
»You are in an error« said Sir Arthur »it was a copious language and they
were a great and powerful people built two steeples one at Brechin one at
Abernethy The Pictish maidens of the bloodroyal were kept in Edinburgh Castle
thence called Castrum Puellarum«
»A childish legend« said Oldbuck »invented to give consequence to trumpery
womankind It was called the Maiden Castle quasi lucus a non lucendo because
it resisted every attack and women never do«
»There is a list of the Pictish kings« persisted Sir Arthur »well
authenticated from Crentheminachcryme the date of whose reign is somewhat
uncertain down to Drusterstone whose death concluded their dynasty Half of
them have the Celtic patronymic Mac prefixed Mac id est filius what do you
say to that Mr Oldbuck There is Drust Macmorachin Trynel Maclachlin first
of that ancient clan as it may be judged and Gormach Macdonald Alpin
Macmetegus Drust Mactallargam« here he was interrupted by a fit of coughing
»ugh ugh ugh Golarge Macchan ugh ugh Macchanan ugh Macchananail
Kenneth ugh ugh Macferedith Eachan Macfungus and twenty more decidedly
Celtic names which I could repeat if this damned cough would let me«
»Take a glass of wine Sir Arthur and drink down that beadroll of
unbaptized jargon that would choke the devil why that last fellow has the
only intelligible name you have repeated they are all of the tribe of
Macfungus mushroom monarchs every one of them sprung up from the fumes of
conceit folly and falsehood fermenting in the brains of some mad Highland
seannachie«
»I am surprised to hear you Mr Oldbuck you know or ought to know that
the list of these potentates was copied by Henry Maule of Melgum from the
Chronicles of Loch Leven and St Andrews and put forth by him in his short but
satisfactory history of the Picts printed by Robert Freebairn of Edinburgh and
sold by him at his shop in the Parliament Close in the year of God seventeen
hundred and five or six I am not precisely certain which but I have a copy
at home that stands next to my twelvemo copy of the Scots Acts and ranges on
the shelf with them very well What say you to that Mr Oldbuck«
»Say why I laugh at Harry Maule and his history« answered Oldbuck »and
thereby comply with his request of giving it entertainment according to its
merits«
»Do not laugh at a better man than yourself« said Sir Arthur somewhat
scornfully
»I do not conceive I do Sir Arthur in laughing either at him or his
history«
»Henry Maule of Melgum was a gentleman Mr Oldbuck«
»I presume he had no advantage of me in that particular« replied the
Antiquary somewhat tartly
»Permit me Mr Oldbuck he was a gentleman of high family and ancient
descent and therefore«
»The descendant of a Westphalian printer should speak of him with deference
Such may be your opinion Sir Arthur it is not mine I conceive that my
descent from that painful and industrious typographer Wolfbrand Oldenbuck who
in the month of December 1493 under the patronage as the colophon tells us of
Sebaldus Scheyter and Sebastian Kammermaister accomplished the printing of the
great Chronicle of Nuremberg I conceive I say that my descent from that
great restorer of learning is more creditable to me as a man of letters than if
I had numbered in my genealogy all the brawling bulletheaded ironfisted old
Gothic barons since the days of Crentheminachcryme not one of whom I suppose
could write his own name«
»If you mean the observation as a sneer at my ancestry« said the knight
with an assumption of dignified superiority and composure »I have the pleasure
to inform you that the name of my ancestor Gamelyn de Guardover Miles is
written fairly with his own hand in the earliest copy of the Ragmanroll«
»Which only serves to show that he was one of the earliest who set the mean
example of submitting to Edward I What have you to say for the stainless
loyalty of your family Sir Arthur after such a backsliding as that«
»Its enough sir« said Sir Arthur starting up fiercely and pushing back
his chair »I shall hereafter take care how I honour with my company one who
shows himself so ungrateful for my condescension«
»In that you will do as you find most agreeable Sir Arthur I hope that
as I was not aware of the extent of the obligation which you have done me by
visiting my poor house I may be excused for not having carried my gratitude to
the extent of servility«
»Mighty well mighty well Mr Oldbuck I wish you a good evening Mr a
a a Shovel I wish you a very good evening«
Out of the parlour door flounced the incensed Sir Arthur as if the spirit
of the whole Round Table inflamed his single bosom and traversed with long
strides the labyrinth of passages which conducted to the drawingroom
»Did you ever hear such an old tupheaded ass« said Oldbuck briefly
apostrophizing Lovel »But I must not let him go in this madlike way neither«
So saying he pushed off after the retreating Baronet whom he traced by the
clang of several doors which he opened in search of the apartment for tea and
slammed with force behind him at every disappointment »Youll do yourself a
mischief« roared the Antiquary »Qui ambulat in tenebris nescit quo vadit
Youll tumble down the backstair«
Sir Arthur had now got involved in darkness of which the sedative effect is
well known to nurses and governesses who have to deal with pettish children It
retarded the pace of the irritated Baronet if it did not abate his resentment
and Mr Oldbuck better acquainted with the locale got up with him as he had
got his grasp upon the handle of the drawingroom door
»Stay a minute Sir Arthur« said Oldbuck opposing his abrupt entrance
»dont be quite so hasty my good old friend I was a little too rude with you
about Sir Gamelyn why he is an old acquaintance of mine man and a
favourite he kept company with Bruce and Wallace and Ill be sworn on a
blackletter Bible only subscribed the Ragmanroll with the legitimate and
justifiable intention of circumventing the false Southern twas right Scottish
craft my good knight hundreds did it Come come forget and forgive
confess we have given the young fellow here a right to think us two testy old
fools«
»Speak for yourself Mr Jonathan Oldbuck« said Sir Arthur with much
majesty
»Awell awell a wilful man must have his way«
With that the door opened and into the drawingroom marched the tall gaunt
form of Sir Arthur followed by Lovel and Mr Oldbuck the countenances of all
the three a little discomposed
»I have been waiting for you sir« said Miss Wardour »to propose we should
walk forward to meet the carriage as the evening is so fine«
Sir Arthur readily assented to this proposal which suited the angry mood in
which he found himself and having agreeably to the established custom in cases
of pet refused the refreshment of tea and coffee he tucked his daughter under
his arm and after taking a ceremonious leave of the ladies and a very dry one
of Oldbuck off he marched
»I think Sir Arthur has got the black dog on his back again« said Miss
Oldbuck
»Black dog black devil hes more absurd than womankind What say you
Lovel Why the lads gone too«
»He took his leave uncle while Miss Wardour was putting on her things but
I dont think you observed him«
»The devils in the people This is all one gets by fussing and bustling
and putting ones self out of ones way in order to give dinners besides all
the charges they are put to O Seged Emperor of Ethiopia« said he taking up
a cup of tea in the one hand and a volume of the Rambler in the other for it
was his regular custom to read while he was eating or drinking in presence of
his sister being a practice which served at once to evince his contempt for the
society of womankind and his resolution to lose no moment of instruction »O
Seged Emperor of Ethiopia well hast thou spoken No man should presume to
say This shall be a day of happiness«
Oldbuck proceeded in his studies for the best part of an hour uninterrupted
by the ladies who each in profound silence pursued some female employment At
length a light and modest tap was heard at the parlour door »Is that you
Caxon come in come in man«
The old man opened the door and thrusting in his meagre face thatched with
thin grey locks and one sleeve of his white coat said in a subdued and
mysterious tone of voice »I was wanting to speak to you sir«
»Come in then you old fool and say what you have got to say«
»Ill maybe frighten the ladies« said the exfriseur
»Frighten« answered the Antiquary »what do you mean never mind the
ladies Have you seen another ghaist at the Humlockknowe«
»Na sir its no a ghaist this turn« replied Caxon »but Im no easy in
my mind«
»Did you ever hear of any body that was« answered Oldbuck »what reason
has an old battered powderpuff like you to be easy in your mind more than all
the rest of the world besides«
»Its no for mysell sir but it threatens an awfu night and Sir Arthur
and Miss Wardour poor thing«
»Why man they must have met the carriage at the head of the loaning or
thereabouts they must be home long ago«
»Na sir they didna gang the road by the turnpike to meet the carriage
they gaed by the sands«
The word operated like electricity on Oldbuck »The sands« he exclaimed
»impossible«
»Ou sir thats what I said to the gardener but he says he saw them turn
down by the Musselcraig In troth says I to him an that be the case Davie I
am misdoubting«
»An almanac an almanac« said Oldbuck starting up in great alarm »not
that bauble« flinging away a little pocket almanac which his niece offered him
»Great God my poor dear Miss Isabella Fetch me instantly the Fairport
Almanac« It was brought consulted and added greatly to his agitation »Ill
go myself call the gardener and ploughman bid them bring ropes and ladders
bid them raise more help as they come along keep the top of the cliffs and
halloo down to them Ill go myself«
»What is the matter« inquired Miss Oldbuck and Miss MIntyre
»The tide the tide« answered the alarmed Antiquary
»Had not Jenny better but no Ill run myself« said the younger lady
partaking in all her uncles terrors »Ill run myself to Saunders
Mucklebackit and make him get out his boat«
»Thank you my dear thats the wisest word that has been spoken yet Run
run To go by the sands« seizing his hat and cane »was there ever such
madness heard of«
Chapter Seventh
Pleased awhile to view
The watery waste the prospect wild and new
The now receding waters gave them space
On either side the growing shores to trace
And then returning they contract the scene
Till small and smaller grows the walk between
Crabbe
The information of Davie Dibble which had spread such general alarm at
Monkbarns proved to be strictly correct Sir Arthur and his daughter had set
out according to their first proposal to return to Knockwinnock by the
turnpike road but when they reached the head of the loaning as it was called
or great lane which on one side made a sort of avenue to the house of
Monkbarns they discerned a little way before them Lovel who seemed to linger
on the way as if to give him an opportunity to join them Miss Wardour
immediately proposed to her father that they should take another direction and
as the weather was fine walk home by the sands which stretching below a
picturesque ridge of rocks afforded at almost all times a pleasanter passage
between Knockwinnock and Monkbarns than the highroad
Sir Arthur acquiesced willingly »It would be unpleasant« he said »to be
joined by that young fellow whom Mr Oldbuck had taken the freedom to introduce
them to« And his oldfashioned politeness had none of the ease of the present
day which permits you if you have a mind to cut the person you have
associated with for a week the instant you feel or suppose yourself in a
situation which makes it disagreeable to own him Sir Arthur only stipulated
that a little ragged boy for the guerdon of one penny sterling should run to
meet his coachman and turn his equipage back to Knockwinnock
When this was arranged and the emissary despatched the knight and his
daughter left the highroad and following a wandering path among sandy
hillocks partly grown over with furze and the long grass called bent soon
attained the side of the ocean The tide was by no means so far out as they had
computed but this gave them no alarm there were seldom ten days in the year
when it approached so near the cliffs as not to leave a dry passage But
nevertheless at periods of springtide or even when the ordinary flood was
accelerated by high winds this road was altogether covered by the sea and
tradition had recorded several fatal accidents which had happened on such
occasions Still such dangers were considered as remote and improbable and
rather served with other legends to amuse the hamlet fireside than to prevent
any one from going between Knockwinnock and Monkbarns by the sands
As Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour paced along enjoying the pleasant footing
afforded by the cool moist hard sand Miss Wardour could not help observing that
the last tide had risen considerably above the usual watermark Sir Arthur made
the same observation but without its occurring to either of them to be alarmed
at the circumstance The sun was now resting his huge disk upon the edge of the
level ocean and gilded the accumulation of towering clouds through which he had
travelled the livelong day and which now assembled on all sides like
misfortunes and disasters around a sinking empire and falling monarch Still
however his dying splendour gave a sombre magnificence to the massive
congregation of vapours forming out of their unsubstantial gloom the show of
pyramids and towers some touched with gold some with purple some with a hue
of deep and dark red The distant sea stretched beneath this varied and
gorgeous canopy lay almost portentously still reflecting back the dazzling and
level beams of the descending luminary and the splendid colouring of the clouds
amidst which he was setting Nearer to the beach the tide rippled onward in
waves of sparkling silver that imperceptibly yet rapidly gained upon the
sand
With a mind employed in admiration of the romantic scene or perhaps on some
more agitating topic Miss Wardour advanced in silence by her fathers side
whose recently offended dignity did not stoop to open any conversation
Following the windings of the beach they passed one projecting point of
headland or rock after another and now found themselves under a huge and
continued extent of the precipices by which that ironbound coast is in most
places defended Long projecting reefs of rock extending under water and only
evincing their existence by here and there a peak entirely bare or by the
breakers which foamed over those that were partially covered rendered
Knockwinnock bay dreaded by pilots and shipmasters The crags which rose
between the beach and the mainland to the height of two or three hundred feet
afforded in their crevices shelter for unnumbered seafowl in situations
seemingly secured by their dizzy height from the rapacity of man Many of these
wild tribes with the instinct which sends them to seek the land before a storm
arises were now winging towards their nests with the shrill and dissonant clang
which announces disquietude and fear The disk of the sun became almost totally
obscured ere he had altogether sunk below the horizon and an early and lurid
shade of darkness blotted the serene twilight of a summer evening The wind
began next to arise but its wild and moaning sound was heard for some time and
its effects became visible on the bosom of the sea before the gale was felt on
shore The mass of waters now dark and threatening began to lift itself in
larger ridges and sink in deeper furrows forming waves that rose high in foam
upon the breakers or burst upon the beach with a sound resembling distant
thunder
Appalled by this sudden change of weather Miss Wardour drew close to her
father and held his arm fast »I wish« at length she said but almost in a
whisper as if ashamed to express her increasing apprehensions »I wish we had
kept the road we intended or waited at Monkbarns for the carriage«
Sir Arthur looked round but did not see or would not acknowledge any
signs of an immediate storm They would reach Knockwinnock he said long before
the tempest began But the speed with which he walked and with which Isabella
could hardly keep pace indicated a feeling that some exertion was necessary to
accomplish his consolatory prediction
They were now near the centre of a deep but narrow bay or recess formed by
two projecting capes of high and inaccessible rock which shot out into the sea
like the horns of a crescent and neither durst communicate the apprehension
which each began to entertain that from the unusually rapid advance of the
tide they might be deprived of the power of proceeding by doubling the
promontory which lay before them or of retreating by the road which brought
them thither
As they thus pressed forward longing doubtless to exchange the easy curving
line which the sinuosities of the bay compelled them to adopt for a straighter
and more expeditious path though less conformable to the line of beauty Sir
Arthur observed a human figure on the beach advancing to meet them »Thank God«
he exclaimed »we shall get round Halkethead that person must have passed
it« thus giving vent to the feeling of hope though he had suppressed that of
apprehension
»Thank God indeed« echoed his daughter half audibly half internally as
expressing the gratitude which she strongly felt
The figure which advanced to meet them made many signs which the haze of
the atmosphere now disturbed by wind and by a drizzling rain prevented them
from seeing or comprehending distinctly Some time before they met Sir Arthur
could recognise the old bluegowned beggar Edie Ochiltree It is said that even
the brute creation lay aside their animosities and antipathies when pressed by
an instant and common danger The beach under Halket rapidly diminishing in
extent by the encroachments of a springtide and a northwest wind was in like
manner a neutral field where even a justice of peace and a strolling mendicant
might meet upon terms of mutual forbearance
»Turn back turn back« exclaimed the vagrant »why did ye not turn when I
waved to you«
»We thought« replied Sir Arthur in great agitation »we thought we could
get round Halkethead«
»Halkethead the tide will be running on Halkethead by this time like
the Fall of Fyers it was a I could do to get round it twenty minutes since
it was coming in three feet abreast We will maybe get back by Ballyburgh Ness
Point yet The Lord help us its our only chance We can but try«
»My God my child« »My father my dear father« exclaimed the parent and
daughter as fear lending them strength and speed they turned to retrace their
steps and endeavoured to double the point the projection of which formed the
southern extremity of the bay
»I heard ye were here frae the bit callant ye sent to meet your carriage«
said the beggar as he trudged stoutly on a step or two behind Miss Wardour
»and I couldna bide to think o the dainty young leddys peril that has aye
been kind to ilka forlorn heart that cam near her Sae I lookit at the lift and
the rin o the tide till I settled it that if I could get down time eneugh to
gie you warning we wad do weel yet But I doubt I doubt I have been beguiled
for what mortal ee ever saw sic a race as the tide is rinning een now See
yonders the Rattons Skerry he aye held his neb abune the water in my day
but hes aneath it now«
Sir Arthur cast a look in the direction in which the old man pointed A huge
rock which in general even in springtides displayed a hulk like the keel of
a large vessel was now quite under water and its place only indicated by the
boiling and breaking of the eddying waves which encountered its submarine
resistance
»Mak haste mak haste my bonny leddy« continued the old man »mak haste
and we may do yet Take haud o my arm an auld and frail arm its now but
its been in as sair stress as this is yet Take haud o my arm my winsome
leddy Dye see yon wee black speck amang the wallowing waves yonder This
morning it was as high as the mast o a brig its sma eneugh now but while
I see as muckle black about it as the crown o my hat I winna believe but well
get round the Ballyburgh Ness for a thats come and gane yet«
Isabella in silence accepted from the old man the asistance which Sir
Arthur was less able to afford her The waves had now encroached so much upon
the beach that the firm and smooth footing which they had hitherto had on the
sand must be exchanged for a rougher path close to the foot of the precipice
and in some places even raised upon its lower ledges It would have been utterly
impossible for Sir Arthur Wardour or his daughter to have found their way
along these shelves without the guidance and encouragement of the beggar who
had been there before in high tides though never he acknowledged »in sae
awsome a night as this«
It was indeed a dreadful evening The howling of the storm mingled with the
shrieks of the seafowl and sounded like the dirge of the three devoted beings
who pent between two of the most magnificent yet most dreadful objects of
nature a raging tide and an insurmountable precipice toiled along their
painful and dangerous path often lashed by the spray of some giant billow
which threw itself higher on the beach than those that had preceded it Each
minute did their enemy gain ground perceptibly upon them Still however loth
to relinquish the last hopes of life they bent their eyes on the black rock
pointed out by Ochiltree It was yet distinctly visible among the breakers and
continued to be so until they came to a turn in their precarious path where an
intervening projection of rock hid it from their sight Deprived of the view of
the beacon on which they had relied they now experienced the double agony of
terror and suspense They struggled forward however but when they arrived at
the point from which they ought to have seen the crag it was no longer visible
the signal of safety was lost among a thousand white breakers which dashing
upon the point of the promontory rose in prodigious sheets of snowy foam as
high as the mast of a firstrate manofwar against the dark brow of the
precipice
The countenance of the old man fell Isabella gave a faint shriek and »God
have mercy upon us« which her guide solemnly uttered was piteously echoed by
Sir Arthur »My child my child to die such a death«
»My father my dear father« his daughter exclaimed clinging to him »and
you too who have lost your own life in endeavouring to save ours«
»Thats not worth the counting« said the old man »I hae lived to be weary
o life and here or yonder at the back o a dyke in a wreath o snaw or in
the wame o a wave what signifies how the auld gaberlunzie dies«
»Good man« said Sir Arthur »can you think of nothing of no help Ill
make you rich Ill give you a farm Ill«
»Our riches will be soon equal« said the beggar looking out upon the
strife of the waters »they are sae already for I hae nae land and you would
give your fair bounds and barony for a square yard of rock that would be dry for
twal hours«
While they exchanged these words they paused upon the highest ledge of rock
to which they could attain for it seemed that any further attempt to move
forward could only serve to anticipate their fate Here then they were to
await the sure though slow progress of the raging element something in the
situation of the martyrs of the early church who exposed by heathen tyrants to
be slain by wild beasts were compelled for a time to witness the impatience and
rage by which the animals were agitated while awaiting the signal for undoing
their grates and letting them loose upon the victims
Yet even this fearful pause gave Isabella time to collect the powers of a
mind naturally strong and courageous and which rallied itself at this terrible
juncture »Must we yield life« she said »without a struggle Is there no path
however dreadful by which we could climb the crag or at least attain some
height above the tide where we could remain till morning or till help comes
They must be aware of our situation and will raise the country to relieve us«
Sir Arthur who heard but scarcely comprehended his daughters question
turned nevertheless instinctively and eagerly to the old man as if their
lives were in his gift Ochiltree paused »I was a bauld craigsman« he said
»ance in my life and mony a kittywakes and lungies nest hae I harried up
amang thae very black rocks but its lang lang syne and nae mortal could
speel them without a rope and if I had ane my eesight and my footstep and
my handgrip hae a failed mony a day sinsyne And then how could I save you
But there was a path here ance though maybe if we could see it ye would
rather bide where we are His name be praised« he ejaculated suddenly
»theres ane coming down the crag een now« Then exalting his voice he
hilload out to the daring adventurer such instructions as his former practice
and the remembrance of local circumstances suddenly forced upon his mind
»Yere right yere right that gate that gate fasten the rope weel
round Crummieshorn thats the muckle black stane cast twa plies round it
thats it now weize yoursell a wee easelward a wee mair yet to that ither
stane we cad it the Catslug there used to be the root o an aik tree
there that will do canny now lad canny now tak tent and tak time
Lord bless ye tak time Vera weel Now ye maun get to Bessys apron thats
the muckle braid flat blue stane and then I think wi your help and the tow
thegither Ill win at ye and then well be able to get up the young leddy and
Sir Arthur«
The adventurer following the directions of old Edie flung him down the end
of the rope which he secured around Miss Wardour wrapping her previously in
his own blue gown to preserve her as much as possible from injury Then
availing himself of the rope which was made fast at the other end he began to
ascend the face of the crag a most precarious and dizzy undertaking which
however after one or two perilous escapes placed him safe on the broad flat
stone beside our friend Lovel Their joint strength was able to raise Isabella
to the place of safety which they had attained Lovel then descended in order to
assist Sir Arthur around whom he adjusted the rope and again mounting to their
place of refuge with the assistance of old Ochiltree and such aid as Sir
Arthur himself could afford he raised himself beyond the reach of the billows
The sense of reprieve from approaching and apparently inevitable death had
its usual effect The father and daughter threw themselves into each others
arms kissed and wept for joy although their escape was connected with the
prospect of passing a tempestuous night upon a precipitous ledge of rock which
scarce afforded footing for the four shivering beings who now like the
seafowl around them clung there in hopes of some shelter from the devouring
element which raged beneath The spray of the billows which attained in fearful
succession the foot of the precipice overflowing the beach on which they so
lately stood flew as high as their place of temporary refuge and the stunning
sound with which they dashed against the rocks beneath seemed as if they still
demanded the fugitives in accents of thunder as their destined prey It was a
summer night doubtless yet the probability was slender that a frame so
delicate as that of Miss Wardour should survive till morning the drenching of
the spray and the dashing of the rain which now burst in full violence
accompanied with deep and heavy gusts of wind added to the constrained and
perilous circumstances of their situation
»The lassie the puir sweet lassie« said the old man »mony such a night
have I weathered at hame and abroad but God guide us how can she ever win
through it«
His apprehension was communicated in smothered accents to Lovel for with
the sort of freemasonry by which bold and ready spirits correspond in moments of
danger and become almost instinctively known to each other they had
established a mutual confidence »Ill climb up the cliff again« said Lovel
»theres daylight enough left to see my footing Ill climb up and call for
more assistance«
»Do so do so for Heavens sake« said Sir Arthur eagerly
»Are ye mad« said the mendicant »Francie o Fowlsheugh and he was the
best craigsman that ever speeld heugh mair by token he brake his neck upon
the Dunbuy of Slaines wodna hae ventured upon the Halkethead craigs after
sundown Its Gods grace and a great wonder besides that ye are not in the
middle o that roaring sea wi what ye hae done already I didna think there
was the man left alive would hae come down the craigs as ye did I question an I
could hae done it mysell at this hour and in this weather in the youngest and
yaldest of my strength But to venture up again its a mere and a clear
tempting o Providence«
»I have no fear« answered Lovel »I marked all the stations perfectly as I
came down and there is still light enough left to see them quite well I am
sure I can do it with perfect safety Stay here my good friend by Sir Arthur
and the young lady«
»Deil be in my feet then« answered the bedesman sturdily »if ye gang Ill
gang too for between the twa o us well hae mair than wark eneugh to get to
the tap o the heugh«
»No no stay you here and attend to Miss Wardour you see Sir Arthur is
quite exhausted«
»Stay yoursell then and Ill gae« said the old man »let death spare the
green corn and take the ripe«
»Stay both of you I charge you« said Isabella faintly »I am well and
can spend the night very well here I feel quite refreshed« So saying her
voice failed her she sunk down and would have fallen from the crag had she
not been supported by Lovel and Ochiltree who placed her in a posture half
sitting half reclining beside her father who exhausted by fatigue of body
and mind so extreme and unusual had already sat down on a stone in a sort of
stupor
»It is impossible to leave them« said Lovel »What is to be done Hark
hark did I not hear a halloo«
»The skreigh of a Tammie Norie« answered Ochiltree »I ken the skirl
weel«
»No by Heaven« replied Lovel »it was a human voice«
A distant hail was repeated the sound plainly distinguishable among the
various elemental noises and the clang of the seamews by which they were
surrounded The mendicant and Lovel exerted their voices in a loud halloo the
former waving Miss Wardours handkerchief on the end of his staff to make them
conspicuous from above Though the shouts were repeated it was some time before
they were in exact response to their own leaving the unfortunate sufferers
uncertain whether in the darkening twilight and increasing storm they had made
the persons who apparently were traversing the verge of the precipice to bring
them assistance sensible of the place in which they had found refuge At length
their halloo was regularly and distinctly answered and their courage confirmed
by the assurance that they were within hearing if not within reach of friendly
assistance
Chapter Eighth
There is a cliff whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully on the confined deep
Bring me but to the very brim of it
And Ill repair the misery thou dost bear
King Lear
The shout of human voices from above was soon augmented and the gleam of
torches mingled with those lights of evening which still remained amidst the
darkness of the storm Some attempt was made to hold communication between the
assistants above and the sufferers beneath who were still clinging to their
precarious place of safety but the howling of the tempest limited their
intercourse to cries as inarticulate as those of the winged denizens of the
crag which shrieked in chorus alarmed by the reiterated sound of human voices
where they had seldom been heard
On the verge of the precipice an anxious group had now assembled Oldbuck
was the foremost and most earnest pressing forward with unwonted desperation to
the very brink of the crag and extending his head his hat and wig secured by a
handkerchief under his chin over the dizzy height with an air of determination
which made his more timorous assistants tremble
»Haud a care haud a care Monkbarns« cried Caxon clinging to the skirts
of his patron and withholding him from danger as far as his strength permitted
»Gods sake haud a care Sir Arthurs drowned already and an ye fa over
the cleugh too there will be but ae wig left in the parish and thats the
ministers«
»Mind the peak there« cried Mucklebackit an old fisherman and smuggler
»mind the peak Steenie Steenie Wilks bring up the tackle Ise warrant
well sune heave them on board Monkbarns wad ye but stand out o the gate«
»I see them« said Oldbuck »I see them low down on that flat stone
Hillihilloa hillihoa«
»I see them mysell weel eneugh« said Mucklebackit »they are sitting down
yonder like hoodiecraws in a mist but dye think yell help them wi skirling
that gate like an auld skart before a flaw o weather Steenie lad bring up
the mast Od Ise hae them up as we used to bouse up the kegs o gin and
brandy lang syne Get up the pickaxe make a step for the mast make the chair
fast with the rattlin haul taught and belay«
The fishers had brought with them the mast of a boat and as half of the
country fellows about had now appeared either out of zeal or curiosity it was
soon sunk in the ground and sufficiently secured A yard across the upright
mast and a rope stretched along it and reeved through a block at each end
formed an extempore crane which afforded the means of lowering an armchair
well secured and fastened down to the flat shelf on which the sufferers had
roosted Their joy at hearing the preparations going on for their deliverance
was considerably qualified when they beheld the precarious vehicle by means of
which they were to be conveyed to upper air It swung about a yard free of the
spot which they occupied obeying each impulse of the tempest the empty air all
around it and depending upon the security of a rope which in the increasing
darkness had dwindled to an almost imperceptible thread Besides the hazard of
committing a human being to the vacant atmosphere in such a slight means of
conveyance there was the fearful danger of the chair and its occupant being
dashed either by the wind or the vibrations of the cord against the rugged
face of the precipice But to diminish the risk as much as possible the
experienced seaman had let down with the chair another line which being
attached to it and held by the persons beneath might serve by way of gy as
Mucklebackit expressed it to render its descent in some measure steady and
regular Still to commit ones self in such a vehicle through a howling
tempest of wind and rain with a beetling precipice above and a raging abyss
below required that courage which despair alone can inspire Yet wild as the
sounds and sights of danger were both above beneath and around and doubtful
and dangerous as the mode of escaping appeared to be Lovel and the old
mendicant agreed after a moments consultation and after the former, by a
sudden strong pull had at his own imminent risk ascertained the security of
the rope that it would be best to secure Miss Wardour in the chair and trust
to the tenderness and care of those above for her being safely craned up to the
top of the crag
»Let my father go first« exclaimed Isabella »for Gods sake my friends
place him first in safety«
»It cannot be Miss Wardour« said Lovel »your life must be first secured
the rope which bears your weight may«
»I will not listen to a reason so selfish«
»But ye maun listen to it my bonnie lassie« said Ochiltree »for a our
lives depend on it besides when ye get on the tap o the heugh yonder ye can
gie them a round guess o whats ganging on in this Patmos o ours and Sir
Arthurs far by that as Im thinking«
Struck with the truth of this reasoning she exclaimed »True most true I
am ready and willing to undertake the first risk What shall I say to our
friends above«
»Just to look that their tackle does not graze on the face o the crag and
to let the chair down and draw it up hooly and fairly we will halloo when we
are ready«
With the sedulous attention of a parent to a child Lovel bound Miss Wardour
with his handkerchief neckcloth and the mendicants leathern belt to the back
and arms of the chair ascertaining accurately the security of each knot while
Ochiltree kept Sir Arthur quiet »What are ye doing wi my bairn what are ye
doing She shall not be separated from me Isabel stay with me I command
you«
»Lordsake Sir Arthur haud your tongue and be thankful to God that theres
wiser folk than you to manage this job« cried the beggar worn out by the
unreasonable exclamations of the poor Baronet
»Farewell my father« murmured Isabella »farewell my my friends« and
shutting her eyes as Edies experience recommended she gave the signal to
Lovel and he to those who were above She rose while the chair in which she
sate was kept steady by the line which Lovel managed beneath With a beating
heart he watched the flutter of her white dress until the vehicle was on a
level with the brink of the precipice
»Canny now lads canny now« exclaimed old Mucklebackit who acted as
commodore »swerve the yard a bit Now there there she sits safe on dry
land«
A loud shout announced the successful experiment to her fellowsufferers
beneath who replied with a ready and cheerful halloo Monkbarns in his ecstasy
of joy stripped his greatcoat to wrap up the young lady and would have pulled
off his coat and waistcoat for the same purpose had he not been withheld by the
cautious Caxon »Haud a care o us your honour will be killed wi the hoast
yell no get out o your nightcowl this fortnight and that will suit us unco
ill Na na theres the chariot down by let twa o the folk carry the young
leddy there«
»Youre right« said the Antiquary readjusting the sleeves and collar of
his coat »youre right Caxon this is a naughty night to swim in Miss
Wardour let me convey you to the chariot«
»Not for worlds till I see my father safe«
In a few distinct words evincing how much her resolution had surmounted
even the mortal fear of so agitating a hazard she explained the nature of the
situation beneath and the wishes of Lovel and Ochiltree
»Right right thats right too I should like to see the son of Sir
Gamelyn de Guardover on dry land myself I have a notion he would sign the
abjuration oath and the Ragmanroll to boot and acknowledge Queen Mary to be
nothing better than she should be to get alongside my bottle of old port that
he ran away from and left scarce begun But hes safe now and here a comes«
for the chair was again lowered and Sir Arthur made fast in it without much
consciousness on his own part »here a comes Bowse away my boys canny wi
him a pedigree of a hundred links is hanging on a tenpenny tow the whole
barony of Knockwinnock depends on three plies of hemp respice finem respice
funem look to your end look to a ropes end Welcome welcome my good old
friend to firm land though I cannot say to warm land or to dry land A cord
for ever against fifty fathom of water though not in the sense of the base
proverb a fico for the phrase better sus per funem than sus per coll«
While Oldbuck ran on in this way Sir Arthur was safely wrapped in the close
embraces of his daughter who assuming that authority which the circumstances
demanded ordered some of the assistants to convey him to the chariot promising
to follow in a few minutes She lingered on the cliff holding an old
countrymans arm to witness probably the safety of those whose dangers she had
shared
»What have we here« said Oldbuck as the vehicle once more ascended »what
patched and weather matter is this« Then as the torches illumed the rough face
and grey hairs of old Ochiltree »What is it thou Come old Mocker I must
needs be friends with thee but who the devil makes up your party besides«
»Ane thats weel worth ony twa o us Monkbarns its the young stranger
lad they ca Lovel and hes behaved this blessed night as if he had three
lives to rely on and was willing to waste them a rather than endanger ither
folks Ca hooly sirs as ye wad win an auld mans blessing mind theres
naebody below now to haud the gy Hae a care o the Catslug corner bide
weel aff Crummieshorn«
»Have a care indeed« echoed Oldbuck »What is it my rara avis my black
swan my phoenix of companions in a postchaise take care of him
Mucklebackit«
»As muckle care as if he were a greybeard o brandy and I canna take mair
if his hair were like John Harlowes Yo ho my hearts bowse away with him«
Lovel did in fact run a much greater risk than any of his precursors His
weight was not sufficient to render his ascent steady amid such a storm of wind
and he swung like an agitated pendulum at the mortal risk of being dashed
against the rocks But he was young bold and active and with the assistance
of the beggars stout piked staff which he had retained by advice of the
proprietor contrived to bear himself from the face of the precipice and the
yet more hazardous projecting cliffs which varied its surface Tossed in empty
space like an idle and unsubstantial feather with a motion that agitated the
brain at once with fear and with dizziness he retained his alertness of
exertion and presence of mind and it was not until he was safely grounded upon
the summit of the cliff that he felt temporary and giddy sickness As he
recovered from a sort of half swoon he cast his eyes eagerly around The object
which they would most willingly have sought was already in the act of
vanishing Her white garment was just discernible as she followed on the path
which her father had taken She had lingered till she saw the last of their
company rescued from danger and until she had been assured by the hoarse voice
of Mucklebackit that »the callant had come off wi unbrizzed banes and that he
was but in a kind of dwam« But Lovel was not aware that she had expressed in
his fate even this degree of interest which though nothing more than was due
to a stranger who had assisted her in such an hour of peril he would have
gladly purchased by braving even more imminent danger than he had that evening
been exposed to The beggar she had already commanded to come to Knockwinnock
that night He made an excuse »Then tomorrow let me see you«
The old man promised to obey Oldbuck thrust something into his hand
Ochiltree looked at it by the torchlight and returned it »Na na I never tak
gowd besides Monkbarns ye wad maybe be rueing it the morn« Then turning to
the group of fishermen and peasants »Now sirs wha will gie me a supper and
some clean peasestrae«
»I« »and I« »and I« answered many a ready voice
»Aweel since sae it is and I can only sleep in ae barn at ance Ill gae
down with Saunders Mucklebackit he has aye a soup o something comfortable
about his bigging and bairns Ill maybe live to put ilka ane o ye in mind
some ither night that ye hae promised me quarters and my awmous« and away he
went with the fisherman
Oldbuck laid the hand of strong possession on Lovel »Deil a stride yes go
to Fairport this night young man you must go home with me to Monkbarns Why
man you have been a hero a perfect Sir William Wallace by all accounts
Come my good lad take hold of my arm I am not a prime support in such a
wind but Caxon shall help us out Here you old idiot come on the other side
of me And how the deil got you down to that infernal Bessysapron as they
call it Bess said they Why curse her she has spread out that vile pennon or
banner of womankind like all the rest of her sex to allure her votaries to
death and headlong ruin«
»I have been pretty well accustomed to climbing and I have long observed
fowlers practise that pass down the cliff«
»But how in the name of all that is wonderful came you to discover the
danger of the pettish Baronet and his far more deserving daughter«
»I saw them from the verge of the precipice«
»From the verge umph And what possessed you dumosa pendere procul de
rupe though dumosa is not the appropriate epithet what the deil man
tempted ye to the verge of the craig«
»Why I like to see the gathering and growling of a coming storm or in
your own classical language Mr Oldbuck suave est mari magno and so forth
but here we reach the turn to Fairport I must wish you goodnight«
»Not a step not a pace not an inch not a shathmont as I may say the
meaning of which word has puzzled many that think themselves antiquaries I am
clear we should read salmonlength for shathmontslength You are aware that
the space allotted for the passage of a salmon through a dam dike or weir by
statute is the length within which a fullgrown pig can turn himself round Now
I have a scheme to prove that as terrestrial objects were thus appealed to for
ascertaining submarine measurement so it must be supposed that the productions
of the water were established as gauges of the extent of land Shathmont
salmont you see the close alliance of the sounds dropping out two hs and a
t and assuming an l makes the whole difference I wish to heaven no
antiquarian derivation had demanded heavier concessions«
»But my dear sir I really must go home I am wet to the skin«
»Shalt have my nightgown man and slippers and catch the antiquarian
fever as men do the plague by wearing infected garments Nay I know what you
would be at you are afraid to put the old bachelor to charges But is there
not the remains of that glorious chickenpie which meo arbitrio is better
cold than hot and that bottle of my oldest port out of which the silly
brainsick Baronet whom I cannot pardon since he has escaped breaking his
neck had just taken one glass when his infirm noddle went a woolgathering
after Gamelyn de Guardover«
So saying he dragged Lovel forward till the Palmersport of Monkbarns
received them Never perhaps had it admitted two pedestrians more needing
rest for Monkbarnss fatigue had been in a degree very contrary to his usual
habits and his more young and robust companion had that evening undergone
agitation of mind which had harassed and wearied him even more than his
extraordinary exertions of body
Chapter Ninth
»Be brave« she cried »you yet may be our guest
Our haunted room was ever held the best
If then your valour can the sight sustain
Of rustling curtains and the clinking chain
If your courageous tongue have powers to talk
When round your bed the horrid ghost shall walk
If you dare ask it why it leaves its tomb
Ill see your sheets well aird and show the room«
True Story
They reached the room in which they had dined and were clamorously welcomed by
Miss Oldbuck
»Wheres the younger womankind« said the Antiquary
»Indeed brother amang a the steery Maria wadna be guided by me she set
away to the Halketcraighead I wonder ye didna see her«
»Eh what whats that you say sister did the girl go out in a night
like this to the Halkethead Good God the misery of the night is not ended
yet«
»But ye winna wait Monkbarns ye are so imperative and impatient«
»Tittletattle woman« said the impatient and agitated Antiquary »where is
my dear Mary«
»Just where ye suld be yoursell Monkbarns up and in her warm bed«
»I could have sworn it« said Oldbuck laughing but obviously much relieved
»I could have sworn it the lazy monkey did not care if we were all drowned
together Why did you say she went out«
»But ye wadna wait to hear out my tale Monkbarns she gaed out and she
came in again with the gardener sae sune as she saw that nane o ye were clodded
ower the craig and that Miss Wardour was safe in the chariot she was hame a
quarter of an hour syne for its now ganging ten sair droukit was she puir
thing sae I een put a glass o sherry in her watergruel«
»Right Grizel right let womankind alone for coddling each other But
hear me my venerable sister start not at the word venerable it implies many
praiseworthy qualities besides age though that too is honourable albeit it is
the last quality for which womankind would wish to be honoured But perpend my
words let Lovel and me have forthwith the relics of the chickenpie and the
reversion of the port«
»The chickenpie the port ou dear brother there was but a wheen
banes and scarce a drap o the wine«
The Antiquarys countenance became clouded though he was too well bred to
give way in the presence of a stranger to his displeased surprise at the
disappearance of the viands on which he had reckoned with absolute certainty
But his sister understood these looks of ire »Ou dear Monkbarns whats the
use of making a wark«
»I make no wark as ye call it woman«
»But whats the use o looking sae glum and glunch about a pickle banes
an ye will hae the truth ye maun ken the minister came in worthy man sair
distressed he was nae doubt about your precarious situation as he cad it
for ye ken how weel hes gifted wi words and here he wad bide till he could
hear wi certainty how the matter was likely to gang wi ye a He said fine
things on the duty of resignation to Providences will worthy man that did
he«
Oldbuck replied catching the same tone »Worthy man he cared not how
soon Monkbarns had devolved on an heirfemale Ive a notion; and while he was
occupied in this Christian office of consolation against impending evil I
reckon that the chickenpie and my good port disappeared«
»Dear brother how can you speak of sic frivolities when you have had sic
an escape from the craig«
»Better than my supper has had from the ministers craig Grizzie its all
discussed I suppose«
»Hout Monkbarns ye speak as if there was nae mair meat in the house wad
ye not have had me offer the honest man some slight refreshment after his walk
frae the manse«
Oldbuck halfwhistled halfhummed the end of the old Scottish ditty
O first they eated the white puddings
And then they eated the black O
And thought the gudeman unto himsell
The deil clink down wi that O
His sister hastened to silence his murmurs by proposing some of the relics of
the dinner He spoke of another bottle of wine but recommended in preference a
glass of brandy which was really excellent As no entreaties could prevail on
Lovel to indue the velvet nightcap and branched morninggown of his host
Oldbuck who pretended to a little knowledge of the medical art insisted on his
going to bed as soon as possible and proposed to despatch a messenger the
indefatigable Caxon to Fairport early in the morning to procure him a change
of clothes
This was the first intimation Miss Oldbuck had received that the young
stranger was to be their guest for the night and such was the surprise with
which she was struck by a proposal so uncommon that had the superincumbent
weight of her headdress such as we before described been less preponderant
her grey locks must have started up on end and hurled it from its position
»Lord haud a care o us« exclaimed the astounded maiden
»Whats the matter now Grizel«
»Wad ye but just speak a moment Monkbarns«
»Speak what should I speak about I want to get to my bed and this poor
young fellow let a bed be made ready for him instantly«
»A bed The Lord preserve us« again ejaculated Grizel
»Why whats the matter now are there not beds and rooms enough in the
house was it not an ancient hospitium in which I am warranted to say beds
were nightly made down for a score of pilgrims«
»O dear Monkbarns wha kens what they might do lang syne but in our time
beds ay troth theres beds enow sic as they are and rooms enow too but
ye ken yoursell the beds haena been sleepit in Lord kens the time nor the
rooms aired If I had kennd Mary and me might hae gaen down to the manse
Miss Beckie is aye fond to see us and sae is the minister brother But
now gude save us«
»Is there not the Green Room Grizel«
»Troth is there and it is in decent order too though nae body has sleepit
there since Dr Heavysterne and«
»And what«
»And what I am sure ye ken yoursell what a night he had ye wadna expose
the young gentleman to the like o that wad ye«
Lovel interfered upon hearing this altercation and protested he would far
rather walk home than put them to the least inconvenience that the exercise
would be of service to him that he knew the road perfectly by night or day
to Fairport that the storm was abating and so forth adding all that
civility could suggest as an excuse for escaping from a hospitality which seemed
more inconvenient to his host than he could possibly have anticipated But the
howling of the wind and the pattering of the rain against the windows with his
knowledge of the preceding fatigues of the evening must have prohibited
Oldbuck even had he entertained less regard for his young friend than he really
felt from permitting him to depart Besides he was piqued in honour to show
that he himself was not governed by womankind »Sit ye down sit ye down sit
ye down man« he reiterated »an ye part so I would I might never draw a
cork again and here comes out one from a prime bottle of strong ale right
anno domini none of your Wassia Quassia decoctions but brewed of Monkbarns
barley John of the Girnel never drew a better flagon to entertain a wandering
minstrel or palmer with the freshest news from Palestine And to remove from
your mind the slightest wish to depart know that if you do so your character
as a gallant knight is gone for ever Why tis an adventure man to sleep in
the Green Room at Monkbarns Sister pray see it got ready And although the
bold adventurer Heavysterne dreed pain and dolour in that charmed apartment
it is no reason why a gallant knight like you nearly twice as tall and not
half so heavy should not encounter and break the spell«
»What a haunted apartment I suppose«
»To be sure to be sure every mansion in this country of the slightest
antiquity has its ghosts and its haunted chamber and you must not suppose us
worse off than our neighbours They are going indeed somewhat out of fashion
I have seen the day when if you had doubted the reality of a ghost in an old
manorhouse you ran the risk of being made a ghost yourself as Hamlet says
Yes if you had challenged the existence of Redcowl in the Castle of Glenstirym
old Sir Peter Pepperbrand would have had ye out to his courtyard made you
betake yourself to your weapon and if your trick of fence were not the better
would have sticked you like a paddock on his own baronial middenstead I once
narrowly escaped such an affray but I humbled myself and apologised to
Redcowl for even in my younger days I was no friend to the monomachia or
duel and would rather walk with Sir Priest than with Sir Knight I care not
who knows so much of my valour Thank God I am old now and can indulge my
irritabilities without the necessity of supporting them by cold steel«
Here Miss Oldbuck reentered with a singularly sage expression of
countenance »Mr Lovels beds ready brother clean sheets weel aired a
spunk of fire in the chimney I am sure Mr Lovel« addressing him »its no
for the trouble and I hope you will have a good nights rest But«
»You are resolved« said the Antiquary »to do what you can to prevent it«
»Me I am sure I have said naething Monkbarns«
»My dear madam« said Lovel »allow me to ask you the meaning of your
obliging anxiety on my account«
»Ou Monkbarns does not like to hear of it but he kens himsell that the
room has an ill name Its weel minded that it was there auld Rab Tull the
townclerk was sleeping when he had that marvellous communication about the
grand lawplea between us and the feuars at the Musselcraig It had cost a
hantle siller Mr Lovel for lawpleas were no carried on without siller lang
syne mair than they are now and the Monkbarns of that day our gudesire Mr
Lovel as I said before was like to be waured afore the Session for want of a
paper Monkbarns there kens weel what paper it was but Ise warrant hell no
help me out wi my tale but it was a paper of great significance to the plea
and we were to be waured for want ot Aweel the cause was to come on before
the fifteen in presence as they cat and auld Rab Tull the townclerk he
cam ower to make a last search for the paper that was wanting before our
gudesire gaed into Edinburgh to look after his plea so there was little time
to come and gang on He was but a doited snuffy body Rab as Ive heard but
then he was the townclerk of Fairport and the Monkbarns heritors aye employed
him on account of their connection wi the burgh ye ken«
»Sister Grizel this is abominable« interrupted Oldbuck »I vow to Heaven
ye might have raised the ghosts of every abbot of Trotcosey since the days of
Waldimir in the time you have been detailing the introduction to this single
spectre Learn to be succinct in your narrative Imitate the concise style
of old Aubrey an experienced ghostseer who entered his memoranda on these
subjects in a terse businesslike manner exempli gratia At Cirencester 5th
March 1670 was an apparition Being demanded whether good spirit or bad
made no answer but instantly disappeared with a curious perfume and a
melodious twang Vide his Miscellanies p eighteen as well as I can remember
and near the middle of the page«
»O Monkbarns man do ye think everybody is as booklearned as yoursell
But ye like to gar folk look like fools ye can do that to Sir Arthur and the
minister his very sell«
»Nature has been beforehand with me Grizel in both these instances and in
another which shall be nameless but take a glass of ale Grizel and proceed
with your story for it waxes late«
»Jennys just warming your bed Monkbarns and ye maun een wait till shes
done Weel I was at the search that our gudesire Monkbarns that then was
made wi auld Rab Tulls assistance but neerbelicket could they find that
was to their purpose And sae after they had touzled out mony a leather
pokefull o papers the townclerk had his drap punch at een to wash the dust
out of his throat we never were glassbreakers in this house Mr Lovel but
the body had got sic a trick of sippling and tippling wi the bailies and
deacons when they met which was amaist ilka night concerning the common gude
o the burgh that he couldna weel sleep without it But his punch he gat and
to bed he gaed and in the middle of the night he got a fearfu wakening he
was never just himsell after it and he was strucken wi the dead palsy that
very day four years He thought Mr Lovel that he heard the curtains o his
bed fissil and out he lookit fancying puir man it might hae been the cat
But he saw God hae a care o us it gars my flesh aye creep though I hae
tauld the story twenty times he saw a weelfaard auld gentleman standing by
his bedside in the moonlight in a queerfashioned dress wi mony a button and
bandstring about it and that part o his garments which it does not become a
leddy to particulareeze was baith side and wide and as mony plies ot as of
ony Hamburgh skippers He had a beard too and whiskers turned upwards on his
upperlip as lang as baudrons and mony mair particulars there were that Rab
Tull tauld o but they are forgotten now its an auld story Aweel Rab was a
justliving man for a country writer and he was less feared than maybe might
just hae been expected and he asked in the name o goodness what the apparition
wanted and the spirit answered in an unknown tongue Then Rab said he tried
him wi Erse for he cam in his youth frae the braes of Glenlivat but it wadna
do Aweel in this strait he bethought him of the twa or three words o Latin
that he used in making out the towns deeds and he had nae sooner tried the
spirit wi that than out cam sic a blatter o Latin about his lugs that poor
Rab Tull wha was nae great scholar was clean overwhelmed Od but he was a
bauld body and he minded the Latin name for the deed that he was wanting It
was something about a cart I fancy for the ghaist cried aye Carter carter «
»Carta you transformer of languages« cried Oldbuck »if my ancestor had
learned no other language in the other world at least he would not forget the
Latinity for which he was so famous while in this«
»Weel weel carta be it then but they cad it carter that telld me the
story It cried aye carta if sae be that it was carta and made a sign to Rab
to follow it Rab Tull keepit a Highland heart and banged out o bed and till
some of his readiest claes and he did follow the thing up stairs and down
stairs to the place we ca the high dowcot a sort of a little tower in the
corner of the auld house where there was a rickle o useless boxes and trunks
and there the ghaist gae Rab a kick wi the tae foot and a kick wi the
tother to that very auld eastcountry tabernacle of a cabinet that my brother
has standing beside his library table and then disappeared like a fuff o
tobacco leaving Rab in a very pitiful condition«
»Tenues secessit in auras« quoth Oldbuck »Marry sir mansit odor But
sure enough the deed was there found in a drawer of this forgotten repository
which contained many other curious old papers now properly labelled and
arranged and which seemed to have belonged to my ancestor the first possessor
of Monkbarns The deed thus strangely recovered was the original Charter of
Erection of the Abbey Abbey Lands and so forth of Trotcosey comprehending
Monkbarns and others into a Lordship of Regality in favour of the first Earl of
Glengibber a favourite of James the Sixth It is subscribed by the King at
Westminster the seventeenth day of January AD one thousand six hundred and
twelve thirteen Its not worth while to repeat the witnesses names«
»I would rather« said Lovel with awakened curiosity »I would rather hear
your opinion of the way in which the deed was discovered«
»Why if I wanted a patron for my legend I could find no less a one than
Saint Augustine who tells the story of a deceased person appearing to his son
when sued for a debt which had been paid and directing him where to find the
discharge8 But I rather opine with Lord Bacon who says that imagination is
much akin to miracleworking faith There was always some idle story of the room
being haunted by the spirit of Aldobrand Oldenbuck my greatgreatgreat
grandfather its a shame to the English language that we have not a less
clumsy way of expressing a relationship of which we have occasion to think and
speak so frequently He was a foreigner and wore his national dress of which
tradition had preserved an accurate description and indeed there is a print of
him supposed to be by Reginald Elstracke pulling the press with his own hand
as it works off the sheets of his scarce edition of the Augsburg Confession He
was a chemist as well as a good mechanic and either of these qualities in this
country was at that time sufficient to constitute a white witch at least This
superstitious old writer had heard all this and probably believed it and in
his sleep the image and idea of my ancestor recalled that of his cabinet which
with the grateful attention to antiquities and the memory of our ancestors not
unusually met with had been pushed into the pigeonhouse to be out of the way
Add a quantum sufficit of exaggeration and you have a key to the whole
mystery«
»O brother brother but Dr Heavysterne brother whose sleep was so sore
broken that he declared he wadna pass another night in the Green Room to get
all Monkbarns so that Mary and I were forced to yield our«
»Why Grizel the doctor is a good honest puddingheaded German of much
merit in his own way but fond of the mystical like many of his countrymen You
and he had a traffic the whole evening in which you received tales of Mesmer
Shropfer Cagliostro and other modern pretenders to the mystery of raising
spirits discovering hidden treasure and so forth in exchange for your legends
of the green bedchamber and considering that the Illustrissimus ate a pound
and a half of Scotch collops to supper smoked six pipes and drank ale and
brandy in proportion I am not surprised at his having a fit of the nightmare
But everything is now ready Permit me to light you to your apartment Mr Lovel
I am sure you have need of rest and I trust my ancestor is too sensible of
the duties of hospitality to interfere with the repose which you have so well
merited by your manly and gallant behaviour«
So saying the Antiquary took up a bedroom candlestick of massive silver and
antique form which he observed was wrought out of the silver found in the
mines of the Harz mountains and had been the property of the very personage who
had supplied them with a subject for conversation And having so said he led
the way through many a dusky and winding passage now ascending and anon
descending again until he came to the apartment destined for his young guest
Chapter Tenth
When midnight oer the moonless skies
Her pall of transient death has spread
When mortals sleep when spectres rise
And none are wakeful but the dead
No bloodless shape my way pursues
No sheeted ghost my couch annoys
Visions more sad my fancy views
Visions of long departed joys
WR Spenser
When they reached the Green Room as it was called Oldbuck placed the candle on
the toilet table before a huge mirror with a black japanned frame surrounded
by dressingboxes of the same and looked around him with something of a
disturbed expression of countenance »I am seldom in this apartment« he said
»and never without yielding to a melancholy feeling not of course on account
of the childish nonsense that Grizel was telling you but owing to circumstances
of an early and unhappy attachment It is at such moments as these Mr Lovel
that we feel the changes of time The same objects are before us those
inanimate things which we have gazed on in wayward infancy and impetuous youth
in anxious and scheming manhood they are permanent and the same but when we
look upon them in cold unfeeling old age can we changed in our temper our
pursuits our feelings changed in our form our limbs and our strength can
we be ourselves called the same or do we not rather look back with a sort of
wonder upon our former selves as being separate and distinct from what we now
are The philosopher who appealed from Philip inflamed with wine to Philip in
his hours of sobriety did not choose a judge so different as if he had
appealed from Philip in his youth to Philip in his old age I cannot but be
touched with the feeling so beautifully expressed in a poem which I have heard
repeated9
My eyes are dim with childish tears
My heart is idly stirred
For the same sound is in my ears
Which in those days I heard
Thus fares it still in our decay
And yet the wiser mind
Mourns less for what time takes away
Than what he leaves behind
Well time cures every wound and though the scar may remain and occasionally
ache yet the earliest agony of its recent infliction is felt no more« So
saying he shook Lovel cordially by the hand wished him goodnight and took
his leave
Step after step Lovel could trace his hosts retreat along the various
passages and each door which he closed behind him fell with a sound more
distant and dead The guest thus separated from the living world took up the
candle and surveyed the apartment
The fire blazed cheerfully Mrs Grizels attention had left some fresh
wood should he choose to continue it and the apartment had a comfortable
though not a lively appearance It was hung with tapestry which the looms of
Arras had produced in the sixteenth century and which the learned typographer
so often mentioned had brought with him as a sample of the arts of the
Continent The subject was a huntingpiece and as the leafy boughs of the
foresttrees branching over the tapestry formed the predominant colour the
apartment had thence acquired its name of the Green Chamber Grim figures in the
old Flemish dress with slashed doublets covered with ribbands short cloaks
and trunkhose were engaged in holding greyhounds or staghounds in the
leash or cheering them upon the objects of their game Others with
boarspears swords and oldfashioned guns were attacking stags or boars whom
they had brought to bay The branches of the woven forest were crowded with
fowls of various kinds each depicted with its proper plumage It seemed as if
the prolific and rich invention of old Chaucer had animated the Flemish artist
with its profusion and Oldbuck had accordingly caused the following verses
from that ancient and excellent poet to be embroidered in Gothic letters on a
sort of border which he had added to the tapestry
Lo here be oakis grete streight as a line
Under the which the grass so fresh of line
Beth newly sprung at eight foot or nine
Everich tree well from his fellow grew
With branches broad laden with leaves new
That sprongen out against the sonne sheene
Some golden red and some a glad bright green
And in another canton was the following similar legend
And many an hart and many an hind
Was both before me and behind
Of fawns sownders bucks and does
Was full the wood and many roes
And many squirrels that ysate
High on the trees and nuts ate
The bed was of a dark and faded green wrought to correspond with the tapestry
but by a more modern and less skilful hand The large and heavy stuffbottomed
chairs with black ebony backs were embroidered after the same pattern and a
lofty mirror over the antique chimneypiece corresponded in its mounting with
that on the oldfashioned toilet
»I have heard« muttered Lovel as he took a cursory view of the room and
its furniture »that ghosts often chose the best room in the mansion to which
they attached themselves and I cannot disapprove of the taste of the
disembodied printer of the Augsburg Confession« But he found it so difficult to
fix his mind upon the stories which had been told him of an apartment with which
they seemed so singularly to correspond that he almost regretted the absence of
those agitated feelings half fear half curiosity which sympathise with the old
legends of awe and wonder from which the anxious reality of his own hopeless
passion at present detached him For he now only felt emotions like those
expressed in the lines
Ah cruel maid how hast thou changed
The temper of my mind
My heart by thee from all estranged
Becomes like thee unkind
He endeavoured to conjure up something like the feelings which would at another
time have been congenial to his situation but his heart had no room for these
vagaries of imagination The recollection of Miss Wardour determined not to
acknowledge him when compelled to endure his society and evincing her purpose
to escape from it would have alone occupied his imagination exclusively But
with this were united recollections more agitating if less painful her
hairbreadth escape the fortunate assistance which he had been able to render
her Yet what was his requital She left the cliff while his fate was yet
doubtful while it was uncertain whether her preserver had not lost the life
which he had exposed for her so freely Surely gratitude at least called for
some little interest in his fate But no she could not be selfish or unjust
it was no part of her nature She only desired to shut the door against hope
and even in compassion to him to extinguish a passion which she could never
return
But this loverlike mode of reasoning was not likely to reconcile him to his
fate since the more amiable his imagination presented Miss Wardour the more
inconsolable he felt he should be rendered by the extinction of his hopes He
was indeed conscious of possessing the power of removing her prejudices on
some points but even in extremity he determined to keep the original
determination which he had formed of ascertaining that she desired an
explanation ere he intruded one upon her And turn the matter as he would he
could not regard his suit as desperate There was something of embarrassment as
well as of grave surprise in her look when Oldbuck presented him and perhaps
upon second thoughts the one was assumed to cover the other He would not
relinquish a pursuit which had already cost him such pains Plans suiting the
romantic temper of the brain that entertained them chased each other through
his head thick and irregular as the motes of the sunbeam and long after he
had laid himself to rest continued to prevent the repose which he greatly
needed Then wearied by the uncertainty and difficulties with which each scheme
appeared to be attended he bent up his mind to the strong effort of shaking off
his love »like dewdrops from the lions mane« and resuming those studies and
that career of life which his unrequited affection had so long and so
fruitlessly interrupted In this last resolution he endeavoured to fortify
himself by every argument which pride as well as reason could suggest »She
shall not suppose« he said »that presuming on an accidental service to her or
to her father I am desirous to intrude myself upon that notice to which
personally she considered me as having no title I will see her no more I will
return to the land which if it affords none fairer has at least many as fair
and less haughty than Miss Wardour Tomorrow I will bid adieu to these northern
shores and to her who is as cold and relentless as her climate« When he had
for some time brooded over this sturdy resolution exhausted nature at length
gave way and despite of wrath doubt and anxiety he sank into slumber
It is seldom that sleep after such violent agitation is either sound or
refreshing Lovels was disturbed by a thousand baseless and confused visions
He was a bird he was a fish or he flew like the one and swam like the
other qualities which would have been very essential to his safety a few
hours before Then Miss Wardour was a syren or a bird of Paradise her father a
triton or a seagull and Oldbuck alternately a porpoise and a cormorant These
agreeable imaginations were varied by all the usual vagaries of a feverish
dream the air refused to bear the visionary the water seemed to burn him
the rocks felt like down pillows as he was dashed against them whatever he
undertook failed in some strange and unexpected manner and whatever attracted
his attention underwent as he attempted to investigate it some wild and
wonderful metamorphosis while his mind continued all the while in some degree
conscious of the delusion from which it in vain struggled to free itself by
awaking feverish symptoms all with which those who are haunted by the
nighthag whom the learned call Ephialtes are but too well acquainted At
length these crude phantasmata arranged themselves into something more regular
if indeed the imagination of Lovel after he awoke for it was by no means the
faculty in which his mind was least rich did not gradually insensibly and
unintentionally arrange in better order the scene of which his sleep presented
it may be a less distinct outline Or it is possible that his feverish
agitation may have assisted him in forming the vision
Leaving this discussion to the learned we will say that after a succession
of wild images such as we have above described our hero for such we must
acknowledge him so far regained a consciousness of locality as to remember
where he was and the whole furniture of the Green Chamber was depicted to his
slumbering eye And here once more let me protest that if there should be so
much oldfashioned faith left among this shrewd and sceptical generation as to
suppose that what follows was an impression conveyed rather by the eye than by
the imagination I do not impugn their doctrine He was then or imagined
himself broad awake in the Green Chamber gazing upon the flickering and
occasional flame which the unconsumed remnants of the faggots sent forth as
one by one they fell down upon the red embers into which the principal part of
the boughs to which they belonged had crumbled away Insensibly the legend of
Aldobrand Oldenbuck and his mysterious visits to the inmates of the chamber
awoke in his mind and with it as we often feel in dreams an anxious and
fearful expectation which seldom fails instantly to summon up before our mind's
eye the object of our fear Brighter sparkles of light flashed from the chimney
with such intense brilliancy as to enlighten all the room The tapestry waved
wildly on the wall till its dusky forms seemed to become animated The hunters
blew their horns the stag seemed to fly the boar to resist and the hounds to
assail the one and pursue the other the cry of deer mangled by throttling dogs
the shouts of men and the clatter of horses hoofs seemed at once to
surround him while every group pursued with all the fury of the chase the
employment in which the artist had represented them as engaged Lovel looked on
this strange scene devoid of wonder which seldom intrudes itself upon the
sleeping fancy but with an anxious sensation of awful fear At length an
individual figure among the tissued huntsmen as he gazed upon them more
fixedly seemed to leave the arras and to approach the bed of the slumberer As
he drew near his figure appeared to alter His buglehorn became a brazen
clasped volume his huntingcap changed to such a furred headgear as graces the
burgomasters of Rembrandt his Flemish garb remained but his features no longer
agitated with the fury of the chase were changed to such a state of awful and
stern composure as might best portray the first proprietor of Monkbarns such
as he had been described to Lovel by his descendants in the course of the
preceding evening As this metamorphosis took place the hubbub among the other
personages in the arras disappeared from the imagination of the dreamer which
was now exclusively bent on the single figure before him Lovel strove to
interrogate this awful person in the form of exorcism proper for the occasion
but his tongue as is usual in frightful dreams refused its office and clung
palsied to the roof of his mouth Aldobrand held up his finger as if to impose
silence upon the guest who had intruded on his apartment and began deliberately
to unclasp the venerable volume which occupied his left hand When it was
unfolded he turned over the leaves hastily for a short space, and then raising
his figure to its full dimensions and holding the book aloft in his left hand
pointed to a passage in the page which he thus displayed Although the language
was unknown to our dreamer his eye and attention were both strongly caught by
the line which the figure seemed thus to press upon his notice the words of
which appeared to blaze with a supernatural light and remained riveted upon his
memory As the vision shut his volume a strain of delightful music seemed to
fill the apartment Lovel started and became completely awake The music
however was still in his ears nor ceased till he could distinctly follow the
measure of an old Scottish tune
He sate up in bed and endeavoured to clear his brain of the phantoms which
had disturbed it during this weary night The beams of the morning sun streamed
through the halfclosed shutters and admitted a distinct light into the
apartment He looked round upon the hangings but the mixed groups of silken
and worsted huntsmen were as stationary as tenterhooks could make them and
only trembled slightly as the early breeze which found its way through an open
crevice of the latticed window glided along their surface Lovel leapt out of
bed and wrapping himself in a morninggown that had been considerately laid
by his bedside stepped towards the window which commanded a view of the sea
the roar of whose billows announced it still disquieted by the storm of the
preceding evening although the morning was fair and serene The window of a
turret which projected at an angle with the wall and thus came to be very near
Lovels apartment was halfopen and from that quarter he heard again the same
music which had probably broken short his dream With its visionary character it
had lost much of its charms it was now nothing more than an air on the
harpsichord tolerably well performed such is the caprice of imagination as
affecting the fine arts A female voice sung with some taste and great
simplicity something between a song and a hymn in words to the following
effect
»Why sittst thou by that ruind hall
Thou aged carle so stern and grey
Dost thou its former pride recall
Or ponder how it passed away
Knowst thou not me the Deep Voice cried
So long enjoyed so oft misused
Alternate in thy fickle pride
Desired neglected and accused
Before my breath like blazing flax
Man and his marvels pass away
And changing empires wane and wax
Are founded flourish and decay
Redeem mine hours the space is brief
While in my glass the sandgrains shiver
And measureless thy joy or grief
When TIME and thou shalt part for ever«
While the verses were yet singing Lovel had returned to his bed the train of
ideas which they awakened was romantic and pleasing such as his soul delighted
in and willingly adjourning till more broad day the doubtful task of
determining on his future line of conduct he abandoned himself to the pleasing
languor inspired by the music and fell into a sound and refreshing sleep from
which he was only awakened at a late hour by old Caxon who came creeping into
the room to render the offices of a valetdechambre
»I have brushed your coat sir« said the old man when he perceived Lovel
was awake »the callant brought it frae Fairport this morning for that ye had
on yesterday is scantly feasibly dry though its been a night at the kitchen
fire and I hae cleaned your shoon I doubt yell no be wanting me to tie your
hair for« with a gentle sigh »a the young gentlemen wear crops now but I
hae the curling tangs here to gie it a bit turn ower the brow if ye like
before ye gae down to the leddies«
Lovel who was by this time once more on his legs declined the old mans
professional offices but accompanied the refusal with such a douceur as
completely sweetened Caxons mortification
»Its a pity he disna get his hair tied and pouthered« said the ancient
friseur when he had got once more into the kitchen in which on one pretence
or other he spent three parts of his idle time that is to say of his whole
time »its a great pity for hes a comely young gentleman«
»Hout awa ye auld gowk« said Jenny Rintherout »would ye creesh his bonny
brown hair wi your nasty ulyie and then moust it like the auld ministers wig
Yell be for your breakfast Ise warrant hae theres a soup parritch for ye
it will set ye better tae be slaistering at them and the lappermilk than
meddling wi Mr Lovels head ye wad spoil the maist natural and beautifaest
head o hair in a Fairport baith burgh and county«
The poor barber sighed over the disrespect into which his art had so
universally fallen but Jenny was a person too important to offend by
contradiction so sitting quietly down in the kitchen he digested at once his
humiliation and the contents of a bicker which held a Scotch pint of
substantial oatmeal porridge
Chapter Eleventh
Sometimes he thinks that Heaven this pageant sent
And ordered all the pageants as they went
Sometimes that only twas wild Fancys play
The loose and scattered relics of the day
Cowleys davideis
We must now request our readers to adjourn to the breakfast parlour of Mr
Oldbuck who despising the modern slops of tea and coffee was substantially
regaling himself more majorum with cold roastbeef and a glass of a sort of
beverage called mum a species of fat ale brewed from wheat and bitter herbs
of which the present generation only know the name by its occurrence in revenue
acts of parliament coupled with cider perry and other excisable commodities
Lovel who was seduced to taste it with difficulty refrained from pronouncing
it detestable but did refrain as he saw he should otherwise give great offence
to his host who had the liquor annually prepared with peculiar care according
to the approved recipe bequeathed to him by the sooften mentioned Aldobrand
Oldenbuck The hospitality of the ladies offered Lovel a breakfast more suited
to modern taste and while he was engaged in partaking of it he was assailed by
indirect inquiries concerning the manner in which he had passed the night
»We canna compliment Mr Lovel on his looks this morning brother but he
winna condescend on any ground of disturbance he has had in the night time I am
certain he looks very pale and when he came here he was as fresh as a rose«
»Why sister consider this rose of yours has been knocked about by sea and
wind all yesterday evening as if he had been a bunch of kelp or tangle and how
the devil would you have him retain his colour«
»I certainly do still feel somewhat fatigued« said Lovel »notwithstanding
the excellent accommodations with which your hospitality so amply supplied me«
»Ah sir« said Miss Oldbuck looking at him with a knowing smile or what
was meant to be one »yell not allow of ony inconvenience out of civility to
us«
»Really madam« replied Lovel »I had no disturbance for I cannot term
such the music with which some kind fairy favoured me«
»I doubted Mary wad waken you wi her skreighing she dinna ken I had left
open a chink of your window for forbye the ghaist the Green Room disna vent
weel in a high wind But I am judging ye heard mair than Marys lilts yestreen
Weel men are hardy creatures they can gae through wi a thing I am sure
had I been to undergo ony thing of that nature thats to say thats beyond
nature I would hae skreighd out at once and raised the house be the
consequence what liket and I dare say the minister wad hae done as mickle
and sae I hae tauld him I ken naebody but my brother Monkbarns himsell wad
gae through the like ot if indeed it binna you Mr Lovel«
»A man of Mr Oldbucks learning madam« answered the questioned party
»would not be exposed to the inconvenience sustained by the Highland gentleman
you mentioned last night«
»Ay ay ye understand now where the difficulty lies Language he has ways
o his ain wad banish a thae sort o worricows as far as the hindermost parts
of Gideon« meaning possibly Midian as Mr Blattergowl says only ane widna
be uncivil to anes forbear though he be a ghaist I am sure I will try that
receipt of yours brother that ye showed me in a book if onybody is to sleep
in that room again though I think in Christian charity ye should rather fit
up the mattedroom its a wee damp and dark to be sure but then we hae sae
seldom occasion for a spare bed«
»No no sister dampness and darkness are worse than spectres ours are
spirits of light and I would rather have you try the spell«
»I will do that blythely Monkbarns an I had the ingredients as my cookery
book cas them There was vervain and dill I mind that Davie Dibble will
ken about them though maybe hell gie them Latin names and Peppercorn we
hae walth o them for«
»Hypericon thou foolish woman« thundered Oldbuck »dye suppose youre
making a haggis or do you think that a spirit though he be formed of air can
be expelled by a receipt against wind This wise Grizel of mine Mr Lovel
recollects with what accuracy you may judge a charm which I once mentioned to
her and which happening to hit her superstitious noddle she remembers better
than anything tending to a useful purpose I may chance to have said for this
ten years But many an old woman besides herself«
»Auld woman Monkbarns« said Miss Oldbuck roused something above her usual
submissive tone »ye really are less than civil to me«
»Not less than just Grizel however I include in the same class many a
sounding name from Jamblichus down to Aubrey who have wasted their time in
devising imaginary remedies for nonexisting diseases But I hope my young
friend that charmed or uncharmed secured by the potency of Hypericon
With vervain and with dill
That hinder witches of their will
or left disarmed and defenceless to the inroads of the invisible world you will
give another night to the terrors of the haunted apartment and another day to
your faithful and feal friends«
»I heartily wish I could but«
»Nay but me no buts I have set my heart upon it«
»I am greatly obliged my dear sir but«
»Look ye there now but again I hate but I know no form of expression
in which he can appear that is amiable excepting as a butt of sack But is to
me a more detestable combination of letters than no itself No is a surly
honest fellow speaks his mind rough and round at once But is a sneaking
evasive halfbred exceptuous sort of a conjunction which comes to pull away
the cup just when it is at your lips
it does allay
The good precedent fie upon but yet
But yet is as a jailor to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor«
»Well then« answered Lovel whose motions were really undetermined at the
moment »you shall not connect the recollection of my name with so churlish a
particle I must soon think of leaving Fairport I am afraid and I will since
you are good enough to wish it take this opportunity of spending another day
here«
»And you shall be rewarded my boy First you shall see John o the
Girnels grave and then well walk gently along the sands the state of the
tide being first ascertained for we will have no more Peter Wilkins
adventures no more Glum and Gawrie work as far as Knockwinnock Castle and
inquire after the old knight and my fair foe which will but be barely civil
and then«
»I beg pardon my dear sir but perhaps you had better adjourn your visit
till tomorrow I am a stranger you know«
»And are therefore the more bound to show civility I should suppose But
I beg your pardon for mentioning a word that perhaps belongs only to a collector
of antiquities I am one of the old school
When courtiers galloped oer four counties
The balls fair partner to behold
And humbly hope she caught no cold«
»Why if if if you thought it would be expected but I believe I had better
stay«
»Nay nay my good friend I am not so oldfashioned as to press you to what
is disagreeable neither it is sufficient that I see there is some remora
some cause of delay some mid impediment which I have no title to inquire into
Or you are still somewhat tired perhaps I warrant I find means to entertain
your intellects without fatiguing your limbs I am no friend to violent
exertion myself a walk in the garden once aday is exercise enough for any
thinking being none but a fool or a foxhunter would require more Well what
shall we set about my Essay on Castrametation but I have that in petto for
our afternoon cordial or I will show you the controversy upon Ossians Poems
between MacCribb and me I hold with the acute Orcadian he with the defenders
of the authenticity the controversy began in smooth oily ladylike terms
but is now waxing more sour and eager as we get on it already partakes
somewhat of old Scaligers style I fear the rogue will get some scent of that
story of Ochiltrees but at worst I have a hard repartee for him on the
affair of the abstracted Antigonus I will show you his last epistle and the
scroll of my answer egad it is a trimmer«
So saying the Antiquary opened a drawer and began rummaging among a
quantity of miscellaneous papers ancient and modern But it was the misfortune
of this learned gentleman as it may be that of many learned and unlearned that
he frequently experienced on such occasions what Harlequin calls lembarras
des richesses in other words, the abundance of his collection often prevented
him from finding the article he sought for »Curse the papers I believe«
said Oldbuck as he shuffled them to and fro »I believe they make themselves
wings like grasshoppers and fly away bodily but here in the meanwhile look
at that little treasure« So saying he put into his hand a case made of oak
fenced at the corner with silver roses and studs »Prythee undo this button«
said he as he observed Lovel fumbling at the clasp He did so the lid
opened and discovered a thin quarto curiously bound in black shagreen
»There Mr Lovel there is the work I mentioned to you last night the rare
quarto of the Augsburg Confession the foundation at once and the bulwark of the
Reformation drawn up by the learned and venerable Melancthon defended by the
Elector of Saxony and the other valiant hearts who stood up for their faith
even against the front of a powerful and victorious emperor and imprinted by
the scarcely less venerable and praiseworthy Aldobrand Oldenbuck my happy
progenitor during the yet more tyrannical attempts of Philip II to suppress at
once civil and religious liberty Yes sir for printing this work that
eminent man was expelled from his ungrateful country and driven to establish
his household gods even here at Monkbarns among the ruins of papal superstition
and domination Look upon his venerable effigies Mr Lovel and respect the
honourable occupation in which it presents him as labouring personally at the
press for the diffusion of Christian and political knowledge And see here his
favourite motto expressive of his independence and selfreliance which scorned
to owe anything to patronage that was not earned by desert expressive also of
that firmness of mind and tenacity of purpose recommended by Horace He was
indeed a man who would have stood firm had his whole printinghouse presses
fonts forms great and small pica been shivered to pieces around him Read I
say his motto for each printer had his motto or device when that
illustrious art was first practised My ancestors was expressed as you see in
the Teutonic phrase KUNST MACHT GUNST that is skill or prudence in
availing ourselves of our natural talents and advantages will compel favour and
patronage even where it is withheld from prejudice or ignorance«
»And that« said Lovel after a moments thoughtful silence »that then
is the meaning of these German words«
»Unquestionably You perceive the appropriate application to a consciousness
of inward worth and of eminence in a useful and honourable art Each printer
in those days as I have already informed you had his device his impresa as I
may call it in the same manner as the doughty chivalry of the age who
frequented tilt and tournament My ancestor boasted as much in his as if he had
displayed it over a conquered field of battle though it betokened the diffusion
of knowledge, not the effusion of blood And yet there is a family tradition
which affirms him to have chosen it from a more romantic circumstance«
»And what is that said to have been my good sir« inquired his young
friend
»Why it rather encroaches on my respected predecessors fame for prudence
and wisdom Sed semel insanivimus omnes everybody has played the fool in
their turn It is said my ancestor during his apprenticeship with the
descendant of old Faust whom popular tradition hath sent to the devil under the
name of Faustus was attracted by a paltry slip of womankind his masters
daughter called Bertha they broke rings or went through some idiotical
ceremony as is usual on such idle occasions as the plighting of a truelove
troth and Aldobrand set out on his journey through Germany as became an honest
handwerker for such was the custom of mechanics at that time to make a tour
through the empire and work at their trade for a time in each of the most
eminent towns before they finally settled themselves for life It was a wise
custom for as such travellers were received like brethren in each town by
those of their own handicraft they were sure in every case to have the means
either of gaining or communicating knowledge When my ancestor returned to
Nuremberg he is said to have found his old master newly dead and two or three
gallant young suitors some of them halfstarved sprigs of nobility forsooth in
pursuit of the Yungfraw Bertha whose father was understood to have bequeathed
her a dowry which might weigh against sixteen armorial quarters But Bertha not
a bad sample of womankind had made a vow she would only marry that man who
could work her fathers press The skill at that time was as rare as
wonderful besides that the expedient rid her at once of most of her gentle
suitors who would have as soon wielded a conjuring wand as a composing stick
Some of the more ordinary typographers made the attempt but none were
sufficiently possessed of the mystery But I tire you«
»By no means pray proceed Mr Oldbuck I listen with uncommon interest«
»Ah it is all folly However Aldobrand arrived in the ordinary dress as
we would say of a journeyman printer the same in which he had traversed
Germany and conversed with Luther Melancthon Erasmus and other learned men
who disdained not his knowledge and the power he possessed of diffusing it
though hid under a garb so homely But what appeared respectable in the eyes of
wisdom religion learning and philosophy seemed mean as might readily be
supposed and disgusting in those of silly and affected womankind and Bertha
refused to acknowledge her former lover in the torn doublet skin cap clouted
shoes and leathern apron of a travelling handicraftsman or mechanic He
claimed his privilege however of being admitted to a trial and when the rest
of the suitors had either declined the contest or made such work as the devil
could not read if his pardon depended on it all eyes were bent on the stranger
Aldobrand stepped gracefully forward arranged the types without omission of a
single letter hyphen or comma imposed them without deranging a single space,
and pulled off the first proof as clear and free from errors as if it had been
a triple revise All applauded the worthy successor of the immortal Faustus
the blushing maiden acknowledged her error in trusting to the eye more than the
intellect and the elected bridegroom thenceforward chose for his impress or
device the appropriate words Skill wins favour But what is the matter with
you you are in a brown study Come I told you this was but trumpery
conversation for thinking people and now I have my hand on the Ossianic
Controversy«
»I beg your pardon« said Lovel »I am going to appear very silly and
changeable in your eyes Mr Oldbuck but you seemed to think Sir Arthur might
in civility expect a call from me«
»Psha psha I can make your apology and if you must leave us so soon as
you say what signifies how you stand in his honours good graces And I warn
you that the Essay on Castrametation is something prolix and will occupy the
time we can spare after dinner so you may lose the Ossianic Controversy if we
do not dedicate this morning to it We will go out to my evergreen bower my
sacred hollytree yonder and have it fronde super viridi
Sing heighho heighho for the green holly
Most friendship is feigning most loving mere folly
But egad« continued the old gentleman »when I look closer at you I begin to
think you may be of a different opinion Amen with all my heart I quarrel with
no mans hobby if he does not run it a tilt against mine and if he does let
him beware his eyes What say you in the language of the world and worldlings
base if you can condescend to so mean a sphere shall we stay or go«
»In the language of selfishness then which is of course the language of
the world let us go by all means«
»Amen amen quo the Earl Marshall« answered Oldbuck as he exchanged his
slippers for a pair of stout walking shoes with cutikins as he called them of
black cloth He only interrupted the walk by a slight deviation to the tomb of
John o the Girnel remembered as the last bailiff of the abbey who had resided
at Monkbarns Beneath an old oaktree upon a hillock sloping pleasantly to the
south and catching a distant view of the sea over two or three rich enclosures
and the Musselcrag lay a mossgrown stone and in memory of the departed
worthy it bore an inscription of which as Mr Oldbuck affirmed though many
doubted the defaced characters could be distinctly traced to the following
effect
Here lyeth John o ye Girnell
Erth has ye nit and heuen ye kirnell
In hys tyme ilk wyfes hennis clokit
Ilka gud mannis herth wi bairnis was stokit
He deled a boll o bear in firlottis fyve
Four for ye halie kirke and ane for puir mennis wyvis
»You see how modest the author of this sepulchral commendation was he tells
us that honest John could make five firlots or quarters as you would say out
of the boll instead of four that he gave the fifth to the wives of the
parish and accounted for the other four to the abbot and chapter that in his
time the wives hens always laid eggs and devil thank them if they got
onefifth of the abbey rents and that honest mens hearths were never unblest
with offspring an addition to the miracle which they as well as I must have
considered as perfectly unaccountable But come on leave we Jock o the
Girnel and let us jog on to the yellow sands where the sea like a repulsed
enemy is now retreating from the ground on which he gave us battle last night«
Thus saying he led the way to the sands Upon the links or downs close to
them were seen four or five huts inhabited by fishers whose boats drawn high
upon the beach lent the odoriferous vapours of pitch melting under a burning
sun to contend with those of the offals of fish and other nuisances usually
collected round Scottish cottages Undisturbed by these complicated steams of
abomination a middleaged woman with a face which had defied a thousand
storms sat mending a net at the door of one of the cottages A handkerchief
close bound about her head and a coat which had formerly been that of a man
gave her a masculine air which was increased by her strength uncommon stature
and harsh voice »What are ye for the day your honour« she said or rather
screamed to Oldbuck »caller haddocks and whitings a bannockfluke and a
cockpadle«
»How much for the bannockfluke and cockpadle« demanded the Antiquary
»Four white shillings and saxpence« answered the Naiad
»Four devils and six of their imps« retorted the Antiquary »do you think I
am mad Maggie«
