greyfriars bobby- 第6部分

The　last　two　flights　ascended　within　the　walls。　The　old　man　stumbled　into　the　pitch…black；　stifling　passage　and　sat　down　on　the　lowest　step　to　rest。　On　the　landing　above　he　must　encounter　the　auld　wifie　of　a　landlady；　rousing　her；　it　might　be；　and　none　too　good…tempered；　from　sleep。　Unaware　that　he　added　to　his　master's　difficulties；　Bobby　leaped　upon　him　and　licked　the　beloved　face　that　he　could　not　see。

〃Eh；　laddie；　I　dinna　ken　what　to　do　wi'　ye。　We　maun　juist　hae　to　sleep　oot。〃　It　did　not　occur　to　Auld　Jock　that　he　could　abandon　the　little　dog。　And　then　there　drifted　across　his　memory　a　bit　of　Mr。　Traill's　talk　that；　at　the　time；　had　seemed　to　no　purpose：　〃Sir　Walter　happed　the　wee　lassie　in　the　pocket　of　his　plaid〃　He　slapped　his　knee　in　silent　triumph。　In　the　dark　he　found　the　broad；　open　end　of　the　plaid；　and　the　rough；　excited　head　of　the　little　dog。

〃A　hap；　an'　a　stap；　an'　a　loup；　an'　in　ye　gang。　Loup　in；　laddie。〃

Bobby　jumped　into　the　pocket　and　turned　'round　and　'round。　His　little　muzzle　opened　for　a　delighted　bark　at　this　original　play；　but　Auld　Jock　checked　him。

〃Cuddle　doon　noo；　an'　lie　canny　as　pussy。〃　With　a　deft　turn　he　brought　the　weighted　end　of　the　plaid　up　under　his　arm　so　there　would　be　no　betraying　drag。　〃We'll　pu'　the　wool　ower　the　auld　wifie's　een；〃　he　chuckled。

He　mounted　the　stairs　almost　blithely；　and　knocked　on　one　of　the　three　narrow　doors　that　opened　on　the　two…by…eight　landing。　It　was　opened　a　few　inches；　on　a　chain；　and　a　sordid　old　face；　framed　in　straggling　gray　locks　and　a　dirty　mutch　cap；　peered　suspiciously　at　him　through　the　crevice。

Auld　Jock　had　his　money　in　handa　shilling　and　a　sixpenceto　pay　for　a　week's　lodging。　He　had　slept　in　this　place　for　several　winters；　and　the　old　woman　knew　him　well；　but　she　held　his　coins　to　the　candle　and　bit　them　with　her　teeth　to　test　them。　Without　a　word　of　greeting　she　shoved　the　key　to　the　sleeping…closet　he　had　always　fancied；　through　the　crack　in　the　door；　and　pointed　to　a　jug　of　water　at　the　foot　of　the　attic　stairs。　On　the　proffer　of　a　halfpenny　she　gave　him　a　tallow　candle；　lighted　it　at　her　own　and　fitted　it　into　the　neck　of　a　beer　bottle。

〃Ye　hae　a　cauld。〃　she　said　at　last；　with　some　hostility。　〃Gin　ye　wauken　yer　neebors　yell　juist　hae　to　fecht　it　oot　wi'　'em。〃

〃Ay；　I　ken　a'　that；〃　Auld　Jock　answered。　He　smothered　a　cough　in　his　chest　with　such　effort　that　it　threw　him　into　a　perspiration。　In　some　way；　with　the　jug　of　water　and　the　lighted　candle　in　his　hands　and　the　hidden　terrier　under　one　arm；　the　old　man　mounted　the　eighteen…inch　wide；　walled…in　attic　stairs　and　unlocked　the　first　of　a　number　of　narrow　doors　on　the　passage　at　the　top。

