The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2 Read online

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST.

  Now turn the Psalms of David ower, And lilt wi' holy clangor; Of double verse come gie us four, And skirl up the Bangor. Burns.

  The next was the important day, when, according to the forms and ritualof the Scottish Kirk, Reuben Butler was to be ordained minister ofKnocktarlitie, by the Presbytery of ------. And so eager were the wholeparty, that all, excepting Mrs. Dutton, the destined Cowslip of Inverary,were stirring at an early hour.

  Their host, whose appetite was as quick and keen as his temper, was notlong in summoning them to a substantial breakfast, where there were atleast a dozen of different preparations of milk, plenty of cold meat,scores boiled and roasted eggs, a huge cag of butter, half-a-firkinherrings boiled and broiled, fresh and salt, and tea and coffee for themthat liked it, which, as their landlord assured them, with a nod and awink, pointing, at the same time, to a little cutter which seemed dodgingunder the lee of the island, cost them little beside the fetching ashore.

  "Is the contraband trade permitted here so openly?" said Butler. "Ishould think it very unfavourable to the people's morals."

  "The Duke, Mr. Putler, has gien nae orders concerning the putting of itdown," said the magistrate, and seemed to think that he had said all thatwas necessary to justify his connivance. Butler was a man of prudence,and aware that real good can only be obtained by remonstrance whenremonstrance is well-timed; so for the present he said nothing more onthe subject.

  When breakfast was half over, in flounced Mrs. Dolly, as fine as a bluesacque and cherry-coloured ribands could make her.

  "Good morrow to you, madam," said the master of ceremonies; "I trust yourearly rising will not skaith ye."

  The dame apologised to Captain Knockunder, as she was pleased to termtheir entertainer; "but, as we say in Cheshire," she added, "I was likethe Mayor of Altringham, who lies in bed while his breeches are mending,for the girl did not bring up the right bundle to my room, till she hadbrought up all the others by mistake one after t'other--Well, I supposewe are all for church to-day, as I understand--Pray may I be so bold asto ask, if it is the fashion for your North country gentlemen to go tochurch in your petticoats, Captain Knockunder?"

  "Captain of Knockdunder, madam, if you please, for I knock under to noman; and in respect of my garb, I shall go to church as I am, at yourservice, madam; for if I were to lie in bed like your MajorWhat-d'ye-callum, till my preeches were mended, I might be there all mylife, seeing I never had a pair of them on my person but twice in mylife, which I am pound to remember, it peing when the Duke brought hisDuchess here, when her Grace pehoved to be pleasured; so I e'en porrowedthe minister's trews for the twa days his Grace was pleased to stay--butI will put myself under sic confinement again for no man on earth, orwoman either, but her Grace being always excepted, as in duty pound."

  The mistress of the milking-pail stared but, making no answer to thisround declaration, immediately proceeded to show, that the alarm of thepreceding evening had in no degree injured her appetite.

  When the meal was finished, the Captain proposed to them to take boat, inorder that Mrs. Jeanie might see her new place of residence, and that hehimself might inquire whether the necessary preparations had been madethere, and at the Manse, for receiving the future inmates of thesemansions.

  The morning was delightful, and the huge mountain-shadows slept upon themirrored wave of the firth, almost as little disturbed as if it had beenan inland lake. Even Mrs. Dutton's fears no longer annoyed her. She hadbeen informed by Archibald, that there was to be some sort of junkettingafter the sermon, and that was what she loved dearly; and as for thewater, it was so still that it would look quite like a pleasuring on theThames.

