greyfriars bobby- 第34部分

〃Bobby　does　not　need　a　monument；　but　I　think　we　need　one　of　him；　that　future　generations　may　never　forget　what　the　love　of　a　dog　may　mean；　to　himself　and　to　us。〃

The　Grand　Leddy　must　have　won　her　plea；　then　and　there；　but　for　the　fact　that　the　matter　of　erecting　a　monument　of　a　public　character　anywhere　in　the　city　had　to　come　up　before　the　Burgh　council。　In　that　body　the　stubborn　opposition　of　a　few　members　unexpectedly　developed；　and；　in　spite　of　popular　sympathy　with　the　proposal；　the　plan　was　rejected。　Permission　was　given；　however；　for　Lady　Burdett…Coutts　to　put　up　a　suitable　memorial　to　Bobby　at　the　end　of　George　IV　Bridge；　and　opposite　the　main　gateway　to　the　kirkyard。

For　such　a　public　place　a　tomb　was　unsuitable。　What　form　the　memorial　was　to　take　was　not　decided　upon　until；　because　of　two　chance　happenings　of　one　morning；　the　form　of　it　bloomed　like　a　flower　in　the　soul　of　the　Grand　Leddy。　She　had　come　down　to　the　kirkyard　to　watch　the　artist　at　work。　Morning　after　morning　he　had　sketched　there。　He　had　drawn　Bobby　lying　down；　his　nose　on　his　paws；　asleep　on　the　grave。　He　had　drawn　him　sitting　upon　the　table…tomb；　and　standing　in　the　begging　attitude　in　which　he　was　so　irresistible。　But　with　every　sketch　he　was　dissatisfied。

Bobby　was　a　trying　and　deceptive　subject。　He　had　the　air　of　curiosity　and　gaiety　of　other　terriers。　He　saw　no　sense　at　all　in　keeping　still；　with　his　muzzle　tipped　up　or　down；　and　his　tail　held　just　so。　He　brushed　all　that　unreasonable　man's　suggestions　aside　as　quite　unworthy　of　consideration。　Besides；　he　had　the　liveliest　interest　in　the　astonishing　little　dog　that　grew　and　disappeared；　and　came　back；　in　some　new　attitude；　on　the　canvas。　He　scraped　acquaintance　with　it　once　or　twice　to　the　damage　of　fresh　brush…work。　He　was　always　jumping　from　his　pose　and　running　around　the　easel　to　see　how　the　latest　dog　was　coming　on。

After　a　number　of　mornings　Bobby　lost　interest　in　the　man　and　his　occupation　and　went　about　his　ordinary　routine　of　life　as　if　the　artist　was　not　there　at　all。　One　morning　the　wee　terrier　was　found　sitting　on　the　table…tomb；　on　his　haunches；　looking　up　toward　the　Castle；　where　clouds　and　birds　were　blown　around　the　sun…gilded　battlements。

His　attitude　might　have　meant　anything　or　nothing；　for　the　man　who　looked　at　him　from　above　could　not　see　his　expression。　And　all　at　once　he　realized　that　to　see　Bobby　a　human　being　must　get　down　to　his　level。　To　the　scandal　of　the　children；　he　lay　on　his　back　on　the　grass　and　did　nothing　at　all　but　look　up　at　Bobby　until　the　little　dog　moved。　Then　he　set　the　wee　Highlander　up　on　an　altar…topped　shaft　just　above　the　level　of　the　human　eye。　Indifferent　at　the　moment　as　to　what　was　done　to　him；　Bobby　continued　to　gaze　up　and　out；　wistfully　and　patiently；　upon　this　masterless　world。　As　plainly　as　a　little　dog　could　speak；　Bobby　said：

〃I　hae　bided　lang　an'　lanely。　Hoo　lang　hae　I　still　to　bide？　An'　syne；　wull　I　be　gangin'　to　Auld　Jock？〃

The　Grand　Leddy　saw　that　at　once；　and　tears　started　to　her　eyes　when　she　came　in　to　find　the　artist　sketching　with　feverish　rapidity。　She　confessed　that　she　had　looked　into　Bobby's　eyes；　but　she　had　never　truly　seen　that　mourning　little　creature　before。　He　had　only　to　be　set　up　so；　in　bronze；　and　looking　through　the　kirkyard　gate；　to　tell　his　own　story　to　the　most　careless　passerby。　The　image　of　the　simple　memorial　was　clear　in　her　mind；　and　it　seemed　unlikely　that　anything　could　be　added　to　it；　when　she　left　the　kirkyard。