〃Weel　aboon　the　fou'　smell；〃　indeed；　〃weel　worth　the　lang　climb！〃　Around　the　loose　frames　of　two　wee　southward…looking　dormer　windows；　that　jutted　from　the　slope　of　the　gable；　came　a　gush　of　rain…washed　air。　Auld　Jock　tumbled　Bobby；　warm　and　happy　and　〃nane　the　wiser；〃　out　into　the　cold　cell　of　a　room　that　was　oh；　so　very；　very　different　from　the　high；　warm；　richly　colored　library　of　Sir　Walter！　This　garret　closet　in　the　slums　of　Edinburgh　was　all　of　cut　stone；　except　for　the　worn；　oaken　floor；　a　flimsy；　modern　door；　and　a　thin；　board　partition　on　one　side　through　which　a　〃neebor〃　could　be　heard　snoring。　Filling　all　of　the　outer　wall　between　the　peephole；　leaded　windows　and　running…　up　to　the　slope　of　the　ceiling；　was　a　great　fireplace　of　native　white　freestone；　carved　into　fluted　columns；　foliated　capitals；　and　a　flat　pediment　of　purest　classic　lines。　The　ballroom　of　a　noble　of　Queen　Mary's　day　had　been　cut　up　into　numerous　small　sleeping　closets；　many　of　them　windowless；　and　were　let　to　the　chance　lodger　at　threepence　the　night。　Here；　where　generations　of　dancing　toes　had　been　warmed；　the　chimney　vent　was　bricked　up；　and　a　boxed…in　shelf　fitted；　to　serve　for　a　bed；　a　seat　and　a　table；　for　such　as　had　neither　time　nor　heart　for　dancing。　For　the　romantic　history　and　the　beauty　of　it；　Auld　Jock　had　no　mind　at　all。　But；　ah！　he　had　other　joy　often　missed　by　the　more　fortunate。

〃Be　canny；　Bobby；〃　he　cautioned　again。

The　sagacious　little　dog　understood；　and　pattered　about　the　place　silently。　Exhausting　it　in　a　moment；　and　very　plainly　puzzled　and　bored；　he　sat　on　his　haunches；　yawned　wide；　and　looked　up　inquiringly　to　his　master。　Auld　Jock　set　the　jug　and　the　candle　on　the　floor　and　slipped　off　his　boots。　He　had　no　wish　to　〃wauken　'is　neebors。〃　With　nervous　haste　he　threw　back　one　of　the　windows　on　its　hinges；　reached　across　the　wide　stone　ledge　and　brought　in…wonder　of　wonders；　in　such　a　place　a　tiny　earthen　pot　of　heather！

〃Is　it　no'　a　bonny　posie？〃　he　whispered　to　Bobby。　With　this　cherished　bit　of　the　country　that　he　had　left　behind　him　the　April　before　in　his　hands；　he　sat　down　in　the　fireplace　bed　and　lifted　Bobby　beside　him。　He　sniffed　at　the　red　tuft　of　purple　bloom　fondly；　and　his　old　face　blossomed　into　smiles。　It　was　the　secret　thought　of　this；　and　of　the　hillward　outlook　from　the　little　windows；　that　had　ironed　the　lines　from　his　face　in　Mr。　Traill's　dining…room。　Bobby　sniffed　at　the　starved　plant；　too；　and　wagged　his　tail　with　pleasure；　for　a　dog's　keenest　memories　are　recorded　by　the　nose。

Overhead；　loose　tiles　and　finials　rattled　in　the　find；　that　was　dying　away　in　fitful　gusts；　but　Auld　Jock　heard　nothing。　In　fancy　he　was　away　on　the　braes；　in　the　shy　sun　and　wild　wet　of　April　weather。　Shepherds　were　shouting；　sheepdogs　barking；　ewes　bleating；　and　a　wee　puppy；　still　unnamed；　scampering　at　his　heels　in　the　swift；　dramatic　days　of　lambing　time。　And　so；　presently；　when　the　forlorn　hope　of　the　little　pot　had　been　restored　to　the　ledge；　master　and　dog　were　in　tune　with　the　open　country；　and　began　a　romp　such　as　they　often　had　indulged　in　behind　the　byre　on　a　quiet；　Sabbath　afternoon。

They　had　learned　to　play　there　like　two　well…brought…up　children；　in　pantomime；　so　as　not　to　scandalize　pious　countryfolk。　Now；　in　obedience　to　a　gesture；　a　nod；　a　lifted　eyebrow；　Bobby　went　through　all　his　pretty　tricks；　and　showed　how　far　his　serious　education　had　progressed。。　He　rolled　over　and　over；　begged；　vaulted　the　low　hurdle　of　his　master's　arm；　and　played　〃deid。〃　He　scampered　madly　over　imaginary　pastures；　ran；　straight　as　a　string；　along　a　stone　wall；　scrambled　under　a　thorny　hedge；　chased　rabbits；　and　dug　foxes　out　of　holes；　swam　a　burn；　flushed　feeding　curlews；　and　〃froze〃　beside　a　rat…hole。　When　the　excitement　was　at　its　height　and　the　little　dog　was　bursting　with　exuberance；　Auld　Jock　forgot　his　caution。　Holding　his　bonnet　just　out　of　reach；　he　cried　aloud：

〃Loup；　Bobby！〃

Bobby　jumped　for　the　bonnet；　missed　it；　jumped　again　and　barked…the　high…pitched；　penetrating　yelp　of　the　terrier。

