按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the way to Colette's； where Alan would soon be looking for
his arrival； and where he would now have no more consented to
go than he would have wilfully wallowed in a bog； the touch
of the girl's hand on his sleeve； and the kindly light in his
father's eyes； both loudly forbidding。 But right before him
was the way home； which pointed only to bed； a place of
little ease for one whose fancy was strung to the lyrical
pitch； and whose not very ardent heart was just then
tumultuously moved。 The hilltop； the cool air of the night；
the company of the great monuments； the sight of the city
under his feet； with its hills and valleys and crossing files
of lamps； drew him by all he had of the poetic； and he turned
that way； and by that quite innocent deflection； ripened the
crop of his venial errors for the sickle of destiny。
On a seat on the hill above Greenside he sat for perhaps half
an hour； looking down upon the lamps of Edinburgh； and up at
the lamps of heaven。 Wonderful were the resolves he formed；
beautiful and kindly were the vistas of future life that sped
before him。 He uttered to himself the name of Flora in so
many touching and dramatic keys； that he became at length
fairly melted with tenderness； and could have sung aloud。 At
that juncture a certain creasing in his greatcoat caught his
ear。 He put his hand into his pocket； pulled forth the
envelope that held the money； and sat stupefied。 The Calton
Hill； about this period； had an ill name of nights； and to be
sitting there with four hundred pounds that did not belong to
him was hardly wise。 He looked up。 There was a man in a
very bad hat a little on one side of him； apparently looking
at the scenery； from a little on the other a second night…
walker was drawing very quietly near。 Up jumped John。 The
envelope fell from his hands； he stooped to get it； and at
the same moment both men ran in and closed with him。
A little after； he got to his feet very sore and shaken； the
poorer by a purse which contained exactly one penny postage…
stamp； by a cambric handkerchief； and by the all…important
envelope。
Here was a young man on whom； at the highest point of lovely
exaltation； there had fallen a blow too sharp to be supported
alone； and not many hundred yards away his greatest friend
was sitting at supper … ay； and even expecting him。 Was it
not in the nature of man that he should run there？ He went
in quest of sympathy … in quest of that droll article that we
all suppose ourselves to want when in a strait； and have
agreed to call advice； and he went； besides； with vague but
rather splendid expectations of relief。 Alan was rich； or
would be so when he came of age。 By a stroke of the pen he
might remedy this misfortune； and avert that dreaded
interview with Mr。 Nicholson； from which John now shrunk in
imagination as the hand draws back from fire。
Close under the Calton Hill there runs a certain narrow
avenue； part street； part by…road。 The head of it faces the
doors of the prison； its tail descends into the sunless slums
of the Low Calton。 On one hand it is overhung by the crags
of the hill； on the other by an old graveyard。 Between these
two the roadway runs in a trench； sparsely lighted at night；
sparsely frequented by day； and bordered； when it was cleared
the place of tombs； by dingy and ambiguous houses。 One of
these was the house of Colette； and at his door our ill…
starred John was presently beating for admittance。 In an
evil hour he satisfied the jealous inquiries of the
contraband hotel…keeper； in an evil hour he penetrated into
the somewhat unsavoury interior。 Alan； to be sure； was
there； seated in a room lighted by noisy gas…jets； beside a
dirty table…cloth； engaged on a coarse meal； and in the
company of several tipsy members of the junior bar。 But Alan
was not sober； he had lost a thousand pounds upon a horse…
race； had received the news at dinner…time； and was now； in
default of any possible means of extrication； drowning the
memory of his predicament。 He to help John！ The thing was
impossible； he couldn't help himself。
'If you have a beast of a father；' said he； 'I can tell you I
have a brute of a trustee。'
'I'm not going to hear my father called a beast；' said John
with a beating heart； feeling that he risked the last sound
rivet of the chain that bound him to life。
But Alan was quite good…natured。
'All right； old fellow；' said he。 'Mos' respec'able man your
father。' And he introduced his friend to his companions as
'old Nicholson the what…d'ye…call…um's son。'
John sat in dumb agony。 Colette's foul walls and maculate
table…linen； and even down to Colette's villainous casters；
seemed like objects in a nightmare。 And just then there came
a knock and a scurrying； the police； so lamentably absent
from the Calton Hill； appeared upon the scene； and the party；
taken FLAGRANTE DELICTO； with their glasses at their elbow；
were seized； marched up to the police office； and all duly
summoned to appear as witnesses in the consequent case
against that arch…shebeener； Colette。
It was a sorrowful and a mightily sobered company that came
forth again。 The vague terror of public opinion weighed
generally on them all； but there were private and particular
horrors on the minds of individuals。 Alan stood in dread of
his trustee； already sorely tried。 One of the group was the
son of a country minister； another of a judge； John； the
unhappiest of all； had David Nicholson to father； the idea of
facing whom on such a scandalous subject was physically
sickening。 They stood awhile consulting under the buttresses
of Saint Giles； thence they adjourned to the lodgings of one
of the number in North Castle Street； where （for that matter）
they might have had quite as good a supper； and far better
drink； than in the dangerous paradise from which they had
been routed。 There； over an almost tearful glass； they
debated their position。 Each explained he had the world to
lose if the affair went on； and he appeared as a witness。 It
was remarkable what bright prospects were just then in the
very act of opening before each of that little company of
youths； and what pious consideration for the feelings of
their families began now to well from them。 Each； moreover；
was in an odd state of destitution。 Not one could bear his
share of the fine； not one but evinced a wonderful twinkle of
hope that each of the others （in succession） was the very man
who could step in to make good the deficit。 One took a high
hand； he could not pay his share； if it went to a trial； he
should bolt； he had always felt the English Bar to be his
true sphere。 Another branched out into touching details
about his family； and was not listened to。 John； in the
midst of this disorderly competition of poverty and meanness；
sat stunned； contemplating the mountain bulk of his
misfortunes。
At last； upon a pledge that ea