登陆注册
20310500000044

第44章

"Weel, I'll admit to you that I'm fair fulish about Bobby.Man, I've courted that sma' terrier for eight and a half years.He's as polite and friendly as the deil, but he'll have naething to do with me or with onybody.I wonder the intelligent bit doesn't bite me for the ill turn I did his master."Then there was the story of Bobby's devotion to Auld Jock's memory to be told--the days when he faced starvation rather than desert that grave, the days when he lay cramped under the fallen table-tomb, and his repeated, dramatic escapes from the Pentland farm.His never broken silence in the kirkyard was only to be explained by the unforgotten orders of his dead master.His intelligent effort to make himself useful to the caretaker had won indulgence.His ready obedience, good temper, high spirits and friendliness had made him the special pet of the tenement children and the Heriot laddies.At the very last Mr.Traill repeated the talk he had had with the non-commissioned officer from the Castle, and confessed his own fear of some forlorn end for Bobby.It was true he was nobody's dog; and he was fascinated by soldiers and military music, and so, perhaps--"I'll no' be reconciled to parting--Eh, man, that's what Auld Jock himsel' said when he was telling me that the bit dog must be returned to the sheep-farm: 'It wull be sair partin'.'" Tears stood in the unashamed landlord's eyes.

Glenormiston was pulling Bobby's silkily fringed ears thoughtfully.Through all this talk about his dead master the little dog had not stirred.For the second time that day Bobby's veil was pushed back, first by the most unfortunate laddie in the decaying tenements about Greyfriars, and now by the Lord Provost of the ancient royal burgh and capital of Scotland.And both made the same discovery.Deep-brown pools of love, young Bobby's eyes had dwelt upon Auld Jock.Pools of sad memories they were now, looking out wistfully and patiently upon a masterless world.

"Are you thinking he would be reconciled to be anywhere away from that grave? Look, man!""Lord forgive me! I aye thought the wee doggie happy enough."After a moment the two men went down the gallery stairs in silence.Bobby dropped from the bench and fell into a subdued trot at their heels.As they left the cathedral by the door that led into High Street Glenormiston remarked, with a mysterious smile:

"I'm thinking Edinburgh can do better by wee Bobby than to banish him to the Castle.But wait a bit, man.A kirk is not the place for settling a small dog's affairs."The Lord Provost led the way westward along the cathedral's front.On High Street, St.Giles had three doorways.The middle door then gave admittance to the police office; the western opened into the Little Kirk, popularly known as Haddo's Hole.It was into this bare, whitewashed chapel that Glenormiston turned to get some restoration drawings he had left on the pulpit.He was explaining them to Mr.Traill when he was interrupted by a murmur and a shuffle, as of many voices and feet, and an odd tap-tap-tapping in the vestibule.

Of all the doorways on the north and south fronts of St.Giles the one to the Little Kirk was nearest the end of George IVBridge.Confused by the vast size and imposing architecture of the old cathedral, these slum children, in search of the police office, went no farther, but ventured timidly into the open vestibule of Haddo's Hole.Any doubts they might have had about this being the right place were soon dispelled.Bobby heard them and darted out to investigate.And suddenly they were all inside, overwrought Ailie on the floor, clasping the little dog and crying hysterically.

"Bobby's no' deid! Bobby's no' deid! Oh, Maister Traill, ye wullna hae to gie 'im up to the police! Tammy's got the seven shullin's in 'is bonnet!"And there was small Tammy, crutches dropped and pouring that offering of love and mercy out at the foot of an altar in old St.

Giles.Such an astonishing pile of copper coins it was, that it looked to the landlord like the loot of some shopkeeper's change drawer.

"Eh, puir laddie, whaur did ye get it a' noo?" he asked, gravely.

