登陆注册
26501000000015

第15章 CHAPTER III.(2)

ye ken, sir, gien it war hauden frae them, they wad but see deils an' cut their throts.""They're like to see deils ony gait er' lang," retorted the minister, relapsing into the vernacular for a moment.

"Ow, deed maybe, sir! but e'en the deils themsels war justifeed i'

their objection to bein' committed to their ain company afore their time."Mr. Sclater could not help smiling at the woman's readiness, and that was a point gained by her. An acquaintance with Scripture goes far with a Scotch ecclesiastic. Besides, the man had a redeeming sense of humour, though he did not know how to prize it, not believing it a gift of God.

"It's true, my woman," he answered. "Ay! it said something for them, deils 'at they war, 'at they preferred the swine. But even the swine cudna bide them!"Encouraged by the condescension of the remark, but disinclined to follow the path of reflection it indicated, Mistress Croale ventured a little farther upon her own.

"Ye see, sir," she said, "as lang's there's whusky, it wull tak the throt-ro'd. It's the naitral w'y o' 't, ye see, to rin doon, an'

it's no mainner o' use gangin' again natur. Sae, allooin' the thing maun be, ye'll hae till alloo likewise, an' it's a trouth I'm tellin' ye, sir, 'at it's o' nae sma' consequence to the toon 'at the drucken craturs sud fill themsels wi' dacency--an' that's what Isee till. Gang na to the magistrate, sir; but as sune's ye hae gotten testimony--guid testimony though, sir--'at there's been disorder or immorawlity i' my hoose, come ye to me, an' I'll gie ye my han' to paper on't this meenute, 'at I'll gie up my chop, an'

lea' yer perris--an' may ye sune get a better i' my place. Sir, I'm like a mither to the puir bodies! An' gin ye drive them to Jock Thamson's, or Jeemie Deuk's, it'll be just like--savin' the word, Idinna inten' 't for sweirin', guid kens!--I say it'll just be dammin' them afore their time, like the puir deils. Hech! but it'll come sune eneuch, an' they're muckle to be peetied!""And when those victims of your vile ministrations," said the clergyman, again mounting his wooden horse, and setting it rocking, "find themselves where there will be no whisky to refresh them, where do you think you will be, Mistress Croale?""Whaur the Lord wulls," answered the woman. "Whaur that may be, Iconfess I'm whiles laith to think. Only gien I was you, Maister Sclater, I wad think twise afore I made ill waur.""But hear me, Mistress Croale: it's not your besotted customers only I have to care for. Your soul is as precious in my sight as any of which I shall have to render an account.""As Mistress Bonniman's, for enstance?" suggested Mrs. Croale, interrogatively, and with just the least trace of pawkiness in the tone.

The city, large as it was, was yet not large enough to prevent a portion of the private affairs of individuals from coming to be treated as public property, and Mrs. Bonniman was a handsome and rich young widow, the rumour of whose acceptableness to Mr. Sclater had reached Mistress Croale's ear before ever she had seen the minister himself. An unmistakable shadow of confusion crossed his countenance; whereupon with consideration both for herself and him, the woman made haste to go on, as if she had but chosen her instance at merest random.

"Na, na, sir! what my sowl may be in the eyes o' my Maker, I hae ill tellin'," she said, "but dinna ye threip upo' me 'at it's o' the same vailue i' your eyes as the sowl o' sic a fine bonny, winsome leddy as yon. In trouth," she added, and shook her head mournfully, "I haena had sae mony preevileeges; an' maybe it'll be seen till, an' me passed ower a wheen easier nor some fowk.""I wouldn't have you build too much upon that, Mistress Croale,"said Mr. Sclater, glad to follow the talk down another turning, but considerably more afraid of rousing the woman than he had been before.

