chronicles of the canongate- 第31部分

Elspat　was　now　satisfied　that　her　son；　with　some　of　his　father's　other　properties；　preserved　the　haughty　masculine　spirit　which　rendered　it　impossible　to　divert　him　from　a　resolution　which　he　had　deliberately　adopted。　　She　assumed；　therefore；　an　exterior　of　apparent　submission　to　their　inevitable　separation；　and　if　she　now　and　then　broke　out　into　complaints　and　murmurs；　it　was　either　that　she　could　not　altogether　suppress　the　natural　impetuosity　of　her　temper；　or　because　she　had　the　wit　to　consider　that　a　total　and　unreserved　acquiescence　might　have　seemed　to　her　son　constrained　and　suspicious；　and　induced　him　to　watch　and　defeat　the　means　by　which　she　still　hoped　to　prevent　his　leaving　her。　Her　ardent　though　selfish　affection　for　her　son；　incapable　of　being　qualified　by　a　regard　for　the　true　interests　of　the　unfortunate　object　of　her　attachment；　resembled　the　instinctive　fondness　of　the　animal　race　for　their　offspring；　and　diving　little　farther　into　futurity　than　one　of　the　inferior　creatures；　she　only　felt　that　to　be　separated　from　Hamish　was　to　die。

In　the　brief　interval　permitted　them；　Elspat　exhausted　every　art　which　affection　could　devise；　to　render　agreeable　to　him　the　space　which　they　were　apparently　to　spend　with　each　other。　　Her　memory　carried　her　far　back　into　former　days；　and　her　stores　of　legendary　history；　which　furnish　at　all　times　a　principal　amusement　of　the　Highlander　in　his　moments　of　repose；　were　augmented　by　an　unusual　acquaintance　with　the　songs　of　ancient　bards；　and　traditions　of　the　most　approved　seannachies　and　tellers　of　tales。　　Her　officious　attentions　to　her　son's　accommodation；　indeed；　were　so　unremitted　as　almost　to　give　him　pain；　and　he　endeavoured　quietly　to　prevent　her　from　taking　so　much　personal　toil　in　selecting　the　blooming　heath　for　his　bed；　or　preparing　the　meal　for　his　refreshment。　　〃Let　me　alone；　Hamish；〃　she　would　reply　on　such　occasions；　〃you　follow　your　own　will　in　departing　from　your　mother；　let　your　mother　have　hers　in　doing　what　gives　her　pleasure　while　you　remain。〃

So　much　she　seemed　to　be　reconciled　to　the　arrangements　which　he　had　made　in　her　behalf；　that　she　could　hear　him　speak　to　her　of　her　removing　to　the　lands　of　Green　Colin；　as　the　gentleman　was　called；　on　whose　estate　he　had　provided　her　an　asylum。　　In　truth；　however；　nothing　could　be　farther　from　her　thoughts。　　From　what　he　had　said　during　their　first　violent　dispute；　Elspat　had　gathered　that；　if　Hamish　returned　not　by　the　appointed　time　permitted　by　his　furlough；　he　would　incur　the　hazard　of　corporal　punishment。　　Were　he　placed　within　the　risk　of　being　thus　dishonoured；　she　was　well　aware　that　he　would　never　submit　to　the　disgrace　by　a　return　to　the　regiment　where　it　might　be　inflicted。　Whether　she　looked　to　any　farther　probable　consequences　of　her　unhappy　scheme　cannot　be　known；　but　the　partner　of　MacTavish　Mhor；　in　all　his　perils　and　wanderings；　was　familiar　with　an　hundred　instances　of　resistance　or　escape；　by　which　one　brave　man；　amidst　a　land　of　rocks；　lakes；　and　mountains；　dangerous　passes；　and　dark　forests；　might　baffle　the　pursuit　of　hundreds。　For　the　future；　therefore；　she　feared　nothing；　her　sole　engrossing　object　was　to　prevent　her　son　from　keeping　his　word　with　his　commanding　officer。