  The whole party being embarked, therefore, in a large boat, which thecaptain called his coach and six, and attended by a smaller one termedhis gig, the gallant Duncan steered straight upon the little tower of theold-fashioned church of Knocktarlitie, and the exertions of six stoutrowers sped them rapidly on their voyage. As they neared the land, thehills appeared to recede from them, and a little valley, formed by thedescent of a small river from the mountains, evolved itself as it wereupon their approach. The style of the country on each side was simplypastoral, and resembled, in appearance and character, the description ofa forgotten Scottish poet, which runs nearly thus:--

  The water gently down a level slid, With little din, but couthy what it made; On ilka side the trees grew thick and lang, And wi' the wild birds' notes were a' in sang; On either side, a full bow-shot and mair, The green was even, gowany, and fair; With easy slope on every hand the braes To the hills' feet with scatter'd bushes raise; With goats and sheep aboon, and kye below, The bonny banks all in a swarm did go.*

  * Ross's _Fortunate Shepherdess._ Edit. 1778, p. 23.

  They landed in this Highland Arcadia, at the mouth of the small streamwhich watered the delightful and peaceable valley. Inhabitants of severaldescriptions came to pay their respects to the Captain of Knockdunder, ahomage which he was very peremptory in exacting, and to see the newsettlers. Some of these were men after David Deans's own heart, elders ofthe kirk-session, zealous professors, from the Lennox, Lanarkshire, andAyrshire, to whom the preceding Duke of Argyle had given _rooms_ in thiscorner of his estate, because they had suffered for joining his father,the unfortunate Earl, during his ill-fated attempt in 1686. These werecakes of the right leaven for David regaling himself with; and, had itnot been for this circumstance, he has been heard to say, "that theCaptain of Knockdunder would have swore him out of the country intwenty-four hours, sae awsome it was to ony thinking soul to hear hisimprecations, upon the slightest temptation that crossed his humour."

  Besides these, there were a wilder set of parishioners, mountaineers fromthe upper glen and adjacent hill, who spoke Gaelic, went about armed, andwore the Highland dress. But the strict commands of the Duke hadestablished such good order in this part of his territories, that theGael and Saxons lived upon the best possible terms of good neighbourhood.They first visited the Manse, as the parsonage is termed in Scotland. Itwas old, but in good repair, and stood snugly embosomed in a grove ofsycamore, with a well-stocked garden in front, bounded by the smallriver, which was partly visible from the windows, partly concealed by thebushes, trees, and bounding hedge. Within, the house looked lesscomfortable than it might have been, for it had been neglected by thelate incumbent; but workmen had been labouring, under the directions ofthe Captain of Knockdunder, and at the expense of the Duke of Argyle, toput it into some order. The old "plenishing" had been removed, and neat,but plain household furniture had been sent down by the Duke in a brig ofhis own called the Caroline, and was now ready to be placed in order inthe apartments.

  The gracious Duncan, finding matters were at a stand among the workmen,summoned before him the delinquents, and impressed all who heard him witha sense of his authority, by the penalties with which he threatened themfor their delay. Mulcting them in half their charge, he assured them,would be the least of it; for, if they were to neglect his pleasure andthe Duke's, "he would be tamn'd if he paid them the t'other half either,and they might seek law for it where they could get it." The work-peoplehumbled themselves before the offended dignitary, and spake him soft andfair; and at length, upon Mr. Butler recalling to his mind that it wasthe ordination-day, and that the workmen were probably thinking of goingto church, Knockdunder agreed to forgive them, out of respect to theirnew minister.

  "But an I catch them neglecking my duty again, Mr. Putler, the teil pe inme if the kirk shall be an excuse; for what has the like o' themrapparees to do at the kirk ony day put Sundays, or then either, if theDuke and I has the necessitous uses for them?"

  It may be guessed with what feelings of quiet satisfaction and delightButler looked forward to spendin
g his days, honoured and useful as hetrusted to be, in this sequestered valley, and how often an intelligentglance was exchanged betwixt him and Jeanie, whose good-humoured facelooked positively handsome, from the expression of modesty, and, at thesame time, of satisfaction, which she wore when visiting the apartmentsof which she was soon to call herself mistress. She was left at libertyto give more open indulgence to her feelings of delight and admiration,when, leaving the Manse, the company proceeded to examine the destinedhabitation of David Deans.