The remark drove her behind the categorical stockade of her religious merits.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • Drift from Two Shores

    Drift from Two Shores

    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。
  • 我这一辈子

    我这一辈子

    一个幽默的作家,一定是极会掌握语言文学的作家,他必须写得俏皮,泼辣,警辟,使人读了发笑,或啼笑皆非、受到教育。老舍作为一个幽默小说家,便具有这样的语言能力和幽默的心态,世事、异国观光、朋友亲邻,在他眼里皆是有趣的。一如他笔下“穿马裤的马裤先生”、“盼孙子的王老太太”、“院里不是东西的老王”等等,既写实传神,又夸张好笑。且他的这种笑不仅仅是让人捧腹的搞笑,还是一种含泪的笑。他将对当时社会的讽刺批判和自己博大悲悯的人道主义情怀,融入这种笑中,极具感染力,让人发笑的同时,也引人思考。
  • 魂珠界

    魂珠界

    人世间的丑与美,善与恶,黑与白,光与暗谁又能断的清。
  • 星空之证

    星空之证

    随着能量大潮的来临,人类终于有了进军星空的机会。然而,就像海边小水坑中的小鱼,在涨潮时迎来的不仅是成长的机会,还有凶猛的捕食者。无论如何,人类想要成为星海一员,首先要证明自己可以在星海中生存下来;可以在星空中自由漫步,这就是----星空之证......
  • 最强修炼系统

    最强修炼系统

    打怪就能升级?刷副本就能得到经验?天才妖孽算个屁,老子有系统,就他妈无敌!
  • Hello,我的高冷攻大人

    Hello,我的高冷攻大人

    一朝一日,她,她,她艾小梵竟然被一个有钱又帅气的腹黑恶魔给盯上了?这是要爽到天的节奏啊~本来只是想玩玩的,但是却用了心,这心一用,就再无一二了。可是,老天爷就是不公,就是喜欢凑热闹,遇到一年前的心腹,他,时殇然。不是说不喜欢了吗?怎么又遇见了?还是带着浪漫而来的?这是要和他决斗啊!他还喜欢着艾小梵,而艾小梵是真的忘了他了吗?喜欢的那个恶魔还好吗?老天爷啊老天爷!你非得看着他们斗个你死我活才甘心吗!那个恶魔瞧着浓浓的夜色思绪伤感:梵宝贝,都说上了心的人都会被看见,那么,宝贝,我为你上了心,你,看见我了吗……
  • 毒舌小神医

    毒舌小神医

    初入都市的小神医凭借一张毒舌,树敌无数,又凭借过人医术救人无数,如同勤劳的小蜜蜂周旋在各色美女之中
  • 24小说

    24小说

    小说所需要勾勒、描述、呈现和保留的,恰恰走这两样东西:时间和历史。无论面目模糊,或清晰,时间在现实中文字中的形态,最终将达戍契中。作家穿透其间,将液态的、流动的时间国化,之后做戌时间的“切片”。那些时间的切片,像走一把扑克牌。或者做另外的想象,它们就像走“标本”。一只蝴蝶,一片树叶可以制成标本。那么,一块时间,一段历史,应该也可以。切片也好,杯本也好,我现在说的是书籍。好的书籍,试图拥有并保留所在的时代。
  • 龙迹

    龙迹

    异世大陆弱肉强食,旁门子弟命运多舛。一个不想被命运操控的少年,一面被被历史掩埋的神奇龙碑,一段传奇的修炼之旅。且看旁门少年郭永不甘忍受他人的压迫,不断努力,在一次意外中获得了一面古龙碑,就此改写命运,也拉开了大陆的神秘面纱。三十年河西,三十年河东,莫欺少年穷!
  • 傲娇王爷逆天王妃

    傲娇王爷逆天王妃

    楚王府。“王爷救命啊!王妃太凶残,求王爷大发慈悲救救我们吧!”一众侍卫闻言大汗,他们能告诉你他们王爷昨天夜里爬王妃的床,现在还在罚跪着的呢吗?