As　she　was　getting　into　her　carriage　a　noble　collie；　but　one　with　a　discouraged　tail　and　hanging　tongue；　came　out　of　Forest　Road。　He　had　done　a　hard　morning's　work；　of　driving　a　flock　from　the　Pentlands　to　the　cattle　and　sheep　market；　and　then　had　hunted　far　and　unsuccessfully　for　water。　He　nosed　along　the　gutter；　here　and　there　licking　from　the　cobblestones　what　muddy　moisture　had　not　drained　away　from　a　recent　rain。　The　same　lady　who　had　fed　the　carrots　to　the　coster's　donkey　in　London　turned　hastily　into　Ye　Olde　Greyfriars　Dining…Rooms；　and　asked　Mr。　Traill　for　a　basin　of　water。　The　landlord　thought　he　must　have　misunderstood　her。　〃Is　it　a　glass　of　water　your　Leddyship's　wanting？〃

〃No；　a　basin；　please；　a　large　one；　and　very　quickly。〃

She　took　it　from　him；　hurried　out；　and　set　it　under　the　thirsty　animal's　nose。　The　collie　lapped　it　eagerly　until　the　water　was　gone；　then　looked　up　and；　by　waggings　and　lickings；　asked　for　more。　Mr。　Traill　brought　out　a　second　basin；　and　he　remarked　upon　a　sheep…dog's　capacity　for　water。

〃It's　no'　a　basin　will　satisfy　him；　used　as　he　is　to　having　a　tam　on　the　moor　to　drink　from。　This　neeborhood　is　noted　for　the　dogs　that　are　aye　passing。　On　Wednesdays　the　farm　dogs　come　up　from　the　Grassmarket；　and　every　day　there　are　weel…cared…for　dogs　from　the　residence　streets；　dogs　of　all　conditions　across　the　bridge　from　High　Street；　and　meeserable　waifs　from　the　Cowgate。　Stray　pussies　are　about；　too。　I'm　a　gude…hearted　man；　and　an　unco'　observant　one；　your　Leddyship；　but　I　was　no'　thinking　that　these　animals　must　often　suffer　from　thirst。〃

〃Few　people　do　think　of　it。　Most　men　can　love　some　one　dog　or　cat　or　horse　and　be　attentive　to　its　wants；　but　they　take　little　thought　for　the　world　of　dumb　animals　that　are　so　dependent　upon　us。　It　is　no　special　credit　to　you；　Mr。　Traill；　that　you　became　fond　of　an　attractive　little　dog　like　Bobby　and　have　cared　for　him　so　tenderly。〃

The　landlord　gasped。　He　had　taken　not　a　little　pride　in　his　stanch　championship　and　watchful　care　of　Bobby；　and　his　pride　had　beer　increased　by　the　admiration　that　had　been　lavished　on　him　for　years　by　the　general　public。　Now；　as　he　afterward　confessed　to　Mr。　Brown：

〃Her　leddyship　made　me　feel　I'd　done　naething　by　the　ordinar'；　but　maistly　to　please　my　ainsel'。　Eh；　man；　she　made　me　sing　sma'。〃

When　the　collie　had　finished　drinking；　he　looked　up　gratefully；　rubbed　against　the　good　Samaritans；　waved　his　plumed　tail　like　a　banner；　and　trotted　away。　After　a　thoughtful　moment　Lady　Burdett…Coutts　said：

〃The　suitable　memorial　here；　Mr。　Traill；　is　a　fountain；　with　a　low　basin　level　with　the　curb；　and　a　higher　one；　and　Bobby　sitting　on　an　altar…topped　central　column　above；　looking　through　the　kirkyard　gate。　It　shall　be　his　mission　to　bring　men　and　small　animals　together　in　sympathy　by　offering　to　both　the　cup　of　cold　water。〃

She　was　there　once　again　that　year。　On　her　way　north　she　stopped　in　Edinburgh　over　night　to　see　how　the　work　on　the　fountain　had　progressed。　It　was　in　Scotland's　best　season；　most　of　the　days　dry　and　bright　and　sharp。　But　on　that　day　it　was　misting；　and　yellow　leaves　were　dropping　on　the　wet　tombs　and　beaded　grass；　when　the　Grand　Leddy　appeared　at　the　kirkyard　late　in　the　afternoon　with　a　wreath　of　laurel　to　lay　on　Auld　Jock's　grave。