»And div ye think« rejoined the virago setting her arms akimbo »that my
man and my sons are to gae to the sea in weather like yestreen and the day sic
a sea as its yet outby and get naething for their fish and be miscad into
the bargain Monkbarns Its no fish yere buying its mens lives«
»Well Maggie Ill bid you fair Ill bid you a shilling for the fluke and
the cockpadle or sixpence separately and if all your fish are as well paid
I think your man as you call him and your sons will make a good voyage«
»Deil gin their boat were knockit against the BellRock rather it wad be
better and the bonnier voyage o the twa A shilling for thae twa bonnie fish
Od thats ane indeed«
»Well well you old beldam carry your fish up to Monkbarns and see what
my sister will give you for them«
»Na na Monkbarns deil a fit Ill rather deal wi yoursell for though
youre near enough yet Miss Grizel has an unco close grip Ill gie ye them«
in a softened tone »for threeandsaxpence«
»Eighteenpence or nothing«
»Eighteenpence« in a loud tone of astonishment which declined into a
sort of rueful whine when the dealer turned as if to walk away »Yell no be
for the fish then« then louder as she saw him moving off »Ill gie ye
them and and and a halfadozen o partans to make the sauce for three
shillings and a dram«
»Halfacrown then Maggie and a dram«
»Aweel your honour maun haet your ain gate nae doubt but a drams worth
siller now the distilleries is no working«
»And I hope theyll never work again in my time« said Oldbuck
»Ay ay its easy for your honour and the like o you gentlefolks to say
sae that hae stouth and routh and fire and fending and meat and claith and
sit dry and canny by the fireside but an ye wanted fire and meat and dry
claes and were deeing o cauld and had a sair heart whilk is warst ava wi
just tippence in your pouch wadna ye be glad to buy a dram wit to be eilding
and claes and a supper and hearts ease into the bargain till the morns
morning«
»Its even too true an apology Maggie Is your goodman off to sea this
morning after his exertions last night«
»In troth is he Monkbarns he was awa this morning by four oclock when
the sea was working like barm wi yestreens wind and our bit coble dancing
int like a cork«
»Well hes an industrious fellow Carry the fish up to Monkbarns«
»That I will or Ill send little Jenny shell rin faster but Ill ca on
Miss Grizzy for the dram mysell and say ye sent me«
A nondescript animal which might have passed for a mermaid as it was
paddling in a pool among the rocks was summoned ashore by the shrill screams of
its dam and having been made decent as her mother called it which was
performed by adding a short red cloak to a petticoat which was at first her
sole covering and which reached scantily below her knee the child was
dismissed with the fish in a basket and a request on the part of Monkbarns that
they might be prepared for dinner »It would have been long« said Oldbuck with
much selfcomplacency »ere my womankind could have made such a reasonable
bargain with that old skinflint though they sometimes wrangle with her for an
hour together under my study window like three seagulls screaming and
sputtering in a gale of wind But come wend we on our way to Knockwinnock«
Chapter Twelfth
Beggar the only freeman of your commonwealth
Free above Scotfree that observe no laws
Obey no governor use no religion
But what they draw from their own ancient custom
Or constitute themselves yet they are no rebels
Brome
With our readers permission we will outstep the slow though sturdy pace of
the Antiquary whose halts as he turned round to his companion at every moment
to point out something remarkable in the landscape or to enforce some favourite
topic more emphatically than the exercise of walking permitted delayed their
progress considerably
Notwithstanding the fatigues and dangers of the preceding evening Miss
Wardour was able to rise at her usual hour and to apply herself to her usual
occupations after she had first satisfied her anxiety concerning her fathers
state of health Sir Arthur was no farther indisposed than by the effects of
great agitation and unusual fatigue but these were sufficient to induce him to
keep his bedchamber
To look back on the events of the preceding day was to Isabella a very
unpleasing retrospect She owed her life and that of her father to the very
person by whom of all others she wished least to be obliged because she could
hardly even express common gratitude towards him without encouraging hopes which
might be injurious to them both »Why should it be my fate to receive such
benefits and conferred at so much personal risk from one whose romantic
passion I have so unceasingly laboured to discourage Why should chance have
given him this advantage over me and why oh why should a halfsubdued feeling
in my own bosom in spite of my sober reason almost rejoice that he has
attained it«
While Miss Wardour thus taxed herself with wayward caprice she beheld
advancing down the avenue not her younger and more dreaded preserver but the
old beggar who had made such a capital figure in the melodrama of the preceding
evening
She rang the bell for her maidservant »Bring the old man up stairs«
The servant returned in a minute or two »He will come up at no rate
madam he says his clouted shoes never were on a carpet in his life and that
please God they never shall Must I take him into the servants hall«
»No stay I want to speak with him Where is he« for she had lost sight
of him as he approached the house
»Sitting in the sun on the stonebench in the court beside the window of
the flagged parlour«
»Bid him stay there Ill come down to the parlour and speak with him at
the window«
She came down accordingly and found the mendicant halfseated
halfreclining upon the bench beside the window Edie Ochiltree old man and
beggar as he was had apparently some internal consciousness of the favourable
impressions connected with his tall form commanding features and long white
beard and hair It used to be remarked of him that he was seldom seen but in a
posture which showed these personal attributes to advantage At present as he
lay halfreclined with his wrinkled yet ruddy cheek and keen grey eye turned
up towards the sky his staff and bag laid beside him and a cast of homely
wisdom and sarcastic irony in the expression of his countenance while he gazed
for a moment around the courtyard and then resumed his former look upward he
might have been taken by an artist as the model of an old philosopher of the
Cynic school musing upon the frivolity of mortal pursuits and the precarious
tenure of human possessions and looking up to the source from which aught
permanently good can alone be derived The young lady as she presented her tall
and elegant figure at the open window but divided from the courtyard by a
grating with which according to the fashion of ancient times the lower
windows of the castle were secured gave an interest of a different kind and
might be supposed by a romantic imagination an imprisoned damsel communicating
a tale of her durance to a palmer in order that he might call upon the
gallantry of every knight whom he should meet in his wanderings to rescue her
from her oppressive thraldom
After Miss Wardour had offered in the terms she thought would be most
acceptable those thanks which the beggar declined as far beyond his merit she
began to express herself in a manner which she supposed would speak more
feelingly to his apprehension »She did not know« she said »what her father
intended particularly to do for their preserver but certainly it would be
something that would make him easy for life if he chose to reside at the
castle she would give orders«
The old man smiled and shook his head »I wad be baith a grievance and a
disgrace to your fine servants my leddy and I have never been a disgrace to
onybody yet that I ken of«
»Sir Arthur would give strict orders«
»Yere very kind I doubtna I doubtna but there are some things a master
can command and some he canna I daresay he wad gar them keep hands aff me
and troth I think they wad hardly venture on that ony gate and he wad gar
them gie me my soup parritch and bit meat But trow ye that Sir Arthurs command
could forbid the gibe o the tongue or the blink o the ee or gar them gie me
my food wi the look o kindness that gars it digest sae weel or that he could
make them forbear a the slights and taunts that hurt anes spirit mair nor
downright miscaing Besides I am the idlest auld carle that ever lived I
downa be bound down to hours o eating and sleeping and to speak the honest
truth I wad be a very bad example in ony weel regulated family«
»Well then Edie what do you think of a neat cottage and a garden and a
daily dole and nothing to do but to dig a little in your garden when you
pleased yourself«
»And how often wad that be trow ye my leddy maybe no ance atween
Candlemas and Yule and if a thing were done to my hand as if I was Sir
Arthur himsell I could never bide the staying still in ae place and just
seeing the same joists and couples aboon my head night after night And then I
have a queer humour o my ain that sets a strolling beggar weel eneugh whase
word naebody minds but ye ken Sir Arthur has odd sort o ways and I wad be
jesting or scorning at them and ye wad be angry and then I wad be just fit to
hang mysell«
»O you are a licensed man« said Isabella »we shall give you all
reasonable scope So you had better be ruled and remember your age«
»But I am no that sair failed yet« replied the mendicant »Od ance I gat a
wee soupled yestreen I was as yauld as an eel And then what wad a the country
about do for want o auld Edie Ochiltree that brings news and country cracks
frae ae farmsteading to anither and gingerbread to the lasses and helps the
lads to mend their fiddles and the gudewives to clout their pans and plaits
rushswords and grenadier caps for the weans and busks the lairds flees and
has skill o cowills and horseills and kens mair auld sangs and tales than a
the barony besides and gars ilka body laugh wherever he comes Troth my leddy
I canna lay down my vocation it would be a public loss«
»Well Edie if your idea of your importance is so strong as not to be
shaken by the prospect of independence«
»Na na Miss its because I am mair independent as I am« answered the
old man »I beg nae mair at ony single house than a meal o meat or maybe but a
mouthfou ot if its refused at ae place I get it at anither sae I canna be
said to depend on onybody in particular but just on the country at large«
»Well then only promise me that you will let me know should you ever wish
to settle as you turn old and more incapable of making your usual rounds and
in the meantime take this«
»Na na my leddy I downa take muckle siller at ance its against our
rule and though its maybe no civil to be repeating the like o that they
say that sillers like to be scarce wi Sir Arthur himsell and that hes run
himsell out o thought wi his houkings and minings for lead and copper yonder«
Isabella had some anxious anticipations to the same effect but was shocked
to hear that her fathers embarrassments were such public talk as if scandal
ever failed to stoop upon so acceptable a quarry as the failings of the good
man the decline of the powerful or the decay of the prosperous Miss Wardour
sighed deeply »Well Edie we have enough to pay our debts let folks say what
they will and requiting you is one of the foremost let me press this sum upon
you«
»That I might be robbed and murdered some night between town and town or
whats as bad that I might live in constant apprehension ot I am no«
lowering his voice to a whisper and looking keenly around him »I am no that
clean unprovided for neither and though I should die at the back of a dyke
theyll find as muckle quilted in this auld blue gown as will bury me like a
Christian and gie the lads and lasses a blythe lykewake too sae theres the
gaberlunzies burial provided for and I need nae mair Were the like o me ever
to change a note wha the deil dye think wad be sic fules as to gie me charity
after that it wad flee through the country like wildfire that auld Edie suld
hae done siccan a like thing and then Ise warrant I might grane my heart out
or onybody wad gie me either a bane or a bodle«
»Is there nothing then that I can do for you«
»Ou ay Ill aye come for my awmous as usual and whiles I wad be fain o
a pickle sneeshin and ye maun speak to the constable and groundofficer just to
owerlook me and maybe yell gie a gude word for me to Sandie Netherstanes the
miller that he may chain up his muckle dog I wadna hae him to hurt the puir
beast for it just does its office in barking at a gaberlunzie like me And
theres ae thing maybe mair but yell think its very bald o the like o me
to speak ot«
»What is it Edie if it respects you it shall be done if it is in my
power«
»It respects yoursell and it is in your power and I maun come out wit Ye
are a bonny young leddy and a gude ane and maybe a weeltochered ane but
dinna ye sneer awa the lad Lovel as ye did a while sinsyne on the walk beneath
the Brierybank when I saw ye baith and heard ye too though ye saw nae me Be
canny wi the lad for he loes ye weel and its to him and no to onything I
could have done for you that Sir Arthur and you wan ower yestreen«
He uttered these words in a low but distinct tone of voice and without
waiting for an answer walked towards a low door which led to the apartments of
the servants and so entered the house
Miss Wardour remained for a moment or two in the situation in which she had
heard the old mans last extraordinary speech leaning namely against the bars
of the window nor could she determine upon saying even a single word relative
to a subject so delicate until the beggar was out of sight It was indeed
difficult to determine what to do That her having had an interview and private
conversation with this young and unknown stranger should be a secret possessed
by a person of the last class in which a young lady would seek a confidant and
at the mercy of one who was by profession gossipgeneral to the whole
neighbourhood gave her acute agony She had no reason indeed to suppose that
the old man would wilfully do anything to hurt her feelings much less to injure
her but the mere freedom of speaking to her upon such a subject showed as
might have been expected a total absence of delicacy and what he might take it
into his head to do or say next that she was pretty sure so professed an
admirer of liberty would not hesitate to do or say without scruple This idea so
much hurt and vexed her that she halfwished the officious assistance of Lovel
and Ochiltree had been absent upon the preceding evening
While she was in this agitation of spirits she suddenly observed Oldbuck
and Lovel entering the court She drew instantly so far back from the window
that she could without being seen observe how the Antiquary paused in front of
the building and pointing to the various scutcheons of its former owners
seemed in the act of bestowing upon Lovel much curious and erudite information
which from the absent look of his auditor Isabella might shrewdly guess was
entirely thrown away The necessity that she should take some resolution became
instant and pressing she rang therefore for a servant and ordered him to
show the visitors to the drawingroom while she by another staircase gained
her own apartment to consider ere she made her appearance what line of
conduct were fittest for her to pursue The guests agreeably to her
instructions were introduced into the room where company was usually received
Chapter Thirteenth
The time was that I hated thee
And yet it is not that I bear thee love
Thy company which erst was irksome to me
I will endure
But do not look for further recompense
As You Like it
Miss Isabella Wardours complexion was considerably heightened when after the
delay necessary to arrange her ideas she presented herself in the drawingroom
»I am glad you are come my fair foe« said the Antiquary greeting her with
much kindness »for I have had a most refractory or at least negligent auditor
in my young friend here while I endeavoured to make him acquainted with the
history of Knockwinnock Castle I think the danger of last night has mazed the
poor lad But you Miss Isabel why you look as if flying through the night
air had been your natural and most congenial occupation your colour is even
better than when you honoured my hospitium yesterday And Sir Arthur how fares
my good old friend«
»Indifferently well Mr Oldbuck but I am afraid not quite able to receive
your congratulations or to pay to pay Mr Lovel his thanks for his
unparalleled exertions«
»I dare say not A good down pillow for his good white head were more meet
than a couch so churlish as Bessysapron plague on her«
»I had no thought of intruding« said Lovel looking upon the ground and
speaking with hesitation and suppressed emotion »I did not did not mean to
intrude upon Sir Arthur or Miss Wardour the presence of one who who must
necessarily be unwelcome as associated I mean with painful reflections«
»Do not think my father so unjust and ungrateful« said Miss Wardour »I
dare say« she continued participating in Lovels embarrassment »I dare say
I am certain that my father would be happy to show his gratitude in any way
that is which Mr Lovel could consider it as proper to point out«
»Why the deuce« interrupted Oldbuck »what sort of a qualification is that
On my word it reminds me of our minister who choosing like a formal old
fop as he is to drink to my sisters inclinations thought it necessary to add
the saying clause Provided madam they be virtuous Come let us have no more
of this nonsense I dare say Sir Arthur will bid us welcome on some future day
And what news from the kingdom of subterranean darkness and airy hope What
says the swart spirit of the mine Has Sir Arthur had any good intelligence of
his adventure lately in GlenWithershins«
Miss Wardour shook her head »But indifferent I fear Mr Oldbuck but
there lie some specimens which have lately been sent down«
»Ah my poor dear hundred pounds which Sir Arthur persuaded me to give for
a share in that hopeful scheme would have bought a porters load of mineralogy
But let me see them«
And so saying he sat down at the table in the recess on which the mineral
productions were lying and proceeded to examine them grumbling and pshawing at
each which he took up and laid aside
In the meantime Lovel forced as it were by this secession of Oldbuck into
a sort of têteàtête with Miss Wardour took an opportunity of addressing her
in a low and interrupted tone of voice »I trust Miss Wardour will impute to
circumstances almost irresistible this intrusion of a person who has reason to
think himself so unacceptable a visitor«
»Mr Lovel« answered Miss Wardour observing the same tone of caution »I
trust you will not I am sure you are incapable of abusing the advantages given
to you by the services you have rendered us which as they affect my father
can never be sufficiently acknowledged or repaid Could Mr Lovel see me without
his own peace being affected could he see me as a friend as a sister no
man will be and from all I have ever heard of Mr Lovel ought to be more
welcome but«
Oldbucks anathema against the preposition but was internally echoed by
Lovel »Forgive me if I interrupt you Miss Wardour you need not fear my
intruding upon a subject where I have been already severely repressed but do
not add to the severity of repelling my sentiments the rigour of obliging me to
disavow them«
»I am much embarrassed Mr Lovel« replied the young lady »by your I
would not willingly use a strong word your romantic and hopeless pertinacity
It is for yourself I plead that you would consider the calls which your country
has upon your talents that you will not waste in an idle and fanciful
indulgence of an illplaced predilection time which well redeemed by active
exertion should lay the foundation of future distinction Let me entreat that
you would form a manly resolution«
»It is enough Miss Wardour I see plainly that«
»Mr Lovel you are hurt and believe me I sympathize in the pain which I
inflict but can I in justice to myself in fairness to you do otherwise
Without my fathers consent I never will entertain the addresses of any one
and how totally impossible it is that he should countenance the partiality with
which you honour me you are yourself fully aware and indeed«
»No Miss Wardour« answered Lovel in a tone of passionate entreaty »do
not go farther is it not enough to crush every hope in our present relative
situation do not carry your resolutions farther why urge what would be your
conduct if Sir Arthurs objections could be removed«
»It is indeed vain Mr Lovel« said Miss Wardour »because their removal is
impossible and I only wish as your friend and as one who is obliged to you
for her own and her fathers life to entreat you to suppress this unfortunate
attachment to leave a country which affords no scope for your talents and to
resume the honourable line of the profession which you seem to have abandoned«
»Well Miss Wardour your wishes shall be obeyed have patience with me
one little month and if in the course of that space I cannot show you such
reasons for continuing my residence at Fairport as even you shall approve of I
will bid adieu to its vicinity and with the same breath to all my hopes of
happiness«
»Not so Mr Lovel many years of deserved happiness founded on a more
rational basis than your present wishes are I trust before you But it is
full time to finish this conversation I cannot force you to adopt my advice I
cannot shut the door of my fathers house against the preserver of his life and
mine but the sooner Mr Lovel can teach his mind to submit to the inevitable
disappointment of wishes which have been so rashly formed the more highly he
will rise in my esteem and in the meanwhile for his sake as well as mine he
must excuse my putting an interdict upon conversation on a subject so painful«
A servant at this moment announced that Sir Arthur desired to speak to Mr
Oldbuck in his dressingroom
»Let me show you the way« said Miss Wardour who apparently dreaded a
continuation of her têteàtête with Lovel and she conducted the Antiquary
accordingly to her fathers apartment
Sir Arthur his legs swathed in flannel was stretched on the couch
»Welcome Mr Oldbuck« he said »I trust you have come better off than I have
done from the inclemency of yesterday evening«
»Truly Sir Arthur I was not so much exposed to it I kept terra firma
you fairly committed yourself to the cold nightair in the most literal of all
senses But such adventures become a gallant knight better than a humble
esquire to rise on the wings of the nightwind to dive into the bowels of
the earth What news from our subterranean Good Hope the terra incognita of
GlenWithershins«
»Nothing good as yet« said the Baronet turning himself hastily as if
stung by a pang of the gout »but Dousterswivel does not despair«
»Does he not« quoth Oldbuck »I do though under his favour Why old Dr
Hn10 told me when I was in Edinburgh that we should never find copper
enough judging from the specimens I showed him to make a pair of sixpenny
kneebuckles and I cannot see that those samples on the table below differ
much in quality«
»The learned doctor is not infallible I presume«
»No but he is one of our first chemists and this tramping philosopher of
yours this Dousterswivel is I have a notion one of those learned
adventurers described by Kirchner Artem habent sine arte partem sine parte
quorum medium est mentiri vita eorum mendicatum ire that is to say Miss
Wardour«
»It is unnecessary to translate« said Miss Wardour »I comprehend your
general meaning but I hope Mr Dousterswivel will turn out a more trustworthy
character«
»I doubt it not a little« said the Antiquary »and we are a foul way out
if we cannot discover this infernal vein that he has prophesied about these two
years«
»You have no great interest in the matter Mr Oldbuck« said the Baronet
»Too much too much Sir Arthur and yet for the sake of my fair foe here
I would consent to lose it all so you had no more on the venture«
There was a painful silence of a few moments for Sir Arthur was too proud
to acknowledge the downfall of his golden dreams though he could no longer
disguise to himself that such was likely to be the termination of the adventure
»I understand« he at length said »that the young gentleman to whose gallantry
and presence of mind we were so much indebted last night has favoured me with a
visit I am distressed that I am unable to see him or indeed any one but an
old friend like you Mr Oldbuck«
A declination of the Antiquarys stiff backbone acknowledged the preference
»You made acquaintance with this young gentleman in Edinburgh I suppose«
Oldbuck told the circumstances of their becoming known to each other
»Why then my daughter is an older acquaintance of Mr Lovel than you are«
said the Baronet
»Indeed I was not aware of that« answered Oldbuck somewhat surprised
»I met Mr Lovel« said Isabella slightly colouring »when I resided this
last spring with my aunt Mrs Wilmot«
»In Yorkshire and what character did he bear then or how was he
engaged« said Oldbuck »and why did not you recognise him when I introduced
you«
Isabella answered the least difficult question and passed over the other
»He had a commission in the army and had I believe served with reputation he
was much respected as an amiable and promising young man«
»And pray such being the case« replied the Antiquary not disposed to take
one reply in answer to two distinct questions »why did you not speak to the lad
at once when you met him at my house I thought you had less of the paltry pride
of womankind about you Miss Wardour«
»There was a reason for it« said Sir Arthur with dignity »you know the
opinions prejudices perhaps you will call them of our house concerning
purity of birth This young gentleman is it seems the illegitimate son of a
man of fortune my daughter did not choose to renew their acquaintance till she
should know whether I approved of her holding any intercourse with him«
»If it had been with his mother instead of himself« answered Oldbuck with
his usual dry causticity of humour »I could see an excellent reason for it Ah
poor lad that was the cause then that he seemed so absent and confused while
I explained to him the reason of the bend of bastardy upon the shield yonder
under the corner turret«
»True« said the Baronet with complacency »it is the shield of Malcolm
the Usurper as he is called The tower which he built is termed after him
Malcolms Tower but more frequently Misticots Tower which I conceive to be a
corruption for Misbegot He is denominated in the Latin pedigree of our family
Milcolumbus Nothus and his temporary seizure of our property and most unjust
attempt to establish his own illegitimate line in the estate of Knockwinnock
gave rise to such family feuds and misfortunes as strongly to found us in that
horror and antipathy to defiled blood and illegitimacy which has been handed
down to me from my respected ancestry«
»I know the story« said Oldbuck »and I was telling it to Lovel this
moment with some of the wise maxims and consequences which it has engrafted on
your family politics Poor fellow he must have been much hurt I took the
wavering of his attention for negligence and was something piqued at it and it
proves to be only an excess of feeling I hope Sir Arthur you will not think
the less of your life because it has been preserved by such assistance«
»Nor the less of my assistant either« said the Baronet »my doors and table
shall be equally open to him as if he had descended of the most unblemished
lineage«
»Come I am glad of that hell know where he can get a dinner then if he
wants one But what views can he have in this neighbourhood I must catechise
him and if I find he wants it or indeed whether he does or not he shall
have my best advice« As the Antiquary made this liberal promise he took his
leave of Miss Wardour and her father eager to commence operations upon Mr
Lovel He informed him abruptly that Miss Wardour sent her compliments and
remained in attendance on her father and then taking him by the arm he led
him out of the castle
Knockwinnock still preserved much of the external attributes of a baronial
castle It had its drawbridge though now never drawn up and its dry moat the
sides of which had been planted with shrubs chiefly of the evergreen tribes
Above these rose the old building partly from a foundation of red rock scarped
down to the seabeach and partly from the steep green verge of the moat The
trees of the avenue have been already mentioned and many others rose around of
large size as if to confute the prejudice that timber cannot be raised near
to the ocean Our walkers paused and looked back upon the castle as they
attained the height of a small knoll over which lay their homeward road for it
is to be supposed they did not tempt the risk of the tide by returning along the
sands The building flung its broad shadow upon the tufted foliage of the shrubs
beneath it while the front windows sparkled in the sun They were viewed by the
gazers with very different feelings Lovel with the fond eagerness of that
passion which derives its food and nourishment from trifles as the chameleon is
said to live on the air or upon the invisible insects which it contains
endeavoured to conjecture which of the numerous windows belonged to the
apartment now graced by Miss Wardours presence The speculations of the
Antiquary were of a more melancholy cast and were partly indicated by the
ejaculation of cito peritura as he turned away from the prospect Lovel roused
from his reverie looked at him as if to inquire the meaning of an exclamation
so ominous The old man shook his head »Yes my young friend« said he »I
doubt greatly and it wrings my heart to say it this ancient family is going
fast to the ground«
»Indeed« answered Lovel »you surprise me greatly«
»We harden ourselves in vain« continued the Antiquary pursuing his own
train of thought and feeling »we harden ourselves in vain to treat with the
indifference they deserve the changes of this trumpery whirligig world We
strive ineffectually to be the self-sufficing invulnerable being the teres
atque rotundus of the poet the stoical exemption which philosophy affects to
give us over the pains and vexations of human life is as imaginary as the state
of mystical quietism and perfection aimed at by some crazy enthusiasts«
»And Heaven forbid that it should be otherwise« said Lovel warmly
»Heaven forbid that any process of philosophy were capable so to sear and
indurate our feelings that nothing should agitate them but what arose instantly
and immediately out of our own selfish interests I would as soon wish my hand
to be as callous as horn that it might escape an occasional cut or scratch as
I would be ambitious of the stoicism which should render my heart like a piece
of the nether millstone«
The Antiquary regarded his youthful companion with a look half of pity half
of sympathy and shrugged up his shoulders as he replied »Wait young man
wait till your bark has been battered by the storm of sixty years of mortal
vicissitude you will learn by that time to reef your sails that she may obey
the helm or in the language of this world you will find distresses enough
endured and to endure to keep your feelings and sympathies in full exercise
without concerning yourself more in the fate of others than you cannot possibly
avoid«
»Well Mr Oldbuck it may be so but as yet I resemble you more in your
practice than in your theory for I cannot help being deeply interested in the
fate of the family we have just left«
»And well you may« replied Oldbuck »Sir Arthurs embarrassments have of
late become so many and so pressing that I am surprised you have not heard of
them And then his absurd and expensive operations carried on by this
HighGerman landlouper Dousterswivel«
»I think I have seen that person when by some rare chance I happened to
be in the coffeeroom at Fairport a tall beetlebrowed awkwardbuilt man
who entered upon scientific subjects as it appeared to my ignorance at least
with more assurance than knowledge was very arbitrary in laying down and
asserting his opinions and mixed the terms of science with a strange jargon of
mysticism A simple youth whispered me that he was an Illuminé and carried on
an intercourse with the invisible world«
»O the same the same He has enough of practical knowledge to speak
scholarly and wisely to those of whose intelligence he stands in awe and to
say the truth this faculty joined to his matchless impudence imposed upon me
for some time when I first knew him But I have since understood that when he
is among fools and womankind he exhibits himself as a perfect charlatan talks
of the magisterium of sympathies and antipathies of the cabala of the
diviningrod and all the trumpery with which the Rosicrucians cheated a darker
age and which to our eternal disgrace has in some degree revived in our own
My friend Heavysterne knew this fellow abroad and unintentionally for he you
must know is God bless the mark a sort of believer let me into a good deal
of his real character Ah were I caliph for a day as Honest Abon Hassan wished
to be I would scourge me these jugglers out of the commonwealth with rods of
scorpions They debauch the spirit of the ignorant and credulous with mystical
trash as effectually as if they had besotted their brains with gin and then
pick their pockets with the same facility And now has this strolling blackguard
and mountebank put the finishing blow to the ruin of an ancient and honourable
family«
»But how could he impose upon Sir Arthur to any ruinous extent«
»Why I dont know Sir Arthur is a good honourable gentleman but as you
may see from his loose ideas concerning the Pikish language he is by no means
very strong in the understanding. His estate is strictly entailed and he has
been always an embarrassed man This rapparee promised him mountains of wealth
and an English company was found to advance large sums of money I fear on Sir
Arthurs guarantee Some gentlemen I was ass enough to be one took small
shares in the concern and Sir Arthur himself made great outlay we were trained
on by specious appearances and more specious lies and now like John Bunyan we
awake and behold it is a dream«
»I am surprised that you Mr Oldbuck should have encouraged Sir Arthur by
your example«
»Why« said Oldbuck dropping his large grizzled eyebrow »I am something
surprised and ashamed at it myself it was not the lucre of gain nobody cares
less for money to be a prudent man than I do but I thought I might risk this
small sum It will be expected though I am sure I cannot see why that I should
give something to any one who will be kind enough to rid me of that slip of
womankind my niece Mary MIntyre and perhaps it may be thought I should do
something to get that jackanapes her brother on in the army In either case
to treble my venture would have helped me out And besides I had some idea that
the Phoenicians had in former times wrought copper in that very spot That
cunning scoundrel Dousterswivel found out my blunt side and brought strange
tales dn him of appearances of old shafts and vestiges of mining operations
conducted in a manner quite different from those of modern times and I in
short I was a fool and there is an end My loss is not much worth speaking
about but Sir Arthurs engagements are I understand very deep and my heart
aches for him and the poor young lady who must share his distress«
Here the conversation paused until renewed in the next chapter
Chapter Fourteenth
If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand
My bosoms lord sits lightly on his throne
And all this day an unaccustomed spirit
Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts
Romeo and Juliet
The account of Sir Arthurs unhappy adventure had led Oldbuck somewhat aside
from his purpose of catechising Lovel concerning the cause of his residence at
Fairport He was now however resolved to open the subject »Miss Wardour was
formerly known to you she tells me Mr Lovel«
»He had had the pleasure« Lovel answered »to see her at Mrs Wilmots in
Yorkshire«
»Indeed you never mentioned that to me before and you did not accost her
as an old acquaintance«
»I I did not know« said Lovel a good deal embarrassed »it was the same
lady till we met and then it was my duty to wait till she should recognise
me«
»I am aware of your delicacy the knights a punctilious old fool but I
promise you his daughter is above all nonsensical ceremony and prejudice And
now since you have found a new set of friends here may I ask if you intend to
leave Fairport as soon as you proposed«
»What if I should answer your question by another« replied Lovel »and ask
you what is your opinion of dreams«
»Of dreams you foolish lad why what should I think of them but as the
deceptions of imagination when reason drops the reins I know no difference
betwixt them and the hallucinations of madness the unguided horses run away
with the carriage in both cases only in the one the coachman is drunk and in
the other he slumbers What says our Marcus Tullius Si insanorum visis fides
non est habenda cur credatur somnientium visis quæ multo etiam perturbatiora
sunt non intelligo«
»Yes sir but Cicero also tells us that as he who passes the whole day in
darting the javelin must sometimes hit the mark so amid the cloud of nightly
dreams some may occur consonant to future events«
»Ay that is to say you have hit the mark in your own sage opinion Lord
Lord how this world is given to folly Well I will allow for once the
Oneirocritical science I will give faith to the exposition of dreams and say
a Daniel hath arisen to interpret them if you can prove to me that that dream
of yours has pointed to a prudent line of conduct«
»Tell me then« answered Lovel »why when I was hesitating whether to
abandon an enterprise which I have perhaps rashly undertaken I should last
night dream I saw your ancestor pointing to a motto which encouraged me to
perseverance why should I have thought of those words which I cannot remember
to have heard before which are in a language unknown to me and which yet
conveyed when translated a lesson which I could so plainly apply to my own
circumstances«
The Antiquary burst into a fit of laughing »Excuse me my young friend
but it is thus we silly mortals deceive ourselves and look out of doors for
motives which originate in our own wilful will I think I can help out the cause
of your vision You were so abstracted in your contemplations yesterday after
dinner as to pay little attention to the discourse between Sir Arthur and me
until we fell upon the controversy concerning the Piks which terminated so
abruptly but I remember producing to Sir Arthur a book printed by my
ancestor and making him observe the motto your mind was bent elsewhere but
your ear had mechanically received and retained the sounds and your busy fancy
stirred by Grizels legend I presume had introduced this scrap of German into
your dream As for the waking wisdom which seized on so frivolous a circumstance
as an apology for persevering in some course which it could find no better
reason to justify it is exactly one of those juggling tricks which the sagest
of us play off now and then to gratify our inclination at the expense of our
understanding«
»I own it« said Lovel blushing deeply »I believe you are right Mr
Oldbuck and I ought to sink in your esteem for attaching a moments consequence
to such a frivolity but I was tossed by contradictory wishes and resolutions
and you know how slight a line will tow a boat when afloat on the billows
though a cable would hardly move her when pulled up on the beach«
»Right right« exclaimed the Antiquary »Fall in my opinion not a whit
I love thee the better man why we have story for story against each other
and I can think with less shame on having exposed myself about that cursed
Prætorium though I am still convinced Agricolas camp must have been somewhere
in this neighbourhood And now Lovel my good lad be sincere with me What
make you from Wittenberg why have you left your own country and professional
pursuits for an idle residence in such a place as Fairport A truant
disposition I fear«
»Even so« replied Lovel patiently submitting to an interrogatory which he
could not well evade »Yet I am so detached from all the world have so few in
whom I am interested or who are interested in me that my very state of
destitution gives me independence He whose good or evil fortune affects himself
alone has the best right to pursue it according to his own fancy«
»Pardon me young man« said Oldbuck laying his hand kindly on his
shoulder and making a full halt »sufflamina a little patience if you
please I will suppose that you have no friends to share or rejoice in your
success in life that you cannot look back to those to whom you owe gratitude
or forward to those to whom you ought to afford protection but it is no less
incumbent on you to move steadily in the path of duty for your active
exertions are due not only to society but in humble gratitude to the Being who
made you a member of it with powers to serve yourself and others«
»But I am unconscious of possessing such powers« said Lovel somewhat
impatiently »I ask nothing of society but the permission of walking innoxiously
through the path of life without jostling others or permitting myself to be
jostled I owe no man anything I have the means of maintaining myself with
complete independence and so moderate are my wishes in this respect that even
these means however limited rather exceed than fall short of them«
»Nay then« said Oldbuck removing his hand and turning again to the road
»if you are so true a philosopher as to think you have money enough theres no
more to be said I cannot pretend to be entitled to advise you you have
attained the acmé the summit of perfection And how came Fairport to be the
selected abode of so much selfdenying philosophy It is as if a worshipper of
the true religion had set up his staff by choice among the multifarious
idolaters of the land of Egypt There is not a man in Fairport who is not a
devoted worshipper of the Golden Calf the mammon of unrighteousness Why even
I man am so infected by the bad neighbourhood that I feel inclined
occasionally to become an idolater myself«
»My principal amusements being literary« answered Lovel »and circumstances
which I cannot mention having induced me for a time at least to relinquish the
military service I have pitched on Fairport as a place where I might follow my
pursuits without any of those temptations to society which a more elegant circle
might have presented to me«
»Aha« replied Oldbuck knowingly »I begin to understand your application
of my ancestors motto You are a candidate for public favour though not in the
way I first suspected you are ambitious to shine as a literary character and
you hope to merit favour by labour and perseverance«
Lovel who was rather closely pressed by the inquisitiveness of the old
gentleman concluded it would be best to let him remain in the error which he
had gratuitously adopted
»I have been at times foolish enough« he replied »to nourish some thoughts
of the kind«
»Ah poor fellow nothing can be more melancholy unless as young men
sometimes do you had fancied yourself in love with some trumpery specimen of
womankind which is indeed as Shakspeare truly says pressing to death
whipping and hanging all at once«
He then proceeded with inquiries which he was sometimes kind enough to
answer himself For this good old gentleman had from his antiquarian
researches acquired a delight in building theories out of premises which were
often far from affording sufficient ground for them and being as the reader
must have remarked sufficiently opinionative he did not readily brook being
corrected either in matter of fact or judgment even by those who were
principally interested in the subjects on which he speculated He went on
therefore chalking out Lovels literary career for him
»And with what do you propose to commence your debut as a man of letters
But I guess poetry poetry the soft seducer of youth Yes there is an
acknowledging modesty of confusion in your eye and manner And where lies your
vein are you inclined to soar to the higher regions of Parnassus or to
flutter around the base of the hill«
»I have hitherto attempted only a few lyrical pieces« said Lovel
»Just as I supposed pruning your wing and hopping from spray to spray
But I trust you intend a bolder flight Observe I would by no means recommend
your persevering in this unprofitable pursuit but you say you are quite
independent of the public caprice«
»Entirely so« replied Lovel
»And that you are determined not to adopt a more active course of life«
»For the present such is my resolution« replied the young man
»Why then it only remains for me to give you my best advice and assistance
in the object of your pursuit I have myself published two essays in the
Antiquarian Repository and therefore am an author of experience. There was my
Remarks on Hearnes edition of Robert of Gloucester signed Scrutator and the
other signed Indagator upon a passage in Tacitus I might add what attracted
considerable notice at the time and that is my paper in the Gentlemans
Magazine upon the inscription of OElia Lelia which I subscribed OEdipus So
you see I am not an apprentice in the mysteries of authorcraft and must
necessarily understand the taste and temper of the times And now once more
what do you intend to commence with«
»I have no instant thoughts of publishing«
»Ah that will never do you must have the fear of the public before your
eyes in all your undertakings Let us see now A collection of fugitive pieces
but no your fugitive poetry is apt to become stationary with the bookseller
It should be something at once solid and attractive none of your romances or
anomalous novelties I would have you take high ground at once Let me see
What think you of a real epic the grand oldfashioned historical poem which
moved through twelve or twentyfour books Well have it so Ill supply you
with a subject The battle between the Caledonians and Romans The Caledoniad
or Invasion Repelled let that be the title it will suit the present taste
and you may throw in a touch of the times«
»But the invasion of Agricola was not repelled«
»No but you are a poet free of the corporation and as little bound down
to truth or probability as Virgil himself You may defeat the Romans in spite
of Tacitus«
»And pitch Agricolas camp at the Kaim of what do you call it« answered
Lovel »in defiance of Edie Ochiltree«
»No more of that an thou lovest me And yet I dare say ye may
unwittingly speak most correct truth in both instances in despite of the toga
of the historian and the blue gown of the mendicant«
»Gallantly counselled Well I will do my best your kindness will assist
me with local information«
»Will I not man why I will write the critical and historical notes on
each canto and draw out the plan of the story myself I pretend to some
poetical genius Mr Lovel only I was never able to write verses«
»It is a pity sir that you should have failed in a qualification somewhat
essential to the art«
»Essential not a whit it is the mere mechanical department A man may
be a poet without measuring spondees and dactyls like the ancients or clashing
the ends of lines into rhyme like the moderns as one may be an architect though
unable to labour like a stonemason Dost think Palladio or Viturvius ever
carried a hod«
»In that case there should be two authors to each poem one to think and
plan another to execute«
»Why it would not be amiss at any rate well make the experiment not
that I would wish to give my name to the public assistance from a learned
friend might be acknowledged in the preface after what flourish your nature will
I am a total stranger to authorial vanity«
Lovel was much entertained by a declaration not very consistent with the
eagerness wherewith his friend seemed to catch at an opportunity of coming
before the public though in a manner which rather resembled stepping up behind
a carriage than getting into one The Antiquary was indeed uncommonly delighted
for like many other men who spend their lives in obscure literary research he
had a secret ambition to appear in print which was checked by cold fits of
diffidence fear of criticism and habits of indolence and procrastination
»But« thought he »I may like a second Teucer discharge my shafts from behind
the shield of my ally and admit that he should not prove to be a firstrate
poet I am in no shape answerable for his deficiencies and the good notes may
very probably help off an indifferent text But he is he must be a good poet
he has the real Parnassian abstraction seldom answers a question till it is
twice repeated drinks his tea scalding and eats without knowing what he is
putting into his mouth This is the real æstus the awen of the Welsh bards the
divinus afflatus that transports the poet beyond the limits of sublunary things
His visions too are very symptomatical of poetic fury I must recollect to
send Caxon to see he puts out his candle tonight poets and visionaries are
apt to be negligent in that respect« Then turning to his companion he
expressed himself aloud in continuation
»Yes my dear Lovel you shall have full notes and indeed I think we may
introduce the whole of the Essay on Castrametation into the appendix it will
give great value to the work Then we will revive the good old forms so
disgracefully neglected in modern times You shall invoke the Muse and
certainly she ought to be propitious to an author who in an apostatizing age
adheres with the faith of Abdiel to the ancient form of adoration Then we
must have a vision in which the Genius of Caledonia shall appear to Galgacus
and show him a procession of the real Scottish monarchs and in the notes I
will have a hit at Boethius No I must not touch that topic now that Sir
Arthur is likely to have vexation enough besides but Ill annihilate Ossian
Macpherson and MacCribb«
»But we must consider the expense of publication« said Lovel willing to
try whether this hint would fall like cold water on the blazing zeal of his
selfelected coadjutor
»Expense« said Mr Oldbuck pausing and mechanically fumbling in his
pocket »that is true I would wish to do something but you would not like
to publish by subscription«
»By no means« answered Lovel
»No no« gladly acquiesced the Antiquary »it is not respectable Ill
tell you what I believe I know a bookseller who has a value for my opinion and
will risk print and paper and I will get as many copies sold for you as I can«
»O I am no mercenary author« answered Lovel smiling »I only wish to be
out of risk of loss«
»Hush hush well take care of that throw it all on the publishers I do
long to see your labours commenced You will choose blank verse doubtless it
is more grand and magnificent for an historical subject and what concerneth
you my friend it is I have an idea more easily written«
This conversation brought them to Monkbarns where the Antiquary had to
undergo a chiding from his sister who though no philosopher was waiting to
deliver a lecture to him in the portico »Guide us Monkbarns are things no
dear eneugh already but ye maun be raising the very fish on us by giving that
randy Luckie Mucklebackit just what she likes to ask«
»Why Grizel« said the sage somewhat abashed at this unexpected attack »I
thought I made a very fair bargain«
»A fair bargain when ye gied the limmer a full half o what she seekit
An ye will be a wifecarle and buy fish at your ain hands ye suld never bid
muckle mair than a quarter And the impudent quean had the assurance to come up
and seek a dram But I trow Jenny and I sorted her«
»Truly« said Oldbuck with a sly look to his companion »I think our
estate was gracious that kept us out of hearing of that controversy Well
well Grizel I was wrong for once in my life ultra crepidam I fairly admit
But hang expenses care killed a cat well eat the fish cost what it will
And then Lovel you must know I pressed you to stay here today the rather
because our cheer will be better than usual yesterday having been a gaudé day
I love the reversion of a feast better than the feast itself I delight in the
analecta the collectanea as I may call them of the preceding days dinner
which appear on such occasions And see there is Jenny going to ring the
dinnerbell«
Chapter Fifteenth
Be this letter delivered with haste haste posthaste
Ride villain ride for thy life for thy life for thy life
Ancient Indorsation of Letters of Importance
Leaving Mr Oldbuck and his friend to enjoy their hard bargain of fish we beg
leave to transport the reader to the backparlour of the postmasters house at
Fairport where his wife he himself being absent was employed in assorting for
delivery the letters which had come by the Edinburgh post This is very often in
country towns the period of the day when gossips find it particularly agreeable
to call on the man or woman of letters in order from the outside of the
epistles and if they are not belied occasionally from the inside also to
amuse themselves with gleaning information or forming conjectures about the
correspondence and affairs of their neighbours Two females of this description
were at the time we mention assisting or impeding Mrs Mailsetter in her
official duty
»Eh preserve us sirs« said the butchers wife »theres ten eleven
twall letters to Tennant and Co thae folk do mair business than a the rest
o the burgh«
»Ay but see lass« answered the bakers lady »theres twa o them faulded
unco square and sealed at the tae side I doubt there will be protested bills
in them«
»Is there ony letters come yet for Jenny Caxon« inquired the woman of
joints and giblets »the lieutenants been awa three weeks«
»Just ane on Tuesday was a week« answered the dame of letters
»Wast a shipletter« asked the Fornerina
»In troth wast
It wad be frae the lieutenant then« replied the mistress of the rolls
somewhat disappointed »I never thought he wad hae lookit ower his shouther
after her«
»Od heres another« quoth Mrs Mailsetter »A shipletter postmark
Sunderland« All rushed to seize it »Na na leddies« said Mrs Mailsetter
interfering »I hae had eneugh o that wark Ken ye that Mr Mailsetter got an
unco rebuke frae the secretary at Edinburgh for a complaint that was made about
the letter of Aily Bissets that ye opened Mrs Shortcake«
»Me opened« answered the spouse of the chief baker of Fairport »ye ken
yoursell madam it just cam open o free will in my hand what could I help
it folk suld seal wi better wax«
»Weel I wot thats true too« said Mrs Mailsetter who kept a shop of
small wares »and we have got some that I can honestly recommend if ye ken
onybody wanting it But the short and the lang ot is that well lose the place
gin theres ony mair complaints o the kind«
»Hout lass the provost will take care o that«
»Na na Ill neither trust to provost nor bailie« said the postmistress
»but I wad aye be obliging and neighbourly and Im no again your looking at the
outside of a letter neither See the seal has an anchor ont hes donet wi
ane o his buttons Im thinking«
»Show me show me« quoth the wives of the chief butcher and chief baker
and threw themselves on the supposed loveletter like the weird sisters in
Macbeth upon the pilots thumb with curiosity as eager and scarcely less
malignant Mrs Heukbane was a tall woman she held the precious epistle up
between her eyes and the window Mrs Shortcake a little squat personage
strained and stood on tiptoe to have her share of the investigation
»Ay its frae him sure eneugh« said the butchers lady »I can read
Richard Taffril on the corner and its written like John Thomsons wallet
frae end to end«
»Haud it lower down madam« exclaimed Mrs Shortcake in a tone above the
prudential whisper which their occupation required »haud it lower down Div
ye think naebody can read hand o writ but yoursell«
»Whist whist sirs for Gods sake« said Mrs Mailsetter »theres
somebody in the shop« then aloud »Look to the customers Baby« Baby
answered from without in a shrill tone »Its naebody but Jenny Caxon maam
to see if theres ony letters to her«
»Tell her« said the faithful postmistress winking to her compeers »to
come back the morn at ten oclock and Ill let her ken we havena had time to
sort the mail letters yet shes aye in sic a hurry as if her letters were o
mair consequence than the best merchants o the town«
Poor Jenny a girl of uncommon beauty and modesty could only draw her cloak
about her to hide the sigh of disappointment and return meekly home to endure
for another night the sickness of the heart occasioned by hope delayed
»Theres something about a needle and a pole« said Mrs Shortcake to whom
her taller rival in gossiping had at length yielded a peep at the subject of
their curiosity
»Now thats downright shamefu« said Mrs Heukbane »to scorn the poor
silly gait of a lassie after hes keepit company wi her sae lang and had his
will o her as I make nae doubt he has«
»Its but ower muckle to be doubted« echoed Mrs Shortcake »to cast up
to her that her fathers a barber and has a pole at his door and that shes but
a mantymaker hersell Hout fy for shame«
»Hout tout leddies« cried Mrs Mailsetter »yere clean wrang Its a
line out o ane o his sailors sangs that I have heard him sing about being
true like the needle to the pole«
»Weel weel I wish it may be sae« said the charitable Dame Heukbane
»but it disna look weel for a lassie like her to keep up a correspondence wi
ane o the kings officers«
»Im no denying that« said Mrs Mailsetter »but its a great advantage to
the revenue of the postoffice thae loveletters See heres five or six
letters to Sir Arthur Wardour maist o them sealed wi wafers and no wi wax
There will be a downcome there believe me«
»Ay they will be business letters and no frae ony o his grand friends
that seals wi their coats of arms as they ca them« said Mrs Heukbane
»pride will hae a fa he hasna settled his account wi my gudeman the deacon
for this twalmonth hes but slink I doubt«
»Nor wi huz for sax months« echoed Mrs Shortcake »Hes but a brunt
crust«
»Theres a letter« interrupted the trusty postmistress »from his son the
captain Im thinking the seal has the same things wi the Knockwinnock
carriage Hell be coming hame to see what he can save out o the fire«
The baronet thus dismissed they took up the esquire »Twa letters for
Monkbarns theyre frae some o his learned friends now see sae close as
theyre written down to the very seal and a to save sending a double letter
thats just like Monkbarns himsell When he gets a frank he fills it up exact
to the weight of an unce that a carvyseed would sink the scale but hes
neer a grain abune it Weel I wot I wad be broken if I were to gie sic weight
to the folk that come to buy our pepper and brimstone and suchlike sweetmeats«
»Hes a shabby body the laird o Monkbarns« said Mrs Heukbane »hell make
as muckle about buying a forequarter o lamb in August as about a back sey o
beef Lets taste another drop of the sinning« perhaps she meant cinnamon
»waters Mrs Mailsetter my dear Ah lasses an ye had kend his brother as I
did mony a time he wad slip in to see me wi a brace o wild deukes in his
pouch when my first gudeman was awa at the Falkirk tryst weel weel wese
no speak o that eenow«
»I winna say ony ill o this Monkbarns« said Mrs Shortcake »his brother
neer brought me ony wilddeukes and this is a douce honest man we serve the
family wi bread and he settles wi huz ilka week only he was in an unco
kippage when we sent him a book instead o the nicksticks11 whilk he said
were the true ancient way o counting between tradesmen and customers and sae
they are nae doubt«
»But look here lasses« interrupted Mrs Mailsetter »heres a sight for
sair een What wad ye gie to ken whats in the inside o this letter This is
new corn I haena seen the like o this For William Lovel Esquire at Mrs
Hadoways High Street Fairport by Edinburgh NB This is just the second
letter he has had since he was here«
»Lords sake lets see lass Lords sake lets see thats him that
the hale town kens naething about and a weelfaard lad he is lets see
lets see« Thus ejaculated the two worthy representatives of mother Eve
»Na na sirs« exclaimed Mrs Mailsetter »haud awa bide aff I tell you
this is nane o your fourpenny cuts that we might make up the value to the
postoffice amang ourselves if ony mischance befell it the postage is
fiveandtwenty shillings and heres an order frae the Secretary to forward it
to the young gentleman by express if hes no at hame Na na sirs bide aff
this maunna be roughly guided«
»But just lets look at the outside ot woman«
Nothing could be gathered from the outside except remarks on the various
properties which philosophers ascribe to matter length breadth depth and
weight The packet was composed of strong thick paper imperviable by the
curious eyes of the gossips though they stared as if they would burst from
their sockets The seal was a deep and wellcut impression of arms which defied
all tampering
»Od lass« said Mrs Shortcake weighing it in her hand and wishing
doubtless that the too too solid wax would melt and dissolve itself »I wad
like to ken whats in the inside o this for that Lovel dings a that ever set
foot on the plainstanes o Fairport naebody kens what to make o him«
»Weel weel leddies« said the postmistress »wese sit down and crack
about it Baby bring ben the teawater Muckle obliged to ye for your
cookies Mrs Shortcake and well steek the shop and cry ben Baby and take a
hand at the cartes till the gudeman comes hame and then well try your braw
veal sweetbread that ye were so kind as send me Mrs Heukbane«
»But winna ye first send awa Mr Lovels letter« said Mrs Heukbane
»Troth I kenna wha to send wit till the gudeman comes hame for auld Caxon
telld me that Mr Lovel stays a the day at Monkbarns hes in a high fever
wi puing the laird and Sir Arthur out o the sea«
»Silly auld doited carles« said Mrs Shortcake »what gard them gang to
the douking in a night like yestreen«
»I was gien to understand it was auld Edie that saved them« said Mrs
Heukbane »Edie Ochiltree the BlueGown ye ken and that he pud the hale
three out of the auld fishpound for Monkbarns had threepit on them to gang in
tillt to see the wark o the monks lang syne«
»Hout lass nonsense« answered the postmistress »Ill tell ye a about
it as Caxon telld it to me Ye see Sir Arthur and Miss Wardour and Mr
Lovel suld hae dined at Monkbarns« »But Mrs Mailsetter« again interrupted
Mrs Heukbane »will ye no be for sending awa this letter by express theres
our powny and our callant hae gane express for the office or now and the powny
hasna gane abune thirty mile the day Jock was sorting him up as I came ower
by«
»Why Mrs Heukbane« said the woman of letters pursing up her mouth »ye
ken my gudeman likes to ride the expresses himsell we maun gie our ain
fishguts to our ain seamaws its a red halfguinea to him every time he
munts his mear and I dare say hell be in sune or I dare to say its the
same thing whether the gentleman gets the express this night or early next
morning«
»Only that Mr Lovel will be in town before the express gaes aff« said Mrs
Heukbane »and where are ye then lass But ye ken yere ain ways best«
»Weel weel Mrs Heukbane« answered Mrs Mailsetter a little out of
humour and even out of countenance »I am sure I am never against being
neighbourlike and living and letting live as they say and since I hae been
sic a fule as to show you the postoffice order ou nae doubt it maun be
obeyed But Ill no need your callant mony thanks to ye Ill send little
Davie on your powny and that will be just fiveandthreepence to ilka ane o
us ye ken«
»Davie the Lord help ye the bairns no ten year auld and to be plain wi
ye our powny reists a bit and its dooms sweer to the road and naebody can
manage him but our Jock«
»Im sorry for that« answered the postmistress gravely »its like we maun
wait then till the gudeman comes hame after a for I wadna like to be
responsible in trusting the letter to sic a callant as Jock our Davie belangs
in a manner to the office«
»Aweel aweel Mrs Mailsetter I see what ye wad be at but an ye like to
risk the bairn Ill risk the beast«
Orders were accordingly given The unwilling pony was brought out of his bed
of straw and again equipped for service Davie a leathern postbag strapped
across his shoulders was perched upon the saddle with a tear in his eye and a
switch in his hand Jock goodnaturedly led the animal out of town and by the
crack of his whip and the whoop and halloo of his too wellknown voice
compelled it to take the road towards Monkbarns
Meanwhile the gossips like the sibyls after consulting their leaves
arranged and combined the information of the evening which flew next morning
through a hundred channels and in a hundred varieties through the world of
Fairport Many strange and inconsistent were the rumours to which their
communications and conjectures gave rise Some said Tennant and Co were broken
and that all their bills had come back protested others that they had got a
great contract from Government and letters from the principal merchants at
Glasgow desiring to have shares upon a premium One report stated that
Lieutenant Taffril had acknowledged a private marriage with Jenny Caxon
another that he had sent her a letter upbraiding her with the lowness of her
birth and education and bidding her an eternal adieu It was generally rumoured
that Sir Arthur Wardours affairs had fallen into irretrievable confusion and
this report was only doubted by the wise because it was traced to Mrs
Mailsetters shop a source more famous for the circulation of news than for
their accuracy But all agreed that a packet from the Secretary of States
office had arrived directed for Mr Lovel and that it had been forwarded by an
orderly dragoon despatched from the headquarters at Edinburgh who had
galloped through Fairport without stopping except just to inquire the way to
Monkbarns The reason of such an extraordinary mission to a very peaceful and
retired individual was variously explained Some said Lovel was an emigrant
noble summoned to head an insurrection that had broken out in La Vendée
others that he was a spy others that he was a general officer who was
visiting the coast privately others that he was a prince of the blood who was
travelling incognito
Meanwhile the progress of the packet which occasioned so much speculation
towards its destined owner at Monkbarns had been perilous and interrupted The
bearer Davie Mailsetter as little resembling a bold dragoon as could well be
imagined was carried onwards towards Monkbarns by the pony so long as the
animal had in his recollection the crack of his usual instrument of
chastisement and the shout of the butchers boy But feeling how Davie whose
short legs were unequal to maintain his balance swung to and fro upon his back
the pony began to disdain further compliance with the intimations he had
received First then he slackened his pace to a walk This was no point of
quarrel between him and his rider who had been considerably discomposed by the
rapidity of his former motion and who now took the opportunity of his abated
pace to gnaw a piece of gingerbread which had been thrust into his hand by his
mother in order to reconcile this youthful emissary of the postoffice to the
discharge of his duty By and by the crafty pony availed himself of this
surcease of discipline to twitch the rein out of Davies hands and applied
himself to browse on the grass by the side of the lane Sorely astounded by
these symptoms of self-willed rebellion and afraid alike to sit or to fall
poor Davie lifted up his voice and wept aloud The pony hearing this pudder
over his head began apparently to think it would be best both for himself and
Davie to return from whence they came and accordingly commenced a retrograde
movement towards Fairport But as all retreats are apt to end in utter rout so
the steed alarmed by the boys cries and by the flapping of the reins which
dangled about his forefeet finding also his nose turned homeward began to set
off at a rate which if Davie kept the saddle a matter extremely dubious
would soon have presented him at Heukbanes stabledoor when at a turn of
the road an intervening auxiliary in the shape of old Edie Ochiltree caught
hold of the rein and stopped his farther proceeding »Whas aught ye callant
whaten a gates that to ride«
»I canna help it« blubbered the express »they ca me little Davie«
»And where are ye gaun«
»Im gaun to Monkbarns wi a letter«
»Stirra this is no the road to Monkbarns«
But Davie could only answer the expostulation with sighs and tears
Old Edie was easily moved to compassion where childhood was in the case
»I wasna gaun that gate« he thought »but its the best o my way o life that
I canna be weel out o my road Theyll gie me quarters at Monkbarns readily
eneugh and Ill een hirple awa there wi the wean for it will knock its harns
out puir thing if theres no somebody to guide the pony Sae ye hae a
letter hinney will ye let me seet«
»Im no gaun to let naebody see the letter« sobbed the boy »till I giet
to Mr Lovel for I am a faithfu servant o the office if it werena for the
powny«
»Very right my little man« said Ochiltree turning the reluctant ponys
head towards Monkbarns »but well guide him atween us if hes no a the
sweerer«
Upon the very height of Kinprunes to which Monkbarns had invited Lovel
after their dinner the Antiquary again reconciled to the once degraded spot
was expatiating upon the topics the scenery afforded for a description of
Agricolas camp at the dawn of morning when his eye was caught by the
appearance of the mendicant and his protégé »What the devil here comes Old
Edie bag and baggage I think«
The beggar explained his errand and Davie who insisted upon a literal
execution of his commission by going on to Monkbarns was with difficulty
prevailed upon to surrender the packet to its proper owner although he met him
a mile nearer than the place he had been directed to »But my minnie said I
maun be sure to get twenty shillings and five shillings for the postage and ten
shillings and sixpence for the express theres the paper«
»Let me see let me see« said Oldbuck putting on his spectacles and
examining the crumpled copy of regulations to which Davie appealed »Express
per man and horse one day not to exceed ten shillings and sixpence One day
why its not an hour Man and horse why tis a monkey on a starved cat«
»Father wad hae come himsell« said Davie »on the muckle red mear an ye
wad hae bidden till the morns night«
»Fourandtwenty hours after the regular date of delivery You little
cockatrice egg do you understand the art of imposition so early«
»Hout Monkbarns dinna set your wit against a bairn« said the beggar
»mind the butcher risked his beast and the wife her wean and I am sure ten and
sixpence isna ower muckle Ye didna gang sae near wi Johnnie Howie when«
Lovel who sitting on the supposed Prætorium had glanced over the contents
of the packet now put an end to the altercation by paying Davies demand and
then turning to Mr Oldbuck with a look of much agitation he excused himself
from returning with him to Monkbarns that evening »I must instantly go to
Fairport and perhaps leave it on a moments notice your kindness Mr
Oldbuck I can never forget«
»No bad news I hope« said the Antiquary
»Of a very chequered complexion« answered his friend »Farewell in good
or bad fortune I will not forget your regard«
»Nay nay stop a moment If if « making an effort »if there be any
pecuniary inconvenience I have fifty or a hundred guineas at your service
till till Whitsunday or indeed as long as you please«
»I am much obliged Mr Oldbuck but I am amply provided« said his
mysterious young friend »Excuse me I really cannot sustain further
conversation at present I will write or see you before I leave Fairport that
is if I find myself obliged to go«
So saying he shook the Antiquarys hand warmly turned from him and walked
rapidly towards the town »staying no longer question«
»Very extraordinary indeed« said Oldbuck »but theres something about
this lad I can never fathom and yet I cannot for my heart think ill of him
neither I must go home and take off the fire in the Green Room for none of my
womankind will venture into it after twilight«
»And how am I to win hame« blubbered the disconsolate express
»Its a fine night« said the BlueGown looking up to the skies »I had as
gude gang back to the town and take care o the wean«
»Do so do so Edie« and rummaging for some time in his huge waistcoat
pocket till he found the object of his search the Antiquary added »theres
sixpence to ye to buy sneeshin«
Chapter Sixteenth
»I am bewitched with the rogues company If the rascal has not
given me medicines to make me love him Ill be hanged it could not
be else I have drunk medicines«
Second Part of Henry IV
Regular for a fortnight were the inquiries of the Antiquary at the veteran
Caxon whether he had heard what Mr Lovel was about and as regular were
Caxons answers »that the town could learn naething about him whatever except
that he had received anither muckle letter or twa frae the south and that he
was never seen on the plainstanes at a«
»How does he live Caxon«
»Ou Mrs Hadoway just dresses him a beefsteak or a muttonchop or makes
him some Friars chicken or just what she likes hersell and he eats it in the
little red parlour off his bedroom She canna get him to say that he likes ae
thing better than anither and she makes him tea in a morning and he settles
honourably wi her every week«
»But does he never stir abroad«
»He has clean gien up walking and he sits a day in his room reading or
writing a hantle letters he has written but he wadna put them into our
posthouse though Mrs Hadoway offered to carry them hersell but sent them a
under ae cover to the sheriff and its Mrs Mailsetters belief that the
sheriff sent his groom to put them into the postoffice at Tannonburgh its my
puir thought that he jaloused their looking into his letters at Fairport and
weel had he need for my puir daughter Jenny«
»Tut dont plague me with your womankind Caxon About this poor young lad
Does he write nothing but letters«
»Ou ay hale sheets o other things Mrs Hadoway says She wishes muckle
he could be gotten to take a walk she thinks hes but looking very puirly and
his appetites clean gane but hell no hear o ganging ower the doorstane
him that used to walk sae muckle too«
»Thats wrong I have a guess what hes busy about but he must not work
too hard neither Ill go and see him this very day hes deep doubtless in
the Caledoniad«
Having formed this manful resolution Mr Oldbuck equipped himself for the
expedition with his thick walkingshoes and goldheaded cane muttering the
while the words of Falstaff which we have chosen for the motto of this chapter
for the Antiquary was himself rather surprised at the degree of attachment which
he could not but acknowledge he entertained for this stranger The riddle was
notwithstanding easily solved Lovel had many attractive qualities but he won
our Antiquarys heart by being on most occasions an excellent listener
A walk to Fairport had become somewhat of an adventure with Mr Oldbuck and
one which he did not often care to undertake He hated greetings in the
marketplace and there were generally loiterers in the streets to persecute
him either about the news of the day or about some petty pieces of business
So on this occasion he had no sooner entered the streets of Fairport than it
was »Goodmorrow Mr Oldbuck a sight o yous gude for sair een what dye
think of the news in the Sun the day they say the great attempt will be made
in a fortnight«
»I wish to the Lord it were made and over that I might hear no more about
it«
»Monkbarns your honour« said the nursery and seedsman »I hope the plants
gied satisfaction and if ye wanted ony flowerroots fresh frae Holland or«
this in a lower key »an anker or twa o Cologne gin ane o our brigs cam in
yestreen«
»Thank ye thank ye no occasion at present Mr Crabtree« said the
Antiquary pushing resolutely onward
»Mr Oldbuck« said the townclerk a more important person who came in
front and ventured to stop the old gentleman »the provost understanding you
were in town begs on no account that youll quit it without seeing him he
wants to speak to ye about bringing the water frae the Fairwellspring through a
part o your lands«
»What the deuce have they nobodys land but mine to cut and carve on I
wont consent tell them«
»And the provost« said the clerk going on without noticing the rebuff
»and the council wad be agreeable that you should hae the auld stanes at
Donagilds chapel that ye was wussing to hae«
»Eh what Oho thats another story Well well Ill call upon the
provost and well talk about it«
»But ye maun speak your mind ont forthwith Monkbarns if ye want the
stanes for Deacon Harlewalls thinks the carved throughstanes might be put with
advantage on the front of the new councilhouse that is the twa crosslegged
figures that the callants used to ca Robin and Bobbin ane on ilka doorcheek
and the other stane that they cad Ailie Dailie abune the door It will be
very tastefu the Deacon says and just in the style of modern Gothic«
»Lord deliver me from this Gothic generation« exclaimed the Antiquary »A
monument of a knighttemplar on each side of a Grecian porch and a Madonna on
the top of it O crimini Well tell the provost I wish to have the stones
and well not differ about the watercourse Its lucky I happened to come this
way today«
They parted mutually satisfied but the wily clerk had most reason to exult
in the dexterity he had displayed since the whole proposal of an exchange
between the monuments which the council had determined to remove as a nuisance
because they encroached three feet upon the public road and the privilege of
conveying the water to the burgh through the estate of Monkbarns was an idea
which had originated with himself upon the pressure of the moment
Through these various entanglements Monkbarns to use the phrase by which
he was distinguished in the country made his way at length to Mrs Hadoways
This good woman was the widow of a late clergyman at Fairport who had been
reduced by her husbands untimely death to that state of straitened and
embarrassed circumstances in which the widows of the Scotch clergy are too often
found The tenement which she occupied and the furniture of which she was
possessed gave her the means of letting a part of her house and as Lovel had
been a quiet regular and profitable lodger and had qualified the necessary
intercourse which they had together with a great deal of gentleness and
courtesy Mrs Hadoway not perhaps much used to such kindly treatment had
become greatly attached to her lodger and was profuse in every sort of personal
attention which circumstances permitted her to render him To cook a dish
somewhat better than ordinary for »the poor young gentlemans dinner« to exert
her interest with those who remembered her husband or loved her for her own
sake and his in order to procure scarce vegetables or something which her
simplicity supposed might tempt her lodgers appetite was a labour in which she
delighted although she anxiously concealed it from the person who was its
object. She did not adopt this secrecy of benevolence to avoid the laugh of
those who might suppose that an oval face and dark eyes with a clear brown
complexion though belonging to a woman of fiveandforty and enclosed within a
widows closedrawn pinners might possibly still aim at making conquests for
to say truth such a ridiculous suspicion having never entered into her own
head she could not anticipate its having birth in that of any one else But she
concealed her attentions solely out of delicacy to her guest whose power of
repaying them she doubted as much as she believed in his inclination to do so
and in his being likely to feel extreme pain at leaving any of her civilities
unrequited She now opened the door to Mr Oldbuck and her surprise at seeing
him brought tears into her eyes which she could hardly restrain
»I am glad to see you sir I am very glad to see you My poor gentleman
is I am afraid very unwell and oh Mr Oldbuck hell see neither doctor nor
minister nor writer And think what it would be if as my poor Mr Hadoway
used to say a man was to die without advice of the three learned faculties«
»Greatly better than with them« grumbled the cynical Antiquary »I tell
you Mrs Hadoway the clergy live by our sins the medical faculty by our
diseases and the law gentry by our misfortunes«
»O fie Monkbarns to hear the like o that frae you But yell walk up
and see the poor young lad Hegh sirs sae young and weelfavoured and day
by day he has eat less and less and now he hardly touches onything only just
pits a bit on the plate to make fashion and his poor cheek has turned every
day thinner and paler sae that he now really looks as auld as me that might be
his mother no that I might be just that neither but something very near it«
»Why does he not take some exercise« said Oldbuck
»I think we have persuaded him to do that for he has bought a horse from
Gibbie Golightly the galloping groom A gude judge o horseflesh Gibbie tauld
our lass that he was for he offered him a beast he thought wad answer him weel
eneugh as he was a bookish man but Mr Lovel wadna look at it and bought ane
might serve the Master o Morphie they keep it at the Græmes Arms ower the
street and he rode out yesterday morning and this morning before breakfast
But winna ye walk up to his room«
»Presently presently But has he no visitors«
»O dear Mr Oldbuck not ane if he wadna receive them when he was weel and
sprightly what chance is there of onybody in Fairport looking in upon him now«
»Ay ay very true I should have been surprised had it been otherwise
Come show me up stairs Mrs Hadoway lest I make a blunder and go where I
should not«
The good landlady showed Mr Oldbuck up her narrow staircase warning him of
every turn and lamenting all the while that he was laid under the necessity of
mounting up so high At length she gently tapped at the door of her guests
parlour »Come in« said Lovel and Mrs Hadoway ushered in the Laird of
Monkbarns
The little apartment was neat and clean and decently furnished
ornamented too by such relics of her youthful arts of sempstressship as Mrs
Hadoway had retained but it was close overheated and as it appeared to
Oldbuck an unwholesome situation for a young person in delicate health an
observation which ripened his resolution touching a project that had already
occurred to him in Lovels behalf With a writingtable before him on which lay
a quantity of books and papers Lovel was seated on a couch in his nightgown
and slippers Oldbuck was shocked at the change which had taken place in his
personal appearance His cheek and brow had assumed a ghastly white except
where a round bright spot of hectic red formed a strong and painful contrast
totally different from the general cast of hale and hardy complexion which had
formerly overspread and somewhat embrowned his countenance Oldbuck observed
that the dress he wore belonged to a deep mourning suit and a coat of the same
colour hung on a chair near to him As the Antiquary entered Lovel arose and
came forward to welcome him
»This is very kind« he said shaking him by the hand and thanking him
warmly for his visit »this is very kind and has anticipated a visit with
which I intended to trouble you You must know I have become a horseman lately«
»I understand as much from Mrs Hadoway I only hope my good young friend
you have been fortunate in a quiet horse I myself inadvertently bought one from
the said Gibbie Golightly which brute ran two miles on end with me after a pack
of hounds with which I had no more to do than the last years snow and after
affording infinite amusement I suppose to the whole hunting field he was so
good as to deposit me in a dry ditch I hope yours is a more peaceful beast«
»I hope at least we shall make our excursions on a better plan of mutual
understanding«
»That is to say you think yourself a good horseman«
»I would not willingly« answered Lovel »confess myself a very bad one«
»No all you young fellows think that would be equal to calling yourselves
tailors at once But have you had experience for crede experto a horse in a
passion is no joker«
»Why I should be sorry to boast myself as a great horseman but when I
acted as aidedecamp to Sir in the cavalry action at last year I saw
many better cavaliers than myself dismounted«
»Ah you have looked in the face of the grisly god of arms then you are
acquainted with the frowns of Mars armipotent That experience fills up the
measure of your qualifications for the epopea The Britons however you will
remember fought in chariots covinarii is the phrase of Tacitus you
recollect the fine description of their dashing among the Roman infantry
although the historian tells us how ill the rugged face of the ground was
calculated for equestrian combat and truly upon the whole what sort of
chariots could be driven in Scotland anywhere but on turnpike roads has been to
me always matter of amazement And well now has the Muse visited you have
you got anything to show me«
»My time« said Lovel with a glance at his black dress »has been less
pleasantly employed«
»The death of a friend« said the Antiquary
»Yes Mr Oldbuck of almost the only friend I could ever boast of
possessing«
»Indeed Well young man« replied his visitor in a tone of seriousness
very different from his affected gravity »be comforted To have lost a friend
by death while your mutual regard was warm and unchilled while the tear can
drop unembittered by any painful recollection of coldness or distrust or
treachery is perhaps an escape from a more heavy dispensation Look round you
how few do you see grow old in the affections of those with whom their early
friendships were formed Our sources of common pleasure gradually dry up as we
journey on through the vale of Bacha and we hew out to ourselves other
reservoirs from which the first companions of our pilgrimage are excluded
jealousies rivalries envy intervene to separate others from our side until
none remain but those who are connected with us rather by habit than
predilection or who allied more in blood than in disposition only keep the
old man company in his life that they may not be forgotten at his death
Hæc data poena diu viventibus
Ah Mr Lovel if it be your lot to reach the chill cloudy and comfortless
evening of life you will remember the sorrows of your youth as the light
shadowy clouds that intercepted for a moment the beams of the sun when it was
rising But I cram these words into your ears against the stomach of your
sense«
»I am sensible of your kindness« answered the youth »but the wound that is
of recent infliction must always smart severely and I should be little
comforted under my present calamity forgive me for saying so by the
conviction that life had nothing in reserve for me but a train of successive
sorrows And permit me to add you Mr Oldbuck have least reason of many men
to take so gloomy a view of life You have a competent and easy fortune are
generally respected may in your own phrase vacare musis indulge yourself in
the researches to which your taste addicts you you may form your own society
without doors and within you have the affectionate and sedulous attention of
the nearest relatives«
»Why yes the womankind for womankind are thanks to my training very
civil and tractable do not disturb me in my morning studies creep across the
floor with the stealthy pace of a cat when it suits me to take a nap in my
easychair after dinner or tea All this is very well but I want something to
exchange ideas with something to talk to«
»Then why do you not invite your nephew Captain MIntyre who is mentioned
by every one as a fine spirited young fellow to become a member of your
family«
»Who« exclaimed Monkbarns »my nephew Hector the Hotspur of the North
Why Heaven love you I would as soon invite a firebrand into my stackyard Hes
an Almanzor a Chamont has a Highland pedigree as long as his claymore and a
claymore as long as the High Street of Fairport which he unsheathed upon the
surgeon the last time he was at Fairport I expect him here one of these days
but I will keep him at staffs end I promise you He an inmate of my house to
make my very chairs and tables tremble at his brawls No no Ill none of
Hector MIntyre But hark ye Lovel you are a quiet gentletempered lad had
not you better set up your staff at Monkbarns for a month or two since I
conclude you do not immediately intend to leave this country I will have a
door opened out to the garden it will cost but a trifle there is the space
for an old one which was condemned long ago by which said door you may pass
and repass into the Green Chamber at pleasure so you will not interfere with
the old man nor he with you As for your fare Mrs Hadoway tells me you are
as she terms it very moderate of your mouth so you will not quarrel with my
humble table Your washing«
»Hold my dear Mr Oldbuck« interposed Lovel unable to repress a smile
»and before your hospitality settles all my accommodations let me thank you
most sincerely for so kind an offer it is not at present in my power to accept
of it but very likely before I bid adieu to Scotland I shall find an
opportunity to pay you a visit of some length«
Mr Oldbucks countenance fell »Why I thought I had hit on the very
arrangement that would suit us both and who knows what might happen in the
long run and whether we might ever part Why I am master of my acres man
there is the advantage of being descended from a man of more sense than pride
they cannot oblige me to transmit my goods chattels and heritages any way but
as I please No string of substitute heirs of entail as empty and unsubstantial
as the morsels of paper strung to the train of a boys kite to cumber my
flights of inclination and my humours of predilection Well I see you wont
be tempted at present but Caledonia goes on I hope«
»O certainly« said Lovel »I cannot think of relinquishing a plan so
hopeful«
»It is indeed« said the Antiquary looking gravely upward for though
shrewd and acute enough in estimating the variety of plans formed by others he
had a very natural though rather disproportioned good opinion of the importance
of those which originated with himself »it is indeed one of those undertakings
which if achieved with spirit equal to that which dictates its conception may
redeem from the charge of frivolity the literature of the present generation«
Here he was interrupted by a knock at the room door which introduced a
letter for Mr Lovel The servant waited Mrs Hadoway said for an answer »You
are concerned in this matter Mr Oldbuck« said Lovel after glancing over the
billet and handing it to the Antiquary as he spoke
It was a letter from Sir Arthur Wardour couched in extremely civil
language regretting that a fit of the gout had prevented his hitherto showing
Mr Lovel the attentions to which his conduct during a late perilous occasion
had so well entitled him apologizing for not paying his respects in person
but hoping Mr Lovel would dispense with that ceremony and be a member of a
small party which proposed to visit the ruins of Saint Ruths priory on the
following day and afterwards to dine and spend the evening at Knockwinnock
Castle Sir Arthur concluded with saying that he had sent to request the
Monkbarns family to join the party of pleasure which he thus proposed The place
of rendezvous was fixed at a turnpikegate which was about an equal distance
from all the points from which the company were to assemble
»What shall we do« said Lovel looking at the Antiquary but pretty certain
of the part he would take
»Go man well go by all means Let me see it will cost a postchaise
though which will hold you and me and Mary MIntyre very well and the other
womankind may go to the manse and you can come out in the chaise to Monkbarns
as I will take it for the day«
»Why I rather think I had better ride«
»True true I forgot your Bucephalus You are a foolish lad by the by for
purchasing the brute outright you should stick to eighteenpence a side if you
will trust any creatures legs in preference to your own«
»Why as the horses have the advantage of moving considerably faster and
are besides two pair to one I own I incline«
»Enough said enough said do as you please Well then Ill bring either
Grizel or the minister for I love to have my full pennyworth out of posthorses
and we meet at Tirlingen turnpike on Friday at twelve oclock precisely«
And with this agreement the friends separated
Chapter Seventeenth
Of seats they tell where priests mid tapers dim
Breathed the warm prayer or tuned the midnight hymn
To scenes like these the fainting soul retired
Revenge and Anger in these cells expired
By Pity soothed Remorse lost half her fears
And softened Pride dropped penitential tears
Crabbes Borough
The morning of Friday was as serene and beautiful as if no pleasure party had
been intended and that is a rare event whether in novelwriting or real life
Lovel who felt the genial influence of the weather and rejoiced at the
prospect of once more meeting with Miss Wardour trotted forward to the place of
rendezvous with better spirits than he had for some time enjoyed His prospects
seemed in many respects to open and brighten before him and hope although
breaking like the morning sun through clouds and showers appeared now about to
illuminate the path before him He was as might have been expected from this
state of spirits first at the place of meeting and as might also have been
anticipated his looks were so intently directed towards the road from
Knockwinnock Castle that he was only apprized of the arrival of the Monkbarns
division by the gee of the postilion as the postchaise lumbered up behind
him In this vehicle were pent up first the stately figure of Mr Oldbuck
himself secondly the scarce less portly person of the Reverend Mr
Blattergowl minister of Trotcosey the parish in which Monkbarns and
Knockwinnock were both situated The reverend gentleman was equipped in a buzz
wig upon the top of which was an equilateral cocked hat This was the paragon
of the three yet remaining wigs of the parish which differed as Monkbarns used
to remark like the three degrees of comparison Sir Arthurs ramilies being
the positive his own bobwig the comparative and the overwhelming grizzle of
the worthy clergyman figuring as the superlative The superintendent of these
antique garnitures deeming or affecting to deem that he could not well be
absent on an occasion which assembled all three together had seated himself on
the board behind the carriage »just to be in the way in case they wanted a
touch before the gentlemen sat down to dinner« Between the two massive figures
of Monkbarns and the clergyman was stuck by way of bodkin the slim form of
Mary MIntyre her aunt having preferred a visit to the manse and a social chat
with Miss Beckie Blattergowl to investigating the ruins of the priory of Saint
Ruth
As greetings passed between the members of the Monkbarns party and Mr
Lovel the Baronets carriage an open barouche swept onward to the place of
appointment making with its smoking bays smart drivers arms blazoned
panels and a brace of outriders a strong contrast with the battered vehicle
and brokenwinded hacks which had brought thither the Antiquary and his
followers The principal seat of the carriage was occupied by Sir Arthur and his
daughter At the first glance which passed betwixt Miss Wardour and Lovel her
colour rose considerably but she had apparently made up her mind to receive
him as a friend and only as such and there was equal composure and courtesy in
the mode of her reply to his fluttered salutation Sir Arthur halted the
barouche to shake his preserver kindly by the hand and intimate the pleasure he
had on this opportunity of returning him his personal thanks then mentioned to
him in a tone of slight introduction »Mr Dousterswivel Mr Lovel«
Lovel took the necessary notice of the German adept who occupied the front
seat of the carriage which is usually conferred upon dependants or inferiors
The ready grin and supple inclination with which his salutation though slight
was answered by the foreigner increased the internal dislike which Lovel had
already conceived towards him and it was plain from the lower of the
Antiquarys shaggy eye that he too looked with displeasure on this addition to
the company Little more than distant greeting passed among the members of the
party until having rolled on for about three miles beyond the place at which
they met the carriages at length stopped at the sign of the Four Horseshoes a
small hedge inn where Caxon humbly opened the door and let down the step of
the hackchaise while the inmates of the barouche were by their more courtly
attendants assisted to leave their equipage
Here renewed greetings passed the young ladies shook hands and Oldbuck
completely in his element placed himself as guide and cicerone at the head of
the party who were now to advance on foot towards the object of their
curiosity He took care to detain Lovel close beside him as the best listener of
the party and occasionally glanced a word of explanation and instruction to
Miss Wardour and Mary MIntyre who followed next in order The Baronet and the
clergyman he rather avoided as he was aware both of them conceived they
understood such matters as well or better than he did and Dousterswivel
besides that he looked on him as a charlatan was so nearly connected with his
apprehended loss in the stock of the mining company that he could not abide the
sight of him These two latter satellites therefore attended upon the orb of
Sir Arthur to whom moreover as the most important person of the society they
were naturally induced to attach themselves
It frequently happens that the most beautiful points of Scottish scenery lie
hidden in some sequestered dell and that you may travel through the country in
every direction without being aware of your vicinity to what is well worth
seeing unless intention or accident carry you to the very spot This is
particularly the case in the country around Fairport which is generally
speaking open unenclosed and bare But here and there the progress of rills
or small rivers has formed dells glens or as they are provincially termed
dens on whose high and rocky banks trees and shrubs of all kinds find a
shelter and grow with a luxuriant profusion which is the more gratifying as
it forms an unexpected contrast with the general face of the country This was
eminently the case with the approach to the ruins of Saint Ruth which was for
some time merely a sheeptrack along the side of a steep and bare hill By
degrees however as this path descended and winded round the hillside trees
began to appear at first singly stunted and blighted with locks of wool upon
their trunks and their roots hollowed out into recesses in which the sheep
love to repose themselves a sight much more gratifying to the eye of an
admirer of the picturesque than to that of a planter or forester By and by the
trees formed groups fringed on the edges and filled up in the middle by
thorns and hazel bushes and at length these groups closed so much together
that although a broad glade opened here and there under their boughs or a small
patch of bog or heath occurred which had refused nourishment to the seed which
they sprinkled round and consequently remained open and waste the scene might
on the whole be termed decidedly woodland The sides of the valley began to
approach each other more closely the rush of a brook was heard below and
between the intervals afforded by openings in the natural wood its waters were
seen hurling clear and rapid under their silvan canopy
Oldbuck now took upon himself the full authority of cicerone and anxiously
directed the company not to go a footbreadth off the track which he pointed out
to them if they wished to enjoy in full perfection what they came to see »You
are happy in me for a guide Miss Wardour« exclaimed the veteran waving his
hand and head in cadence as he repeated with emphasis
»I know each lane and every alley green
Dingle or bushy dell of this wild wood
And every bosky bower from side to side12
Ah deuce take it that spray of a bramble has demolished all Caxons labours
and nearly canted my wig into the stream so much for recitations hors de
propos«
»Never mind my dear sir« said Miss Wardour »you have your faithful
attendant ready to repair such a disaster when it happens and when you appear
with it as restored to its original splendour I will carry on the quotation
So sinks the daystar in the ocean bed
And yet anon repairs his drooping head
And tricks his beams and with newspangled ore
Flames on the forehead« 13