With　this　secret　purpose；　she　evaded　the　proposal　which　Hamish　repeatedly　made；　that　they　should　set　out　together　to　take　possession　of　her　new　abode；　and　she　resisted　it　upon　grounds　apparently　so　natural　to　her　character　that　her　son　was　neither　alarmed　nor　displeased。　　〃Let　me　not；〃　she　said；　〃in　the　same　short　week；　bid　farewell　to　my　only　son；　and　to　the　glen　in　which　I　have　so　long　dwelt。　　Let　my　eye；　when　dimmed　with　weeping　for　thee；　still　look　around；　for　a　while　at　least；　upon　Loch　Awe　and　on　Ben　Cruachan。〃

Hamish　yielded　the　more　willingly　to　his　mother's　humour　in　this　particular；　that　one　or　two　persons　who　resided　in　a　neighbouring　glen；　and　had　given　their　sons　to　Barcaldine's　levy；　were　also　to　be　provided　for　on　the　estate　of　the　chieftain；　and　it　was　apparently　settled　that　Elspat　was　to　take　her　journey　along　with　them　when　they　should　remove　to　their　new　residence。　　Thus；　Hamish　believed　that　he　had　at　once　indulged　his　mother's　humour；　and　ensured　her　safety　and　accommodation。　　But　she　nourished　in　her　mind　very　different　thoughts　and　projects。

The　period　of　Hamish's　leave　of　absence　was　fast　approaching；　and　more　than　once　he　proposed　to　depart；　in　such　time　as　to　ensure　his　gaining　easily　and　early　Dunbarton；　the　town　where　were　the　head…quarters　of　his　regiment。　　But　still　his　mother's　entreaties；　his　own　natural　disposition　to　linger　among　scenes　long　dear　to　him；　and；　above　all；　his　firm　reliance　in　his　speed　and　activity；　induced　him　to　protract　his　departure　till　the　sixth　day；　being　the　very　last　which　he　could　possibly　afford　to　spend　with　his　mother；　if　indeed　he　meant　to　comply　with　the　conditions　of　his　furlough。



CHAPTER　V。

　　But　for　your　son；　believe　itoh；　believe　it　　　Most　dangerously　you　have　with　him　prevailed；　　　If　not　most　mortal　to　him。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CORIOLANUS。

On　the　evening　which　preceded　his　proposed　departure；　Hamish　walked　down　to　the　river　with　his　fishing…rod；　to　practise　in　the　Awe；　for　the　last　time；　a　sport　in　which　he　excelled；　and　to　find；　at　the　same　time；　the　means　for　making　one　social　meal　with　his　mother　on　something　better　than　their　ordinary　cheer。　　He　was　as　successful　as　usual；　and　soon　killed　a　fine　salmon。　　On　his　return　homeward　an　incident　befell　him；　which　he　afterwards　related　as　ominous；　though　probably　his　heated　imagination；　joined　to　the　universal　turn　of　his　countrymen　for　the　marvellous；　exaggerated　into　superstitious　importance　some　very　ordinary　and　accidental　circumstance。

In　the　path　which　he　pursued　homeward；　he　was　surprised　to　observe　a　person；　who；　like　himself；　was　dressed　and　armed　after　the　old　Highland　fashion。　　The　first　idea　that　struck　him　was；　that　the　passenger　belonged　to　his　own　corps；　who；　levied　by　government；　and　bearing　arms　under　royal　authority；　were　not　amenable　for　breach　of　the　statutes　against　the　use　of　the　Highland　garb　or　weapons。　　But　he　was　struck　on　perceiving；　as　he　mended　his　pace　to　make　up　to　his　supposed　comrade；　meaning　to　request　his　company　for　the　next　day's　journey；　that　the　stranger　wore　a　white　cockade；　the　fatal　badge　which　was　proscribed　in　the　Highlands。　　The　stature　of　the　man　was　tall；　and　there　was　something　shadowy　in　the　outline；　which　added　to　his　size；　and　his　mode　of　motion；　which　rather　resembled　gliding　than　walking；　impressed　Hamish　with　superstitious　fears　concerning　the　character　of　the　being　which　thus　passed　before　him　in　the　twilight。　　He　no　longer　strove　to　make　up　to　the　stranger；　but　contented　himself　with　keeping　him　in　view；　under　the　superstition　common　to　the　Highlanders；　that　you　ought　neither　to　intrude　yourself　on　such　supernatural　apparitions　as　you　may　witness；　nor　avoid　their　presence；　but　leave　it　to　themselves　to　withhold　or　extend　their　communication；　as　their　power　may　permit；　or　the　purpose　of　their　commission　require。

