登陆注册
15728000000006

第6章

Then, as the street turned southward in its easy curve, there was some shelter from the house walls.But Auld Jock was quite exhausted and incapable of caring for himself.In the ancient guildhall of the candlemakers, at the top of the Row, was another carting office and Harrow Inn, a resort of country carriers.The man would have gone in there where he was quite unknown or, indeed, he might even have lain down in the bleak court that gave access to the tenements above, but for Bobby's persistent and cheerful barking, begging and nipping.

"Maister, maister!" he said, as plainly as a little dog could speak, "dinna bide here.It's juist a stap or two to food an'

fire in' the cozy auld ingleneuk."

And then, the level.roadway won at last, there was the railing of the bridge-approach to cling to, on the one hand, and the upright bars of the kirkyard gate on the other.By the help of these and the urging of wee Bobby, Auld Jock came the short, steep way up out of the market, to the row of lighted shops in Greyfriars Place.

With the wind at the back and above the housetops, Mr.Traill stood bare-headed in a dry haven of peace in his doorway, firelight behind him, and welcome in his shrewd gray eyes.If Auld Jock had shown any intention of going by, it is not impossible that the landlord of Ye Olde Greyfriars Dining-Rooms might have dragged him in bodily.The storm had driven all his customers home.For an hour there had not been a soul in the place to speak to, and it was so entirely necessary for John Traill to hear his own voice that he had been known, in such straits, to talk to himself.Auld Jock was not an inspiring auditor, but a deal better than naething ; and, if he proved hopeless, entertainment was to be found in Bobby.So Mr.Traill bustled in before his guests, poked the open fire into leaping flames, and heaped it up skillfully at the back with fresh coals.

The good landlord turned from his hospitable task to find Auld Jock streaming and shaking on the hearth.

"Man, but you're wet!" he exclaimed.He hustled the 'old shepherd out of his dripping plaid and greatcoat and spread them to the blaze.Auld Jock found a dry, knitted Tam-o'-Shanter bonnet in his little bundle and set it on his head.It was a moment or two before he could speak without the humiliating betrayal of chattering teeth.

"Ay, it's a misty nicht," he admitted, with caution.

"Misty! Man, it's raining like all the seven deils were abroad."Having delivered himself of this violent opinion, Mr.Traill fell into his usual philosophic vein."I have sma' patience with the Scotch way of making little of everything.If Noah had been a Lowland Scot he'd 'a' said the deluge was juist fair wet."'

He laughed at his own wit, his thin-featured face and keen gray eyes lighting up to a kindliness that his brusque speech denied in vain.He had a fluency of good English at command that he would.have thought ostentatious to use in speaking with a simple country body.

Auld Jock stared at Mr.Traill and pondered the matter.By and by he asked: "Wasna the deluge fair wet?"The landlord sighed but, brought to book like that, admitted that it was.Conversation flagged, however, while he busied himself with toasting a smoked herring, and dragging roasted potatoes from the little iron oven that was fitted into the brickwork of the fireplace beside the grate.

Bobby was attending to his own entertainment.The familiar place wore a new and enchanting aspect, and needed instant exploration.

By day it was fitted with tables, picketed by chairs and all manner of boots.Noisy and crowded, a little dog that wandered about there was liable to be trodden upon.On that night of storm it was a vast, bright place, so silent one could hear the ticking of the wag-at-the-wa' clock, the crisp crackling of the flames, and the snapping of the coals.The uncovered deal tables were set back in a double line along one wall, with the chairs piled on top, leaving a wide passage of freshly scrubbed and sanded oaken floor from the door to the fireplace.Firelight danced on the dark old wainscoting and high, carved overmantel, winked on rows of drinking mugs and metal covers over cold meats on the buffet, and even picked out the gilt titles on the backs of a shelf of books in Mr.Traill's private corner behind the bar.

Bobby shook himself on the hearth to free his rain-coat of surplus water.To the landlord's dry "We're no' needing a shower in the house.Lie down, Bobby," he wagged his tail politely, as a sign that he heard.But, as Auld Jock did not repeat the order, he ignored it and scampered busily about the room, leaving little trails of wet behind him.

This grill-room of Traill's place was more like the parlor of a country inn, or a farm-house kitchen if there had been a built-in bed or two, than a restaurant in the city.There, a humble man might see his herring toasted, his bannocks baked on the oven-top, or his tea brewed to his liking.On such a night as this the landlord would pull the settle out of the inglenook to the set before the solitary guest a small table, and keep the kettle on the hob.

"Spread yoursel' on both sides o' the fire, man.There'll be nane to keep us company, I'm thinking.Ilka man that has a roof o' his ain will be wearing it for a bonnet the nicht."As there was no answer to this, the skilled conversational angler dropped a bit of bait that the wariest man must rise to.