»O enough enough« answered Oldbuck »I ought to have known what it was to
give you advantage over me But here is what will stop your career of satire
for you are an admirer of nature, I know« In fact when they had followed him
through a breach in a low ancient and ruinous wall they came suddenly upon a
scene equally unexpected and interesting
They stood pretty high upon the side of the glen which had suddenly opened
into a sort of amphitheatre to give room for a pure and profound lake of a few
acres extent and a space of level ground around it The banks then arose
everywhere steeply and in some places were varied by rocks in others covered
with the copse which run up feathering their sides lightly and irregularly
and breaking the uniformity of the green pastureground Beneath the lake
discharged itself into the huddling and tumultuous brook which had been their
companion since they had entered the glen At the point at which it issued from
its parent lake stood the ruins which they had come to visit They were not of
great extent but the singular beauty as well as the wild and sequestered
character of the spot on which they were situated gave them an interest and
importance superior to that which attaches itself to architectural remains of
greater consequence but placed near to ordinary houses and possessing less
romantic accompaniments The eastern window of the church remained entire with
all its ornaments and tracery work and the sides upheld by flying buttresses
whose airy support detached from the wall against which they were placed and
ornamented with pinnacles and carved work gave a variety and lightness to the
building The roof and western end of the church were completely ruinous but
the latter appeared to have made one side of a square of which the ruins of the
conventual buildings formed other two and the gardens a fourth The side of
these buildings which overhung the brook was partly founded on a steep and
precipitous rock for the place had been occasionally turned to military
purposes and had been taken with great slaughter during Montroses wars The
ground formerly occupied by the garden was still marked by a few orchard trees
At a greater distance from the buildings were detached oaks and elms and
chestnuts growing singly which had attained great size The rest of the space
between the ruins and the hill was a closecropt sward which the daily pasture
of the sheep kept in much finer order than if it had been subjected to the
scythe and broom The whole scene had a repose which was still and affecting
without being monotonous The dark deep basin in which the clear blue lake
reposed reflecting the water lilies which grew on its surface and the trees
which here and there threw their arms from the banks was finely contrasted with
the haste and tumult of the brook which broke away from the outlet as if
escaping from confinement and hurried down the glen wheeling around the base of
the rock on which the ruins were situated and brawling in foam and fury with
every shelve and stone which obstructed its passage A similar contrast was seen
between the level green meadow in which the ruins were situated and the large
timbertrees which were scattered over it compared with the precipitous banks
which arose at a short distance around partly fringed with light and feathery
underwood partly rising in steeps clothed with purple heath and partly more
abruptly elevated into fronts of grey rock chequered with lichen and with
those hardy plants which find root even in the most arid crevices of the crags
»There was the retreat of learning in the days of darkness Mr Lovel« said
Oldbuck around whom the company had now grouped themselves while they admired
the unexpected opening of a prospect so romantic there reposed the sages who
were aweary of the world and devoted either to that which was to come or to
the service of the generations who should follow them in this I will show you
presently the library see that stretch of wall with squareshafted windows
there it existed stored as an old manuscript in my possession assures me with
five thousand volumes And here I might well take up the lamentation of the
learned Leland who regretting the downfall of the conventual libraries
exclaims like Rachel weeping for her children that if the Papal laws decrees
decretals clementines and other such drugs of the devil yea if Heytesburgs
sophisms Porphyrys universals Aristotles logic and Dunses divinity with
such other lousy legerdemains begging your pardon Miss Wardour and fruits of
the bottomless pit had leaped out of our libraries for the accommodation of
grocers candlemakers soapsellers and other worldly occupiers we might have
been therewith contented But to put our ancient chronicles our noble
histories our learned commentaries and national muniments to such offices of
contempt and subjection has greatly degraded our nation and showed ourselves
dishonoured in the eyes of posterity to the utmost stretch of time O
negligence most unfriendly to our land«
»And O John Knox« said the Baronet »through whose influence and under
whose auspices the patriotic task was accomplished«
The Antiquary somewhat in the situation of a woodcock caught in his own
springe turned short round and coughed to excuse a slight blush as he mustered
his answer »as to the Apostle of the Scottish Reformation«
But Miss Wardour broke in to interrupt a conversation so dangerous »Pray
who was the author you quoted Mr Oldbuck«
»The learned Leland Miss Wardour who lost his senses on witnessing the
destruction of the conventual libraries in England«
»Now I think« replied the young lady »his misfortune may have saved the
rationality of some modern antiquaries which would certainly have been drowned
if so vast a lake of learning had not been diminished by draining«
»Well thank Heaven there is no danger now they have hardly left us a
spoonful in which to perform the dire feat«
So saying Mr Oldbuck led the way down the bank by a steep but secure
path which soon placed them on the verdant meadow where the ruins stood »There
they lived« continued the Antiquary »with nought to do but to spend their time
in investigating points of remote antiquity transcribing manuscripts and
composing new works for the information of posterity«
»And« added the Baronet »in exercising the rites of devotion with a pomp
and ceremonial worthy of the office of the priesthood«
»And if Sir Arthurs excellence will permit« said the German with a low
bow »the monksh might also make de vary curious experiment in deir laboraties
both in chemistry and magia naturalis«
»I think« said the clergyman »they would have enough to do in collecting
the teinds of the parsonage and vicarage of three good parishes«
»And all« added Miss Wardour nodding to the Antiquary »without
interruption from womankind«
»True my fair foe« said Oldbuck »this was a paradise where no Eve was
admitted and we may wonder the rather by what chance the good fathers came to
lose it«
With such criticisms on the occupations of those by whom the ruins had been
formerly possessed they wandered for some time from one mossgrown shrine to
another under the guidance of Oldbuck who explained with much plausibility
the groundplan of the edifice and read and expounded to the company the
various mouldering inscriptions which yet were to be traced upon the tombs of
the dead or under the vacant niches of the sainted images
»What is the reason« at length Miss Wardour asked the Antiquary »why
tradition has preserved to us such meagre accounts of the inmates of these
stately edifices raised with such expense of labour and taste and whose owners
were in their times personages of such awful power and importance The meanest
tower of a freebooting baron or squire who lived by his lance and broadsword is
consecrated by its appropriate legend and the shepherd will tell you with
accuracy the names and feats of its inhabitants but ask a countryman
concerning these beautiful and extensive remains these towers these arches
and buttresses and shafted windows reared at such cost three words fill up
his answer they were made up by the monks lang syne«
The question was somewhat puzzling Sir Arthur looked upward as if hoping
to be inspired with an answer Oldbuck shoved back his wig the clergyman was
of opinion that his parishioners were too deeply impressed with the true
presbyterian doctrine to preserve any records concerning the papistical
cumberers of the land offshoots as they were of the great overshadowing tree of
iniquity whose roots are in the bowels of the seven hills of abomination
Lovel thought the question was best resolved by considering what are the events
which leave the deepest impression on the minds of the common people »These«
he contended »were not such as resemble the gradual progress of a fertilizing
river but the headlong and precipitous fury of some portentous flood The eras
by which the vulgar compute time have always reference to some period of fear
and tribulation and they date by a tempest an earthquake or burst of civil
commotion When such are the facts most alive in the memory of the common
people we cannot wonder« he concluded »that the ferocious warrior is
remembered and the peaceful abbots are abandoned to forgetfulness and
oblivion«
»If you pleashe gentlemans and ladies and ashking pardon of Sir Arthur and
Miss Wardour and this worthy clergymansh and my goot friend Mr Oldenbuck who
is my countrymansh and of goot young Mr Lofel also I think it is all owing to
de hand of glory«
»The hand of what« exclaimed Oldbuck
»De hand of glory my goot Master Oldenbuck which is a vary great and
terrible secrets which de monksh used to conceal their treasures when they
were triven from their cloisters by what you call de Reform«
»Ay indeed tell us about that« said Oldbuck »for these are secrets worth
knowing«
»Why my goot Master Oldenbuck you will only laugh at me But de hand of
glory is vary well known in de countries where your worthy progenitors did live
and it is hand cut off from a dead man as has been hanged for murther and
dried very nice in de shmoke of juniper wood and if you put a little of what
you call yew wid your juniper it will not be any better that is it will not
be no worse then you do take something of de fatsh of de bear and of de
badger and of de great eber as you call de grand boar and of de little
sucking child as has not been christened for dat is very essentials and you
do make a candle and put it into de hand of glory at de proper hour and minute
with de proper ceremonish and he who seeksh for treasuresh shall never find
none at all«
»I dare take my corporal oath of that conclusion« said the Antiquary »And
was it the custom Mr Dousterswivel in Westphalia to make use of this elegant
candelabrum«
»Alwaysh Mr Oldenbuck when you did not want nobody to talk of nothing you
wash doing about And the monksh alwaysh did this when they did hide their
churchplates and their great chalices and de rings wid very preshious
shtones and jewels«
»But notwithstanding you knights of the Rosy Cross have means no doubt
of breaking the spell and discovering what the poor monks have put themselves
to so much trouble to conceal«
»Ah goot Mr Oldenbuck« replied the adept shaking his head mysteriously
»you was very hard to believe but if you had seen de great huge pieces of de
plate so massive Sir Arthur so fine fashion Miss Wardour and de silver
cross dat we did find dat was Schroepfer and my ownself for de Herr Freygraf
as you call de Baron Von Blunderhaus I do believe you would have believed
then«
»Seeing is believing indeed But what was your art what was your mystery
Mr Dousterswivel«
»Aha Mr Oldenbuck dat is my little secret mine goot sir you sall
forgife me that I not tell that But I will tell you dere are various ways
yes indeed dere is de dream dat you dream tree times dat is a vary goot
way«
»I am glad of that« said Oldbuck »I have a friend« with a sideglance to
Lovel »who is peculiarly favoured by the visits of Queen Mab«
»Den dere is de sympathies and de antipathies and de strange properties
and virtues natural of divers herb and of de little diviningrod«
»I would gladly rather see some of these wonders than hear of them« said
Miss Wardour
»Ah but my muchhonoured young lady this is not de time or de way to do
de great wonder of finding all de churchs plate and treasure but to oblige
you and Sir Arthur my patron and de reverend clergymans and goot Mr
Oldenbuck and young Mr Lofel who is a very goot young gentleman also I will
show you dat it is possible a vary possible to discover de spring of water
and de little fountain hidden in de ground without any mattock or spade or
dig at all«
»Umph« quoth the Antiquary »I have heard of that conundrum That will be
no very productive art in our country you should carry that property to Spain
or Portugal and turn it to good account«
»Ah my goot Master Oldenbuck dere is de Inquisition and de Autodafé
they would burn me who am but a simple philosopher for one great conjuror«
»They would cast away their coals then« said Oldbuck »but« continued he
in a whisper to Lovel »were they to pillory him for one of the most impudent
rascals that ever wagged a tongue they would square the punishment more
accurately with his deserts But let us see I think he is about to show us some
of his legerdemain«
In truth the German was now got to a little copsethicket at some distance
from the ruins where he affected busily to search for such a wand as would suit
the purpose of his mystery and after cutting and examining and rejecting
several he at length provided himself with a small twig of hazel terminating in
a forked end which he pronounced to possess the virtue proper for the
experiment that he was about to exhibit Holding the forked ends of the wand
each between a finger and thumb and thus keeping the rod upright he proceeded
to pace the ruined aisles and cloisters followed by the rest of the company in
admiring procession »I believe dere was no waters here« said the adept when
he had made the round of several of the buildings without perceiving any of
those indications which he pretended to expect »I believe those Scotch monksh
did find de water too cool for de climate and alwaysh drank de goot comfortable
Rhine wine But aha see there« Accordingly the assistants observed the rod
to turn in his fingers although he pretended to hold it very tight »Dere is
water here about sure enough« and turning this way and that way as the
agitation of the diviningrod seemed to increase or diminish he at length
advanced into the midst of a vacant and roofless enclosure which had been the
kitchen of the priory when the rod twisted itself so as to point almost
straight downwards »Here is de place« said the adept »and if you do not find
de water here I will give you all leave to call me an impudent knave«
»I shall take that license« whispered the Antiquary to Lovel »whether the
water is discovered or no«
A servant who had come up with a basket of cold refreshments was now
despatched to a neighbouring foresters hut for a mattock and pickaxe The
loose stones and rubbish being removed from the spot indicated by the German
they soon came to the sides of a regularlybuilt well and when a few feet of
rubbish were cleared out by the assistance of the forester and his sons the
water began to rise rapidly to the delight of the philosopher the astonishment
of the ladies Mr Blattergowl and Sir Arthur the surprise of Lovel and the
confusion of the incredulous Antiquary He did not fail however to enter his
protest in Lovels ear against the miracle »This is a mere trick« he said
»the rascal had made himself sure of the existence of this old well by some
means or other before he played off this mystical piece of jugglery Mark what
he talks of next I am much mistaken if this is not intended as a prelude to
some more serious fraud See how the rascal assumes consequence and plumes
himself upon the credit of his success and how poor Sir Arthur takes in the
tide of nonsense which he is delivering to him as principles of occult science«
»You do see my goot patron you do see my goot ladies you do see worthy
Dr Bladderhowl and even Mr Lofel and Mr Oldenbuck may see if they do will
to see how art has no enemy at all but ignorance Look at this little slip of
hazel nuts it is fit for nothing at all but to whip de little child« »I
would choose a cat and nine tails for your occasions« whispered Oldbuck apart
»and you put it in the hands of a philosopher paf it makes de grand
discovery But this is nothing Sir Arthur nothing at all worthy Dr
Botherhowl nothing at all ladies nothing at all young Mr Lofel and goot
Mr Oldenbuck to what art can do Ah if dere was any man that had de spirit
and de courage I would show him better things than de well of water I would
show him«
»And a little money would be necessary also would it not« said the
Antiquary
»Bah one trifle not worth talking about might be necessaries« answered
the adept
»I thought as much« rejoined the Antiquary drily »and I in the
meanwhile without any diviningrod will show you an excellent venison pasty
and a bottle of London particular Madeira and I think that will match all that
Mr Dousterswivels art is like to exhibit«
The feast was spread fronde super viridi as Oldbuck expressed himself
under a huge old tree called the Priors Oak and the company sitting down
around it did ample honour to the contents of the basket
Chapter Eighteenth
As when a Gryphon through the wilderness
With winged course oer hill and moory dale
Pursues the Arimaspian who by stealth
Had from his wakeful custody purloined
The guarded gold So eagerly the Fiend
Paradise Lost
When their collation was ended Sir Arthur resumed the account of the mysteries
of the diviningrod as a subject on which he had formerly conversed with
Dousterswivel »My friend Mr Oldbuck will now be prepared Mr Dousterswivel
to listen with more respect to the stories you have told us of the late
discoveries in Germany by the brethren of your association«
»Ah Sir Arthur that was not a thing to speak to those gentlemans because
it is want of credulity what you call faith that spoils the great
enterprise«
»At least however let my daughter read the narrative she has taken down of
the story of Martin Waldeck«
»Ah that was vary true story but Miss Wardour she is so sly and so
witty that she has made it just like one romance as well as Goethe or Wieland
could have done it by mine honest wort«
»To say the truth Mr Dousterswivel« answered Miss Wardour »the romantic
predominated in the legend so much above the probable that it was impossible
for a lover of fairyland like me to avoid lending a few touches to make it
perfect in its kind But here it is and if you do not incline to leave this
shade till the heat of the day has somewhat declined and will have sympathy
with my bad composition perhaps Sir Arthur or Mr Oldbuck will read it to us«
»Not I« said Sir Arthur »I was never fond of reading aloud«
»Nor I« said Oldbuck »for I have forgot my spectacles But here is Lovel
with sharp eyes and a good voice for Mr Blattergowl I know never reads
anything lest he should be suspected of reading his sermons«
The task was therefore imposed upon Lovel who received with some
trepidation as Miss Wardour delivered with a little embarrassment a paper
containing the lines traced by that fair hand the possession of which he
coveted as the highest blessing the earth could offer to him But there was a
necessity of suppressing his emotions and after glancing over the manuscript
as if to become acquainted with the character he collected himself and read
the company the following tale
The Fortunes of Martin Walbeck
The solitudes of the Harz forest in Germany14 but especially the mountains
called Blocksberg or rather Brockenberg are the chosen scenes for tales of
witches demons and apparitions The occupation of the inhabitants who are
either miners or foresters is of a kind that renders them peculiarly prone to
superstition and the natural phenomena which they witness in pursuit of their
solitary or subterraneous profession are often set down by them to the
interference of goblins or the power of magic Among the various legends current
in that wild country there is a favourite one which supposes the Harz to be
haunted by a sort of tutelar demon in the shape of a wild man of huge stature
his head wreathed with oak leaves and his middle cinctured with the same
bearing in his hand a pine torn up by the roots It is certain that many persons
profess to have seen such a form traversing with huge strides in a line
parallel to their own course the opposite ridge of a mountain when divided
from it by a narrow glen and indeed the fact of the apparition is so generally
admitted that modern scepticism has only found refuge by ascribing it to
optical deception15
In elder times the intercourse of the demon with the inhabitants was more
familiar and according to the traditions of the Harz he was wont with the
caprice usually ascribed to these earthborn powers to interfere with the
affairs of mortals sometimes for their weal sometimes for their wo But it was
observed that even his gifts often turned out in the long run fatal to those
on whom they were bestowed and it was no uncommon thing for the pastors in
their care of their flocks to compose long sermons the burden whereof was a
warning against having any intercourse direct or indirect with the Harz demon
The fortunes of Martin Waldeck have been often quoted by the aged to their giddy
children when they were heard to scoff at a danger which appeared visionary
A travelling capuchin had possessed himself of the pulpit of the thatched
church at a little hamlet called Morgenbrodt lying in the Harz district from
which he declaimed against the wickedness of the inhabitants their
communication with fiends witches and fairies and in particular with the
woodland goblin of the Harz The doctrines of Luther had already begun to spread
among the peasantry for the incident is placed under the reign of Charles V
and they laughed to scorn the zeal with which the venerable man insisted upon
his topic At length as his vehemence increased with opposition so their
opposition rose in proportion to his vehemence The inhabitants did not like to
hear an accustomed quiet demon who had inhabited the Brockenberg for so many
ages summarily confounded with Baalpeor Ashtaroth and Beelzebub himself and
condemned without reprieve to the bottomless Tophet The apprehensions that the
spirit might avenge himself on them for listening to such an illiberal sentence
added to their national interest in his behalf A travelling friar they said
that is here today and away tomorrow may say what he pleases but it is we
the ancient and constant inhabitants of the country that are left at the mercy
of the insulted demon and must of course pay for all Under the irritation
occasioned by these reflections the peasants from injurious language betook
themselves to stones and having pebbled the priest pretty handsomely they
drove him out of the parish to preach against demons elsewhere
Three young men who had been present and assisting on this occasion were
upon their return to the hut where they carried on the laborious and mean
occupation of preparing charcoal for the smelting furnaces On the way their
conversation naturally turned upon the demon of the Harz and the doctrine of the
capuchin Max and George Waldeck the two elder brothers although they allowed
the language of the capuchin to have been indiscreet and worthy of censure as
presuming to determine upon the precise character and abode of the spirit yet
contended it was dangerous in the highest degree to accept of his gifts or
hold any communication with him He was powerful they allowed but wayward and
capricious and those who had intercourse with him seldom came to a good end
Did he not give the brave knight Ecbert of Rabenwald that famous black steed
by means of which he vanquished all the champions at the great tournament at
Bremen and did not the same steed afterwards precipitate itself with its rider
into an abyss so steep and fearful that neither horse nor man were ever seen
more Had he not given to Dame Gertrude Trodden a curious spell for making
butter come and was she not burnt for a witch by the grand criminal judge of
the Electorate because she availed herself of his gift But these and many
other instances which they quoted of mischance and ill luck ultimately
attending on the apparent benefits conferred by the Harz spirit failed to make
any impression upon Martin Waldeck the youngest of the brothers
Martin was youthful rash and impetuous excelling in all the exercises
which distinguish a mountaineer and brave and undaunted from his familiar
intercourse with the dangers that attend them He laughed at the timidity of his
brothers »Tell me not of such folly« he said »the demon is a good demon he
lives among us as if he were a peasant like ourselves haunts the lonely crags
and recesses of the mountains like a huntsman or goatherd and he who loves the
Harz forest and its wild scenes cannot be indifferent to the fate of the hardy
children of the soil But if the demon were as malicious as you would make him
how should he derive power over mortals who barely avail themselves of his
gifts without binding themselves to submit to his pleasure When you carry your
charcoal to the furnace is not the money as good that is paid you by
blaspheming Blaize the old reprobate overseer as if you got it from the pastor
himself It is not the goblins gifts which can endanger you then but it is
the use you shall make of them that you must account for And were the demon to
appear to me at this moment and indicate to me a gold or silver mine I would
begin to dig away even before his back were turned and I would consider
myself as under protection of a much Greater than he while I made a good use of
the wealth he pointed out to me«
To this the elder brother replied that wealth ill won was seldom well
spent while Martin presumptuously declared that the possession of all the
treasures of the Harz would not make the slightest alteration on his habits
morals or character
His brother entreated Martin to talk less wildly upon the subject and with
some difficulty contrived to withdraw his attention by calling it to the
consideration of the approaching boarchase This talk brought them to their
hut a wretched wigwam situated upon one side of a wild narrow and romantic
dell in the recesses of the Brockenberg They released their sister from
attending upon the operation of charring the wood which requires constant
attention and divided among themselves the duty of watching it by night
according to their custom one always waking while his brothers slept
Max Waldeck the eldest watched during the first two hours of the night
and was considerably alarmed by observing upon the opposite bank of the glen
or valley a huge fire surrounded by some figures that appeared to wheel around
it with antic gestures Max at first bethought him of calling up his brothers
but recollecting the daring character of the youngest and finding it impossible
to wake the elder without also disturbing Martin conceiving also what he saw
to be an illusion of the demon sent perhaps in consequence of the venturous
expressions used by Martin on the preceding evening he thought it best to
betake himself to the safeguard of such prayers as he could murmur over and to
watch in great terror and annoyance this strange and alarming apparition After
blazing for some time the fire faded gradually away into darkness and the rest
of Maxs watch was only disturbed by the remembrance of its terrors
George now occupied the place of Max who had retired to rest The
phenomenon of a huge blazing fire upon the opposite bank of the glen again
presented itself to the eye of the watchman It was surrounded as before by
figures which distinguished by their opaque forms being between the spectator
and the red glaring light moved and fluctuated around it as if engaged in some
mystical ceremony George though equally cautious was of a bolder character
than his elder brother He resolved to examine more nearly the object of his
wonder and accordingly after crossing the rivulet which divided the glen he
climbed up the opposite bank and approached within an arrows flight of the
fire which blazed apparently with the same fury as when he first witnessed it
The appearance of the assistants who surrounded it resembled those phantoms
which are seen in a troubled dream and at once confirmed the idea he had
entertained from the first that they did not belong to the human world Amongst
these strange unearthly forms George Waldeck distinguished that of a giant
overgrown with hair holding an uprooted fir in his hand with which from time
to time he seemed to stir the blazing fire and having no other clothing than a
wreath of oak leaves around his forehead and loins Georges heart sunk within
him at recognising the wellknown apparition of the Harz demon as he had been
often described to him by the ancient shepherds and huntsmen who had seen his
form traversing the mountains He turned and was about to fly but upon second
thoughts blaming his own cowardice he recited mentally the verse of the
Psalmist »All good angels praise the Lord« which is in that country supposed
powerful as an exorcism and turned himself once more towards the place where he
had seen the fire But it was no longer visible
The pale moon alone enlightened the side of the valley and when George
with trembling steps a moist brow and hair bristling upright under his
colliers cap came to the spot on which the fire had been so lately visible
marked as it was by a scathed oaktree there appeared not on the heath the
slightest vestiges of what he had seen The moss and wild flowers were
unscorched and the branches of the oaktree which had so lately appeared
enveloped in wreaths of flame and smoke were moist with the dews of midnight
George returned to his hut with trembling steps and arguing like his elder
brother resolved to say nothing of what he had seen lest he should awake in
Martin that daring curiosity which he almost deemed to be allied with impiety
It was now Martins turn to watch The household cock had given his first
summons and the night was wellnigh spent Upon examining the state of the
furnace in which the wood was deposited in order to its being coked or charred
he was surprised to find that the fire had not been sufficiently maintained for
in his excursion and its consequences George had forgot the principal object of
his watch Martins first thought was to call up the slumberers but observing
that both his brothers slept unwontedly deep and heavily he respected their
repose and set himself to supply the furnace with fuel without requiring their
aid What he heaped upon it was apparently damp and unfit for the purpose for
the fire seemed rather to decay than revive Martin next went to collect some
boughs from a stack which had been carefully cut and dried for this purpose
but when he returned he found the fire totally extinguished This was a
serious evil and threatened them with loss of their trade for more than one
day The vexed and mortified watchman set about to strike a light in order to
rekindle the fire but the tinder was moist and his labour proved in this
respect also ineffectual He was now about to call up his brothers for
circumstances seemed to be pressing when flashes of light glimmered not only
through the window but through every crevice of the rudely built hut and
summoned him to behold the same apparition which had before alarmed the
successive watches of his brethren His first idea was that the
Muhllerhaussers their rivals in trade and with whom they had had many
quarrels might have encroached upon their bounds for the purpose of pirating
their wood and he resolved to awake his brothers and be revenged on them for
their audacity But a short reflection and observation on the gestures and
manner of those who seemed to work in the fire induced him to dismiss this
belief and although rather sceptical in such matters to conclude that what he
saw was a supernatural phenomenon »But be they men or fiends« said the
undaunted forester »that busy themselves yonder with such fantastical rites and
gestures I will go and demand a light to rekindle our furnace« He relinquished
at the same time the idea of awaking his brethren There was a belief that such
adventures as he was about to undertake were accessible only to one person at a
time he feared also that his brothers in their scrupulous timidity might
interfere to prevent his pursuing the investigation he had resolved to commence
and therefore snatching his boarspear from the wall the undaunted Martin
Waldeck set forth on the adventure alone
With the same success as his brother George but with courage far superior
Martin crossed the brook ascended the hill and approached so near the ghostly
assembly that he could recognise in the presiding figure the attributes of
the Harz demon A cold shuddering assailed him for the first time in his life
but the recollection that he had at a distance dared and even courted the
intercourse which was now about to take place confirmed his staggering courage
and pride supplying what he wanted in resolution he advanced with tolerable
firmness towards the fire the figures which surrounded it appearing still more
wild fantastical and supernatural the more near he approached to the
assembly He was received with a loud shout of discordant and unnatural
laughter which to his stunned ears seemed more alarming than a combination of
the most dismal and melancholy sounds that could be imagined »Who art thou«
said the giant compressing his savage and exaggerated features into a sort of
forced gravity while they were occasionally agitated by the convulsion of the
laughter which he seemed to suppress
»Martin Waldeck the forester« answered the hardy youth »and who are
you«
»The King of the Waste and of the Mine« answered the spectre »and why
hast thou dared to encroach on my mysteries«
»I came in search of light to rekindle my fire« answered Martin hardily
and then resolutely asked in his turn »What mysteries are those that you
celebrate here«
»We celebrate« answered the complaisant demon »the wedding of Hermes with
the Black Dragon But take thy fire that thou camest to seek and begone no
mortal may look upon us and live«
The peasant struck his spearpoint into a large piece of blazing wood which
he heaved up with some difficulty and then turned round to regain his hut the
shouts of laughter being renewed behind him with treble violence and ringing
far down the narrow valley When Martin returned to the hut his first care
however much astonished with what he had seen was to dispose the kindled coal
among the fuel so as might best light the fire of his furnace but after many
efforts and all exertions of bellows and fireprong the coal he had brought
from the demons fire became totally extinct without kindling any of the
others He turned about and observed the fire still blazing on the hill
although those who had been busied around it had disappeared As he conceived
the spectre had been jesting with him he gave way to the natural hardihood of
his temper and determining to see the adventure to an end resumed the road to
the fire from which unopposed by the demon he brought off in the same manner
a blazing piece of charcoal but still without being able to succeed in lighting
his fire Impunity having increased his rashness he resolved upon a third
experiment and was as successful as before in reaching the fire but when he
had again appropriated a piece of burning coal and had turned to depart he
heard the harsh and supernatural voice which had before accosted him pronounce
these words »Dare not return hither a fourth time«
The attempt to kindle the fire with this last coal having proved as
ineffectual as on the former occasions Martin relinquished the hopeless
attempt and flung himself on his bed of leaves resolving to delay till the
next morning the communication of his supernatural adventure to his brothers He
was awakened from a heavy sleep into which he had sunk from fatigue of body and
agitation of mind by loud exclamations of surprise and joy His brothers
astonished at finding the fire extinguished when they awoke had proceeded to
arrange the fuel in order to renew it when they found in the ashes three huge
metallic masses which their skill for most of the peasants in the Harz are
practical mineralogists immediately ascertained to be pure gold
It was some damp upon their joyful congratulations when they learned from
Martin the mode in which he had obtained this treasure to which their own
experience of the nocturnal vision induced them to give full credit But they
were unable to resist the temptation of sharing in their brothers wealth
Taking now upon him as head of the house Martin Waldeck bought lands and
forests built a castle obtained a patent of nobility and greatly to the
indignation of the ancient aristocracy of the neighbourhood was invested with
all the privileges of a man of family His courage in public war as well as in
private feuds together with the number of retainers whom he kept in pay
sustained him for some time against the odium which was excited by his sudden
elevation and the arrogance of his pretensious
And now it was seen in the instance of Martin Waldeck as it has been in
that of many others how little mortals can foresee the effect of sudden
prosperity on their own disposition The evil propensities in his nature which
poverty had checked and repressed ripened and bore their unhallowed fruit under
the influence of temptation and the means of indulgence As Deep calls unto
Deep one bad passion awakened another the fiend of avarice invoked that of
pride and pride was to be supported by cruelty and oppression Waldecks
character always bold and daring but rendered harsh and assuming by
prosperity soon made him odious not to the nobles only but likewise to the
lower ranks who saw with double dislike the oppressive rights of the feudal
nobility of the empire so remorselessly exercised by one who had risen from the
very dregs of the people His adventure although carefully concealed began
likewise to be whispered abroad and the clergy already stigmatized as a wizard
and accomplice of fiends the wretch who having acquired so huge a treasure in
so strange a manner had not sought to sanctify it by dedicating a considerable
portion to the use of the church Surrounded by enemies public and private
tormented by a thousand feuds and threatened by the church with
excommunication Martin Waldeck or as we must now call him the Baron von
Waldeck often regretted bitterly the labours and sports of his unenvied
poverty But his courage failed him not under all these difficulties and seemed
rather to augment in proportion to the danger which darkened around him until
an accident precipitated his fall
A proclamation by the reigning Duke of Brunswick had invited to a solemn
tournament all German nobles of free and honourable descent and Martin Waldeck
splendidly armed accompanied by his two brothers and a gallantlyequipped
retinue had the arrogance to appear among the chivalry of the province and
demand permission to enter the lists This was considered as filling up the
measure of his presumption A thousand voices exclaimed »We will have no
cindersifter mingle in our games of chivalry« Irritated to frenzy Martin drew
his sword and hewed down the herald who in compliance with the general outcry
opposed his entry into the lists An hundred swords were unsheathed to avenge
what was in those days regarded as a crime only inferior to sacrilege or
regicide Waldeck after defending himself like a lion was seized tried on the
spot by the judges of the lists and condemned as the appropriate punishment
for breaking the peace of his sovereign and violating the sacred person of a
heraldatarms to have his right hand struck from his body to be ignominiously
deprived of the honour of nobility of which he was unworthy and to be expelled
from the city When he had been stripped of his arms and sustained the
mutilation imposed by this severe sentence the unhappy victim of ambition was
abandoned to the rabble who followed him with threats and outcries levelled
alternately against the necromancer and oppressor which at length ended in
violence His brothers for his retinue were fled and dispersed at length
succeeded in rescuing him from the hands of the populace when satiated with
cruelty they had left him half dead through loss of blood and through the
outrages he had sustained They were not permitted such was the ingenious
cruelty of their enemies to make use of any other means of removing him
excepting such a colliers cart as they had themselves formerly used in which
they deposited their brother on a truss of straw scarcely expecting to reach
any place of shelter ere death should release him from his misery
When the Waldecks journeying in this miserable manner had approached the
verge of their native country in a hollow way between two mountains they
perceived a figure advancing towards them which at first sight seemed to be an
aged man But as he approached his limbs and stature increased the cloak fell
from his shoulders his pilgrims staff was changed into an uprooted pinetree
and the gigantic figure of the Harz demon passed before them in his terrors
When he came opposite to the cart which contained the miserable Waldeck his
huge features dilated into a grin of unutterable contempt and malignity as he
asked the sufferer »How like you the fire MY coals have kindled« The power of
motion, which terror suspended in his two brothers seemed to be restored to
Martin by the energy of his courage He raised himself on the cart bent his
brows and clenching his fist shook it at the spectre with a ghastly look of
hate and defiance The goblin vanished with his usual tremendous and explosive
laugh and left Waldeck exhausted with this effort of expiring nature
The terrified brethren turned their vehicle toward the towers of a convent
which arose in a wood of pinetrees beside the road They were charitably
received by a barefooted and longbearded capuchin and Martin survived only to
complete the first confession he had made since the day of his sudden
prosperity and to receive absolution from the very priest whom precisely on
that day three years he had assisted to pelt out of the hamlet of Morgenbrodt
The three years of precarious prosperity were supposed to have a mysterious
correspondence with the number of his visits to the spectral fire upon the hill
The body of Martin Waldeck was interred in the convent where he expired in
which his brothers having assumed the habit of the order lived and died in the
performance of acts of charity and devotion His lands to which no one asserted
any claim lay waste until they were reassumed by the emperor as a lapsed fief
and the ruins of the castle which Waldeck had called by his own name are still
shunned by the miner and forester as haunted by evil spirits Thus were the
miseries attendant upon wealth hastily attained and ill employed exemplified
in the fortunes of Martin Waldeck
Chapter Nineteenth
Here has been such a stormy encounter
Betwixt my cousin Captain and this soldier
About I know not what nothing indeed
Competitions degrees and comparatives
Of soldiership
A Faire Quarrell
The attentive audience gave the fair transcriber of the foregoing legend the
thanks which politeness required Oldbuck alone curled up his nose and
observed that Miss Wardours skill was something like that of the alchemists
for she had contrived to extract a sound and valuable moral out of a very
trumpery and ridiculous legend »It is the fashion as I am given to understand
to admire those extravagant fictions for me
I bear an English heart
Unused at ghosts and rattling bones to start«
»Under your favour my goot Mr Oldenbuck« said the German »Miss Wardour has
turned de story as she does every thing as she touches very pretty indeed but
all the history of de Harz goblin and how he walks among de desolate mountains
wid a great firtree for his walking cane and wid de great green bush around
his head and his waist that is as true as I am an honest man«
»There is no disputing any proposition so well guaranteed« answered the
Antiquary drily But at this moment the approach of a stranger cut short the
conversation
The new comer was a handsome young man about fiveandtwenty in a military
undress and bearing in his look and manner a good deal of the martial
profession nay perhaps a little more than is quite consistent with the ease
of a man of perfect goodbreeding in whom no professional habit ought to
predominate He was at once greeted by the greater part of the company »My dear
Hector« said Miss MIntyre as she rose to take his hand
»Hector son of Priam whence comest thou« said the Antiquary
»From Fife my liege« answered the young soldier and continued when he
had politely saluted the rest of the company and particularly Sir Arthur and
his daughter »I learned from one of the servants as I rode towards Monkbarns
to pay my respects to you that I should find the present company in this place
and I willingly embrace the opportunity to pay my respects to so many of my
friends at once«
»And to a new one also my trusty Trojan« said Oldbuck »Mr Lovel this is
my nephew Captain MIntyre Hector I recommend Mr Lovel to your
acquaintance«
The young soldier fixed his keen eye upon Lovel and paid his compliment
with more reserve than cordiality and as our acquaintance thought his coldness
almost supercilious he was equally frigid and haughty in making the necessary
return to it and thus a prejudice seemed to arise between them at the very
commencement of their acquaintance
The observations which Lovel made during the remainder of this pleasure
party did not tend to reconcile him with this addition to their society Captain
MIntyre with the gallantry to be expected from his age and profession
attached himself to the service of Miss Wardour and offered her on every
possible opportunity those marks of attention which Lovel would have given the
world to have rendered and was only deterred from offering by the fear of her
displeasure With forlorn dejection at one moment and with irritated
susceptibility at another he saw this handsome young soldier assume and
exercise all the privileges of a cavaliere servente He handed Miss Wardours
gloves he assisted her in putting on her shawl he attached himself to her in
the walks had a hand ready to remove every impediment in her path and an arm
to support her where it was rugged or difficult his conversation was addressed
chiefly to her and where circumstances permitted it was exclusively so All
this Lovel well knew might be only that sort of egotistical gallantry which
induces some young men of the present day to give themselves the air of
engrossing the attention of the prettiest women in company as if the others
were unworthy of their notice But he thought he observed in the conduct of
Captain MIntyre something of marked and peculiar tenderness which was
calculated to alarm the jealousy of a lover Miss Wardour also received his
attentions and although his candour allowed they were of a kind which could not
be repelled without some strain of affectation yet it galled him to the heart
to witness that she did so
The heartburning which these reflections occasioned proved very indifferent
seasoning to the dry antiquarian discussions with which Oldbuck who continued
to demand his particular attention was unremittingly persecuting him and he
underwent with fits of impatience that amounted almost to loathing a course of
lectures upon monastic architecture in all its styles from the massive Saxon
to the florid Gothic and from that to the mixed and composite architecture of
James the Firsts time when according to Oldbuck all orders were confounded
and columns of various descriptions arose side by side or were piled above each
other as if symmetry had been forgotten and the elemental principles of art
resolved into their primitive confusion »What can be more cutting to the heart
than the sight of evils« said Oldbuck in rapturous enthusiasm »which we are
compelled to behold while we do not possess the power of remedying them« Lovel
answered by an involuntary groan »I see my dear young friend and most
congenial spirit that you feel these enormities almost as much as I do Have
you ever approached them or met them without longing to tear to deface what
is so dishonourable«
»Dishonourable« echoed Lovel »in what respect dishonourable«
»I mean disgraceful to the arts«
»Where how«
»Upon the portico for example, of the schools of Oxford where at immense
expense the barbarous fantastic and ignorant architect has chosen to
represent the whole five orders of architecture on the front of one building«
By such attacks as these Oldbuck unconscious of the torture he was giving
compelled Lovel to give him a share of his attention as a skilful angler by
means of his line maintains an influence over the most frantic movements of his
agonized prey
They were now on their return to the spot where they had left the carriages
and it is inconceivable how often in the course of that short walk Lovel
exhausted by the unceasing prosing of his worthy companion mentally bestowed on
the devil or any one else that would have rid him of hearing more of them all
the orders and disorders of architecture which had been invented or combined
from the building of Solomons temple downwards A slight incident occurred
however which sprinkled a little patience on the heat of his distemperature
Miss Wardour and her selfelected knight companion rather preceded the
others in the narrow path when the young lady apparently became desirous to
unite herself with the rest of the party and to break off her têteàtête with
the young officer fairly made a pause until Mr Oldbuck came up »I wished to
ask you a question Mr Oldbuck concerning the date of these interesting
ruins«
It would be doing injustice to Miss Wardours savoir faire to suppose she
was not aware that such a question would lead to an answer of no limited length
The Antiquary starting like a warhorse at the trumpet sound plunged at once
into the various arguments for and against the date of 1273 which had been
assigned to the priory of St Ruth by a late publication on Scottish
architectural antiquities He raked up the names of all the priors who had ruled
the institution of the nobles who had bestowed lands upon it and of the
monarchs who had slept their last sleep among its roofless courts As a train
which takes fire is sure to light another if there be such in the vicinity the
Baronet catching at the name of one of his ancestors which occurred in
Oldbucks disquisition entered upon an account of his wars his conquests and
his trophies and worthy Dr Blattergowl was induced from the mention of a
grant of lands cum decimis inclusis tam vicariis quam garbalibus et nunquam
antea separatis to enter into a long explanation concerning the interpretation
given by the Teind Court in the consideration of such a clause which had
occurred in a process for localling his last augmentation of stipend The
orators like three racers each pressed forward to the goal without much
regarding how each crossed and jostled his competitors Mr Oldbuck harangued
the Baronet declaimed Mr Blattergowl prosed and laid down the law while the
Latin forms of feudal grants were mingled with the jargon of blazonry and the
yet more barbarous phraseology of the Teind Court of Scotland »He was«
exclaimed Oldbuck speaking of the Prior Adhemar »indeed an exemplary prelate
and from his strictness of morals rigid execution of penance joined to the
charitable disposition of his mind and the infirmities endured by his great age
and ascetic habits«
Here he chanced to cough and Sir Arthur burst in or rather continued
»was called popularly HellinHarness he carried a shield gules with a sable
fess which we have since disused and was slain at the battle of Vernoil in
France after killing six of the English with his own«
»Decreet of certification« proceeded the clergyman in that prolonged
steady prosing tone which however overpowered at first by the vehemence of
competition promised in the long run to obtain the ascendency in this strife
of narrators »Decreet of certification having gone out and parties being
held as confessed the proof seemed to be held as concluded when their lawyer
moved to have it opened up on the allegation that they had witnesses to bring
forward that they had been in the habit of carrying the ewes to lamb on the
teindfree land which was a mere evasion for«
But here the Baronet and Mr Oldbuck having recovered their wind and
continued their respective harangues the three strands of the conversation to
speak the language of a ropework were again twined together into one
undistinguishable string of confusion
Yet howsoever uninteresting this piebald jargon might seem it was
obviously Miss Wardours purpose to give it her attention in preference to
yielding Captain MIntyre an opportunity of renewing their private conversation
So that after waiting for a little time with displeasure ill concealed by his
haughty features he left her to enjoy her bad taste and taking his sister by
the arm detained her a little behind the rest of the party
»So I find Mary that your neighbour has neither become more lively nor
less learned during my absence«
»We lacked your patience and wisdom to instruct us Hector«
»Thank you my dear sister But you have got a wiser if not so lively an
addition to your society than your unworthy brother Pray who is this Mr
Lovel whom our old uncle has at once placed so high in his good graces he
does not use to be so accessible to strangers«
»Mr Lovel Hector is a very gentlemanlike young man«
»Ay that is to say he bows when he comes into a room and wears a coat
that is whole at the elbows«
»No brother it says a great deal more It says that his manners and
discourse express the feelings and education of the higher class«
»But I desire to know what is his birth and his rank in society and what is
his title to be in the circle in which I find him domesticated«
»If you mean how he comes to visit at Monkbarns you must ask my uncle who
will probably reply that he invites to his own house such company as he
pleases and if you mean to ask Sir Arthur you must know that Mr Lovel
rendered Miss Wardour and him a service of the most important kind«
»What that romantic story is true then And pray does the valorous
knight aspire as is befitting on such occasions to the hand of the young lady
whom he redeemed from peril It is quite in the rule of romance I am aware and
I did think that she was uncommonly dry to me as we walked together and seemed
from time to time as if she watched whether she was not giving offence to her
gallant cavalier«
»Dear Hector« said his sister »if you really continue to nourish any
affection for Miss Wardour«
»If Mary what an if was there«
» I own I consider your perseverance as hopeless«
»And why hopeless my sage sister« asked Captain MIntyre »Miss Wardour
in the state of her fathers affairs cannot pretend to much fortune and as
to family I trust that of MIntyre is not inferior«
»But Hector« continued his sister »Sir Arthur always considers us as
members of the Monkbarns family«
»Sir Arthur may consider what he pleases« answered the Highlander
scornfully »but any one with common sense will consider that the wife takes
rank from the husband and that my fathers pedigree of fifteen unblemished
descents must have ennobled my mother if her veins had been filled with
printers ink«
»For Gods sake Hector« replied his anxious sister »take care of
yourself a single expression of that kind repeated to my uncle by an
indiscreet or interested eavesdropper would lose you his favour for ever and
destroy all chance of your succeeding to his estate«
»Be it so« answered the heedless young man »I am one of a profession which
the world has never been able to do without and will far less endure to want
for half a century to come and my good old uncle may tack his good estate and
his plebeian name to your apronstring if he pleases Mary and you may wed this
new favourite of his if you please and you may both of you live quiet
peaceable wellregulated lives if it pleases Heaven My part is taken Ill
fawn on no man for an inheritance which should be mine by birth«
Miss MIntyre laid her hand on her brothers arm and entreated him to
suppress his vehemence »Who« she said »injures or seeks to injure you but
your own hasty temper what dangers are you defying but those you have
yourself conjured up Our uncle has hitherto been all that is kind and
paternal in his conduct to us and why should you suppose he will in future be
otherwise than what he has ever been since we were left as orphans to his
care«
»He is an excellent old gentleman I must own« replied MIntyre »and I am
enraged at myself when I chance to offend him but then his eternal harangues
upon topics not worth the spark of a flint his investigations about invalided
pots and pans and tobaccostoppers past service all these things put me out of
patience I have something of Hotspur in me sister I must confess«
»Too much too much my dear brother Into how many risks and forgive me
for saying some of them little creditable has this absolute and violent temper
led you Do not let such clouds darken the time you are now to pass in our
neighbourhood but let our old benefactor see his kinsman as he is generous
kind and lively without being rude headstrong and impetuous«
»Well« answered Captain MIntyre »I am schooled goodmanners be my
speed Ill do the civil thing by your new friendIll have some talk with this
Mr Lovel«
With this determination in which he was for the time perfectly sincere he
joined the party who were walking before them The treble disquisition was by
this time ended and Sir Arthur was speaking on the subject of foreign news and
the political and military situation of the country themes upon which every man
thinks himself qualified to give an opinion An action of the preceding year
having come upon the tapis Lovel accidentally mingling in the conversation
made some assertion concerning it of the accuracy of which Captain MIntyre
seemed not to be convinced although his doubts were politely expressed
»You must confess yourself in the wrong here Hector« said his uncle
»although I know no man less willing to give up an argument but you were in
England at the time and Mr Lovel was probably concerned in the affair«
»I am speaking to a military man then« said MIntyre »may I inquire to
what regiment Mr Lovel belongs« Mr Lovel gave him the number of the
regiment »It happens strangely that we should never have met before Mr Lovel
I know your regiment very well and have served along with them at different
times«
A blush crossed Lovels countenance »I have not lately been with my
regiment« he replied »I served the last campaign upon the staff of General Sir
«
»Indeed that is more wonderful than the other circumstance for although
I did not serve with General Sir yet I had an opportunity of knowing the
names of the officers who held situations in his family and I cannot recollect
that of Lovel«
At this observation Lovel again blushed so deeply as to attract the
attention of the whole company while a scornful laugh seemed to indicate
Captain MIntyres triumph »There is something strange in this« said Oldbuck
to himself »but I will not readily give up my phoenix of postchaise companions
all his actions language and bearing are those of a gentleman«
Lovel in the meanwhile had taken out his pocketbook and selecting a
letter from which he took off the envelope he handed it to MIntyre »You know
the Generals hand in all probability I own I ought not to show these
exaggerated expressions of his regard and esteem for me« The letter contained a
very handsome compliment from the officer in question for some military service
lately performed Captain MIntyre as he glanced his eye over it could not
deny that it was written in the Generals hand but drily observed as he
returned it that the address was wanting »The address Captain MIntyre«
answered Lovel in the same tone »shall be at your service whenever you choose
to inquire after it«
»I certainly shall not fail to do so« rejoined the soldier
»Come come« exclaimed Oldbuck »what is the meaning of all this Have we
got Hiren here Well have no swaggering youngsters Are you come from the
wars abroad to stir up domestic strife in our peaceful land Are you like
bulldog puppies forsooth that when the bull poor fellow is removed from the
ring fall to brawl among themselves worry each other and bite honest folks
shins that are standing by«
Sir Arthur trusted he said the young gentlemen would not so far forget
themselves as to grow warm upon such a trifling subject as the back of a letter
Both the disputants disclaimed any such intention and with high colour and
flashing eyes protested they were never so cool in their lives But an obvious
damp was cast over the party they talked in future too much by the rule to be
sociable and Lovel conceiving himself the object of cold and suspicious looks
from the rest of the company and sensible that his indirect replies had given
them permission to entertain strange opinions respecting him made a gallant
determination to sacrifice the pleasure he had proposed in spending the day at
Knockwinnock
He affected therefore to complain of a violent headache occasioned by the
heat of the day to which he had not been exposed since his illness and made a
formal apology to Sir Arthur who listening more to recent suspicion than to
the gratitude due for former services did not press him to keep his engagement
more than goodbreeding exactly demanded
When Lovel took leave of the ladies Miss Wardours manner seemed more
anxious than he had hitherto remarked it She indicated by a glance of her eye
towards Captain MIntyre perceptible only by Lovel the subject of her alarm
and hoped in a voice greatly under her usual tone it was not a less pleasant
engagement which deprived them of the pleasure of Mr Lovels company »No
engagement had intervened« he assured her »it was only the return of a
complaint by which he had been for some time occasionally attacked«
»The best remedy in such a case is prudence and I every friend of Mr
Lovels will expect him to employ it«
Lovel bowed low and coloured deeply and Miss Wardour as if she felt that
she had said too much turned and got into the carriage Lovel had next to part
with Oldbuck who during this interval had with Caxons assistance been
arranging his disordered periwig and brushing his coat which exhibited some
marks of the rude path they had traversed »What man« said Oldbuck »you are
not going to leave us on account of that foolish Hectors indiscreet curiosity
and vehemence Why he is a thoughtless boy a spoiled child from the time he
was in the nurses arms he threw his coral and bells at my head for refusing
him a bit of sugar and you have too much sense to mind such a shrewish boy
æquam servare mentem is the motto of our friend Horace Ill school Hector by
and by and put it all to rights« But Lovel persisted in his design of
returning to Fairport
The Antiquary then assumed a graver tone »Take heed young man to your
present feelings Your life has been given you for useful and valuable purposes
and should be reserved to illustrate the literature of your country when you
are not called upon to expose it in her defence or in the rescue of the
innocent Private war a practice unknown to the civilised ancients is of all
the absurdities introduced by the Gothic tribes the most gross impious and
cruel Let me hear no more of these absurd quarrels and I will show you the
treatise upon the duello which I composed when the townclerk and provost
Mucklewhame chose to assume the privileges of gentlemen and challenged each
other I thought of printing my Essay which is signed Pacificator but there
was no need as the matter was taken up by the towncouncil of the borough«
»But I assure you my dear sir there is nothing between Captain MIntyre
and me that can render such respectable interference necessary«
»See it be so for otherwise I will stand second to both parties«
So saying the old gentleman got into the chaise close to which Miss
MIntyre had detained her brother upon the same principle that the owner of a
quarrelsome dog keeps him by his side to prevent his fastening upon another But
Hector contrived to give her precaution the slip for as he was on horseback
he lingered behind the carriages until they had fairly turned the corner in the
road to Knockwinnock and then wheeling his horses head round gave him the
spur in the opposite direction
A very few minutes brought him up with Lovel who perhaps anticipating his
intention had not put his horse beyond a slow walk when the clatter of hoofs
behind him announced Captain MIntyre The young soldier his natural heat of
temper exasperated by the rapidity of motion, reined his horse up suddenly and
violently by Lovels side and touching his hat slightly inquired in a very
haughty tone of voice »What am I to understand sir by your telling me that
your address was at my service«
»Simply sir« replied Lovel »that my name is Lovel and that my residence
is for the present Fairport as you will see by this card«
»And is this all the information you are disposed to give me«
»I see no right you have to require more«
»I find you sir in company with my sister« said the young soldier »and I
have a right to know who is admitted into Miss MIntyres society«
»I shall take the liberty of disputing that right« replied Lovel with a
manner as haughty as that of the young soldier »you find me in society who
are satisfied with the degree of information on my affairs which I have thought
proper to communicate and you a mere stranger have no right to inquire
further«
»Mr Lovel if you served as you say you have«
»If« interrupted Lovel »if I have served as I say I have«
»Yes sir such is my expression if you have so served you must know that
you owe me satisfaction either in one way or other«
»If that be your opinion I shall be proud to give it to you Captain
MIntyre in the way in which the word is generally used among gentlemen«
»Very well sir« rejoined Hector and turning his horse round galloped
off to overtake his party
His absence had already alarmed them and his sister having stopped the
carriage had her neck stretched out of the window to see where he was
»What is the matter with you now« said the Antiquary »riding to and fro as
your neck were upon the wager why do you not keep up with the carriage«
»I forgot my glove sir« said Hector
»Forgot your glove I presume you meant to say you went to throw it down
But I will take order with you my young gentleman you shall return with me
this night to Monkbarns« So saying he bid the postilion go on
Chapter Twentieth
If you fail Honour here
Never presume to serve her any more
Bid farewell to the integrity of armes
And the honourable name of soldier
Fall from you like a shivered wreath of laurel
By thunder struck from a desertlesse forehead
A Faire Quarrell
Early the next morning a gentleman came to wait upon Mr Lovel who was up and
ready to receive him He was a military gentleman a friend of Captain
MIntyres at present in Fairport on the recruiting service Lovel and he were
slightly known to each other »I presume sir« said Mr Lesley such was the
name of the visitor »that you guess the occasion of my troubling you so
early«
»A message from Captain MIntyre I presume«
»The same He holds himself injured by the manner in which you declined
yesterday to answer certain inquiries which he conceived himself entitled to
make respecting a gentleman whom he found in intimate society with his family«
»May I ask if you Mr Lesley would have inclined to satisfy
interrogatories so haughtily and unceremoniously put to you«
»Perhaps not and therefore as I know the warmth of my friend MIntyre on
such occasions I feel very desirous of acting as peacemaker From Mr Lovels
very gentlemanlike manners every one must strongly wish to see him repel all
that sort of dubious calumny which will attach itself to one whose situation is
not fully explained If he will permit me in friendly conciliation to inform
Captain MIntyre of his real name for we are led to conclude that of Lovel is
assumed«
»I beg your pardon sir but I cannot admit that inference«
» Or at least« said Lesley proceeding »that it is not the name by which
Mr Lovel has been at all times distinguished if Mr Lovel will have the
goodness to explain this circumstance which in my opinion he should do in
justice to his own character I will answer for the amicable arrangement of this
unpleasant business«
»Which is to say Mr Lesley that if I condescend to answer questions which
no man has a right to ask and which are now put to me under penalty of Captain
MIntyres resentment Captain MIntyre will condescend to rest satisfied Mr
Lesley I have just one word to say on this subject I have no doubt my secret
if I had one might be safely entrusted to your honour but I do not feel called
upon to satisfy the curiosity of any one Captain MIntyre met me in society
which of itself was a warrant to all the world and particularly ought to be
such to him that I was a gentleman He has in my opinion no right to go any
further or to inquire the pedigree rank or circumstances of a stranger who
without seeking any intimate connection with him or his chances to dine with
his uncle or walk in company with his sister«
»In that case Captain MIntyre requests you to be informed that your
farther visits at Monkbarns and all connection with Miss MIntyre must be
dropt as disagreeable to him«
»I shall certainly« said Lovel »visit Mr Oldbuck when it suits me
without paying the least respect to his nephews threats or irritable feelings
I respect the young ladys name too much though nothing can be slighter than
our acquaintance to introduce it into such a discussion«
»Since that is your resolution sir« answered Lesley »Captain MIntyre
requests that Mr Lovel unless he wishes to be announced as a very dubious
character will favour him with a meeting this evening at seven at the
thorntree in the little valley close by the ruins of St Ruth«
»Most unquestionably I will wait upon him There is only one difficulty I
must find a friend to accompany me and where to seek one on this short notice
as I have no acquaintance in Fairport I will be on the spot however
Captain MIntyre may be assured of that«
Lesley had taken his hat and was as far as the door of the apartment when
as if moved by the peculiarity of Lovels situation he returned and thus
addressed him »Mr Lovel there is something so singular in all this that I
cannot help again resuming the argument You must be yourself aware at this
moment of the inconvenience of your preserving an incognito for which I am
convinced there can be no dishonourable reason Still this mystery renders it
difficult for you to procure the assistance of a friend in a crisis so delicate
nay let me add that many persons will even consider it as a piece of
Quixotry in MIntyre to give you a meeting while your character and
circumstances are involved in such obscurity«
»I understand your innuendo Mr Lesley« rejoined Lovel »and though I
might be offended at its severity I am not so because it is meant kindly But
in my opinion he is entitled to all the privileges of a gentleman to whose
charge during the time he has been known in the society where he happens to
move nothing can be laid that is unhandsome or unbecoming For a friend I dare
say I shall find some one or other who will do me that good turn and if his
experience be less than I could wish I am certain not to suffer through that
circumstance when you are in the field for my antagonist«
»I trust you will not« said Lesley »but as I must for my own sake be
anxious to divide so heavy a responsibility with a capable assistant allow me
to say that Lieutenant Taffrils gunbrig is come into the roadstead and he
himself is now at old Caxons where he lodges I think you have the same degree
of acquaintance with him as with me and as I am sure I should willingly have
rendered you such a service were I not engaged on the other side I am convinced
he will do so at your first request«
»At the thorntree then Mr Lesley at seven this evening the arms I
presume are pistols«
»Exactly MIntyre has chosen the hour at which he can best escape from
Monkbarns he was with me this morning by five in order to return and present
himself before his uncle was up Goodmorning to you Mr Lovel« And Lesley
left the apartment
Lovel was as brave as most men but none can internally regard such a crisis
as now approached without deep feelings of awe and uncertainty In a few hours
he might be in another world to answer for an action which his calmer thought
told him was unjustifiable in a religious point of view or he might be
wandering about in the present like Cain with the blood of his brother on his
head And all this might be saved by speaking a single word Yet pride
whispered that to speak that word now would be ascribed to a motive which
would degrade him more low than even the most injurious reasons that could be
assigned for his silence Every one Miss Wardour included must then he
thought account him a mean dishonoured poltroon who gave to the fear of
meeting Captain MIntyre the explanation he had refused to the calm and handsome
expostulations of Mr Lesley MIntyres insolent behaviour to himself
personally the air of pretension which he assumed towards Miss Wardour and the
extreme injustice arrogance and incivility of his demands upon a perfect
stranger seemed to justify him in repelling his rude investigation In short
he formed the resolution which might have been expected from so young a man
to shut the eyes namely of his calmer reason and follow the dictates of his
offended pride With this purpose he sought Lieutenant Taffril
The lieutenant received him with the good breeding of a gentleman and the
frankness of a sailor and listened with no small surprise to the detail which
preceded his request that he might be favoured with his company at his meeting
with Captain MIntyre When he had finished Taffril rose up and walked through
his apartment once or twice »This is a most singular circumstance« he said
»and really«
»I am conscious Mr Taffril how little I am entitled to make my present
request but the urgency of circumstances hardly leaves me an alternative«
»Permit me to ask you one question« asked the sailor is there anything
of which you are ashamed in the circumstances which you have declined to
communicate«
»Upon my honour no there is nothing but what in a very short time I
trust I may publish to the whole world«
»I hope the mystery arises from no false shame at the lowness of your
friends perhaps or connections«
»No on my word« replied Lovel
»I have little sympathy for that folly« said Taffril »indeed I cannot be
supposed to have any for speaking of my relations I may be said to have come
myself from before the mast and I believe I shall very soon form a connection
which the world will think low enough with a very amiable girl to whom I have
been attached since we were nextdoor neighbours at a time when I little
thought of the good fortune which has brought me forward in the service«
»I assure you Mr Taffril« replied Lovel »whatever were the rank of my
parents I should never think of concealing it from a spirit of petty pride But
I am so situated at present that I cannot enter on the subject of my family
with any propriety«
»It is quite enough« said the honest sailor »give me your hand Ill see
you as well through this business as I can though it is but an unpleasant one
after all But what of that our own honour has the next call on us after our
country you are a lad of spirit and I own I think Mr Hector MIntyre with
his long pedigree and his airs of family very much of a jackanapes His father
was a soldier of fortune as I am a sailor he himself I suppose is little
better unless just as his uncle pleases and whether one pursues fortune by
land or sea makes no great difference I should fancy«
»None in the universe certainly« answered Lovel
»Well« said his new ally »we will dine together and arrange matters for
this rencounter I hope you understand the use of the weapon«
»Not particularly« Lovel replied
»I am sorry for that MIntyre is said to be a marksman«
»I am sorry for it also« said Lovel »both for his sake and my own I must
then in selfdefence take my aim as well as I can«
»Well« added Taffril »I will have our surgeons mate on the field a good
clever young fellow at caulking a shothole I will let Lesley who is an honest
fellow for a landsman know that he attends for the benefit of either party Is
there anything I can do for you in case of an accident«
»I have but little occasion to trouble you« said Lovel »This small billet
contains the key of my escritoir and my very brief secret There is one letter
in the escritoir« digesting a temporary swelling of the heart as he spoke
»which I beg the favour of you to deliver with your own hand«
»I understand« said the sailor »Nay my friend never be ashamed for the
matter an affectionate heart may overflow for an instant at the eyes if the
ship were clearing for action and depend on it whatever your injunctions are
Dan Taffril will regard them like the bequest of a dying brother But this is
all stuff we must get our things in fighting order and you will dine with me
and my little surgeons mate at the Græmes Arms over the way at four
oclock«
»Agreed« said Lovel
»Agreed« said Taffril and the whole affair was arranged
It was a beautiful summer evening and the shadow of the solitary thorntree
was lengthening upon the short greensward of the narrow valley which was
skirted by the woods that closed around the ruins of St Ruth
Lovel and Lieutenant Taffril with the surgeon came upon the ground with a
purpose of a nature very uncongenial to the soft mild and pacific character of
the hour and scene The sheep which during the ardent heat of the day had
sheltered in the breaches and hollows of the gravelly bank or under the roots
of the aged and stunted trees had now spread themselves upon the face of the
hill to enjoy their evenings pasture and bleated to each other with that
melancholy sound which at once gives life to a landscape and marks its
solitude Taffril and Lovel came on in deep conference having for fear of
discovery sent their horses back to the town by the Lieutenants servant The
opposite party had not yet appeared on the field But when they came upon the
ground there sat upon the roots of the old thorn a figure as vigorous in his
decay as the mossgrown but strong and contorted boughs which served him for a
canopy It was old Ochiltree »This is embarrassing enough« said Lovel »How
shall we get rid of this old fellow«
»Here father Adam« cried Taffril who knew the mendicant of yore »heres
halfacrown for you You must go to the Four Horseshoes yonder the little
inn you know and inquire for a servant with blue and yellow livery If he is
not come youll wait for him and tell him we shall be with his master in about
an hours time At any rate wait there till we come back and Get off with
you Come come weigh anchor«
»I thank ye for your awmous« said Ochiltree pocketing the piece of money
»but I beg your pardon Mr Taffril I canna gang your errand een now«
»Why not man what can hinder you«
»I wad speak a word wi young Mr Lovel«
»With me« answered Lovel »what would you say with me Come say on and be
brief«
The mendicant led him a few paces aside »Are ye indebted onything to the
Laird o Monkbarns«
»Indebted no not I what of that what makes you think so«
»Ye maun ken I was at the shirras the day for God help me I gang about
a gates like the troubled spirit and wha suld come whirling there in a
postchaise but Monkbarns in an unco carfuffle now its no a little thing
that will make his honour take a chaise and posthorse twa days rinnin«
»Well well but what is all this to me«
»Ou yese hear yese hear Weel Monkbarns is closeted wi the shirra
whatever puir folk may be left thereout ye needna doubt that the gentlemen
are aye unco civil amang themsells«
»For heavens sake my old friend«
»Canna ye bid me gang to the deevil at ance Mr Lovel it wad be mair
purpose faard than to speak o heaven in that impatient gate«
»But I have private business with Lieutenant Taffril here«
»Weel weel a in gude time« said the beggar »I can use a little wee bit
freedom wi Mr Daniel Taffril monys the peery and the tap I worked for him
langsyne for I was a worker in wood as weel as a tinkler«
»You are either mad Adam or have a mind to drive me mad«
»Nane o the twa« said Edie suddenly changing his manner from the
protracted drawl of the mendicant to a brief and decided tone »The shirra sent
for his clerk and as the lad is rather light o the tongue I fand it was for
drawing a warrant to apprehend you I thought it had been on a fugie warrant
for debt for a body kens the laird likes naebody to pit his hand in his pouch
But now I may haud my tongue for I see the MIntyre lad and Mr Lesley coming
up and I guess that Monkbarnss purpose was very kind and that yours is muckle
waur than it should be«
The antagonist now approached and saluted with the stern civility which
befitted the occasion »What has this old fellow to do here« said MIntyre
»I am an auld fallow« said Edie »but I am also an auld soldier o your
fathers for I served wi him in the 42d«
»Serve where you please you have no title to intrude on us« said MIntyre
»or« and he lifted his cane in terrorem though without the idea of touching
the old man
But Ochiltrees courage was roused by the insult »Haud down your switch
Captain MIntyre I am an auld soldier as I said before and Ill take muckle
frae your fathers son but no a touch o the wand while my pikestaff will haud
thegither«
»Well well I was wrong I was wrong« said MIntyre »heres a crown for
you go your ways whats the matter now«
The old man drew himself up to the full advantage of his uncommon height
and in despite of his dress which indeed had more of the pilgrim than the
ordinary beggar looked from height manner and emphasis of voice and gesture
rather like a grey palmer or eremite preacher the ghostly counsellor of the
young men who were around him than the object of their charity His speech
indeed was as homely as his habit but as bold and unceremonious as his erect
and dignified demeanour »What are ye come here for young men« he said
addressing himself to the surprised audience »are ye come amongst the most
lovely works of God to break his laws Have ye left the works of man the houses
and the cities that are but clay and dust like those that built them and are
ye come here among the peaceful hills and by the quiet waters that will last
whiles aught earthly shall endure to destroy each others lives that will have
but an unco short time by the course of nature, to make up a lang account at
the close ot O sirs hae ye brothers sisters fathers that hae tended ye
and mothers that hae travailed for ye friends that hae cad ye like a piece o
their ain heart and is this the way ye tak to make them childless and
brotherless and friendless Ohon its an ill feight whar he that wins has the
warst ot Think ont bairns Im a puir man but Im an auld man too and
what my poverty takes awa frae the weight o my counsel grey hairs and a
truthfu heart should add it twenty times Gang hame gang hame like gude lads
the French will be ower to harry us ane o thae days and yell hae feighting
eneugh and maybe auld Edie will hirple out himsell if he can get a fealdyke to
lay his gun ower and may live to tell you whilk o ye does the best where
theres a good cause afore ye«
There was something in the undaunted and independent manner hardy
sentiment and manly rude elocution of the old man that had its effect upon the
party and particularly on the seconds whose pride was uninterested in bringing
the dispute to a bloody arbitrament and who on the contrary eagerly watched
for an opportunity to recommend reconciliation
»Upon my word Mr Lesley« said Taffril »old Adam speaks like an oracle
Our friends here were very angry yesterday and of course very foolish today
they should be cool or at least we must be so in their behalf I think the word
should be forget and forgive on both sides that we should all shake hands
fire these foolish crackers in the air and go home to sup in a body at the
GræmesArms«
»I would heartily recommend it« said Lesley »for amidst a great deal of
heat and irritation on both sides I confess myself unable to discover any
rational ground of quarrel«
»Gentlemen« said MIntyre very coldly »all this should have been thought
of before In my opinion persons that have carried this matter so far as we
have done and who should part without carrying it any farther might go to
supper at the GræmesArms very joyously but would rise the next morning with
reputations as ragged as our friend here who has obliged as with a rather
unnecessary display of his oratory I speak for myself that I find myself bound
to call upon you to proceed without more delay«
»And I« said Lovel »as I never desired any have also to request these
gentlemen to arrange preliminaries as fast as possible«
»Bairns bairns« cried old Ochiltree but perceiving he was no longer
attended to »Madmen I should say but your blood be on your heads« And the
old man drew off from the ground which was now measured out by the seconds and
continued muttering and talking to himself in sullen indignation mixed with
anxiety and with a strong feeling of painful curiosity Without paying farther
attention to his presence or remonstrances Mr Lesley and the Lieutenant made
the necessary arrangements for the duel and it was agreed that both parties
should fire when Mr Lesley dropped his handkerchief
The fatal sign was given and both fired almost in the same moment Captain
MIntyres ball grazed the side of his opponent but did not draw blood That of
Lovel was more true to the aim MIntyre reeled and fell Raising himself on his
arm his first exclamation was »It is nothing it is nothing give us the
other pistols« But in an instant he said in a lower tone »I believe I have
enough and whats worse I fear I deserve it Mr Lovel or whatever your name
is fly and save yourself Bear all witness I provoked this matter« Then
raising himself again on his arm he added »Shake hands Lovel I believe you
to be a gentleman forgive my rudeness and I forgive you my death My poor
sister«
The surgeon came up to perform his part of the tragedy and Lovel stood
gazing on the evil of which he had been the active though unwilling cause with
a dizzy and bewildered eye He was roused from his trance by the grasp of the
mendicant »Why stand you gazing on your deed Whats doomed is doomed
whats done is past recalling But awa awa if ye wad save your young blood
from a shamefu death I see the men out by yonder that are come ower late to
part ye but out and alack sune eneugh and ower sune to drag ye to prison«
»He is right he is right« exclaimed Taffril »you must not attempt to get
on the highroad get into the wood till night My brig will be under sail by
that time and at three in the morning when the tide will serve I shall have
the boat waiting for you at the Musselcrag Away away for Heavens sake«
»O yes fly fly« repeated the wounded man his words faltering with
convulsive sobs
»Come with me« said the mendicant almost dragging him off »the Captains
plan is the best Ill carry ye to a place where ye might be concealed in the
meantime were they to seek ye wi sleuthhounds«
»Go go« again urged Lieutenant Taffril »to stay here is mere madness«
»It was worse madness to have come hither« said Lovel pressing his hand
»But farewell« And he followed Ochiltree into the recesses of the wood
Chapter TwentyFirst
The Lord Abbot had a soul
Subtile and quick and searching as the fire
By magic stairs he went as deep as hell
And if in devils possession gold be kept
He brought some sure from thence tis hid in caves
Known save to me to none
The Wonder of a Kingdome
Lovel almost mechanically followed the beggar who led the way with a hasty and
steady pace through bush and bramble avoiding the beaten path and often
turning to listen whether there were any sounds of pursuit behind them They
sometimes descended into the very bed of the torrent sometimes kept a narrow
and precarious path that the sheep which with the sluttish negligence towards
property of that sort universal in Scotland were allowed to stray in the copse
had made along the very verge of its overhanging banks From time to time Lovel
had a glance of the path which he had traversed the day before in company with
Sir Arthur the Antiquary and the young ladies Dejected embarrassed and
occupied by a thousand inquietudes as he then was what would he now have given
to regain the sense of innocence which alone can counterbalance a thousand
evils »Yet then« such was his hasty and involuntary reflection »even then
guiltless and valued by all around me I thought myself unhappy What am I now
with this young mans blood upon my hands the feeling of pride which urged me
to the deed has now deserted me as the actual fiend himself is said to do those
whom he has tempted to guilt« Even his affection for Miss Wardour sunk for the
time before the first pangs of remorse and he thought he could have encountered
every agony of slighted love to have had the conscious freedom from
bloodguiltiness which he possessed in the morning
These painful reflections were not interrupted by any conversation on the
part of his guide who threaded the thicket before him now holding back the
sprays to make his path easy now exhorting him to make haste now muttering to
himself after the custom of solitary and neglected old age words which might
have escaped Lovels ear even had he listened to them or which apprehended and
retained were too isolated to convey any connected meaning a habit which may
be often observed among people of the old mans age and calling
At length as Lovel exhausted by his late indisposition the harrowing
feelings by which he was agitated and the exertion necessary to keep up with
his guide in a path so rugged began to flag and fall behind two or three very
precarious steps placed him on the front of a precipice overhung with brushwood
and copse Here a cave as narrow in its entrance as a foxearth was indicated
by a small fissure in the rock screened by the boughs of an aged oak which
anchored by its thick and twisted roots in the upper part of the cleft flung
its branches almost straight outward from the cliff concealing it effectually
from all observation It might indeed have escaped the attention even of those
who had stood at its very opening so uninviting was the portal at which the
beggar entered But within the cavern was higher and more roomy cut into two
separate branches which intersecting each other at right angles formed an
emblem of the cross and indicated the abode of an anchoret of former times
There are many caves of the same kind in different parts of Scotland I need
only instance those of Gorton near Rosslyn in a scene well known to the
admirers of romantic nature
The light within the cave was a dusky twilight at the entrance which failed
altogether in the inner recesses »Few folks ken o this place« said the old
man »to the best o my knowledge theres just twa living by mysell and thats
Jingling Jock and the Lang Linker I have had mony a thought that when I fand
mysell auld and forfairn and no able to enjoy Gods blessed air ony langer I
wad drag mysell here wi a pickle aitmeal and see theres a bit bonny
drapping well that popples that selfsame gate simmer and winter and I wad
een streek mysell out here and abide my removal like an auld dog that trails
its useless ugsome carcass into some bush or bracken no to gie living things a
scunner wi the sight ot when its dead Ay and then when the dogs barked at
the lone farmstead the gudewife wad cry Whisht stirra thatll be auld Edie
and the bits o weans wad up puir things and toddle to the door to pu in the
auld BlueGown that mends a their bonnydies But there wad be nae mair word
o Edie I trow«
He then led Lovel who followed him unresistingly into one of the interior
branches of the cave »Here« he said »is a bit turnpikestair that gaes up to
the auld kirk abune Some folks say this place was howkit out by the monks lang
syne to hide their treasure in and some said that they used to bring things
into the abbey this gate by night that they durstna sae weel hae brought in by
the main port and in open day And some said that ane o them turned a saint
or aiblins wad hae had folk think sae and settled him down in this Saint
Ruths cell as the auld folks aye cad it and garrd big the stair that he
might gang up to the kirk when they were at the divine service The Laird o
Monkbarns wad hae a hantle to say about it as he has about maist things if he
kend only about the place But whether it was made for mans devices or Gods
service I have seen ower muckle sin done in it in my day and far ower muckle
have I been partaker of ay even here in this dark cove Mony a gudewifes
been wondering what for the red cock didna craw her up in the morning when hes
been roasting puir fallow in this dark hole And ohon I wish that and the
like o that had been the warst ot Whiles they wad hae heard the din we were
making in the very bowels o the earth when Sanders Aikwood that was forester
in thae days the father o Ringan that now is was gaun daundering about the
wood at een to see after the Lairds game and whiles he wad hae seen a
glance o the light frae the door o the cave flaughtering against the hazels
on the other bank and then siccan stories as Sanders had about the worricows
and gyrecarlins that haunted about the auld was at een and the lights that
he had seen and the cries that he had heard when there was nae mortal ee open
but his ain and eh as he wad thrum them ower and ower to the like o me ayont
the ingle at een and as I wad gie the auld silly carle grane for grane and
tale for tale though I kend muckle better about it than ever he did Ay ay
they were daft days thae but they were a vanity and waur and its
fitting that they wha hae led a light and evil life and abused charity when
they were young suld aiblins come to lack it when they are auld«
While Ochiltree was thus recounting the exploits and tricks of his earlier
life with a tone in which glee and compunction alternately predominated his
unfortunate auditor had sat down upon the hermits seat hewn out of the solid
rock and abandoned himself to that lassitude both of mind and body which
generally follows a course of events that have agitated both The effect of his
late indisposition which had much weakened his system contributed to this
lethargic despondency »The puir bairn« said auld Edie »an he sleeps in this
damp hole hell maybe wauken nae mair or catch some sair disease Its no the
same to him as to the like o us that can sleep ony gate an anes our wames are
fu Sit up Maister Lovel lad After as come and gane I dare say the
captainlad will do weel eneugh and after a ye are no the first that has
had this misfortune I hae seen mony a man killed and helped to kill them
mysell though there was nae quarrel between us and if it isna wrang to kill
folk we have nae quarrel wi just because they wear another sort of a cockade
and speak a foreign language I canna see but a man may have excuse for killing
his ain mortal foe that comes armed to the fair field to kill him I dinna say
its right God forbid or that it isna sinfu to take away what ye canna
restore and thats the breath of man whilk is in his nostrils but I say it is
a sin to be forgiven if its repented of Sinfu men are we a but if ye wad
believe an auld grey sinner that has seen the evil o his ways there is as much
promise atween the twa boards o the Testament as wad save the warst o us
could we but think sae«
With such scraps of comfort and of divinity as he possessed the mendicant
thus continued to solicit and compel the attention of Lovel until the twilight
began to fade into night »Now« said Ochiltree »I will carry ye to a mair
convenient place where I hae sat mony a time to hear the howlit crying out of
the ivy tod and to see the moonlight come through the auld windows o the
ruins There can be naebody come here after this time o night and if they hae
made ony search thae blackguard shirraofficers and constables it will hae
been ower lang syne Od they are as great cowards as ither folk wi a their
warrants and kings keys16 I hae gien some o them a gliff in my day when
they were coming rather ower near me But lauded be grace for it they canna
stir me now for ony waur than an auld man and a beggar and my badge is a gude
protection and then Miss Isabella Wardour is a tower ostrength ye ken«
Lovel sighed »Aweel dinna be cast down bowls may a row right yet gie
the lassie time to ken her mind Shes the wale o the country for beauty and a
gude friend o mine I gang by the bridewell as safe as by the kirk on a
Sabbath deil ony o them daur hurt a hair o auld Edies head now I keep the
crown o the causey when I gae to the borough and rub shouthers wi a bailie
wi as little concern as an he were a brock«
While the mendicant spoke thus he was busied in removing a few loose stones
in one angle of the cave which obscured the entrance of the staircase of which
he had spoken and led the way into it followed by Lovel in passive silence
»The airs free eneugh« said the old man »the monks took care o that for
they werena a langbreathed generation I reckon they hae contrived queer
tirliewirlie holes that gang out to the open air and keep the stair as caller
as a kailblade«
Lovel accordingly found the staircase well aired and though narrow it was
neither ruinous nor long but speedily admitted them into a narrow gallery
contrived to run within the side wall of the chancel from which it received air
and light through apertures ingeniously hidden amid the florid ornaments of the
Gothic architecture
»This secret passage ance gaed round great part o the biggin« said the
beggar »and through the wa o the place Ive heard Monkbarns ca the
Refractory« meaning probably Refectory »and so awa to the Priors ain house
Its like he could use it to listen what the monks were saying at mealtime
and then he might come ben here and see that they were busy skreighing awa wi
the psalms doun below there and then when he saw a was right and tight he
might step awa and fetch in a bonnie lass at the cove yonder for they were
queer hands the monks unless mony lees is made on them But our folk were at
great pains lang syne to big up the passage in some parts and pu it down in
others for fear o some uncanny body getting into it and finding their way
down to the cove it wad hae been a fashious job that by my certie some o
our necks wad hae been ewking«
They now came to a place where the gallery was enlarged into a small circle
sufficient to contain a stone seat A niche constructed exactly before it
projected forward into the chancel and as its sides were latticed as it were
with perforated stonework it commanded a full view of the chancel in every
direction and was probably constructed as Edie intimated to be a convenient
watchtower from which the superior priest himself unseen might watch the
behaviour of his monks and ascertain by personal inspection their punctual
attendance upon those rites of devotion which his rank exempted him from sharing
with them As this niche made one of a regular series which stretched along the
wall of the chancel and in no respect differed from the rest when seen from
below the secret station screened as it was by the stone figure of St Michael
and the dragon and the open tracery around the niche was completely hid from
observation The private passage confined to its pristine breadth had
originally continued beyond this seat but the jealous precautions of the
vagabonds who frequented the cave of St Ruth had caused them to build it
carefully up with hewn stones from the ruin
»We shall be better here« said Edie seating himself on the stone bench
and stretching the lappet of his blue gown upon the spot when he motioned Lovel
to sit down beside him »we shall be better here than doun below the airs
free and mild and the savour of the wallflowers and siccan shrubs as grow on
thae ruined was is far mair refreshing than the damp smell doun below yonder
They smell sweetest by nighttime thae flowers and theyre maist aye seen about
ruined buildings Now Maister Lovel can ony o you scholars gie a gude reason
for that«
Lovel replied in the negative.