Instantly　their　little　house　of　joy　tumbled　about　their　ears。　There　was　a　pounding　on　the　thin　partition　wall；　an　oath　and　a　shout　〃Whaur's　the　deil　o'　a　dog？〃　Bobby　flew　at　the　insulting　clamor；　but　Auld　Jock　dragged　him　back　roughly。　In　a　voice　made　harsh　by　fear　for　his　little　pet；　he　commanded：

〃Haud　yer　gab　or　they'll　hae　ye　oot。〃

Bobby　dropped　like　a　shot；　cringing　at　Auld　Jock's　feet。　The　most　sensitive　of　four…footed　creatures　in　the　world；　the　Skye　terrier　is　utterly　abased　by　a　rebuke　from　his　master。　The　whole　garret　was　soon　in　an　uproar　of　vile　accusation　and　shrill　denial　that　spread　from　cell　to　cell。

Auld　Jock　glowered　down　at　Bobby　with　frightened　eyes。　In　the　winters　he　had　lodged　there　he　had　lived　unmolested　only　because　he　had　managed　to　escape　notice。　Timid　old　country　body　that　he　was；　he　could　not　〃fecht　it　oot〃　with　the　thieves　and　beggars　and　drunkards　of　the　Cowgate。　By　and　by　the　brawling　died　down。　In　the　double　row　of　little　dens　this　one　alone　was　silent；　and　the　offending　dog　was　not　located。

But　when　the　danger　was　past；　Auld　Jock's　heart　was　pounding　in　his　chest。　His　legs　gave　way　under　him；　when　he　got　up　to　fetch　the　candle　from　near　the　door　and　set　it　on　a　projecting　brick　in　the　fireplace。　By　its　light　he　began　to　read　in　a　small　pocket　Bible　the　Psalm　that　had　always　fascinated　him　because　he　had　never　been　able　to　understand　it。

〃The　Lord　is　my　Shepherd；　I　shall　not　want。〃

So　far　it　was　plain　and　comforting。　〃He　maketh　me　to　lie　down　in　green　pastures。　He　leadeth　me　beside　the　still　waters。〃

Nae；　the　pastures　were　brown；　or　purple　and　yellow　with　heather　and　gorse。　Rocks　cropped　out　everywhere；　and　the　peaty　tarps　were　mostly　bleak　and　frozen。　The　broad　Firth　was　ever　ebbing　and　flowing　with　the　restless　sea；　and　the　burns　bickering　down　the　glens。　The　minister　of　the　little　hill　kirk　had　said　once　that　in　England　the　pastures　were　green　and　the　lakes　still　and　bright；　but　that　was　a　fey；　foreign　country　to　which　Auld　Jock　had　no　desire　to　go。　He　wondered；　wistfully；　if　he　would　feel　at　home　in　God's　heaven；　and　if　there　would　be　room　in　that　lush　silence　for　a　noisy　little　dog；　as　there　was　on　the　rough　Pentland　braes。　And　there　his　thoughts　came　back　to　this　cold　prison　cell　in　which　he　could　not　defend　the　right　of　his　one　faithful　little　friend　to　live。　He　stooped　and　lifted　Bobby　into　the　bed。　Humble；　and　eager　to　be　forgiven　for　an　offense　he　could　not　understand；　the　loving　little　creature　leaped　to　Auld　Jock's　arms　and　lavished　frantic　endearments　upon　him。

Lying　so　together　in　the　dark；　man　and　dog　fell　into　a　sleep　that　was　broken　by　Auld　Jock's　fitful　coughing　and　the　abuse　of　his　neighbors。　It　was　not　until　the　wind　had　long　died　to　a　muffled　murmur　at　the　casements；　and　every　other　lodger　was　out；　that　Auld　Jock　slept　soundly。　He　awoke　late　to　find　Bobby　waiting　patiently　on　the　floor　and　the　bare　cell　flooded　with　white　glory。　That　could　mean　but　one　thing。　He　stumbled　dizzily　to　his　feet　and　threw　a　sash　aback。　Over　the　huddle　of　high　housetops；　the　University　towers　and　the　scattered　suburbs　beyond；　he　looked　away　to　the　snow…clad　slopes　of　the　Pentlands；　running　up　to　heaven　and　shining　under　the　pale　winter　sunshine。

〃The　snaw！　Eh；　Bobby；　but　it's　a　bonny　sicht　to　auld　een！〃　he　cried；　with　the　simple　delight　of　a　child。　He　stooped　to　lift　Bobby　to　the　wonder　of　it；　when　the　world　suddenly　went　black　and　roaring　around　in　his　head。　Staggering　back　he　crumpled　up　in　a　pitiful　heap　on　the　floor。

Bobby　licked　hi