  Jeanie found with pleasure that it was not above a musket-shot from theManse; for it had been a bar to her happiness to think she might beobliged to reside at a distance from her father, and she was aware thatthere were strong objections to his actually living in the same housewith Butler. But this brief distance was the very thing which she couldhave wished.

  The farmhouse was on the plan of an improved cottage, and contrived withgreat regard to convenience; an excellent little garden, an orchard, anda set of offices complete, according to the best ideas of the time,combined to render it a most desirable habitation for the practicalfarmer, and far superior to the hovel at Woodend, and the small house atSaint Leonard's Crags. The situation was considerably higher than that ofthe Manse, and fronted to the west. The windows commanded an enchantingview of the little vale over which the mansion seemed to preside, thewindings of the stream, and the firth, with its associated lakes andromantic islands. The hills of Dumbartonshire, once possessed by thefierce clan of MacFarlanes, formed a crescent behind the valley, and farto the right were seen the dusky and more gigantic mountains ofArgyleshire, with a seaward view of the shattered and thunder-splittenpeaks of Arran.

  But to Jeanie, whose taste for the picturesque, if she had any by nature,had never been awakened or cultivated, the sight of the faithful old MayHettly, as she opened the door to receive them in her clean toy, Sunday'srusset-gown, and blue apron, nicely smoothed down before her, was worththe whole varied landscape. The raptures of the faithful old creature atseeing Jeanie were equal to her own, as she hastened to assure her, "thatbaith the gudeman and the beasts had been as weel seen after as shepossibly could contrive." Separating her from the rest of the company,May then hurried her young mistress to the offices, that she mightreceive the compliments she expected for her care of the cows. Jeanierejoiced, in the simplicity of her heart, to see her charge once more;and the mute favourites of our heroine, Gowans, and the others,acknowledged her presence by lowing, turning round their broad and decentbrows when they heard her well-known "Pruh, my leddy--pruh, my woman,"and, by various indications, known only to those who have studied thehabits of the milky mothers, showing sensible pleasure as she approachedto caress them in their turn.

  "The very brute beasts are glad to see ye again," said May; "but naewonder, Jeanie, for ye were aye kind to beast and body. And I maun learnto ca' ye _mistress_ now, Jeanie, since ye hae been up to Lunnon, andseen the Duke, and the King, and a' the braw folk. But wha kens," addedthe old dame slily, "what I'll hae to ca' ye forby mistress, for I amthinking it wunna lang be Deans."

  "Ca' me your ain Jeanie, May, and then ye can never gang wrang."

  In the cow-house which they examined, there was one animal which Jeanielooked at till the tears gushed from her eyes. May, who had watched herwith a sympathising expression, immediately observed, in an under-tone,"The gudeman aye sorts that beast himself, and is kinder to it than onybeast in the byre; and I noticed he was that way e'en when he wasangriest, and had maist cause to be angry.--Eh, sirs! a parent's heart'sa queer thing!--Mony a warsle he has had for that puir lassie--I amthinking he petitions mair for her than for yoursell, hinny; for what canhe plead for you but just to wish you the blessing ye deserve? And when Isleepit ayont the hallan, when we came first here, he was often earnesta' night, and I could hear him come ower and ower again wi', 'Effie--puirblinded misguided thing!' it was aye 'Effie! Effie!'--If that puirwandering lamb comena into the sheepfauld in the Shepherd's ain time, itwill be an unco wonder, for I wot she has been a child of prayers. Oh, ifthe puir prodigal wad return, sae blithely as the goodman wad kill thefatted calf!--though Brockie's calf will no be fit for killing this threeweeks yet."

  And then, with the discursive talent of persons of her description, shegot once more afloat in her account of domestic affairs, and left thisdelicate and affecting topic.

  Having looked at every thing in the offices and the dairy, and expressedher satisfaction with the manner in which matters had been managed in herabsence, Jeanie rejoined the rest of the party, who were surveying theinterior of the house, all excepting David Deans and Butler, who had gonedown to the church to meet the kirk-session and the clergymen of thePresbytery, and arrange matters for the duty of the day.