Upon　an　elevated　knoll　by　the　side　of　the　road；　just　where　the　pathway　turned　down　to　Elspat's　hut；　the　stranger　made　a　pause；　and　seemed　to　await　Hamish's　coming　up。　　Hamish；　on　his　part；　seeing　it　was　necessary　he　should　pass　the　object　of　his　suspicion；　mustered　up　his　courage；　and　approached　the　spot　where　the　stranger　had　placed　himself；　who　first　pointed　to　Elspat's　hut；　and　made；　with　arm　and　head；　a　gesture　prohibiting　Hamish　to　approach　it；　then　stretched　his　hand　to　the　road　which　led　to　the　southward；　with　a　motion　which　seemed　to　enjoin　his　instant　departure　in　that　direction。　　In　a　moment　afterwards　the　plaided　form　was　goneHamish　did　not　exactly　say　vanished；　because　there　were　rocks　and　stunted　trees　enough　to　have　concealed　him；　but　it　was　his　own　opinion　that　he　had　seen　the　spirit　of　MacTavish　Mhor；　warning　him　to　commence　his　instant　journey　to　Dunbarton；　without　waiting　till　morning；　or　again　visiting　his　mother's　hut。

In　fact；　so　many　accidents　might　arise　to　delay　his　journey；　especially　where　there　were　many　ferries；　that　it　became　his　settled　purpose；　though　he　could　not　depart　without　bidding　his　mother　adieu；　that　he　neither　could　nor　would　abide　longer　than　for　that　object；　and　that　the　first　glimpse　of　next　day's　sun　should　see　him　many　miles　advanced　towards　Dunbarton。　　He　descended　the　path；　therefore；　and　entering　the　cottage；　he　communicated；　in　a　hasty　and　troubled　voice；　which　indicated　mental　agitation；　his　determination　to　take　his　instant　departure。　　Somewhat　to　his　surprise；　Elspat　appeared　not　to　combat　his　purpose；　but　she　urged　him　to　take　some　refreshment　ere　he　left　her　for　ever。　　He　did　so　hastily；　and　in　silence；　thinking　on　the　approaching　separation；　and　scarce　yet　believing　it　would　take　place　without　a　final　struggle　with　his　mother's　fondness。　　To　his　surprise；　she　filled　the　quaigh　with　liquor　for　his　parting　cup。

〃Go；〃　she　said；　〃my　son；　since　such　is　thy　settled　purpose；　but　first　stand　once　more　on　thy　mother's　hearth；　the　flame　on　which　will　be　extinguished　long　ere　thy　foot　shall　again　be　placed　there。〃

〃To　your　health；　mother！〃　　said　Hamish；　〃and　may　we　meet　again　in　happiness；　in　spite　of　your　ominous　words。〃

〃It　were　better　not　to　part；〃　said　his　mother；　watching　him　as　he　quaffed　the　liquor；　of　which　he　would　have　held　it　ominous　to　have　left　a　drop。

〃And　now；〃　she　said；　muttering　the　words　to　herself；　〃goif　thou　canst　go。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish；　as　he　replaced　on　the　table　the　empty　quaigh；　〃thy　drink　is　pleasant　to　the　taste；　but　it　takes　away　the　strength　which　it　ought　to　give。〃

〃Such　is　its　first　effect；　my　son；〃　replied　Elspat。　　〃But　lie　down　upon　that　soft　heather　couch；　shut　your　eyes　but　for　a　moment；　and；　in　the　sleep　of　an　hour；　you　shall　have　more　refreshment　than　in　the　ordinary　repose　of　three　whole　nights；　could　they　be　blended　into　one。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish；　upon　whose　brain　the　potion　was　now　taking　rapid　effect；　〃give　me　my　bonnetI　must　kiss　you　and　begoneyet　it　seems　as　if　my　feet　were　nailed　to　the　floor。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　his　mother；　〃you　will　be　instantly　well；　if　you　will　sit　down　for　half　an　hourbut　half　an　hour。　　It　is　eight　h