»I am thinking« resumed the beggar »that theyll be like mony folks gude
gifts that often seem maist gracious in adversity or maybe its a parable to
teach us no to slight them that are in the darkness of sin and the decay of
tribulation since God sends odours to refresh the mirkest hour and flowers and
pleasant bushes to clothe the ruined buildings And now I wad like a wise man to
tell me whether Heaven is maist pleased wi the sight we are looking upon thae
pleasant and quiet lang streaks o moonlight that are lying sae still on the
floor o this auld kirk and glancing through the great pillars and stanchions
o the carved windows and just dancing like on the leaves o the dark ivy as
the breath o wind shakes it I wonder whether this is mair pleasing to Heaven
than when it was lighted up wi lamps and candles nae doubt and roughies17
and wi the mirth and the frankincent that they speak of in the Holy Scripture
and wi organs assuredly and men and women singers and sackbuts and
dulcimers and a instruments o music I wonder if that was acceptable or
whether it is of these grand parafle o ceremonies that holy writ says It is an
abomination to me I am thinking Maister Lovel if twa puir contrite spirits
like yours and mine fand grace to make our petition«
Here Lovel laid his hand eagerly on the mendicants arm saying »Hush I
heard some one speak«
»I am dull o hearing« answered Edie in a whisper »but were surely safe
here where was the sound«
Lovel pointed to the door of the chancel which highly ornamented occupied
the west end of the building surmounted by the carved window which let in a
flood of moonlight over it
»They can be nane o our folk« said Edie in the same low and cautious tone
»theres but twa o them kens o the place and theyre mony a mile off if they
are still bound on their weary pilgrimage Ill never think its the officers
here at this time o night I am nae believer in auld wives stories about
ghaists though this is gey like a place for them But mortal or of the other
world here they come twa men and a light«
And in very truth while the mendicant spoke two human figures darkened
with their shadows the entrance of the chancel which had before opened to the
moonlit meadow beyond and the small lantern which one of them displayed
glimmered pale in the clear and strong beams of the moon as the evening star
does among the lights of the departing day The first and most obvious idea was
that despite the asseverations of Edie Ochiltree the persons who approached
the ruins at an hour so uncommon must be the officers of justice in quest of
Lovel But no part of their conduct confirmed the suspicion A touch and a
whisper from the old man warned Lovel that his best course was to remain quiet
and watch their motions from their present place of concealment Should anything
appear to render retreat necessary they had behind them the private staircase
and cavern by means of which they could escape into the wood long before any
danger of close pursuit They kept themselves therefore as still as possible
and observed with eager and anxious curiosity every accent and motion of these
nocturnal wanderers
After conversing together some time in whispers the two figures advanced
into the middle of the chancel and a voice which Lovel at once recognised
from its tone and dialect to be that of Dousterswivel pronounced in a louder
but still a smothered tone »Indeed mine goot sir dere cannot be one finer
hour nor season for dis great purpose You shall see mine goot sir dat it is
all one bibblebabble dat Mr Oldenbuck says and dat he knows no more of what
he speaks than one little child Mine soul he expects to get as rich as one Jew
for his poor dirty one hundred pounds which I care no more about by mine
honest wort than I care for an hundred stivers But to you my most munificent
and reverend patron I will show all de secrets dat art can show ay de secret
of de great Pymander«
»That other ane« whispered Edie »maun be according to a likelihood Sir
Arthur Wardour I ken naebody but himsell wad come here at this time at een
wi that German blackguard ane wad think hes bewitched him he gars him
een trow that chalk is cheese Lets see what they can be doing«
This interruption and the low tone in which Sir Arthur spoke made Lovel
lose all Sir Arthurs answer to the adept excepting the last three emphatic
words »Very great expense« to which Dousterswivel at once replied »Expenses
to be sure dere must be de great expenses You do not expect to reap before
you do sow de seed de expense is de seed de riches and de mine of goot metal
and now de great big chests of plate they are de crop vary goot crop too on
mine wort Now Sir Arthur you have sowed this night one little seed of ten
guineas like one pinch of snuff or so big and if you do not reap de great
harvest dat is de great harvest for de little pinch of seed for it must be
proportions you must know then never call one honest man Herman
Dousterswivel Now you see mine patron for I will not conceal mine secret
from you at all you see this little plate of silver you know de moon
measureth de whole zodiack in de space of twentyeight day every shild knows
dat Well I take a silver plate when she is in her fifteenth mansion which
mansion is in de head of Libra and I engrave upon one side de worts
Shedbarschemoth Schartachan dat is de Emblems of de Intelligence of de moon
and I make this picture like a flying serpent with a turkeycocks head vary
well Then upon this side I make de table of de moon which is a square of nine
multiplied into itself, with eightyone numbers on every side and diameter nine
dere it is done very proper Now I will make dis avail me at de change of
every quartermoon dat I shall find by de same proportions of expenses I lay out
in de suffumigations as nine to de product of nine multiplied into itself
But I shall find no more tonight as maybe two or dree times nine because dere
is a thwarting power in de house of ascendency«
»But Dousterswivel« said the simple Baronet »does not this look like
magic I am a true though unworthy son of the Episcopal church and I will
have nothing to do with the foul fiend«
»Bah bah not a bit magic in it at all not a bit It is all founded on
de planetary influence and de sympathy and force of numbers I will show you
much finer dan dis I do not say dere is not de spirit in it because of de
suffumigation but if you are not afraid he shall not be invisible«
»I have no curiosity to see him at all« said the Baronet whose courage
seemed from a certain quaver in his accent to have taken a fit of the ague
»Dat is great pity« said Dousterswivel »I should have liked to show you de
spirit dat guard dis treasure like one fierce watchdog but I know how to
manage him you would not care to see him«
»Not at all« answered the Baronet in a tone of feigned indifference »I
think we have but little time«
»You shall pardon me my patron it is not yet twelve and twelve precise is
just our planetary hours and I could show you de spirit vary well in de
meanwhile just for pleasure You see I would draw a pentagon within a circle
which is no trouble at all and make my suffumigation within it and dere we
would be like in one strong castle and you would hold de sword while I did say
de needful worts Den you should see de solid wall open like de gate of ane
city and den let me see ay you should see first one stag pursued by three
black greyhounds and they should pull him down as they do at de electors great
huntingmatch and den one ugly little nasty black negro should appear and
take de stag from them and paf all should be gone den you should hear horns
winded dat all de ruins should ring mine wort they should play fine hunting
piece as goot as him you calld Fischer with his oboi vary well den comes
one herald as we call Ernhold winding his horn and den come de great
Peolphan called de mighty Hunter of de North mounted on hims black steed But
you would not care to see all this«18
»Why I am not afraid« answered the poor Baronet »if that is does
anything any great mischiefs happen on such occasions«
»Bah mischiefs no sometimes if de circle be no quite just or de
beholder be de frightened coward and not hold de sword firm and straight
towards him de Great Hunter will take his advantage and drag him exorcist out
of de circle and throttle him Dat does happens«
»Well then Dousterswivel with every confidence in my courage and your
skill we will dispense with this apparition and go on to the business of the
night«
»With all mine heart it is just one thing to me and now it is de time
hold you de sword till I kindle de little what you call chip«
Dousterswivel accordingly set fire to a little pile of chips touched and
prepared with some bituminous substance to make them burn fiercely and when the
flame was at the highest and lightened with its shortlived glare all the
ruins around the German flung in a handful of perfumes which produced a strong
and pungent odour The exorcist and his pupil both were so much affected as to
cough and sneeze heartily and as the vapour floated around the pillars of the
building and penetrated every crevice it produced the same effect on the
beggar and Lovel
»Was that an echo« said the Baronet astonished at the sternutation which
resounded from above »or« drawing close to the adept »can it be the spirit
you talked of ridiculing our attempt upon his hidden treasures«
»N n no« muttered the German who began to partake of his pupils
terrors »I hope not«
Here a violent explosion of sneezing which the mendicant was unable to
suppress and which could not be considered by any means as the dying fall of an
echo accompanied by a grunting halfsmothered cough confounded the two
treasureseekers »Lord have mercy on us« said the Baronet
»Alle guten Geistern loben den Herrn« ejaculated the terrified adept »I
was begun to think« he continued after a moments silence »that this would be
de bestermost done in de daylight we was bestermost to go away just now«
»You juggling villain« said the Baronet in whom these expressions awakened
a suspicion that overcame his terrors connected as it was with the sense of
desperation arising from the apprehension of impending ruin »you juggling
mountebank this is some legerdemain trick of yours to get off from the
performance of your promise as you have so often done before But before
Heaven I will this night know what I have trusted to when I suffered you to
fool me on to my ruin Go on then come fairy come fiend you shall show me
that treasure or confess yourself a knave and an impostor or by the faith of
a desperate and ruined man Ill send you where you shall see spirits enough«
The treasurefinder trembling between his terror for the supernatural
beings by whom he supposed himself to be surrounded and for his life which
seemed to be at the mercy of a desperate man could only bring out »Mine
patron this is not the allerbestmost usage Consider mine honoured sir that
de spirits«
Here Edie who began to enter into the humour of the scene uttered an
extraordinary howl being an exaltation and a prolongation of the most
deplorable whine in which he was accustomed to solicit charity
Dousterswivel flung himself on his knees »Dear Sir Arthurs let us go or
let me go«
»No you cheating scoundrel« said the knight unsheathing the sword which
he had brought for the purposes of the exorcism »that shift shall not serve you
Monkbarns warned me long since of your juggling pranks I will see this
treasure before you leave this place or I will have you confess yourself an
impostor or by Heaven Ill run this sword through you though all the spirits
of the dead should rise around us«
»For de lofe of Heaven be patient mine honoured patron and you shall hafe
all de treasure as I knows of yes you shall indeed But do not speak about
de spirits it makes dem angry«
Edie Ochiltree here prepared himself to throw in another groan but was
restrained by Lovel who began to take a more serious interest as he observed
the earnest and almost desperate demeanour of Sir Arthur Dousterswivel having
at once before his eyes the fear of the foul fiend and the violence of Sir
Arthur played his part of a conjuror extremely ill hesitating to assume the
degree of confidence necessary to deceive the latter lest it should give
offence to the invisible cause of his alarm However after rolling his eyes
muttering and sputtering German exorcisms with contortions of his face and
person rather flowing from the impulse of terror than of meditated fraud he at
length proceeded to a corner of the building where a flat stone lay upon the
ground bearing upon its surface the effigy of an armed warrior in a recumbent
posture carved in basrelief He muttered to Sir Arthur »Mine patrons it is
here Got save us all«
Sir Arthur who after the first moment of his superstitious fear was over
seemed to have bent up all his faculties to the pitch of resolution necessary to
carry on the adventure lent the adept his assistance to turn over the stone
which by means of a lever that the adept had provided their joint force with
difficulty effected No supernatural light burst forth from below to indicate
the subterranean treasury nor was there any apparition of spirits earthly or
infernal But when Dousterswivel had with great trepidation struck a few
strokes with a mattock and as hastily thrown out a shovelful or two of earth
for they came provided with the tools necessary for digging something was
heard to ring like the sound of a falling piece of metal and Dousterswivel
hastily catching up the substance which produced it and which his shovel had
thrown out along with the earth exclaimed »On mine dear wort mine patrons
dis is all it is indeed I mean all we can do tonight« and he gazed round
him with a cowering and fearful glance as if to see from what corner the
avenger of his imposture was to start forth
»Let me see it« said Sir Arthur and then repeated still more sternly »I
will be satisfied I will judge by mine own eyes« He accordingly held the
object to the light of the lantern It was a small case or casket for Lovel
could not at the distance exactly discern its shape which from the Baronets
exclamation as he opened it he concluded was filled with coin »Ay« said the
Baronet »this is being indeed in good luck and if it omens proportional
success upon a larger venture the venture shall be made That six hundred of
Goldiewords added to the other incumbent claims must have been ruin indeed
If you think we can parry it by repeating this experiment suppose when the
moon next changes I will hazard the necessary advance come by it how I may«
»Oh mine good patrons do not speak about all dat« said Dousterswivel »as
just now but help me to put de shtone to de rights and let us begone our own
ways« And accordingly so soon as the stone was replaced he hurried Sir
Arthur who was now resigned once more to his guidance away from a spot where
the Germans guilty conscience and superstitious fears represented goblins as
lurking behind each pillar with the purpose of punishing his treachery
»Saw onybody eer the like o that« said Edie when they had disappeared
like shadows through the gate by which they had entered »saw ony creature
living eer the like o that But what can we do for that puir doited deevil
of a knightbaronet Od he showed muckle mair spunk too than I thought had
been in him I thought he wad hae sent cauld iron through the vagabond Sir
Arthur wasna half sae bauld at Bessiesapron yon night but then his blood
was up even now and that makes an unco difference I hae seen mony a man wad
hae felled another an anger him that wadna muckle hae liked a clink against
Crummieshorn yon time But whats to be done«
»I suppose« said Lovel »his faith in this fellow is entirely restored by
this deception which unquestionably he had arranged beforehand«
»What the siller Ay ay trust him for that they that hide ken best
where to find He wants to wile him out o his last guinea and then escape to
his ain country the landlouper I wad likeit weel just to hae come in at the
clippingtime and gien him a lounder wi my pikestaff he wad hae taen it for
a bennison frae some o the auld dead abbots But its best no to be rash
sticking disna gang by strength but by the guiding o the gully Ise be
upsides wi him ae day«
»What if you should inform Mr Oldbuck« said Lovel
»Ou I dinna ken Monkbarns and Sir Arthur are like and yet theyre no
like neither Monkbarns has whiles influence wi him and whiles Sir Arthur
cares as little about him as about the like o me Monkbarns is no that ower
wise himsell in some things he wad believe a bodle to be an auld Roman coin
as he cas it or a ditch to be a camp upon ony leasing that idle folk made
about it I hae garrd him trow mony a queer tale mysell gude forgie me But
wi a that he has unco little sympathy wi ither folks and hes snell and
dure eneugh in casting up their nonsense to them as if he had nane o his ain
Hell listen the hale day an yell tell him about tales o Wallace and Blind
Harry and Davie Lindsay but ye maunna speak to him about ghaists or fairies
or spirits walking the earth or the like o that he had amaist flung auld
Caxon out o the window and he might just as weel hae flung awa his best wig
after him for threeping he had seen a ghaist at the humlockknowe Now if he
was taking it up in this way he wad set up the tothers birse and maybe do
mair ill nor gude hes done that twice or thrice about thae minewarks ye wad
thought Sir Arthur had a pleasure in gaun on wi them the deeper the mair he
was warned against it by Monkbarns«
»What say you then« said Lovel »to letting Miss Wardour know the
circumstance«
»Ou puir thing how could she stop her father doing his pleasure and
besides what wad it help Theres a sough in the country about that six hundred
pounds and theres a writer chield in Edinburgh has been driving the
spurrowels o the law up to the head into Sir Arthurs sides to gar him pay it
and if he canna he maun gang to jail or flee the country Hes like a desperate
man and just catches at this chance as a he has left to escape utter
perdition so what signifies plaguing the puir lassie about what canna be
helped And besides to say the truth I wadna like to tell the secret o this
place Its unco convenient ye see yoursell to hae a hidinghole o anes ain
and though I be out o the line o needing ane een now and trust in the power
o grace that Ill neer do onything to need ane again yet naebody kens what
temptation ane may be gien ower to and to be brief I downa bide the thought
of onybody kennin about the place they say keep a thing seven year an
yell aye find a use fort and maybe I may need the cove either for mysell
or for some ither body«
This argument in which Edie Ochiltree notwithstanding his scraps of
morality and of divinity seemed to take perhaps from old habit a personal
interest could not be handsomely controverted by Lovel who was at that moment
reaping the benefit of the secret of which the old man appeared to be so
jealous
This incident however was of great service to Lovel as diverting his mind
from the unhappy occurrence of the evening and considerably rousing the
energies which had been stupified by the first view of his calamity He
reflected that it by no means necessarily followed that a dangerous wound must
be a fatal one that he had been hurried from the spot even before the surgeon
had expressed any opinion of Captain MIntyres situation and that he had
duties on earth to perform even should the very worst be true which if they
could not restore his peace of mind or sense of innocence would furnish a
motive for enduring existence, and at the same time render it a course of active
benevolence Such were Lovels feelings when the hour arrived when according
to Edies calculation who by some train or process of his own in observing
the heavenly bodies stood independent of the assistance of a watch or
timekeeper it was fitting they should leave their hidingplace and betake
themselves to the seashore in order to meet Lieutenant Taffrils boat
according to appointment
They retreated by the same passage which had admitted them to the priors
secret seat of observation and when they issued from the grotto into the wood
the birds which began to chirp and even to sing announced that the dawn was
advanced This was confirmed by the light and amber clouds that appeared over
the sea as soon as their exit from the copse permitted them to view the
horizon Morning said to be friendly to the muses has probably obtained this
character from its effect upon the fancy and feelings of mankind Even to those
who like Lovel have spent a sleepless and anxious night the breeze of the
dawn brings strength and quickening both of mind and body It was therefore
with renewed health and vigour that Lovel guided by the trusty mendicant
brushed away the dew as he traversed the downs which divided the Den of St
Ruth as the woods surrounding the ruins were popularly called from the
seashore
The first level beam of the sun as his brilliant disk began to emerge from
the ocean shot full upon the little gunbrig which was lyingto in the offing
close to the shore the boat was already waiting Taffril himself with his naval
cloak wrapped about him seated in the stern He jumped ashore when he saw the
mendicant and Lovel approach and shaking the latter heartily by the hand
begged him not to be cast down »MIntyres wound« he said »was doubtful but
far from desperate« His attention had got Lovels baggage privately sent on
board the brig »and« he said »he trusted that if Lovel chose to stay with
the vessel the penalty of a short cruise would be the only disagreeable
consequence of his rencontre As for himself his time and motions were a good
deal at his own disposal« he said »excepting the necessary obligation of
remaining on his station«
»We will talk of our farther motions« said Lovel »as we go on board«
Then turning to Edie he endeavoured to put money into his hand »I think«
said Edie as he tendered it back again »the hale folk here have either gane
daft or they hae made a vow to ruin my trade as they say ower muckle water
drowns the miller I hae had mair gowd offered me within this twa or three weeks
than I ever saw in my life afore Keep the siller lad yell hae need ot
Ise warrant ye and I hae nane my claes is nae great things and I get a blue
gown every year and as mony siller groats as the king God bless him is years
auld you and I serve the same master ye ken Captain Taffril theres rigging
provided for and my meat and drink I get for the asking in my rounds or at
an orra time I can gang a day without it for I make it a rule never to pay for
nane so that a the siller I need is just to buy tobacco and sneeshin and
maybe a dram at a time in a cauld day though I am nae dramdrinker to be a
gaberlunzie sae take back your gowd and just gie me a lilywhite shilling«
Upon these whims which he imagined intimately connected with the honour of
his vagabond profession Edie was flint and adamant not to be moved by rhetoric
or entreaty and therefore Lovel was under the necessity of again pocketing his
intended bounty and taking a friendly leave of the mendicant by shaking him by
the hand and assuring him of his cordial gratitude for the very important
services which he had rendered him recommending at the same time secrecy as
to what they had that night witnessed »Ye needna doubt that« said Ochiltree
»I never telld tales out o yon cove in my life though mony a queer thing I
hae seen int«
The boat now put off The old man remained looking after it as it made
rapidly towards the brig under the impulse of six stout rowers and Lovel beheld
him again wave his blue bonnet as a token of farewell ere he turned from his
fixed posture and began to move slowly along the sands as if resuming his
customary perambulations
Chapter TwentySecond
Wiser Raymondus in his closet pent
Laughs at such danger and adventurement
When half his lands are spent in golden smoke
And now his second hopeful glasse is broke
But yet if haply his third furnace hold
Devoteth all his pots and pans to gold19
About a week after the adventures commemorated in our last chapter Mr Oldbuck
descending to his breakfastparlour found that his womankind were not upon
duty his toast not made and the silver jug which was wont to receive his
libations of mum not duly aired for its reception
»This confounded hotbrained boy« he said to himself »now that he begins
to get out of danger I can tolerate this life no longer All goes to sixes and
sevens an universal saturnalia seems to be proclaimed in my peaceful and
orderly family I ask for my sister no answer I call I shout I invoke my
inmates by more names than the Romans gave to their deities at length Jenny
whose shrill voice I have heard this halfhour lilting in the Tartarean regions
of the kitchen condescends to hear me and reply but without coming up stairs
so the conversation must be continued at the top of my lungs« Here he again
began to hollow aloud »Jenny wheres Miss Oldbuck«
»Miss Grizzys in the captains room«
»Umph I thought so and wheres my niece«
»Miss Marys making the captains tea«
»Umph I supposed as much again and wheres Caxon«
»Awa to the town about the captains fowlinggun and his settingdog«
»And who the devils to dress my periwig you silly jade when you knew
that Miss Wardour and Sir Arthur were coming here early after breakfast how
could you let Caxon go on such a Tomfools errand«
»Me what could I hinder him your honour wadna hae us contradict the
captain een now and him maybe deeing«
»Dying« said the alarmed Antiquary »eh what has he been worse«
»Na hes no nae waur that I ken of«20
»Then he must be better and what good is a dog and a gun to do here but
the one to destroy all my furniture steal from my larder and perhaps worry the
cat and the other to shoot somebody through the head He has had gunning and
pistolling enough to serve him one while I should think«
Here Miss Oldbuck entered the parlour at the door of which Oldbuck was
carrying on this conversation he bellowing downward to Jenny and she again
screaming upward in reply
»Dear brother« said the old lady »yell cry yoursell as hoarse as a corbie
is that the way to skreigh when theres a sick person in the house«
»Upon my word the sick persons like to have all the house to himself I
have gone without my breakfast and am like to go without my wig and I must
not I suppose presume to say I feel either hunger or cold for fear of
disturbing the sick gentleman who lies six rooms off and who feels himself well
enough to send for his dog and gun though he knows I detest such implements
ever since our elder brother poor Williewald marched out of the world on a
pair of damp feet caught in the Kittlefittingmoss But that signifies nothing
I suppose I shall be expected by and by to lend a hand to carry Squire Hector
out upon his litter while he indulges his sportsmanlike propensities by
shooting my pigeons or my turkeys I think any of the feræ naturæ are safe
from him for one while«
Miss MIntyre now entered and began to her usual mornings task of
arranging her uncles breakfast with the alertness of one who is too late in
setting about a task and is anxious to make up for lost time But this did not
avail her »Take care you silly womankind that mums too near the fire the
bottle will burst and I suppose you intend to reduce the toast to a cinder as a
burntoffering for Juno or what do you call her the female dog there with
some such Pantheon kind of a name that your wise brother has in his first
moments of mature reflection ordered up as a fitting inmate of my house I
thank him and meet company to aid the rest of the womankind of my household in
their daily conversation and intercourse with him«
»Dear uncle dont be angry about the poor spaniel shes been tied up at my
brothers lodgings at Fairport and shes broke her chain twice and came
running down here to him and you would not have us beat the faithful beast away
from the door it moans as if it had some sense of poor Hectors misfortune
and will hardly stir from the door of his room«
»Why« said his uncle »they said Caxon had gone to Fairport after his dog
and gun«
»O dear sir no« answered Miss MIntyre »it was to fetch some dressings
that were wanted and Hector only wished him to bring out his gun as he was
going to Fairport at any rate«
»Well then it is not altogether so foolish a business considering what a
mess of womankind have been about it Dressings quotha and who is to dress
my wig But I suppose Jenny will undertake« continued the old bachelor
looking at himself in the glass »to make it somewhat decent And now let us
set to breakfast with what appetite we may Well may I say to Hector as Sir
Isaac Newton did to his dog Diamond when the animal I detest dogs flung down
the taper among calculations which had occupied the philosopher for twenty
years and consumed the whole mass of materials Diamond Diamond thou little
knowest the mischief thou hast done«
»I assure you sir« replied his niece »my brother is quite sensible of the
rashness of his own behaviour and allows that Mr Lovel behaved very
handsomely«
»And much good that will do when he has frightened the lad out of the
country I tell thee Mary Hectors understanding and far more that of
feminity is inadequate to comprehend the extent of the loss which he has
occasioned to the present age and to posterity aureum quidem opus a poem on
such a subject with notes illustrative of all that is clear and all that is
dark and all that is neither dark nor clear but hovers in dusky twilight in
the region of Caledonian antiquities I would have made the Celtic panegyrists
look about them Fingal as they conceitedly term FinMacCoul should have
disappeared before my search rolling himself in his cloud like the spirit of
Loda Such an opportunity can hardly again occur to an ancient and greyhaired
man and to see it lost by the madcap spleen of a hotheaded boy But I submit
Heavens will be done«
Thus continued the Antiquary to maunder as his sister expressed it during
the whole time of breakfast while despite of sugar and honey and all the
comforts of a Scottish morning teatable his reflections rendered the meal
bitter to all who heard them But they knew the nature of the man »Monkbarnss
bark« said Miss Griselda Oldbuck in confidential intercourse with Miss Rebecca
Blattergowl »is muckle waur than his bite«
In fact Mr Oldbuck had suffered in mind extremely while his nephew was in
actual danger and now felt himself at liberty upon his returning health to
indulge in complaints respecting the trouble he had been put to and the
interruption of his antiquarian labours Listened to therefore in respectful
silence by his niece and sister he unloaded his discontent in such grumblings
as we have rehearsed venting many a sarcasm against womankind soldiers dogs
and guns all which implements of noise discord and tumult as he called them
he professed to hold in utter abomination
This expectoration of spleen was suddently interrupted by the noise of a
carriage without when shaking off all sullenness at the sound Oldbuck ran
nimbly up stairs and down stairs for both operations were necessary ere he
could receive Miss Wardour and her father at the door of his mansion
A cordial greeting passed on both sides And Sir Arthur referring to his
previous inquiries by letter and message requested to be particularly informed
of Captain MIntyres health
»Better than he deserves« was the answer »better than he deserves for
disturbing us with his vixen brawls and breaking Gods peace and the Kings«
»The young gentleman« Sir Arthur said »had been imprudent but he
understood they were indebted to him for the detection of a suspicious character
in the young man Lovel«
»No more suspicious than his own« answered the Antiquary eager in his
favourites defence »the young gentleman was a little foolish and headstrong
and refused to answer Hectors impertinent interrogatories that is all Lovel
Sir Arthur knows how to choose his confidants better Ay Miss Wardour you
may look at me but it is very true it was in my bosom that he deposited the
secret cause of his residence at Fairport and no stone should have been left
unturned on my part to assist him in the pursuit to which he had dedicated
himself«
On hearing this magnanimous declaration on the part of the old Antiquary
Miss Wardour changed colour more than once and could hardly trust her own ears
For of all confidants to be selected as the depositary of love affairs and
such she naturally supposed must have been the subject of communication next
to Edie Ochiltree Oldbuck seemed the most uncouth and extraordinary nor could
she sufficiently admire or fret at the extraordinary combination of
circumstances which thus threw a secret of such a delicate nature into the
possession of persons so unfitted to be entrusted with it She had next to fear
the mode of Oldbucks entering upon the affair with her father for such she
doubted not was his intention She well knew that the honest gentleman however
vehement in his prejudices had no great sympathy with those of others and she
had to fear a most unpleasant explosion upon an éclaircissement taking place
between them It was therefore with great anxiety that she heard her father
request a private interview and observed Oldbuck readily arise and show the way
to his library She remained behind attempting to converse with the ladies of
Monkbarns but with the distracted feelings of Macbeth when compelled to
disguise his evil conscience by listening and replying to the observations of
the attendant thanes upon the storm of the preceding night while his whole soul
is upon the stretch to listen for the alarm of murder which he knows must be
instantly raised by those who have entered the sleeping apartment of Duncan But
the conversation of the two virtuosi turned on a subject very different from
that which Miss Wardour apprehended
»Mr Oldbuck« said Sir Arthur when they had after a due exchange of
ceremonies fairly seated themselves in the sanctum sanctorum of the Antiquary
»you who know so much of my family matters may probably be surprised at the
question I am about to put to you«
»Why Sir Arthur if it relates to money I am very sorry but«
»It does relate to money matters Mr Oldbuck«
»Really then Sir Arthur« continued the Antiquary »in the present state
of the moneymarket and stocks being so low«
»You mistake my meaning Mr Oldbuck« said the Baronet »I wished to ask
your advice about laying out a large sum of money to advantage«
»The devil« exclaimed the Antiquary and sensible that his involuntary
ejaculation of wonder was not over and above civil he proceeded to qualify it
by expressing his joy that Sir Arthur should have a sum of money to lay out when
the commodity was so scarce »And as for the mode of employing it« said he
pausing »the funds are low at present as I said before and there are good
bargains of land to be had But had you not better begin by clearing off
encumbrances Sir Arthur There is the sum in the personal bond and the
three notes of hand« continued he taking out of the righthand drawer of his
cabinet a certain red memorandumbook of which Sir Arthur from the experience
of former frequent appeals to it abhorred the very sight »with the interest
thereon amounting altogether to let me see«
»To about a thousand pounds« said Sir Arthur hastily »you told me the
amount the other day«
»But theres another terms interest due since that Sir Arthur and it
amounts errors excepted to eleven hundred and thirteen pounds seven
shillings five pennies and threefourths of a penny sterling But look over
the summation yourself«
»I daresay you are quite right my dear sir« said the Baronet putting away
the book with his hand as one rejects the oldfashioned civility that presses
food upon you after you have eaten till you nauseate »perfectly right I dare
say and in the course of three days or less you shall have the full value
that is if you choose to accept it in bullion«
»Bullion I suppose you mean lead What the deuce have we hit on the vein
then at last But what could I do with a thousand pounds worth and upwards of
lead The former abbots of Trotcosey might have roofed their church and
monastery with it indeed but for me«
»By bullion« said the Baronet »I mean the precious metals gold and
silver«
»Ay indeed and from what Eldorado is this treasure to be imported«
»Not far from hence« said Sir Arthur significantly »And now I think of
it you shall see the whole process on one small condition«
»And what is that« craved the Antiquary
»Why it will be necessary for you to give me your friendly assistance by
advancing one hundred pounds or thereabouts«
Mr Oldbuck who had already been grasping in idea the sum principal and
interest of a debt which he had long regarded as wellnigh desperate was so
much astounded at the tables being so unexpectedly turned upon him that he
could only reecho in an accent of wo and surprise the words »Advance one
hundred pounds«
»Yes my good sir« continued Sir Arthur »but upon the best possible
security of being repaid in the course of two or three days«
There was a pause either Oldbucks nether jaw had not recovered its
position so as to enable him to utter a negative or his curiosity kept him
silent
»I would not propose to you« continued Sir Arthur »to oblige me thus far
if I did not possess actual proofs of the reality of those expectations which I
now hold out to you And I assure you Mr Oldbuck that in entering fully upon
this topic it is my purpose to show my confidence in you and my sense of your
kindness on many former occasions«
Mr Oldbuck professed his sense of obligation but carefully avoided
committing himself by any promise of farther assistance
»Mr Dousterswivel« said Sir Arthur »having discovered«
Here Oldbuck broke in his eyes sparkling with indignation »Sir Arthur I
have so often warned you of the knavery of that rascally quack that I really
wonder you should quote him to me«
»But listen listen« interrupted Sir Arthur in his turn »it will do you
no harm In short Dousterswivel persuaded me to witness an experiment which he
had made in the ruins of St Ruth and what do you think we found«
»Another spring of water I suppose of which the rogue had beforehand taken
care to ascertain the situation and source«
»No indeed a casket of gold and silver coins here they are«
With that Sir Arthur drew from his pocket a large rams horn with a copper
cover containing a considerable quantity of coins chiefly silver but with a
few gold pieces intermixed The Antiquarys eyes glistened as he eagerly spread
them out on the table
»Upon my word Scotch English and foreign coins of the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries and some of them rari et rariores etiam rarissimi Here
is the bonnetpiece of James V the unicorn of James II ay and the gold
testoon of Queen Mary with her head and the Dauphins And these were really
found in the ruins of St Ruth«
»Most assuredly my own eyes witnessed it«
»Well« replied Oldbuck »but you must tell me the when the where the
how«
»The when« answered Sir Arthur »was at midnight the last full moon the
where as I have told you in the ruins of St Ruths priory the how was by a
nocturnal experiment of Dousterswivel accompanied only by myself«
»Indeed« said Oldbuck »and what means of discovery did you employ«
»Only a simple suffumigation« said the Baronet »accompanied by availing
ourselves of the suitable planetary hour«
»Simple suffumigation simple nonsensification planetary hour planetary
fiddlestick Sapiens dominabitur astris My dear Sir Arthur that fellow has
made a gull of you above ground and under ground and he would have made a gull
of you in the air too if he had been by when you was craned up the devils
turnpike yonder at Halkethead to be sure the transformation would have been
then peculiarly apropos«
»Well Mr Oldbuck I am obliged to you for your indifferent opinion of my
discernment but I think you will give me credit for having seen what I say I
saw«
»Certainly Sir Arthur« said the Antiquary »to this extent at least
that I know Sir Arthur Wardour will not say he saw anything but what he thought
he saw«
»Well then« replied the Baronet »as there is a heaven above us Mr
Oldbuck I saw with my own eyes these coins dug out of the chancel of St Ruth
at midnight And as to Dousterswivel although the discovery be owing to his
science yet to tell the truth I do not think he would have had firmness of
mind to have gone through with it if I had not been beside him«
»Ay indeed« said Oldbuck in the tone used when one wishes to hear the end
of a story before making any comment
»Yes truly« continued Sir Arthur »I assure you I was upon my guard we
did hear some very uncommon sounds that is certain proceeding from among the
ruins«
»Oh you did« said Oldbuck »an accomplice hid among them I suppose«
»Not a jot« said the Baronet »the sounds though of a hideous and
preternatural character rather resembled those of a man who sneezes violently
than any other one deep groan I certainly heard besides and Dousterswivel
assures me that he beheld the spirit Peolphan the Great Hunter of the North
look for him in your Nicolaus Remigius or Petrus Thyracus Mr Oldbuck who
mimicked the motion of snufftaking and its effects«
»These indications however singular as proceeding from such a personage
seem to have been apropos to the matter« said the Antiquary »for you see the
case which includes these coins has all the appearance of being an
oldfashioned Scottish snuffmull But you persevered in spite of the terrors
of this sneezing goblin«
»Why I think it probable that a man of inferior sense or consequence might
have given way but I was jealous of an imposture conscious of the duty I owed
to my family in maintaining my courage under every contingency and therefore I
compelled Dousterswivel by actual and violent threats to proceed with what he
was about to do and sir the proof of his skill and honesty is this parcel
of gold and silver pieces out of which I beg you to select such coins or medals
as will best suit your collection«
»Why Sir Arthur since you are so good and on condition you will permit me
to mark the value according to Pinkertons catalogue and appreciation against
your account in my red book I will with pleasure select«
»Nay« said Sir Arthur Wardour »I do not mean you should consider them as
anything but a gift of friendship and least of all would I stand by the
valuation of your friend Pinkerton who has impugned the ancient and trustworthy
authorities upon which as upon venerable and mossgrown pillars the credit of
Scottish antiquities reposed«
»Ay ay« rejoined Oldbuck »you mean I suppose Mair and Boece the Jachin
and Boaz not of history but of falsification and forgery And notwithstanding
all you have told me I look on your friend Dousterswivel to be as apocryphal as
any of them«
»Why then Mr Oldbuck« said Sir Arthur »not to awaken old disputes I
suppose you think that because I believe in the ancient history of my country
I have neither eyes nor ears to ascertain what modern events pass before me«
»Pardon me Sir Arthur« rejoined the Antiquary »but I consider all the
affectation of terror which this worthy gentleman your coadjutor chose to play
off as being merely one part of his trick or mystery And with respect to the
gold or silver coins they are so mixed and mingled in country and date that I
cannot suppose they could be any genuine hoard and rather suppose them to be
like the purses upon the table of Hudibrass lawyer
Money placed for show
Like nesteggs to make clients lay
And for his false opinions pay
It is the trick of all professions my dear Sir Arthur Pray may I ask you how
much this discovery cost you«
»About ten guineas«
»And you have gained what is equivalent to twenty in actual bullion and
what may be perhaps worth as much more to such fools as ourselves who are
willing to pay for curiosity This was allowing you a tempting profit on the
first hazard I must needs admit And what is the next venture he proposes«
»An hundred and fifty pounds I have given him onethird part of the
money and I thought it likely you might assist me with the balance«
»I should think that this cannot be meant as a parting blow it is not of
weight and importance sufficient he will probably let us win this hand also as
sharpers manage a raw gamester Sir Arthur I hope you believe I would serve
you«
»Certainly Mr Oldbuck I think my confidence in you on these occasions
leaves no room to doubt that«
»Well then allow me to speak to Dousterswivel If the money can be
advanced usefully and advantageously for you why for old neighbourhoods sake
you shall not want it but if as I think I can recover the treasure for you
without making such an advance you will I presume have no objection«
»Unquestionably I can have none whatsoever«
»Then where is Dousterswivel« continued the Antiquary
»To tell you the truth he is in my carriage below but knowing your
prejudice against him«
»I thank Heaven I am not prejudiced against any man Sir Arthur it is
systems not individuals that incur my reprobation« He rang the bell »Jenny
Sir Arthur and I offer our compliments to Mr Dousterswivel the gentleman in
Sir Arthurs carriage and beg to have the pleasure of speaking with him here«
Jenny departed and delivered her message It had been by no means a part of
the project of Dousterswivel to let Mr Oldbuck into his supposed mystery He
had relied upon Sir Arthurs obtaining the necessary accommodation without any
discussion as to the nature of the application and only waited below for the
purpose of possessing himself of the deposit as soon as possible for he foresaw
that his career was drawing to a close But when summoned to the presence of Sir
Arthur and Mr Oldbuck he resolved gallantly to put confidence in his powers of
impudence of which the reader may have observed his natural share was very
liberal
Chapter TwentyThird
And this Doctor
Your sooty smokybearded compeer he
Will close you so much gold in a bolts head
And on a turn conyey in the stead another
With sublimed mercury that shall burst i the heat
And all fly out in fumo
The Alchemist
»How do you do goot Mr Oldenbuck and I do hope your young gentleman Captain
MIntyre is getting better again Ach it is a bat business when young
gentlemens will put lead balls into each others body«
»Lead adventures of all kinds are very precarious Mr Dousterswivel but I
am happy to learn« continued the Antiquary »from my friend Sir Arthur that
you have taken up a better trade and become a discoverer of gold«
»Ach Mr Oldenbuck mine goot and honoured patron should not have told a
word about dat little matter for though I have all reliance yes indeed on
goot Mr Oldenbucks prudence and discretion and his great friendship for Sir
Arthur Wardour yet my heavens it is an great ponderous secret«
»More ponderous than any of the metal we shall make by it I fear« answered
Oldbuck
»Dat is just as you shall have de faith and de patience for de grand
experiment If you join wid Sir Arthur as he is put one hundred and fifty
see here is one fifty in your dirty Fairport banknote you put one other
hundred and fifty in de dirty notes and you shall have de pure gold and silver
I cannot tell how much«
»Nor any one for you I believe« said the Antiquary »But hark you Mr
Dousterswivel Suppose without troubling this same sneezing spirit with any
farther fumigations we should go in a body and having fair daylight and our
good consciences to befriend us using no other conjuring implements than good
substantial pickaxes and shovels fairly trench the area of the chancel in the
ruins of St Ruth from one end to the other and so ascertain the existence of
this supposed treasure without putting ourselves to any farther expense the
ruins belong to Sir Arthur himself so there can be no objection do you think
we shall succeed in this way of managing the matter«
»Bah you will not find one copper thimble But Sir Arthur will do his
pleasure I have showed him how it is possible very possible to have de
great sum of money for his occasions I have showed him de real experiment If
he likes not to believe goot Mr Oldenbuck it is nothing to Herman
Dousterswivel he only loses de money and de gold and de silvers dat is all«
Sir Arthur Wardour cast an intimidated glance at Oldbuck who especially
when present held notwithstanding their frequent difference of opinion no
ordinary influence over his sentiments In truth the Baronet felt what he
would not willingly have acknowledged that his genius stood rebuked before that
of the Antiquary He respected him as a shrewd penetrating sarcastic character
feared his satire and had some confidence in the general soundness of his
opinions He therefore looked at him as if desiring his leave before indulging
his credulity Dousterswivel saw he was in danger of losing his dupe unless he
could make some favourable impression on the adviser
»I know my goot Mr Oldenbuck it is one vanity to speak to you about de
spirit and de goblin But look at this curious horn I know you know de
curiosity of all de countries and how de great Oldenburgh horn as they keep
still in the Museum at Copenhagen was given to de Duke of Oldenburgh by one
female spirit of de wood Now I could not put one trick on you if I were willing
you who know all de curiosity so well and dere it is de horn full of coins
if it had been a box or case I would have said nothing«
»Being a horn« said Oldbuck »does indeed strengthen your argument It was
an implement of nature's fashioning and therefore much used among rude nations
although it may be the metaphorical horn is more frequent in proportion to the
progress of civilisation And this present horn« he continued rubbing it upon
his sleeve »is a curious and venerable relic and no doubt was intended to
prove a cornucopia or horn of plenty to some one or other but whether to the
adept or his patron may be justly doubted«
»Well Mr Oldenbuck I find you still hard of belief but let me assure
you de monksh understood de magisterium«
»Let us leave talking of the magisterium Mr Dousterswivel and think a
little about the magistrate Are you aware that this occupation of yours is
against the law of Scotland and that both Sir Arthur and myself are in the
commission of the peace«
»Mine heaven and what is dat to de purpose when I am doing you all de goot
I can«
»Why you must know that when the legislature abolished the cruel laws
against witchcraft they had no hope of destroying the superstitious feelings of
humanity on which such chimeras had been founded and to prevent those feelings
from being tampered with by artful and designing persons it is enacted by the
ninth of George the Second chap 5 that whosoever shall pretend by his
alleged skill in any occult or crafty science to discover such goods as are
lost stolen or concealed he shall suffer punishment by pillory and
imprisonment as a common cheat and impostor«
»And is dat de laws« asked Dousterswivel with some agitation
»Thyself shall see the act« replied the Antiquary
»Den gentlemens I shall take my leave of you dat is all I do not like to
stand on your what you call pillory it is very bad way to take de air I
think and I do not like your prisons no more where one cannot take de air at
all«
»If such be your taste Mr Dousterswivel« said the Antiquary »I advise
you to stay where you are for I cannot let you go unless it be in the society
of a constable and moreover I expect you will attend us just now to the ruins
of St Ruth and point out the place where you propose to find this treasure«
»Mine heaven Mr Oldenbuck what usage is this to your old friend when I
tell you so plain as I can speak dat if you go now you will not get so much
treasure as one poor shabby sixpence«
»I will try the experiment however and you shall be dealt with according
to its success always with Sir Arthurs permission«
Sir Arthur during this investigation had looked extremely embarrassed
and to use a vulgar but expressive phrase chopfallen Oldbucks obstinate
disbelief led him strongly to suspect the imposture of Dousterswivel and the
adepts mode of keeping his ground was less resolute than he had expected Yet
he did not entirely give him up
»Mr Oldbuck« said the Baronet »you do Mr Dousterswivel less than
justice He has undertaken to make this discovery by the use of his art and by
applying characters descriptive of the Intelligences presiding over the
planetary hour in which the experiment is to be made and you require him to
proceed under pain of punishment without allowing him the use of any of the
preliminaries which he considers as the means of procuring success«
»I did not say that exactly I only required him to be present when we make
the search and not to leave us during the interval I fear he may have some
intelligence with the Intelligences you talk of and that whatever may be now
hidden at Saint Ruth may disappear before we get there«
»Well gentlemens« said Dousterswivel sullenly »I will make no objections
to go along with you but I tell you beforehand you shall not find so much of
anything as shall be worth your going twenty yard from your own gate«
»We will put that to a fair trial« said the Antiquary and the Baronets
equipage being ordered Miss Wardour received an intimation from her father
that she was to remain at Monkbarns until his return from an airing The young
lady was somewhat at a loss to reconcile this direction with the communication
which she supposed must have passed between Sir Arthur and the Antiquary but
she was compelled for the present to remain in a most unpleasant state of
suspense
The journey of the treasureseekers was melancholy enough Dousterswivel
maintained a sulky silence brooding at once over disappointed expectation and
the risk of punishment Sir Arthur whose golden dreams had been gradually
fading away surveyed in gloomy prospect the impending difficulties of his
situation and Oldbuck who perceived that his having so far interfered in his
neighbours affairs gave the Baronet a right to expect some actual and efficient
assistance sadly pondered to what extent it would be necessary to draw open the
strings of his purse Thus each being wrapped in his own unpleasant ruminations
there was hardly a word said on either side until they reached the Four
Horseshoes by which sign the little inn was distinguished They procured at
this place the necessary assistance and implements for digging and while they
were busy about these preparations were suddenly joined by the old beggar Edie
Ochiltree
»The Lord bless your honour« began the BlueGown with the genuine
mendicant whine »and long life to you weel pleased am I to hear that young
Captain MIntyre is like to be on his legs again sune Think on your poor
bedesman the day«
»Aha old truepenny« replied the Antiquary »Why thou hast never come to
Monkbarns since thy perils by rock and flood heres something for thee to buy
snuff« and fumbling for his purse he pulled out at the same time the horn
which enclosed the coins
»Ay and theres something to pit it in« said the mendicant eyeing the
rams horn »that looms an auld acquaintance o mine I could take my aith to
that sneeshingmull amang a thousand I carried it for mony a year till I
niffered it for this tin ane wi auld George Glen the dammer and sinker when
he took a fancy tillt doun at GlenWithershins yonder«
»Ay indeed« said Oldbuck »so you exchanged it with a miner but I
presume you never saw it so well filled before« and opening it he showed the
coins
»Troth ye may swear that Monkbarns when it was mine it neer had abune
the like o saxpenny worth o black rappee int at ance But I reckon yell be
gaun to mak an antic ot as ye hae dune wi mony an orra thing besides Od I
wish onybody wad mak an antic o me but mony ane will find worth in rousted
bits o capper and horn and airn that care unco little about an auld carle o
their ain country and kind«
»You may now guess« said Oldbuck turning to Sir Arthur »to whose good
offices you were indebted the other night To trace this cornucopia of yours to
a miner is bringing it pretty near a friend of ours I hope we shall be as
successful this morning without paying for it«
»And whare is your honours gaun the day« said the mendicant »wi a your
picks and shules Od this will be some o your tricks Monkbarns yell be
for whirling some o the auld monks down by yonder out o their graves afore
they hear the last call but wi your leave Ise follow ye at ony rate and
see what ye mak ot«
The party soon arrived at the ruins of the priory and having gained the
chancel stood still to consider what course they were to pursue next The
Antiquary meantime addressed the adept
»Pray Mr Dousterswivel what is your advice in this matter Shall we have
most likelihood of success if we dig from east to west or from west to east
or will you assist us with your triangular vial of Maydew or with your
diviningrod of witcheshazel or will you have the goodness to supply us with
a few thumping blustering terms of art which if they fail in our present
service may at least be useful to those who have not the happiness to be
bachelors to still their brawling children withal«
»Mr Oldenbuck« said Dousterswivel doggedly »I have told you already that
you will make no good work at all and I will find some way of mine own to thank
you for your civilities to me yes indeed«
»If your honours are thinking of tirling the floor« said old Edie »and wad
but take a puir bodys advice I would begin below that muckle stane that has
the man there streekit out upon his back in the midst ot«
»I have some reason for thinking favourably of that plan myself« said the
Baronet
»And I have nothing to say against it« said Oldbuck »it was not unusual to
hide treasure in the tombs of the deceased many instances might be quoted of
that from Bartholinus and others«
The tombstone the same beneath which the coins had been found by Sir Arthur
and the German was once more forced aside and the earth gave easy way to the
spade
»Its travelld earth that« said Edie »it howks sae eithly I ken it
weel for ance I wrought a simmer wi auld Will Winnet the bedral and howkit
mair graves than ane in my day but I left him in winter for it was unco cald
wark and then it cam a green Yule and the folk died thick and fast for ye
ken a green Yule makes a fat kirkyard and I never dowed to bide a hard turn o
wark in my life sae aff I gaed and left Will to delve his last dwellings by
himsell for Edie«
The diggers were now so far advanced in their labours as to discover that
the sides of the grave which they were clearing out had been originally secured
by four walls of freestone forming a parallelogram for the reception
probably of the coffin
»It is worth while proceeding in our labours« said the Antiquary to Sir
Arthur »were it but for curiositys sake I wonder on whose sepulchre they have
bestowed such uncommon pains«
»The arms on the shield« said Sir Arthur and sighed as he spoke it »are
the same with those on Misticots tower supposed to have been built by Malcolm
the usurper No man knew where he was buried and there is an old prophecy in
our family that bodes us no good when his grave shall be discovered«
»I wot« said the beggar »I have often heard that when I was a bairn
If Malcolm the Misticots grave were fun
The lands of Knockwinnock were lost and won«
Oldbuck with his spectacles on his nose had already knelt down on the
monument and was tracing partly with his eye partly with his finger the
mouldered devices upon the effigy of the deceased warrior »It is the
Knockwinnock arms sure enough« he exclaimed »quarterly with the coat of
Wardour«
»Richard called the redhanded Wardour married Sybil Knockwinnock the
heiress of the Saxon family and by that alliance« said Sir Arthur »brought
the castle and estate into the name of Wardour in the year of God 1150«
»Very true Sir Arthur and here is the batonsinister the mark of
illegitimacy extended diagonally through both coats upon the shield Where can
our eyes have been that they did not see this curious monument before«
»Na whare was the throughstane that it didna come before our een till
eenow« said Ochiltree »for I hae kend this auld kirk man and bairn for
saxty lang years and I neer noticed it afore and its nae sic mote neither
but what ane might see it in their parritch«
All were now induced to tax their memory as to the former state of the ruins
in that corner of the chancel and all agreed in recollecting a considerable
pile of rubbish which must have been removed and spread abroad in order to make
the tomb visible Sir Arthur might indeed have remembered seeing the monument
on the former occasion but his mind was too much agitated to attend to the
circumstance as a novelty
While the assistants were engaged in these recollections and discussions
the workmen proceeded with their labour They had already dug to the depth of
nearly five feet and as the flinging out the soil became more and more
difficult they began at length to tire of the job
»Were down to the till now« said one of them »and the neer a coffin or
onything else is here some cunninger chiels been afore us I reckon« and
the labourer scrambled out of the grave
»Hout lad« said Edie getting down in his room »let me try my hand for
an auld bedral yere gude seekers but ill finders«
So soon as he got into the grave he struck his pikestaff forcibly down it
encountered resistance in its descent and the beggar exclaimed like a Scotch
schoolboy when he finds anything »Nae halvers and quarters hale o mine ain
and nane o my neighbours«
Everybody from the dejected Baronet to the sullen adept now caught the
spirit of curiosity crowded round the grave and would have jumped into it
could its space have contained them The labourers who had begun to flag in
their monotonous and apparently hopeless task now resumed their tools and
plied them with all the ardour of expectation Their shovels soon grated upon a
hard wooden surface which as the earth was cleared away assumed the distinct
form of a chest but greatly smaller than that of a coffin Now all hands were
at work to heave it out of the grave and all voices as it was raised
proclaimed its weight and augured its value They were not mistaken
When the chest or box was placed on the surface and the lid forced up by a
pickaxe there was displayed first a coarse canvas cover then a quantity of
oakum and beneath that a number of ingots of silver A general exclamation
hailed a discovery so surprising and unexpected The Baronet threw his hands and
eyes up to heaven with the silent rapture of one who is delivered from
inexpressible distress of mind Oldbuck almost unable to credit his eyes
lifted one piece of silver after another There was neither inscription nor
stamp upon them excepting one which seemed to be Spanish He could have no
doubt of the purity and great value of the treasure before him Still however
removing piece by piece he examined row by row expecting to discover that the
lower layers were of inferior value but he could perceive no difference in this
respect and found himself compelled to admit that Sir Arthur had possessed
himself of bullion to the value perhaps of a thousand pounds sterling Sir
Arthur now promised the assistants a handsome recompense for their trouble and
began to busy himself about the mode of conveying this rich windfall to the
Castle of Knockwinnock when the adept recovering from his surprise which had
equalled that exhibited by any other individual of the party twitched his
sleeve and having offered his humble congratulations turned next to Oldbuck
with an air of triumph
»I did tell you my goot friend Mr Oldenbuck dat I was to seek
opportunity to thank you for your civility now do you not think I have found
out vary goot way to return thank«
»Why Mr Dousterswivel do you pretend to have had any hand in our good
success you forget you refused us all aid of your science man and you are
here without your weapons that should have fought the battle which you pretend
to have gained in our behalf you have used neither charm lamen sigil
talisman spell crystal pentacle magic mirror nor geomantic figure Where be
your periapts and your abracadabras man your Mayfern your vervain
Your toad your crow your dragon and your panther
Your sun your moon your firmament your adrop
Your Lato Azoch Zernich Chibrit Heautarit
With all your broths your menstrues your materials
Would burst a man to name
Ah rare Ben Jonson long peace to thy ashes for a scourge of the quacks of thy
day who expected to see them revive in our own«
The answer of the adept to the Antiquarys tirade we must defer to our next
chapter
Chapter TwentyFourth
Clause You now shall know the king o the beggars treasure
Yes ere tomorrow you shall find your harbour
Here fail me not for if I live Ill fit you
The Beggars Bush
The German determined it would seem to assert the vantageground on which the
discovery had placed him replied with great pomp and stateliness to the attack
of the Antiquary
»Maister Oldenbuck all dis may be very witty and comedy but I have nothing
to say nothing at all to people dat will not believe deir own eyesights It
is vary true dat I ave not any of de things of de art and it makes de more
wonder what I has done dis day But I would ask of you mine honoured and goot
and generous patron to put your hand into your righthand waistcoat pocket and
show me what you shall find dere«
Sir Arthur obeyed his direction and pulled out the small plate of silver
which he had used under the adepts auspices upon the former occasion »It is
very true« said Sir Arthur looking gravely at the Antiquary »this is the
graduated and calculated sigil by which Mr Dousterswivel and I regulated our
first discovery«
»Pshaw pshaw my dear friend« said Oldbuck »you are too wise to believe
in the influence of a trumpery crownpiece beat out thin and a parcel of
scratches upon it I tell thee Sir Arthur that if Dousterswivel had known
where to get this treasure himself you would not have been lord of the least
share of it«
»In troth please your honour« said Edie who put in his word on all
occasions »I think since Mr Dunkerswivel has had sae muckle merit in
discovering a the gear the least ye can do is to gie him that ot thats left
behind for his labour for doubtless he that kend where to find sae muckle will
hae nae difficulty to find mair«
Dousterswivels brow grew very dark at this proposal of leaving him to his
»ain purchase« as Ochiltree expressed it but the beggar drawing him aside
whispered a word or two in his ear to which he seemed to give serious
attention
Meanwhile Sir Arthur his heart warm with his good fortune said aloud
»Never mind our friend Monkbarns Mr Dousterswivel but come to the Castle
tomorrow and Ill convince you that I am not ungrateful for the hints you have
given me about this matter and the fifty Fairport dirty notes as you call
them are heartily at your service Come my lads get the cover of this
precious chest fastened up again«
But the cover had in the confusion fallen aside among the rubbish or the
loose earth which had been removed from the grave in short it was not to be
seen
»Never mind my good lads tie the tarpaulin over it and get it away to the
carriage Monkbarns will you walk I must go back your way to take up Miss
Wardour«
»And I hope to take up your dinner also Sir Arthur and drink a glass of
wine for joy of our happy adventure Besides you should write about the
business to the Exchequer in case of any interference on the part of the Crown
As you are lord of the manor it will be easy to get a deed of gift should they
make any claim We must talk about it though«
»And I particularly recommend silence to all who are present« said Sir
Arthur looking round All bowed and professed themselves dumb
»Why as to that« said Monkbarns »recommending secrecy where a dozen of
people are acquainted with the circumstance to be concealed is only putting the
truth in masquerade for the story will be circulated under twenty different
shapes But never mind we will state the true one to the Barons and that is
all that is necessary«
»I incline to send off an express tonight« said the Baronet
»I can recommend your honour to a sure hand« said Ochiltree »little Davie
Mailsetter and the butchers reisting powny«
»We will talk over the matter as we go to Monkbarns« said Sir Arthur »My
lads« to the workpeople »come with me to the Four Horseshoes that I may
take down all your names Dousterswivel I wont ask you to go down to
Monkbarns as the laird and you differ so widely in opinion but do not fail to
come to see me tomorrow«
Dousterswivel growled out an answer in which the words »duty« »mine
honoured patron« and »wait upon Sir Arthurs« were alone distinguishable
and after the Baronet and his friend had left the ruins followed by the
servants and workmen who in hope of reward and whisky joyfully attended their
leader the adept remained in a brown study by the side of the open grave
»Who was it as could have thought this« he ejaculated unconsciously »Mine
heiligkeit I have heard of such things and often spoken of such things but
sapperment I never thought to see them And if I had gone but two or dree feet
deeper down in the earth mein himmel it had been all mine own so much more
as I have been muddling about to get from this fools man«
Here the German ceased his soliloquy for raising his eyes he encountered
those of Edie Ochiltree who had not followed the rest of the company but
resting as usual on his pikestaff had planted himself on the other side of the
grave The features of the old man naturally shrewd and expressive almost to an
appearance of knavery seemed in this instance so keenly knowing that even the
assurance of Dousterswivel though a professed adventurer sunk beneath their
glances But he saw the necessity of an éclaircissement and rallying his
spirits instantly began to sound the mendicant on the occurrences of the day
»Goot Maister Edies Ochiltrees«
»Edie Ochiltree nae maister your puir bedesman and the kings« answered
the BlueGown
»Awell den goot Edie what do you think of all dis«
»I was just thinking it was very kind for I darena say very simple o your
honour to gie thae twa rich gentles wha hae lands and lairdships and siller
without end this grand pose o silver and treasure three times tried in the
fire as the Scripture expresses it that might hae made yoursell and ony twa
or three honest bodies beside as happy and content as the day was lang«
»Indeed Edie mine honest friends dat is very true only I did not know
dat is I was not sure where to find the gelt myself«
»What was it not by your honours advice and counsel that Monkbarns and the
Knight of Knockwinnock came here then«
»Aha yes but it was by another circumstance I did not know dat dey would
have found de treasure mine friend though I did guess by such a tintamarre
and cough and sneeze and groan among de spirit one other night here dat
there might be treasure and bullion hereabout Ach mein himmel the spirit will
hone and groan over his gelt as if he were a Dutch Burgomaster counting his
dollars after a great dinner at the Stadthaus«
»And do you really believe the like o that Mr Dusterdeevil a skeelfu
man like you hout fie«
»Mein friend« answered the adept forced by circumstances to speak
something nearer the truth than he generally used to do »I believed it no more
than you and no man at all till I did hear them hone and moan and groan myself
on de oder night and till I did this day see de cause which was an great chest
all full of de pure silver from Mexico and what would you ave me think den«
»And what wad ye gie to ony ane« said Edie »that wad help ye to sic
another kistfu o silver«
»Give mein himmel one great big quarter of it«
»Now if the secret were mine« said the mendicant »I wad stand out for a
half for you see though I am but a puir ragged body and couldna carry silver
or gowd to sell for fear o being taen up yet I could find mony folk would pass
it awa for me at unco muckle easier profit than yere thinking on«
»Ach himmel Mein goot friend what was it I said I did mean to say
you should have de tree quarter for your half and de one quarter to be my fair
half«
»No no Mr Dusterdeevil we will divide equally what we find, like brother
and brother Now look at this board that I just flung into the dark aisle out
o the way while Monkbarns was glowering ower a the silver yonder Hes a
sharp chiel Monkbarns I was glad to keep the like o this out o his sight
Yell maybe can read the character better than me I am nae that book learned
at least Im no that muckle in practice«
With this modest declaration of ignorance Ochiltree brought forth from
behind a pillar the cover of the box or chest of treasure which when forced
from its hinges had been carelessly flung aside during the ardour of curiosity
to ascertain the contents which it concealed and had been afterwards as it
seems secreted by the mendicant There was a word and a number upon the plank
and the beggar made them more distinct by spitting upon his ragged blue
handkerchief and rubbing off the clay by which the inscription was obscured It
was in the ordinary black letter
»Can ye mak ought ot« said Edie to the adept
»S« said the philosopher like a child getting his lesson in the primer
»S T A R C H Starch dat is what de womanwashers put into de
neckerchers and de shirt collar«
»Starch« echoed Ochiltree »na na Mr Dusterdeevil ye are mair of a
conjuror than a clerk its search man search See theres the Ye clear and
distinct«
»Aha I see it now it is search number one Mein himmel then there must
be a number two mein goot friend for search is what you call to seek and dig
and this is but number one Mine wort there is one great big prize in de wheel
for us goot Maister Ochiltree«
»Aweel it may be sae but we canna howk fort enow we hae nae shules for
they hae taen them a awa and its like some o them will be sent back to
fling the earth into the hole and mak a things trig again But an yell sit
down wi me a while in the wood Ise satisfy your honour that ye hae just
lighted on the only man in the country that could hae tauld about Malcolm
Misticot and his hidden treasure But first well rub out the letters on this
board for fear it tell tales«
And by the assistance of his knife the beggar erased and defaced the
characters so as to make them quite unintelligible and then daubed the board
with clay so as to obliterate all traces of the erasure
Dousterswivel stared at him in ambiguous silence There was an intelligence
and alacrity about all the old mans movements which indicated a person that
could not be easily overreached and yet for even rogues acknowledge in some
degree the spirit of precedence our adept felt the disgrace of playing a
secondary part and dividing winnings with so mean an associate His appetite
for gain however was sufficiently sharp to overpower his offended pride and
though far more an impostor than a dupe he was not without a certain degree of
personal faith even in the gross superstitions by means of which he imposed upon
others Still being accustomed to act as a leader on such occasions he felt
humiliated at feeling himself in the situation of a vulture marshalled to his
prey by a carrioncrow »Let me however hear this story to an end« thought
Dousterswivel »and it will be hard if I do not make mine account in it better
as Maister Edie Ochiltrees makes proposes«
The adept thus transformed into a pupil from a teacher of the mystic art
followed Ochiltree in passive acquiescence to the Priors Oak a spot as the
reader may remember at a short distance from the ruins where the German sat
down and in silence waited the old mans communication
»Maister Dustandsnivel« said the narrator »its an unco while since I
heard this business treated anent for the lairds of Knockwinnock neither Sir
Arthur nor his father nor his grandfather and I mind a wee bit about them a
liked to hear it spoken about nor they dinna like it yet But nae matter ye
may be sure it was clattered about in the kitchen like onything else in a great
house though it were forbidden in the ha and sae I hae heard the
circumstance rehearsed by auld servants in the family and in thir present days
when things o that auldwarld sort arena keepit in mind round winter firesides
as they used to be I question if theres onybody in the country can tell the
tale but mysell aye outtaken the laird though for theres a parchment book
about it as I have heard in the charterroom at Knockwinnock Castle«
»Well all dat is vary well but get you on with your stories mine goot
friend« said Dousterswivel
»Aweel ye see« continued the mendicant »this was a job in the auld times
o rugging and riving through the hale country when it was ilka ane for
himsell and God for us a when nae man wanted property if he had strength to
take it or had it langer than he had power to keep it It was just he ower her
and she ower him whichever could win upmost a through the east country here
and nae doubt through the rest o Scotland in the self and same manner«
»Sae in these days Sir Richard Wardour came into the land and that was the
first o the name ever was in this country Theres been mony o them sin syne
and the maist like him they cad HellinHarness and the rest o them are
sleeping down in yon ruins They were a proud dour set o men but unco brave
and aye stood up for the weel o the country God sain them a theres no
muckle popery in that wish They cad them the Norman Wardours though they cam
frae the south to this country So this Sir Richard that they cad Redhand
drew up wi the auld Knockwinnock o that day for then they were Knockwinnocks
of that Ilk and wad fain marry his only daughter that was to have the castle
and the land Laith laith was the lass Sybil Knockwinnock they cad her that
tauld me the tale laith laith was she to gie into the match for she had
faen a wee ower thick wi a cousin o her ain that her father had some illwill
to and sae it was that after she had been married to Sir Richard jimp four
months for marry him she maun its like yell no hinder her gieing them a
present o a bonny knave bairn Then there was siccan a cathro as the like
was never seen and shes be burnt and hes be slain was the best words o
their mouths But it was a sowdered up again some gait and the bairn was sent
awa and bred up near the Highlands and grew up to be a fine wanle fallow like
mony ane that comes o the wrang side o the blanket and Sir Richard wi the
Redhand he had a fair offspring o his ain and a was lound and quiet till
his head was laid in the ground But then down came Malcolm Misticot Sir
Arthur says it should be Misbegot but they aye cad him Misticot that spoke ot
lang syne down cam this Malcolm the lovebegot frae Glenisla wi a string
o langlegged Highlanders at his heels thats aye ready for onybodys
mischief and he threeps the castle and lands are his ain as his mothers eldest
son and turns a the Wardours out to the hill There was a sort of fighting and
bludespilling about it for the gentles took different sides but Malcolm had
the uppermost for a lang time and keepit the Castle of Knockwinnock and
strengthened it and built that muckle tower that they ca Misticots tower to
this day«
»Mine goot friend old Mr Edie Ochiltree« interrupted the German »this is
all as one like de long histories of a baron of sixteen quarters in mine
countries but I would as rather hear of de silver and gold«
»Why ye see« continued the mendicant »this Malcolm was weel helped by an
uncle a brother o his fathers that was Prior o St Ruth here and muckle
treasure they gathered between them to secure the succession of their house in
the lands of Knockwinnock Folk said that the monks in thae days had the art of
multiplying metals at ony rate they were very rich At last it came to this
that the young Wardour that was Redhands son challenged Misticot to fight
with him in the lists as they cad them thats no lists or tailors runds and
selvedges o claith but a palinthing they set up for them to fight in like
gamecocks Aweel Misticot was beaten and at his brothers mercy but he
wadna touch his life for the blood of Knockwinnock that was in baith their
veins so Malcolm was compelled to turn a monk and he died soon after in the
priory of pure despite and vexation Naebody ever kennd whare his uncle the
prior earded him or what he did wi his gowd and silver for he stood on the
right o halie kirk and wad gie nae account to onybody But the prophecy gat
abroad in the country that whenever Misticots grave was fund out the estate
of Knockwinnock should be lost and won«
»Ach mine goot old friend Maister Edie and dat is not so very unlikely
if Sir Arthurs will quarrel wit his goot friends to please Mr Oldenbuck And
so you do tink dat dis golds and silvers belonged to goot Mr Malcolm
Mishdigoat«
»Troth do I Mr Dousterdeevil«
»And you do believe dat dere is more of dat sorts behind«
»By my certie do I How can it be otherwise Search No I that is as
muckle as to say search and yell find number twa Besides yon kist is only
silver and I aye heard that Misticots pose had muckle yellow gowd int«
»Den mine goot friends« said the adept jumping up hastily »why do we not
set about our little job directly«
»For twa gude reasons« answered the beggar who quietly kept his sitting
posture »first because as I said before we have naething to dig wi for
they hae taen awa the picks and shules and secondly because there will be a
wheen idle gowks coming to glower at the hole as lang as it is daylight and
maybe the laird may send somebody to fill it up and ony way we wad be catched
But if you will meet me on this place at twal oclock wi a dark lantern Ill
hae tools ready and well gang quietly about our job our twa sells and naebody
the wiser fort«
»Be be but mine goot friend« said Dousterswivel from whose
recollection his former nocturnal adventure was not to be altogether erased
even by the splendid hopes which Edies narrative held forth »it is not so goot
or so safe to be about goot Maister Mishdigoats grabe at dat time of night
you have forgot how I told you de spirits did hone and mone dere I do assure
you dere is disturbance dere«
»If yere afraid of ghaists« answered the mendicant coolly »Ill do the
job mysell and bring your share o the siller to ony place you like to
appoint«
»No no mine excellent old Mr Edie too much trouble for you I will
not have dat I will come myself and it will be bettermost for mine old
friend it was I Herman Dousterswivel discovered Maister Mishdigoats grave
when I was looking for a place as to put away some little trumpery coins just
to play one little trick on my dear friend Sir Arthur for a little sport and
pleasures Yes I did take some what you call rubbish and did discover Maister
Mishdigoats own monumentsh Its like dat he meant I should be his heirs so
it would not be civility in me not to come mineself for mine inheritance«
»At twal oclock then« said the mendicant »we meet under this tree Ill
watch for a while and see that naebody meddles wi the grave its only saying
the lairds forbade it then get my bit supper frae Ringan the poinder up by
and leave to sleep in his barn and Ill slip out at night and neer be mist«
»Do so mine goot Maister Edie and I will meet you here on this very place
though all de spirits should moan and sneeze deir very brains out«
So saying he shook hands with the old man and with this mutual pledge of
fidelity to their appointment they separated for the present
Chapter TwentyFifth
See thou shake the bags
Of hoarding abbots angels imprisoned
Set thou at liberty
Bell book and candle shall not drive me back
If gold and silver beckon to come on
King John
The night set in stormy with wind and occasional showers of rain »Eh sirs«
said the old mendicant as he took his place on the sheltered side of the large
oaktree to wait for his associate »Eh sirs but human natures a wilful and
wilyard thing Is it not an unco lucre o gain wad bring this Dousterdivel out
in a blast o wind like this at twal oclock at night to thir wild gousty
was and amna I a bigger fule than himsell to bide here waiting for him«
Having made these sage reflections he wrapped himself close in his cloak
and fixed his eye on the moon as she waded amid the stormy and dusky clouds
which the wind from time to time drove across her surface The melancholy and
uncertain gleams that she shot from between the passing shadows fell full upon
the rifted arches and shafted windows of the old building which were thus for
an instant made distinctly visible in their ruinous state and anon became again
a dark undistinguished and shadowy mass The little lake had its share of
these transient beams of light and showed its waters broken whitened and
agitated under the passing storm which when the clouds swept over the moon
were only distinguished by their sullen and murmuring plash against the beach
The wooded glen repeated to every successive gust that hurried through its
narrow trough the deep and various groan with which the trees replied to the
whirlwind and the sound sunk again as the blast passed away into a faint and
passing murmur resembling the sighs of an exhausted criminal after the first
pangs of his torture are over In these sounds superstition might have found
ample gratification for that state of excited terror which she fears and yet
loves But such feelings made no part of Ochiltrees composition His mind
wandered back to the scenes of his youth
»I have kept guard on the outposts baith in Germany and America« he said to
himself »in mony a waur night than this and when I kend there was maybe a
dozen o their riflemen in the thicket before me But I was aye gleg at my duty
naebody ever catched Edie sleeping«
As he muttered thus to himself he instinctively shouldered his trusty
pikestaff assumed the port of a sentinel on duty and as a step advanced
towards the tree called with a tone assorting better with his military
reminiscences than his present state »Stand who goes there«
»De devil good Edie« answered Dousterswivel »why does you speak so loud
as a baarenhauter or what you call a factionary I mean a sentinel«
»Just because I thought I was a sentinel at that moment« answered the
mendicant »Heres an awsome night Hae ye brought the lantern and a pock for
the siller«
»Ay ay mine goot friend« said the German »here it is my pair of what
you call saddlebag one side will be for you one side for me I will put dem
on my horse to save you de trouble as you are old man«
»Have you a horse here then« asked Edie Ochiltree
»O yes mine friend tied yonder by de stile« responded the adept
»Weel I hae just ae word to the bargain there sall nane o my gear gang
on your beasts back«
»What was it as you would be afraid of« said the foreigner
»Only of losing sight of horse man and money« again replied the
gaberlunzie
»Does you know dat you make one gentlemans out to be one great rogue«
»Mony gentlemen« replied Ochiltree »can make that out for themselves But
whats the sense of quarrelling If ye want to gang on gang on if no Ill
gae back to the gude aitstraw in Ringan Aikwoods barn that I left wi right
illwill enow and Ill pit back the pick and shule whar I got them«
Dousterswivel deliberated a moment whether by suffering Edie to depart he
might not secure the whole of the expected wealth for his own exclusive use But
the want of digging implements the uncertainty whether if he had them he
could clear out the grave to a sufficient depth without assistance and above
all the reluctance which he felt owing to the experience of the former night
to venture alone on the terrors of Misticots grave satisfied him the attempt
would be hazardous Endeavouring therefore to assume his usual cajoling tone
though internally incensed he begged »his goot friend Maister Edie Ochiltrees
would lead the way and assured him of his acquiescence in all such an excellent
friend could propose«
»Aweel aweel then« said Edie »tak gude care o your feet amang the lang
grass and the loose stanes I wish we may get the light keepit in neist wi
this fearsome wind but theres a blink o moonlight at times«
Thus saying old Edie closely accompanied by the adept led the way towards
the ruins but presently made a full halt in front of them
»Yere a learned man Mr Dousterdeevil and ken muckle o the marvellous
works o nature Now will ye tell me ae thing Dye believe in ghaists and
spirits that walk the earth dye believe in them ay or no«
»Now goot Mr Edie« whispered Dousterswivel in an expostulatory tone of
voice »is this a times or a places for such a questions«
»Indeed is it baith the tane and the tother Mr Dustanshovel for I maun
fairly tell ye theres reports that auld Misticot walks Now this wad be an
uncanny night to meet him in and wha kens if he wad be ower weel pleased wi
our purpose of visiting his pose«
»Alle guten Geister« muttered the adept the rest of the conjuration being
lost in a tremulous warble of his voice »I do desires you not to speak so
Mr Edie for from all I heard dat one other night I do much believes«
»Now I« said Ochiltree entering the chancel and flinging abroad his arm
with an air of defiance »I wadna gie the crack o my thumb for him were he to
appear at this moment hes but a disembodied spirit as we are embodied anes«
»For the lofe of heavens« said Dousterswivel »say nothing at all neither
about somebodies or nobodies«
»Aweel« said the beggar expanding the shade of the lantern »heres the
stane and spirit or no spirit Ise be a wee bit deeper in the grave« and he
jumped into the place from which the precious chest had that morning been
removed After striking a few strokes he tired or affected to tire and said
to his companion »Im auld and failed now and canna keep at it time abouts
fair play neighbour ye maun get in and tak the shule a bit and shule out the
loose earth and then Ill tak turn about wi you«
Dousterswivel accordingly took the place which the beggar had evacuated and
toiled with all the zeal that awakened avarice mingled with the anxious wish to
finish the undertaking and leave the place as soon as possible could inspire in
a mind at once greedy suspicious and timorous
Edie standing much at his ease by the side of the hole contented himself
with exhorting his associate to labour hard »My certie few ever wrought for
siccan a days wage an it be but say the tenth part o the size o the kist
No I it will double its value being filled wi gowd instead of silver Od
ye work as if ye had been bred to pick and shule ye could win your round
halfcrown ilka day Tak care o your taes wi that stane« giving a kick to a
large one which the adept had heaved out with difficulty and which Edie pushed
back again to the great annoyance of his associates shins
Thus exhorted by the mendicant Dousterswivel struggled and laboured among
the stones and stiff clay toiling like a horse and internally blaspheming in
German When such an unhallowed syllable escaped his lips Edie changed his
battery upon him
»O dinna swear dinna swear Wha kens whas listening Eh gude guide us
whats yon Hout its just a branch of ivy flightering awa frae the wa when
the moon was in it lookit unco like a dead mans arm wi a taper int I
thought it was Misticot himsell But never mind work you away fling the earth
weel up by out o the gate Od if yere no as clean a worker at a grave as
Will Winnet himsell What gars ye stop now yere just at the very bit for a
chance«
»Stop« said the German in a tone of anger and disappointment »why I am
down at de rocks dat de cursed ruins God forgife me is founded upon«
»Weel« said the beggar »thats the likeliest bit of ony It will be but a
muckle throughstane laid doun to kiver the gowd tak the pick tillt and pit
mair strength man ae gude downright devvel will split it Ise warrant ye
Ay that will do Od he comes on wi Wallaces straiks«
In fact the adept moved by Edies exhortations fetched two or three
desperate blows and succeeded in breaking not indeed that against which he
struck which as he had already conjectured was the solid rock but the
implement which he wielded jarring at the same time his arms up to the
shoulderblades
»Hurra boys there goes Ringans pickaxe« cried Edie »its a shame o
the Fairport folk to sell siccan frail gear Try the shule at it again Mr
Dusterdeevil«
The adept without reply scrambled out of the pit which was now about six
feet deep and addressed his associate in a voice that trembled with anger
»Does you know Mr Edies Ochiltrees who it is you put off your gibes and your
jests upon«
»Brawly Mr Dusterdeevil brawly do I ken ye and has done mony a day but
theres nae jesting in the case for I am wearying to see a our treasures we
should hae had baith ends o the pockmanky filled by this time I hope its
bowk eneugh to haud a the gear«
»Look you you base old person« said the incensed philosopher »if you do
put another jest upon me I will cleave your skullpiece with this shovels«
»And whare wad my hands and my pikestaff be a the time« replied Edie in
a tone that indicated no apprehension »Hout tout Maister Dusterdeevil I
haena lived sae lang in the warld neither to be shuled out ot that gate What
ails ye to be cankered man wi your friends Ill wager Ill find out the
treasure in a minute« and he jumped into the pit and took up the spade
»I do swear to you« said the adept whose suspicions were now fully awake
»that if you have played me one big trick I will give you one big beating Mr
Edies«
»Hear till him now« said Ochiltree »he kens how to gar folk find out the
gear Od Im thinking hes been drilled that way himsell some day«
At this insinuation which alluded obviously to the former scene betwixt
himself and Sir Arthur the philosopher lost the slender remnant of patience he
had left and being of violent passions heaved up the truncheon of the broken
mattock to discharge it upon the old mans head The blow would in all
probability have been fatal had not he at whom it was aimed exclaimed in a
stern and firm voice »Shame to ye man do ye think Heaven or earth will
suffer ye to murder an auld man that might be your father Look behind ye
man«
Dousterswivel turned instinctively and beheld to his utter astonishment a
tall dark figure standing close behind him The apparition gave him no time to
proceed by exorcism or otherwise but having instantly recourse to the voie de
fait took measure of the adepts shoulders three or four times with blows so
substantial that he fell under the weight of them and remained senseless for
some minutes between fear and stupefaction When he came to himself he was
alone in the ruined chancel lying upon the soft and damp earth which had been
thrown out of Misticots grave He raised himself with a confused sensation of
anger pain and terror and it was not until he had sat upright for some
minutes that he could arrange his ideas sufficiently to recollect how he came
there or with what purpose As his recollection returned he could have little
doubt that the bait held out to him by Ochiltree to bring him to that solitary
spot the sarcasms by which he had provoked him into a quarrel and the ready
assistance which he had at hand for terminating it in the manner in which it had
ended were all parts of a concerted plan to bring disgrace and damage on Herman
Dousterswivel He could hardly suppose that he was indebted for the fatigue
anxiety and beating which he had undergone purely to the malice of Edie
Ochiltree singly but concluded that the mendicant had acted a part assigned to
him by some person of greater importance His suspicions hesitated between
Oldbuck and Sir Arthur Wardour The former had been at no pains to conceal a
marked dislike of him but the latter he had deeply injured and although he
judged that Sir Arthur did not know the extent of his wrongs towards him yet it
was easy to suppose he had gathered enough of the truth to make him desirous of
revenge Ochiltree had alluded to at least one circumstance which the adept had
every reason to suppose was private between Sir Arthur and himself and
therefore must have been learned from the former. The language of Oldbuck also
intimated a conviction of his knavery which Sir Arthur heard without making any
animated defence Lastly the way in which Dousterswivel supposed the Baronet to
have exercised his revenge was not inconsistent with the practice of other
countries with which the adept was better acquainted than with those of North
Britain With him as with many bad men to suspect an injury and to nourish
the purpose of revenge was one and the same movement And before Dousterswivel
had fairly recovered his legs he had mentally sworn the ruin of his benefactor
which unfortunately he possessed too much the power of accelerating
But although a purpose of revenge floated through his brain it was no time
to indulge such speculations The hour the place his own situation and
perhaps the presence or near neighbourhood of his assailants made
selfpreservation the adepts first object The lantern had been thrown down and
extinguished in the scuffle The wind which formerly howled so loudly through
the aisles of the ruin had now greatly fallen lulled by the rain which was
descending very fast The moon from the same cause was totally obscured and
though Dousterswivel had some experience of the ruins and knew that he must
endeavour to regain the eastern door of the chancel yet the confusion of his
ideas was such that he hesitated for some time ere he could ascertain in what
direction he was to seek it In this perplexity the suggestions of
superstition taking the advantage of darkness and his evil conscience began
again to present themselves to his disturbed imagination »But bah« quoth he
valiantly to himself »it is all nonsense all one part of de damn big trick
and imposture Devil that one thickskulled Scotch Baronet as I have led by
the nose for five year should cheat Herman Dousterswivel«
As he had come to this conclusion an incident occurred which tended greatly
to shake the grounds on which he had adopted it Amid the melancholy sough of
the dying wind and the plash of the raindrops on leaves and stones arose and
apparently at no great distance from the listener a strain of vocal music so
sad and solemn as if the departed spirits of the churchmen who had once
