WAVERLEY

第23章

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第23章

WAVERLEY Sir Walter Scott

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WAVERLEY
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  Hisanxietyonherbehalfdidnot,however,seemtoextenditselfinthatquarter,where,accordingtothegeneralopinion,itismostefficientlydisplayed;inlabouring,namely,toestablishherinlife,eitherbyalargedowryorawealthymarriage。Byanoldsettlement,almostallthelandedestatesoftheBaronwent,afterhisdeath,toadistantrelation;anditwassupposedthatMissBradwardinewouldremainbutslenderlyprovidedfor,asthegoodgentleman’scashmattershadbeentoolongundertheexclusivechargeofBailieMacwheeble,toadmitofanygreatexpectationsfromhispersonalsuccession。Itistrue,thesaidBailielovedhispatronandhispatron’sdaughternextalthoughatanincomparabledistancetohimself。Hethoughtitwaspossibletosetasidethesettlementonthemaleline,andhadactuallyprocuredanopiniontothateffectand,asheboasted,withoutafeefromaneminentScottishcounsel,underwhosenoticehecontrivedtobringthepointwhileconsultinghimregularlyonsomeotherbusiness。ButtheBaronwouldnotlistentosuchaproposalforaninstant。Onthecontrary,heusedtohaveaperversepleasureinboastingthatthebaronyofBradwardinewasamalefief,thefirstcharterhavingbeengivenatthatearlyperiodwhenwomenwerenotdeemedcapabletoholdafeudalgrant;because,accordingto_LescoustusmesdeNormandie,c’estl’hommekisebastetkiconseille;_or,asisyetmoreungallantlyexpressedbyotherauthorities,allofwhosebarbarousnameshedelightedtoquoteatfulllength,becauseawomancouldnotservethesuperior,orfeudallord,inwar,onaccountofthedecorumofhersex,norassisthimwithadvice,becauseofherlimitedintellect,norkeephiscounsel,owingtotheinfirmityofherdisposition。Hewouldtriumphantlyask,howitwouldbecomeafemale,andthatfemaleaBradwardine,tobeseenemployed_inservitioexuendi,seudetrahendi,caligasregispostbattaliam?_thatisinpullingofftheking’sbootsafteranengagement,whichwasthefeudalservicebywhichheheldthebaronyofBradwardine。No,’’hesaid,beyondhesitation,_proculdubio,_manyfemales,asworthyasRose,hadbeenexcluded,inordertomakewayformyownsuccession,andHeavenforbidthatIshoulddoaughtthatmightcontravenethedestinationofmyforefathers,orimpingeupontherightofmykinsman,MalcolmBradwardineofInchgrabbit,anhonourablethoughdecayedbranchofmyownfamily。’’

  TheBailie,asprimeminister,havingreceivedthisdecisivecommunicationfromhissovereign,durstnotpresshisownopinionanyfarther,butcontentedhimselfwithdeploring,onallsuitableoccasions,toSaunderson,theministeroftheinterior,theLaird’sself-willedness,andwithlayingplansforunitingRosewiththeyounglairdofBalmawhapple,whohadafineestate,onlymoderatelyburdened,andwasafaultlessyounggentleman,beingassoberasasaint-ifyoukeepbrandyfromhim,andhimfrombrandy-andwho,inbrief,hadnoimperfectionbutthatofkeepinglightcompanyatatime;suchasJinker,thehorse-couper,andGibbyGaethroughwi’t,thepipero’Cupar;o’whilkfollies,Mr。Saunderson,he’llmend,he’llmend,’’-pronouncedtheBailie。

  Likesouraleinsimmer,’’addedDavieGellatley,whohappenedtobenearertheconclavethantheywereawareof。

  MissBradwardine,suchaswehavedescribedher,withallthesimplicityandcuriosityofarecluse,attachedherselftotheopportunitiesofincreasingherstoreofliteraturewhichEdward’svisitaffordedher。Hesentforsomeofhisbooksfromhisquarters,andtheyopenedtohersourcesofdelightofwhichshehadhithertohadnoidea。ThebestEnglishpoets,ofeverydescription,andotherworksonbelleslettres,madeapartofthispreciouscargo。Hermusic,evenherflowers,wereneglected,andSaundersnotonlymournedover,butbegantomutinyagainst,thelabourforwhichhenowscarcereceivedthanks。

  Thesenewpleasuresbecamegraduallyenhancedbysharingthemwithoneofakindredtaste。Edward’sreadinesstocomment,torecite,toexplaindifficultpassages,renderedhisassistanceinvaluable;andthewildromanceofhisspiritdelightedacharactertooyoungandinexperiencedtoobserveitsdeficiencies。Uponsubjectswhichinterestedhim,andwhenquiteatease,hepossessedthatflowofnatural,andsomewhatflorideloquence,whichhasbeensupposedaspowerfulevenasfigure,fashion,fame,orfortune,inwinningthefemaleheart。

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