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Warlock O' Glenwarlock: A Homely Romance, a novel by George MacDonald |
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Chapter 56. Mr. Burns |
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_ CHAPTER LVI. MR. BURNS "Grizzie," he said, "I'm gaein' a lang tramp the morn, an' I'll need a great poochfu' o' cakes." "Eh, sirs! An' what's takin' ye frae hame this time, sir?" returned Grizzie. "I'm no gaein' to tell ye the nicht, Grizzie. It's my turn to hae a secret noo! But ye ken weel it's lang sin' there's been onything to be gotten by bidin' at hame." "Eh, but, sir! ye're never gaein' to lea' the laird! Bide an' dee wi' him, sir." "God bless ye, Grizzie! Hae ye ony baubees?" "Ay; what for no! I hae sax shillin's, fower pennies, an' a baubeefardin'!" answered Grizzie, in the tone of a millionaire. "Weel, ye maun jist len' me half a croon o' 't." "Half a croon!" echoed Grizzie, staggered at the largeness of the demand. 'Haith, sir, ye're no blate (BASHFUL)!" "I dinna think it's ower muckle," said Cosmo, "seein' I hae to tramp five an' thirty mile the morn. But bake ye plenty o' breid, an' that'll haud doon the expence. Only, gien he can help it, a body sudna be wantin' a baubee in 's pooch. Gien ye had nane to gie me, I wad set oot bare. But jist as ye like, Grizzie! I cud beg to be sure--noo ye hae shawn the gait," he added, taking the old woman by the arm with a laugh, that she might not be hurt, "but whan ye ken ye sudna speir, an' whan ye hae, ye hae no richt to beg." "Weel, I'll gie ye auchteen pence, an' considerin' a' 'at 's to be dune wi' what's left, ye'll hae to grant it 's no an oonfair portion." "Weel, weel, Grizzie! I'm thinkin' I'll hae to be content." "'Deed, an' ye wull, sir! Ye s' hae nae mair." That night the old laird slept soundly, but Cosmo, ever on the brink of unconsciousness, was blown back by a fresh gust of gladness. The morning came golden and brave, and his father was well enough to admit of his leaving him. So he set out, and in the strength of his relief walked all the way without spending a half-penny of Grizzie's eighteen pence: two days before, he would consult his friend how to avoid the bitterest dregs of poverty; now he must find from him how to make his riches best available! He did not tell Mr. Burns, however, what his final object was--only begged him, for the sake of friendship and old times, to go with him for a day or two to his father's. "But, Mr. Warlock," objected the jeweller, "that would be taking the play, and we've got to be diligent in business." "The thing I want you for is business," replied Cosmo. "But what's to be done with the shop? I have no assistant I can trust." "Then shut it up, and give your men a holiday. You can put up a notice informing the great public when you will be back." "Such a thing was never heard of!" "It is quite time it should be heard of then. Why, sir, your business is not like a doctor's, or even a baker's. People can live without diamonds!" "Don't speak disrespectfully of diamonds, Mr. Warlock. If you knew them as I do, you would know they had a thing or two to say." "Speak of them disrespectfully you never heard me, Mr. Burns." "Never, I confess. I was only talking from the diamond side. Like all things else, they give us according to what we have. To him that hath shall be given. The fine lady may see in her fine diamonds only victory over a rival; the philosopher may read embodied in them law inexorably beautiful; and the Christian poet--oh, I have read my Spenser, Mr. Warlock!--will choose the diamond for its many qualities, as the best and only substance wherein to represent the shield of the faith that overcometh the world. Like the gospel itself, diamonds are a savour of life unto life, or a savour of death unto death, according to the character of them that look on them." "That is true enough. Every gift of God is good that is received with faith and thanksgiving, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin. But will you come?" Mr. Burns did at length actually consent to close his shop for three days, and go with Cosmo. "It will not be a bad beginning," he said, as if in justification of himself to himself, "towards retiring from business altogether--which I might have done long ago," he added, "but for you, sir!" "It is very well for me you did not," rejoined Cosmo, but declined to explain. This piqued Mr. Burns's curiosity, and he set about his preparations at once. In the mean time things went well at Castle Warlock, with--shall I say?--one exception: Grizzie had a severe fit of repentance, mourning bitterly that she had sent away the youth she worshipped with only eighteen pence in his pocket. "He's sure to come to grief for the want o' jist that ae shillin' mair!" she said over and over to herself; "an' it'll be a' an' only my wite! What gien we never see 'im again! Eh, sirs! it's a terrible thing to be made sae contrairy! What'll come o' me in the neist warl', it wad be hard for onybody to say!" On the evening of the second day, however, while she was "washing up" in the gloomiest frame of mind, in walked Cosmo, and a gentleman after him. "Hoo's my father, Grizzie?" asked Cosmo. "Won'erfu' weel, sir," answered Grizzle, with a little more show ofrespect than usual. "This is Grizzie, Mr. Burns," said Cosmo. "I have told you about Grizzie that takes care of us all!" "How do you do, Grizzie?" said Mr. Burns, and shook hands with her. "I am glad to make your acquaintance." "Here, Grizzie!" said Cosmo; "here's the auchteen pence ye gae me for expences: say ye're pleased I haena waured it.--Jist a word wi' ye, Grizzie!--Luik here--only dinna tell!" He had drawn her aside to the corner where stood the meal-chest, and now showed her a bunch of banknotes. So many she had never seen--not to say in a bunch, but scattered over all her life! He took from the bunch ten pounds and gave her. "Mr. Burns," he said aloud, "will be staying over to-morrow, I hope." Grizzie GLOWERED at the money as if such a sum could not be canny, but the next moment, like one suddenly raised to dignity and power, she began to order Aggie about as if she were her mistress, and an imperious one. Within ten minutes she had her bonnet on, and was setting out for Muir o'Warlock to make purchases. But oh the pride and victory that rose and towered and sank weary, only to rise and tower again in Grizzie's mind, as she walked to the village with all that money in her pocket! The dignity of the house of Warlock had rushed aloft like a sudden tidal wave, and on its very crest Grizzie was borne triumphing heavenwards. From one who begged at strange doors for the daily bread of a decayed family, all at once she was the housekeeper of the most ancient and honourable castle in all Scotland, steering the great ship of its fortunes! With a reserve and a dignity as impressive as provoking to the gossips of the village, from one shop to another she went, buying carefully but freely, rousing endless curiosity by her look of mystery, and her evident consciousness of infinite resource. But when at last she went to the Warlock Arms, and bought a half dozen of port at the incredible price of six shillings a bottle, there was not a doubt left in the Muir that "the auld laird" had at last and somehow come in for a great fortune. Grizzie returned laden herself, and driving before her two boys carrying a large basket between them. Now she was equal to the proper entertainment of the visitor, for whom, while she was away, Aggie, obedient to her orders, was preparing the state bedroom--thinking all the time of that night long ago when she and Cosmo got it ready for Lord Mergwain. Cosmo and Mr. Burns found the laird seated by the fire in his room; and there Cosmo recounted the whole story of the finding of the gems, beginning far back with the tales concerning the old captain, as they had come to his knowledge, just touching on the acquisition of the bamboo, and the discovery of its contents, and so descending to the revelations of the previous two days. But all the time he never gave the jeweller a hint of what was coming. In relating the nearer events, he led him from place to place, acting his part in them, and forestalling nothing, never once mentioning stone or gem, then suddenly poured out the diamonds on the rug in the firelight. Leaving the result to the imagination of my reader, I will now tell him a thing that took place while Cosmo was away. _ |
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