inhabited these deserted ruins were mourning the solitude and desolation to
which their hallowed precincts had been abandoned Dousterswivel who had now
got upon his feet and was groping around the wall of the chancel stood rooted
to the ground on the occurrence of this new phenomenon Each faculty of his soul
seemed for the moment concentred in the sense of hearing and all rushed back
with the unanimous information that the deep wild and prolonged chant which
he now heard was the appropriate music of one of the most solemn dirges of the
Church of Rome Why performed in such a solitude and by what class of
choristers were questions which the terrified imagination of the adept stirred
with all the German superstitions of nixies oakkings werwolves hobgoblins
black spirits and white blue spirits and grey durst not even attempt to solve
Another of his senses was soon engaged in the investigation At the
extremity of one of the transepts of the church at the bottom of a few
descending steps was a small irongrated door opening as far as he
recollected to a sort of low vault or sacristy As he cast his eye in the
direction of the sound he observed a strong reflection of red light glimmering
through these bars and against the steps which descended to them Dousterswivel
stood a moment uncertain what to do then suddenly forming a desperate
resolution he moved down the aisle to the place from which the light proceeded
Fortified with the sign of the cross and as many exorcisms as his memory
could recover he advanced to the grate from which unseen he could see what
passed in the interior of the vault As he approached with timid and uncertain
steps the chant after one or two wild and prolonged cadences died away into
profound silence The grate when he reached it presented a singular spectacle
in the interior of the sacristy An open grave with four tall flambeaus each
about six feet high placed at the four corners a bier having a corpse in its
shroud the arms folded upon the breast rested upon tressels at one side of the
grave as if ready to be interred a priest dressed in his cope and stole
held open the service book another churchman in his vestments bore a
holywater sprinkler and two boys in white surplices held censers with incense
a man of a figure once tall and commanding but now bent with age or
infirmity stood alone and nearest to the coffin attired in deep mourning
such were the most prominent figures of the group At a little distance were two
or three persons of both sexes attired in long mourning hoods and cloaks and
five or six others in the same lugubrious dress still farther removed from the
body around the walls of the vault stood ranged in motionless order each
bearing in his hand a huge torch of black wax The smoky light from so many
flambeaus by the red and indistinct atmosphere which it spread around gave a
hazy dubious and as it were phantomlike appearance to the outlines of this
singular apparition The voice of the priest loud clear and sonorous now
recited from the breviary which he held in his hand those solemn words which
the ritual of the Catholic church has consecrated to the rendering of dust to
dust Meanwhile Dousterswivel the place the hour and the surprise
considered still remained uncertain whether what he saw was substantial or an
unearthly representation of the rites to which in former times these walls were
familiar but which are now rarely practised in Protestant countries and almost
never in Scotland He was uncertain whether to abide the conclusion of the
ceremony or to endeavour to regain the chancel when a change in his position
made him visible through the grate to one of the attendant mourners The person
who first espied him indicated his discovery to the individual who stood apart
and nearest the coffin by a sign and upon his making a sign in reply two of
the group detached themselves and gliding along with noiseless steps as if
fearing to disturb the service unlocked and opened the grate which separated
them from the adept Each took him by an arm and exerting a degree of force
which he would have been incapable of resisting had his fear permitted him to
attempt opposition they placed him on the ground in the chancel and sat down
one on each side of him as if to detain him Satisfied he was in the power of
mortals like himself the adept would have put some questions to them but while
one pointed to the vault from which the sound of the priests voice was
distinctly heard the other placed his finger upon his lips in token of silence
a hint which the German thought it most prudent to obey And thus they detained
him until a loud Alleluia pealing through the deserted arches of St Ruth
closed the singular ceremony which it had been his fortune to witness
When the hymn had died away with all its echoes the voice of one of the
sable personages under whose guard the adept had remained said in a familiar
tone and dialect »Dear sirs Mr Dousterswivel is this you could not ye have
let us ken an ye had wussed till hae been present at the ceremony My lord
couldna tak it weel your coming blinking and jinking in in that fashion«
»In de name of all dat is gootness tell me what you are« interrupted the
German in his turn
»What I am why wha should I be but Ringan Aikwood the Knockwinnock
poinder and what are ye doing here at this time o night unless ye were come
to attend the leddys burial«
»I do declare to you mine goot Poinder Aikwood« said the German raising
himself up »that I have been this vary nights murdered robbed and put in
fears of my life«
»Robbed wha wad do sic a deed here Murdered od ye speak pretty blithe
for a murdered man Put in fear what put you in fear Mr Dousterswivel«
»I will tell you Maister Poinder Aikwood Ringan just dat old miscreant dog
villain bluegown as you call Edie Ochiltrees«
»Ill neer believe that« answered Ringan »Edie was kend to me and my
father before me for a true loyal and soothfast man and mair by token
hes sleeping up yonder in our barn and has been since ten at een Sae touch
ye wha liket Mr Dousterswivel and whether onybody touched ye or no Im sure
Edies sackless«
»Maister Ringan Aikwood Poinders I do not know what you call sackless
but let alone all de oils and de soot dat you say he has and I will tell you I
was dis night robbed of fifty pounds by your oil and sooty friend Edies
Ochiltree and he is no more in your barn even now dan I ever shall be in de
kingdom of heafen«
»Weel sir if ye will gae up wi me as the burial company has dispersed
wese mak ye down a bed at the lodge and wese see if Edies at the barn There
was twa wildlooking chaps left the auld kirk when we were coming up wi the
corpse thats certain and the priest wha likes ill that ony heretics should
look on at our church ceremonies sent twa o the riding saulies after them sae
well hear a about it frae them«
Thus speaking the kindly apparition with the assistance of the mute
personage who was his son disencumbered himself of his cloak and prepared to
escort Dousterswivel to the place of that rest which the adept so much needed
»I will apply to the magistrates tomorrow« said the adept »oder I will
have de law put in force against all the peoples«
While he thus muttered vengeance against the cause of his injury he
tottered from among the ruins supporting himself on Ringan and his son whose
assistance his state of weakness rendered very necessary
When they were clear of the priory and had gained the little meadow in
which it stands Dousterswivel could perceive the torches which had caused him
so much alarm issuing in irregular procession from the ruins and glancing their
light like that of the ignis fatuus on the banks of the lake After moving
along the path for some short space with a fluctuating and irregular motion the
lights were at once extinguished
»We aye put out the torches at the Haliecross Well on sic occasions« said
the forester to his guest And accordingly no farther visible sign of the
procession offered itself to Dousterswivel although his ear could catch the
distant and decreasing echo of horses hoofs in the direction towards which the
mourners had bent their course
Chapter TwentySixth
O weel may the boatie row
And better may she speed
And weel may the boatie row
That earns the bairnies bread
The boatie rows the boatie rows
The boatie rows fu weel
And lightsome be their life that bear
The merlin and the creel
Old Ballad
We must now introduce our reader to the interior of the fishers cottage
mentioned in chapter eleventh of this edifying history I wish I could say that
its inside was well arranged decently furnished or tolerably clean On the
contrary I am compelled to admit there was confusion there was
dilapidation there was dirt good store Yet with all this there was about
the inmates Luckie Mucklebackit and her family an appearance of ease plenty
and comfort that seemed to warrant their old sluttish proverb »The clartier
the cosier« A huge fire though the season was summer occupied the hearth and
served at once for affording light heat and the means of preparing food The
fishing had been successful and the family with customary improvidence had
since unlading the cargo continued an unremitting operation of broiling and
frying that part of the produce reserved for home consumption and the bones and
fragments lay on the wooden trenchers mingled with morsels of broken bannocks
and shattered mugs of halfdrunk beer The stout and athletic form of Maggie
herself bustling here and there among a pack of halfgrown girls and younger
children of whom she chucked one now here and another now there with an
exclamation of »Get out o the gate ye little sorrow« was strongly contrasted
with the passive and halfstupified look and manner of her husbands mother a
woman advanced to the last stage of human life who was seated in her wonted
chair close by the fire the warmth of which she coveted yet hardly seemed to
be sensible of now muttering to herself now smiling vacantly to the children
as they pulled the strings of her toy or close cap or twitched her blue checked
apron With her distaff in her bosom and her spindle in her hand she plied
lazily and mechanically the oldfashioned Scottish thrift according to the
oldfashioned Scottish manner The younger children crawling among the feet of
the elder watched the progress of grannies spindle as it twisted and now and
then ventured to interrupt its progress as it danced upon the floor in those
vagaries which the more regulated spinningwheel has now so universally
superseded that even the fated Princess in the fairy tale might roam through
all Scotland without the risk of piercing her hand with a spindle and dying of
the wound Late as the hour was and it was long past midnight the whole
family were still on foot and far from proposing to go to bed the dame was
still busy broiling carcakes on the girdle and the elder girl the halfnaked
mermaid elsewhere commemorated was preparing a pile of Finden haddocks that
is haddocks smoked with green wood to be eaten along with these relishing
provisions
While they were thus employed a slight tap at the door accompanied with
the question »Are ye up yet sirs« announced a visitor The answer »Ay ay
come your ways ben hinny« occasioned the lifting of the latch and Jenny
Rintherout the female domestic of our Antiquary made her appearance
»Ay ay« exclaimed the mistress of the family »Hegh sirs can this be
you Jenny a sight o yous gude for sair een lass«
»O woman weve been sae taen up wi Captain Hectors wound up by that I
havena had my fit out ower the door this fortnight but hes better now and
auld Caxon sleeps in his room in case he wanted onything Sae as soon as our
auld folk gaed to bed I een snodded my head up a bit and left the housedoor
on the latch in case onybody should be wanting in or out while I was awa and
just cam down the gate to see an there was ony cracks amang ye«
»Ay ay« answered Luckie Mucklebackit »I see you hae gotten a your braws
on yere looking about for Steenie now but hes no at hame the night and
yell no do for Steenie lass a feckless thing like yous no fit to mainteen a
man«
»Steenie will no do for me« retorted Jenny with a toss of her head that
might have become a higherborn damsel »I maun hae a man that can mainteen his
wife«
»Ou ay hinny thaes your landward and burrowstown notions My certie
fisherwives ken better they keep the man and keep the house and keep the
siller too lass«
»A wheen poor drudges ye are« answered the nymph of the land to the nymph
of the sea »As sune as the keel o the coble touches the sand deil a bit mair
will the lazy fisher loons work but the wives maun kilt their coats and wade
into the surf to tak the fish ashore And then the man casts aff the wat and
puts on the dry and sits down wi his pipe and his gillstoup ahint the ingle
like ony auld houdie and neer a turn will he do till the cobles afloat again
And the wife she maun get the scull on her back and awa wi the fish to the
next burrowstown and scauld and ban wi ilka wife that will scauld and ban wi
her till its sauld and thats the gait fisherwives live puir slaving
bodies«
»Slaves gae wa lass ca the head o the house slaves little ye ken
about it lass Show me a word my Saunders daur speak or a turn he daur do
about the house without it be just to tak his meat and his drink and his
diversion like ony o the weans He has mair sense than to ca onything about
the bigging his ain frae the rooftree down to a crackit trencher on the bink
He kens weel eneugh wha feeds him and cleeds him and keeps a tight thack and
rape when his coble is jowing awa in the Firth puir fallow Na na lass
them that sell the goods guide the purse them that guide the purse rule the
house Show me ane o yer bits o farmerbodies that wad let their wife drive
the stock to the market and ca in the debts Na na«
»Aweel aweel Maggie ilka land has its ain lauch But wheres Steenie the
night when as come and gane And wheres the gudeman«21
»I hae putten the gudeman to his bed for he was een sair forfairn and
Steenies awa out about some barnsbreaking wi the auld gaberlunzie Edie
Ochiltree theyll be in sune and ye can sit doun«
»Troth gudewife« taking a seat »I haena that muckle time to stop but I
maun tell ye about the news Yell hae heard o the muckle kist o gowd that Sir
Arthur has fund down by at St Ruth Hell be grander than ever now hell no
can haud down his head to sneeze for fear o seeing his shoon«
»Ou ay a the countrys heard o that but auld Edie says that they ca it
ten times mair than ever was ot and he saw them howk it up Od it would be
lang or a puir body that needed it got sic a windfa«
»Na thats sure eneugh And yell hae heard o the Countess o Glenallan
being dead and lying in state and how shes to be buried at St Ruths as this
night fas wi torchlight and a the papist servants and Ringan Aikwood
thats a papist too are to be there and it will be the grandest show ever was
seen«
»Troth hinny« answered the Nereid »if they let naebody but papists come
there itll no be muckle o a show in this country for the auld harlot as
honest Mr Blattergowl cas her has few that drink o her cup o enchantments
in this corner o our chosen lands But what can ail them to bury the auld
carlin a rudas wife she was in the nighttime I dare say our gudemither
will ken«
Here she exalted her voice and exclaimed twice or thrice »Gudemither
gudemither« but lost in the apathy of age and deafness the aged sibyl she
addressed continued plying her spindle without understanding the appeal made to
her
»Speak to your grandmither Jenny Od I wad rather hail the coble half a
mile aff and the norwast wind whistling again in my teeth«
»Grannie« said the little mermaid in a voice to which the old woman was
better accustomed »minnie wants to ken what for the Glenallan folk aye bury by
candlelight in the ruins of St Ruth«
The old woman paused in the act of twirling the spindle turned round to the
rest of the party lifted her withered trembling and claycoloured hand
raised up her ashenhued and wrinkled face which the quick motion of two
lightblue eyes chiefly distinguished from the visage of a corpse and as if
catching at any touch of association with the living world answered »What gars
the Glenallan family inter their dead by torchlight said the lassie Is there
a Glenallan dead een now«
»We might be a dead and buried too« said Maggie »for onything ye wad ken
about it« and then raising her voice to the stretch of her motherinlaws
comprehension she added »Its the auld Countess gudemither«
»And is she cad hame then at last« said the old woman in a voice that
seemed to be agitated with much more feeling than belonged to her extreme old
age and the general indifference and apathy of her manner »is she then called
to her last account after her lang race o pride and power O God forgie
her«
»But minnie was asking ye« resumed the lesser querist »what for the
Glenallan family aye bury their dead by torchlight«
»They hae aye dune sae« said the grandmother »since the time the Great
Earl fell in the sair battle o the Harlaw when they say the coronach was cried
in ae day from the mouth of the Tay to the Buck of the Cabrach that ye wad hae
heard nae other sound but that of lamentation for the great folks that had faen
fighting against Donald of the Isles But the Great Earls mither was living
they were a doughty and a dour race the women o the house o Glenallan and
she wad hae nae coronach cried for her son but had him laid in the silence o
midnight in his place o rest without either drinking the dirge or crying the
lament She said he had killed enow that day he died for the widows and
daughters o the Highlanders he had slain to cry the coronach for them they had
lost and for her son too and sae she laid him in his grave wi dry eyes and
without a groan or a wail And it was thought a proud word o the family and
they aye stickit by it and the mair in the latter times because in the
nighttime they had mair freedom to perform their popish ceremonies by darkness
and in secrecy than in the daylight at least that was the case in my time
they wad hae been disturbed in the daytime baith by the law and the commons of
Fairport they may be owerlooked now as I have heard the warlds changed I
whiles hardly ken whether I am standing or sitting or dead or living«
And looking round the fire as if in a state of unconscious uncertainty of
which she complained old Elspeth relapsed into her habitual and mechanical
occupation of twirling the spindle
»Eh sirs« said Jenny Rintherout under her breath to her gossip »its
awsome to hear your gudemither break out in that gait its like the dead
speaking to the living«
»Yere no that far wrang lass she minds naething o what passes the day
but set her on auld tales and she can speak like a prent buke She kens mair
about the Glenallan family than maist folk the gudemans father was their
fisher mony a day Ye maun ken the papists make a great point o eating fish
its nae bad part o their religion that whatever the rest is I could aye
sell the best o fish at the best o prices for the Countesss ain table grace
be wi her especially on a Friday But see as our gudemithers hands and lips
are ganging now its working in her head like barm shell speak eneugh the
night Whiles shell no speak a word in a week unless it be to the bits o
bairns«
»Hegh Mrs Mucklebackit shes an awsome wife« said Jenny in reply »Dye
think shes athegither right Folk say she downa gang to the kirk or speak to
the minister and that she was ance a papist but since her gudemans been dead
naebody kens what she is Dye think yoursell that shes no uncanny«
»Canny ye silly tawpie think ye ae auld wifes less canny than anither
unless it be Alison Breck I really couldna in conscience swear for her I have
kent the boxes she set filld wi partans when«
»Whisht whisht Maggie« whispered Jenny »your gudemithers gaun to speak
again«
»Wasna there some ane o ye said« asked the old sibyl »or did I dream or
was it revealed to me that Joscelind Lady Glenallan is dead an buried this
night«
»Yes gudemither« screamed the daughterinlaw »its een sae«
»And een sae let it be« said old Elspeth »shes made mony a sair heart in
her day ay een her ain sons is he living yet«
»Ay hes living yet but how lang hell live however dinna ye mind his
coming and asking after you in the spring and leaving siller«
»It may be sae Maggie I dinna mind it but a handsome gentleman he was
and his father before him Eh if his father had lived they might hae been
happy folk But he was gane and the lady carried it inower and outower wi
her son and garrd him trow the thing he never suld hae trowed and do the
thing he has repented a his life and will repent still were his life as lang
as this lang and wearisome ane o mine«
»O what was it grannie« and »What was it gudemither« and »What was
it Luckie Elspeth« asked the children the mother and the visitor in one
breath
»Never ask what it was« answered the old sibyl »but pray to God that ye
arena left to the pride and wilfuness o your ain hearts they may be as
powerful in a cabin as in a castle I can bear a sad witness to that O that
weary and fearfu night will it never gang out o my auld head Eh to see
her lying on the floor wi her lang hair dreeping wi the salt water Heaven
will avenge on a that had to do wit Sirs is my son out wi the coble this
windy een«
»Na na mither nae coble can keep the sea this wind hes sleeping in his
bed outower yonder ahint the hallan«
»Is Steenie out at sea then«
»Na grannie Steenies awa out wi auld Edie Ochiltree the gaberlunzie
maybe theyll be gaun to see the burial«
»That canna be« said the mother of the family »we kent naething ot till
Jock Rand cam in and tauld us the Aikwoods had warning to attend they keep
thae things unco private and they were to bring the corpse a the way frae the
Castle ten miles off under cloud o night She has lain in state this ten days
at Glenallan House in a grand chamber a hung wi black and lighted wi wax
cannle«
»God assoilzie her« ejaculated old Elspeth her head apparently still
occupied by the event of the Countesss death »she was a hardhearted woman
but shes gaen to account for it a', and HIS mercy is infinite God grant she
may find it sae« And she relapsed into silence which she did not break again
during the rest of the evening
»I wonder what that auld daft beggar carle and our son Steenie can be doing
out in sic a nicht as this« said Maggie Mucklebackit and her expression of
surprise was echoed by her visitor »Gang awa ane o ye hinnies up to the
heugh head and gie them a cry in case theyre within hearing the carcakes
will be burnt to a cinder«
The little emissary departed but in a few minutes came running back with
the loud exclamation »Eh minnie eh grannie theres a white bogle chasing
twa black anes down the heugh«
A noise of footsteps followed this singular annunciation and young Steenie
Mucklebackit closely followed by Edie Ochiltree bounced into the hut They
were panting and out of breath The first thing Steenie did was to look for the
bar of the door which his mother reminded him had been broken up for firewood
in the hard winter three years ago »for what use« she said »had the like o
them for bars«
»Theres naebody chasing us« said the beggar after he had taken his
breath »were een like the wicked that flee when no one pursueth«
»Troth but we were chased« said Steenie »by a spirit or something little
better«
»It was a man in white on horseback« said Edie »for the saft grund that
wadna bear the beast flung him about I wot that weel but I didna think my
auld legs could have brought me aff as fast I ran amaist as fast as if I had
been at Prestonpans«
»Hout ye daft gowks« said Luckie Mucklebackit »it will hae been some o
the riders at the Countesss burial«
»What« said Edie »is the auld Countess buried the night at St Ruths Ou
that wad be the lights and the noise that scarrd us awa I wish I had kend I
wad hae stude them and no left the man yonder but theyll take care o him
Ye strike ower hard Steenie I doubt ye foundered the chield«
»Neer a bit« said Steenie laughing »he has braw broad shouthers and I
just took measure o them wi the stang Od if I hadna been something short wi
him he wad hae knockit your auld harns out lad«
»Weel an I win clear o this scrape« said Edie »Ise tempt Providence nae
mair But I canna think it an unlawfu thing to pit a bit trick on sic a
landlouping scoundrel that just lives by tricking honester folk«
»But what are we to do with this« said Steenie producing a pocketbook
»Od guide us man« said Edie in great alarm »what garrd ye touch the
gear a very leaf o that pocketbook wad be enough to hang us baith«
»I dinna ken« said Steenie »the book had faen out o his pocket I fancy
for I fand it amang my feet when I was graping about to set him on his legs
again and I just pat it in my pouch to keep it safe and then came the tramp of
horse and you cried Rin rin and I had nae mair thought o the book«
»We maun get it back to the loon some gait or other ye had better take it
yoursell I think wi peep o light up to Ringan Aikwoods I wadna for a
hundred pounds it was fund in our hands«
Steenie undertook to do as he was directed
»A bonny night ye hae made ot Mr Steenie« said Jenny Rintherout who
impatient of remaining so long unnoticed now presented herself to the young
fisherman »A bonny night ye hae made ot tramping about wi gaberlunzies and
getting yoursell hunted wi worricows when ye suld be sleeping in your bed
like your father honest man«
This attack called forth a suitable response of rustic raillery from the
young fisherman An attack was now commenced upon the carcakes and smoked fish
and sustained with great perseverance by assistance of a bicker or two of
twopenny ale and a bottle of gin The mendicant then retired to the straw of an
outhouse adjoining the children had one by one crept into their nests the
old grandmother was deposited in her flockbed Steenie notwithstanding his
preceding fatigue had the gallantry to accompany Miss Rintherout to her own
mansion and at what hour he returned the story saith not and the matron of
the family having laid the gatheringcoal upon the fire and put things in some
sort of order retired to rest the last of the family
Chapter Twentyseventh
Many great ones
Would part with half their states to have the plan
And credit to beg in the first style
Beggars Bush
Old Edie was stirring with the lark and his first inquiry was after Steenie and
the pocketbook The young fisherman had been under the necessity of attending
his father before daybreak to avail themselves of the tide but he had promised
that immediately on his return the pocketbook with all its contents
carefully wrapped up in a piece of sailcloth should be delivered by him to
Ringan Aikwood for Dousterswivel the owner
The matron had prepared the morning meal for the family and shouldering
her basket of fish tramped sturdily away towards Fairport The children were
idling round the door for the day was fair and sunshiny The ancient grandame
again seated on her wickerchair by the fire had resumed her eternal spindle
wholly unmoved by the yelling and screaming of the children and the scolding of
the mother which had preceded the dispersion of the family Edie had arranged
his various bags and was bound for the renewal of his wandering life but first
advanced with due courtesy to take his leave of the ancient crone
»Gude day to ye cummer and mony ane o them I will be back about the
foreend o harst and I trust to find ye baith haill and fere«
»Pray that ye may find me in my quiet grave« said the old woman in a
hollow and sepulchral voice but without the agitation of a single feature
»Yere auld cummer and sae am I mysell but we maun abide HIS will well
no be forgotten in His good time«
»Nor our deeds neither« said the crone »whats dune in the body maun be
answered in the spirit«
»I wot thats true and I may weel tak the tale hame to mysell that hae led
a misruled and roving life But ye were aye a canny wife Were a frail but
ye canna hae sae muckle to bow ye down«
»Less than I might have had but mair O far mair than wad sink the
stoutest brig eer sailed out o Fairport harbour Didna somebody say yestreen
at least sae it is borne in on my mind but auld folk hae weak fancies did
not somebody say that Joscelind Countess of Glenallan was departed frae life«
»They said the truth whaever said it« answered old Edie »she was buried
yestreen by torchlight at St Ruths and I like a fule gat a gliff wi
seeing the lights and the riders«
»It was their fashion since the days of the Great Earl that was killed at
Harlaw they did it to show scorn that they should die and be buried like
other mortals the wives o the house of Glenallan wailed nae wail for the
husband nor the sister for the brother But is she een cad to the lang
account«
»As sure« answered Edie »as we maun a abide it«
»Then Ill unlade my mind come ot what will«
This she spoke with more alacrity than usually attended her expressions and
accompanied her words with an attitude of the hand as if throwing something
from her She then raised up her form once tall and still retaining the
appearance of having been so though bent with age and rheumatism and stood
before the beggar like a mummy animated by some wandering spirit into a
temporary resurrection Her lightblue eyes wandered to and fro as if she
occasionally forgot and again remembered the purpose for which her long and
withered hand was searching among the miscellaneous contents of an ample
oldfashioned pocket At length she pulled out a small chipbox and opening it
took out a handsome ring in which was set a braid of hair composed of two
different colours black and light brown twined together encircled with
brilliants of considerable value
»Gudeman« she said to Ochiltree »as ye wad eer deserve mercy ye maun
gang my errand to the house of Glenallan and ask for the Earl«
»The Earl of Glenallan cummer ou he winna see ony o the gentles o the
country and what likelihood is there that he wad see the like o an auld
gaberlunzie«
»Gang your ways and try and tell him that Elspeth o the Craigburnfoot
hell mind me best by that name maun see him or she be relieved frae her lang
pilgrimage and that she sends him that ring in token of the business she wad
speak o«
Ochiltree looked on the ring with some admiration of its apparent value and
then carefully replacing it in the box and wrapping it in an old ragged
handkerchief he deposited the token in his bosom
»Weel gudewife« he said »Ise do your bidding or its no be my fault
But surely there was never sic a braw propine as this sent to a yerl by an auld
fishwife and through the hands of a gaberlunzie beggar«
With this reflection Edie took up his pikestaff put on his broadbrimmed
bonnet and set forth upon his pilgrimage The old woman remained for some time
standing in a fixed posture her eyes directed to the door through which her
ambassador had departed The appearance of excitation which the conversation
had occasioned gradually left her features she sank down upon her accustomed
seat and resumed her mechanical labour of the distaff and spindle with her
wonted air of apathy
Edie Ochiltree meanwhile advanced on his journey The distance to Glenallan
was ten miles a march which the old soldier accomplished in about four hours
With the curiosity belonging to his idle trade and animated character he
tortured himself the whole way to consider what could be the meaning of this
mysterious errand with which he was intrusted or what connection the proud
wealthy and powerful Earl of Glenallan could have with the crimes or penitence
of an old doting woman whose rank in life did not greatly exceed that of her
messenger He endeavoured to call to memory all that he had ever known or heard
of the Glenallan family yet having done so remained altogether unable to form
a conjecture on the subject He knew that the whole extensive estate of this
ancient and powerful family had descended to the Countess lately deceased who
inherited in a most remarkable degree the stern fierce and unbending
character which had distinguished the house of Glenallan since they first
figured in Scottish annals Like the rest of her ancestors she adhered
zealously to the Roman Catholic faith and was married to an English gentleman
of the same communion and of large fortune who did not survive their union two
years The Countess was therefore left an early widow with the uncontrolled
management of the large estates of her two sons The elder Lord Geraldin who
was to succeed to the title and fortune of Glenallan was totally dependent on
his mother during her life The second when he came of age assumed the name
and arms of his father and took possession of his estate according to the
provisions of the Countesss marriagesettlement After this period he chiefly
resided in England and paid very few and brief visits to his mother and
brother and these at length were altogether dispensed with in consequence of
his becoming a convert to the reformed religion
But even before this mortal offence was given to its mistress his residence
at Glenallan offered few inducements to a gay young man like Edward Geraldin
Neville though its gloom and seclusion seemed to suit the retired and
melancholy habits of his elder brother Lord Geraldin in the outset of life
had been a young man of accomplishment and hopes Those who knew him upon his
travels entertained the highest expectations of his future career But such fair
dawns are often strangely overcast The young nobleman returned to Scotland and
after living about a year in his mothers society at Glenallan House he seemed
to have adopted all the stern gloom and melancholy of her character Excluded
from politics by the incapacities attached to those of his religion and from
all lighter avocations by choice Lord Geraldin led a life of the strictest
retirement His ordinary society was composed of the clergyman of his communion
who occasionally visited his mansion and very rarely upon stated occasions of
high festival one or two families who still professed the Catholic religion
were formally entertained at Glenallan House But this was all their heretic
neighbours knew nothing of the family whatever and even the Catholics saw
little more than the sumptuous entertainment and solemn parade which was
exhibited on those formal occasions from which all returned without knowing
whether most to wonder at the stern and stately demeanour of the Countess or
the deep and gloomy dejection which never ceased for a moment to cloud the
features of her son The late event had put him in possession of his fortune and
title and the neighbourhood had already begun to conjecture whether gaiety
would revive with independence when those who had some occasional acquaintance
with the interior of the family spread abroad a report that the Earls
constitution was undermined by religious austerities and that in all
probability he would soon follow his mother to the grave This event was the
more probable as his brother had died of a lingering complaint which in the
latter years of his life had affected at once his frame and his spirits so
that heralds and genealogists were already looking back into their records to
discover the heir of this illfated family and lawyers were talking with
gleesome anticipation of the probability of a »great Glenallan cause«
As Edie Ochiltree approached the front of Glenallan House an ancient
building of great extent the most modern part of which had been designed by the
celebrated Inigo Jones he began to consider in what way he should be most
likely to gain access for delivery of his message and after much
consideration resolved to send the token to the Earl by one of the domestics
With this purpose he stopped at a cottage where he obtained the means of making
up the ring in a sealed packet like a petition addressed Forr his hounor the
Yerl of Glenllan These But being aware that missives delivered at the doors
of great houses by such persons as himself do not always make their way
according to address Edie determined like an old soldier to reconnoitre the
ground before he made his final attack As he approached the porters lodge he
discovered by the number of poor ranked before it some of them being indigent
persons in the vicinity and others itinerants of his own begging profession
that there was about to be a general dole or distribution of charity
»A good turn« said Edie to himself »never goes unrewarded Ill maybe get
a good awmous that I wad hae missed but for trotting on this auld wifes
errand«
Accordingly he ranked up with the rest of this ragged regiment assuming a
station as near the front as possible a distinction due as he conceived to
his blue gown and badge no less than to his years and experience; but he soon
found there was another principle of precedence in this assembly to which he
had not adverted
»Are ye a triple man friend that ye press forward sae bauldly Im
thinking no for theres nae Catholics wear that badge«
»Na na I am no a Roman« said Edie
»Then shank yoursell awa to the double folk or single folk thats the
Episcopals or Presbyterians yonder its a shame to see a heretic hae sic a lang
white beard that would do credit to a hermit«
Ochiltree thus rejected from the society of the Catholic mendicants or
those who called themselves such went to station himself with the paupers of
the communion of the church of England to whom the noble donor allotted a
double portion of his charity But never was a poor occasional conformist more
roughly rejected by a Highchurch congregation even when that matter was
furiously agitated in the days of good Queen Anne
»See to him wi his badge« they said »he hears ane o the kings
Presbyterian chaplains sough out a sermon on the morning of every birthday and
now he would pass himsell for ane o the Episcopal church Na na well take
care o that«
Edie thus rejected by Rome and Prelacy was fain to shelter himself from
the laughter of his brethren among the thin group of Presbyterians who had
either disdained to disguise their religious opinions for the sake of an
augmented dole or perhaps knew they could not attempt the imposition without a
certainty of detection
The same degree of precedence was observed in the mode of distributing the
charity which consisted in bread beef and a piece of money to each
individual of all the three classes The almoner an ecclesiastic of grave
appearance and demeanour superintended in person the accommodation of the
Catholic mendicants asking a question or two of each as he delivered the
charity and recommending to their prayers the soul of Joscelind late Countess
of Glenallan mother of their benefactor The porter distinguished by his long
staff headed with silver and by the black gown tufted with lace of the same
colour which he had assumed upon the general mourning in the family overlooked
the distribution of the dole among the prelatists The lessfavoured kirkfolk
were committed to the charge of an aged domestic
As this last discussed some disputed point with the porter his name as it
chanced to be occasionally mentioned and then his features struck Ochiltree
and awakened recollections of former times The rest of the assembly were now
retiring when the domestic again approaching the place where Edie still
lingered said in a strong Aberdeenshire accent »Fat is the auld feelbody
deeing that he canna gang avay now that hes gotten baith meat and siller«
»Francie Macraw« answered Edie Ochiltree »dye no mind Fontenoy and keep
thegither front and rear«
»Ohon ohon« cried Francie with a true northcountry yell of recognition
»naebody could hae said that word but my auld frontrank man Edie Ochiltree
But Im sorry to see ye in sic a peer state man«
»No sae ill aff as ye may think Francie But Im laith to leave this place
without a crack wi you and I kenna when I may see you again for your folk
dinna mak Protestants welcome and thats ae reason that I hae never been here
before«
»Fusht fusht« said Francie »let that flee stick i the wa when the
dirts dry it will rub out and come you awa wi me and Ill gie ye something
better than that beef bane man«
Having then spoke a confidential word with the porter probably to request
his connivance and having waited until the almoner had returned into the house
with slow and solemn steps Francie Macraw introduced his old comrade into the
court of Glenallan House the gloomy gateway of which was surmounted by a huge
scutcheon in which the herald and undertaker had mingled as usual the emblems
of human pride and of human nothingness the Countesss hereditary
coatofarms with all its numerous quarterings disposed in a lozenge and
surrounded by the separate shields of her paternal and maternal ancestry
intermingled with scythes hour glasses skulls and other symbols of that
mortality which levels all distinctions Conducting his friend as speedily as
possible along the large paved court Macraw led the way through a sidedoor to
a small apartment near the servants hall which in virtue of his personal
attendance upon the Earl of Glenallan he was entitled to call his own To
produce cold meat of various kinds strong beer and even a glass of spirits
was no difficulty to a person of Francies importance who had not lost in his
sense of conscious dignity the keen northern prudence which recommended a good
understanding with the butler Our mendicant envoy drank ale and talked over
old stories with his comrade until no other topic of conversation occurring
he resolved to take up the theme of his embassy which had for some time escaped
his memory
»He had a petition to present to the Earl« he said for he judged it
prudent to say nothing of the ring not knowing as he afterwards observed how
far the manners of a single soldier22 might have been corrupted by service in a
great house
»Hout tout man« said Francie »the Earl will look at nae petitions but
I can giet to the almoner«
»But it relates to some secret that maybe my lord wad like best to seet
himsell«
»Im jeedging thats the very reason that the almoner will be for seeing it
the first and foremost«
»But I hae come a this way on purpose to deliver it Francie and ye really
maun help me at a pinch«
»Neer speed then if I dinna« answered the Aberdeenshire man »let them be
as cankered as they like they can but turn me awa and I was just thinking to
ask my discharge and gang down to end my days at Inverurie«
With this doughty resolution of serving his friend at all ventures since
none was to be encountered which could much inconvenience himself Francie
Macraw left the apartment It was long before he returned and when he did his
manner indicated wonder and agitation
»I am nae seer gin ye be Edie Ochiltree o Carricks company in the
Fortytwa or gin ye be the deil in his likeness«
»And what makes ye speak in that gait« demanded the astonished mendicant
»Because my lord has been in sic a distress and surpreese as I neer saw a
man in my life But hell see you I got that job cookit He was like a man awa
frae himsell for mony minutes and I thought he wad hae swarvt athegither
and fan he cam to himsell he asked fae brought the packet and fat trow ye I
said«
»An auld soger« says Edie »that does likeliest at a gentles door at a
farmers its best to say yere an auld tinkler if ye need ony quarters for
maybe the gudewife will hae something to souther«
»But I said neer ane o the twa« answered Francie »my lord cares as
little about the tane as the tother for hes best to them that can souther up
our sins Sae I een said the bit paper was brought by an auld man wi a long
fite beard he might be a capeechin freer for fat I kend for he was dressed
like an auld palmer Sae yell be sent up for fanever he can find mettle to face
ye«
»I wish I was weel through this business« thought Edie to himself »mony
folk surmise that the Earls no very right in the judgment and wha can say how
far he may be offended wi me for taking upon me sae muckle«
But there was now no room for retreat a bell sounded from a distant part
of the mansion and Macraw said with a smothered accent as if already in his
masters presence »Thats my lords bell follow me and step lightly and
cannily Edie«
Edie followed his guide who seemed to tread as if afraid of being
overheard through a long passage and up a back stair which admitted them into
the family apartments They were ample and extensive furnished at such cost as
showed the ancient importance and splendour of the family But all the ornaments
were in the taste of a former and distant period and one would have almost
supposed himself traversing the halls of a Scottish nobleman before the union of
the crowns The late Countess partly from a haughty contempt of the times in
which she lived partly from her sense of family pride had not permitted the
furniture to be altered or modernized during her residence at Glenallan House
The most magnificent part of the decorations was a valuable collection of
pictures by the best masters whose massive frames were somewhat tarnished by
time In this particular also the gloomy taste of the family seemed to
predominate There were some fine family portraits by Vandyke and other masters
of eminence but the collection was richest in the Saints and Martyrdoms of
Domenichino Velasquez and Murillo and other subjects of the same kind which
had been selected in preference to landscapes or historical pieces The manner
in which these awful and sometimes disgusting subjects were represented
harmonized with the gloomy state of the apartments a circumstance which was
not altogether lost on the old man as he traversed them under the guidance of
his quondam fellowsoldier He was about to express some sentiment of this kind
but Francie imposed silence on him by signs and opening a door at the end of
the long picturegallery ushered him into a small antechamber hung with black
Here they found the almoner with his ear turned to a door opposite that by
which they entered in the attitude of one who listens with attention but is at
the same time afraid of being detected in the act
The old domestic and churchman started when they perceived each other But
the almoner first recovered his recollection and advancing towards Macraw
said under his breath but with an authoritative tone »How dare you approach
the Earls apartment without knocking and who is this stranger or what has he
to do here Retire to the gallery and wait for me there«
»Its impossible just now to attend your reverence« answered Macraw
raising his voice so as to be heard in the next room being conscious that the
priest would not maintain the altercation within hearing of his patron »the
Earls bell has rung«
He had scarce uttered the words when it was rung again with greater
violence than before and the ecclesiastic perceiving further expostulation
impossible lifted his finger at Macraw with a menacing attitude as he left
the apartment
»I telld ye sae« said the Aberdeen man in a whisper to Edie and then
proceeded to open the door near which they had observed the chaplain stationed
Chapter Twentyeighth
This ring
This little ring with necromantic force
Has raised the ghost of pleasure to my fears
Conjured the sense of honour and of love
Into such shapes they fright me from myself
The Fatal Marriage
The ancient forms of mourning were observed in Glenallan House notwithstanding
the obduracy with which the members of the family were popularly supposed to
refuse to the dead the usual tribute of lamentation It was remarked that when
she received the fatal letter announcing the death of her second and as was
once believed her favourite son the hand of the Countess did not shake nor
her eyelid twinkle any more than upon perusal of a letter of ordinary business
Heaven only knows whether the suppression of maternal sorrow which her pride
commanded might not have some effect in hastening her own death It was at
least generally supposed that the apoplectic stroke which so soon afterwards
terminated her existence was as it were the vengeance of outraged Nature for
the restraint to which her feelings had been subjected But although Lady
Glenallan forebore the usual external signs of grief she had caused many of the
apartments amongst others her own and that of the Earl to be hung with the
exterior trappings of woe
The Earl of Glenallan was therefore seated in an apartment hung with black
cloth which waved in dusky folds along its lofty walls A screen also covered
with black baize placed towards the high and narrow window intercepted much of
the broken light which found its way through the stained glass that
represented with such skill as the fourteenth century possessed the life and
sorrows of the prophet Jeremiah The table at which the Earl was seated was
lighted with two lamps wrought in silver shedding that unpleasant and doubtful
light which arises from the mingling of artificial lustre with that of general
daylight The same table displayed a silver crucifix and one or two clasped
parchment books A large picture exquisitely painted by Spagnoletto
represented the martyrdom of St Stephen and was the only ornament of the
apartment
The inhabitant and lord of this disconsolate chamber was a man not past the
prime of life yet so broken down with disease and mental misery so gaunt and
ghastly that he appeared but a wreck of manhood and when he hastily arose and
advanced towards his visitor the exertion seemed almost to overpower his
emaciated frame As they met in the midst of the apartment the contrast they
exhibited was very striking The hale cheek firm step erect stature and
undaunted presence and bearing of the old mendicant indicated patience and
content in the extremity of age and in the lowest condition to which humanity
can sink while the sunken eye pallid cheek and tottering form of the nobleman
with whom he was confronted showed how little wealth power and even the
advantages of youth have to do with that which gives repose to the mind, and
firmness to the frame
The Earl met the old man in the middle of the room and having commanded his
attendant to withdraw into the gallery and suffer no one to enter the
antechamber till he rung the bell awaited with hurried yet fearful impatience
until he heard first the door of his apartment and then that of the
antechamber shut and fastened by the springbolt When he was satisfied with
this security against being overheard Lord Glenallan came close up to the
mendicant whom he probably mistook for some person of a religious order in
disguise and said in a hasty yet faltering tone »In the name of all our
religion holds most holy tell me reverend father what am I to expect from a
communication opened by a token connected with such horrible recollections«
The old man appalled by a manner so different from what he had expected
from the proud and powerful nobleman was at a loss how to answer and in what
manner to undeceive him »Tell me« continued the Earl in a tone of increasing
trepidation and agony »tell me do you come to say that all that has been done
to expiate guilt so horrible has been too little and too trivial for the
offence and to point out new and more efficacious modes of severe penance I
will not blench from it father let me suffer the pains of my crime here in
the body rather than hereafter in the spirit«
Edie had now recollection enough to perceive that if he did not interrupt
the frankness of Lord Glenallans admissions he was likely to become the
confidant of more than might be safe for him to know He therefore uttered with
a hasty and trembling voice »Your lordships honour is mistaken I am not of
your persuasion nor a clergyman but with all reverence only puir Edie
Ochiltree the kings bedesman and your honours«
This explanation he accompanied by a profound bow after his manner and
then drawing himself up erect rested his arm on his staff threw back his long
white hair and fixed his eyes upon the Earl as he waited for an answer
»And you are not then« said Lord Glenallan after a pause of surprise
»You are not then a Catholic priest«
»God forbid« said Edie forgetting in his confusion to whom he was
speaking »I am only the kings bedesman and your honours as I said before«
The Earl turned hastily away and paced the room twice or thrice as if to
recover the effects of his mistake and then coming close up to the mendicant
he demanded in a stern and commanding tone what he meant by intruding himself
on his privacy and from whence he had got the ring which he had thought proper
to send him Edie a man of much spirit was less daunted at this mode of
interrogation than he had been confused by the tone of confidence in which the
Earl had opened their conversation To the reiterated question from whom he had
obtained the ring he answered composedly »From one who was better known to the
Earl than to him«
»Better known to me fellow« said Lord Glenallan »what is your meaning
explain yourself instantly or you shall experience the consequence of breaking
in upon the hours of family distress«
»It was auld Elspeth Mucklebackit that sent me here« said the beggar »in
order to say«
»You dote old man« said the Earl »I never heard the name but this
dreadful token reminds me«
»I mind now my lord« said Ochiltree »she tauld me your lordship would be
mair familiar wi her if I cad her Elspeth o the Craigburnfoot she had that
name when she lived on your honours land that is your honours worshipful
mothers that was then Grace be wi her«
»Ay« said the appalled nobleman as his countenance sunk and his cheek
assumed a hue yet more cadaverous »that name is indeed written in the most
tragic page of a deplorable history But what can she desire of me Is she dead
or living«
»Living my lord and entreats to see your lordship before she dies for she
has something to communicate that hangs upon her very soul and she says she
canna flit in peace until she sees you«
»Not until she sees me what can that mean But she is doting with age and
infirmity I tell thee friend I called at her cottage myself not a
twelvemonth since from a report that she was in distress and she did not even
know my face or voice«
»If your honour wad permit me« said Edie to whom the length of the
conference restored a part of his professional audacity and native talkativeness
»if your honour wad but permit me I wad say under correction of your
lordships better judgment that auld Elspeths like some of the ancient ruined
strengths and castles that ane sees amang the hills There are mony parts of her
mind that appear as I may say laid waste and decayed but then theres parts
that look the steever and the stronger and the grander because they are
rising just like to fragments among the ruins o the rest Shes an awful
woman«
»She always was so« said the Earl almost unconsciously echoing the
observation of the mendicant »she always was different from other women
likest perhaps to her who is now no more in her temper and turn of mind She
wishes to see me then«
»Before she dies« said Edie »she earnestly entreats that pleasure«
»It will be a pleasure to neither of us« said the Earl sternly »yet she
shall be gratified She lives I think on the seashore to the southward of
Fairport«
»Just between Monkbarns and Knockwinnock Castle but nearer to Monkbarns
Your lordships honour will ken the laird and Sir Arthur doubtless«
A stare as if he did not comprehend the question was Lord Glenallans
answer Edie saw his mind was elsewhere and did not venture to repeat a query
which was so little germain to the matter
»Are you a Catholic old man« demanded the Earl
»No my lord« said Ochiltree stoutly for the remembrance of the unequal
division of the dole rose in his mind at the moment »I thank Heaven I am a good
Protestant«
»He who can conscientiously call himself good has indeed reason to thank
Heaven be his form of Christianity what it will But who is he that shall dare
to do so«
»Not I« said Edie »I trust to beware of the sin of presumption«
»What was your trade in your youth« continued the Earl
»A soldier my lord and mony a sair days kemping Ive seen I was to have
been made a sergeant but«
»A soldier then you have slain and burnt and sacked and spoiled«
»I winna say« replied Edie »that I have been better than my neighbours
its a rough trade wars sweet to them that never tried it«
»And you are now old and miserable asking from precarious charity the food
which in your youth you tore from the hand of the poor peasant«
»I am a beggar it is true my lord but I am nae just sae miserable
neither For my sins I hae had grace to repent of them if I might say sae and
to lay them where they may be better borne than by me and for my food naebody
grudges an auld man a bit and a drink Sae I live as I can and am contented to
die when I am cad upon«
»And thus then with little to look back upon that is pleasant or
praiseworthy in your past life with less to look forward to on this side of
eternity you are contented to drag out the rest of your existence Go begone
and in your age and poverty and weariness never envy the lord of such a mansion
as this either in his sleeping or waking moments Here is something for thee«
The Earl put into the old mans hand five or six guineas Edie would perhaps
have stated his scruples as upon other occasions to the amount of the
benefaction but the tone of Lord Glenallan was too absolute to admit of either
answer or dispute The Earl then called his servant »See this old man safe
from the castle let no one ask him any questions and you friend begone
and forget the road that leads to my house«
»That would be difficult for me« said Edie looking at the gold which he
still held in his hand »that would be een difficult since your honour has
gien me such gude cause to remember it«
Lord Glenallan stared as hardly comprehending the old mans boldness in
daring to bandy words with him and with his hand made him another signal of
departure which the mendicant instantly obeyed
Chapter Twentyninth
For he was one in all their idle sport
And like a monarch ruled their little court
The pliant bow he formed the flying ball
The bat the wicket were his labours all
Crabbes Village
Francis Macraw agreeably to the commands of his master attended the mendicant
in order to see him fairly out of the estate without permitting him to have
conversation or intercourse with any of the Earls dependants or domestics
But judiciously considering that the restriction did not extend to himself who
was the person entrusted with the convoy he used every measure in his power to
extort from Edie the nature of his confidential and secret interview with Lord
Glenallan But Edie had been in his time accustomed to crossexamination and
easily evaded those of his quondam comrade »The secrets of grit folk« said
Ochiltree within himself »are just like the wild beasts that are shut up in
cages Keep them hard and fast snecked up and its a very weel or better but
ance let them out they will turn and rend you I mind how ill Dugald Gunn cam
aff for letting loose his tongue about the Majors leddy and Captain Bandilier«
Francie was therefore foiled in his assaults upon the fidelity of the
mendicant and like an indifferent chessplayer became at every unsuccessful
movement more liable to the counterchecks of his opponent
»Sae ye uphauld ye had nae particulars to say to my lord but about yer ain
matters«
»Ay and about the wee bits o things I had brought frae abroad« said Edie
»I kend you papist folk are unco set on the relics that are fetched frae far
kirks and sae forth«
»Troth my Lord maun be turned feel outright« said the domestic »an he
puts himsell into sic a carfuffle for onything ye could bring him Edie«
»I doubtna ye may say true in the main neighbour« replied the beggar »but
maybe hes had some hard play in his younger days Francie and that whiles
unsettles folk sair«
»Troth Edie and ye may say that and since its like yell neer come
back to the estate or if ye dee that yell no find me there Ise een tell
you he had a heart in his young time sae wrecked and rent that its a wonder it
hasna broken outright lang afore this day«
»Ay say ye sae« said Ochiltree »that maun hae been about a woman I
reckon«
»Troth and ye hae guessed it« said Francie »jeest a cusin o his nain
Miss Eveline Neville as they suld hae cad her there was a sough in the
country about it but it was hushed up as the grandees were concerned its
mair than twenty years syne ay it will be threeandtwenty«
»Ay I was in America then« said the mendicant »and no in the way to hear
the country clashes«
»There was little clash about it man« replied Macraw »he liked this young
leddy and suld hae married her but his mother fand it out and then the deil
gaed oer Jock Wabster At last the peer lass clodded hersell oer the scaur at
the Craigburnfoot into the sea and there was an end ot«
»An end ot wi the puir leddy« said the mendicant »but as I reckon nae
end ot wi the yerl«
»Nae end ot till his life makes an end« answered the Aberdonian
»But what for did the auld Countess forbid the marriage« continued the
persevering querist
»Fat for she maybe didna weel ken for fat hersell for she gard a bow
to her bidding right or wrang But it was kend the young leddy was inclined
to some o the heresies of the country mair by token she was sib to him
nearer than our Churchs rule admits of Sae the leddy was driven to the
desperate act and the yerl has never since held his head up like a man«
»Weel away« replied Ochiltree »its een queer I neer heard this tale
afore«
»Its een queer that ye heard it now for deil ane o the servants durst
hae spoken ot had the auld Countess been living Eh man Edie but she was a
trimmer it wad hae taen a skeely man to hae squared wi her But shes in
her grave and we may loose our tongues a bit fan we meet a friend But fare
ye weel Edie I maun be back to the evening service An ye come to Inverurie
maybe sax months awa dinna forget to ask after Francie Macraw«
What one kindly pressed the other as firmly promised and the friends
having thus parted with every testimony of mutual regard the domestic of Lord
Glenallan took his road back to the seat of his master leaving Ochiltree to
trace onward his habitual pilgrimage
It was a fine summer evening and the world that is the little circle
which was all in all to the individual by whom it was trodden lay before Edie
Ochiltree for the choosing of his nights quarters When he had passed the less
hospitable domains of Glenallan he had in his option so many places of refuge
for the evening that he was nice and even fastidious in the choice Ailie
Sims public was on the roadside about a mile before him but there would be a
parcel of young fellows there on the Saturday night and that was a bar to civil
conversation Other »gudemen and gudewives« as the farmers and their dames are
termed in Scotland successively presented themselves to his imagination But
one was deaf and could not hear him another toothless and could not make him
hear a third had a cross temper and a fourth an illnatured housedog At
Monkbarns or Knockwinnock he was sure of a favourable and hospitable reception
but they lay too distant to be conveniently reached that night
»I dinna ken how it is« said the old man »but I am nicer about my quarters
this night than ever I mind having been in my life I think having seen a the
braws yonder and finding out ane may be happier without them has made me proud
o my ain lot But I wuss it bode me gude for pride goeth before destruction
At ony rate the warst barn eer man lay in wad be a pleasanter abode than
Glenallan House wi a the pictures and black velvet and silver bonnywawlies
belanging to it Sae Ill een settle at ance and put in for Ailie Sims«
As the old man descended the hill above the little hamlet to which he was
bending his course the setting sun had relieved its inmates from their labour
and the young men availing themselves of the fine evening were engaged in the
sport of longbowls on a patch of common while the women and elders looked on
The shout the laugh the exclamations of winners and losers came in blended
chorus up the path which Ochiltree was descending and awakened in his
recollection the days when he himself had been a keen competitor and frequently
victor in games of strength and agility These remembrances seldom fail to
excite a sigh even when the evening of life is cheered by brighter prospects
than those of our poor mendicant »At that time of day« was his natural
reflection »I would have thought as little about ony auld palmering body that
was coming down the edge of Kinblythemont as ony o thae stalwart young chiels
does eenow about auld Edie Ochiltree«
He was however presently cheered by finding that more importance was
attached to his arrival than his modesty had anticipated A disputed cast had
occurred between the bands of players and as the gauger favoured the one party
and the schoolmaster the other the matter might be said to be taken up by the
higher powers The miller and smith also had espoused different sides and
considering the vivacity of two such disputants there was reason to doubt
whether the strife might be amicably terminated But the first person who caught
a sight of the mendicant exclaimed »Ah here comes auld Edie that kens the
roles of a country games better than ony man that ever drave a bowl or threw
an axletree or putted a stane either lets hae nae quarrelling callants
well stand by auld Edies judgment«
Edie was accordingly welcomed and installed as umpire with a general shout
of gratulation With all the modesty of a Bishop to whom the mitre is proffered
or of a new Speaker called to the chair the old man declined the high trust and
responsibility with which it was proposed to invest him and in requital for
his selfdenial and humility had the pleasure of receiving the reiterated
assurances of young old and middleaged that he was simply the best qualified
person for the office of arbiter »in the haill countryside« Thus encouraged
he proceeded gravely to the execution of his duty and strictly forbidding all
aggravating expressions on either side he heard the smith and gauger on one
side the miller and schoolmaster on the other as junior and senior counsel
Edies mind however was fully made up on the subject before the pleading
began like that of many a judge who must nevertheless go through all the
forms and endure in its full extent the eloquence and argumentation of the Bar
For when all had been said on both sides and much of it said over oftener than
once our senior being well and ripely advised pronounced the moderate and
healing judgment that the disputed cast was a drawn one and should therefore
count to neither party This judicious decision restored concord to the field of
players they began anew to arrange their match and their bets with the
clamorous mirth usual on such occasions of village sport and the more eager
were already stripping their jackets and committing them with their coloured
handkerchiefs to the care of wives sisters and mistresses But their mirth
was singularly interrupted
On the outside of the group of players began to arise sounds of a
description very different from those of sport that sort of suppressed sigh
and exclamation with which the first news of calamity is received by the
hearers began to be heard indistinctly A buzz went about among the women of
»Eh sirs sae young and sae suddenly summoned« It then extended itself among
the men and silenced the sounds of sportive mirth
All understood at once that some disaster had happened in the country and
each inquired the cause at his neighbour who knew as little as the querist At
length the rumour reached in a distinct shape the ears of Edie Ochiltree who
was in the very centre of the assembly The boat of Mucklebackit the fisherman
whom we have so often mentioned had been swamped at sea and four men had
perished it was affirmed including Mucklebackit and his son Rumour had in
this however as in other cases gone beyond the truth The boat had indeed
been overset but Stephen or as he was called Steenie Mucklebackit was the
only man who had been drowned Although the place of his residence and his mode
of life removed the young man from the society of the country folks yet they
failed not to pause in their rustic mirth to pay that tribute to sudden calamity
which it seldom fails to receive in cases of infrequent occurrence To
Ochiltree in particular the news came like a knell the rather that he had so
lately engaged this young mans assistance in an affair of sportive mischief
and though neither loss nor injury was designed to the German adept yet the
work was not precisely one in which the latter hours of life ought to be
occupied
Misfortunes never come alone While Ochiltree pensively leaning upon his
staff added his regrets to those of the hamlet which bewailed the young mans
sudden death and internally blamed himself for the transaction in which he had
so lately engaged him the old mans collar was seized by a peaceofficer who
displayed his baton in his right hand and exclaimed »In the kings name«
The gauger and schoolmaster united their rhetoric to prove to the constable
and his assistant that he had no right to arrest the kings bedesman as a
vagrant and the mute eloquence of the miller and smith which was vested in
their clenched fists was prepared to give Highland bail for their arbiter his
blue gown they said was his warrant for travelling the country
»But his blue gown« answered the officer »is nae protection for assault
robbery and murder and my warrant is against him for these crimes«
»Murder« said Edie »murder wha did I eer murder«
»Mr German Doustercivil the agent at GlenWithershins miningworks«
»Murder Doustersnivel hout hes living and lifelike man«
»Nae thanks to you if he be he had a sair struggle for his life if a be
true he tells and ye maun answer fort at the bidding of the law«
The defenders of the mendicant shrunk back at hearing the atrocity of the
charges against him but more than one kind hand thrust meat and bread and pence
upon Edie to maintain him in the prison to which the officers were about to
conduct him
»Thanks to ye God bless ye a bairns Ive gotten out o mony a snare
when I was waur deserving o deliverance I shall escape like a bird from the
fowler Play out your play and never mind me I am mair grieved for the puir
lad thats gane than for aught they can do to me«
Accordingly the unresisting prisoner was led off while he mechanically
accepted and stored in his wallets the alms which poured in on every hand and
ere he left the hamlet was as deepladen as a government victualler The labour
of bearing this accumulating burden was however abridged by the officer
procuring a cart and horse to convey the old man to a magistrate in order to
his examination and committal
The disaster of Steenie and the arrest of Edie put a stop to the sports of
the village the pensive inhabitants of which began to speculate upon the
vicissitudes of human affairs which had so suddenly consigned one of their
comrades to the grave and placed their master of the revels in some danger of
being hanged The character of Dousterswivel being pretty generally known which
was in his case equivalent to being pretty generally detested there were many
speculations upon the probability of the accusation being malicious But all
agreed that if Edie Ochiltree behoved in all events to suffer upon this
occasion it was a great pity he had not better merited his fate by killing
Dousterswivel outright
Chapter Thirtieth
Who is he One that for the lack of land
Shall fight upon the water he hath challenged
Formerly the grand whale and by his titles
Of Leviathan Behemoth and so forth
He tilted with a swordfish Marry sir
Th aquatic had the best the argument
Still galls our champions breech
Old Play
»And the poor young fellow Steenie Mucklebackit is to be buried this morning«
said our old friend the Antiquary as he exchanged his quilted nightgown for an
oldfashioned black coat in lieu of the snuffcoloured vestment which he
ordinarily wore »and I presume it is expected that I should attend the
funeral«
»Ou ay« answered the faithful Caxon officiously brushing the white
threads and specks from his patrons habit »The body God help us was sae
broken against the rocks that theyre fain to hurry the burial The seas a
kittle cast as I tell my daughter puir thing when I want her to get up her
spirits the sea says I Jenny is as uncertain a calling«
»As the calling of an old periwigmaker thats robbed of his business by
crops and the powdertax Caxon thy topics of consolation are as ill chosen as
they are foreign to the present purpose Quid mihi cum foemina What have I to
do with thy womankind who have enough and to spare of mine own I pray of you
again am I expected by these poor people to attend the funeral of their son«
»Ou doubtless your honour is expected« answered Caxon »weel I wot ye are
expected Ye ken in this country ilka gentleman is wussed to be sae civil as to
see the corpse aff his grounds ye needna gang higher than the loanhead its
no expected your honour suld leave the land its just a Kelso convoy a step
and a half ower the doorstane«
»A Kelso convoy« echoed the inquisitive Antiquary »and why a Kelso convoy
more than any other«
»Dear sir« answered Caxon »how should I ken its just a byword«
»Caxon« answered Oldbuck »thou art a mere periwigmaker Had I asked
Ochiltree the question he would have had a legend ready made to my hand«
»My business« replied Caxon with more animation than he commonly
displayed »is with the outside of your honours head as ye are accustomed to
say«
»True Caxon true and it is no reproach to a thatcher that he is not an
upholsterer«
He then took out his memorandumbook and wrote down »Kelso convoy said to
be a step and a half over the threshold Authority Caxon Quoere Whence
derived Mem To write to Dr Graysteel upon the subject«
Having made this entry he resumed »And truly as to this custom of the
landlord attending the body of the peasant I approve it Caxon It comes from
ancient times and was founded deep in the notions of mutual aid and dependence
between the lord and cultivator of the soil And herein I must say the feudal
system as also in its courtesy towards womankind in which it exceeded
herein I say the feudal usages mitigated and softened the sternness of
classical times No man Caxon ever heard of a Spartan attending the funeral of
a Helot yet I dare be sworn that John of the Girnel ye have heard of him
Caxon«
»Ay ay sir« answered Caxon »naebody can hae been lang in your honours
company without hearing of that gentleman«
»Well« continued the Antiquary »I would bet a trifle there was not a kolb
kerl or bondsman or peasant ascriptus gleboe died upon the monks
territories down here but John of the Girnel saw them fairly and decently
interred«
»Ay but if it like your honour they say he had mair to do wi the births
than the burials Ha ha ha« with a gleeful chuckle
»Good Caxon very good why you shine this morning«
»And besides« added Caxon slyly encouraged by his patrons approbation
»they say too that the Catholic priests in thae times gat something for
ganging about to burials«
»Right Caxon right as my glove By the by I fancy that phrase comes from
the custom of pledging a glove as the signal of irrefragable faith right I
say as my glove Caxon but we of the Protestant ascendency have the more
merit in doing that duty for nothing which cost money in the reign of that
empress of superstition whom Spenser Caxon terms in his allegorical phrase
The daughter of that woman blind
Abessa daughter of Corecca slow
But why talk I of these things to thee my poor Lovel has spoiled me and
taught me to speak aloud when it is much the same as speaking to myself Wheres
my nephew Hector MIntyre«
»Hes in the parlour sir wi the leddies«
»Very well« said the Antiquary »I will betake me thither«
»Now Monkbarns« said his sister on his entering the parlour »ye maunna
be angry«
»My dear uncle« began Miss MIntyre
»Whats the meaning of all this« said Oldbuck in alarm of some impending
bad news and arguing upon the supplicating tone of the ladies as a fortress
apprehends an attack from the very first flourish of the trumpet which announces
the summons »whats all this what do you bespeak my patience for«
»No particular matter I should hope sir« said Hector who with his arm
in a sling was seated at the breakfast table »however whatever it may
amount to I am answerable for it as I am for much more trouble that I have
occasioned and for which I have little more than thanks to offer«
»No no heartily welcome heartily welcome only let it be a warning to
you« said the Antiquary »against your fits of anger which is a short madness
Ira furor brevis but what is this new disaster«
»My dog sir has unfortunately thrown down«
»If it please Heaven not the lachrymatory from Clochnaben« interjected
Oldbuck
»Indeed uncle« said the young lady »I am afraid it was that which stood
upon the sideboard the poor thing only meant to eat the pat of fresh butter«
»In which she has fully succeeded I presume for I see that on the table is
salted But that is nothing my lachrymatory the main pillar of my theory on
which I rested to show in despite of the ignorant obstinacy of MacCribb that
the Romans had passed the defiles of these mountains and left behind them
traces of their arts and arms is gone annihilated reduced to such fragments
as might be the shreds of a broken flowerpot
Hector I love thee
But never more be officer of mine«
»Why really sir I am afraid I should make a bad figure in a regiment of your
raising«
»At least Hector I would have you despatch your camp train and travel
expeditus or relictis impedimentis You cannot conceive how I am annoyed by
this beast she commits burglary I believe for I heard her charged with
breaking into the kitchen after all the doors were locked and eating up a
shoulder of mutton« Our readers if they chance to remember Jenny
Rintherouts precaution of leaving the door open when she went down to the
fishers cottage will probably acquit poor Juno of that aggravation of guilt
which the lawyers call a claustrum fregit and which makes the distinction
between burglary and privately stealing
»I am truly sorry sir« said Hector »that Juno has committed so much
disorder but Jack Muirhead the breaker was never able to bring her under
command She has more travel than any bitch I ever knew but«
»Then Hector I wish the bitch would travel herself out of my grounds«
»We will both of us retreat tomorrow or today but I would not willingly
part from my mothers brother in unkindness about a paltry pipkin«
»O brother brother« ejaculated Miss MIntyre in utter despair at this
vituperative epithet
»Why what would you have me call it« continued Hector »it was just such a
thing as they use in Egypt to cool wine or sherbet or water I brought home
a pair of them I might have brought home twenty«
»What« said Oldbuck »shaped such as that your dog threw down«
»Yes sir much such a sort of earthen jar as that which was on the
sideboard They are in my lodgings at Fairport we brought a parcel of them to
cool our wine on the passage they answer wonderfully well If I could think
they would in any degree repay your loss or rather that they could afford you
pleasure I am sure I should be much honoured by your accepting them«
»Indeed my dear boy I should be highly gratified by possessing them To
trace the connection of nations by their usages and the similarity of the
implements which they employ has been long my favourite study Everything that
can illustrate such connections is most valuable to me«
»Well sir I shall be much gratified by your acceptance of them and a few
trifles of the same kind And now am I to hope you have forgiven me«
»O my dear boy you are only thoughtless and foolish«
»But Juno she is only thoughtless too I assure you the breaker tells me
she has no vice or stubbornness«
»Well I grant Juno also a free pardon conditioned that you will imitate
her in avoiding vice and stubbornness and that henceforward she banish herself
forth of Monkbarns parlour«
»Then uncle« said the soldier »I should have been very sorry and ashamed
to propose to you anything in the way of expiation of my own sins or those of
my follower that I thought worth your acceptance but now as all is forgiven
will you permit the orphannephew to whom you have been a father to offer you
a trifle which I have been assured is really curious and which only the cross
accident of my wound has prevented my delivering to you before I got it from a
French savant to whom I rendered some service after the Alexandria affair«
The captain put a small ringcase into the Antiquarys hands which when
opened was found to contain an antique ring of massive gold with a cameo most
beautifully executed bearing a head of Cleopatra The Antiquary broke forth
into unrepressed ecstasy shook his nephew cordially by the hand thanked him an
hundred times and showed the ring to his sister and niece the latter of whom
had the tact to give it sufficient admiration but Miss Griselda though she had
the same affection for her nephew had not address enough to follow the lead
»Its a bonny thing« she said »Monkbarns and I dare say a valuable but
its out o my way ye ken I am nae judge o sic matters«
»There spoke all Fairport in one voice« exclaimed Oldbuck »it is the very
spirit of the borough has infected us all I think I have smelled the smoke
these two days that the wind has stuck like a remora in the northeast and
its prejudices fly farther than its vapours Believe me my dear Hector were I
to walk up the High Street of Fairport displaying this inestimable gem in the
eyes of each one I met no human creature from the provost to the towncrier
would stop to ask me its history But if I carried a bale of linen cloth under
my arm I could not penetrate to the Horsemarket ere I should be overwhelmed
with queries about its precise texture and price Oh one might parody their
brutal ignorance in the words of Gray
Weave the warp and weave the woof
The windingsheet of wit and sense
Dull garment of defensive proof
Gainst all that doth not gather pence«
The most remarkable proof of this peaceoffering being quite acceptable was
that while the Antiquary was in full declamation Juno who held him in awe
according to the remarkable instinct by which dogs instantly discover those who
like or dislike them had peeped several times into the room and encountering
nothing very forbidding in his aspect had at length presumed to introduce her
full person and finally becoming bold by impunity she actually ate up Mr
Oldbucks toast as looking first at one then at another of his audience he
repeated with selfcomplacency
»Weave the warp and weave the woof
You remember the passage in the Fatal Sisters which by the way is not so fine
as in the original But heyday my toast has vanished I see which way
Ah thou type of womankind no wonder they take offence at thy generic
appellation« So saying he shook his fist at Juno who scoured out of the
parlour »However as Jupiter according to Homer could not rule Juno in
heaven and as Jack Muirhead according to Hector MIntyre has been equally
unsuccessful on earth I suppose she must have her own way« And this mild
censure the brother and sister justly accounted a full pardon for Junos
offences and sate down well pleased to the morning meal
When breakfast was over the Antiquary proposed to his nephew to go down
with him to attend the funeral The soldier pleaded the want of a mourning
habit
»O that does not signify your presence is all that is requisite I assure
you you will see something that will entertain no thats an improper phrase
but that will interest you from the resemblances which I will point out
betwixt popular customs on such occasions and those of the ancients«
»Heaven forgive me« thought MIntyre »I shall certainly misbehave and
lose all the credit I have so lately and accidentally gained«
When they set out schooled as he was by the warning and entreating looks of
his sister the soldier made his resolution strong to give no offence by
evincing inattention or impatience But our best resolutions are frail when
opposed to our predominant inclinations Our Antiquary to leave nothing
unexplained had commenced with the funeral rites of the ancient Scandinavians
when his nephew interrupted him in a discussion upon the »age of hills« to
remark that a large seagull which flitted around them had come twice within
shot This error being acknowledged and pardoned Oldbuck resumed his
disquisition
»These are circumstances you ought to attend to and be familiar with my
dear Hector for in the strange contingencies of the present war which agitates
every corner of Europe there is no knowing where you may be called upon to
serve If in Norway for example, or Denmark or any part of the ancient Scania
or Scandinavia as we term it what could be more convenient than to have at
your fingers ends the history and antiquities of that ancient country the
officina gentium the mother of modern Europe the nursery of those heroes
Stern to inflict and stubborn to endure
Who smiled in death
How animating for example, at the conclusion of a weary march to find yourself
in the vicinity of a Runic monument and discover that you have pitched your
tent beside the tomb of a hero«
»I am afraid sir our mess would be better supplied if it chanced to be in
the neighbourhood of a good poultryyard«
»Alas that you should say so No wonder the days of Cressy and Agincourt
are no more when respect for ancient valour has died away in the breasts of the
British soldiery«
»By no means sir by no manner of means I dare say that Edward and Henry
and the rest of these heroes thought of their dinner however before they
thought of examining an old tombstone But I assure you we are by no means
insensible to the memory of our fathers fame I used often of an evening to get
old Rory MAlpin to sing us songs out of Ossian about the battles of Fingal and
Lamon Mor and Magnus and the Spirit of Muirartach«
»And did you believe« asked the aroused Antiquary »did you absolutely
believe that stuff of Macphersons to be really ancient you simple boy«
»Believe it sir how could I but believe it when I have heard the songs
sung from my infancy«
»But not the same as Macphersons English Ossian youre not absurd enough
to say that I hope« said the Antiquary his brow darkening with wrath
But Hector stoutly abode the storm like many a sturdy Celt he imagined the
honour of his country and native language connected with the authenticity of
these popular poems and would have fought kneedeep or forfeited life and
land rather than have given up a line of them He therefore undauntedly
maintained that Rory MAlpin could repeat the whole book from one end to
another and it was only upon crossexamination that he explained an assertion
so general by adding »At least if he was allowed whisky enough he could
repeat as long as anybody would hearken to him«
»Ay ay« said the Antiquary »and that I suppose was not very long«
»Why we had our duty sir to attend to and could not sit listening all
night to a piper«
»But do you recollect now« said Oldbuck setting his teeth firmly
together and speaking without opening them which was his custom when
contradicted »Do you recollect now any of these verses you thought so
beautiful and interesting being a capital judge no doubt of such things«
»I dont pretend to much skill uncle but its not very reasonable to be
angry with me for admiring the antiquities of my own country more than those of
the Harolds Harfagers and Hacos you are so fond of«
»Why these sir these mighty and unconquered Goths were your ancestors
The barebreeched Celts whom they subdued and suffered only to exist, like a
fearful people in the crevices of the rocks were but their Mancipia and
Serfs«
Hectors brow now grew red in his turn »Sir« he said »I dont understand
the meaning of Mancipia and Serfs but I conceive that such names are very
improperly applied to Scotch Highlanders no man but my mothers brother dared
to have used such language in my presence and I pray you will observe that I
consider it as neither hospitable handsome kind nor generous usage towards
your guest and your kinsman My ancestors Mr Oldbuck«
»Were great and gallant chiefs I dare say Hector and really I did not
mean to give you such immense offence in treating a point of remote antiquity a
subject on which I always am myself cool deliberate and unimpassioned But you
are as hot and hasty as if you were Hector and Achilles and Agamemnon to
boot«
»I am sorry I expressed myself so hastily uncle especially to you who
have been so generous and good But my ancestors«
»No more about it lad I meant them no affront none«
»Im glad of it sir for the house of MIntyre«
»Peace be with them all every man of them« said the Antiquary »But to
return to our subject Do you recollect I say any of those poems which
afforded you such amusement«
»Very hard this« thought MIntyre »that he will speak with such glee of
everything which is ancient excepting my family« Then after some efforts at
recollection he added aloud »Yes sir I think I do remember some lines but
you do not understand the Gaelic language«
»And will readily excuse hearing it But you can give me some idea of the
sense in our own vernacular idiom«
»I shall prove a wretched interpreter« said MIntyre running over the
original well garnished with aghes aughs and oughs and similar gutturals
and then coughing and hawking as if the translation stuck in his throat At
length having premised that the poem was a dialogue between the poet Oisin or
Ossian and Patrick the tutelar Saint of Ireland and that it was difficult if
not impossible to render the exquisite felicity of the first two or three
lines he said the sense was to this purpose
»Patrick the psalmsinger
Since you will not listen to one of my stories
Though you never heard it before
I am sorry to tell you
You are little better than an ass«
»Good good« exclaimed the Antiquary »but go on Why this is after all the
most admirable fooling I dare say the poet was very right What says the
Saint«
»He replies in character« said MIntyre »but you should hear MAlpin sing
the original The speeches of Ossian come in upon a strong deep bass those of
Patrick are upon a tenor key«
»Like MAlpins drone and small pipes I suppose« said Oldbuck »Well
Pray go on«
»Well then Patrick replies to Ossian
Upon my word son of Fingal
While I am warbling the psalms
The clamour of your old womens tales
Disturbs my devotional exercises«
»Excellent why this is better and better I hope Saint Patrick sung better
than Blattergowls precentor or it would be hangchoice between the poet and
psalmist But what I admire is the courtesy of these two eminent persons towards
each other It is a pity there should not be a word of this in Macphersons
translation«
»If you are sure of that« said MIntyre gravely »he must have taken very
unwarrantable liberties with his original«
»It will go near to be thought so shortly but pray proceed«
»Then« said MIntyre »this is the answer of Ossian
Dare you compare your psalms
You son of a «
»Son of a what« exclaimed Oldbuck
»It means I think« said the young soldier with some reluctance »son of a
female dog
Do you compare your psalms
To the tales of the barearmd Fenians«
»Are you sure you are translating that last epithet correctly Hector«
»Quite sure sir« answered Hector doggedly
»Because I should have thought the nudity might have been quoted as existing
in a different part of the body«
Disdaining to reply to this insinuation Hector proceeded in his recitation
»I shall think it no great harm
To wring your bald head from your shoulders
But what is that yonder« exclaimed Hector interrupting himself
»One of the herd of Proteus« said the Antiquary »a phoca or seal lying
asleep on the beach«
Upon which MIntyre with the eagerness of a young sportsman totally forgot
both Ossian Patrick his uncle and his wound and exclaiming »I shall have
her I shall have her« snatched the walkingstick out of the hand of the
astonished Antiquary at some risk of throwing him down and set off at full
speed to get between the animal and the sea to which element having caught the
alarm she was rapidly retreating
Not Sancho when his master interrupted his account of the combatants of
Pentapolin with the naked arm to advance in person to the charge of the flock
of sheep stood more confounded than Oldbuck at this sudden escapade of his
nephew
»Is the devil in him« was his first exclamation »to go to disturb the
brute that was never thinking of him« Then elevating his voice »Hector
nephew fool let alone the Phoca let alone the Phoca they bite I tell
you like furies He minds me no more than a post There there they are at it
Gad the Phoca has the best of it I am glad to see it« said he in the
bitterness of his heart though really alarmed for his nephews safety »I am
glad to see it with all my heart and spirit«
In truth the seal finding her retreat intercepted by the lightfooted
soldier confronted him manfully and having sustained a heavy blow without
injury she knitted her brows as is the fashion of the animal when incensed
and making use at once of her forepaws and her unwieldy strength wrenched the
weapon out of the assailants hand overturned him on the sands and scuttled
away into the sea without doing him any farther injury Captain MIntyre a
good deal out of countenance at the issue of his exploit just rose in time to
receive the ironical congratulations of his uncle upon a single combat worthy
to be commemorated by Ossian himself »since« said the Antiquary »your
magnanimous opponent has fled though not upon eagles wings from the foe that
was low Egad she walloped away with all the grace of triumph and has
carried my stick off also by way of spolia opima«
MIntyre had little to answer for himself except that a Highlander could
never pass a deer a seal or a salmon where there was a possibility of having
a trial of skill with them and that he had forgot one of his arms was in a
sling He also made his fall an apology for returning back to Monkbarns and
thus escape the farther raillery of his uncle as well as his lamentations for
his walkingstick
»I cut it« he said »in the classic woods of Hawthornden when I did not
expect always to have been a bachelor I would not have given it for an ocean
of seals O Hector Hector thy namesake was born to be the prop of Troy and
thou to be the plague of Monkbarns«
Chapter Thirtyfirst
Tell me not of it friend when the young weep
Their tears are lukewarm brine from your old eyes
Sorrow falls down like haildrops of the North
Chilling the furrows of our withered cheeks
Cold as our hopes and hardened as our feeling
Theirs as they fall sink sightless ours recoil
Heap the fair plain and bleaken all before us
Old Play
The Antiquary being now alone hastened his pace which had been retarded by
these various discussions and the rencontre which had closed them and soon
arrived before the halfdozen cottages at Musselcrag They had now in addition
to their usual squalid and uncomfortable appearance the melancholy attributes
of the house of mourning The boats were all drawn up on the beach and though
the day was fine and the season favourable the chant which is used by the
fishers when at sea was silent as well as the prattle of the children and the
shrill song of the mother as she sits mending her nets by the door A few of
the neighbours some in their antique and wellsaved suits of black others in
their ordinary clothes but all bearing an expression of mournful sympathy with
distress so sudden and unexpected stood gathered around the door of
Mucklebackits cottage waiting till »the body was lifted« As the Laird of
Monkbarns approached they made way for him to enter doffing their hats and
bonnets as he passed with an air of melancholy courtesy and he returned their
salutes in the same manner
In the inside of the cottage was a scene which our Wilkie alone could have
painted with that exquisite feeling of nature that characterises his enchanting
productions
The body was laid in its coffin within the wooden bedstead which the young
fisher had occupied while alive At a little distance stood the father whose
rugged weatherbeaten countenance shaded by his grizzled hair had faced many a
stormy night and nightlike day He was apparently revolving his loss in his
mind with that strong feeling of painful grief peculiar to harsh and rough
characters which almost breaks forth into hatred against the world and all
that remain in it after the beloved object is withdrawn The old man had made
the most desperate efforts to save his son and had only been withheld by main
force from renewing them at a moment when without the possibility of assisting
the sufferer he must himself have perished All this apparently was boiling in
his recollection His glance was directed sidelong towards the coffin as to an
object on which he could not stedfastly look and yet from which he could not
withdraw his eyes His answers to the necessary questions which were
occasionally put to him were brief harsh and almost fierce His family had
not yet dared to address to him a word either of sympathy or consolation His
masculine wife virago as she was and absolute mistress of the family as she
justly boasted herself on all ordinary occasions was by this great loss
terrified into silence and submission and compelled to hide from her husbands
observation the bursts of her female sorrow As he had rejected food ever since
the disaster had happened not daring herself to approach him she had that
morning with affectionate artifice employed the youngest and favourite child
to present her husband with some nourishment His first action was to put it
from him with an angry violence that frightened the child his next to snatch
up the boy and devour him with kisses »Yell be a bra fallow an ye be spared
Patie but yell never never can be what he was to me He has sailed the
coble wi me since he was ten years auld and there wasna the like o him drew a
net betwixt this and Buchanness They say folks maun submit I will try«
And he had been silent from that moment until compelled to answer the