  In the interior of the cottage all was clean, neat, and suitable to theexterior. It had been originally built and furnished by the Duke, as aretreat for a favourite domestic of the higher class, who did not longenjoy it, and had been dead only a few months, so that every thing was inexcellent taste and good order. But in Jeanie's bedroom was a neat trunk,which had greatly excited Mrs. Dutton's curiosity, for she was sure thatthe direction, "For Mrs. Jean Deans, at Auchingower, parish ofKnocktarlitie," was the writing of Mrs. Semple, the Duchess's own woman.May Hettly produced the key in a sealed parcel, which bore the sameaddress, and attached to the key was a label, intimating that the trunkand its contents were "a token of remembrance to Jeanie Deans, from herfriends the Duchess of Argyle and the young ladies." The trunk, hastilyopened, as the reader will not doubt, was found to be full of wearingapparel of the best quality, suited to Jeanie's rank in life; and to mostof the articles the names of the particular donors were attached, as ifto make Jeanie sensible not only of the general, but of the individualinterest she had excited in the noble family. To name the variousarticles by their appropriate names, would be to attempt thingsunattempted yet in prose or rhyme; besides that the old-fashioned termsof manteaus, sacques, kissing-strings, and so forth, would convey butlittle information even to the milliners of the present day. I shalldeposit, however, an accurate inventory of the contents of the trunk withmy kind friend, Miss Martha Buskbody, who has promised, should the publiccuriosity seem interested in the subject, to supply me with aprofessional glossary and commentary. Suffice it to say, that the giftwas such as became the donors, and was suited to the situation of thereceiver; that every thing was handsome and appropriate, and nothingforgotten which belonged to the wardrobe of a young person in Jeanie'ssituation in life, the destined bride of a respectable clergyman.

  Article after article was displayed, commented upon, and admired, to thewonder of May, who declared, "she didna think the queen had mair orbetter claise," and somewhat to the envy of the northern Cowslip. Thisunamiable, but not very unnatural, disposition of mind, broke forth insundry unfounded criticisms to the disparagement of the articles, as theywere severally exhibited. But it assumed a more direct character, when,at the bottom of all, was found a dress of white silk, very plainly made,but still of white silk, and French silk to boot, with a paper pinned toit, bearing that it was a present from the Duke of Argyle to histravelling companion, to be worn on the day when she should change hername.

  Mrs. Dutton could forbear no longer, but whispered into Mr. Archibald'sear, that it was a clever thing to be a Scotchwoman: "She supposed all_her_ sisters, and she had half-a-dozen, might have been hanged, withoutany one sending her a present of a pocket handkerchief."

  "Or without your making any exertion to save them, Mrs. Dolly," answeredArchibald drily.--"But I am surprised we do not hear the bell yet," saidhe, looking at his watch.

  "Fat ta deil, Mr. Archibald," answered the Captain of Knockdunder, "wadye hae them ring the bell before I am ready to gang to kirk?--I wad garthe bedral eat the bell-rope, if he took ony sic freedom. But if ye wantto hear the bell, I will just show mysell on the knowe-head, and it willbegin jowing forthwith."

  Accordingly, so soon as they sallied out, and that the gold-laced hat ofthe Captain was seen r
ising like Hesper above the dewy verge of therising ground, the clash (for it was rather a clash than a clang) of thebell was heard from the old moss-grown tower, and the clapper continuedto thump its cracked sides all the while they advanced towards the kirk,Duncan exhorting them to take their own time, "for teil ony sport wad betill he came."*

  * Note T. Tolling to service in Scotland.

  Accordingly, the bell only changed to the final and impatient chime whenthey crossed the stile; and "rang in," that is, concluded its mistunedsummons, when they had entered the Duke's seat, in the little kirk, wherethe whole party arranged themselves, with Duncan at their head, exceptingDavid Deans, who already occupied a seat among the elders.