Bobby　slipped　out；　dry　as　his　own　delectable　bone；　from　under　the　tomb　of　Mistress　Jean　Grant；　and　nearly　wagged　his　tail　off　with　pleasure。　Mistress　Jeanie　was　set　in　a　proud　flutter　when　the　Grand　Leddy　rang　at　the　lodge　kitchen　and　asked　if　she　and　Bobby　could　have　their　tea　there　with　the　old　couple　by　the　cozy　grate　fire。

They　all　drank　tea　from　the　best　blue　cups；　and　ate　buttered　scones　and　strawberry　jam　on　the　scoured　deal　table。　Bobby　had　his　porridge　and　broth　on　the　hearth。　The　coals　snapped　in　the　grate　and　the　firelight　danced　merrily　on　the　skylark's　cage　and　the　copper　kettle。　Mr。　Brown　got　out　his　fife　and　played　〃Bonnie　Dundee。〃　Wee；　silver…white　Bobby　tried　to　dance；　but　he　tumbled　over　so　lamentably　once　or　twice　that　he　hung　his　head　apologetically；　admitting　that　he　ought　to　have　the　sense　to　know　that　his　dancing　days　were　done。　He　lay　down　and　lolled　and　blinked　on　the　hearth　until　the　Grand　Leddy　rose　to　go。

〃I　am　on　my　way　to　Braemar　to　visit　for　a　few　days　at　Balmoral　Castle。　I　wish　I　could　take　Bobby　with　me　to　show　him　to　the　dear　Queen。〃

〃Preserve　me！〃　cried　Mistress　Jeanie；　and　Mr。　Brown's　pet　pipe　was　in　fragments　on　the　hearth。

Bobby　leaped　upon　her　and　whimpered；　saying　〃Dinna　gang；　Leddy！〃　as　plainly　as　a　little　dog　could　say　anything。　He　showed　the　pathos　at　parting　with　one　he　was　fond　of；　now；　that　an　old　and　affectionate　person　shows。　He　clung　to　her　gown；　rubbed　his　rough　head　under　her　hand；　and　trotted　disconsolately　beside　her　to　her　waiting　carriage。　At　the　very　last　she　said；　sadly：

〃The　Queen　will　have　to　come　to　Edinburgh　to　see　Bobby。〃

〃The　bonny　wee　wad　be　a　prood　doggie；　yer　Leddyship；〃　Mistress　Jeanie　managed　to　stammer；　but　Mr。　Brown　was　beyond　speech。

The　Grand　Leddy　said　nothing。　She　looked　at　the　foundation　work　of　Bobby's　memorial　fountain；　swathed　in　canvas　against　the　winter；　and　waitingwaiting　for　the　spring；　when　the　waters　of　the　earth　should　be　unsealed　again；　waiting　until　finis　could　be　written　to　a　story　on　a　bronze　table…tomb；　waiting　for　the　effigy　of　a　shaggy　Skye　terrier　to　be　cast　and　set　up；　waiting

When　the　Queen　came　to　see　Bobby　it　was　unlikely　that　he　would　know　anything　about　it。

He　would　know　nothing　of　the　crowds　to　gather　there　on　a　public　occasion；　massing　on　the　bridge；　in　Greyfriars　Place；　in　broad　Chambers　Street；　and　down　Candlemakers　Rowthe　magistrates　and　Burgh　council；　professors　and　students　from　the　University；　soldiers　from　the　Castle；　the　neighboring　nobility　in　carriages；　farmers　and　shepherds　from　the　Pentlands；　the　Heriot　laddies　marching　from　the　school；　and　the　tenement　children　in　holiday　duddiesall　to　honor　the　memory　of　a　devoted　little　dog。　He　would　know　nothing　of　the　military　music　and　flowers；　the　prayer　of　the　minister　of　Greyfriars　auld　kirk；　the　speech　of　the　Lord　Provost；　nothing　of　the　happy　tears　of　the　Grand　Leddy　when　a　veil　should　fall　away　from　a　little　bronze　dog　that　gazed　wistfully　through　the　kirkyard　gate；　and　water　gush　forth　for　the　refreshment　of　men　and　animals。

〃Good…by；　good…by；　good…by；　Bobby；　most　loving　and　lovable；　darlingest　wee　dog　in　the　world！〃　she　cried；　and　a　shower　of　bright　drops　and　sweet　little　sounds　fell　on　Bobby's　tousled　head。　Then　the　carriage　of　the　Grand　Leddy　rolled　away　in　the　rainy　dusk。

The　hour…bell　of　St。　Giles　was　rung；　and　the　sunset　bugle　blown　in　the　Castle。　It　took　Mr。　Brown　a　long　time　to　lift　the　wicket；　close　the　tall　leaves　and　lock　the　ga