necessary questions we have already noticed Such was the disconsolate state of
the father
In another corner of the cottage her face covered by her apron which was
flung over it sat the mother the nature of her grief sufficiently indicated
by the wringing of her hands and the convulsive agitation of the bosom which
the covering could not conceal Two of her gossips officiously whispering into
her ear the commonplace topic of resignation under irremediable misfortune
seemed as if they were endeavouring to stun the grief which they could not
console
The sorrow of the children was mingled with wonder at the preparations they
beheld around them and at the unusual display of wheaten bread and wine which
the poorest peasant or fisher offers to the guests on these mournful
occasions and thus their grief for their brothers death was almost already
lost in admiration of the splendour of his funeral
But the figure of the old grandmother was the most remarkable of the
sorrowing group Seated on her accustomed chair with her usual air of apathy
and want of interest in what surrounded her she seemed every now and then
mechanically to resume the motion of twirling her spindle then to look towards
her bosom for the distaff although both had been laid aside She would then
cast her eyes about as if surprised at missing the usual implements of her
industry and appear struck by the black colour of the gown in which they had
dressed her and embarrassed by the number of persons by whom she was
surrounded Then finally she would raise her head with a ghastly look and fix
her eyes upon the bed which contained the coffin of her grandson as if she had
at once and for the first time acquired sense to comprehend her inexpressible
calamity These alternate feelings of embarrassment wonder and grief seemed
to succeed each other more than once upon her torpid features But she spoke not
a word neither had she shed a tear nor did one of the family understand
either from look or expression to what extent she comprehended the uncommon
bustle around her Thus she sat among the funeral assembly like a connecting
link between the surviving mourners and the dead corpse which they bewailed a
being in whom the light of existence was already obscured by the encroaching
shadows of death
When Oldbuck entered this house of mourning he was received by a general
and silent inclination of the head and according to the fashion of Scotland on
such occasions wine and spirits and bread were offered round to the guests
Elspeth as these refreshments were presented surprised and startled the whole
company by motioning to the person who bore them to stop then taking a glass
in her hand she rose up and as the smile of dotage played upon her shrivelled
features she pronounced with a hollow and tremulous voice »Wishing a your
healths sirs and often may we hae such merry meetings«
All shrunk from the ominous pledge and set down the untasted liquor with a
degree of shuddering horror which will not surprise those who know how many
superstitions are still common on such occasions among the Scottish vulgar But
as the old woman tasted the liquor she suddenly exclaimed with a sort of
shriek »Whats this this is wine how should there be wine in my sons
house Ay« she continued with a suppressed groan »I mind the sorrowful cause
now« and dropping the glass from her hand she stood a moment gazing fixedly
on the bed in which the coffin of her grandson was deposited and then sinking
gradually into her seat she covered her eyes and forehead with her withered and
pallid hand
At this moment the clergyman entered the cottage Mr Blattergowl though a
dreadful proser particularly on the subject of augmentations localities
teinds and overtures in that session of the General Assembly to which
unfortunately for his auditors he chanced one year to act as moderator was
nevertheless a good man in the old Scottish presbyterian phrase Godward and
manward No divine was more attentive in visiting the sick and afflicted in
catechising the youth in instructing the ignorant and in reproving the erring
And hence, notwithstanding impatience of his prolixity and prejudices personal
or professional and notwithstanding moreover a certain habitual contempt for
his understanding especially on affairs of genius and taste on which
Blattergowl was apt to be diffuse from his hope of one day fighting his way to
a chair of rhetoric or belles lettres notwithstanding I say all the
prejudices excited against him by these circumstances our friend the Antiquary
looked with great regard and respect on the said Blattergowl though I own he
could seldom even by his sense of decency and the remonstrances of his
womankind be hounded out as he called it to hear him preach But he regularly
took shame to himself for his absence when Blattergowl came to Monkbarns to
dinner to which he was always invited of a Sunday a mode of testifying his
respect which the proprietor probably thought fully as agreeable to the
clergyman and rather more congenial to his own habits
To return from a digression which can only serve to introduce the honest
clergyman more particularly to our readers Mr Blattergowl had no sooner
entered the hut and received the mute and melancholy salutations of the company
whom it contained than he edged himself towards the unfortunate father and
seemed to endeavour to slide in a few words of condolence or of consolation But
the old man was incapable as yet of receiving either he nodded however
gruffly and shook the clergymans hand in acknowledgment of his good
intentions but was either unable or unwilling to make any verbal reply
The minister next passed to the mother moving along the floor as slowly
silently and gradually as if he had been afraid that the ground would like
unsafe ice break beneath his feet or that the first echo of a footstep was to
dissolve some magic spell and plunge the hut with all its inmates into a
subterranean abyss The tenor of what he had said to the poor woman could only
be judged by her answers as halfstifled by sobs illrepressed and by the
covering which she still kept over her countenance she faintly answered at each
pause in his speech »Yes sir yes Yere very gude yere very gude Nae
doubt nae doubt Its our duty to submit But oh dear my poor Steenie
the pride o my very heart that was sae handsome and comely and a help to his
family and a comfort to us a', and a pleasure to a that lookit on him Oh
my bairn my bairn my bairn what for is thou lying there and eh what for
am I left to greet for ye«
There was no contending with this burst of sorrow and natural affection
Oldbuck had repeated recourse to his snuffbox to conceal the tears which
despite his shrewd and caustic temper were apt to start on such occasions The
female assistants whimpered the men held their bonnets to their faces and
spoke apart with each other The clergyman meantime addressed his ghostly
consolation to the aged grandmother At first she listened or seemed to listen
to what he said with the apathy of her usual unconsciousness But as in
pressing this theme he approached so near to her ear that the sense of his
words became distinctly intelligible to her though unheard by those who stood
more distant her countenance at once assumed that stern and expressive cast
which characterized her intervals of intelligence She drew up her head and
body shook her head in a manner that showed at least impatience if not scorn
of his counsel and waved her hand slightly but with a gesture so expressive
as to indicate to all who witnessed it a marked and disdainful rejection of the
ghostly consolation proffered to her The minister stepped back as if repulsed
and by lifting gently and dropping his hand seemed to show at once wonder
sorrow and compassion for her dreadful state of mind The rest of the company
sympathized and a stifled whisper went through them indicating how much her
desperate and determined manner impressed them with awe and even horror
In the meantime the funeral company was completed by the arrival of one or
two persons who had been expected from Fairport The wine and spirits again
circulated and the dumb show of greeting was anew interchanged The grandame a
second time took a glass in her hand drank its contents and exclaimed with a
sort of laugh »Ha ha I hae tasted wine twice in ae day Whan did I that
before think ye cummers Never since« and the transient glow vanishing
from her countenance she set the glass down and sunk upon the settle from
whence she had risen to snatch at it
As the general amazement subsided Mr Oldbuck whose heart bled to witness
what he considered as the errings of the enfeebled intellect struggling with the
torpid chill of age and of sorrow observed to the clergyman that it was time to
proceed with the ceremony The father was incapable of giving directions but
the nearest relation of the family made a sign to the carpenter who in such
cases goes through the duty of the undertaker to proceed in his office The
creak of the screwnails presently announced that the lid of the last mansion of
mortality was in the act of being secured above its tenant The last act which
separates us for ever even from the mortal relics of the person we assemble to
mourn has usually its effect upon the most indifferent selfish and
hardhearted With a spirit of contradiction which we may be pardoned for
esteeming narrowminded the fathers of the Scottish kirk rejected even on this
most solemn occasion the form of an address to the Divinity lest they should
be thought to give countenance to the rituals of Rome or of England With much
better and more liberal judgment it is the present practice of most of the
Scottish clergymen to seize this opportunity of offering a prayer and
exhortation suitable to make an impression upon the living while they are yet
in the very presence of the relics of him whom they have but lately seen such as
they themselves and who now is such as they must in their time become But this
decent and praiseworthy practice was not adopted at the time of which I am
treating or at least Mr Blattergowl did not act upon it and the ceremony
proceeded without any devotional exercise
The coffin covered with a pall and supported upon handspikes by the
nearest relatives now only waited the father to support the head as is
customary Two or three of these privileged persons spoke to him but he only
answered by shaking his hand and his head in token of refusal With better
intention than judgment the friends who considered this as an act of duty on
the part of the living and of decency towards the deceased would have
proceeded to enforce their request had not Oldbuck interfered between the
distressed father and his wellmeaning tormentors and informed them that he
himself as landlord and master to the deceased »would carry his head to the
grave« In spite of the sorrowful occasion the hearts of the relatives swelled
within them at so marked a distinction on the part of the laird and old Alison
Breck who was present among other fishwomen swore almost aloud »His honour
Monkbarns should never want sax warp of oysters in the season« of which fish he
was understood to be fond »if she should gang to sea and dredge for them
hersell in the foulest wind that ever blew« And such is the temper of the
Scottish common people that by this instance of compliance with their customs
and respect for their persons Mr Oldbuck gained more popularity than by all
the sums which he had yearly distributed in the parish for purposes of private
or general charity
The sad procession now moved slowly forward preceded by the beadles or
saulies with their batons miserablelooking old men tottering as if on the
edge of that grave to which they were marshalling another and clad according
to Scottish guise with threadbare black coats and huntingcaps decorated with
rusty crape Monkbarns would probably have remonstrated against this superfluous
expense had he been consulted but in doing so he would have given more
offence than he gained popularity by condescending to perform the office of
chiefmourner Of this he was quite aware and wisely withheld rebuke where
rebuke and advice would have been equally unavailing In truth the Scottish
peasantry are still infected with that rage for funeral ceremonial which once
distinguished the grandees of the kingdom so much that a sumptuary law was made
by the Parliament of Scotland for the purpose of restraining it and I have
known many in the lowest stations who have denied themselves not merely the
comforts but almost the necessaries of life in order to save such a sum of
money as might enable their surviving friends to bury them like Christians as
they termed it nor could their faithful executors be prevailed upon though
equally necessitous to turn to the use and maintenance of the living the money
vainly wasted upon the interment of the dead
The procession to the churchyard at about halfamiles distance was made
with the mournful solemnity usual on these occasions the body was consigned
to its parent earth and when the labour of the gravediggers had filled up the
trench and covered it with fresh sod Mr Oldbuck taking his hat off saluted
the assistants who had stood by in melancholy silence and with that adieu
dispersed the mourners
The clergyman offered our Antiquary his company to walk homeward but Mr
Oldbuck had been so much struck with the deportment of the fisherman and his
mother that moved by compassion and perhaps also in some degree by that
curiosity which induces us to seek out even what gives us pain to witness he
preferred a solitary walk by the coast for the purpose of again visiting the
cottage as he passed
Chapter Thirtysecond
What is this secret sin this untold tale
That art cannot extract nor penance cleanse
Her muscles hold their place
Nor discomposed nor formed to steadiness
No sudden flushing and no faltering lip
Mysterious Mother
The coffin had been borne from the place where it rested The mourners in
regular gradation according to their rank or their relationship to the
deceased had filed from the cottage while the younger male children were led
along to totter after the bier of their brother and to view with wonder a
ceremonial which they could hardly comprehend The female gossips next rose to
depart and with consideration for the situation of the parents carried along
with them the girls of the family to give the unhappy pair time and opportunity
to open their hearts to each other and soften their grief by communicating it
But their kind intention was without effect The last of them had darkened the
entrance of the cottage as she went out and drawn the door softly behind her
when the father first ascertaining by a hasty glance that no stranger remained
started up clasped his hands wildly above his head uttered a cry of the
despair which he had hitherto repressed and in all the impotent impatience of
grief half rushed half staggered forward to the bed on which the coffin had
been deposited threw himself down upon it and smothering as it were his head
among the bedclothes gave vent to the full passion of his sorrow It was in
vain that the wretched mother terrified by the vehemence of her husbands
affliction affliction still more fearful as agitating a man of hardened
manners and a robust frame suppressed her own sobs and tears and pulling him
by the skirts of his coat implored him to rise and remember that though one
was removed he had still a wife and children to comfort and support The appeal
came at too early a period of his anguish and was totally unattended to he
continued to remain prostrate indicating by sobs so bitter and violent that
they shook the bed and partition against which it rested by clenched hands
which grasped the bedclothes and by the vehement and convulsive motion of his
legs how deep and how terrible was the agony of a fathers sorrow
»O what a day is this what a day is this« said the poor mother her
womanish affliction already exhausted by sobs and tears and now almost lost in
terror for the state in which she beheld her husband »O what an hour is this
and naebody to help a poor lone woman O gudemither could ye but speak a word
to him wad ye but bid him be comforted«
To her astonishment and even to the increase of her fear her husbands
mother heard and answered the appeal She rose and walked across the floor
without support and without much apparent feebleness and standing by the bed
on which her son had extended himself she said »Rise up my son and sorrow
not for him that is beyond sin and sorrow and temptation Sorrow is for those
that remain in this vale of sorrow and darkness I wha dinna sorrow and wha
canna sorrow for ony ane hae maist need that ye should a sorrow for me«
The voice of his mother not heard for years as taking part in the active
duties of life or offering advice or consolation produced its effect upon her
son He assumed a sitting posture on the side of the bed and his appearance
attitude and gestures changed from those of angry despair to deep grief and
dejection The grandmother retired to her nook the mother mechanically took in
her hand her tattered Bible and seemed to read though her eyes were drowned
with tears
They were thus occupied when a loud knock was heard at the door
»Hegh sirs« said the poor mother »wha is that can be coming in that gate
eenow They canna hae heard o our misfortune Im sure«
The knock being repeated she rose and opened the door saying querulously
»Whatna gaits that to disturb a sorrowfu house«
A tall man in black stood before her whom she instantly recognised to be
Lord Glenallan »Is there not« he said »an old woman lodging in this or one of
the neighbouring cottages called Elspeth who was long resident at
Craigburnfoot of Glenallan«
»Its my gudemither my lord« said Margaret »but she canna see onybody
eenow Ohon were dreeing a sair weird we hae had a heavy dispensation«
»God forbid« said Lord Glenallan »that I should on light occasion disturb
your sorrow but my days are numbered your motherinlaw is in the extremity
of age and if I see her not today we may never meet on this side of time«
»And what« answered the desolate mother »wad ye see at an auld woman
broken down wi age and sorrow and heartbreak Gentle or semple shall not darken
my door the day my bairns been carried out a corpse«
While she spoke thus indulging the natural irritability of disposition and
profession which began to mingle itself with her grief when its first
uncontrolled bursts were gone by she held the door about onethird part open
and placed herself in the gap as if to render the visitors entrance
impossible But the voice of her husband was heard from within »Whas that
Maggie what for are ye steeking them out let them come in it doesna signify
an auld ropes end wha comes in or wha gaes out o this house frae this time
forward«
The woman stood aside at her husbands command and permitted Lord Glenallan
to enter the hut The dejection exhibited in his broken frame and emaciated
countenance formed a strong contrast with the effects of grief as they were
displayed in the rude and weatherbeaten visage of the fisherman and the
masculine features of his wife He approached the old woman as she was seated on
her usual settle and asked her in a tone as audible as his voice could make
it »Are you Elspeth of the Craigburnfoot of Glenallan«
»Wha is it that asks about the unhallowed residence of that evil woman« was
the answer returned to his query
»The unhappy Earl of Glenallan«
»Earl Earl of Glenallan«
»He who was called William Lord Geraldin« said the Earl »and whom his
mothers death has made Earl of Glenallan«
»Open the bole« said the old woman firmly and hastily to her
daughterinlaw »open the bole wi speed that I may see if this be the right
Lord Geraldin the son of my mistress him that I received in my arms within
the hour after he was born him that has reason to curse me that I didna
smother him before the hour was past«
The window which had been shut in order that a gloomy twilight might add to
the solemnity of the funeral meeting was opened as she commanded and threw a
sudden and strong light through the smoky and misty atmosphere of the stifling
cabin Falling in a stream upon the chimney the rays illuminated in the way
that Rembrandt would have chosen the features of the unfortunate nobleman and
those of the old sibyl who now standing upon her feet and holding him by one
hand peered anxiously in his features with her lightblue eyes and holding her
long and withered forefinger within a small distance of his face moved it
slowly as if to trace the outlines and reconcile what she recollected with that
she now beheld As she finished her scrutiny she said with a deep sigh »Its
a sair sair change and whas fault is it but thats written down where it
will be remembered its written on tablets of brass with a pen of steel where
all is recorded that is done in the flesh And what« she said after a pause
»what is Lord Geraldin seeking from a poor auld creature like me thats dead
already and only belangs sae far to the living that she isna yet laid in the
moulds«
»Nay« answered Lord Glenallan »in the name of Heaven why was it that you
requested so urgently to see me and why did you back your request by sending
a token which you knew well I dared not refuse«
As he spoke thus he took from his purse the ring which Edie Ochiltree had
delivered to him at Glenallan House The sight of this token produced a strange
and instantaneous effect upon the old woman The palsy of fear was immediately
added to that of age and she began instantly to search her pockets with the
tremulous and hasty agitation of one who becomes first apprehensive of having
lost something of great importance then as if convinced of the reality of
her fears she turned to the Earl and demanded »And how came ye by it then
how came ye by it I thought I had kept it sae securely what will the Countess
say«
»You know« said the Earl »at least you must have heard that my mother is
dead«
»Dead are ye no imposing upon me has she left a at last lands and
lordship and lineages«
»All all« said the Earl »as mortals must leave all human vanities«
»I mind now« answered Elspeth »I heard of it before but there has been
sic distress in our house since and my memory is sae muckle impaired But ye
are sure your mother the Lady Countess is gane hame«
The Earl again assured her that her former mistress was no more
»Then« said Elspeth »it shall burden my mind nae langer When she lived
wha dared to speak what it would hae displeased her to hae had noised abroad
But shes gane and I will confess all«
Then turning to her son and daughterinlaw she commanded them imperatively
to quit the house and leave Lord Geraldin for so she still called him alone
with her But Maggie Mucklebackit her first burst of grief being over was by
no means disposed in her own house to pay passive obedience to the commands of
her motherinlaw an authority which is peculiarly obnoxious to persons in her
rank of life and which she was the more astonished at hearing revived when it
seemed to have been so long relinquished and forgotten
»It was an unco thing« she said in a grumbling tone of voice for the
rank of Lord Glenallan was somewhat imposing »it was an unco thing to bid a
mother leave her ain house wi the tear in her ee the moment her eldest son had
been carried a corpse out at the door ot«
The fisherman in a stubborn and sullen tone added to the same purpose
»This is nae day for your auldwarld stories mother My lord if he be a lord
may ca some other day or he may speak out what he has gotten to say if he
likes it theres nane here will think it worth their while to listen to him or
you either But neither for laird or loon gentle or semple will I leave my ain
house to pleasure onybody on the very day my poor«
Here his voice choked and he could proceed no farther but as he had risen
when Lord Glenallan came in and had since remained standing he now threw
himself doggedly upon a seat and remained in the sullen posture of one who was
determined to keep his word
But the old woman whom this crisis seemed to repossess in all those powers
of mental superiority with which she had once been eminently gifted arose and
advancing towards him said with a solemn voice »My son as ye wad shun
hearing of your mothers shame as ye wad not willingly be a witness of her
guilt as ye wad deserve her blessing and avoid her curse I charge ye by the
body that bore and that nursed ye to leave me at freedom to speak with Lord
Geraldin what nae mortal ears but his ain maun listen to Obey my words that
when ye lay the moulds on my head and oh that the day were come ye may
remember this hour without the reproach of having disobeyed the last earthly
command that ever your mother wared on you«
The terms of this solemn charge revived in the fishermans heart the habit
of instinctive obedience in which his mother had trained him up and to which he
had submitted implicitly while her powers of exacting it remained entire The
recollection mingled also with the prevailing passion of the moment for
glancing his eye at the bed on which the dead body had been laid he muttered to
himself »He never disobeyed me in reason or out o reason and what for should
I vex her« Then taking his reluctant spouse by the arm he led her gently out
of the cottage and latched the door behind them as he left it
As the unhappy parents withdrew Lord Glenallan to prevent the old woman
from relapsing into her lethargy again pressed her on the subject of the
communication which she proposed to make to him
»Ye will have it sune eneugh« she replied »my minds clear eneugh now
and there is not I think there is not a chance of my forgetting what I have
to say My dwelling at Craigburnfoot is before my een as it were present in
reality the green bank with its selvedge just where the burn met wi the
sea the twa little barks wi their sails furled lying in the natural cove
which it formed the high cliff that joined it with the pleasuregrounds of the
house of Glenallan and hung right ower the stream Ah yes I may forget that
I had a husband and have lost him that I hae but ane alive of our four fair
sons that misfortune upon misfortune has devoured our illgotten wealth that
they carried the corpse of my sons eldestborn frae the house this morning
But I never can forget the days I spent at bonny Craigburnfoot«
»You were a favourite of my mother« said Lord Glenallan desirous to bring
her back to the point from which she was wandering
»I was I was ye needna mind me o that She brought me up abune my
station and wi knowledge mair than my fellows but like the tempter of auld
wi the knowledge of gude she taught me the knowledge of evil«
»For Gods sake Elspeth« said the astonished Earl »proceed if you can
to explain the dreadful hints you have thrown out I well know you are confidant
to one dreadful secret which should split this roof even to hear it named but
speak on farther«
»I will« she said »I will just bear wi me for a little« and again
she seemed lost in recollection but it was no longer tinged with imbecility or
apathy She was now entering upon the topic which had long loaded her mind and
which doubtless often occupied her whole soul at times when she seemed dead to
all around her And I may add as a remarkable fact that such was the intense
operation of mental energy upon her physical powers and nervous system that
notwithstanding her infirmity of deafness each word that Lord Glenallan spoke
during this remarkable conference although in the lowest tone of horror or
agony fell as full and distinct upon Elspeths ear as it could have done at any
period of her life She spoke also herself clearly distinctly and slowly as
if anxious that the intelligence she communicated should be fully understood
concisely at the same time and with none of the verbiage or circumlocutory
additions natural to those of her sex and condition In short her language
bespoke a better education as well as an uncommonly firm and resolved mind and
a character of that sort from which great virtues or great crimes may be
naturally expected The tenor of her communication is disclosed in the following
chapter
Chapter Thirtythird
Remorse she neer forsakes us
A bloodhound staunch she tracks our rapid step
Through the wild labyrinth of youthful frenzy
Unheard perchance until old age hath tamed us
Then in our lair when Time hath chilled our joints
And maimed our hope of combat or of flight
We hear her deepmouthed bay announcing all
Of wrath and wo and punishment that bides
Old Play
»I need not tell you« said the old woman addressing the Earl of Glenallan
»that I was the favourite and confidential attendant of Joscelind Countess of
Glenallan whom God assoilzie« here she crossed herself »and I think
farther ye may not have forgotten that I shared her regard for mony years I
returned it by the maist sincere attachment but I fell into disgrace frae a
trifling act of disobedience reported to your mother by ane that thought and
she wasna wrang that I was a spy upon her actions and yours«
»I charge thee woman« said the Earl in a voice trembling with passion
»name not her name in my hearing«
»I MUST« returned the penitent firmly and calmly »or how can you
understand me«
The Earl leaned upon one of the wooden chairs of the hut drew his hat over
his face clenched his hands together set his teeth like one who summons up
courage to undergo a painful operation and made a signal to her to proceed«
»I say then« she resumed »that my disgrace with my mistress was chiefly
owing to Miss Eveline Neville then bred up in Glenallan House as the daughter
of a cousingerman and intimate friend of your father that was gane There was
muckle mystery in her history but wha dared to inquire farther than the
Countess liked to tell All in Glenallan House loved Miss Neville all but
twa your mother and mysell we baith hated her«
»God for what reason since a creature so mild so gentle so formed to
inspire affection never walked on this wretched world«
»It may hae been sae« rejoined Elspeth »but your mother hated a that cam
of your fathers family a but himsell Her reasons related to strife which
fell between them soon after her marriage the particulars are naething to this
purpose But oh doubly did she hate Eveline Neville when she perceived that
there was a growing kindness atween you and that unfortunate young leddy Ye may
mind that the Countesss dislike didna gang farther at first than just showing
o the cauld shouther at least it wasna seen farther but at the lang run it
brak out into such downright violence that Miss Neville was even fain to seek
refuge at Knockwinnock Castle with Sir Arthurs leddy wha God sain her was
then wi the living«
»You rend my heart by recalling these particulars But go on and may my
present agony be accepted as additional penance for the involuntary crime«
»She had been absent some months« continued Elspeth »when I was ae night
watching in my hut the return of my husband from fishing and shedding in
private those bitter tears that my proud spirit wrung frae me whenever I thought
on my disgrace The sneck was drawn and the Countess your mother entered my
dwelling I thought I had seen a spectre for even in the height of my favour
this was an honour she had never done me and she looked as pale and ghastly as
if she had risen from the grave She sat down and wrung the draps from her hair
and cloak for the night was drizzling and her walk had been through the
plantations that were a loaded with dew I only mention these things that you
may understand how weel that night lives in my memory and weel it may I was
surprised to see her but I durstna speak first mair than if I had seen a
phantom Na I durst not my lord I that hae seen mony sights of terror and
never shook at them Sae after a silence she said Elspeth Cheyne for she
always gave me my maiden name are not ye the daughter of that Reginald Cheyne
who died to save his master Lord Glenallan on the field of Sheriffmuir And I
answered her as proudly as hersell nearly As sure as you are the daughter of
that Earl of Glenallan whom my father saved that day by his own death«
Here she made a deep pause
»And what followed what followed For Heavens sake good woman But
why should I use that word Yet good or bad I command you to tell me«
»And little I should value earthly command« answered Elspeth »were there
not a voice that has spoken to me sleeping and waking that drives me forward to
tell this sad tale Aweel my Lord the Countess said to me My son loves
Eveline Neville they are agreed they are plighted should they have a son
my right over Glenallan merges I sink from that moment from a Countess into a
miserable stipendiary dowager I who brought lands and vassals and high blood
and ancient fame to my husband I must cease to be mistress when my son has an
heirmale But I care not for that had he married any but one of the hated
Nevilles I had been patient But for them that they and their descendants
should enjoy the right and honours of my ancestors goes through my heart like a
twoedged dirk And this girl I detest her And I answered for my heart
kindled at her words that her hate was equalled by mine«
»Wretch« exclaimed the Earl in spite of his determination to preserve
silence »wretched woman what cause of hate could have arisen from a being so
innocent and gentle«
»I hated what my mistress hated as was the use with the liege vassals of
the house of Glenallan for though my Lord I married under my degree yet an
ancestor of yours never went to the field of battle but an ancestor of the
frail demented auld useless wretch wha now speaks with you carried his
shield before him But that was not a« continued the beldam her earthly and
evil passions rekindling as she became heated in her narration »that was not
a I hated Miss Eveline Neville for her ain sake I brought her frae England
and during our whole journey she gecked and scorned at my northern speech and
habit as her southland leddies and kimmers had done at the boardingschool as
they cad it« and strange as it may seem she spoke of an affront offered by
a heedless schoolgirl without intention with a degree of inveteracy which at
such a distance of time a mortal offence would neither have authorized or
excited in any wellconstituted mind »Yes she scorned and jested at me but
let them that scorn the tartan fear the dirk«
She paused and then went on »But I deny not that I hated her mair than
she deserved My mistress the Countess persevered and said Elspeth Cheyne
this unruly boy will marry with the false English blood Were days as they have
been I could throw her into the Massymore23 of Glenallan and fetter him in the
Keep of Strathbonnel But these times are past and the authority which the
nobles of the land should exercise is delegated to quibbling lawyers and their
baser dependants Hear me Elspeth Cheyne if you are your fathers daughter as
I am mine I will find means that they shall not marry She walks often to that
cliff that overhangs your dwelling to look for her lovers boat ye may
remember the pleasure ye then took on the sea my Lord let him find her forty
fathom lower than he expects Yes ye may stare and frown and clench your
hand but as sure as I am to face the only Being I ever feared and oh that I
had feared him mair these were your mothers words What avails it to me to
lie to you But I wadna consent to stain my hand with blood Then she said
By the religion of our holy Church they are ower sibb thegither But I expect
nothing but that both will become heretics as well as disobedient reprobates
that was her addition to that argument And then as the fiend is ever ower busy
wi brains like mine that are subtle beyond their use and station I was
unhappily permitted to add But they might be brought to think themselves sae
sibb as no Christian law will permit their wedlock«
Here the Earl of Glenallan echoed her words with a shriek so piercing as
almost to rend the roof of the cottage »Ah then Eveline Neville was not the
the«
»The daughter ye would say of your father« continued Elspeth »No be it
a torment or be it a comfort to you ken the truth she was nae mair a daughter
of your fathers house than I am«
»Woman deceive me not make me not curse the memory of the parent I have
so lately laid in the grave for sharing in a plot the most cruel the most
infernal«
»Bethink ye my Lord Geraldin ere ye curse the memory of a parent thats
gane is there none of the blood of Glenallan living whose faults have led to
this dreadfu catastrophe«
»Mean you my brother he too is gone« said the Earl
»No« replied the sibyl »I mean yoursell Lord Geraldin Had you not
transgressed the obedience of a son by wedding Eveline Neville in secret while a
guest at Knockwinnock our plot might have separated you for a time but would
have left at least your sorrows without remorse to canker them But your ain
conduct had put poison in the weapon that we threw and it pierced you with the
mair force because ye cam rushing to meet it Had your marriage been a
proclaimed and acknowledged action our stratagem to throw an obstacle into your
way that couldna be got ower neither wad nor could hae been practised against
ye«
»Great Heaven« said the unfortunate nobleman »it is as if a film fell
from my obscured eyes Yes I now well understand the doubtful hints of
consolation thrown out by my wretched mother tending indirectly to impeach the
evidence of the horrors of which her arts had led me to believe myself guilty«
»She could not speak mair plainly« answered Elspeth »without confessing
her ain fraud and she would have submitted to be torn by wild horses rather
than unfold what she had done and if she had still lived so would I for her
sake They were stout hearts the race of Glenallan male and female and sae
were a that in auld times cried their gatheringword of Clochnaben they stood
shouther to shouther nae man parted frae his chief for love of gold or of
gain or of right or of wrang The times are changed I hear now«
The unfortunate nobleman was too much wrapped up in his own confused and
distracted reflections to notice the rude expressions of savage fidelity in
which even in the latest ebb of life the unhappy author of his misfortunes
seemed to find a stern and stubborn source of consolation
»Great Heaven« he exclaimed »I am then free from a guilt the most horrible
with which man can be stained and the sense of which however involuntary has
wrecked my peace destroyed my health and bowed me down to an untimely grave
Accept« he fervently uttered lifting his eyes upwards »accept my humble
thanks If I live miserable at least I shall not die stained with that
unnatural guilt And thou proceed if thou hast more to tell proceed while
thou hast voice to speak it and I have powers to listen«
»Yes« answered the beldam »the hour when you shall hear and I shall
speak is indeed passing rapidly away Death has crossed your brow with his
finger and I find his grasp turning every day caulder at my heart Interrupt me
nae mair with exclamations and groans and accusations but hear my tale to an
end And then if ye be indeed sic a Lord of Glenallan as I hae heard of in my
day make your merrymen gather the thorn and the brier and the green hollin
till they heap them as high as the houseriggin and burn burn burn the auld
witch Elspeth and a that can put ye in mind that sic a creature ever crawled
upon the land«
»Go on« said the Earl »go on I will not again interrupt you«
He spoke in a halfsuffocated yet determined voice resolved that no
irritability on his part should deprive him of this opportunity of acquiring
proofs of the wonderful tale he then heard But Elspeth had become exhausted by
a continuous narration of such unusual length the subsequent part of her story
was more broken and though still distinctly intelligible in most parts had no
longer the lucid conciseness which the first part of her narrative had displayed
to such an astonishing degree Lord Glenallan found it necessary when she had
made some attempts to continue her narrative without success to prompt her
memory by demanding »What proofs she could propose to bring of the truth of a
narrative so different from that which she had originally told«
»The evidence« she replied »of Eveline Nevilles real birth was in the
Countesss possession with reasons for its being for some time kept private
they may yet be found if she has not destroyed them in the left hand drawer of
the ebony cabinet that stood in the dressingroom These she meant to suppress
for the time until you went abroad again when she trusted before your return
to send Miss Neville back to her ain country or to get her settled in
marriage«
»But did you not show me letters of my fathers which seemed to me unless
my senses altogether failed me in that horrible moment to avow his relationship
to to the unhappy«
»We did and with my testimony how could you doubt the fact or her
either But we suppressed the true explanation of these letters and that was
that your father thought it right the young leddy should pass for his daughter
for a while on account o some family reasons that were amang them«
»But wherefore when you learned our union was this dreadful artifice
persisted in«
»It wasna« she replied »till Lady Glenallan had communicated this fause
tale that she suspected ye had actually made a marriage nor even then did you
avow it sae as to satisfy her whether the ceremony had in verity passed atween
ye or no But ye remember O ye canna but remember weel what passed in that
awfu meeting«
»Woman you swore upon the gospels to the fact which you now disavow«
»I did and I wad hae taen a yet mair holy pledge on it if there had been
ane I wad not hae spared the blood of my body or the guilt of my soul to
serve the house of Glenallan«
»Wretch do you call that horrid perjury attended with consequences yet
more dreadful do you esteem that a service to the house of your benefactors«
»I served her wha was then the head of Glenallan as she required me to
serve her The cause was between God and her conscience the manner between God
and mine She is gane to her account and I maun follow Have I tauld you a«
»No« answered Lord Glenallan »you have yet more to tell you have to
tell me of the death of the angel whom your perjury drove to despair stained
as she thought herself with a crime so horrible Speak truth was that
dreadful was that horrible incident« he could scarcely articulate the words
»was it as reported or was it an act of yet further though not more
atrocious cruelty inflicted by others«
»I understand you« said Elspeth »But report spoke truth our false
witness was indeed the cause but the deed was her ain distracted act On that
fearfu disclosure when ye rushed frae the Countesss presence and saddled your
horse and left the castle like a fireflaught the Countess hadna yet
discovered your private marriage she hadna fund out that the union which she
had framed this awfu tale to prevent had een taen place Ye fled from the
house as if the fire o Heaven was about to fa upon it and Miss Neville
atween reason and the want ot was put under sure ward But the ward sleept
and the prisoner waked the window was open the way was before her there
was the cliff and there was the sea O when will I forget that«
»And thus died« said the Earl »even so as was reported«
»No my lord I had gane out to the cove the tide was in and it flowed
as yell remember to the foot o that cliff it was a great convenience that
for my husbands trade Where am I wandering I saw a white object dart frae
the tap o the cliff like a seamaw through the mist and then a heavy flash and
sparkle of the waters showed me it was a human creature that had faen into the
waves I was bold and strong and familiar with the tide I rushed in and
grasped her gown and drew her out and carried her on my shouthers I could hae
carried twa sic then carried her to my hut and laid her on my bed Neighbours
cam and brought help but the words she uttered in her ravings when she got
back the use of speech were such that I was fain to send them awa and get up
word to Glenallan House The Countess sent down her Spanish servant Teresa if
ever there was a fiend on earth in human form that woman was ane She and I
were to watch the unhappy leddy and let no other person approach God knows
what Teresas part was to hae been she tauld it not to me but Heaven took
the conclusion in its ain hand The poor leddy she took the pangs of travail
before her time bore a male child and died in the arms of me of her mortal
enemy Ay ye may weep she was a sightly creature to see to but think ye if
I didna mourn her then that I can mourn her now Na na I left Teresa wi the
dead corpse and newborn babe till I gaed up to take the Countesss commands
what was to be done Late as it was I cad her up and she gard me ca up your
brother«
»My brother«
»Yes Lord Geraldin een your brother that some said she aye wished to be
her heir At ony rate he was the person maist concerned in the succession and
heritance of the house of Glenallan«
»And is it possible to believe then that my brother out of avarice to
grasp at my inheritance would lend himself to such a base and dreadful
stratagem«
»Your mother believed it« said the old beldam with a fiendish laugh »it
was nae plot of my making but what they did or said I will not say because I
did not hear Lang and sair they consulted in the black wainscot dressingroom
and when your brother passed through the room where I was waiting it seemed to
me and I have often thought sae since syne that the fire of hell was in his
cheek and een But he had left some of it with his mother at ony rate She
entered the room like a woman demented and the first words she spoke were
Elspeth Cheyne did you ever pull a newbudded flower I answered as ye may
believe that I often had Then said she ye will ken the better how to blight
the spurious and heretical blossom that has sprung forth this night to disgrace
my fathers noble house See here and she gave me a golden bodkin
nothing but gold must shed the blood of Glenallan This child is already as one
of the dead and since thou and Teresa alone ken that it lives let it be dealt
upon as ye will answer to me and she turned away in her fury and left me with
the bodkin in my hand Here it is that and the ring of Miss Neville are a I
hae preserved of my illgotten gear for muckle was the gear I got And weel
hae I keepit the secret but no for the gowd or gear either«
Her long and bony hand held out to Lord Glenallan a gold bodkin down which
in fancy he saw the blood of his infant trickling
»Wretch had you the heart«
»I kenna if I could hae had it or no I returned to my cottage without
feeling the ground that I trode on but Teresa and the child were gane a that
was alive was gane naething left but the lifeless corpse«
»And did you never learn my infants fate«
»I could but guess I have tauld ye your mothers purpose and I ken Teresa
was a fiend She was never mair seen in Scotland and I have heard that she
returned to her ain land A dark curtain has faen over the past and the few
that witnessed ony part of it could only surmise something of seduction and
suicide You yourself«
»I know I know it all« answered the Earl
»You indeed know all that I can say And now heir of Glenallan can you
forgive me«
»Ask forgiveness of God and not of man« said the Earl turning away
»And how shall I ask of the pure and unstained what is denied to me by a
sinner like mysell If I hae sinned hae I not suffered Hae I had a days
peace or an hours rest since those lang wet locks of hair first lay upon my
pillow at Craigburnfoot Has not my house been burned wi my bairn in the
cradle Have not my boats been wrecked when a others weatherd the gale
Have not a that were near and dear to me dreed penance for my sin Has not
the fire had its share o them the winds had their part the sea had her
part And oh« she added with a lengthened groan looking first upwards
towards Heaven and then bending her eyes on the floor »O that the earth would
take her part thats been lang lang wearying to be joined to it«
Lord Glenallan had reached the door of the cottage but the generosity of
his nature did not permit him to leave the unhappy woman in this state of
desperate reprobation »May God forgive thee wretched woman« he said »as
sincerely as I do Turn for mercy to Him who can alone grant mercy and may
your prayers be heard as if they were mine own I will send a religious man«
»Na na nae priest nae priest« she ejaculated and the door of the
cottage opening as she spoke prevented her from proceeding
Chapter Thirtyfourth
Still in his dead hand clenched remain the strings
That thrill his fathers heart een as the limb
Lopped off and laid in grave retains they tell us
Strange commerce with the mutilated stump
Whose nerves are twinging still in maimed existence
Old Play
The Antiquary as we informed the reader in the end of the thirtyfirst chapter
had shaken off the company of worthy Mr Blattergowl although he offered to
entertain him with an abstract of the ablest speech he had ever known in the
teind court delivered by the procurator for the church in the remarkable case
of the parish of Gatherem Resisting this temptation our senior preferred a
solitary path which again conducted him to the cottage of Mucklebackit When he
came in front of the fishermans hut he observed a man working intently as if
to repair a shattered boat which lay upon the beach and going up to him was
surprised to find it was Mucklebackit himself »I am glad« he said in a tone of
sympathy »I am glad Saunders that you feel yourself able to make this
exertion«
»And what would ye have me to do« answered the fisher gruffly »unless I
wanted to see four children starve because ane is drowned Its weel wi you
gentles that can sit in the house wi handkerchers at your een when ye lose a
friend but the like o us maun to our wark again if our hearts were beating as
hard as my hammer«
Without taking more notice of Oldbuck he proceeded in his labour and the
Antiquary to whom the display of human nature under the influence of agitating
passions was never indifferent stood beside him in silent attention as if
watching the progress of the work He observed more than once the mans hard
features as if by the force of association prepare to accompany the sound of
the saw and hammer with his usual symphony of a rude tune hummed or whistled
and as often a slight twitch of convulsive expression showed that ere the sound
was uttered a cause for suppressing it rushed upon his mind At length when he
had patched a considerable rent and was beginning to mend another his feelings
appeared altogether to derange the power of attention necessary for his work
The piece of wood which he was about to nail on was at first too long then he
sawed it off too short then chose another equally ill adapted for the purpose
At length throwing it down in anger after wiping his dim eye with his
quivering hand he exclaimed »There is a curse either on me or on this auld
black bitch of a boat that I have hauled up high and dry and patched and
clouted sae mony years that she might drown my poor Steenie at the end of them
an be d d to her« and he flung his hammer against the boat as if she had
been the intentional cause of his misfortune Then recollecting himself he
added »Yet what needs ane be angry at her that has neither soul nor sense
though I am no that muckle better mysell Shes but a rickle o auld rotten
deals nailed thegither and warped wi the wind and the sea and I am a dour
carle battered by foul weather at sea and land till I am maist as senseless as
hersell She maun be mended though again the morning tide thats a thing o
necessity«
Thus speaking he went to gather together his instruments and attempt to
resume his labour but Oldbuck took him kindly by the arm »Come come« he
said »Saunders there is no work for you this day Ill send down Shavings the
carpenter to mend the boat and he may put the days work into my account and
you had better not come out tomorrow but stay to comfort your family under
this dispensation and the gardener will bring you some vegetables and meal from
Monkbarns«
»I thank ye Monkbarns« answered the poor fisher »I am a plainspoken man
and hae little to say for mysell I might hae learned fairer fashions frae my
mither lang syne but I never saw muckle gude they did her however I thank ye
Ye were aye kind and neighbourly whatever folk says o your being near and
close and I hae often said in thae times when they were ganging to raise up
the puir folk against the gentles I hae often said neer a man should steer a
hair touching to Monkbarns while Steenie and I could wag a finger and so said
Steenie too And Monkbarns when ye laid his head in the grave and mony thanks
for the respect ye saw the mouls laid on an honest lad that likit you weel
though he made little phrase about it«
Oldbuck beaten from the pride of his affected cynicism would not willingly
have had any one by on that occasion to quote to him his favourite maxims of the
Stoic philosophy The large drops fell fast from his own eyes as he begged the
father who was now melted at recollecting the bravery and generous sentiments
of his son to forbear useless sorrow and led him by the arm towards his own
home where another scene awaited our Antiquary
As he entered the first person whom he beheld was Lord Glenallan Mutual
surprise was in their countenances as they saluted each other with haughty
reserve on the part of Mr Oldbuck and embarrassment on that of the Earl
»My Lord Glenallan I think« said Mr Oldbuck
»Yes much changed from what he was when he knew Mr Oldbuck«
»I do not mean« said the Antiquary »to intrude upon your lordship I only
came to see this distressed family«
»And you have found one sir who has still greater claims on your
compassion«
»My compassion Lord Glenallan cannot need my compassion If Lord Glenallan
could need it I think he would hardly ask it«
»Our former acquaintance« said the Earl
»Is of such ancient date my lord was of such short duration and was
connected with circumstances so exquisitely painful that I think we may
dispense with renewing it«
So saying the Antiquary turned away and left the hut but Lord Glenallan
followed him into the open air and in spite of a hasty »Good morning my
lord« requested a few minutes conversation and the favour of his advice in an
important matter
»Your lordship will find many more capable to advise you my lord and by
whom your intercourse will be deemed an honour For me I am a man retired from
business and the world and not very fond of raking up the past events of my
useless life and forgive me if I say I have particular pain in reverting to
that period of it when I acted like a fool and your lordship like« He stopped
short
»Like a villain you would say« said Lord Glenallan »for such I must have
appeared to you«
»My lord my lord I have no desire to hear your shrift« said the
Antiquary
»But sir if I can show you that I am more sinned against than sinning
that I have been a man miserable beyond the power of description and who looks
forward at this moment to an untimely grave as to a haven of rest you will not
refuse the confidence which accepting your appearance at this critical moment
as a hint from Heaven I venture thus to press on you«
»Assuredly my lord I shall shun no longer the continuation of this
extraordinary interview«
»I must then recall to you our occasional meetings upwards of twenty years
since at Knockwinnock Castle and I need not remind you of a lady who was then
a member of that family«
»The unfortunate Miss Eveline Neville my lord I remember it well«
»Towards whom you entertained sentiments«
»Very different from those with which I before and since have regarded her
sex Her gentleness her docility her pleasure in the studies which I pointed
out to her attached my affections more than became my age though that was not
then much advanced or the solidity of my character But I need not remind your
lordship of the various modes in which you indulged your gaiety at the expense
of an awkward and retired student embarrassed by the expression of feelings so
new to him and I have no doubt that the young lady joined you in the
welldeserved ridicule it is the way of womankind I have spoken at once to
the painful circumstances of my addresses and their rejection that your
lordship may be satisfied everything is full in my memory and may so far as I
am concerned tell your story without scruple or needless delicacy«
»I will« said Lord Glenallan »But first let me say you do injustice to
the memory of the gentlest and kindest as well as to the most unhappy of women
to suppose she could make a jest of the honest affection of a man like you
Frequently did she blame me Mr Oldbuck for indulging my levity at your
expense may I now presume you will excuse the gay freedoms which then offended
you my state of mind has never since laid me under the necessity of
apologizing for the inadvertencies of a light and happy temper«
»My lord you are fully pardoned« said Mr Oldbuck »You should be aware
that like all others I was ignorant at the time that I placed myself in
competition with your lordship and understood that Miss Neville was in a state
of dependence which might make her prefer a competent independence and the hand
of an honest man But I am wasting time I would I could believe that the
views entertained towards her by others were as fair and honest as mine«
»Mr Oldbuck you judge harshly«
»Not without cause my lord When I only of all the magistrates of this
county having neither like some of them the honour to be connected with your
powerful family nor like others the meanness to fear it when I made some
inquiry into the manner of Miss Nevilles death I shake you my lord but I
must be plain I do own I had every reason to believe that she had met most
unfair dealing and had either been imposed upon by a counterfeit marriage or
that very strong measures had been adopted to stifle and destroy the evidence of
a real union And I cannot doubt in my own mind that this cruelty on your
lordships part whether coming of your own free will or proceeding from the
influence of the late Countess hurried the unfortunate young lady to the
desperate act by which her life was terminated«
»You are deceived Mr Oldbuck into conclusions which are not just however
naturally they flow from the circumstances Believe me I respected you even
when I was most embarrassed by your active attempts to investigate our family
misfortunes You showed yourself more worthy of Miss Neville than I by the
spirit with which you persisted in vindicating her reputation even after her
death But the firm belief that your wellmeant efforts could only serve to
bring to light a story too horrible to be detailed induced me to join my
unhappy mother in schemes to remove or destroy all evidence of the legal union
which had taken place between Eveline and myself And now let us sit down on
this bank for I feel unable to remain longer standing and have the
goodness to listen to the extraordinary discovery which I have this day made«
They sate down accordingly and Lord Glenallan briefly narrated his unhappy
family history his concealed marriage the horrible invention by which his
mother had designed to render impossible that union which had already taken
place He detailed the arts by which the Countess having all the documents
relative to Miss Nevilles birth in her hands had produced those only relating
to a period during which for family reasons his father had consented to own
that young lady as his natural daughter and showed how impossible it was that
he could either suspect or detect the fraud put upon him by his mother and
vouched by the oaths of her attendants Teresa and Elspeth »I left my paternal
mansion« he concluded »as if the furies of hell had driven me forth and
travelled with frantic velocity I knew not whither Nor have I the slightest
recollection of what I did or whither I went until I was discovered by my
brother I will not trouble you with an account of my sickbed and recovery or
how long afterwards I ventured to inquire after the sharer of my misfortunes
and heard that her despair had found a dreadful remedy for all the ills of life
The first thing that roused me to thought was hearing of your inquiries into
this cruel business and you will hardly wonder that believing what I did
believe I should join in those expedients to stop your investigation which my
brother and mother had actively commenced The information which I gave them
concerning the circumstances and witnesses of our private marriage enabled them
to baffle your zeal The clergyman therefore and witnesses as persons who had
acted in the matter only to please the powerful heir of Glenallan were
accessible to his promises and threats and were so provided for that they had
no objections to leave this country for another For myself Mr Oldbuck«
pursued this unhappy man »from that moment I considered myself as blotted out
of the book of the living and as having nothing left to do with this world My
mother tried to reconcile me to life by every art even by intimations which I
can now interpret as calculated to produce a doubt of the horrible tale she
herself had fabricated But I construed all she said as the fictions of maternal
affection I will forbear all reproach She is no more and as her wretched
associate said she knew not how the dart was poisoned or how deep it must
sink when she threw it from her hand But Mr Oldbuck if ever during these
twenty years there crawled upon earth a living being deserving of your pity I
have been that man My food has not nourished me my sleep has not refreshed me
my devotions have not comforted me all that is cheering and necessary to man
has been to me converted into poison The rare and limited intercourse which I
have held with others has been most odious to me I felt as if I were bringing
the contamination of unnatural and inexpressible guilt among the gay and the
innocent There have been moments when I had thoughts of another description
to plunge into the adventures of war or to brave the dangers of the traveller
in foreign and barbarous climates to mingle in political intrigue or to
retire to the stern seclusion of the anchorites of our religion all these are
thoughts which have alternately passed through my mind but each required an
energy which was mine no longer after the withering stroke I had received I
vegetated on as I could in the same spot fancy feeling judgment and health
gradually decaying like a tree whose bark has been destroyed when first the
blossoms fade then the boughs until its state resembles the decayed and dying
trunk that is now before you Do you now pity and forgive me«
»My lord« answered the Antiquary much affected »my pity my forgiveness
you have not to ask for your dismal story is of itself not only an ample excuse
for whatever appeared mysterious in your conduct but a narrative that might
move your worst enemies and I my lord was never of the number to tears and
to sympathy But permit me to ask what you now mean to do and why you have
honoured me whose opinion can be of little consequence with your confidence on
this occasion«
»Mr Oldbuck« answered the Earl »as I could never have foreseen the nature
of that confession which I have heard this day I need not say that I had no
formed plan of consulting you or any one upon affairs the tendency of which I
could not even have suspected But I am without friends unused to business
and by long retirement unacquainted alike with the laws of the land and the
habits of the living generation and when most unexpectedly I find myself
immersed in the matters of which I know least I catch like a drowning man at
the first support that offers You are that support Mr Oldbuck I have always
heard you mentioned as a man of wisdom and intelligence I have known you
myself as a man of a resolute and independent spirit and there is one
circumstance« said he »which ought to combine us in some degree our having
paid tribute to the same excellence of character in poor Eveline You offered
yourself to me in my need and you were already acquainted with the beginning of
my misfortunes To you therefore I have recourse for advice for sympathy for
support«
»You shall seek none of them in vain my lord« said Oldbuck »so far as my
slender ability extends and I am honoured by the preference whether it
arises from choice or is prompted by chance But this is a matter to be ripely
considered May I ask what are your principal views at present«
»To ascertain the fate of my child« said the Earl »be the consequences
what they may and to do justice to the honour of Eveline which I have only
permitted to be suspected to avoid discovery of the yet more horrible taint to
which I was made to believe it liable«
»And the memory of your mother«
»Must bear its own burden« answered the Earl with a sigh »better that she
were justly convicted of deceit should that be found necessary than that
others should be unjustly accused of crimes so much more dreadful«
»Then my lord« said Oldbuck »our first business must be to put the
information of the old woman Elspeth into a regular and authenticated form«
»That« said Lord Glenallan »will be at present I fear impossible She is
exhausted herself and surrounded by her distressed family Tomorrow perhaps
when she is alone and yet I doubt from her imperfect sense of right and
wrong whether she would speak out in any ones presence but my own I am too
sorely fatigued«
»Then my lord« said the Antiquary whom the interest of the moment
elevated above points of expense and convenience which had generally more than
enough of weight with him »I would propose to your lordship instead of
returning fatigued as you are so far as to Glenallan House or taking the more
uncomfortable alternative of going to a bad inn at Fairport to alarm all the
busybodies of the town I would propose I say that you should be my guest at
Monkbarns for this night By tomorrow these poor people will have renewed their
outofdoors vocation for sorrow with them affords no respite from labour
and we will visit the old woman Elspeth alone and take down her examination«
After a formal apology for the encroachment Lord Glenallan agreed to go
with him and underwent with patience in their return home the whole history of
John of the Girnel a legend which Mr Oldbuck was never known to spare any one
who crossed his threshold
The arrival of a stranger of such note with two saddlehorses and a servant
in black which servant had holsters on his saddlebow and a coronet upon the
holsters created a general commotion in the house of Monkbarns Jenny
Rintherout scarce recovered from the hysterics which she had taken on hearing
of poor Steenies misfortune chased about the turkeys and poultry cackled and
screamed louder than they did and ended by killing onehalf too many Miss
Griselda made many wise reflections on the hotheaded wilfulness of her brother
who had occasioned such devastation by suddenly bringing in upon them a papist
nobleman And she ventured to transmit to Mr Blattergowl some hint of the
unusual slaughter which had taken place in the bassecour which brought the
honest clergyman to inquire how his friend Monkbarns had got home and whether
he was not the worse of being at the funeral at a period so near the ringing of
the bell for dinner that the Antiquary had no choice left but to invite him to
stay and bless the meat Miss MIntyre had on her part some curiosity to see
this mighty peer of whom all had heard as an eastern caliph or sultan is heard
of by his subjects and felt some degree of timidity at the idea of encountering
a person of whose unsocial habits and stern manners so many stories were told
that her fear kept at least pace with her curiosity The aged housekeeper was no
less flustered and hurried in obeying the numerous and contradictory commands of
her mistress concerning preserves pastry and fruit the mode of marshalling
and dishing the dinner the necessity of not permitting the melted butter to run
to oil and the danger of allowing Juno who though formally banished from the
parlour failed not to maraud about the outsettlements of the family to enter
the kitchen
The only inmate of Monkbarns who remained entirely indifferent on this
momentous occasion was Hector MIntyre who cared no more for an Earl than he
did for a commoner and who was only interested in the unexpected visit as it
might afford some protection against his uncles displeasure if he harboured
any for his not attending the funeral and still more against his satire upon
the subject of his gallant but unsuccessful single combat with the phoca or
seal
To these the inmates of his household Oldbuck presented the Earl of
Glenallan who underwent with meek and subdued civility the prosing speeches
of the honest divine and the lengthened apologies of Miss Griselda Oldbuck
which her brother in vain endeavoured to abridge Before the dinner hour Lord
Glenallan requested permission to retire a while to his chamber
Mr Oldbuck accompanied his guest to the Green Room which had been hastily
prepared for his reception He looked around with an air of painful
recollection
»I think« at length he observed »I think Mr Oldbuck that I have been in
this apartment before«
»Yes my lord« answered Oldbuck »upon occasion of an excursion hither from
Knockwinnock and since we are upon a subject so melancholy you may perhaps
remember whose taste supplied these lines from Chaucer which now form the motto
of the tapestry«
»I guess« said the Earl »though I cannot recollect She excelled me
indeed in literary taste and information as in everything else and it is one
of the mysterious dispensations of Providence Mr Oldbuck that a creature so
excellent in mind and body should have been cut off in so miserable a manner
merely from her having formed a fatal attachment to such a wretch as I am«
Mr Oldbuck did not attempt an answer to this burst of the grief which lay
ever nearest to the heart of his guest but pressing Lord Glenallans hand with
one of his own and drawing the other across his shaggy eyelashes as if to
brush away a mist that intercepted his sight he left the Earl at liberty to
arrange himself previous to dinner
Chapter Thirtyfifth
Life with you
Glows in the brain and dances in the arteries
Tis like the wine some joyous guest hath quaffed
That glads the heart and elevates the fancy
Mine is the poor residuum of the cup
Vapid and dull and tasteless only soiling
With its base dregs the vessel that contains it
Old Play
»Now only think what a man my brother is Mr Blattergowl for a wise man and a
learned man to bring this Yerl into our house without speaking a word to a
body And theres the distress of thae Mucklebackits we canna get a fin o
fish and we hae nae time to send ower to Fairport for beef and the muttons
but new killed and that silly fliskmahoy Jenny Rintherout has taen the
exies and done naething but laugh and greet the skirl at the tail o the
guffaw for twa days successfully and now we maun ask that strange man thats
as grand and as grave as the Yerl himsell to stand at the sideboard and I
canna gang into the kitchen to direct onything for hes hovering there making
some pousowdie24 for my Lord for he doesna eat like ither folk neither And
how to sort the strange servant man at dinner time I am sure Mr Blattergowl
athegither it passes my judgment«
»Truly Miss Griselda« replied the divine »Monkbarns was inconsiderate He
should have taen a day to see the invitation as they do wi the titulars
condescendence in the process of valuation and sale But the great man could not
have come on a sudden to ony house in this parish where he could have been
better served with vivers that I must say and also that the steam from the
kitchen is very gratifying to my nostrils and if ye have ony household
affairs to attend to Mrs Griselda never make a stranger of me I can amuse
mysell very weel with the larger copy of Erskines Institutes«
And taking down from the windowseat that amusing folio the Scottish Coke
upon Littleton he opened it as if instinctively at the tenth title of Book
Second »of Teinds or Tythes« and was presently deeply wrapped up in an
abstruse discussion concerning the temporality of benefices
The entertainment about which Miss Oldbuck expressed so much anxiety was
at length placed upon the table and the Earl of Glenallan for the first time
since the date of his calamity sat at a strangers board surrounded by
strangers He seemed to himself like a man in a dream or one whose brain was
not fully recovered from the effects of an intoxicating potion Relieved as he
had that morning been from the image of guilt which had so long haunted his
imagination he felt his sorrows as a lighter and more tolerable load but was
still unable to take any share in the conversation that passed around him It
was indeed of a cast very different from that which he had been accustomed to
The bluntness of Oldbuck the tiresome apologetic harangues of his sister the
pedantry of the divine and the vivacity of the young soldier which savoured
much more of the camp than of the court were all new to a nobleman who had
lived in a retired and melancholy state for so many years that the manners of
the world seemed to him equally strange and unpleasing Miss MIntyre alone
from the natural politeness and unpretending simplicity of her manners appeared
to belong to that class of society to which he had been accustomed in his
earlier and better days
Nor did Lord Glenallans deportment less surprise the company Though a
plain but excellent familydinner was provided for as Mr Blattergowl had
justly said it was impossible to surprise Miss Griselda when her larder was
empty and though the Antiquary boasted his best port and assimilated it to
the Falernian of Horace Lord Glenallan was proof to the allurements of both
His servant placed before him a small mess of vegetables that very dish the
cooking of which had alarmed Miss Griselda arranged with the most minute and
scrupulous neatness He ate sparingly of these provisions and a glass of pure
water sparkling from the fountainhead completed his repast Such his servant
said had been his lordships diet for very many years unless upon the high
festivals of the Church or when company of the first rank were entertained at
Glenallan House when he relaxed a little in the austerity of his diet and
permitted himself a glass or two of wine But at Monkbarns no anchoret could
have made a more simple and scanty meal
The Antiquary was a gentleman as we have seen in feeling but blunt and
careless in expression from the habit of living with those before whom he had
nothing to suppress He attacked his noble guest without scruple on the severity
of his regimen
»A few halfcold greens and potatoes a glass of icecold water to wash
them down antiquity gives no warrant for it my lord This house used to be
accounted a hospitium a place of retreat for Christians but your lordships
diet is that of a heathen Pythagorean or Indian Bramin nay more severe than
either if you refuse these fine apples«
»I am a Catholic you are aware« said Lord Glenallan wishing to escape
from the discussion »and you know that our church«
»Lays down many rules of mortification« proceeded the dauntless Antiquary
»but I never heard that they were quite so rigorously practised Bear witness
my predecessor John of the Girnel or the jolly Abbot who gave his name to
this apple my lord«
And as he pared the fruit in spite of his sisters »O fie Monkbarns« and
the prolonged cough of the minister accompanied by a shake of his huge wig the
Antiquary proceeded to detail the intrigue which had given rise to the fame of
the abbots apple with more slyness and circumstantiality than was at all
necessary His jest as may readily be conceived missed fire for this anecdote
of conventual gallantry failed to produce the slightest smile on the visage of
the Earl Oldbuck then took up the subject of Ossian Macpherson and MacCribb
but Lord Glenallan had never so much as heard of any of the three so little
conversant had he been with modern literature The conversation was now in some
danger of flagging or of falling into the hands of Mr Blattergowl who had
just pronounced the formidable word »teindfree« when the subject of the
French Revolution was started a political event on which Lord Glenallan looked
with all the prejudiced horror of a bigoted Catholic and zealous aristocrat
Oldbuck was far from carrying his detestation of its principles to such a
length
»There were many men in the first Constituent Assembly« he said »who held
sound Whiggish doctrines and were for settling the Constitution with a proper
provision for the liberties of the people And if a set of furious madmen were
now in possession of the government it was« he continued »what often happened
in great revolutions where extreme measures are adopted in the fury of the
moment and the state resembles an agitated pendulum which swings from side to
side for some time ere it can acquire its due and perpendicular station Or it
might be likened to a storm or hurricane which passing over a region does
great damage in its passage yet sweeps away stagnant and unwholesome vapours
and repays in future health and fertility its immediate desolation and
ravage«
The Earl shook his head but having neither spirit nor inclination for
debate he suffered the argument to pass uncontested
This discussion served to introduce the young soldiers experiences and he
spoke of the actions in which he had been engaged with modesty and at the same
time with an air of spirit and zeal which delighted the Earl who had been bred
up like others of his house in the opinion that the trade of arms was the
first duty of man and believed that to employ them against the French was a
sort of holy warfare
»What would I give« said he apart to Oldbuck as they rose to join the
ladies in the drawingroom »what would I give to have a son of such spirit as
that young gentleman He wants something of address and manner something of
polish which mixing in good society would soon give him but with what zeal and
animation he expresses himself how fond of his profession how loud in the
praise of others how modest when speaking of himself«
»Hector is much obliged to you my lord« replied his uncle gratified yet
not so much so as to suppress his consciousness of his own mental superiority
over the young soldier »I believe in my heart nobody ever spoke half so much
good of him before except perhaps the sergeant of his company when he was
wheedling a Highland recruit to enlist with him He is a good lad
notwithstanding although he be not quite the hero your lordship supposes him
and although my commendations rather attest the kindness than the vivacity of
his character In fact his high spirit is a sort of constitutional vehemence
which attends him in everything he sets about and is often very inconvenient to
his friends I saw him today engage in an animated contest with a phoca or
seal sealgh our people more properly call them retaining the Gothic guttural
gh with as much vehemence as if he had fought against Dumourier Marry my
lord the phoca had the better as the said Dumourier had of some other folks
And hell talk with equal if not superior rapture of the good behaviour of a
pointer bitch as of the plan of a campaign«
»He shall have full permission to sport over my grounds« said the Earl »if
he is so fond of that exercise«
»You will bind him to you my lord« said Monkbarns »body and soul give
him leave to crack off his birdingpiece at a poor covey of partridges or
moorfowl and hes yours for ever I will enchant him by the intelligence But
O my lord that you could have seen my phoenix Lovel the very prince and
chieftain of the youth of this age and not destitute of spirit neither I
promise you he gave my termagant kinsman a quid pro quo a Rowland for his
Oliver as the vulgar say alluding to the two celebrated Paladins of
Charlemagne«
After coffee Lord Glenallan requested a private interview with the
Antiquary and was ushered to his library
»I must withdraw you from your own amiable family« he said »to involve you
in the perplexities of an unhappy man You are acquainted with the world from
which I have long been banished for Glenallan House has been to me rather a
prison than a dwelling although a prison which I had neither fortitude nor
spirit to break from«
»Let me first ask your lordship« said the Antiquary »what are your own
wishes and designs in this matter«
»I wish most especially« answered Lord Glenallan »to declare my luckless
marriage and to vindicate the reputation of the unhappy Eveline that is if
you see a possibility of doing so without making public the conduct of my
mother«
»Suum cuique tribuito« said the Antiquary »do right to everyone The
memory of that unhappy young lady has too long suffered and I think it might be
cleared without further impeaching that of your mother than by letting it be
understood in general that she greatly disapproved and bitterly opposed the
match All forgive me my lord all who ever heard of the late Countess of
Glenallan will learn that without much surprise«
»But you forget one horrible circumstance Mr Oldbuck« said the Earl in
an agitated voice
»I am not aware of it« replied the Antiquary
»The fate of the infant its disappearance with the confidential attendant
of my mother and the dreadful surmises which may be drawn from my conversation
with Elspeth«
»If you would have my free opinion my lord« answered Mr Oldbuck »and
will not catch too rapidly at it as matter of hope I would say that it is very
possible the child yet lives For thus much I ascertained by my former
inquiries concerning the event of that deplorable evening that a child and
woman were carried that night from the cottage at the Craigburnfoot in a
carriage and four by your brother Edward Geraldin Neville whose journey towards
England with these companions I traced for several stages I believed then it
was a part of the family compact to carry a child whom you meant to stigmatize
with illegitimacy out of that country where chance might have raised protectors
and proofs of its rights But I now think that your brother having reason like
yourself to believe the child stained with shame yet more indelible had
nevertheless withdrawn it partly from regard to the honour of his house partly
from the risk to which it might have been exposed in the neighbourhood of the
Lady Glenallan«
As he spoke the Earl of Glenallan grew extremely pale and had nearly
fallen from his chair The alarmed Antiquary ran hither and thither looking
for remedies but his museum though sufficiently well filled with a vast
variety of useless matters contained nothing that could be serviceable on the
present or any other occasion As he posted out of the room to borrow his
sisters salts he could not help giving a constitutional growl of chagrin and
wonder at the various incidents which had converted his mansion first into an
hospital for a wounded duellist and now into the sick chamber of a dying
nobleman »And yet« said he »I have always kept aloof from the soldiery and
the peerage My coenobitium has only next to be made a lyingin hospital and
then I trow the transformation will be complete«
When he returned with the remedy Lord Glenallan was much better The new
and unexpected light which Mr Oldbuck had thrown upon the melancholy history of
his family had almost overpowered him »You think then Mr Oldbuck for you
are capable of thinking which I am not you think then that it is possible
that is not impossible my child may yet live«
»I think« said the Antiquary »it is impossible that it could come to any
violent harm through your brothers means He was known to be a gay and
dissipated man but not cruel nor dishonourable nor is it possible that if he
had intended any foul play he would have placed himself so forward in the
charge of the infant as I will prove to your lordship he did«
So saying Mr Oldbuck opened a drawer of the cabinet of his ancestor
Aldobrand and produced a bundle of papers tied with a black ribband and
labelled Examinations etc taken by Jonathan Oldbuck JP upon the 18th
of February 17 a little under was written in a small hand Eheu Evelina
The tears dropped fast from the Earls eyes as he endeavoured in vain to
unfasten the knot which secured these documents
»Your lordship« said Mr Oldbuck »had better not read these at present
Agitated as you are and having much business before you you must not exhaust
your strength Your brothers succession is now I presume your own and it
will be easy for you to make inquiry among his servants and retainers so as to
hear where the child is if fortunately it shall be still alive«
»I dare hardly hope it« said the Earl with a deep sigh »Why should my
brother have been silent to me«
»Nay my lord why should he have communicated to your lordship the
existence of a being whom you must have supposed the offspring of«
»Most true there is an obvious and a kind reason for his being silent If
anything indeed could have added to the horror of the ghastly dream that has
poisoned my whole existence it must have been the knowledge that such a child
of misery existed«
»Then« continued the Antiquary »although it would be rash to conclude at
the distance of more than twenty years that your son must needs be still alive
because he was not destroyed in infancy I own I think you should instantly set
on foot inquiries«
»It shall be done« replied Lord Glenallan catching eagerly at the hope
held out to him the first he had nourished for many years »I will write to a
faithful steward of my father who acted in the same capacity under my brother
Neville But Mr Oldbuck I am not my brothers heir«
»Indeed I am sorry for that my lord it is a noble estate and the
ruins of the old castle of NevillesBurgh alone which are the most superb
relics of AngloNorman architecture in that part of the country are a
possession much to be coveted I thought your father had no other son or near
relative«
»He had not Mr Oldbuck« replied Lord Glenallan »but my brother adopted
views in politics and a form of religion alien from those which had been
always held by our house Our tempers had long differed nor did my unhappy
mother always think him sufficiently observant to her In short there was a
family quarrel and my brother whose property was at his own free disposal
availed himself of the power vested in him to choose a stranger for his heir It
is a matter which never struck me as being of the least consequence for if
worldly possessions could alleviate misery I have enough and to spare But now
I shall regret it if it throws any difficulty in the way of our inquiries and
I bethink me that it may for in case of my having a lawful son of my body and
my brother dying without issue my fathers possessions stood entailed upon my
son It is not therefore likely that this heir be he who he may will afford us
assistance in making a discovery which may turn out so much to his own
prejudice«
»And in all probability the steward your lordship mentions is also in his
service« said the Antiquary
»It is most likely and the man being a Protestant how far it is safe to
intrust him«
»I should hope my lord« said Oldbuck gravely »that a Protestant may be as
trustworthy as a Catholic I am doubly interested in the Protestant faith my
lord My ancestor Aldobrand Oldenbuck printed the celebrated Confession of
Augsburg as I can show by the original edition now in this house«
»I have not the least doubt of what you say Mr Oldbuck« replied the Earl
»nor do I speak out of bigotry or intolerance but probably the Protestant
steward will favour the Protestant heir rather than the Catholic if indeed
my son has been bred in his fathers faith or alas if indeed he yet lives«
»We must look close into this« said Oldbuck »before committing ourselves
I have a literary friend at York with whom I have long corresponded on the
subject of the Saxon horn that is preserved in the Minster there we
interchanged letters for six years and have only as yet been able to settle the
first line of the inscription I will write forthwith to this gentleman Dr
Dryasdust and be particular in my inquiries concerning the character etc of
your brothers heir of the gentleman employed in his affairs and what else may
be likely to further your lordships inquiries In the meantime your lordship
will collect the evidence of the marriage which I hope can still be recovered«
»Unquestionably« replied the Earl »the witnesses who were formerly
withdrawn from your research are still living My tutor who solemnized the
marriage was provided for by a living in France and has lately returned to
this country as an emigrant a victim of his zeal for loyalty legitimacy and
religion«
»Thats one lucky consequence of the French revolution my lord you must
allow that at least« said Oldbuck »but no offence I will act as warmly in
your affairs as if I were of your own faith in politics and religion And take
my advice If you want an affair of consequence properly managed put it into
the hands of an antiquary for as they are eternally exercising their genius and
research upon trifles it is impossible they can be baffled in affairs of
importance use makes perfect and the corps that is most frequently drilled
upon the parade will be most prompt in its exercise upon the day of battle
And talking upon that subject I would willingly read to your lordship in
order to pass away the time betwixt and supper«
»I beg I may not interfere with family arrangements« said Lord Glenallan
»but I never taste anything after sunset«
»Nor I either my lord« answered his host »notwithstanding it is said to
have been the custom of the ancients But then I dine differently from your
lordship and therefore am better enabled to dispense with those elaborate
entertainments which my womankind that is my sister and niece my lord are
apt to place on the table for the display rather of their own housewifery than
the accommodation of our wants However a broiled bone or a smoked haddock or
an oyster or a slice of bacon of our own curing with a toast and a tankard
or something or other of that sort to close the orifice of the stomach before
going to bed does not fall under my restriction nor I hope under your
lordships«
»My nosupper is literal Mr Oldbuck but I will attend you at your meal
with pleasure«
»Well my lord« replied the Antiquary »I will endeavour to entertain your
ears at least since I cannot banquet your palate What I am about to read to
your lordship relates to the upland glens«
Lord Glenallan though he would rather have recurred to the subject of his
own uncertainties was compelled to make a sign of rueful civility and
acquiescence
The Antiquary therefore took out his portfolio of loose sheets and after
premising that the topographical details here laid down were designed to
illustrate a slight essay upon castrametation which had been read with
indulgence at several societies of Antiquaries he commenced as follows »The
subject my lord is the hillfort of Quickensbog with the site of which your
lordship is doubtless familiar it is upon your storefarm of Mantanner in the
barony of Clochnaben«
»I think I have heard the names of these places« said the Earl in answer
to the Antiquarys appeal
»Heard the name and the farm brings him six hundred ayear O Lord«
Such was the scarcesubdued ejaculation of the Antiquary But his
hospitality got the better of his surprise and he proceeded to read his essay
with an audible voice in great glee at having secured a patient and as he
fondly hoped an interested hearer
»Quickensbog may at first seem to derive its name from the plant Quicken
by which Scotticè we understand couchgrass doggrass or the Triticum repens
of Linnæus and the common English monosyllable Bog by which we mean in
popular language a marsh or morass in Latin Palus But it may confound the
rash adopters of the more obvious etymological derivations to learn that the
couchgrass or doggrass or to speak scientifically the Triticum repens of
Linnæus does not grow within a quarter of a mile of this castrum or hillfort
whose ramparts are uniformly clothed with short verdant turf and that we must
seek a bog or palus at a still greater distance the nearest being that of
Girdthemear a full halfmile distant The last syllable bog is obviously
therefore a mere corruption of the Saxon Burgh which we find in the various
transmutations of Burgh Burrow Brough Bruff Buff and Boff which last
approaches very near the sound in question since supposing the word to have
been originally borgh which is the genuine Saxon spelling a slight change
such as modern organs too often make upon ancient sounds will produce first
Bogh and then elisa H or compromising and sinking the guttural agreeable to
the common vernacular practice you have either Boff or Bog as it happens The
word Quickens requires in like manner to be altered decomposed as it were
and reduced to its original and genuine sound ere we can discern its real
meaning By the ordinary exchange of the Qu into Wh familiar to the rudest tyro
who has opened a book of old Scottish poetry we gain either Whilkens or
Whichensborgh put we may suppose by way of question as if those who imposed
the name struck with the extreme antiquity of the place had expressed in it an
interrogation To whom did this fortress belong Or it might be
Whackensburgh from the Saxon Whacken to strike with the hand as doubtless
the skirmishes near a place of such apparent consequence must have legitimated
such a derivation« etc etc etc
I will be more merciful to my readers than Oldbuck was to his guest for
considering his opportunities of gaining patient attention from a person of such
consequence as Lord Glenallan were not many he used or rather abused the
present to the uttermost
Chapter Thirtysixth
Crabbed age and youth
Cannot live together
Youth is full of pleasance
Age is full of care
Youth like summer morn
Age like winter weather
Youth like summer brave
Age like winter bare
Shakespeare
In the morning of the following day the Antiquary who was something of a
sluggard was summoned from his bed a full hour earlier than his custom by
Caxon »Whats the matter now« he exclaimed yawning and stretching forth his
hand to the huge gold repeater which bedded upon his India silk handkerchief
was laid safe by his pillow »whats the matter now Caxon it cant be eight
oclock yet«
»Na sir but my lords man sought me out for he fancies me your honours
valleydesham and sae I am theres nae doubt ot baith your honours and
the ministers at least ye hae nae other that I ken o and I gie a help to
Sir Arthur too but thats mair in the way o my profession«
»Well well never mind that« said the Antiquary »happy is he that is
his own valleydesham as you call it But why disturb my mornings rest«
»Ou sir the great mans been up since peep o day and hes steered the
town to get awa an express to fetch his carriage and it will be here briefly
and he wad like to see your honour afore he gaes awa«
»Gadso« ejaculated Oldbuck »these great men use ones house and time as if
they were their own property Well its once and away Has Jenny come to her
senses yet Caxon«
»Troth sir but just middling« replied the barber »shes been in a
swither about the jocolate this morning and was like to hae toomed it a out
into the slapbason and drank it hersell in her ecstacies but shes won ower
wit wi the help o Miss MIntyre«
»Then all my womankind are on foot and scrambling and I must enjoy my quiet
bed no longer if I would have a wellregulated house Lend me my gown And
what are the news at Fairport«
»Ou sir what can they be about but this grand news o my lord« answered
the old man »that hasna been ower the doorstane they threep to me for this
twenty years this grand news of his coming to visit your honour«
»Aha« said Monkbarns »and what do they say of that Caxon«
»Deed sir they hae various opinions Thae fallows that are the
democraws as they ca them that are again the king and the law and
hairpowder and dressing o gentlemens wigs a wheen blackguards they say
hes come doun to speak wi your honour about bringing doun his hill lads and
Highland tenantry to break up the meetings of the Friends o the People and
when I said your honour never meddled wi the like o sic things where there was
like to be straiks and bloodshed they said if ye didna your nevoy did and
that he was weel kend to be a kingsman that wad fight kneedeep and that ye
were the head and he was the hand and that the Yerl was to bring out the men
and the siller«
»Come« said the Antiquary laughing »I am glad the war is to cost me
nothing but counsel«
»Na na« said Caxon »naebody thinks your honour wad either fight
yoursell or gie ony feck o siller to ony side o the question«
»Umph well thats the opinion of the democraws as you call them What
say the rest o Fairport«
»In troth« said the candid reporter »I canna say its muckle better
Captain Coquet of the volunteers thats him thats to be the new collector
and some of the other gentlemen of the Blue and a Blue Club are just saying
its no right to let papists that hae sae mony French friends as the Yerl of
Glenallan gang through the country and but your honour will maybe be angry«
»Not I Caxon« said Oldbuck »fire away as if you were Captain Coquets
whole platoon I can stand it«
»Weel then they say sir that as ye didna encourage the petition about the
peace and wadna petition in favour of the new tax and as you were again
bringing in the yeomanry at the meal mob but just for settling the folk wi the
constables they say yere no a gude friend to government and that thae sort
o meetings between sic a powerfu man as the Yerl and sic a wise man as you
Od they think they suld be lookit after and some say ye should baith be shankit
aff till Edinburgh Castle«
»On my word« said the Antiquary »I am infinitely obliged to my neighbours
for their good opinion of me And so I that have never interfered with their
bickerings but to recommend quiet and moderate measures am given up on both
sides as a man very likely to commit high treason either against King or