Tammy was very self-possessed and proud."The bairnies aroond the kirkyaird gie'd it to pay the police no' to mak' Bobby be deid."Mr.Traill flashed a glance at Glenormiston.It was a look at once of triumph and of humility over the Herculean deed of these disinherited children.But the Lord Provost was gazing at that crowd of pale bairns, products of the Old Town's ancient slums, and feeling, in his own person, the civic shame of it.And he was thinking, thinking, that he must hasten that other project nearest his heart, of knocking holes in solid rows of foul cliffs, in the Cowgate, on High Street, and around Greyfriars.It was an incredible thing that such a flower of affection should have bloomed so sweetly in such sunless cells.And it was a new gospel, at that time, that a dog or a horse or a bird might have its mission in this world of making people kinder and happier.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 超越六界的的虐恋:夕醉

    超越六界的的虐恋:夕醉

    “我为苍生,而苍生却容不下你,那我还要这苍生作何、、、?”“夕阳落,朝阳起,我愿意此生于你不离,今生不弃、、、”“我画羽芊对天发誓,我每想你一次便杀一人,想你两次就杀一双、、、”
  • 正学隅见述

    正学隅见述

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 镇委书记

    镇委书记

    本书采用第一人称的叙述手法,细致入微地描写了一个基层干部——镇委书记的历练作为,基间的酸甜苦辣,诸味杂陈,体现了主人公报效热土的赤子情怀,无疑也是社会底层生存状态的最真实写照……本书作者学理科出身,属圈外高手,笔法怪异,文风老辣,作品当属上乘之作。
  • 重逢三生之余世

    重逢三生之余世

    安千言本以为席权宇是她的全世界,一切都在正常的进行,偏偏在婚礼当日发生了车祸,醒来之后,穿越了!“你们全是骗子,你们都在骗我!”为什么她想要保护的都在慢慢的离开她?最爱的人,和自己的闺蜜鬼混在了一起。自己从小疼到大妹妹,开车要撞自己。爱自己的那个人呢?前世为自己死,今世自己又辜负了他。等一切尘埃都落定之后,她才明白真正该死的人,是自己。“南尘,等我把所有事情都做好后,我就去找你。”她看着墓碑上的照片,忽然觉得有点冷。
  • 公主沦为贡品:楼兰的新娘

    公主沦为贡品:楼兰的新娘

    初见时,他冰蓝的眼眸夹杂不屑:“有汉人血统的公主,连贡品都不如!”从公主沦为婢女,她委曲求全,只为故国觅一份安宁。他是温柔的恶魔,囚了她的身,却囚不了她的心。从最初的强夺,到最终的沉沦。他狠狠问:“你究竟想要什么?”她唇边冷笑:“我只想,离开。”
  • 校园聊斋

    校园聊斋

    一个意外、月宫的百合仙子和玉兔双双坠入人间,在繁华人间上演了一场千古绝恋。为救广大众生、遭到东海三太子化成的蛇精疯狂报复,最终香消玉殒。小天使也受到牵连惨遭印封,五百年后、小天使在天女的帮助下解除了封印。开始了一场正义与邪恶,天使与魔头血雨腥风的战斗………………………………….
  • 仙凡错:五世情缘

    仙凡错:五世情缘

    她,拥有绝美的容颜,却因为诅咒没有一个交往超过半年的男朋友。为了有朝一日可以大胆地谈恋爱,她踏上了时空穿梭之旅,在看似平凡的生活中,做着不平凡的任务。白羽仿若一缕清爽的春风,子夜仿若一轮宁静的弯月;还有永远那么温柔的浩天,谁会是最后的心之所属?在一次又一次时空穿梭的间隙,她与身边的人也发生着各种各样或快乐或哀伤的事。
  • 快穿:听说你那里有他

    快穿:听说你那里有他

    赵染尘是掌管轮回的神,为了寻找他,她只身踏进了无止境的轮回之路。座右铭:哪里有他,哪里就有她赵染尘!
  • 上位三国

    上位三国

    貂蝉要上位,吕布挡不住!“看我一戟捅死你丫的!”吕布双眼通红,大吼一声,不料赤兔跑反了方向。“老黑啊,再来斤猪肉呗?”刘备一脸谄媚的说道。张飞噌的一声,拔出了杀猪刀。刘备暗叫不好,急忙向外跑去,嘴中还不忘大声喊道:“老红,张飞杀人啦!”上位三国,飞一般的三国,一本你读不懂的三国,玛德,我都没读懂!
  • 向飞的末世生活

    向飞的末世生活

    本书描写了向飞和同伴在大灾难后新纪元中的所见所闻以及他们的点点滴滴。书中自没有特异功能,升级打怪,更不会出现神器辅助。有爱情,有友情,有新奇的历险,更有曲折的故事。一切源于实际,遵循合理想象。