While radiant summer opens all its pride,
Thy hill, delightful2 Shene! Here let us sweep
Thomson.
From her kind and officious, but somewhat gossiping friend, Mrs. Glass, Jeanie underwent a very close catechism on their road to the Strand4, where the Thistle of the good lady flourished in full glory, and, with its legend of Nemo me impune, distinguished5 a shop then well known to all Scottish folk of high and low degree.
“And were you sure aye to say your Grace to him?” said the good old lady; “for ane should make a distinction between MacCallummore and the bits o’ southern bodies that they ca’ lords here — there are as mony o’ them, Jeanie, as would gar ane think they maun cost but little fash in the making — some of them I wadna trust wi’ six pennies-worth of black-rappee — some of them I wadna gie mysell the trouble to put up a hapnyworth in brown paper for — But I hope you showed your breeding to the Duke of Argyle, for what sort of folk would he think your friends in London, if you had been lording him, and him a Duke?”
“He didna seem muckle to mind,” said Jeanie; “he kend that I was landward bred.”
“Weel, weel,” answered the good lady. “His Grace kens7 me weel; so I am the less anxious about it. I never fill his snug-box but he says, ‘How d’ye do, good Mrs. Glass? — How are all our friends in the North?’ or it may be —‘Have ye heard from the North lately?’ And you may be sure, I make my best courtesy, and answer, ‘My Lord Duke, I hope your Grace’s noble Duchess, and your Grace’s young ladies, are well; and I hope the snuff continues to give your Grace satisfaction.’ And then ye will see the people in the shop begin to look about them; and if there’s a Scotsman, as there may be three or half-a-dozen, aff go the hats, and mony a look after him, and ‘There goes the Prince of Scotland, God bless him!’ But ye have not told me yet the very words he said t’ye.”
Jeanie had no intention to be quite so communicative. She had, as the reader may have observed, some of the caution and shrewdness, as well as of the simplicity8 of her country. She answered generally, that the Duke had received her very compassionately9, and had promised to interest himself in her sister’s affair, and to let her hear from him in the course of the next day, or the day after. She did not choose to make any mention of his having desired her to be in readiness to attend him, far less of his hint, that she should not bring her landlady10. So that honest Mrs. Glass was obliged to remain satisfied with the general intelligence above mentioned, after having done all she could to extract more.
It may easily be conceived, that, on the next day, Jeanie declined all invitations and inducements, whether of exercise or curiosity, to walk abroad, and continued to inhale11 the close, and somewhat professional atmosphere of Mrs. Glass’s small parlour. The latter flavour it owed to a certain cupboard, containing, among other articles, a few canisters of real Havannah, which, whether from respect to the manufacture, or out of a reverend fear of the exciseman, Mrs. Glass did not care to trust in the open shop below, and which communicated to the room a scent12, that, however fragrant13 to the nostrils14 of the connoisseur15, was not very agreeable to those of Jeanie.
“Dear sirs,” she said to herself, “I wonder how my cousin’s silk manty, and her gowd watch, or ony thing in the world, can be worth sitting sneezing all her life in this little stilling room, and might walk on green braes if she liked.”
Mrs. Glass was equally surprised at her cousin’s reluctance16 to stir abroad, and her indifference17 to the fine sights of London. “It would always help to pass away the time,” she said, “to have something to look at, though ane was in distress18.” But Jeanie was unpersuadable.
The day after her interview with the Duke was spent in that “hope delayed, which maketh the heart sick.” Minutes glided19 after minutes — hours fled after hours — it became too late to have any reasonable expectation of hearing from the Duke that day; yet the hope which she disowned, she could not altogether relinquish20, and her heart throbbed21, and her ears tingled22, with every casual sound in the shop below. It was in vain. The day wore away in the anxiety of protracted23 and fruitless expectation.
The next morning commenced in the same manner. But before noon, a well-dressed gentleman entered Mrs. Glass’s shop, and requested to see a young woman from Scotland.
“That will be my cousin Jeanie Deans, Mr. Archibald,” said Mrs. Glass, with a courtesy of recognisance. “Have you any message for her from his Grace the Duke of Argyle, Mr. Archibald? I will carry it to her in a moment.”
“I believe I must give her the trouble of stepping down, Mrs. Glass.”
