The Starling Part 16
You’re reading novel The Starling Part 16 online at LightNovelFree.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit LightNovelFree.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy!
"The black dog tak' ye!" said Spence, who lost his temper. "My lord, I declare----"
"Never mind, Spence, never mind; let him speak to me; and go you to the servants' hall until I send for you."
Spence bowed and retired, thankful to be released from his present agony. His lords.h.i.+p, who had a pa.s.sion for characters which the keeper could not comprehend, gave a sign to Jock to remain, and then went on with the following catechism.
"What did your parents do?"
"Little guid and mickle ill."
"Were you at school?"
"No' that I mind o'."
"How have ye lived?"
"Guid kens!"
"What have you been?"
"A ne'er-do-weel--a kin' o' cheat-the-widdie. Sae folk tell me, and I suppose they're richt."
"Are you married?"
"That's no' a bad ane, efter a'!" said Jock, with a quiet laugh, turning his head away.
"A bad what?" asked his lords.h.i.+p, perplexed by the reply.
"I jist thocht," said Jock, "yer honour was jokin', to think that ony wumman wad marry me! He! he! La.s.sies wad be cheaper than cast-awa'
shoon afore ony o' them wad tak' Jock Ha'--unless," he added, in a lower tone, with a laugh, "ane like Luckie Craigie. But yer lords.h.i.+p 'ill no'
ken her, I'se warrant?"
"I have not that honour," said his lords.h.i.+p, with a smile. "But I must admit that you don't give yourself a good character, anyhow."
"I hae nane to gie," said Jock, with the same impa.s.sible look.
"On my word," added his lords.h.i.+p, "I think you're honest!"
"It's mair," said Jock, "than onybody else thinks. But if I had wark, I'm no' sure but I wad be honest!"
His lords.h.i.+p said nothing, but stared at Hall as if measuring him from head to foot. Jock returned his gaze. It was as if two different portions of a broken-up world had met. His lords.h.i.+p felt uncertain whether to deal with Jock as a fool or as a reprobate. He still inclined to the opinion that he had "a want", and accordingly continued his catechism, asking,--
"What would you like to have?"
"It's no' for me tae say," replied Jock; "beggars shouldna be choosers."
"Perhaps you would have no objection to have this fine house--eh?" asked his lords.h.i.+p, with a smile.
"I'll no' say that I wad," replied Jock.
"And what would you make of it?"
"I wad," replied Jock, "fill't fu' wi' puir ne'er-do-weel faitherless and mitherless bairns, and pit Sergeant Mercer and his wife ower them--that's Mr. Spence's cousin, ye ken."
"Hillo!" said his lords.h.i.+p, "that would make a large party! And what would you do with them, when here a.s.sembled, my man?"
"I wad feed them," said Jock, "wi' the sheep and nowt in the park, and the birds frae the heather, and the fish frae the burns, and gie them the flowers aboot the doors--and schule them weel, and learn them trades: and shoot them or hang them, if they didna dae weel efter hin."
"Ha! ha! ha! And what would you do with me and my wife and daughters?"
asked his lords.h.i.+p.
"I wad mak' you their faither, and them their mither and sisters. Ye never wad be idle or want pleasure, yer honour, among sic a hantle o'
fine lads and la.s.ses."
"Never idle--never idle! I should think not! But as to the pleasure!
Ha! ha! ha!" And his lords.h.i.+p laughed with much glee at the idea of his being master of such an establishment.
"Eh! sir," said Jock, with fire in his eyes, "ye dinna ken what poverty is! Ye never lay trimblin' on a stair-head on a snawy nicht; nor got a spoonfu' or twa o' cauld parritch in the mornin' tae cool ye, wi' curses and kicks tae warm ye, for no' stealin' yer ain meat; nor see'd yer wee brithers an' sisters deein' like troots, openin' their mooths wi'
naethin' to pit in them; or faix ye wad be thankfu' tae help mitherless and faitherless bairns, and instead o' sendin' young craturs like them tae the jail, ye wad sen' aulder folk that ill-used and neglected them; ay, and maybe some rich folk, and some ministers and elders as weel, for helpin' naebody but themsel's!"
His lords.h.i.+p looked in silence with wide-open eyes at Jock; and for a moment, amidst his ease and luxury, his fits of _ennui_ and difficulty in killing time, his sense of the shallowness and emptiness of much of his life, with the selfishness of idle society, there flashed upon his naturally kind heart a gleam of n.o.ble duties yet to perform, and n.o.ble privileges yet to enjoy, though not perhaps in the exact form suggested by Jock Hall. But this was not the time to discuss these. So he only said, "You are not a bad fellow--not at all. Wiser men have said more foolish things," he added, as if thinking to himself; and then approaching Jock with a kindly smile, offered him some money.
"Na! na!" said Jock, "I didna come here to beg; I'll no' tak' onything."
"Come! come!" said his lords.h.i.+p, "you won't disoblige me, will you?" and he thrust the money into Jock's hand; and ringing a bell, he ordered the servant who appeared in reply to it to take him to the servants' hall, and to send Hugh Spence to the business room.
Jock made a low bow and salaam, and retired.
"William," said his lords.h.i.+p to another servant, who happened to be pa.s.sing, "go to the old clothes press, and select a complete suit for that poor fellow. Be kind to him: see that he has some food and a gla.s.s of beer."
When Hugh was summoned into the presence of his lords.h.i.+p, he had sad misgivings as to the object of the interview, and had carefully prepared a long apologetic speech, which however he had hardly begun when he was cut short by his lords.h.i.+p saying, "You have picked up a rare character, Spence, upon my honour! But I like the fellow. He is an original, and has something good in him. I can't quite make him out."
"Nor me either, my lord, I do a.s.sure you," interrupted Spence.
"But I have taken rather a fancy to him," continued his lords.h.i.+p. "He is neither knave nor fool; but seems to have been ill-used, and to have had a hard time of it. There is something about him which takes me, and if any friend of your father's has an interest in him, I won't object--quite the reverse--to your getting him something to do about the kennels. I really would like it. So look to him."
Hugh having made a low bow and remained discreetly silent, according to his own prudential aphorism of "least said being soonest mended", his lords.h.i.+p conversed on some business matters connected with the game, with which we have nothing to do, and then dismissed him.
CHAPTER XX
JOCK HALL'S RETURN
When Jock and Spence returned along the avenue, not a word was spoken for some time. Jock carried a large bundle, with the general contents of which both were acquainted. After a while Spence remarked, as if to break the silence, "Weel, what do ye think o' his lords.h.i.+p?"
"He looks a fine bit decent 'sponsible bodie," said Jock, as if speaking of a n.o.body.
The Starling Part 16
You're reading novel The Starling Part 16 online at LightNovelFree.com. You can use the follow function to bookmark your favorite novel ( Only for registered users ). If you find any errors ( broken links, can't load photos, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. And when you start a conversation or debate about a certain topic with other people, please do not offend them just because you don't like their opinions.
The Starling Part 16 summary
You're reading The Starling Part 16. This novel has been translated by Updating. Author: Norman Macleod already has 721 views.
It's great if you read and follow any novel on our website. We promise you that we'll bring you the latest, hottest novel everyday and FREE.
LightNovelFree.com is a most smartest website for reading novel online, it can automatic resize images to fit your pc screen, even on your mobile. Experience now by using your smartphone and access to LightNovelFree.com
- Related chapter:
- The Starling Part 15
- The Starling Part 17