  The business of the day, with a particular detail of which it isunnecessary to trouble the reader, was gone through according to theestablished form, and the sermon pronounced upon the occasion had thegood fortune to please even the critical David Deans, though it was onlyan hour and a quarter long, which David termed a short allowance ofspiritual provender.

  The preacher, who was a divine that held many of David's opinions,privately apologised for his brevity by saying, "That he observed theCaptain was gaunting grievously, and that if he had detained him longer,there was no knowing how long he might be in paying the next term'svictual stipend."

  David groaned to find that such carnal motives could have influence uponthe mind of a powerful preacher. He had, indeed, been scandalised byanother circumstance during the service.

  So soon as the congregation were seated after prayers, and the clergymanhad read his text, the gracious Duncan, after rummaging the leathernpurse which hung in front of his petticoat, produced a short tobacco-pipemade of iron, and observed, almost aloud, "I hae forgotten myspleuchan--Lachlan, gang down to the clachan, and bring me up apennyworth of twist." Six arms, the nearest within reach, presented,with an obedient start, as many tobacco-pouches to the man of office.He made choice of one with an nod of acknowledgment, filled his pipe,lighted it with the assistance of his pistol-flint, and smoked withinfinite composure during the whole time of the sermon. When thediscourse was finished, he knocked the ashes out of his pipe, replacedit in his sporran, returned the tobacco-pouch or spleuchan to its owner,and joined in the prayer with decency and attention.

  The Captain of Knockdunder--303]

  At the end of the service, when Butler had been admitted minister of thekirk of Knocktarlitie, with all its spiritual immunities and privileges,David, who had frowned, groaned, and murmured at Knockdunder's irreverentdemeanour, communicated his plain thoughts of the matter to IsaacMeiklehose, one of the elders, with whom a reverential aspect and hugegrizzle wig had especially disposed him to seek fraternisation. "It didnabecome a wild Indian," David said, "much less a Christian, and agentleman, to sit in the kirk puffing tobacco-reek, as if he were in achange-house."

  Meiklehose shook his head, and allowed it was "far frae beseeming--Butwhat will ye say? The Captain's a queer hand, and to speak to him aboutthat or onything else that crosses the maggot, wad be to set the kilna-low. He keeps a high hand ower the country, and we couldna deal wi' theHielandmen without his protection, sin' a' the keys o' the kintray hingsat his belt; and he's no an ill body in the main, and maistry, ye ken,maws the meadows doun."

  "That may be very true, neighbour," said David; "but Reuben Butler isnathe man I take him to be, if he disna learn the Captain to fuff his pipesome other gate than in God's house, or the quarter be ower."

  "Fair and softly gangs far," said Meiklehose; "and if a fule may gie awise man a counsel, I wad hae him think twice or he mells withKnockdunder--He auld hae a lang-shankit spune that wad sup kail wi' thedeil. But they are a' away to their dinner to the change-house, and if wedinna mend our pace, we'll come short at meal-time."

  David accompanied his friend without answer; but began to feel fromexperience, that the glen of Knocktarlitie, like the rest of the world,was haunted by its own special subjects of regret and discontent. Hismind was, so much occupied by considering the best means of convertingDuncan of Knock to a sense of reverend decency during public worship,that he altogether forgot to inquire whether Butler was called upon tosubscribe the oaths to Government.

  Some have insinuated, that his neglect on this head was, in some degree,intentional; but I think this explanation inconsistent with thesimplicity of my friend David's character. Neither have I ever been able,by the most minute inquiries, to know whether the _formula,_ at which heso much scrupled, had been exacted from Butler, ay or no. The books ofthe kirk-session might have thrown some light on this matter; butunfortunately they were destroyed in the year 1746, by one Donacha Dhu naDunaigh, at the instance, it was said, or at least by the connivance, ofthe gracious Duncan of Knock, who had a desire to obliterate the recordedfoibles of a certain Kate Finlayson.