"That's a vera intelligent bit dog, Auld Jock.He was here with the time-gun spiering for you.When he didna find you he greeted like a bairn."Auld Jock, huddled in the corner of the settle, so near the fire that his jacket smoked, took so long a time to find an answer that Mr.Traill looked at him keenly as he set the wooden plate and pewter mug on the table.

"Man, you're vera ill," he cried, sharply.In truth he was shocked and self-accusing because he had not observed Auld Jock's condition before.

"I'm no' so awfu' ill," came back in irritated denial, as if he had been accused of some misbehavior.

"Weel, it's no' a dry herrin' ye'll hae in my shop the nicht.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 超能研究会

    超能研究会

    高三年级的杨凡某天无聊YY之下意外获得了一个超能力,本来以为会从此成为主角,发家致富,迎娶白富美,走上人生颠峰。然而杨凡却发现各种奇葩的超能力者接二连三地出现在自己身边。为了更好的约束这些散乱的超能者们,超能研究会成立。透视考试作弊,瞬移赶路通宵上网,怪力无双开核桃,心灵传导说悄悄话,隐身捉迷藏,各种强大的超能力怎么开心怎么玩。喂喂,超能力真不是你们这样用的啊!
  • 情圣百转

    情圣百转

    轮回千百世,未曾忘记最初的那份柔情历经三千年,未曾忘记最初的那份感动我愿再过三千年,只求与你重修旧旧梦人间的花心情圣‘韩川’遇跌入凡尘的神女‘辛柔’自此手握灵兵,美人在侧,享尽齐人之福。但随后十年,机缘巧合之下,韩川与之双双踏入神境,神女‘辛柔’也因此觉醒血脉被强行召回。韩川不甘心,自此,封存记忆,设下封印,只要遇见,那么记忆觉醒。做完这一切,引颈自刎,开始了千百世的重生,只为寻回最初的那份平静。神女‘辛柔’在知道这事后,同样效仿。生命不息,轮回不止,两人的爱或许感动上苍,让他们在另一处世界,重续前缘,不过老天不是好人,让他们在相逢的路上,已然设出无数难关…..
  • 逆天嫡女绝世重生

    逆天嫡女绝世重生

    全世界的猎人都在捕猎三个魔神之子的时候,猎人学院的第一名唯安已经猎杀了前两个,杀了前两个后……我擦,第三个是光明神!然后,我擦!穿越了!
  • 乾坤掌控

    乾坤掌控

    神魔一战,谁对谁错;乾坤大陆,元素掌控,神界之门已闭,未来又在何方…
  • 善见律毗婆沙

    善见律毗婆沙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 洛园

    洛园

    洛园,介于天堂与地狱之间,被光与暗的囚笼围困。这里拥有天堂般的光明欢乐,也拥有地狱般的黑暗痛苦。洛园是一切的起点,也是最终的归宿。一位来自洛园的少年,立志走出这里。因为,洛园不是乐园。少年坚信,洛园并非终点。
  • 异世妖瞳:绝美容颜

    异世妖瞳:绝美容颜

    “你的心,在哪?”“心枯了,忘了它在哪了”……“你真的要走吗?你真的舍得我们的女儿吗?”“我……忘了我……于她是件好事……”……“你做的够好了,这天下会太平的!”
  • 孤云朗境

    孤云朗境

    从小异于其它狐妖的狐妖公主,借朗境悬空之时逃出妖界奔赴人间。在人间遇到身负孤云之力的轩辕孤云,展开一系列惊心动魄的冒险之旅。
  • 荒古之上

    荒古之上

    荒古唯一者踏出那一步,前往之上的世界。天道寂灭,众生无相。举世沉沦。从此路,断了……人族,在百族之中仿若蝼蚁。举世兄弟,团结齐心,共御外侮。修炼者世界风云涌动,一凡俗之人默默走上舞台。默默走出那一道道轮回。天地的尽头,识觉的本源,死者魂归何方?生死如何定义?掀开这一层层迷雾,世界,究竟是怎样的?他,沿着浓浓的岁月气息,追溯岁月之流,逆返命运忘川。忘川三途,仙人指路。幽幽的呜咽声,举世荒凉寂灭,他要回去了。那里需要他!
  • 儿童少年精神医学(第二版)

    儿童少年精神医学(第二版)

    《儿童少年精神医学(第2版)》从我国的实际出发,针对影响发育的生物、心理和社会因素进行了详细的讨论,并一一剖析,给出了切实可行的防治方法。为强调心理卫生和精神疾病的防治应从婴儿抓起,《儿童少年精神医学(第2版)》特增加了婴儿情绪和行为障碍及心身疾病的内容,介绍了发达国家中已兴起的“婴儿精神医学”;为体现预防为主的原则,《儿童少年精神医学(第2版)》特设专篇讨论预防问题;鉴于我国儿童少年精神医学起步较迟。