“Jeanie — Jeanie Deans!” said Mrs. Glass, screaming at the bottom of the little staircase, which ascended24 from the corner of the shop to the higher regions. “Jeanie — Jeanie Deans, I say! come down stairs instantly; here is the Duke of Argyle’s groom25 of the chambers26 desires to see you directly.” This was announced in a voice so loud, as to make all who chanced to be within hearing aware of the important communication.
It may easily be supposed, that Jeanie did not tarry long in adjusting herself to attend the summons, yet her feet almost failed her as she came down stairs.
“I must ask the favour of your company a little way,” said Archibald, with civility.
“I am quite ready, sir,” said Jeanie.
“Is my cousin going out, Mr. Archibald? then I will hae to go wi’ her, no doubt. — James Rasper — Look to the shop, James. — Mr. Archibald,” pushing a jar towards him, “you take his Grace’s mixture, I think. Please to fill your box, for old acquaintance’ sake, while I get on my things.”
Mr. Archibald transferred a modest parcel of snuff from the jar to his own mull, but said he was obliged to decline the pleasure of Mrs. Glass’s company, as his message was particularly to the young person.
“Particularly to the young person?” said Mrs. Glass; “is not that uncommon27, Mr. Archibald? But his Grace is the best judge; and you are a steady person, Mr. Archibald. It is not every one that comes from a great man’s house I would trust my cousin with. — But, Jeanie, you must not go through the streets with Mr. Archibald with your tartan what-d’ye-call-it there upon your shoulders, as if you had come up with a drove of Highland28 cattle. Wait till I bring down my silk cloak. Why, we’ll have the mob after you!”
“I have a hackney-coach in waiting, madam,” said Mr. Archibald, interrupting the officious old lady, from whom Jeanie might otherwise have found it difficult to escape; “and, I believe, I must not allow her time for any change of dress.”
So saying, he hurried Jeanie into the coach, while she internally praised and wondered at the easy manner in which he shifted off Mrs. Glass’s officious offers and inquiries29, without mentioning his master’s orders, or entering into any explanation,
On entering the coach, Mr. Archibald seated himself in the front seat opposite to our heroine, and they drove on in silence. After they had driven nearly half-an-hour, without a word on either side, it occurred to Jeanie, that the distance and time did not correspond with that which had been occupied by her journey on the former occasion, to and from the residence of the Duke of Argyle. At length she could not help asking her taciturn companion, “Whilk way they were going?”
“My Lord Duke will inform you himself, madam,” answered Archibald, with the same solemn courtesy which marked his whole demeanour. Almost as he spoke30, the hackney-coach drew up, and the coachman dismounted and opened the door. Archibald got out, and assisted Jeanie to get down. She found herself in a large turnpike road, without the bounds of London, upon the other side of which road was drawn31 up a plain chariot and four horses, the panels without arms, and the servants without liveries.
“You have been punctual, I see, Jeanie,” said the Duke of Argyle, as Archibald opened the carriage-door. “You must be my companion for the rest of the way. Archibald will remain here with the hackney-coach till your return.”
Ere Jeanie could make answer, she found herself, to her no small astonishment32, seated by the side of a duke, in a carriage which rolled forward at a rapid yet smooth rate, very different in both particulars from the lumbering33, jolting34 vehicle which she had just left; and which, lumbering and jolting as it was, conveyed to one who had seldom been in a coach before a certain feeling of dignity and importance.
“Young woman,” said the Duke, “after thinking as attentively35 on your sister’s case as is in my power, I continue to be impressed with the belief that great injustice36 may be done by the execution of her sentence. So are one or two liberal and intelligent lawyers of both countries whom I have spoken with. — Nay37, pray hear me out before you thank me. — I have already told you my personal conviction is of little consequence, unless I could impress the same upon others. Now I have done for you what I would certainly not have done to serve any purpose of my own — I have asked an audience of a lady whose interest with the king is deservedly very high. It has been allowed me, and I am desirous that you should see her and speak for yourself. You have no occasion to be abashed38; tell your story simply, as you did to me.”