People Give me my coat Caxon give me my coat its lucky I live not in
their report Have you heard anything of Taffril and his vessel«
Caxons countenance fell »Na sir and the winds hae been high and this
is a fearfu coast to cruise on in thae eastern gales the headlands rin sae
far out that a veshels embayed afore I could sharp a razor and then theres
nae harbour or city of refuge on our coast a craigs and breakers a veshel
that rins ashore wi us flees asunder like the powther when I shake the pluff
and its as ill to gather ony ot again I aye tell my daughter thae things when
she grows wearied for a letter frae Lieutenant Taffril Its aye an apology for
him Ye sudna blame him says I hinny for ye little ken what may hae
happened«
»Ay ay Caxon thou art as good a comforter as a valetdechambre Give
me a white stock man dye think I can go down with a handkerchief about my
neck when I have company«
»Dear sir the Captain says a threenookit hankercher is the maist
fashionable overlay and that stocks belang to your honour and me that are auld
warld folk I beg pardon for mentioning us twa thegither but it was what he
said«
»The Captains a puppy and you are a goose Caxon«
»Its very like it may be sae« replied the acquiescent barber »I am sure
your honour kens best«
Before breakfast Lord Glenallan who appeared in better spirits than he had
evinced in the former evening went particularly through the various
circumstances of evidence which the exertions of Oldbuck had formerly collected
and pointing out the means which he possessed of completing the proof of his
marriage expressed his resolution instantly to go through the painful task of
collecting and restoring the evidence concerning the birth of Eveline Neville
which Elspeth had stated to be in his mothers possession
»And yet Mr Oldbuck« he said »I feel like a man who receives important
tidings ere he is yet fully awake and doubt whether they refer to actual life
or are not rather a continuation of his dream This woman this Elspeth she
is in the extremity of age and approaching in many respects to dotage Have I
not it is a hideous question have I not been hasty in the admission of her
present evidence against that which she formerly gave me to a very very
different purpose«
Mr Oldbuck paused a moment and then answered with firmness »No my lord
I cannot think you have any reason to suspect the truth of what she has told you
last from no apparent impulse but the urgency of conscience Her confession was
voluntary disinterested distinct consistent with itself, and with all the
other known circumstances of the case I would lose no time however in
examining and arranging the other documents to which she has referred and I
also think her own statement should be taken down if possible in a formal
manner We thought of setting about this together But it will be a relief to
your lordship and moreover have a more impartial appearance were I to attempt
the investigation alone in the capacity of a magistrate I will do this at
least I will attempt it so soon as I shall see her in a favourable state of
mind to undergo an examination«
Lord Glenallan wrung the Antiquarys hand in token of grateful acquiescence
»I cannot express to you« he said »Mr Oldbuck how much your countenance and
cooperation in this dark and most melancholy business gives me relief and
confidence I cannot enough applaud myself for yielding to the sudden impulse
which impelled me as it were to drag you into my confidence and which arose
from the experience I had formerly of your firmness in discharge of your duty as
a magistrate and as a friend to the memory of the unfortunate Whatever the
issue of these matters may prove and I would fain hope there is a dawn
breaking on the fortunes of my house though I shall not live to enjoy its
light but whatsoever be the issue you have laid my family and me under the
most lasting obligation«
»My lord« answered the Antiquary »I must necessarily have the greatest
respect for your lordships family which I am well aware is one of the most
ancient in Scotland being certainly derived from Aymer de Geraldin who sat in
parliament at Perth in the reign of Alexander II and who by the less vouched
yet plausible tradition of the country is said to have been descended from the
Marmor of Clochnaben Yet with all my veneration for your ancient descent I
must acknowledge that I find myself still more bound to give your lordship what
assistance is in my limited power from sincere sympathy with your sorrows and
detestation at the frauds which have so long been practised upon you But my
lord the matin meal is I see now prepared Permit me to show your lordship
the way through the intricacies of my coenobitium which is rather a combination
of cells jostled oddly together and piled one upon the top of the other than
a regular house I trust you will make yourself some amends for the spare diet
of yesterday«
But this was no part of Lord Glenallans system Having saluted the company
with the grave and melancholy politeness which distinguished his manners his
servant placed before him a slice of toasted bread with a glass of fair water
being the fare on which he usually broke his fast While the mornings meal of
the young soldier and the old Antiquary was despatched in much more substantial
manner the noise of wheels was heard
»Your lordships carriage I believe« said Oldbuck stepping to the window
»On my word a handsome quadriga for such according to the best scholium
was the vox signata of the Romans for a chariot which like that of your
lordship was drawn by four horses«
»And I will venture to say« cried Hector eagerly gazing from the window
»that four handsomer or bettermatched bays never were put in harness What
fine forehands what capital chargers they would make Might I ask if they
are of your lordships own breeding«
»I I rather believe so« said Lord Glenallan »but I have been so
negligent of my domestic matters that I am ashamed to say I must apply to
Calvert« looking at the domestic
»They are of your lordships own breeding« said Calvert »got by Mad Tom
out of Jemina and Yarico your lordships brood mares«
»Are there more of the set« said Lord Glenallan
»Two my lord one rising four the other five off this grass both very
handsome«
»Then let Dawkins bring them down to Monkbarns tomorrow« said the Earl
»I hope Captain MIntyre will accept them if they are at all fit for service«
Captain MIntyres eyes sparkled and he was profuse in grateful
acknowledgments while Oldbuck on the other hand seizing the Earls sleeve
endeavoured to intercept a present which boded no good to his cornchest and
hayloft
»My lord my lord much obliged much obliged But Hector is a
pedestrian and never mounts on horseback in battle he is a Highland soldier
moreover and his dress ill adapted for cavalry service Even Macpherson never
mounted his ancestors on horseback though he has the impudence to talk of their
being carborne and that my lord is what is running in Hectors head it is
the vehicular not the equestrian exercise which he envies
Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum
Collegisse juvat
His noddle is running on a curricle which he has neither money to buy nor
skill to drive if he had it and I assure your lordship that the possession of
two such quadrupeds would prove a greater scrape than any of his duels whether
with human foe or with my friend the phoca«
»You must command us all at present Mr Oldbuck« said the Earl politely
»but I trust you will not ultimately prevent my gratifying my young friend in
some way that may afford him pleasure«
»Anything useful my lord« said Oldbuck »but no curriculum I protest he
might as rationally propose to keep a quadriga at once And now I think of it
what is that old postchaise from Fairport come jingling here for I did not
send for it«
»I did sir« said Hector rather sulkily for he was not much gratified by
his uncles interference to prevent the Earls intended generosity nor
particularly inclined to relish either the disparagement which he cast upon his
skill as a charioteer or the mortifying allusion to his bad success in the
adventures of the duel and the seal
»You did sir« echoed the Antiquary in answer to his concise information
»And pray what may be your business with a postchaise Is this splendid
equipage this biga as I may call it to serve for an introduction to a
quadriga or a curriculum«
»Really sir« replied the young soldier »if it be necessary to give you
such a specific explanation I am going to Fairport on a little business«
»Will you permit me to inquire into the nature of that business Hector«
answered his uncle who loved the exercise of a little brief authority over his
relative »I should suppose any regimental affairs might be transacted by your
worthy deputy the sergeant an honest gentleman who is so good as to make
Monkbarns his home since his arrival among us I should I say suppose that he
may transact any business of yours without your spending a days pay on two
doghorses and such a combination of rotten wood cracked glass and leather
such a skeleton of a postchaise as that before the door«
»It is not regimental business sir that calls me and since you insist
upon knowing I must inform you Caxon has brought word this morning that old
Ochiltree the beggar is to be brought up for examination today previous to
his being committed for trial and Im going to see that the poor old fellow
gets fair play thats all«
»Ay I heard something of this but could not think it serious And pray
Captain Hector who are so ready to be every mans second on all occasions of
strife civil or military by land by water or on the seabeach what is your
especial concern with old Edie Ochiltree«
»He was a soldier in my fathers company sir« replied Hector »and
besides when I was about to do a very foolish thing one day he interfered to
prevent me and gave me almost as much good advice sir as you could have done
yourself«
»And with the same good effect I dare be sworn for it eh Hector Come
confess it was thrown away«
»Indeed it was sir but I see no reason that my folly should make me less
grateful for his intended kindness«
»Bravo Hector thats the most sensible thing I ever heard you say But
always tell me your plans without reserve why I will go with you myself
man I am sure the old fellow is not guilty and I will assist him in such a
scrape much more effectually than you can do Besides it will save thee
halfaguinea my lad a consideration which I heartily pray you to have more
frequently before your eyes«
Lord Glenallans politeness had induced him to turn away and talk with the
ladies when the dispute between the uncle and nephew appeared to grow rather
too animated to be fit for the ear of a stranger but the Earl mingled again in
the conversation when the placable tone of the Antiquary expressed amity Having
received a brief account of the mendicant and of the accusation brought against
him which Oldbuck did not hesitate to ascribe to the malice of Dousterswivel
Lord Glenallan asked whether the individual in question had not been a soldier
formerly He was answered in the affirmative
»Had he not« continued his Lordship »a coarse blue coat or gown with a
badge was he not a tall strikinglooking old man with grey beard and hair
who kept his body remarkably erect and talked with an air of ease and
independence which formed a strong contrast to his profession«
»All this is an exact picture of the man« returned Oldbuck
»Why then« continued Lord Glenallan »although I fear I can be of no use
to him in his present condition yet I owe him a debt of gratitude for being the
first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost importance I would
willingly offer him a place of comfortable retirement when he is extricated
from his present situation«
»I fear my lord« said Oldbuck »he would have difficulty in reconciling
his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty at least I know the
experiment has been tried without effect To beg from the public at large he
considers as independence in comparison to drawing his whole support from the
bounty of an individual He is so far a true philosopher as to be a contemner
of all ordinary rules of hours and times When he is hungry he eats when
thirsty he drinks when weary he sleeps and with such indifference with respect
to the means and appliances about which we make a fuss that I suppose he was
never ill dined or ill lodged in his life Then he is to a certain extent the
oracle of the district through which he travels their genealogist their
newsman their master of the revels their doctor at a pinch or their divine
I promise you he has too many duties and is too zealous in performing them to
be easily bribed to abandon his calling But I should be truly sorry if they
sent the poor lighthearted old man to lie for weeks in a jail I am convinced
the confinement would break his heart«
Thus finished the conference Lord Glenallan having taken leave of the
ladies renewed his offer to Captain MIntyre of the freedom of his manors for
sporting which was joyously accepted »I can only add« he said »that if your
spirits are not liable to be damped by dull company Glenallan House is at all
times open to you On two days of the week Friday and Saturday I keep my
apartment which will be rather a relief to you as you will be left to enjoy
the society of my almoner Mr Gladsmoor who is a scholar and a man of the
world«
Hector his heart exulting at the thoughts of ranging through the preserves
of Glenallan House and over the wellprotected moors of Clochnaben nay joy
of joys the deerforest of StrathBonnel made many acknowledgments of the
honour and gratitude he felt Mr Oldbuck was sensible of the Earls attention
to his nephew Miss MIntyre was pleased because her brother was gratified and
Miss Griselda Oldbuck looked forward with glee to the potting of whole bags of
moorfowl and blackgame of which Mr Blattergowl was a professed admirer Thus
which is always the case when a man of rank leaves a private family where he
has studied to appear obliging all were ready to open in praise of the Earl
as soon as he had taken his leave and was wheeled off in his chariot by the
four admired bays But the panegyric was cut short for Oldbuck and his nephew
deposited themselves in the Fairport hack which with one horse trotting and
the other urged to a canter creaked jingled and hobbled towards that
celebrated seaport in a manner that formed a strong contrast to the rapidity
and smoothness with which Lord Glenallans equipage had seemed to vanish from
their eyes
Chapter ThirtySeventh
Yes I love justice well as well as you do
But since the good dames blind she shall excuse me
If time and reason fitting I prove dumb
The breath I utter now shall be no means
To take away from me my breath in futur
Old Play
By dint of charity from the townspeople in aid of the load of provisions he
had brought with him into durance Edie Ochiltree had passed a day or twos
confinement without much impatience regretting his want of freedom the less as
the weather proved broken and rainy
»The prison« he said »wasna sae dooms bad a place as it was cad Ye had
aye a good roof ower your head to fend aff the weather and if the windows
werena glazed it was the mair airy and pleasant for the summer season And
there were folk enow to crack wi and he had bread eneugh to eat and what need
he fash himsell about the rest ot«
The courage of our philosophical mendicant began however to abate when
the sunbeams shone fair on the rusty bars of his grated dungeon and a miserable
linnet whose cage some poor debtor had obtained permission to attach to the
window began to greet them with his whistle
»Yere in better spirits than I am« said Edie addressing the bird »for I
can neither whistle nor sing for thinking o the bonny burnsides and green shaws
that I should hae been dandering beside in weather like this But hae theres
some crumbs tye an ye are sae merry and troth ye hae some reason to sing an
ye kent it for your cage comes by nae faut o your ain and I may thank mysell
that I am closed up in this weary place«
Ochiltrees soliloquy was disturbed by a peaceofficer who came to summon
him to attend the magistrate So he set forth in awful procession between two
poor creatures neither of them so stout as he was himself to be conducted into
the presence of inquisitorial justice The people as the aged prisoner was led
along by his decrepit guards exclaimed to each other »Eh see sic a
greyhaired man as that is to have committed a highway robbery wi ae fit in
the grave« And the children congratulated the officers objects of their
alternate dread and sport Puggie Orrock and Jock Ormston on having a prisoner
as old as themselves
Thus marshalled forward Edie was presented by no means for the first time
before the worshipful Bailie Littlejohn who contrary to what his name
expressed was a tall portly magistrate on whom corporation crusts had not been
conferred in vain He was a zealous loyalist of that zealous time somewhat
rigorous and peremptory in the execution of his duty and a good deal inflated
with the sense of his own power and importance otherwise an honest
wellmeaning and useful citizen
»Bring him in bring him in« he exclaimed »Upon my word these are awful
and unnatural times the very bedesmen and retainers of his Majesty are the
first to break his laws Here has been an old BlueGown committing robbery I
suppose the next will reward the royal charity which supplies him with his garb
pension and begging license by engaging in hightreason or sedition at least
But bring him in«
Edie made his obeisance and then stood as usual firm and erect with the
side of his face turned a little upward as if to catch every word which the
magistrate might address to him To the first general questions which respected
only his name and calling the mendicant answered with readiness and accuracy
but when the magistrate having caused his clerk to take down these particulars
began to inquire whereabout the mendicant was on the night when Dousterswivel
met with his misfortune Edie demurred to the motion »Can ye tell me now
Bailie you that understands the law what gude will it do me to answer ony o
your questions«
»Good no good certainly my friend except that giving a true account of
yourself if you are innocent may entitle me to set you at liberty«
»But it seems mair reasonable to me now that you Bailie or onybody that
has onything to say against me should prove my guilt and no to be bidding me
prove my innocence«
»I dont sit here« answered the magistrate »to dispute points of law with
you I ask you if you choose to answer my question whether you were at Ringan
Aikwood the foresters upon the day I have specified«
»Really sir I dinna feel myself called on to remember« replied the
cautious bedesman
»Or whether in the course of that day or night« continued the magistrate
»you saw Steven or Steenie Mucklebackit you knew him I suppose«
»O brawlie did I ken Steenie puir fallow« replied the prisoner « but I
canna condeshend on ony particular time I have seen him lately«
»Were you at the ruins of St Ruth any time in the course of that evening«
»Bailie Littlejohn« said the mendicant »if it be your honours pleasure
well cut a lang tale short and Ill just tell ye I am no minded to answer ony
o thae questions Im ower auld a traveller to let my tongue bring me into
trouble«
»Write down« said the magistrate »that he declines to answer all
interrogatories in respect that by telling the truth he might be brought to
trouble«
»Na na« said Ochiltree »Ill no hae that set down as ony part o my
answer but I just meant to say that in a my memory and practice I never saw
ony gude come o answering idle questions«
»Write down« said the Bailie« that being acquainted with judicial
interrogatories by long practice and having sustained injury by answering
questions put to him on such occasions the declarant refuses«
»Na na Bailie« reiterated Edie »ye are no to come in on me that gait
neither«
»Dictate the answer yourself then friend« said the magistrate »and the
clerk will take it down from your own mouth«
»Ay ay« said Edie »thats what I ca fair play Ise do that without
loss o time Sae neighbour ye may just write down that Edie Ochiltree the
declarant stands up for the liberty na I maunna say that neither I am nae
libertyboy I hae fought again them in the riots in Dublin besides I have
ate the Kings bread mony a day Stay let me see Ay write that Edie
Ochiltree the BlueGown stands up for the prerogative see that ye spell
that word right its a lang ane for the prerogative of the subjects of the
land and winna answer a single word that sall be asked at him this day unless
he sees a reason fort Put down that young man«
»Then Edie« said the magistrate »since you will give me no information on
the subject I must send you back to prison till you shall be delivered in due
course of law«
»Aweel sir if its Heavens will and mans will nae doubt I maun submit«
replied the mendicant »I hae nae great objection to the prison only that a
body canna win out ot and if it wad please you as weel Bailie I wad gie you
my word to appear afore the Lords at the Circuit or in ony other court ye like
on ony day ye are pleased to appoint«
»I rather think my good friend« answered Bailie Littlejohn »your word
might be a slender security where your neck may be in some danger I am apt to
think you would suffer the pledge to be forfeited If you could give me
sufficient security indeed«
At this moment the Antiquary and Captain MIntyre entered the apartment
»Good morning to you gentlemen« said the magistrate »you find me toiling in
my usual vocation looking after the iniquities of the people labouring for
the respublica Mr Oldbuck serving the King our master Captain MIntyre
for I suppose you know I have taken up the sword«
»It is one of the emblems of justice doubtless« answered the Antiquary
»but I should have thought the scales would have suited you better Bailie
especially as you have them ready in the warehouse«
»Very good Monkbarns excellent But I do not take the sword up as
justice but as a soldier indeed I should rather say the musket and bayonet
there they stand at the elbow of my gouty chair for I am scarce fit for drill
yet a slight touch of our old acquaintance podagra I can keep my feet
however while our sergeant puts me through the manual I should like to know
Captain MIntyre if he follows the regulations correctly he brings us but
awkwardly to the present« And he hobbled towards his weapon to illustrate his
doubts and display his proficiency
»I rejoice we have such zealous defenders Bailie« replied Mr Oldbuck
»and I dare say Hector will gratify you by communicating his opinion on your
progress in this new calling Why you rival the Hecaté of the ancients my good
sir a merchant on the Mart a magistrate in the Townhouse a soldier on the
Links quid non pro patria But my business is with the justice so let
commerce and war go slumber«
»Well my good sir« said the Bailie »and what commands have you for me«
»Why heres an old acquaintance of mine called Edie Ochiltree whom some
of your myrmidons have mewed up in jail on account of an alleged assault on that
fellow Dousterswivel of whose accusation I do not believe one word«
The magistrate here assumed a very grave countenance »You ought to have
been informed that he is accused of robbery as well as assault a very serious
matter indeed it is not often such criminals come under my cognizance«
»And« replied Oldbuck »you are tenacious of the opportunity of making the
very most of such as occur But is this poor old mans case really so very bad«
»It is rather out of rule« said the Bailie »but as you are in the
commission Monkbarns I have no hesitation to show you Dousterswivels
declaration and the rest of the precognition« And he put the papers into the
Antiquarys hands who assumed his spectacles and sat down in a corner to
peruse them
The officers in the meantime had directions to remove their prisoner into
another apartment but before they could do so MIntyre took an opportunity to
greet old Edie and to slip a guinea into his hand
»Lord bless your honour« said the old man »its a young soldiers gift
and it should surely thrive wi an auld ane Ise no refuse it though its
beyond my rules for if they steek me up here my friends are like eneugh to
forget me out o sight out o mind is a true proverb and it wadna be
creditable for me that am the kings bedesman and entitled to beg by word of
mouth to be fishing for bawbees out at the jail window wi the fit o a
stocking and a string« As he made this observation he was conducted out of the
apartment
Mr Dousterswivels declaration contained an exaggerated account of the
violence he had sustained and also of his loss
»But what I should have liked to have asked him« said Monkbarns »would
have been his purpose in frequenting the ruins of St Ruth so lonely a place
at such an hour and with such a companion as Edie Ochiltree There is no road
lies that way and I do not conceive a mere passion for the picturesque would
carry the German thither in such a night of storm and wind Depend upon it he
has been about some roguery and in all probability hath been caught in a trap
of his own setting Nec lex justitior ulla«
The magistrate allowed there was something mysterious in that circumstance
and apologized for not pressing Dousterswivel as his declaration was
voluntarily emitted But for the support of the main charge he showed the
declaration of the Aikwoods concerning the state in which Dousterswivel was
found and establishing the important fact that the mendicant had left the barn
in which he was quartered and did not return to it again Two people belonging
to the Fairport undertaker who had that night been employed in attending the
funeral of Lady Glenallan had also given declarations that being sent to
pursue two suspicious persons who left the ruins of St Ruth as the funeral
approached and who it was supposed might have been pillaging some of the
ornaments prepared for the ceremony they had lost and regained sight of them
more than once owing to the nature of the ground which was unfavourable for
riding but had at length fairly lodged them both in Mucklebackits cottage And
one of the men added that »he the declarant having dismounted from his horse
and gone close up to the window of the hut he saw the old BlueGown and young
Steenie Mucklebackit with others eating and drinking in the inside and also
observed the said Steenie Mucklebackit show a pocketbook to the others and
declarant has no doubt that Ochiltree and Steenie Mucklebackit were the persons
whom he and his comrade had pursued as above mentioned« And being interrogated
why he did not enter the said cottage declares »he had no warrant so to do
and that as Mucklebackit and his family were understood to be roughhanded folk
he the declarant had no desire to meddle or make with their affairs Causa
scientioe patet All which he declares to be truth« etc
»What do you say to that body of evidence against your friend« said the
magistrate when he had observed the Antiquary had turned the last leaf
»Why were it in the case of any other person I own I should say it looked
prima facie a little ugly but I cannot allow anybody to be in the wrong for
beating Dousterswivel Had I been an hour younger or had but one single flash
of your warlike genius Bailie I should have done it myself long ago He is
nebulo nebulonum an impudent fraudulent mendacious quack that has cost me a
hundred pounds by his roguery and my neighbour Sir Arthur God knows how much
And besides Bailie I do not hold him to be a sound friend to Government«
»Indeed« said Bailie Littlejohn »if I thought that it would alter the
question considerably«
»Right for in beating him« observed Oldbuck »the bedesman must have
shown his gratitude to the king by thumping his enemy and in robbing him he
would only have plundered an Egyptian whose wealth it is lawful to spoil Now
suppose this interview in the ruins of St Ruth had relation to politics and
this story of hidden treasure and so forth was a bribe from the other side of
the water for some great man or the funds destined to maintain a seditious
club«
»My dear sir« said the magistrate catching at the idea »you hit my very
thoughts How fortunate should I be if I could become the humble means of
sifting such a matter to the bottom Dont you think we had better call out
the volunteers and put them on duty«
»Not just yet while podagra deprives them of an essential member of their
body But will you let me examine Ochiltree«
»Certainly but youll make nothing of him He gave me distinctly to
understand he knew the danger of a judicial declaration on the part of an
accused person which to say the truth has hanged many an honester man than he
is«
»Well but Bailie« continued Oldbuck »you have no objection to let me try
him«
»None in the world Monkbarns I hear the sergeant below Ill rehearse the
manual in the meanwhile Baby carry my gun and bayonet down to the room below
it makes less noise there when we ground arms« And so exit the martial
magistrate with his maid behind him bearing his weapons
»A good squire that wench for a gouty champion« observed Oldbuck
»Hector my lad hook on hook on Go with him boy keep him employed man
for halfanhour or so butter him with some warlike terms praise his dress
and address«
Captain MIntyre who like many of his profession looked down with
infinite scorn on those citizen soldiers who had assumed arms without any
professional title to bear them rose with great reluctance observing that he
should not know what to say to Mr Littlejohn and that to see an old gouty
shopkeeper attempting the exercise and duties of a private soldier was really
too ridiculous
»It may be so Hector« said the Antiquary who seldom agreed with any
person in the immediate proposition which was laid down »it may possibly be so
in this and some other instances but at present the country resembles the
suitors in a smalldebt court where parties plead in person for lack of cash
to retain the professed heroes of the bar I am sure in the one case we never
regret the want of the acuteness and eloquence of the lawyers and so I hope
in the other we may manage to make shift with our hearts and muskets though we
shall lack some of the discipline of you martinets«
»I have no objection I am sure sir that the whole world should fight if
they please if they will but allow me to be quiet« said Hector rising with
dogged reluctance
»Yes you are a very quiet personage indeed« said his uncle »whose ardour
for quarrelling cannot pass so much as a poor phoca sleeping upon the beach«
But Hector who saw which way the conversation was tending and hated all
allusions to the foil he had sustained from the fish made his escape before the
Antiquary concluded the sentence
Chapter ThirtyEighth
Well well at worst tis neither theft nor coinage
Granting I knew all that you charge me with
What though the tomb hath borne a second birth
And given the wealth to one that knew not ont
Yet fair exchange was never robbery
Far less pure bounty
Old Play
The Antiquary in order to avail himself of the permission given him to question
the accused party chose rather to go to the apartment in which Ochiltree was
detained than to make the examination appear formal by bringing him again into
the magistrates office He found the old man seated by a window which looked
out on the sea and as he gazed on that prospect large tears found their way
as if unconsciously to his eye and from thence trickled down his cheeks and
white beard His features were nevertheless calm and composed and his whole
posture and mien indicated patience and resignation Oldbuck had approached him
without being observed and roused him out of his musing by saying kindly »I am
sorry Edie to see you so much cast down about this matter«
The mendicant started dried his eyes very hastily with the sleeve of his
gown and endeavouring to recover his usual tone of indifference and jocularity
answered but with a voice more tremulous than usual »I might weel hae judged
Monkbarns it was you or the like o you was coming in to disturb me for
its ae great advantage o prisons and courts o justice that ye may greet your
een out an ye like and nane o the folk thats concerned about them will ever
ask you what its for«
»Well Edie« replied Oldbuck »I hope your present cause of distress is not
so bad but it may be removed«
»And I had hoped Monkbarns« answered the mendicant in a tone of reproach
»that ye had kend me better than to think that this bit trifling trouble o my
ain wad bring tears into my auld een that hae seen far different kind o
distress Na na But heres been the puir lass Caxons daughter seeking
comfort and has gotten unco little theres been nae speerings o Taffrils
gunbrig since the last gale and folk report on the key that a kings ship had
struck on the Reef of Rattray and a hands lost God forbid for as sure as
you live Monkbarns the puir lad Lovel that ye liked sae weel must have
perished«
»God forbid indeed« echoed the Antiquary turning pale »I would rather
Monkbarns House were on fire My poor dear friend and coadjutor I will down to
the quay instantly«
»Im sure yell learn naething mair than I hae tauld ye sir« said
Ochiltree »for the officerfolk here were very civil that is for the like o
them and lookit up a their letters and authorities and could throw nae light
ont either ae way or another«
»It cant be true it shall not be true« said the Antiquary »And I wont
believe it if it were Taffrils an excellent seaman and Lovel my poor
Lovel has all the qualities of a safe and pleasant companion by land or by sea
one Edie whom from the ingenuousness of his disposition I would choose
did I ever go a seavoyage which I never do unless across the ferry fragilem
mecum solvere phaselum to be the companion of my risk as one against whom the
elements could nourish no vengeance No Edie it is not and cannot be true
it is a fiction of the idle jade Rumour whom I wish hanged with her trumpet
about her neck that serves only with its screechowl tones to fright honest
folks out of their senses Let me know how you got into this scrape of your
own«
»Are ye axing me as a magistrate Monkbarns or is it just for your ain
satisfaction«
»For my own satisfaction solely« replied the Antiquary
»Put up your pocketbook and your keelyvine pen then for I downa speak out
an ye hae writing materials in your hands theyre a scaur to unlearned folk
like me Od ane o the clerks in the neist room will clink down in black and
white as muckle as wad hang a man before ane kens what hes saying«
Monkbarns complied with the old mans humour and put up his
memorandumbook
Edie then went with great frankness through the part of the story already
known to the reader informing the Antiquary of the scene which he had witnessed
between Dousterswivel and his patron in the ruins of St Ruth and frankly
confessing that he could not resist the opportunity of decoying the adept once
more to visit the tomb of Misticot with the purpose of taking a comic revenge
upon him for his quackery He had easily persuaded Steenie who was a bold
thoughtless young fellow to engage in the frolic along with him and the jest
had been inadvertently carried a great deal farther than was designed
Concerning the pocketbook he explained that he had expressed his surprise and
sorrow as soon as he found it had been inadvertently brought off and that
publicly before all the inmates of the cottage Steenie had undertaken to
return it the next day and had only been prevented by his untimely fate
The Antiquary pondered a moment and then said »Your account seems very
probable Edie and I believe it from what I know of the parties But I think it
likely that you know a great deal more than you have thought it proper to tell
me about this matter of the treasure trove I suspect you have acted the part
of the Lar Familiaris in Plautus a sort of Brownie Edie to speak to your
comprehension who watched over hidden treasures I do bethink me you were the
first person we met when Sir Arthur made his successful attack upon Misticots
grave and also that when the labourers began to flag you Edie were again the
first to leap into the trench and to make the discovery of the treasure Now
you must explain all this to me unless you would have me use you as ill as
Euclio does Staphyla in the Aulularia«
»Lordsake sir« replied the mendicant »what do I ken about your
Howlowlaria its mair like a dogs language than a mans«
»You knew however of the box of treasure being there« continued Oldbuck
»Dear sir« answered Edie assuming a countenance of great simplicity »what
likelihood is there o that dye think sae puir an auld creature as me wad hae
kend o sic a like thing without getting some gude out ot and ye wot weel I
sought nane and gat nane like Michael Scotts man What concern could I hae
wit«
»Thats just what I want you to explain to me« said Oldbuck »for I am
positive you knew it was there«
»Your honours a positive man Monkbarns and for a positive man I must
needs allow yere often in the right«
»You allow then Edie that my belief is well founded«
Edie nodded acquiescence
»Then please to explain to me the whole affair from beginning to end« said
the Antiquary
»If it were a secret o mine Monkbarns« replied the beggar »ye suldna ask
twice for I hae aye said ahint your back that for a the nonsense maggots
that ye whiles take into your head ye are the maist wise and discreet o a our
country gentles But Ise een be openhearted wi you and tell you that this is
a friends secret and that they suld draw me wi wild horses or saw me
asunder as they did the children of Ammon sooner than I would speak a word
mair about the matter excepting this that there was nae ill intended but
muckle gude and that the purpose was to serve them that are worth twenty
hundred o me But theres nae law I trow that makes it a sin to ken where
ither folks siller is if we didna pit hand tillt oursell«
Oldbuck walked once or twice up and down the room in profound thought
endeavouring to find some plausible reason for transactions of a nature so
mysterious but his ingenuity was totally at fault He then placed himself
before the prisoner
»This story of yours friend Edie is an absolute enigma and would require
a second OEdipus to solve it who OEdipus was I will tell you some other time
if you remind me However whether it be owing to the wisdom or to the maggots
with which you compliment me I am strongly disposed to believe that you have
spoken the truth the rather that you have not made any of those obtestations of
the superior powers which I observe you and your comrades always make use of
when you mean to deceive folks« Here Edie could not suppress a smile »If
therefore you will answer me one question I will endeavour to procure your
liberation«
»If yell let me hear the question« said Edie with the caution of a canny
Scotchman »Ill tell you whether Ill answer it or no«
»It is simply« said the Antiquary »Did Dousterswivel know anything about
the concealment of the chest of bullion«
»He the illfaard loon« answered Edie with much frankness of manner
»there wad hae been little speerings ot had Dustansnivel kend it was there
it wad hae been butter in the black dogs hause«
»I thought as much« said Oldbuck »Well Edie if I procure your freedom
you must keep your day and appear to clear me of the bailbond for these are
not times for prudent men to incur forfeitures unless you can point out another
Aulam auri plenam quadrilibrem another Search No I«
»Ah« said the beggar shaking his head »I doubt the birds flown that
laid thae golden eggs for I winna ca her goose though thats the gait it
stands in the storybuick But Ill keep my day Monkbarns yese no loss a
penny by me And troth I wad fain be out again now the weathers fine and
then I hae the best chance o hearing the first news o my friends«
»Well Edie as the bouncing and thumping beneath has somewhat ceased I
presume Bailie Littlejohn has dismissed his military preceptor and has retired
from the labours of Mars to those of Themis I will have some conversation with
him But I cannot and will not believe any of those wretched news you were
telling me«
»God send your honour may be right« said the mendicant as Oldbuck left the
room
The Antiquary found the magistrate exhausted with the fatigues of the
drill reposing in his gouty chair humming the air »How merrily we live that
soldiers be« and between each bar comforting himself with a spoonful of
mockturtle soup He ordered a similar refreshment for Oldbuck who declined it
observing that not being a military man he did not feel inclined to break his
habit of keeping regular hours for meals »Soldiers like you Bailie must
snatch their food as they find means and time But I am sorry to hear ill news
of young Taffrils brig«
»Ah poor fellow« said the bailie »he was a credit to the town much
distinguished on the first of June«
»But« said Oldbuck »I am shocked to hear you talk of him in the preterite
tense«
»Troth I fear there may be too much reason for it Monkbarns and yet let
us hope the best The accident is said to have happened in the Rattray reef of
rocks about twenty miles to the northward near Dirtenalan Bay I have sent to
inquire about it and your nephew run out himself as if he had been flying to
get the Gazette of a victory«
Here Hector entered exclaiming as he came in »I believe its all a damned
lie I cant find the least authority for it but general rumour«
»And pray Mr Hector« said his uncle »if it had been true whose fault
would it have been that Lovel was on board«
»Not mine I am sure« answered Hector »it would have been only my
misfortune«
»Indeed« said his uncle »I should not have thought of that«
»Why sir with all your inclination to find me in the wrong« replied the
young soldier »I suppose you will own my intention was not to blame in this
case I did my best to hit Lovel and if I had been successful tis clear my
scrape would have been his and his scrape would have been mine«
»And whom or what do you intend to hit now that you are lugging with you
that leathern magazine there marked Gunpowder«
»I must be prepared for Lord Glenallans moors on the twelfth sir« said
MIntyre
»Ah Hector thy great chasse as the French call it would take place best
Omne cum Proteus pecus egit altos
Visere montes
Could you meet but with a martial phoca instead of an unwarlike heathbird«
»The devil take the seal sir or phoca if you choose to call it so Its
rather hard one can never hear the end of a little piece of folly like that«
»Well well« said Oldbuck »I am glad you have the grace to be ashamed of
it as I detest the whole race of Nimrods I wish them all as well matched
Nay never start off at a jest man I have done with the phoca though I
dare say the Bailie could tell us the value of sealskins just now«
»They are up« said the magistrate »they are well up the fishing has been
unsuccessful lately«
»We can bear witness to that« said the tormenting Antiquary who was
delighted with the hank this incident had given him over the young sportsman
One word more Hector and
Well hang a sealskin on thy recreant limbs
Aha my boy Come never mind it I must go to business Bailie a word with
you you must take bail moderate bail you understand for old Ochiltrees
appearance«
»You dont consider what you ask« said the Bailie »the offence is assault
and robbery«
»Hush not a word about it« said the Antiquary »I gave you a hint before
I will possess you more fully hereafter I promise you there is a secret«
»But Mr Oldbuck if the state is concerned I who do the whole drudgery
business here really have a title to be consulted and until I am«
»Hush hush« said the Antiquary winking and putting his finger to his
nose »you shall have the full credit the entire management whenever matters
are ripe But this is an obstinate old fellow who will not hear of two people
being as yet let into his mystery and he has not fully acquainted me with the
clew to Dousterswivels devices«
»Aha so we must tip that fellow the alien act I suppose«
»To say truth I wish you would«
»Say no more« said the magistrate »it shall forthwith be done he shall
be removed tanquam suspect I think thats one of your own phrases Monkbarns«
»It is classical Bailie you improve«
»Why public business has of late pressed upon me so much that I have been
obliged to take my foreman into partnership I have had two several
correspondences with the Under Secretary of State one on the proposed tax on
Riga hempseed and the other on putting down political societies So you might
as well communicate to me as much as you know of this old fellows discovery of
a plot against the state«
»I will instantly when I am master of it« replied Oldbuck »I hate the
trouble of managing such matters myself Remember however I did not say
decidedly a plot against the state I only say I hope to discover by this
mans means a foul plot«
»If it be a plot at all there must be treason in it or sedition at least«
said the Bailie »Will you bail him for four hundred merks«
»Four hundred merks for an old BlueGown Think on the act 1701 regulating
bailbonds Strike off a cipher from the sum I am content to bail him for
forty merks«
»Well Mr Oldbuck everybody in Fairport is always willing to oblige you
and besides I know that you are a prudent man and one that would be as
unwilling to lose forty as four hundred merks So I will accept your bail meo
periculo what say you to that law phrase again I had it from a learned
counsel I will vouch it my lord he said meo periculo«
»And I will vouch for Edie Ochiltree meo periculo in like manner« said
Oldbuck »So let your clerk draw out the bailbond and I will sign it«
When this ceremony had been performed the Antiquary communicated to Edie
the joyful tidings that he was once more at liberty and directed him to make
the best of his way to Monkbarns House to which he himself returned with his
nephew after having perfected their good work
Chapter ThirtyNinth
Full of wise saws and modern instances
As You Like it
»I wish to Heaven Hector« said the Antiquary next morning after breakfast
»you would spare our nerves and not be keeping snapping that arquebuss of
yours«
»Well sir Im sure Im sorry to disturb you« said his nephew still
handling his fowlingpiece »but its a capital gun its a Joe Manton that
cost forty guineas«
»A fool and his money are soon parted nephew there is a Joe Miller for
your Joe Manton« answered the Antiquary »I am glad you have so many guineas to
throw away«
»Every one has their fancy uncle you are fond of books«
»Ay Hector« said the uncle »and if my collection were yours you would
make it fly to the gunsmith the horsemarket the dogbreaker Coemptos
undique nobiles libros mutare loricis Iberis«
»I could not use your books my dear uncle« said the young soldier
»thats true and you will do well to provide for their being in better hands
But dont let the faults of my head fall on my heart I would not part with a
Cordery that belonged to an old friend to get a set of horses like Lord
Glenallans«
»I dont think you would lad I dont think you would« said his softening
relative »I love to tease you a little sometimes it keeps up the spirit of
discipline and habit of subordination You will pass your time happily here
having me to command you instead of Captain or Colonel or Knight in Arms
as Milton has it and instead of the French« he continued relapsing into his
ironical humour »you have the Gens humida ponti for as Virgil says
Sternunt se somno diversæ in littore phocæ
which might be rendered
Here phocæ slumber on the beach
Within our Highland Hectors reach
Nay if you grow angry I have done Besides I see old Edie in the courtyard
with whom I have business Goodbye Hector Do you remember how she splashed
into the sea like her master Proteus et se jactu dedit oequor in altum«
MIntyre waiting however till the door was shut then gave way to the
natural impatience of his temper
»My uncle is the best man in the world and in his way the kindest but
rather than hear any more about that cursed phoca as he is pleased to call it
I would exchange for the West Indies and never see his face again«
Miss MIntyre gratefully attached to her uncle and passionately fond of
her brother was on such occasions the usual envoy of reconciliation She
hastened to meet her uncle on his return before he entered the parlour
»Well now Miss Womankind what is the meaning of that imploring
countenance has Juno done any more mischief«
»No uncle but Junos master is in such fear of your joking him about the
seal I assure you he feels it much more than you would wish its very
silly of him to be sure but then you can turn everybody so sharply into
ridicule«
»Well my dear« answered Oldbuck propitiated by the compliment »I will
rein in my satire and if possible speak no more of the phoca I will not
even speak of sealing a letter but say umph and give a nod to you when I want
the waxlight I am not monitoribus asper but Heaven knows the most mild
quiet and easy of human beings whom sister niece and nephew guide just as
best pleases them«
With this little panegyric on his own docility Mr Oldbuck entered the
parlour and proposed to his nephew a walk to the Musselcrag »I have some
questions to ask of a woman at Mucklebackits cottage« he observed »and I
would willingly have a sensible witness with me so for fault of a better
Hector I must be contented with you«
»There is old Edie sir or Caxon could not they do better than me«
answered MIntyre feeling somewhat alarmed at the prospect of a long
têteàtête with his uncle
»Upon my word young man you turn me over to pretty companions and I am
quite sensible of your politeness« replied Mr Oldbuck »No sir I intend the
old BlueGown shall go with me not as a competent witness for he is at
present as our friend Bailie Littlejohn says blessings on his learning
tanquam suspectus and you are suspicione major as our law has it«
»I wish I were a major sir« said Hector catching only the last and to a
soldiers ear the most impressive word in the sentence »but without money
or interest there is little chance of getting the step«
»Well well most doughty son of Priam« said the Antiquary »be ruled by
your friends and theres no saying what may happen Come away with me and you
shall see what may be useful to you should you ever sit upon a courtmartial
sir«
»I have been on many a regimental courtmartial sir« answered Captain
MIntyre »But heres a new cane for you«
»Much obliged much obliged«
»I bought it from our drummajor« added MIntyre »who came into our
regiment from the Bengal army when it came down the Red Sea It was cut on the
banks of the Indus I assure you«
»Upon my word tis a fine ratan and well replaces that which the ph Bah
what was I going to say«
The party consisting of the Antiquary his nephew and the old beggar now
took the sands towards Musselcrag the former in the very highest mood of
communicating information and the others under a sense of former obligation
and some hope for future favours decently attentive to receive it The uncle
and nephew walked together the mendicant about a step and a half behind just
near enough for his patron to speak to him by a slight inclination of his neck
and without the trouble of turning round Petrie in his Essay on
Goodbreeding dedicated to the magistrates of Edinburgh recommends upon his
own experience as tutor in a family of distinction this attitude to all led
captains tutors dependants and bottleholders of every description Thus
escorted the Antiquary moved along full of his learning like a lordly man of
war and every now and then yawing to starboard and larboard to discharge a
broadside upon his followers
»And so it is your opinion« said he to the mendicant »that this windfall
this arca auri as Plautus has it will not greatly avail Sir Arthur in his
necessities«
»Unless he could find ten times as much« said the beggar »and that I am
sair doubtful of I heard Puggie Orrock and the tother thief of a
sheriffofficer or messenger speaking about it and things are ill aff when
the like o them can speak crousely about ony gentlemans affairs I doubt Sir
Arthur will be in stane was for debt unless theres swift help and certain«
»You speak like a fool« said the Antiquary »Nephew it is a remarkable
thing that in this happy country no man can be legally imprisoned for debt«
»Indeed sir« said MIntyre »I never knew that before that part of our
law would suit some of our mess well«
»And if they arena confined for debt« said Ochiltree »what ist that
tempts sae mony puir creatures to bide in the tolbooth o Fairport yonder
they a say they were put there by their creditors Od they maun like it
better than I do if theyre there o free will«
»A very natural observation Edie and many of your betters would make the
same but it is founded entirely upon ignorance of the feudal system Hector be
so good as to attend unless you are looking out for another Ahem« Hector
compelled himself to give attention at this hint »And you Edie it may be
useful to you rerum cognoscere causas The nature and origin of warrant for
caption is a thing haud alienum a Scoevoloe studiis You must know then once
more that nobody can be arrested in Scotland for debt«
»I haena muckle concern wi that Monkbarns« said the old man »for naebody
wad trust a bodle to a gaberlunzie«
»I prythee peace man As a compulsitor therefore of payment that
being a thing to which no debtor is naturally inclined as I have too much
reason to warrant from the experience I have had with my own we had first the
letters of four forms a sort of gentle invitation by which our sovereign lord
the king interesting himself as a monarch should in the regulation of his
subjects private affairs at first by mild exhortation and afterwards by
letters of more strict enjoinment and more hard compulsion What do you see
extraordinary about that bird Hector its but a seamav«
»Its a pictarnie sir« said Edie
»Well what an if it were what does that signify at present But I see
youre impatient so I will waive the letters of four forms and come to the
modern process of diligence You suppose now a mans committed to prison
because he cannot pay his debt Quite otherwise the truth is the king is so
good as to interfere at the request of the creditor and to send the debtor his
royal command to do him justice within a certain time fifteen days or six as
the case may be Well the man resists and disobeys what follows Why that he
be lawfully and rightfully declared a rebel to our gracious sovereign whose
command he has disobeyed and that by three blasts of a horn at the marketplace
of Edinburgh the metropolis of Scotland And he is then legally imprisoned not
on account of any civil debt but because of his ungrateful contempt of the
royal mandate What say you to that Hector theres something you never knew
before«25
»No uncle but I own if I wanted money to pay my debts I would rather
thank the king to send me some than to declare me a rebel for not doing what I
could not do«
»Your education has not led you to consider these things« replied his
uncle »you are incapable of estimating the elegance of the legal fiction and
the manner in which it reconciles that duress which for the protection of
commerce it has been found necessary to extend towards refractory debtors with
the most scrupulous attention to the liberty of the subject«
»I dont know sir« answered the unenlightened Hector »but if a man must
pay his debt or go to jail it signifies but little whether he goes as a debtor
or a rebel I should think But you say this command of the kings gives a
license of so many days Now egad were I in the scrape I would beat a march
and leave the king and the creditor to settle it among themselves before they
came to extremities«
»So wad I« said Edie »I wad gie them legbail to a certainty«
»True« replied Monkbarns »but those whom the law suspects of being
unwilling to abide her formal visit she proceeds with by means of a shorter and
more unceremonious call as dealing with persons on whom patience and favour
would be utterly thrown away«
»Ay« said Ochiltree »that will be what they ca the fugiewarrants I hae
some skeel in them Theres Borderwarrants too in the south country unco rash
uncanny things I was taen up on ane at Saint Jamess Fair and keepit in the
auld kirk at Kelso the haill day and night and a cauld goustie place it was
Ise assure ye But whatna wifes this wi her creel on her back Its puir
Maggie hersell Im thinking«
It was so The poor womans sense of her loss if not diminished was become
at least mitigated by the inevitable necessity of attending to the means of
supporting her family and her salutation to Oldbuck was made in an odd mixture
between the usual language of solicitation with which she plied her customers
and the tone of lamentation for her recent calamity
»Hows a wi ye the day Monkbarns I havena had the grace yet to come down
to thank your honour for the credit ye did puir Steenie wi laying his head in
a rath grave puir fallow« Here she whimpered and wiped her eyes with the
corner of her blue apron »But the fishing comes on no that ill though the
gudeman hasna had the heart to gang to sea himsell Atweel I would fain tell
him it wad do him gude to put hand to wark but Im maist feard to speak to
him and its an unco thing to hear ane o us speak that gate o a man
However I hae some dainty caller haddies and they sall be but three shillings
the dozen for I hae nae pith to drive a bargain ennow and maun just tak what
ony Christian body will gie wi few words and nae flyting«
»What shall we do Hector« said Oldbuck pausing »I got into disgrace with
my womankind for making a bad bargain with her before These maritime animals
Hector are unlucky to our family«
»Pooh sir what would you do give poor Maggie what she asks or allow me
to send a dish of fish up to Monkbarns«
And he held out the money to her but Maggie drew back her hand »Na na
Captain yere ower young and ower free o your siller ye should never tak a
fishwifes first bode and troth I think maybe a flyte wi the auld housekeeper
at Monkbarns or Miss Grizel would do me some gude And I want to see what
that hellicate quean Jenny Rintherouts doing folk said she wasna weel
Shell be vexing hersell about Steenie the silly tawpie as if he wad ever hae
lookit ower his shouther at the like oher Weel Monkbarns theyre braw
caller haddies and theyll bid me unco little indeed at the house if ye want
crappitheads the day«
And so on she paced with her burden grief gratitude for the sympathy of
her betters and the habitual love of traffic and of gain chasing each other
through her thoughts
»And now that we are before the door of their hut« said Ochiltree »I wad
fain ken Monkbarns what has gard ye plague yoursell wi me a this length I
tell ye sincerely I hae nae pleasure in ganging in there I downa bide to think
how the young hae faen on a sides o me and left me an useless auld stump wi
hardly a green leaf ont«
»This old woman« said Oldbuck »sent you on a message to the Earl of
Glenallan did she not«
»Ay« said the surprised mendicant »how ken ye that sae weel«
»Lord Glenallan told me himself« answered the Antiquary »so there is no
delation no breach of trust on your part and as he wishes me to take her
evidence down on some important family matters I chose to bring you with me
because in her situation hovering between dotage and consciousness, it is
possible that your voice and appearance may awaken trains of recollection which
I should otherwise have no means of exciting The human mind what are you
about Hector«
»I was only whistling for the dog sir« replied the Captain »she always
roves too wide I knew I should be troublesome to you«
»Not at all not at all« said Oldbuck resuming the subject of his
disquisition »the human mind is to be treated like a skein of ravelled silk
where you must cautiously secure one free end before you can make any progress
in disentangling it«
»I ken naething about that« said the gaberlunzie »but an my auld
acquaintance be hersell or onything like hersell she may come to wind us a
pirn Its fearsome baith to see and hear her when she wampishes about her arms
and gets to her English and speaks as if she were a prent book let abe an
auld fishers wife But indeed she had a grand education and was muckle taen
out afore she married an unco bit beneath hersell Shes aulder than me by half
a score years but I mind weel eneugh they made as muckle wark about her making
a halfmerk marriage wi Simon Mucklebackit this Saunderss father as if she
had been ane o the gentry But she got into favour again and then she lost it
again as I hae heard her son say when he was a muckle chield and then they
got muckle siller and left the Countesss land and settled here But things
never throve wi them Howsomever shes a weeleducate woman and an she win to
her English as I hae heard her do at an orra time she may come to fickle us
a«
Chapter Fortieth
Life ebbs from such old age unmarked and silent
As the slow neaptide leaves yon stranded galley
Late she rocked merrily at the least impulse
That wind or wave could give but now her keel
Is settling on the sand her mast has taen
An angle with the sky from which it shifts not
Each wave receding shakes her less and less
Till bedded on the strand she shall remain
Useless as motionless
Old Play
As the Antiquary lifted the latch of the hut he was surprised to hear the
shrill tremulous voice of Elspeth chanting forth an old ballad in a wild and
doleful recitative
»The herring loves the merry moonlight
The mackerel loves the wind
But the oyster loves the dredging sang
For they come of a gentle kind«
A diligent collector of these legendary scraps of ancient poetry his foot
refused to cross the threshold when his ear was thus arrested and his hand
instinctively took pencil and memorandumbook From time to time the old woman
spoke as if to the children »Oh ay hinnies whisht whisht and Ill begin a
bonnier ane than that
Now haud your tongue baith wife and carle
And listen great and sma
And I will sing of Glenallans Earl
That fought on the red Harlaw
The cronachs cried on Bennachie
And doun the Don and a',
And hieland and lawland may mournfu be
For the sair field of Harlaw
I dinna mind the neist verse weel my memorys failed and theres unco
thoughts come ower me God keep us frae temptation«
Here her voice sunk in indistinct muttering
»Its a historical ballad« said Oldbuck eagerly »a genuine and undoubted
fragment of minstrelsy Percy would admire its simplicity Ritson could not
impugn its authenticity«
»Ay but its a sad thing« said Ochiltree »to see human nature sae far
owertaen as to be skirling at auld sangs on the back of a loss like hers«
»Hush hush« said the Antiquary »she has gotten the thread of the story
again« And as he spoke she sung
»They saddled a hundred milkwhite steeds
They hae bridled a hundred black
With a chafron of steel on each horses head
And a good knight upon his back«
»Chafron« exclaimed the Antiquary »equivalent perhaps to cheveron the
words worth a dollar« and down it went in his red book
»They hadna ridden a mile a mile
A mile but barely ten
When Donald came branking down the brae
Wi twenty thousand men
Their tartans they were waving wide
Their glaives were glancing clear
Their pibrochs rung frae side to side
Would deafen ye to hear
The great Earl in his stirrups stood
That Highland host to see
Now here a knight thats stout and good
May prove a jeopardie
What wouldst thou do my squire so gay
That rides beside my reyne
Were ye Glenallans Earl the day
And I were Roland Cheyne
To turn the rein were sin and shame
To fight were wondrous peril
What would ye do now Roland Cheyne
Were ye Glenallans Earl
Ye maun ken hinnies that this Roland Cheyne for as poor and auld as I sit in
the chimneyneuk was my forbear and an awfu man he was that day in the fight
but specially after the Earl had faen for he blamed himsell for the counsel he
gave to fight before Mar came up wi Mearns and Aberdeen and Angus«
Her voice rose and became more animated as she recited the warlike counsel
of her ancestor
Were I Glenallans Earl this tide
And ye were Roland Cheyne
The spur should be in my horses side
And the bridle upon his mane
If they hae twenty thousand blades
And we twice ten times ten
Yet they hae but their tartan plaids
And we are mailclad men
My horse shall ride through ranks sae rude
As through the moorland fern
Then neer let the gentle Norman blude
Grow cauld for Highland kerne«
»Do you hear that nephew« said Oldbuck »you observe your Gaelic ancestors
were not held in high repute formerly by the Lowland warriors«
»I hear« said Hector »a silly old woman sing a silly old song I am
surprised sir that you who will not listen to Ossians songs of Selma can be
pleased with such trash I vow I have not seen or heard a worse halfpenny
ballad I dont believe you could match it in any pedlars pack in the country
I should be ashamed to think that the honour of the Highlands could be affected
by such doggrel« And tossing up his head he snuffed the air indignantly
Apparently the old woman heard the sound of their voices for ceasing her
song she called out »Come in sirs come in goodwill never halted at the
doorstane«
They entered and found to their surprise Elspeth alone sitting »ghastly on
the hearth« like the personification of Old Age in the Hunters song of the
Owl26 »wrinkled tattered vile dimeyed discoloured torpid«
»Theyre a out« she said as they entered »but an ye will sit a blink
somebody will be in If ye hae business wi my gudedaughter or my son theyll
be in belyve I never speak on business mysell Bairns gie them seats the
bairns are a gane out I trow« looking around her »I was crooning to keep
them quiet a wee while since but they hae cruppen out some gate Sit down
sirs theyll be in belyve« and she dismissed her spindle from her hand to
twirl upon the floor and soon seemed exclusively occupied in regulating its
motion as unconscious of the presence of the strangers as she appeared
indifferent to their rank or business there
»I wish« said Oldbuck »she would resume that canticle or legendary
fragment I always suspected there was a skirmish of cavalry before the main
battle of the Harlaw«27
»If your honour pleases« said Edie »had ye not better proceed to the
business that brought us a here Ise engage to get ye the sang ony time«
»I believe you are right Edie Do manus I submit But how shall we
manage She sits there the very image of dotage Speak to her Edie try if
you can make her recollect having sent you to Glenallan House«
Edie rose accordingly and crossing the floor placed himself in the same
position which he had occupied during his former conversation with her »Im
fain to see ye looking sae weel cummer the mair that the black ox has tramped
on ye since I was aneath your rooftree«
»Ay« said Elspeth but rather from a general idea of misfortune than any
exact recollection of what had happened »there has been distress amang us of
late I wonder how younger folk bide it I bide it ill I canna hear the wind
whistle and the sea roar but I think I see the coble whombled keel up and
some o them struggling in the waves Eh sirs sic weary dreams as folk hae
between sleeping and waking before they win to the lang sleep and the sound I
could amaist think whiles my son or else Steenie my oe was dead and that I
had seen the burial Isna that a queer dream for a daft auld carline What for
should ony o them dee before me its out o the course o nature ye ken«
»I think youll make very little of this stupid old woman« said Hector
who still nourished perhaps some feelings of the dislike excited by the
disparaging mention of his countrymen in her lay »I think youll make but
little of her sir and its wasting our time to sit here and listen to her
dotage«
»Hector« said the Antiquary indignantly »if you do not respect her
misfortunes respect at least her old age and grey hairs this is the last stage
of existence so finely treated by the Latin poet
Omni
Membrorum damno major dementia quæ nec
Nomina servorum nec vultum agnoscit amici
Cum quo preterita coenavit nocte nec illos
Quos genuit quos eduxit«
»Thats Latin« said Elspeth rousing herself as if she attended to the lines
which the Antiquary recited with great pomp of diction »thats Latin« and she
cast a wild glance around her »Has there a priest fund me out at last«
»You see nephew her comprehension is almost equal to your own of that fine
passage«
»I hope you think sir that I knew it to be Latin as well as she did«
»Why as to that But stay she is about to speak«
»I will have no priest none« said the beldam with impotent vehemence
»as I have lived I will die none shall say that I betrayed my mistress though
it were to save my soul«
»That bespoke a foul conscience« said the mendicant »I wuss she wad mak
a clean breast an it were but for her ain sake« and he again assailed her
»Weel gudewife I did your errand to the Yerl«
»To what Earl I ken nae Earl I kend a Countess ance I wish to Heaven
I had never kend her for by that acquaintance neighbour their cam« and
she counted her withered fingers as she spoke »first Pride then Malice then
Revenge then False Witness and Murder tirld at the doorpin if he camna ben
And werena thae pleasant guests think ye to take up their quarters in ae
womans heart I trow there was routh o company«
»But cummer« continued the beggar »it wasna the Countess of Glenallan I
meant but her son him that was Lord Geraldin«
»I mind it now« she said »I saw him no that langsyne and we had a heavy
speech thegither Eh sirs the comely young lord is turned as auld and frail as
I am its muckle that sorrow and heartbreak and crossing of true love will do
wi young blood But suldna his mither hae lookit to that hersell we were but
to do her bidding ye ken I am sure theres naebody can blame me he wasna my
son and she was my mistress Ye ken how the rhyme says I hae maist forgotten
how to sing or else the tunes left my auld head
He turnd him right and round again
Said Scorn na at my mither
Light loves I may get mony a ane
But minnie neer anither
Then he was but of the half blude ye ken and hers was the right Glenallan
after a Na na I maun never maen doing and suffering for the Countess
Joscelin never will I maen for that«
Then drawing her flax from the distaff with the dogged air of one who is
resolved to confess nothing she resumed her interrupted occupation
»I hae heard« said the mendicant taking his cue from what Oldbuck had told
him of the family history »I hae heard cummer that some ill tongue suld hae
come between the Earl thats Lord Geraldin and his young bride«
»Ill tongue« she said in hasty alarm »and what had she to fear frae an ill
tongue she was gude and fair eneugh at least a body said sae But had she
keepit her ain tongue aff ither folk she might hae been living like a leddy for
a thats come and gane yet«
»But I hae heard say gudewife« continued Ochiltree »there was a clatter
in the country that her husband and her were ower sibb when they married«
»Wha durst speak o that« said the old woman hastily »wha durst say they
were married wha kend o that Not the Countess not I If they wedded in
secret they were severed in secret They drank of the fountains of their ain
deceit«
»No wretched beldam« exclaimed Oldbuck who could keep silence no longer
»they drank the poison that you and your wicked mistress prepared for them«
»Ha ha« she replied »I aye thought it would come to this Its but
sitting silent when they examine me theres nae torture in our days and if
there is let them rend me Its ill o the vassals mouth that betrays the
bread it eats«
»Speak to her Edie« said the Antiquary »she knows your voice and answers
to it most readily«
»We shall mak naething mair out o her« said Ochiltree »When she has
clinkit hersell down that way and faulded her arms she winna speak a word
they say for weeks thegither And besides to my thinking her face is sair
changed since we cam in However Ise try her ance mair to satisfy your honour
So ye canna keep in mind cummer that your auld mistress the Countess
Joscelin has been removed«
»Removed« she exclaimed for that name never failed to produce its usual
effect upon her »then we maun a follow a maun ride when she is in the
saddle Tell them to let Lord Geraldin ken were on before them Bring my hood
and scarf ye wadna hae me gang in the carriage wi my leddy and my hair in
this fashion«
She raised her shrivelled arms and seemed busied like a woman who puts on
her cloak to go abroad then dropped them slowly and stiffly and the same idea
of a journey still floating apparently through her head she proceeded in a
hurried and interrupted manner »Call Miss Neville What do you mean by Lady
Geraldin I said Eveline Neville not Lady Geraldin theres no Lady Geraldin
tell her that and bid her change her wet gown and no look sae pale Bairn
what should she do wi a bairn maidens hae nane I trow Teresa Teresa
my lady calls us Bring a candle the grand staircase is as mirk as a Yule
midnight We are coming my lady« With these words she sunk back on the
settle and from thence sidelong to the floor28
Edie ran to support her but hardly got her in his arms before he said
»Its a ower she has passed away even with that last word«
»Impossible« said Oldbuck hastily advancing as did his nephew But
nothing was more certain She had expired with the last hurried word that left
her lips and all that remained before them were the mortal relics of the
creature who had so long struggled with an internal sense of concealed guilt
joined to all the distresses of age and poverty
»God grant that she be gane to a better place« said Edie as he looked on
the lifeless body »but oh there was something lying hard and heavy at her
heart I have seen mony a ane dee baith in the field o battle and a
fairstrae death at hame but I wad rather see them a ower again as sic a
fearfu flitting as hers«
»We must call in the neighbours« said Oldbuck when he had somewhat
recovered his horror and astonishment »and give warning of this additional
calamity I wish she could have been brought to a confession And though of far
less consequence I could have wished to transcribe that metrical fragment But
Heavens will must be done« They left the hut accordingly and gave the alarm
in the hamlet whose matrons instantly assembled to compose the limbs and
arrange the body of her who might be considered as the mother of their
settlement Oldbuck promised his assistance for the funeral
»Your honour« said Alison Breck who was next in age to the deceased »suld
send doun something to us for keeping up our hearts at the lykewake for a
Saunderss gin puir man was drucken out at the burial o Steenie and well no
get mony to sit drylipped aside the corpse Elspeth was unco clever in her
young days as I can mind right weel but there was aye a word o her no being
that chancy Ane suldna speak ill o the dead mair by token o anes cummer
and neighbour but there was queer things said about a leddy and a bairn or she
left the Craigburnfoot And sae in gude troth it will be a puir lykewake
unless your honour sends us something to keep us cracking«
»You shall have some whisky« answered Oldbuck »the rather that you have
preserved the proper word for that ancient custom of watching the dead You
observe Hector this is genuine Teutonic from the Gothic Leichnam a corpse
It is quite erroneously called Latewake though Brand favours that modern
corruption and derivation«
»I believe« said Hector to himself »my uncle would give away Monkbarns to
any one who would come to ask it in genuine Teutonic Not a drop of whisky would
the old creatures have got had their president asked it for the use of the
Latewake«
While Oldbuck was giving some farther directions and promising assistance
a servant of Sir Arthurs came riding very hard along the sands and stopped his
horse when he saw the Antiquary »There had something« he said »very
particular happened at the Castle« he could not or would not explain what
»and Miss Wardour had sent him off express to Monkbarns to beg that Mr
Oldbuck would come to them without a moments delay«
»I am afraid« said the Antiquary »his course also is drawing to a close
What can I do«
»Do sir« exclaimed Hector with his characteristic impatience »get on
the horse and turn his head homeward you will be at Knockwinnock Castle in
ten minutes«
»He is quite a free goer« said the servant dismounting to adjust the
girths and stirrups »he only pulls a little if he feels a dead weight on
him«
»I should soon be a dead weight off him my friend« said the Antiquary
»What the devil nephew are you weary of me or do you suppose me weary of my
life that I should get on the back of such a Bucephalus as that No no my
friend if I am to be at Knockwinnock today it must be by walking quietly
forward on my own feet which I will do with as little delay as possible
Captain MIntyre may ride that animal himself if he pleases«
»I have little hope I could be of any use uncle but I cannot think of
their distress without wishing to show sympathy at least so I will ride on
before and announce to them that you are coming Ill trouble you for your
spurs my friend«
»You will scarce need them sir« said the man taking them off at the same
time and buckling them upon Captain MIntyres heels »hes very frank to the
road«
Oldbuck stood astonished at this last act of temerity »Are you mad
Hector« he cried »or have you forgotten what is said by Quintus Curtius with
whom as a soldier you must needs be familiar Nobilis equus umbra quidem
virgoe regitur ignavus ne calcari quidem excitari potest which plainly shows
that spurs are useless in every case and I may add dangerous in most«
But Hector who cared little for the opinion of either Quintus Curtius or of
the Antiquary upon such a topic only answered with a heedless »Never fear
never fear sir«
With that he gave his able horse the head
And bending forward struck his armed heels
Against the panting sides of his poor jade
Up to the rowelhead and starting so
He seemed in running to devour the way
Staying no longer question
»There they go well matched« said Oldbuck looking after them as they started
»a mad horse and a wild boy the two most unruly creatures in Christendom and
all to get half an hour sooner to a place where nobody wants him for I doubt
Sir Arthurs griefs are beyond the cure of our light horseman It must be the
villany of Dousterswivel for whom Sir Arthur has done so much for I cannot
help observing that with some natures Tacituss maxim holdeth good Beneficia
eo usque loeta sunt dum videntur exsolvi posse ubi multum antevenere pro
gratia odium redditur from which a wise man might take a caution not to
oblige any man beyond the degree in which he may expect to be requited lest he
should make his debtor a bankrupt in gratitude«
Murmuring to himself such scraps of cynical philosophy our Antiquary paced
the sands towards Knockwinnock but it is necessary we should outstrip him for
the purpose of explaining the reasons of his being so anxiously summoned
thither
Chapter FortyFirst
So while the Goose of whom the fable told
Incumbent brooded oer her eggs of gold
With hand outstretched impatient to destroy
Stole on her secret nest the cruel Boy
Whose gripe rapacious changed her splendid dream
For wings vain fluttering and for dying scream
The Loves of the Seaweeds
From the time that Sir Arthur Wardour had become possessor of the treasure found
in Misticots grave he had been in a state of mind more resembling ecstasy than
sober sense Indeed at one time his daughter had become seriously apprehensive
for his intellect for as he had no doubt that he had the secret of possessing
himself of wealth to an unbounded extent his language and carriage were those
of a man who had acquired the philosophers stone He talked of buying
contiguous estates that would have led him from one side of the island to the
other as if he were determined to brook no neighbour save the sea He
corresponded with an architect of eminence upon a plan of renovating the castle
of his forefathers on a style of extended magnificence that might have rivalled
that of Windsor and laying out the grounds on a suitable scale Troops of
liveried menials were already in fancy marshalled in his halls and for what
may not unbounded wealth authorize its possessor to aspire to the coronet of
a marquis perhaps of a duke was glittering before his imagination His
daughter to what matches might she not look forward Even an alliance with the
bloodroyal was not beyond the sphere of his hopes His son was already a
general and he himself whatever ambition could dream of in its wildest
visions
In this mood if any one endeavoured to bring Sir Arthur down to the regions
of common life his replies were in the vein of Ancient Pistol
A fico for the world and worldlings base
I speak of Africa and golden joys
The reader may conceive the amazement of Miss Wardour when instead of
undergoing an investigation concerning the addresses of Lovel as she had
expected from the long conference of her father with Mr Oldbuck upon the
morning of the fated day when the treasure was discovered the conversation of
Sir Arthur announced an imagination heated with the hopes of possessing the most
unbounded wealth But she was seriously alarmed when Dousterswivel was sent for
to the Castle and was closeted with her father his mishap condoled with his
part taken and his loss compensated All the suspicions which she had long
entertained respecting this man became strengthened by observing his pains to
keep up the golden dreams of her father and to secure for himself under
various pretexts as much as possible out of the windfall which had so strangely
fallen to Sir Arthurs share
Other evil symptoms began to appear following close on each other Letters
arrived every post which Sir Arthur as soon as he had looked at the
directions flung into the fire without taking the trouble to open them Miss
Wardour could not help suspecting that these epistles the contents of which
seemed to be known to her father by a sort of intuition, came from pressing
creditors In the meanwhile the temporary aid which he had received from the
treasure dwindled fast away By far the greater part had been swallowed up by
the necessity of paying the bill of six hundred pounds which had threatened Sir
Arthur with instant distress Of the rest some part was given to the adept
some wasted upon extravagances which seemed to the poor knight fully authorized
by his fullblown hopes and some went to stop for a time the mouths of such
claimants as being weary of fair promises had become of opinion with Harpagon
that it was necessary to touch some thing substantial At length circumstances
announced but too plainly that it was all expended within two or three days
after its discovery and there appeared no prospect of a supply Sir Arthur
naturally impatient now taxed Dousterswivel anew with breach of those promises
through which he had hoped to convert all his lead into gold But that worthy
gentlemans turn was now served and as he had grace enough to wish to avoid
witnessing the fall of the house which he had undermined he was at the trouble
of bestowing a few learned terms of art upon Sir Arthur that at least he might
not be tormented before his time He took leave of him with assurances that he
would return to Knockwinnock the next morning with such information as would
not fail to relieve Sir Arthur from all his distresses
»For since I have consulted in such matters I ave never« said Mr Herman
Dousterswivel »approached so near de arcanum what you call de great mystery
de Panchresta de Polychresta I do know as much of it as Pelaso de Taranta
or Basilius and either I will bring you in two and tree days de No III of
Mr Mishdigoat or you shall call me one knave myself and never look me in de
face again no more at all«
The adept departed with this assurance in the firm resolution of making
good the latter part of the proposition, and never again appearing before his
injured patron Sir Arthur remained in a doubtful and anxious state of mind The
positive assurances of the philosopher with the hard words Panchresta
Basilius and so forth produced some effect on his mind But he had been too
often deluded by such jargon to be absolutely relieved of his doubt and he
retired for the evening into his library in the fearful state of one who
hanging over a precipice and without the means of retreat perceives the stone
on which he rests gradually parting from the rest of the crag and about to give
way with him
The visions of hope decayed and there increased in proportion that feverish
agony of anticipation with which a man educated in a sense of consequence and
possessed of opulence the supporter of an ancient name and the father of two
promising children foresaw the hour approaching which should deprive him of
all the splendour which time had made familiarly necessary to him and send him
forth into the world to struggle with poverty with rapacity and with scorn
Under these dire forebodings his temper exhausted by the sickness of delayed
hope became peevish and fretful and his words and actions sometimes expressed
a reckless desperation which alarmed Miss Wardour extremely We have seen on a
former occasion that Sir Arthur was a man of passions lively and quick in
proportion to the weakness of his character in other respects he was unused to
contradiction and if he had been hitherto in general goodhumoured and
cheerful it was probably because the course of his life had afforded no such
frequent provocation as to render his irritability habitual
On the third morning after Dousterswivels departure the servant as usual
laid on the breakfast table the newspaper and letters of the day Miss Wardour
took up the former to avoid the continued illhumour of her father who had
wrought himself into a violent passion because the toast was overbrowned
»I perceive how it is« was his concluding speech on this interesting
subject »my servants who have had their share of my fortune begin to think
there is little to be made of me in future But while I am the scoundrels
master I will be so and permit no neglect no nor endure a hairsbreadth
diminution of the respect I am entitled to exact from them«
»I am ready to leave your honours service this instant« said the domestic
upon whom the fault had been charged »as soon as you order payment of my
wages«
Sir Arthur as if stung by a serpent thrust his hand into his pocket and
instantly drew out the money which it contained but which was short of the
mans claim »What money have you got Miss Wardour« he said in a tone of
affected calmness but which concealed violent agitation
Miss Wardour gave him her purse he attempted to count the bank notes which
it contained but could not reckon them After twice miscounting the sum he
threw the whole to his daughter and saying in a stern voice »Pay the rascal
and let him leave the house instantly« he strode out of the room
The mistress and servant stood alike astonished at the agitation and
vehemence of his manner
»I am sure maam if I had thought I was particularly wrang I wadna hae
made ony answer when Sir Arthur challenged me I hae been lang in his service
and he has been a kind master and you a kind mistress and I wad like ill ye
should think I wad start for a hasty word I am sure it was very wrang o me to
speak about wages to his honour when maybe he has something to vex him I had
nae thoughts o leaving the family in this way«
»Go down stairs Robert« said his mistress »something has happened to
fret my father go down stairs and let Alick answer the bell«
When the man left the room Sir Arthur reentered as if he had been
watching his departure »Whats the meaning of this« he said hastily as he
observed the notes lying still on the table »Is he not gone Am I neither to
be obeyed as a master or a father«
»He is gone to give up his charge to the housekeeper sir I thought there
was not such instant haste«
»There is haste Miss Wardour« answered her father interrupting her
»What I do henceforth in the house of my forefathers must be done speedily or
never«
He then sate down and took up with a trembling hand the basin of tea
prepared for him protracting the swallowing of it as if to delay the necessity
of opening the postletters which lay on the table and which he eyed from time
to time as if they had been a nest of adders ready to start into life and
spring upon him
»You will be happy to hear« said Miss Wardour willing to withdraw her
fathers mind from the gloomy reflections in which he appeared to be plunged
»you will be happy to hear sir that Lieutenant Taffrils gunbrig has got safe
into Leith Roads I observe there had been apprehensions for his safety I am
glad we did not hear them till they were contradicted«
»And what is Taffril and his gunbrig to me«
»Sir« said Miss Wardour in astonishment for Sir Arthur in his ordinary
state of mind took a fidgety sort of interest in all the gossip of the day and
country
»I say« he repeated in a higher and still more impatient key »what do I
care who is saved or lost Its nothing to me I suppose«
»I did not know you were busy Sir Arthur and thought as Mr Taffril is a
brave man and from our own country you would be happy to hear«
»Oh I am happy as happy as possible and to make you happy too you
shall have some of my good news in return« And he caught up a letter »It does
not signify which I open first they are all to the same tune«
He broke the seal hastily ran the letter over and then threw it to his
daughter »Ay I could not have lighted more happily this places the
copestone«
Miss Wardour in silent terror took up the letter »Read it read it
aloud« said her father »it cannot be read too often it will serve to break
you in for other good news of the same kind«
She began to read with a faltering voice »Dear Sir«
»He dears me too you see this impudent drudge of a writers office who a
twelvemonth since was not fit company for my second table I suppose I shall
be dear Knight with him by and by«
»Dear Sir« resumed Miss Wardour but interrupting herself »I see the
contents are unpleasant sir it will only vex you my reading them aloud«
»If you will allow me to know my own pleasure Miss Wardour I entreat you
to go on I presume if it were unnecessary I should not ask you to take the
trouble«
»Having been of late taken into copartnery« continued Miss Wardour reading
the letter »by Mr Gilbert Greenhorn son of your late correspondent and man of
business Girnigo Greenhorn Esq writer to the signet whose business I
conducted as parliamenthouse clerk for many years which business will in
future be carried on under the firm of Greenhorn and Grinderson which I
memorandum for the sake of accuracy in addressing your future letters and
having had of late favours of yours directed to my aforesaid partner Gilbert
Greenhorn in consequence of his absence at the Lamberton races have the honour
to reply to your said favours«
»You see my friend is methodical and commences by explaining the causes
which have procured me so modest and elegant a correspondent Go on I can bear
it«
And he laughed that bitter laugh which is perhaps the most fearful
expression of mental misery Trembling to proceed and yet afraid to disobey
Miss Wardour continued to read »I am for myself and partner sorry we cannot
oblige you by looking out for the sums you mention or applying for a suspension
in the case of Goldiebirds bond which would be more inconsistent as we have
been employed to act as the said Goldiebirds procurators and attorneys in
which capacity we have taken out a charge of horning against you as you must be
aware by the schedule left by the messenger for the sum of four thousand seven
hundred and fiftysix pounds five shillings and sixpence onefourth of a penny
sterling which with annualrent and expenses effeiring we presume will be
settled during the currency of the charge to prevent further trouble Same
time I am under the necessity to observe our own account amounting to seven
hundred and sixtynine pounds ten shillings and sixpence is also due and
settlement would be agreeable but as we hold your rights titledeeds and
documents in hypothec shall have no objection to give reasonable time say
till the next money term I am for myself and partner concerned to add that
Messrs Goldiebirds instructions to us are to proceed peremptorie and sine
mora of which I have the pleasure to advise you to prevent future mistakes
reserving to ourselves otherwise to agé as accords I am for self and partner
dear sir your obliged humble servant Gabriel Grinderson for Greenhorn and
Grinderson«
»Ungrateful villain« said Miss Wardour
»Why no its in the usual rule I suppose the blow could not have been
perfect if dealt by another hand its all just as it should be« answered the
poor Baronet his affected composure sorely belied by his quivering lip and
rolling eye »But heres a postscript I did not notice come finish the
epistle«
»I have to add not for self but partner that Mr Greenhorn will
accommodate you by taking your service of plate or the bay horses if sound in
wind and limb at a fair appreciation in part payment of your accompt«
»Gd confound him« said Sir Arthur losing all command of himself at this
condescending proposal »his grandfather shod my fathers horses and this
descendant of a scoundrelly blacksmith proposes to swindle me out of mine But I
will write him a proper answer«
And he sate down and began to write with great vehemence then stopped and
read aloud »Mr Gilbert Greenhorn in answer to two letters of a late date
I received a letter from a person calling himself Grinderson and designing
himself as your partner When I address any one I do not usually expect to be
answered by deputy I think I have been useful to your father and friendly and
civil to yourself and therefore am now surprised And yet« said he stopping
short »why should I be surprised at that or anything else or why should I take
up my time in writing to such a scoundrel I shant be always kept in prison
I suppose and to break that puppys bones when I get out shall be my first
employment«
»In prison sir« said Miss Wardour faintly
»Ay in prison to be sure Do you make any question about that Why Mr
whats his names fine letter for self and partner seems to be thrown away on
you or else you have got four thousand so many hundred pounds with the due
proportion of shillings pence and halfpence to pay that aforesaid demand as
he calls it«
»I sir O if I had the means But wheres my brother why does he not
come and so long in Scotland He might do something to assist us«
»Who Reginald I suppose hes gone with Mr Gilbert Greenhorn or some
such respectable person to the Lamberton races I have expected him this week
past but I cannot wonder that my children should neglect me as well as every
other person But I should beg your pardon my love who never either neglected
or offended me in your life«
And kissing her cheek as she threw her arms round his neck he experienced
that consolation which a parent feels even in the most distressed state in the
assurance that he possesses the affection of a child
Miss Wardour took the advantage of this revulsion of feeling to endeavour
to soothe her fathers mind to composure She reminded him that he had many
friends
»I had many once« said Sir Arthur »but of some I have exhausted their
kindness with my frantic projects others are unable to assist me others are
unwilling It is all over with me I only hope Reginald will take example by my
folly«
»Should I not send to Monkbarns sir« said his daughter
»To what purpose He cannot lend me such a sum and would not if he could
for he knows I am otherwise drowned in debt and he would only give me scraps of
misanthropy and quaint ends of Latin«
»But he is shrewd and sensible and was bred to business and I am sure
always loved this family«
»Yes I believe he did It is a fine pass we are come to when the affection
of an Oldbuck is of consequence to a Wardour But when matters come to
extremity as I suppose they presently will it may be as well to send for him
And now go take your walk my dear my mind is more composed than when I had
this cursed disclosure to make You know the worst and may daily or hourly
expect it Go take your walk I would willingly be alone for a little while«
When Miss Wardour left the apartment her first occupation was to avail
herself of the half permission granted by her father by despatching to
Monkbarns the messenger who as we have already seen met the Antiquary and his
nephew on the seabeach
Little recking and indeed scarce knowing where she was wandering chance
directed her into the walk beneath the Briery Bank as it was called A brook
which in former days had supplied the castlemoat with water here descended
through a narrow dell up which Miss Wardours taste had directed a natural
path which was rendered neat and easy of ascent without the air of being
formally made and preserved It suited well the character of the little glen
which was overhung with thickets and underwood chiefly of larch and hazel
intermixed with the usual varieties of the thorn and brier In this walk had
passed that scene of explanation between Miss Wardour and Lovel which was
overheard by old Edie Ochiltree With a heart softened by the distress which
approached her family Miss Wardour now recalled every word and argument which
Lovel had urged in support of his suit and could not help confessing to
herself it was no small subject of pride to have inspired a young man of his
talents with a passion so strong and disinterested That he should have left the
pursuit of a profession in which he was said to be rapidly rising to bury
himself in a disagreeable place like Fairport and brood over an unrequited
passion might be ridiculed by others as romantic but was naturally forgiven as
an excess of affection by the person who was the object of his attachment Had
he possessed an independence however moderate or ascertained a clear and
undisputed claim to the rank in society he was well qualified to adorn she
might now have had it in her power to offer her father during his misfortunes
