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chronicles of the canongate-第42部分

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f without disgrace to your truth or your manhood; take back his silver; and trust not to his fair words。〃

〃It may not be; mother;〃 said Hamish; 〃I do not repent my engagement; unless that it must make me leave you soon。〃

〃Leave me!  how leave me?  Silly boy; think you I know not what duty belongs to the wife or mother of a daring man?  Thou art but a boy yet; and when thy father had been the dread of the country for twenty years; he did not despise my company and assistance; but often said my help was worth that of two strong gillies。〃

〃It is not on that score; mother; but since I must leave the country〃

〃Leave the country!〃  replied his mother; interrupting him。  〃And think you that I am like a bush; that is rooted to the soil where it grows; and must die if carried elsewhere?  I have breathed other winds than these of Ben Cruachan。  I have followed your father to the wilds of Ross and the impenetrable deserts of Y Mac Y Mhor。  Tush; man!  my limbs; old as they are; will bear me as far as your young feet can trace the way。〃

〃Alas; mother;〃 said the young man; with a faltering accent; 〃but to cross the sea〃

〃The sea!  who am I that I should fear the sea?  Have I never been in a birling in my lifenever known the Sound of Mull; the Isles of Treshornish; and the rough rocks of Harris?〃

〃Alas; mother; I go farfar from all of these。  I am enlisted in one of the new regiments; and we go against the French in America。〃

〃Enlisted!〃  uttered the astonished mother〃against MY will without MY consent!  You could not!  you would not!〃  Then rising up; and assuming a posture of almost imperial command; 〃Hamish; you DARED not!〃

〃Despair; mother; dares everything;〃 answered Hamish; in a tone of melancholy resolution。  〃What should I do here; where I can scarce get bread for myself and you; and when the times are growing daily worse?  Would you but sit down and listen; I would convince you I have acted for the best。〃

With a bitter smile Elspat sat down; and the same severe ironical expression was on her features; as; with her lips firmly closed; she listened to his vindication。

Hamish went on; without being disconcerted by her expected displeasure。  〃When I left you; dearest mother; it was to go to MacPhadraick's house; for although I knew he is crafty and worldly; after the fashion of the Sassenach; yet he is wise; and I thought how he would teach me; as it would cost him nothing; in which way I could mend our estate in the world。〃

〃Our estate in the world!〃  said Elspat; losing patience at the word; 〃and went you to a base fellow with a soul no better than that of a cowherd; to ask counsel about your conduct?  Your father asked none; save of his courage and his sword。〃

〃Dearest mother;〃 answered Hamish; 〃how shall I convince you that you live in this land of our fathers as if our fathers were yet living?  You walk as it were in a dream; surrounded by the phantoms of those who have been long with the dead。  When my father lived and fought; the great respected the man of the strong right hand; and the rich feared him。  He had protection from Macallum Mhor; and from Caberfae; and tribute from meaner men。  'CaberfaeANGLICE; the Stag's…head; the Celtic designation for the arms of the family of the high Chief of Seaforth。'  That is ended; and his son would only earn a disgraceful and unpitied death by the practices which gave his father credit and power among those who wear the breacan。  The land is conquered; its lights are quenchedGlengarry; Lochiel; Perth; Lord Lewis; all the high chiefs are dead or in exile。  We may mourn for it; but we cannot help it。  Bonnet; broadsword; and sporranpower; strength; and wealth; were all lost on Drummossie Muir。〃

〃It is false!〃  said Elspat; fiercely; 〃you and such like dastardly spirits are quelled by your own faint hearts; not by the strength of the enemy; you are like the fearful waterfowl; to whom the least cloud in the sky seems the shadow of the eagle。〃

〃Mother;〃 said Hamish proudly; 〃lay not faint heart to my charge。 I go where men are wanted who have strong arms and bold hearts too。  I leave a desert; for a land where I may gather fame。〃

〃And you leave your mother to perish in want; age; and solitude;〃 said Elspat; essaying successively every means of moving a resolution which she began to see was more deeply rooted than she had at first thought。

〃Not so; neither;〃 he answered; 〃I leave you to comfort and certainty; which you have yet never known。  Barcaldine's son is made a leader; and with him I have enrolled myself。  MacPhadraick acts for him; and raises men; and finds his own in doing it。〃

〃That is the truest word of the tale; were all the rest as false as hell;〃 said the old woman; bitterly。

〃But we are to find our good in it also;〃 continued Hamish; 〃for Barcaldine is to give you a shieling in his wood of Letter… findreight; with grass for your goats; and a cow; when you please to have one; on the common; and my own pay; dearest mother; though I am far away; will do more than provide you with meal; and with all else you can want。  Do not fear for me。  I enter a private gentleman; but I will return; if hard fighting and regular duty can deserve it; an officer; and with half a dollar a day。〃

〃Poor child!〃  replied Elspat; in a tone of pity mingled with contempt; 〃and you trust MacPhadraick?〃

〃I might mother;〃 said Hamish; the dark red colour of his race crossing his forehead and cheeks; 〃for MacPhadraick knows the blood which flows in my veins; and is aware; that should he break trust with you; he might count the days which could bring Hamish back to Breadalbane; and number those of his life within three suns more。  I would kill him at his own hearth; did he break his word with meI would; by the great Being who made us both!〃

The look and attitude of the young soldier for a moment overawed Elspat; she was unused to see him express a deep and bitter mood; which reminded her so strongly of his father。  But she resumed her remonstrances in the same taunting manner in which she had commenced them。

〃Poor boy!〃  she said; 〃and you think that at the distance of half the world your threats will be heard or thought of!  But; gogoplace your neck under him of Hanover's yoke; against whom every true Gael fought to the death。  Go; disown the royal Stewart; for whom your father; and his fathers; and your mother's fathers; have crimsoned many a field with their blood。  Go; put your head under the belt of one of the race of Dermid; whose children murderedYes;〃 she added; with a wild shriek; 〃murdered your mother's fathers in their peaceful dwellings in Glencoe! Yes;〃 she again exclaimed; with a wilder and shriller scream; 〃I was then unborn; but my mother has told meand I attended to the voice of MY motherwell I remember her words!  They came in peace; and were received in friendshipand blood and fire arose; and screams and murder!〃  'See Note 9。Massacre of Glencoe。'

〃Mother;〃 answered Hamish; mournfully; but with a decided tone; 〃all that I have thought over。  There is not a drop of the blood of Glencoe on the noble hand of Barcaldine; with the unhappy house of Glenlyon the curse remains; and on them God hath avenged it。〃

〃You speak like the S
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