“I am much obliged to your Grace,” said Jeanie, remembering Mrs. Glass’s charge, “and I am sure, since I have had the courage to speak to your Grace in poor Effie’s cause, I have less reason to be shame-faced in speaking to a leddy. But, sir, I would like to ken6 what to ca’ her, whether your grace or your honour, or your leddyship, as we say to lairds and leddies in Scotland, and I will take care to mind it; for I ken leddies are full mair particular than gentlemen about their titles of honour.”
“You have no occasion to call her anything but Madam. Just say what you think is likely to make the best impression — look at me from time to time — and if I put my hand to my cravat39 so —(showing her the motion)— you will stop; but I shall only do this when you say anything that is not likely to please.”
“But, sir, your Grace,” said Jeanie, “if it wasna ower muckle trouble, wad it no be better to tell me what I should say, and I could get it by heart?”
“No, Jeanie, that would not have the same effect — that would be like reading a sermon, you know, which we good Presbyterians think has less unction than when spoken without book,” replied the Duke. “Just speak as plainly and boldly to this lady, as you did to me the day before yesterday, and if you can gain her consent, I’ll wad ye a plack, as we say in the north, that you get the pardon from the king.”
As he spoke, he took a pamphlet from his pocket, and began to read. Jeanie had good sense and tact40, which constitute betwixt them that which is called natural good breeding. She interpreted the Duke’s manoeuvre41 as a hint that she was to ask no more questions, and she remained silent accordingly.
The carriage rolled rapidly onwards through fertile meadows, ornamented42 with splendid old oaks, and catching43 occasionally a glance of the majestic44 mirror of a broad and placid45 river. After passing through a pleasant village, the equipage stopped on a commanding eminence46, where the beauty of English landscape was displayed in its utmost luxuriance. Here the Duke alighted, and desired Jeanie to follow him. They paused for a moment on the brow of a hill, to gaze on the unrivalled landscape which it presented. A huge sea of verdure, with crossing and intersecting promontories47 of massive and tufted groves48, was tenanted by numberless flocks and herds49, which seemed to wander unrestrained and unbounded through the rich pastures. The Thames, here turreted50 with villas51, and there garlanded with forests, moved on slowly and placidly52, like the mighty53 monarch54 of the scene, to whom all its other beauties were but accessories, and bore on its bosom55 an hundred barks and skiffs, whose white sails and gaily56 fluttering pennons gave life to the whole.
The Duke of Argyle was, of course, familiar with this scene; but to a man of taste it must be always new. Yet, as he paused and looked on this inimitable landscape, with the feeling of delight which it must give to the bosom of every admirer of nature, his thoughts naturally reverted57 to his own more grand, and scarce less beautiful, domains58 of Inverary. — “This is a fine scene,” he said to his companion, curious, perhaps, to draw out her sentiments; “we have nothing like it in Scotland.”
“It’s braw rich feeding for the cows, and they have a fine breed o’ cattle here,” replied Jeanie; “but I like just as weel to look at the craigs of Arthur’s Seat, and the sea coming in ayont them as at a’ thae muckle trees.”
The Duke smiled at a reply equally professional and national, and made a signal for the carriage to remain where it was. Then adopting an unfrequented footpath59, he conducted Jeanie through several complicated mazes60 to a postern-door in a high brick wall.
It was shut; but as the Duke tapped slightly at it, a person in waiting within, after reconnoitring through a small iron grate, contrived61 for the purpose, unlocked the door and admitted them. They entered, and it was immediately closed and fastened behind them. This was all done quickly, the door so instantly closing, and the person who opened it so suddenly disappearing, that Jeanie could not even catch a glimpse of his exterior62.
They found themselves at the extremity63 of a deep and narrow alley64, carpeted with the most verdant65 and close-shaven turf, which felt like velvet66 under their feet, and screened from the sun by the branches of the lofty elms which united over the path, and caused it to resemble, in the solemn obscurity of the light which they admitted, as well as from the range of columnar stems, and intricate union of their arched branches, one of the narrow side aisles67 in an ancient Gothic cathedral.
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1
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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kens
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| vt.知道（ken的第三人称单数形式） | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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compassionately
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| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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inhale
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| v.吸入(气体等)，吸(烟) | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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30
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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promontories
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| n.岬，隆起，海角( promontory的名词复数 ) | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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49
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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turreted
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| a.(像炮塔般)旋转式的 | |
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villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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