an asylum in an establishment of her own These thoughts so favourable to the
absent lover crowded in one after the other with such a minute recapitulation
of his words looks and actions as plainly intimated that his former repulse
had been dictated rather by duty than inclination Isabella was musing
alternately upon this subject and upon that of her fathers misfortunes when
as the path winded round a little hillock covered with brushwood the old
BlueGown suddenly met her
With an air as if he had something important and mysterious to communicate
he doffed his bonnet and assumed the cautious step and voice of one who would
not willingly be overheard »I hae been wishing muckle to meet wi your
leddyship for ye ken I darena come to the house for Dousterswivel«
»I heard indeed« said Miss Wardour dropping an alms into the bonnet »I
heard that you had done a very foolish if not a very bad thing Edie and I
was sorry to hear it«
»Hout my bonny leddy fulish A the warlds fules and how should auld
Edie Ochiltree be aye wise And for the evil let them wha deal wi
Dousterswivel tell whether he gat a grain mair than his deserts«
»That may be true Edie and yet« said Miss Wardour »you may have been
very wrong«
»Weel weel wese no dispute that eennow its about your sell Im gaun
to speak Div ye ken whats hanging ower the house of Knockwinnock«
»Great distress I fear Edie« answered Miss Wardour »but I am surprised
it is already so public«
»Public Sweepclean the messenger will be there the day wi a his
tackle I ken it frae ane o his concurrents as they ca them thats warned to
meet him and theyll be about their wark belyve whare they clip there needs
nae kame they shear close eneugh«
»Are you sure this bad hour Edie is so very near come I know it
will«
»Its een as I tell you leddy But dinna be cast down theres a heaven
ower your head here as weel as in that fearful night atween the Ballyburghness
and the Halkethead Dye think He wha rebuked the waters canna protect you
against the wrath of men though they be armed with human authority«
»It is indeed all we have to trust to«
»Ye dinna ken ye dinna ken when the nights darkest the dawns nearest
If I had a gude horse or could ride him when I had him I reckon there wad be
help yet I trusted to hae gotten a cast wi the Royal Charlotte but shes
coupit yonder its like at Kittlebrig There was a young gentleman on the box
and he behuved to drive and Tam Sang that suld hae mair sense he behuved to
let him and the daft callant couldna tak the turn at the corner o the brig
and od he took the curbstane and hes whomled her as I wad whomle a toom
bicker it was a luck I hadna gotten on the tap o her Sae I came down atween
hope and despair to see if ye wad send me on«
»And Edie where would ye go« said the young lady
»To Tannonburgh my leddy« which was the first stage from Fairport but a
good deal nearer to Knockwinnock »and that without delay its a on your ain
business«
»Our business Edie Alas I give you all credit for your good meaning but«
»Theres nae buts about it my leddy for gang I maun« said the persevering
BlueGown
»But what is it that you would do at Tannonburgh or how can your going
there benefit my fathers affairs«
»Indeed my sweet leddy« said the gaberlunzie »ye maun just trust that bit
secret to auld Edies grey pow and ask nae questions about it Certainly if I
wad hae wared my life for you yon night I can hae nae reason to play an ill
pliskie tye in the day o your distress«
»Well Edie follow me then« said Miss Wardour »and I will try to get you
sent to Tannonburgh«
»Mak haste then my bonny leddy mak haste for the love o goodness«
and he continued to exhort her to expedition until they reached the Castle
Chapter FortySecond
Let those go see who will I like it not
For say he was a slave to rank and pomp
And all the nothings he is now divorced from
By the hard doom of stern necessity
Yet it is sad to mark his altered brow
Where Vanity adjusts her flimsy veil
Oer the deep wrinkles of repentant anguish
Old Play
When Miss Wardour arrived in the court of the Castle she was apprized by the
first glance that the visit of the officers of the law had already taken place
There was confusion and gloom and sorrow and curiosity among the domestics
while the retainers of the law went from place to place making an inventory of
the goods and chattels falling under their warrant of distress or poinding as
it is called in the law of Scotland Captain MIntyre flew to her as struck
dumb with the melancholy conviction of her fathers ruin she paused upon the
threshold of the gateway
»Dear Miss Wardour« he said »do not make yourself uneasy my uncle is
coming immediately and I am sure he will find some way to clear the house of
these rascals«
»Alas Captain MIntyre I fear it will be too late«
»No« answered Edie impatiently »could I but get to Tannonburgh In the
name of Heaven Captain contrive some way to get me on and yell do this poor
ruined family the best days doing that has been done them since Redhands days
for as sure as eer an auld saw came true Knockwinnock house and land will be
lost and won this day«
»Why what good can you do old man« said Hector
But Robert the domestic with whom Sir Arthur had been so much displeased in
the morning as if he had been watching for an opportunity to display his zeal
stepped hastily forward and said to his mistress »If you please maam this
auld man Ochiltree is very skeely and auldfarrant about mony things as the
diseases of cows and horse and sic like and I am sure he disna want to be at
Tannonburgh the day for naething since he insists ont this gate and if your
leddyship pleases Ill drive him there in the taxedcart in an hours time I
wad fain be of some use I could bite my very tongue out when I think on this
morning«
»I am obliged to you Robert« said Miss Wardour »and if you really think
it has the least chance of being useful«
»In the name of God« said the old man »yoke the cart Robie and if I am
no o some use less or mair Ill gie ye leave to fling me ower Kittlebrig as
ye come back again But O man haste ye for times precious this day«
Robert looked at his mistress as she retired into the house and seeing he
was not prohibited flew to the stableyard which was adjacent to the court in
order to yoke the carriage for though an old beggar was the personage least
likely to render effectual assistance in a case of pecuniary distress yet there
was among the common people of Edies circle a general idea of his prudence and
sagacity which authorized Roberts conclusion that he would not so earnestly
have urged the necessity of this expedition had he not been convinced of its
utility But so soon as the servant took hold of a horse to harness him for the
taxedcart an officer touched him on the shoulder »My friend you must let
that beast alone hes down in the schedule«
»What« said Robert »am I not to take my masters horse to go my young
leddys errand«
»You must remove nothing here« said the man of office »or you will be
liable for all consequences«
»What the devil sir« said Hector who having followed to examine Ochiltree
more closely on the nature of his hopes and expectations already began to
bristle like one of the terriers of his own native mountains and sought but a
decent pretext for venting his displeasure »have you the impudence to prevent
the young ladys servant from obeying her orders«
There was something in the air and tone of the young soldier which seemed
to argue that his interference was not likely to be confined to mere
expostulation and which if it promised finally the advantages of a process of
battery and deforcement would certainly commence with the unpleasant
circumstances necessary for founding such a complaint The legal officer
confronted with him of the military grasped with one doubtful hand the greasy
bludgeon which was to enforce his authority and with the other produced his
short official baton tipped with silver and having a movable ring upon it
»Captain MIntyre Sir I have no quarrel with you but if you interrupt me
in my duty I will break the wand of peace and declare myself deforced«
»And who the devil cares« said Hector totally ignorant of the words of
judicial action »whether you declare yourself divorced or married And as to
breaking your wand or breaking the peace or whatever you call it all I know
is that I will break your bones if you prevent the lad from harnessing the
horses to obey his mistresss orders«
»I take all who stand here to witness« said the messenger »that I showed
him my blazon and explained my character He that will to Cupar maun to Cupar«
and he slid his enigmatical ring from one end of the baton to the other being
the appropriate symbol of his having been forcibly interrupted in the discharge
of his duty
Honest Hector better accustomed to the artillery of the field than to that
of the law saw this mystical ceremony with great indifference and with like
unconcern beheld the messenger sit down to write out an execution of
deforcement But at this moment to prevent the wellmeaning hotheaded
Highlander from running the risk of a severe penalty the Antiquary arrived
puffing and blowing with his handkerchief crammed under his hat and his wig
upon the end of his stick
»What the deuce is the matter here« he exclaimed hastily adjusting his
headgear »I have been following you in fear of finding your idle loggerhead
knocked against one rock or other and here I find you parted with your
Bucephalus and quarrelling with Sweepclean A messenger Hector is a worse foe
than a phoca whether it be the phoca barbata or the phoca vitulina of your
late conflict«
»Dn the phoca sir« said Hector »whether it be the one or the other I
say dn them both particularly I think you would not have me stand quietly by
and see a scoundrel like this because he calls himself a kings messenger
forsooth I hope the king has many better for his meanest errands insult a
young lady of family and fashion like Miss Wardour«
»Rightly argued Hector« said the Antiquary »but the king like other
people has now and then shabby errands and in your ear must have shabby
fellows to do them But even supposing you unacquainted with the statutes of
William the Lion in which capite quarto versu quinto this crime of deforcement
is termed despectus Domini Regis a contempt to wit of the king himself in
whose name all legal diligence issues could you not have inferred from the
information I took so much pains to give you today that those who interrupt
officers who come to execute letters of caption are tanquam participes criminis
rebellionis seeing that he who aids a rebel is himself quodammodo an
accessory to rebellion But Ill bring you out of this scrape«
He then spoke to the messenger who upon his arrival had laid aside all
thoughts of making a good byjob out of the deforcement and accepted Mr
Oldbucks assurances that the horse and taxedcart should be safely returned in
the course of two or three hours
»Very well sir« said the Antiquary »since you are disposed to be so
civil you shall have another job in your own best way a little cast of state
politics a crime punishable per Legem Juliam Mr Sweepclean Hark thee
hither«
And after a whisper of five minutes he gave him a slip of paper on
receiving which the messenger mounted his horse and with one of his
assistants rode away pretty sharply The fellow who remained seemed to delay
his operations purposely proceeded in the rest of his duty very slowly and
with the caution and precision of one who feels himself overlooked by a skilful
and severe inspector
In the meantime Oldbuck taking his nephew by the arm led him into the
house and they were ushered into the presence of Sir Arthur Wardour who in a
flutter between wounded pride agonized apprehension and vain attempts to
disguise both under a show of indifference exhibited a spectacle of painful
interest
»Happy to see you Mr Oldbuck always happy to see my friends in fair
weather or foul« said the poor Baronet struggling not for composure but for
gaiety an affectation which was strongly contrasted by the nervous and
protracted grasp of his hand and the agitation of his whole demeanour »I am
happy to see you You are riding I see I hope in this confusion your horses
are taken good care of I always like to have my friends horses looked after
Egad they will have all my care now for you see they are like to leave me none
of my own he he he eh Mr Oldbuck«
This attempt at a jest was attended by a hysterical giggle which poor Sir
Arthur intended should sound as an indifferent laugh
»You know I never ride Sir Arthur« said the Antiquary
»I beg your pardon but sure I saw your nephew arrive on horseback a short
time since We must look after officers horses and his was as handsome a grey
charger as I have seen«
Sir Arthur was about to ring the bell when Mr Oldbuck said »My nephew
came on your own grey horse Sir Arthur«
»Mine« said the poor Baronet »mine was it then the sun had been in my
eyes Well Im not worthy having a horse any longer since I dont know my own
when I see him«
»Good Heaven« thought Oldbuck »how is this man altered from the formal
stolidity of his usual manner he grows wanton under adversity Sed pereunti
mille figuroe« He then proceeded aloud »Sir Arthur we must necessarily
speak a little on business«
»To be sure« said Sir Arthur »but it was so good that I should not know
the horse I have ridden these five years ha ha ha«
»Sir Arthur« said the Antiquary »dont let us waste time which is
precious we shall have I hope many better seasons for jesting desipere in
loco is the maxim of Horace I more than suspect this has been brought on by the
villany of Dousterswivel«
»Dont mention his name sir« said Sir Arthur and his manner entirely
changed from a fluttered affectation of gaiety to all the agitation of fury his
eyes sparkled his mouth foamed his hands were clenched »dont mention his
name sir« he vociferated »unless you would see me go mad in your presence
That I should have been such a miserable dolt such an infatuated idiot such
a beast endowed with thrice a beasts stupidity to be led and driven and
spurgalled by such a rascal and under such ridiculous pretences Mr
Oldbuck I could tear myself when I think of it«
»I only meant to say« answered the Antiquary »that this fellow is like to
meet his reward and I cannot but think we shall frighten something out of him
that may be of service to you He has certainly had some unlawful correspondence
on the other side of the water«
»Has he has he has he indeed then dn the household goods horses
and so forth I will go to prison a happy man Mr Oldbuck I hope in heaven
theres a reasonable chance of his being hanged«
»Why pretty fair« said Oldbuck willing to encourage this diversion in
hopes it might mitigate the feelings which seemed like to overset the poor mans
understanding »honester men have stretched a rope or the law has been sadly
cheated But this unhappy business of yours can nothing be done Let me see
the charge«
He took the papers and as he read them his countenance grew hopelessly
dark and disconsolate Miss Wardour had by this time entered the apartment and
fixing her eyes on Mr Oldbuck as if she meant to read her fate in his looks
easily perceived from the change in his eye and the dropping of his
netherjaw how little was to be hoped
»We are then irremediably ruined Mr Oldbuck« said the young lady
»Irremediably I hope not but the instant demand is very large and
others will doubtless pour in«
»Ay never doubt that Monkbarns« said Sir Arthur »where the slaughter is
the eagles will be gathered together I am like a sheep which I have seen fall
down a precipice or drop down from sickness if you had not seen a single
raven or hooded crow for a fortnight before he will not lie on the heather ten
minutes before halfadozen will be picking out his eyes and he drew his hand
over his own and tearing at his heartstrings before the poor devil has time to
die But that dd longscented vulture that dogged me so long you have got him
fast I hope«
»Fast enough« said the Antiquary »the gentleman wished to take the wings
of the morning and bolt in the what dye call it the coach and four there
But he would have found twigs limed for him at Edinburgh As it is he never got
so far for the coach being overturned as how could it go safe with such a
Jonah he has had an infernal tumble is carried into a cottage near
Kittlebrig and to prevent all possibility of escape I have sent your friend
Sweepclean to bring him back to Fairport in nomine regis or to act as his
sicknurse at Kittlebrig as is most fitting And now Sir Arthur permit me to
have some conversation with you on the present unpleasant state of your affairs
that we may see what can be done for their extrication« and the Antiquary led
the way into the library followed by the unfortunate gentleman
They had been shut up together for about two hours when Miss Wardour
interrupted them with her cloak on as if prepared for a journey Her countenance
was very pale yet expressive of the composure which characterized her
disposition
»The messenger is returned Mr Oldbuck«
»Returned What the devil he has not let the fellow go«
»No I understand he has carried him to confinement and now he is returned
to attend my father and says he can wait no longer«
A loud wrangling was now heard on the staircase in which the voice of
Hector predominated »You an officer sir and these ragamuffins a party a
parcel of beggarly tailor fellows tell yourselves off by nine and we shall
know your effective strength«
The grumbling voice of the man of law was then heard indistinctly muttering
a reply to which Hector retorted »Come come sir this wont do march
your party as you call them out of this house directly or Ill send you and
them to the right about presently«
»The devil take Hector« said the Antiquary hastening to the scene of
action »his Highland blood is up again and we shall have him fighting a duel
with the bailiff Come Mr Sweepclean you must give us a little time I know
you would not wish to hurry Sir Arthur«
»By no means sir« said the messenger putting his hat off which he had
thrown on to testify defiance of Captain MIntyres threats »but your nephew
sir holds very uncivil language and I have borne too much of it already and I
am not justified in leaving my prisoner any longer after the instructions I
received unless I am to get payment of the sums contained in my diligence« And
he held out the caption pointing with the awful truncheon which he held in his
right hand to the formidable line of figures jotted upon the back thereof
Hector on the other hand though silent from respect to his uncle answered
this gesture by shaking his clenched fist at the messenger with a frown of
Highland wrath
»Foolish boy be quiet« said Oldbuck »and come with me into the room the
man is doing his miserable duty and you will only make matters worse by
opposing him I fear Sir Arthur you must accompany this man to Fairport
there is no help for it in the first instance I will accompany you to consult
what further can be done My nephew will escort Miss Wardour to Monkbarns
which I hope she will make her residence until these unpleasant matters are
settled«
»I go with my father Mr Oldbuck« said Miss Wardour firmly »I have
prepared his clothes and my own I suppose we shall have the use of the
carriage«
»Anything in reason madam« said the messenger »I have ordered it out and
its at the door I will go on the box with the coachman I have no desire to
intrude but two of the concurrents must attend on horseback«
»I will attend too« said Hector and he ran down to secure a horse for
himself
»We must go then« said the Antiquary
»To jail« said the Baronet sighing involuntarily »And what of that« he
resumed in a tone affectedly cheerful »it is only a house we cant get out
of after all Suppose a fit of the gout and Knockwinnock would be the same
Ay ay Monkbarns well call it a fit of the gout without the dd pain«
But his eyes swelled with tears as he spoke and his faltering accent marked
how much this assumed gaiety cost him The Antiquary wrung his hand and like
the Indian Banians who drive the real terms of an important bargain by signs
while they are apparently talking of indifferent matters the hand of Sir
Arthur by its convulsive return of the grasp expressed his sense of gratitude
to his friend and the real state of his internal agony They stepped slowly
down the magnificent staircase every wellknown object seeming to the
unfortunate father and daughter to assume a more prominent and distinct
appearance than usual as if to press themselves on their notice for the last
time
At the first landingplace Sir Arthur made an agonized pause and as he
observed the Antiquary look at him anxiously he said with assumed dignity
»Yes Mr Oldbuck the descendant of an ancient line the representative of
Richard Redhand and Gamelyn de Guardover may be pardoned a sigh when he leaves
the castle of his fathers thus poorly escorted When I was sent to the Tower
with my late father in the year 1745 it was upon a charge becoming our birth
upon an accusation of high treason Mr Oldbuck we were escorted from
Highgate by a troop of lifeguards and committed upon a secretary of states
warrant and now here I am in my old age dragged from my household by a
miserable creature like that« pointing to the messenger »and for a paltry
concern of pounds shillings and pence«
»At least« said Oldbuck »you have now the company of a dutiful daughter
and a sincere friend if you will permit me to say so and that may be some
consolation even without the certainty that there can be no hanging drawing
or quartering on the present occasion But I hear that choleric boy as loud as
ever I hope to God he has got into no new broil it was an accursed chance
that brought him here at all«
In fact a sudden clamour in which the loud voice and somewhat northern
accent of Hector was again preeminently distinguished broke off this
conversation The cause we must refer to the next chapter
Chapter FortyThird
Fortune you say flies from us She but circles
Like the fleet seabird round the fowlers skiff
Lost in the mist one moment and the next
Brushing the white sail with her whiter wing
As if to court the aim Experience watches
And has her on the wheel
Old Play
The shout of triumph in Hectors warlike tones was not easily distinguished from
that of battle But as he rushed up stairs with a packet in his hand
exclaiming »Long life to an old soldier here comes Edie with a whole budget of
good news« it became obvious that his present cause of clamour was of an
agreeable nature He delivered the letter to Oldbuck shook Sir Arthur heartily
by the hand and wished Miss Wardour joy with all the frankness of Highland
congratulation The messenger who had a kind of instinctive terror for Captain
MIntyre drew towards his prisoner keeping an eye of caution on the soldiers
motions
»Dont suppose I shall trouble myself about you you dirty fellow« said the
soldier »theres a guinea for the fright I have given you and here comes an
old fortytwo man who is a fitter match for you than I am«
The messenger one of those dogs who are not too scornful to eat dirty
puddings caught in his hand the guinea which Hector chucked at his face and
abode warily and carefully the turn which matters were now to take All voices
meanwhile were loud in inquiries which no one was in a hurry to answer
»What is the matter Captain MIntyre« said Sir Arthur
»Ask old Edie« said Hector »I only know alls safe and well«
»What is all this Edie« said Miss Wardour to the mendicant
»Your leddyship maun ask Monkbarns for he has gotten the yepistolary
correspondensh«
»God save the king« exclaimed the Antiquary at the first glance at the
contents of his packet and surprised at once out of decorum philosophy and
phlegm he skimmed his cockedhat in the air from which it descended not again
being caught in its fall by a branch of the chandelier He next looking
joyously round laid a grasp on his wig which he perhaps would have sent after
the beaver had not Edie stopped his hand exclaiming »Lordsake hes gaun gyte
mind Caxons no here to repair the damage«
Every person now assailed the Antiquary clamouring to know the cause of so
sudden a transport when somewhat ashamed of his rapture he fairly turned
tail like a fox at the cry of a pack of hounds and ascending the stair by two
steps at a time gained the upper landingplace where turning round he
addressed the astonished audience as follows
»My good friends favete linguis To give you information I must first
according to logicians be possessed of it myself and therefore with your
leaves I will retire into the library to examine these papers Sir Arthur and
Miss Wardour will have the goodness to step into the parlour Mr Sweepclean
secede paulisper or in your own language grant us a supersedere of diligence
for five minutes Hector draw off your forces and make your beargarden
flourish elsewhere and finally be all of good cheer till my return which
will be instanter«
The contents of the packet were indeed so little expected that the
Antiquary might be pardoned first his ecstasy and next his desire of delaying
to communicate the intelligence they conveyed until it was arranged and
digested in his own mind
Within the envelope was a letter addressed to Jonathan Oldbuck Esq of
Monkbarns of the following purport
»Dear Sir To you as my fathers proved and valued friend I venture
to address myself being detained here by military duty of a very
pressing nature You must by this time be acquainted with the entangled
state of our affairs and I know it will give you great pleasure to
learn that I am as fortunately as unexpectedly placed in a situation to
give effectual assistance for extricating them I understand Sir Arthur
is threatened with severe measures by persons who acted formerly as his
agents and by advice of a creditable man of business here I have
procured the enclosed writing which I understand will stop their
proceedings until their claim shall be legally discussed and brought
down to its proper amount I also enclose bills to the amount of one
thousand pounds to pay any other pressing demands and request of your
friendship to apply them according to your discretion You will be
surprised I give you this trouble when it would seem more natural to
address my father directly in his own affairs But I have yet had no
assurance that his eyes are opened to the character of a person against
whom you have often I know warned him and whose baneful influence has
been the occasion of these distresses And as I owe the means of
relieving Sir Arthur to the generosity of a matchless friend it is my
duty to take the most certain measures for the supplies being devoted to
the purpose for which they were destined and I know your wisdom and
kindness will see that it is done My friend as he claims an interest
in your regard will explain some views of his own in the enclosed
letter The state of the postoffice at Fairport being rather notorious
I must send this letter to Tannonburgh but the old man Ochiltree whom
particular circumstances have recommended as trustworthy has
information when the packet is likely to reach that place and will take
care to forward it I expect to have soon an opportunity to apologize in
person for the trouble I now give and have the honour to be your very
faithful servant
REGINALD GAMELYN WARDOUR«
»Edinburgh 6th August 179 «
The Antiquary hastily broke the seal of the enclosure the contents of which
gave him equal surprise and pleasure When he had in some measure composed
himself after such unexpected tidings he inspected the other papers carefully
which all related to business put the bills into his pocketbook and wrote a
short acknowledgment to be despatched by that days post for he was extremely
methodical in money matters and lastly fraught with all the importance of
disclosure he descended to the parlour
»Sweepclean« said he as he entered to the officer who stood respectfully
at the door »you must sweep yourself clean out of Knockwinnock Castle with all
your followers tagrag and bobtail Seest thou this paper man«
»A sist on a bill o suspension« said the messenger with a disappointed
look »I thought it would be a queer thing if ultimate diligence was to be
done against sic a gentleman as Sir Arthur Weel sir Ise go my ways with my
party And whos to pay my charges«
»They who employed thee« replied Oldbuck »as thou full well dost know
But here comes another express this is a day of news I think«
This was Mr Mailsetter on his mare from Fairport with a letter for Sir
Arthur another to the messenger both of which he said he was directed to
forward instantly The messenger opened his observing that Greenhorn and
Grinderson were good enough men for his expenses and here was a letter from
them desiring him to stop the diligence Accordingly he immediately left the
apartment and staying no longer than to gather his posse together he did then
in the phrase of Hector who watched his departure as a jealous mastiff eyes the
retreat of a repulsed beggar evacuate Flanders
Sir Arthurs letter was from Mr Greenhorn and a curiosity in its way We
give it with the worthy Baronets comments
»Sir Oh I am dear sir no longer folks are only dear to Messrs
Greenhorn and Grinderson when they are in adversity Sir I am much
concerned to learn on my return from the country where I was called on
particular business a bet on the sweepstakes I suppose that my
partner had the impropriety in my absence to undertake the concerns of
Messrs Goldiebirds in preference to yours and had written to you in an
unbecoming manner I beg to make my most humble apology as well as Mr
Grindersons come I see he can write for himself and partner too
and trust it is impossible you can think me forgetful of or ungrateful
for the constant patronage which my family his family curse him for a
puppy have uniformly experienced from that of Knockwinnock I am sorry
to find from an interview I had this day with Mr Wardour that he is
much irritated and I must own with apparent reason But in order to
remedy as much as in me lies the mistake of which he complains pretty
mistake indeed to clap his patron into jail I have sent this express
to discharge all proceedings against your person or property and at the
same time to transmit my respectful apology I have only to add that
Mr Grinderson is of opinion that if restored to your confidence he
could point out circumstances connected with Messrs Goldiebirds
present claim which would greatly reduce its amount so so willing to
play the rogue on either side and that there is not the slightest
hurry in settling the balance of your accompt with us and that I am
for Mr G as well as myself Dear Sir O ay he has written himself
into an approach to familiarity your much obliged and most humble
servant
GILBERT GREENHORN«
»Well said Mr Gilbert Greenhorn« said Monkbarns »I see now there is some use
in having two attorneys in one firm Their movements resemble those of the man
and woman in a Dutch babyhouse When it is fair weather with the client out
comes the gentleman partner to fawn like a spaniel when it is foul forth bolts
the operative brother to pin like a bulldog Well I thank God that my man of
business still wears an equilateral cocked hat has a house in the Old Town is
as much afraid of a horse as I am myself plays at golf of a Saturday goes to
the kirk of a Sunday and in respect he has no partner hath only his own folly
to apologize for«
»There are some writers very honest fellows« said Hector »I should like to
hear any one say that my cousin Donald MIntyre Strathtudlems seventh son
the other six are in the army is not as honest a fellow«
»No doubt no doubt Hector all the MIntyres are so they have it by
patent man But I was going to say that in a profession where unbounded trust
is necessarily reposed there is nothing surprising that fools should neglect it
in their idleness and tricksters abuse it in their knavery But it is the more
to the honour of those and I will vouch for many who unite integrity with
skill and attention and walk honourably upright where there are so many
pitfalls and stumblingblocks for those of a different character To such men
their fellow citizens may safely entrust the care of protecting their
patrimonial rights and their country the more sacred charge of her laws and
privileges«
»They are best aff however that hae least to do with them« said
Ochiltree who had stretched his neck into the parlour door for the general
confusion of the family not having yet subsided the domestics like waves after
the fall of a hurricane had not yet exactly regained their due limits but were
roaming wildly through the house
»Aha old Truepenny art thou there« said the Antiquary »Sir Arthur let
me bring in the messenger of good luck though he is but a lame one You talked
of the raven that scented out the slaughter from afar but heres a blue pigeon
somewhat of the oldest and toughest I grant who smelled the good news six or
seven miles off flew thither in the taxedcart and returned with the olive
branch«
»Ye owe it a to puir Robie that drave me puir fallow« said the beggar
»he doubts hes in disgrace wi my leddy and Sir Arthur«
Roberts repentant and bashful face was seen over the mendicants shoulder
»In disgrace with me« said Sir Arthur »how so« for the irritation into
which he had worked himself on occasion of the toast had been long forgotten
»O I recollect Robert I was angry and you were wrong go about your work
and never answer a master that speaks to you in a passion«
»Nor any one else« said the Antiquary »for a soft answer turneth away
wrath«
»And tell your mother who is so ill with the rheumatism to come down to
the housekeeper tomorrow« said Miss Wardour »and we will see what can be of
service to her«
»God bless your leddyship« said poor Robert »and his honour Sir Arthur
and the young laird and the house of Knockwinnock in a its branches far and
near its been a kind and gude house to the puir this mony hundred years«
»There« said the Antiquary to Sir Arthur »we wont dispute but there
you see the gratitude of the poor people naturally turns to the civil virtues of
your family You dont hear them talk of Redhand or HellinHarness For me I
must say Odi accipitrem qui semper vivit in armis so let us eat and drink in
peace and be joyful Sir Knight«
A table was quickly covered in the parlour where the party sat joyously
down to some refreshment At the request of Oldbuck Edie Ochiltree was
permitted to sit by the sideboard in a great leathern chair which was placed in
some measure behind a screen
»I accede to this the more readily« said Sir Arthur »because I remember in
my fathers days that chair was occupied by Ailshie Gourlay who for aught I
know was the last privileged fool or jester maintained by any family of
distinction in Scotland«
»Aweel Sir Arthur« replied the beggar who never hesitated an instant
between his friend and his jest »mony a wise man sits in a fules seat and
mony a fule in a wise mans especially in families o distinction«
Miss Wardour fearing the effect of this speech however worthy of Ailshie
Gourlay or any other privileged jester upon the nerves of her father hastened
to inquire whether ale and beef should not be distributed to the servants and
people whom the news had assembled round the Castle
»Surely my love« said her father »when was it ever otherwise in our
families when a siege had been raised«
»Ay a siege laid by Saunders Sweepclean the bailiff and raised by Edie
Ochiltree the gaberlunzie par nobile fratrum« said Oldbuck »and well pitted
against each other in respectability But never mind Sir Arthur these are
such sieges and such reliefs as our time of day admits of and our escape is
not less worth commemorating in a glass of this excellent wine Upon my credit
it is Burgundy I think«
»Were there anything better in the cellar« said Miss Wardour »it would be
all too little to regale you after your friendly exertions«
»Say you so« said the Antiquary »why then a cup of thanks to you my
fair enemy and soon may you be besieged as ladies love best to be and sign
terms of capitulation in the chapel of Saint Winnox«
Miss Wardour blushed Hector coloured and then grew pale
Sir Arthur answered »My daughter is much obliged to you Monkbarns but
unless youll accept of her yourself I really do not know where a poor knights
daughter is to seek for an alliance in these mercenary times«
»Me mean ye Sir Arthur No not I I will claim the privilege of the
duello and as being unable to encounter my fair enemy myself I will appear by
my champion But of this matter hereafter What do you find in the papers
there Hector that you hold your head down over them as if your nose were
bleeding«
»Nothing particular sir but only that as my arm is now almost quite well
I think I shall relieve you of my company in a day or two and go to Edinburgh
I see Major Neville is arrived there I should like to see him«
»Major whom« said his uncle
»Major Neville sir« answered the young soldier
»And who the devil is Major Neville« demanded the Antiquary
»O Mr Oldbuck« said Sir Arthur »you must remember his name frequently in
the newspapers a very distinguished young officer indeed But I am happy to
say that Mr MIntyre need not leave Monkbarns to see him for my son writes
that the Major is to come with him to Knockwinnock and I need not say how happy
I shall be to make the young gentlemen acquainted unless indeed they are
known to each other already«
»No not personally« answered Hector »but I have had occasion to hear a
good deal of him and we have several mutual friends your son being one of
them But I must go to Edinburgh for I see my uncle is beginning to grow tired
of me and I am afraid«
»That you will grow tired of him« interrupted Oldbuck »I fear thats
past praying for But you have forgotten that the ecstatic twelfth of August
approaches and that you are engaged to meet one of Lord Glenallans
gamekeepers God knows where to persecute the peaceful feathered creation«
»True true uncle I had forgot that« exclaimed the volatile Hector »but
you said something just now that put everything out of my head«
»An it like your honours« said old Edie thrusting his white head from
behind the screen where he had been plentifully regaling himself with ale and
cold meat »an it like your honours I can tell ye something that will keep the
Captain wi us amaist as weel as the pouting Hear ye na the French are
coming«
»The French you blockhead« answered Oldbuck »Bah«
»I have not had time« said Sir Arthur Wardour »to look over my lieutenancy
correspondence for the week indeed I generally make a rule to read it only on
Wednesdays except in pressing cases for I do everything by method but from
the glance I took of my letters I observed some alarm was entertained«
»Alarm« said Edie »troth theres alarm for the provosts gard the beacon
light on the Halkethead be sorted up that suld hae been sorted half a year
syne in an unco hurry and the council hae named nae less a man than auld Caxon
himsell to watch the light Some say it was out o compliment to Lieutenant
Taffril for its neist to certain that hell marry Jenny Caxon some say
its to please your honour and Monkbarns that wear wigs and some say theres
some auld story about a periwig that ane o the bailies got and neer paid for
Onyway there he is sitting cockit up like a skart upon the tap o the craig
to skirl when foul weather comes«
»On mine honour a pretty warder« said Monkbarns »and whats my wig to do
all the while«
»I asked Caxon that very question« answered Ochiltree »and he said he
could look in ilka morning and giet a touch afore he gaed to his bed for
theres another man to watch in the daytime and Caxon says hell friz your
honours wig as weel sleeping as wauking«
This news gave a different turn to the conversation which ran upon national
defence and the duty of fighting for the land we live in until it was time to
part The Antiquary and his nephew resumed their walk homeward after parting
from Knockwinnock with the warmest expressions of mutual regard and an
agreement to meet again as soon as possible
Chapter FortyFourth
Nay if she love me not I care not for her
Shall I look pale because the maiden blooms
Or sigh because she smiles and smiles on others
Not I by Heaven I hold my peace too dear
To let it like the plume upon her cap
Shake at each nod that her caprice shall dictate
Old Play
»Hector« said his uncle to Captain MIntyre in the course of their walk
homeward »I am sometimes inclined to suspect that in one respect you are a
fool«
»If you only think me so in one respect sir I am sure you do me more grace
than I expected or deserve«
»I mean in one particular par excellence« answered the Antiquary »I have
sometimes thought that you have cast your eyes upon Miss Wardour«
»Well sir« said MIntyre with much composure
»Well sir« echoed his uncle »Deuce take the fellow he answers me as if
it were the most reasonable thing in the world that he a captain in the army
and nothing at all besides should marry the daughter of a baronet«
»I presume to think sir« said the young Highlander »there would be no
degradation on Miss Wardours part in point of family«
»O Heaven forbid we should come on that topic No no equal both both
on the tableland of gentility and qualified to look down on every roturier in
Scotland«
»And in point of fortune we are pretty even since neither of us have got
any« continued Hector »There may be an error but I cannot plead guilty to
presumption«
»But here lies the error then if you call it so« replied his uncle »she
wont have you Hector«
»Indeed sir«
»It is very sure Hector and to make it double sure I must inform you that
she likes another man She misunderstood some words I once said to her and I
have since been able to guess at the interpretation she put on them At the time
I was unable to account for her hesitation and blushing but my poor Hector I
now understand them as a deathsignal to your hopes and pretensions So I advise
you to beat your retreat and draw off your forces as well as you can for the
fort is too well garrisoned for you to storm it«
»I have no occasion to beat any retreat uncle« said Hector holding
himself very upright and marching with a sort of dogged and offended solemnity
»no man needs to retreat that has never advanced There are women in Scotland
besides Miss Wardour of as good family«
»And better taste« said his uncle »doubtless there are Hector and though
I cannot say but that she is one of the most accomplished as well as sensible
girls I have seen yet I doubt much of her merit would be cast away on you A
showy figure now with two cross feathers above her noddle one green one
blue who would wear a ridinghabit of the regimental complexion drive a gig
one day and the next review the regiment on the grey trotting pony which
dragged that vehicle hoc erat in votis these are the qualities that would
subdue you especially if she had a taste for natural history and loved a
specimen of a phoca«
»Its a little hard sir« said Hector »I must have that cursed seal
thrown into my face on all occasions but I care little about it and I shall
not break my heart for Miss Wardour She is free to choose for herself and I
wish her all happiness«
»Magnanimously resolved thou prop of Troy Why Hector I was afraid of a
scene Your sister told me you were desperately in love with Miss Wardour«
»Sir« answered the young man »you would not have me desperately in love
with a woman that does not care about me«
»Well nephew« said the Antiquary more seriously »there is doubtless much
sense in what you say yet I would have given a great deal some twenty or
twentyfive years since to have been able to think as you do«
»Anybody I suppose may think as they please on such subjects« said
Hector
»Not according to the old school« said Oldbuck »but as I said before the
practice of the modern seems in this case the most prudential though I think
scarcely the most interesting But tell me your ideas now on this prevailing
subject of an invasion The cry is still They come«
Hector swallowing his mortification which he was peculiarly anxious to
conceal from his uncles satirical observation readily entered into a
conversation which was to turn the Antiquarys thoughts from Miss Wardour and
the seal When they reached Monkbarns the communicating to the ladies the
events which had taken place at the castle with the counterinformation of how
long dinner had waited before the womankind had ventured to eat it in the
Antiquarys absence averted these delicate topics of discussion
The next morning the Antiquary arose early and as Caxon had not yet made
his appearance he began mentally to feel the absence of the petty news and
small talk of which the experuquier was a faithful reporter and which habit had
made as necessary to the Antiquary as his occasional pinch of snuff although he
held or affected to hold both to be of the same intrinsic value The feeling
of vacuity peculiar to such a deprivation was alleviated by the appearance of
old Ochiltree sauntering beside the clipped yew and holly hedges with the air
of a person quite at home Indeed so familiar had he been of late that even
Juno did not bark at him but contented herself with watching him with a close
and vigilant eye Our Antiquary stepped out in his nightgown and instantly
received and returned his greeting
»They are coming now in good earnest Monkbarns I just cam frae Fairport
to bring ye the news and then Ill step away back again The Search has just
come into the bay and they say shes been chased by a French fleet«
»The Search« said Oldbuck reflecting a moment »Oho«
»Ay ay Captain Taffrils gunbrig the Search«
»What any relation to Search No II« said Oldbuck catching at the light
which the name of the vessel seemed to throw on the mysterious chest of
treasure
The mendicant like a man detected in a frolic put his bonnet before his
face yet could not help laughing heartily »The deils in you Monkbarns for
garring odds and evens meet Wha thought ye wad hae laid that and that
thegither Od I am clean catchd now«
»I see it all« said Oldbuck »as plain as the legend on a medal of high
preservation the box in which the bullion was found belonged to the gunbrig
and the treasure to my phoenix« Edie nodded assent »and was buried there
that Sir Arthur might receive relief in his difficulties«
»By me« said Edie »and twa o the brigs men but they didna ken its
contents and thought it some bit smuggling concern o the Captains I watched
day and night till I saw it in the right hand and then when that German deevil
was glowering at the lid o the kist they liked mutton weel that licked where
the yowe lay I think some Scottish deevil put it into my head to play him yon
ither cantrip Now ye see if I had said mair or less to Bailie Littlejohn I
behoved till hae come out wi a this story and vexed would Mr Lovel hae been
to have it brought to light sae I thought I would stand to onything rather
than that«
»I must say he has chosen his confidant well« said Oldbuck »though
somewhat strangely«
»Ill say this for mysell Monkbarns« answered the mendicant »that I am
the fittest man in the haill country to trust wi siller for I neither want it
nor wish for it nor could use it if I had it But the lad hadna muckle choice
in the matter for he thought he was leaving the country for ever I trust hes
mistaen in that though and the night was set in when we learned by a strange
chance Sir Arthurs sair distress and Lovel was obliged to be on board as the
day dawned But five nights afterwards the brig stood into the bay and I met
the boat by appointment and we buried the treasure where ye fand it«
»This was a very romantic foolish exploit« said Oldbuck »why not trust
me or any other friend«
»The blood o your sisters son« replied Edie »was on his hands and him
maybe dead outright what time had he to take counsel or how could he ask it
of you by onybody«
»You are right But what if Dousterswivel had come before you«
»There was little fear o his coming there without Sir Arthur he had gotten
a sair gliff the night afore and never intended to look near the place again
unless he had been brought there sting and ling He kend weel the first pose
was o his ain hiding and how could he expect a second He just havered on
about it to make the mair o Sir Arthur«
»Then how« said Oldbuck »should Sir Arthur have come there unless the
German had brought him«
»Umph« answered Edie drily »I had a story about Misticot wad hae brought
him forty miles or you either Besides it was to be thought he would be for
visiting the place he fand the first siller in he kend na the secret o that
job In short the siller being in this shape Sir Arthur in utter difficulties
and Lovel determined he should never ken the hand that helped him for that
was what he insisted maist upon we couldna think o a better way to fling the
gear in his gate though we simmered it and wintered it eer sae lang And if by
ony queer mischance Doustercivil had got his claws ont I was instantly to hae
informed you or the Sheriff o the haill story«
»Well notwithstanding all these wise precautions I think your contrivance
succeeded better than such a clumsy one deserved Edie But how the deuce came
Lovel by such a mass of silver ingots«
»Thats just what I canna tell ye But they were put on board wi his
things at Fairport its like and we stowed them into ane o the
ammunitionboxes o the brig baith for concealment and convenience of
carriage«
»Lord« said Oldbuck his recollection recurring to the earlier part of his
acquaintance with Lovel »and this young fellow who was putting hundreds on so
strange a hazard I must be recommending a subscription to him and paying his
bill at the Ferry I never will pay any persons bill again thats certain
And you kept up a constant correspondence with Lovel I suppose«
»I just gat ae bit scrape o a pen frae him to say there wad as yesterday
fell be a packet at Tannonburgh wi letters o great consequence to the
Knockwinnock folk for they jaloused the opening of our letters at Fairport
And thats as true I hear Mrs Mailsetter is to lose her office for looking
after other folks business and neglecting her ain«
»And what do you expect now Edie for being the adviser and messenger and
guard and confidential person in all these matters«
»Deil haet do I expect excepting that a the gentles will come to the
gaberlunzies burial and maybe yell carry the head yoursell as ye did puir
Steenie Mucklebackits What trouble wast to me I was ganging about at
onyrate Oh but I was blythe when I got out of prison though for I thought
what if that weary letter should come when I am closed up here like an oyster
and a should gang wrang for want ot and whiles I thought I maun mak a clean
breast and tell you a about it but then I couldna weel do that without
contravening Mr Lovels positive orders and I reckon he had to see somebody at
Edinburgh afore he could do what he wussed to do for Sir Arthur and his family«
»Well and to your public news Edie So they are still coming are they«
»Troth they say sae sir and theres come down strict orders for the forces
and volunteers to be alert and theres a clever young officer to come here
forthwith to look at our means o defence I saw the Bailies lass cleaning
his belts and white breeks I gae her a hand for ye maun think she wasna ower
clever at it and sae I gat a the news for my pains«
»And what think you as an old soldier«
»Troth I kenna an they come so mony as they speak o theyll be odds
against us But theres mony yauld chields amang thae volunteers and I mauna
say muckle about them thats no weel and no very able because I am something
that gate mysell But wese do our best«
»What so your martial spirit is rising again Edie
Even in our ashes glow their wonted fires
I would not have thought you Edie had so much to fight for«
»Me no muckle to fight for sir isna there the country to fight for and
the burnsides that I gang daundering beside and the hearths o the gudewives
that gie me my bit bread and the bits o weans that come toddling to play wi
me when I come about a landward town Deil« he continued grasping his
pikestaff with great emphasis »an I had as gude pith as I hae gudewill and a
gude cause I should gie some o them a days kemping«
»Bravo bravo Edie The countrys in little ultimate danger when the
beggars as ready to fight for his dish as the laird for his land«
Their further conversation reverted to the particulars of the night passed
by the mendicant and Lovel in the ruins of St Ruth by the details of which the
Antiquary was highly amused
»I would have given a guinea« he said »to have seen the scoundrelly German
under the agonies of those terrors which it is part of his own quackery to
inspire into others and trembling alternately for the fury of his patron and
the apparition of some hobgoblin«
»Troth« said the beggar »there was time for him to be cowed for ye wad
hae thought the very spirit of HellinHarness had taken possession o the body
o Sir Arthur But what will come o the landlouper«
»I have had a letter this morning from which I understand he has acquitted
you of the charge he brought against you and offers to make such discoveries as
will render the settlement of Sir Arthurs affairs a more easy task than we
apprehended So writes the Sheriff and adds that he has given some private
information of importance to Government in consideration of which I understand
he will be sent back to play the knave in his own country«
»And a the bonny engines and wheels and the coves and sheughs doun at
Glenwithershins yonder whats to come o them« said Edie
»I hope the men before they are dispersed will make a bonfire of their
gimcracks as an army destroy their artillery when forced to raise a siege And
as for the holes Edie I abandon them as rattraps for the benefit of the next
wise men who may choose to drop the substance to snatch at a shadow«
»Hech sirs guide us a to burn the engines thats a great waste Had ye
na better try to get back part o your hundred pounds wi the sale o the
materials« he continued with a tone of affected condolence
»Not a farthing« said the Antiquary peevishly taking a turn from him and
making a step or two away Then returning halfsmiling at his own pettishness
he said »Get thee into the house Edie and remember my counsel never speak to
me about a mine nor to my nephew Hector about a phoca that is a sealgh as you
call it«
»I maun be ganging my ways back to Fairport« said the wanderer »I want to
see what theyre saying there about the invasion but Ill mind what your
honour says no to speak to you about a sealgh or to the Captain about the
hundred pounds that you gied to Douster«
»Confound thee I desired thee not to mention that to me«
»Dear me« said Edie with affected surprise »weel I thought there was
naething but what your honour could hae studden in the way o agreeable
conversation unless it was about the Prætorian yonder or the bodle that the
packman sauld to ye for an auld coin«
»Pshaw pshaw« said the Antiquary turning from him hastily and retreating
into the house
The mendicant looked after him a moment and with a chuckling laugh such as
that with which a magpie or parrot applauds a successful exploit of mischief he
resumed once more the road to Fairport His habits had given him a sort of
restlessness much increased by the pleasure he took in gathering news and in a
short time he had regained the town which he left in the morning for no reason
that he knew himself unless just to »hae a bit crack wi Monkbarns«
Chapter FortyFifth
Red glared the beacon on Pownell
On Skiddaw there were three
The bugle horn on moor and fell
Was heard continually
James Hogg
The watch who kept his watch on the hill and looked towards Birnam probably
conceived himself dreaming when he first beheld the fated grove put itself into
motion for its march to Dunsinane Even so old Caxon as perched in his hut he
qualified his thoughts upon the approaching marriage of his daughter and the
dignity of being fatherinlaw to Lieutenant Taffril with an occasional peep
towards the signalpost with which his own corresponded was not a little
surprised by observing a light in that direction He rubbed his eyes looked
again adjusting his observation by a crossstaff which had been placed so as to
bear upon the point And behold the light increased like a comet to the eye of
the astronomer »with fear of change perplexing nations«
»The Lord preserve us« said Caxon »whats to be done now But there will
be wiser heads than mine to look to that sae Ise een fire the beacon«
And he lighted the beacon accordingly which threw up to the sky a long
wavering train of light startling the seafowl from their nests and reflected
far beneath by the reddening billows of the sea The brother warders of Caxon
being equally diligent caught and repeated his signal The lights glanced on
headlands and capes and inland hills and the whole district was alarmed by the
signal of invasion29
Our Antiquary his head wrapped warm in two double nightcaps was quietly
enjoying his repose when it was suddenly broken by the screams of his sister
his niece and two maidservants
»What the devil is the matter« said he starting up in his bed »womankind
in my room at this hour of night are ye all mad«
»The beacon uncle« said Miss MIntyre
»The French coming to murder us« screamed Miss Griselda
»The beacon the beacon the French the French murder murder and
waur than murder« cried the two handmaidens like the chorus of an opera
»The French« said Oldbuck starting up »get out of the room womankind
that you are till I get my things on And hark ye bring me my sword«
»Whilk o them Monkbarns« cried his sister offering a Roman falchion of
brass with the one hand and with the other an Andrea Ferrara without a handle
»The langest the langest« cried Jenny Rintherout dragging in a twohanded
sword of the twelfth century
»Womankind« said Oldbuck in great agitation »be composed and do not give
way to vain terror Are you sure they are come«
»Sure sure« exclaimed Jenny »ower sure a the sea fencibles and the
land fencibles and the volunteers and yeomanry are on fit and driving to
Fairport as hard as horse and man can gang and auld Mucklebackits gane wi
the lave muckle gude hell do Hech sirs hell be missed the morn wha
wad hae served king and country weel«
»Give me« said Oldbuck »the sword which my father wore in the year
fortyfive it hath no belt or baldrick but well make shift«
So saying he thrust the weapon through the cover of his breeches pocket At
this moment Hector entered who had been to a neighbouring height to ascertain
whether the alarm was actual »Where are your arms nephew« exclaimed Oldbuck
»where is your doublebarrelled gun that was never out of your hand when there
was no occasion for such vanities«
»Pooh pooh sir« said Hector »who ever took a fowlingpiece on action I
have got my uniform on you see I hope I shall be of more use if they will
give me a command than I could be with ten doublebarrels And you sir must
get to Fairport to give directions for quartering and maintaining the men and
horses and preventing confusion«
»You are right Hector I believe I shall do as much with my head as my
hand too But here comes Sir Arthur Wardour who between ourselves is not fit
to accomplish much either one way or the other«
Sir Arthur was probably of a different opinion for dressed in his
lieutenancy uniform he was also on the road to Fairport and called in his way
to take Mr Oldbuck with him having had his original opinion of his sagacity
much confirmed by late events And in spite of all the entreaties of the
womankind that the Antiquary would stay to garrison Monkbarns Mr Oldbuck with
his nephew instantly accepted Sir Arthurs offer
Those who have witnessed such a scene can alone conceive the state of bustle
in Fairport The windows were glancing with a hundred lights which appearing
and disappearing rapidly indicated the confusion within doors The women of
lower rank assembled and clamoured in the marketplace The yeomanry pouring
from their different glens galloped through the streets some individually
some in parties of five or six as they had met on the road The drums and fifes
of the volunteers beating to arms were blended with the voice of the officers
the sound of the bugles and the tolling of the bells from the steeple The
ships in the harbour were lit up and boats from the armed vessels added to the
bustle by landing men and guns destined to assist in the defence of the place
This part of the preparations was superintended by Taffril with much activity
Two or three light vessels had already slipped their cables and stood out to
sea in order to discover the supposed enemy
Such was the scene of general confusion when Sir Arthur Wardour Oldbuck
and Hector made their way with difficulty into the principal square where the
townhouse is situated It was lighted up and the magistracy with many of the
neighbouring gentlemen were assembled And here as upon other occasions of the
like kind in Scotland it was remarkable how the good sense and firmness of the
people supplied almost all the deficiencies of inexperience
The magistrates were beset by the quartermasters of the different corps for
billets for men and horses »Let us« said Bailie Littlejohn »take the horses
into our warehouses and the men into our parlours share our supper with the
one and our forage with the other We have made ourselves wealthy under a free
and paternal government and now is the time to show we know its value«
A loud and cheerful acquiescence was given by all present and the substance
of the wealthy with the persons of those of all ranks were unanimously devoted
to the defence of the country
Captain MIntyre acted on this occasion as military adviser and aidedecamp
to the principal magistrate and displayed a degree of presence of mind and
knowledge of his profession totally unexpected by his uncle who recollecting
his usual insouciance and impetuosity gazed at him with astonishment from time
to time as he remarked the calm and steady manner in which he explained the
various measures of precaution that his experience suggested and gave
directions for executing them He found the different corps in good order
considering the irregular materials of which they were composed in great force
of numbers and high confidence and spirits And so much did military experience
at that moment overbalance all other claims to consequence that even old Edie
instead of being left like Diogenes at Sinope to roll his tub when all around
were preparing for defence had the duty assigned him of superintending the
serving out of the ammunition which he executed with much discretion
Two things were still anxiously expected the presence of the Glenallan
volunteers who in consideration of the importance of that family had been
formed into a separate corps and the arrival of the officer before announced
to whom the measures of defence on that coast had been committed by the
commanderinchief and whose commission would entitle him to take upon himself
the full disposal of the military force
At length the bugles of the Glenallan yeomanry were heard and the Earl
himself to the surprise of all who knew his habits and state of health
appeared at their head in uniform They formed a very handsome and wellmounted
squadron formed entirely out of the Earls Lowland tenants and were followed
by a regiment of five hundred men completely equipped in the Highland dress
whom he had brought down from the upland glens with their pipes playing in the
van The clean and serviceable appearance of this band of feudal dependants
called forth the admiration of Captain MIntyre but his uncle was still more
struck by the manner in which upon this crisis the ancient military spirit of
his house seemed to animate and invigorate the decayed frame of the Earl their
leader He claimed and obtained for himself and his followers the post most
likely to be that of danger displayed great alacrity in making the necessary
dispositions and showed equal acuteness in discussing their propriety Morning
broke in upon the military councils of Fairport while all concerned were still
eagerly engaged in taking precautions for their defence
At length a cry among the people announced »Theres the brave Major Neville
come at last with another officer« and their postchaise and four drove into
the square amidst the huzzas of the volunteers and inhabitants The
magistrates with their assessors of the lieutenancy hastened to the door of
their townhouse to receive him but what was the surprise of all present but
most especially that of the Antiquary when they became aware that the handsome
uniform and military cap disclosed the person and features of the pacific Lovel
A warm embrace and a hearty shake of the hand were necessary to assure him
that his eyes were doing him justice Sir Arthur was no less surprised to
recognise his son Captain Wardour in Lovels or rather Major Nevilles
company The first words of the young officers were a positive assurance to all
present that the courage and zeal which they had displayed were entirely thrown
away unless in so far as they afforded an acceptable proof of their spirit and
promptitude
»The watchman at Halkethead« said Major Neville »as we discovered by an
investigation which we made in our route hither was most naturally misled by a
bonfire which some idle people had made on the hill above Glenwithershins just
in the line of the beacon with which his corresponded«
Oldbuck gave a conscious look to Sir Arthur who returned it with one
equally sheepish and a shrug of the shoulders
»It must have been the machinery which we condemned to the flames in our
wrath« said the Antiquary plucking up heart though not a little ashamed of
having been the cause of so much disturbance »The devil take Dousterswivel
with all my heart I think he has bequeathed us a legacy of blunders and
mischief as if he had lighted some train of fireworks at his departure I
wonder what cracker will go off next among our shins But yonder comes the
prudent Caxon Hold up your head you ass your betters must bear the blame
for you And here take this whatdyecall it« giving him his sword »I
wonder what I would have said yesterday to any man that would have told me I was
to stick such an appendage to my tail«
Here he found his arm gently pressed by Lord Glenallan who dragged him into
a separate apartment »For Gods sake who is that young gentleman who is so
strikingly like«
»Like the unfortunate Eveline« interrupted Oldbuck »I felt my heart warm
to him from the first and your lordship has suggested the very cause«
»But who who is he« continued Lord Glenallan holding the Antiquary with
a convulsive grasp
»Formerly I would have called him Lovel but now he turns out to be Major
Neville«
»Whom my brother brought up as his natural son whom he made his heir
Gracious Heaven the child of my Eveline«
»Hold my lord hold« said Oldbuck »do not give too hasty way to such a
presumption what probability is there«
»Probability none There is certainty absolute certainty The agent I
mentioned to you wrote me the whole story I received it yesterday not sooner
Bring him for Gods sake that a fathers eyes may bless him before he
departs«
»I will but for your own sake and his give him a few moments for
preparation«
And determined to make still farther investigation before yielding his
entire conviction to so strange a tale he sought out Major Neville and found
him expediting the necessary measures for dispersing the force which had been
assembled
»Pray Major Neville leave this business for a moment to Captain Wardour
and to Hector with whom I hope you are thoroughly reconciled« Neville
laughed and shook hands with Hector across the table »and grant me a moments
audience«
»You have a claim on me Mr Oldbuck were my business more urgent« said
Neville »for having passed myself upon you under a false name and rewarding
your hospitality by injuring your nephew«
»You served him as he deserved« said Oldbuck »though by the way he
showed as much good sense as spirit today Egad if he would rub up his
learning and read Cæsar and Polybius and the Stratagemata Polyoeni I think he
would rise in the army and I will certainly lend him a lift«
»He is heartily deserving of it« said Neville »and I am glad you excuse
me which you may do the more frankly when you know that I am so unfortunate as
to have no better right to the name of Neville by which I have been generally
distinguished than to that of Lovel under which you knew me«
»Indeed then I trust we shall find out one for you to which you shall
have a firm and legal title«
»Sir I trust you do not think the misfortune of my birth a fit subject«
»By no means young man« answered the Antiquary interrupting him »I
believe I know more of your birth than you do yourself and to convince you of
it you were educated and known as a natural son of Geraldin Neville of
NevillesBurgh in Yorkshire and I presume as his destined heir«
»Pardon me no such views were held out to me I was liberally educated
and pushed forward in the army by money and interest but I believe my supposed
father long entertained some ideas of marriage though he never carried them
into effect«
»You say your supposed father What leads you to suppose Mr Geraldin
Neville was not your real father«
»I know Mr Oldbuck that you would not ask these questions on a point of
such delicacy for the gratification of idle curiosity I will therefore tell you
candidly that last year while we occupied a small town in French Flanders I
found in a convent near which I was quartered a woman who spoke remarkably
good English She was a Spaniard her name Teresa DAcunha In the process of
our acquaintance she discovered who I was and made herself known to me as the
person who had charge of my infancy She dropped more than one hint of rank to
which I was entitled and of injustice done to me promising a more full
disclosure in case of the death of a lady in Scotland during whose lifetime she
was determined to keep the secret She also intimated that Mr Geraldin Neville
was not my father We were attacked by the enemy and driven from the town
which was pillaged with savage ferocity by the republicans The religious orders
were the particular objects of their hate and cruelty The convent was burned
and several nuns perished among others Teresa and with her all chance of
knowing the story of my birth tragic by all accounts it must have been«
»Raro antecedentem scelestum or as I may here say scelestam« said
Oldbuck »deseruit poena even Epicureans admitted that And what did you do
upon this«
»I remonstrated with Mr Neville by letter and to no purpose I then
obtained leave of absence and threw myself at his feet conjuring him to
complete the disclosure which Teresa had begun He refused and on my
importunity indignantly upbraided me with the favours he had already conferred
I thought he abused the power of a benefactor as he was compelled to admit he
had no title to that of a father and we parted in mutual displeasure I
renounced the name of Neville and assumed that under which you knew me It was
at this time when residing with a friend in the north of England who favoured
my disguise that I became acquainted with Miss Wardour and was romantic enough
to follow her to Scotland My mind wavered on various plans of life when I
resolved to apply once more to Mr Neville for an explanation of the mystery of
my birth It was long ere I received an answer you were present when it was put
into my hands He informed me of his bad state of health and conjured me for
my own sake to inquire no farther into the nature of his connection with me
but to rest satisfied with his declaring it to be such and so intimate that he
designed to constitute me his heir When I was preparing to leave Fairport to
join him a second express brought me word that he was no more The possession
of great wealth was unable to suppress the remorseful feelings with which I now
regarded my conduct to my benefactor and some hints in his letter appearing to
intimate there was on my birth a deeper stain than that of ordinary
illegitimacy I remembered certain prejudices of Sir Arthur«
»And you brooded over these melancholy ideas until you were ill instead of
coming to me for advice and telling me the whole story« said Oldbuck
»Exactly then came my quarrel with Captain MIntyre and my compelled
departure from Fairport and its vicinity«
»From love and from poetry Miss Wardour and the Caledoniad«
»Most true«
»And since that time you have been occupied I suppose with plans for Sir
Arthurs relief«
»Yes sir with the assistance of Captain Wardour at Edinburgh«
»And Edie Ochiltree here you see I know the whole story But how came you
by the treasure«
»It was a quantity of plate which had belonged to my uncle and was left in
the custody of a person at Fairport Some time before his death he had sent
orders that it should be melted down He perhaps did not wish me to see the
Glenallan arms upon it«
»Well Major Neville or let me say Lovel being the name in which I
rather delight you must I believe exchange both of your alias for the style
and title of the Honourable William Geraldin commonly called Lord Geraldin«
The Antiquary then went through the strange and melancholy circumstances
concerning his mothers death
»I have no doubt« he said »that your uncle wished the report to be
believed that the child of this unhappy marriage was no more perhaps he might
himself have an eye to the inheritance of his brother he was then a gay wild
young man But of all intentions against your person however much the evil
conscience of Elspeth might lead her to suspect him from the agitation in which
he appeared Teresas story and your own fully acquit him And now my dear sir
let me have the pleasure of introducing a son to a father«
We will not attempt to describe such a meeting The proofs on all sides were
found to be complete for Mr Neville had left a distinct account of the whole
transaction with his confidential steward in a sealed packet which was not to
be opened until the death of the old Countess his motive for preserving secrecy
so long appearing to have been an apprehension of the effect which the
discovery fraught with so much disgrace must necessarily produce upon her
haughty and violent temper
In the evening of that day the yeomanry and volunteers of Glenallan drank
prosperity to their young master In a month afterwards Lord Geraldin was
married to Miss Wardour the Antiquary making the lady a present of the wedding
ring a massy circle of antique chasing bearing the motto of Aldobrand
Oldenbuck Kunst macht gunst
Old Edie the most important man that ever wore a blue gown bowls away
easily from one friends house to another and boasts that he never travels
unless on a sunny day Latterly indeed he has given some symptoms of becoming
stationary being frequently found in the corner of a snug cottage between
Monkbarns and Knockwinnock to which Caxon retreated upon his daughters
marriage in order to be in the neighbourhood of the three parochial wigs which
he continues to keep in repair though only for amusement Edie has been heard
to say »This is a gey bein place and its a comfort to hae sic a corner to sit
in in a bad day« It is thought as he grows stiffer in the joints he will
finally settle there
The bounty of such wealthy patrons as Lord and Lady Geraldin flowed
copiously upon Mrs Hadoway and upon the Mucklebackits By the former it was
well employed by the latter wasted They continue however to receive it but
under the administration of Edie Ochiltree and they do not accept it without
grumbling at the channel through which it is conveyed
Hector is rising rapidly in the army and has been more than once mentioned
in the Gazette and rises proportionally high in his uncles favour and what
scarcely pleases the young soldier less he has also shot two seals and thus
put an end to the Antiquarys perpetual harping upon the story of the phoca
People talk of a marriage between Miss MIntyre and Captain Wardour but this
wants confirmation
The Antiquary is a frequent visitor at Knockwinnock and Glenallan House
ostensibly for the sake of completing two essays one on the mailshirt of the
Great Earl and the other on the lefthand gauntlet of HellinHarness He
regularly inquires whether Lord Geraldin has commenced the Caledoniad and
shakes his head at the answers he receives En attendant however he has
completed his notes which, we believe will be at the service of any one who
chooses to make them public without risk or expense to THE ANTIQUARY
Notes
1 Sandy Gordons Itinerarium
2 Ars Topiaria the art of clipping yewhedges into fantastic figures A Latin
poem entitled Ars Topiaria contains a curious account of the process.
3 This bibliomaniacal anecdote is literally true and David Wilson the author
need not tell his brethren of the Roxburghe and Bannatyne Clubs was a real
personage
4 Of this thrice and four times rare broadside the author possesses an
exemplar
5 A bonnetlaird signifies a petty proprietor wearing the dress along with the
habits of a yeoman
6 It may be worth while to mention that the incident of the supposed Prætorium
actually happened to an antiquary of great learning and acuteness Sir John
Clerk of Penicuik one of the Barons of the Scottish Court of Exchequer and a
parliamentary commissioner for arrangement of the Union between England and
Scotland As many of his writings show Sir John was much attached to the study
of Scottish antiquities He had a small property in Dumfriesshire near the
Roman station on the hill called Burrenswark Here he received the distinguished
English antiquarian Roger Gale and of course conducted him to see this
remarkable spot where the lords of the world have left such decisive marks of
their martial labours
An aged shepherd whom they had used as a guide or who had approached them from
curiosity listened with mouth agape to the dissertations on foss and vallum
ports dextra sinistra and decumana which Sir John Clerk delivered ex
cathedra and his learned visitor listened with the deference to the dignity of
a connoisseur on his own ground But when the cicerone proceeded to point out a
small hillock near the centre of the enclosure as the Prætorium Corydons
patience could hold no longer and like Edie Ochiltree he forgot all
reverence and broke in with nearly the same words »Prætorium here Prætorium
there I made the bourock mysell with a flaughterspade« The effect of this
undeniable evidence on the two lettered sages may be left to the readers
imagination
The late excellent and venerable John Clerk of Eldin the celebrated author of
Naval Tactics used to tell this story with glee and being a younger son of Sir
Johns was perhaps present on the occasion
7 The reader will understand that this refers to the reign of our late gracious
Sovereign George the Third
8 The legend of Mrs Grizel Oldbuck was partly taken from an extraordinary story
which happened about seventy years since in the south of Scotland so peculiar
in its circumstances that it merits being mentioned in this place Mr
Rutherfurd of Bowland a gentleman of landed property in the vale of Gala was
prosecuted for a very considerable sum the accumulated arrears of teind or
tithe for which he was said to be indebted to a noble family the titulars lay
impropriators of the tithes Mr Rutherfurd was strongly impressed with the
belief that his father had by a form of process peculiar to the law of
Scotland purchased these lands from the titular and therefore that the present
prosecution was groundless But after an industrious search among his fathers
papers an investigation of the public records and a careful inquiry among all
persons who had transacted law business for his father no evidence could be
recovered to support his defence The period was now near at hand when he
conceived the loss of his lawsuit to be inevitable and he had formed his
determination to ride to Edinburgh next day and make the best bargain he could
in the way of compromise He went to bed with this resolution and with all the
circumstances of the case floating upon his mind had a dream to the following
purpose His father who had been many years dead appeared to him he
thought and asked him why he was disturbed in his mind In dreams men are not
surprised at such apparitions Mr Rutherfurd thought that he informed his
father of the cause of his distress adding that the payment of a considerable
sum of money was the more unpleasant to him because he had a strong
consciousness that it was not due though he was unable to recover any evidence
in support of his belief »You are right my son« replied the paternal shade
»I did acquire right to these teinds for payment of which you are now
prosecuted The papers relating to the transaction are in the hands of Mr a
writer or attorney who is now retired from professional business and resides
at Inveresk near Edinburgh He was a person whom I employed on that occasion
for a particular reason but who never on any other occasion transacted business
on my account It is very possible« pursued the vision »that Mr may have
forgotten a matter which is now of a very old date but you may call it to his
recollection by this token that when I came to pay his account there was
difficulty in getting change for a Portugal piece of gold and that we were
forced to drink out the balance at a tavern«
Mr Rutherfurd awakened in the morning with all the words of the vision
imprinted on his mind and thought it worth while to ride across the country to
Inveresk instead of going straight to Edinburgh When he came there he waited
on the gentleman mentioned in the dream a very old man without saying anything
of the vision he inquired whether he remembered having conducted such a matter
for his deceased father The old gentleman could not at first bring the
circumstance to his recollection but on mention of the Portugal piece of gold
the whole returned upon his memory he made an immediate search for the papers
and recovered them so that Mr Rutherfurd carried to Edinburgh the documents
necessary to gain the cause which he was on the verge of losing
The author has often heard this story told by persons who had the best access to
know the facts who were not likely themselves to be deceived and were
certainly incapable of deception He cannot therefore refuse to give it credit
however extraordinary the circumstances may appear The circumstantial character
of the information given in the dream takes it out of the general class of
impressions of the kind which are occasioned by the fortuitous coincidence of
actual events with our sleeping thoughts On the other hand few will suppose
that the laws of nature were suspended and a special communication from the
dead to the living permitted for the purpose of saving Mr Rutherfurd a certain
number of hundred pounds The authors theory is that the dream was only the
recapitulation of information which Mr Rutherfurd had really received from his
father while in life but which at first he merely recalled as a general
impression that the claim was settled It is not uncommon for persons to
recover during sleep the thread of ideas which they have lost during their
waking hours
It may be added that this remarkable circumstance was attended with bad
consequences to Mr Rutherfurd whose health and spirits were afterwards
impaired by the attention which he thought himself obliged to pay to the visions
of the night
9 Probably Wordsworths Lyrical Ballads had not as yet been published
10 Probably Dr Hutton the celebrated geologist
11 A sort of tally generally used by bakers of the olden time in settling with
their customers Each family had its own nickstick and for each loaf as
delivered a notch was made on the stick Accounts in Exchequer kept by the same
kind of check may have occasioned the Antiquarys partiality In Priors time
the English bakers had the same sort of reckoning
Have you not seen a bakers maid
Between two equal panniers swayd
Her tallies useless lie and idle
If placed exactly in the middle
12 Miltons Comus
13 Lycidas
14 The outline of this story is taken from the German though the Author is at
present unable to say in which of the various collections of the popular legends
in that language the original is to be found
15 The shadow of the person who sees the phantom being reflected upon a cloud
of mist like the image of the magic lantern upon a white sheet is supposed to
have formed the apparition
16 The kings keys are in law phrase the crowbars and hammers used to force
doors and locks in execution of the kings warrant
17 Links or torches
18 A great deal of stuff to the same purpose with that placed in the mouth of
the German adept may be found in Reginald Scotts Discovery of Witchcraft
Third Edition folio London 1665 The Appendix is entitled »An Excellent
Discourse of the Nature and Substances of Devils and Spirits in two Books the
first by the aforesaid author Reginald Scott the Second now added in this
Third Edition as succedaneous to the former, and conducing to the completing of
the whole work« This Second Book though stated as succedaneous to the first
is in fact entirely at variance with it for the work of Reginald Scott is a
compilation of the absurd and superstitious ideas concerning witches so
generally entertained at the time and the pretended conclusion is a serious
treatise on the various means of conjuring astral spirits
19 The author cannot remember where these lines are to be found perhaps in
Bishop Halls Satires
20 It is I believe a piece of freemasonry or a point of conscience among
the Scottish lower orders never to admit that a patient is doing better The
closest approach to recovery which they can be brought to allow is that the
party inquired after is »Nae waur«
21 In the fishing villages on the Firths of Forth and Tay as well as elsewhere
in Scotland the government is gyneocracy as described in the text In the
course of the late war and during the alarm of invasion a fleet of transports
entered the Firth of Forth under the convoy of some ships of war which would
reply to no signals A general alarm was excited in consequence of which all
the fishers who were enrolled as seafencibles got on board the gunboats
which they were to man as occasion should require and sailed to oppose the
supposed enemy The foreigners proved to be Russians with whom we were then at
peace The county gentlemen of MidLothian pleased with the zeal displayed by
the seafencibles at a critical moment passed a vote for presenting the
community of fishers with a silver punchbowl to be used on occasions of
festivity But the fisherwomen on hearing what was intended put in their
claim to have some separate share in the intended honorary reward The men they
said were their husbands it was they who would have been sufferers if their
husbands had been killed and it was by their permission and injunctions that
they embarked on board the gunboats for the public service They therefore
claimed to share the reward in some manner which should distinguish the female
patriotism which they had shown on the occasion The gentlemen of the county
willingly admitted the claim and without diminishing the value of their
compliment to the men they made the females a present of a valuable brooch to
fasten the plaid of the queen of the fisherwomen for the time
It may be further remarked that these Nereids are punctilious among themselves
and observe different ranks according to the commodities they deal in One
experienced dame was heard to characterise a younger damsel as »a puir silly
thing who had no ambition and would never« she prophesied »rise above the
musselline of business«
22 A single soldier means in Scotch a private soldier
23 Massamora an ancient name for a dungeon derived from the Moorish language
perhaps as far back as the time of the Crusades
24 Pousowdie Miscellaneous mess
25 The doctrine of Monkbarns on the origin of imprisonment for civil debt in
Scotland may appear somewhat whimsical but was referred to and admitted to be
correct by the Bench of the Supreme Scottish Court on 5th December 1828 in
the case of Thom v Black In fact the Scottish law is in this particular more
jealous of the personal liberty of the subject than any other code in Europe
26 See Mrs Grant on the Highland Superstitions vol ii p 260 for this fine
translation from the Gaelic
27 The great battle of Harlaw here and formerly referred to might be said to
determine whether the Gaelic or the Saxon race should be predominant in
Scotland Donald Lord of the Isles who had at that period the power of an
independent sovereign laid claim to the Earldom of Ross during the Regency of
Robert Duke of Albany To enforce his supposed right he ravaged the north with
a large army of Highlanders and Islesmen He was encountered at Harlaw in the
Garioch by Alexander Earl of Mar at the head of the northern nobility and
gentry of Saxon and Norman descent The battle was bloody and indecisive but
the invader was obliged to retire in consequence of the loss he sustained and
afterwards was compelled to make submission to the Regent and renounce his
pretensions to Ross so that all the advantages of the field were gained by the
Saxons The battle of Harlaw was fought 24th July 1411
28 The concluding circumstance of Elspeths death is taken from an incident said
to have happened at the funeral of John Duke of Roxburghe All who were
acquainted with that accomplished nobleman must remember that he was not more
remarkable for creating and possessing a most curious and splendid library than
for his acquaintance with the literary treasures it contained. In arranging his
books fetching and replacing the volumes which he wanted and carrying on all
the necessary intercourse which a man of letters holds with his library it was
the Dukes custom to employ not a secretary or librarian but a livery servant
called Archie whom habit had made so perfectly acquainted with the library
that he knew every book as a shepherd does the individuals of his flock by
what is called headmark and could bring his master whatever volume he wanted
and afford all the mechanical aid the Duke required in his literary researches
To secure the attendance of Archie there was a bell hung in his room which was
used on no occasion except to call him individually to the Dukes study
His Grace died in Saint Jamess Square London in the year 1804 the body was
to be conveyed to Scotland to lie in state at his mansion of Fleurs and to be
removed from thence to the family burialplace at Bowden
At this time Archie who had been long attacked by a livercomplaint was in
the very last stage of that disease Yet he prepared himself to accompany the
body of the master whom he had so long and so faithfully waited upon The
medical persons assured him he could not survive the journey It signified
nothing he said whether he died in England or Scotland he was resolved to
assist in rendering the last honours to the kind master from whom he had been
inseparable for so many years even if he should expire in the attempt The poor
invalid was permitted to attend the Dukes body to Scotland but when they
reached Fleurs he was totally exhausted and obliged to keep his bed in a sort
of stupor which announced speedy dissolution On the morning of the day fixed
for removing the dead body of the Duke to the place of burial the private bell
by which he was wont to summon his attendant to his study was rung violently
This might easily happen in the confusion of such a scene although the people
of the neighbourhood prefer believing that the bell sounded of its own accord
Ring however it did and Archie roused by the wellknown summons rose up in
his bed and faltered in broken accents »Yes my Lord Duke yes I will wait
on your Grace instantly« and with these words on his lips he is said to have
fallen back and expired
29 The story of the false alarm at Fairport and the consequences are taken
from a real incident Those who witnessed the state of Britain and of Scotland
in particular from the period that succeeded the war which commenced in 1803 to
the battle of Trafalgar must recollect those times with feelings which we can
hardly hope to make the rising generation comprehend Almost every individual
was enrolled either in a military or civil capacity for the purpose of
contributing to resist the longsuspended threats of invasion which were echoed
from every quarter Beacons were erected along the coast and all through the
country to give the signal for every one to repair to the post where his
peculiar duty called him and men of every description fit to serve held
themselves in readiness on the shortest summons During this agitating period
and on the evening of the 2d February 1804 the person who kept watch on the
commanding station of Home Castle being deceived by some accidental fire in the
county of Northumberland which he took for the corresponding signallight in
that county with which his orders were to communicate lighted up his own
beacon The signal was immediately repeated through all the valleys on the
English Border If the beacon at Saint Abbs Head had been fired the alarm
would have run northward and roused all Scotland But the watch at this
important point judiciously considered that if there had been an actual or
threatened descent on our eastern seacoast the alarm would have come along the
coast and not from the interior of the country
Through the Border counties the alarm spread with rapidity and on no occasion
when that country was the scene of perpetual and unceasing war was the summons
to arms more readily obeyed In Berwickshire Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire
the volunteers and militia got under arms with a degree of rapidity and alacrity
which considering the distance individuals lived from each other had something
in it very surprising they poured to the alarmposts on the seacoast in a
state so well armed and so completely appointed with baggage provisions etc
as was accounted by the best military judges to render them fit for instant and
effectual service
There were some particulars in the general alarm which are curious and
interesting The men of Liddesdale the most remote point to the westward which
the alarm reached were so much afraid of being late in the field that they put
in requisition all the horses they could find and when they had thus made a
forced march out of their own country they turned their borrowed steeds loose
to find their way back through the hills and they all got back safe to their
own stables Another remarkable circumstance was the general cry of the
inhabitants of the smaller towns for arms that they might go along with their
companions The Selkirkshire Yeomanry made a remarkable march for although some
of the individuals lived at twenty and thirty miles distance from the place
where they mustered they were nevertheless embodied and in order in so short a
period that they were at Dalkeith which was their alarmpost about one
oclock on the day succeeding the first signal with men and horses in good
order though the roads were in a bad state and many of the troopers must have
ridden forty or fifty miles without drawing bridle Two members of the corps
chanced to be absent from their homes and in Edinburgh on private business The
lately married wife of one of these gentlemen and the widowed mother of the
other sent the arms uniforms and chargers of the two troopers that they
might join their companions at Dalkeith The author was very much struck by the
answer made to him by the lastmentioned lady when he paid her some compliment
on the readiness which she showed in equipping her son with the means of meeting
danger when she might have left him a fair excuse for remaining absent »Sir«
she replied with the spirit of a Roman matron »none can know better than you
that my son is the only prop by which since his fathers death our family is
supported But I would rather see him dead on that hearth than hear that he had
been a horses length behind his companions in the defence of his king and
country« The author mentions what was immediately under his own eye and within
his own knowledge but the spirit was universal wherever the alarm reached
both in Scotland and England
The account of the ready patriotism displayed by the country on this occasion
warmed the hearts of Scottishmen in every corner of the world It reached the
ears of the wellknown Dr Leyden whose enthusiastic love of Scotland and of
his own district of Teviotdale formed a distinguished part of his character
The account which was read to him when on a sickbed stated very truly that
the different corps on arriving at their alarmposts announced themselves by
their music playing the tunes peculiar to their own districts many of which
have been gatheringsignals for centuries It was particularly remembered that
the Liddesdale men before mentioned entered Kelso playing the lively tune
O wha dare meddle wi me
And wha dare meddle wi me
My name it is little Jock Elliot
And wha dare meddle wi me
The patient was so delighted with this display of ancient Border spirit that he
sprung up in his bed and began to sing the old song with such vehemence of
action and voice that his attendants ignorant of the cause of excitation
concluded that the fever had taken possession of his brain and it was only the
entry of another Borderer Sir John Malcolm and the explanation which he was
well qualified to give that prevented them from resorting to means of medical
coercion
The circumstances of this false alarm and its consequences may be now held of
too little importance even for a note upon a work of fiction but at the period
when it happened it was hailed by the country as a propitious omen that the
national force to which much must naturally have been trusted had the spirit
to look in the face the danger which they had taken arms to repel and every one
was convinced that on whichever side God might bestow the victory the invaders
would meet with the most determined opposition from the children of the soil