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44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'It was na a very sair knock after a'.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'T'ou's a fool and a sumph to say any thing about it, Watty,' said Grippy himself; 'many a brawer lad has met wi' far waur; and, if t'ou had na been egget on by Charlie to mak a complaint, it would just hae passed like a pat for true love.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Eh na, father, it was na a pat, but a scud like the clap o' a fir deal,' said the bridegroom. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Weel, weel, Watty,' exclaimed Charlie, 'you must just put up wi't, |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | ye're no a penny the waur o't.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | By this sort of conversation Walter was in the end pacified, and reconciled to his destiny. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | CHAPTER XXIX |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Never did Nature show herself better pleased on any festival than on Walter's wedding-day. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The sun shone out as if his very rays were as much made up of gladness as of light. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The dew-drops twinkled as if instinct with pleasure. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The birds lilted--the waters and the windows sparkled; cocks crowed as if they were themselves bridegrooms, and the sounds of laughing girls, and cackling hens, made the riant banks of the Clyde joyful for many a mile. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | It was originally intended that the minister should breakfast at Kilmarkeckle, to perform the ceremony there; but this, though in accordance with newer and genteeler fashions, was overruled by the young friends of the bride and bridegroom insisting that the wedding should be celebrated with a ranting dance and supper worthy of the olden, and, as they told Leddy Grippy, better times. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Hence the liberality of the preparations, as intimated in the preceding chapter. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | In furtherance of this plan, the minister, and all his family, were invited, and it was arranged, that the ceremony should not take place till the evening, when the whole friends of the parties, with the bride and bridegroom at their head, should walk in procession after the ceremony from the manse to Grippy, where the barn, by the fair hands of Miss Meg and her companions, was garnished and garlanded for the ball and banquet. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Accordingly, as the marriage hour drew near, and as it had been previously concerted by 'the best men' on both sides, a numerous assemblage of the guests took place, both at Grippy and Kilmarkeckle--and, at the time appointed, the two parties, respectively carrying with them the bride and bridegroom, headed by a piper playing 'Hey let us a' to the bridal,' proceeded to the manse, where they were met by their worthy parish pastor at the door. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The Reverend Doctor Denholm was one of those old estimable stock characters of the best days of the presbytery, who, to great learning and sincere piety, evinced an inexhaustible fund of couthy jocularity. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | He was far advanced in life, an aged man, but withal hale and hearty, and as fond of an innocent ploy, such as a wedding or a christening, as the blithest spirit in its teens of any lad or lass in the parish. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | But he was not quite prepared to receive so numerous a company; nor, indeed, could any room in the manse have accommodated half the party. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | He, therefore, proposed to perform the ceremony under the great tree, which sheltered the house from the south-west wind in winter, and afforded shade and shelter to all the birds of summer that ventured to trust themselves beneath its hospitable boughs. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | To this, however, Walter, the bridegroom, seemed disposed to make some objection, alleging that it might be a very good place for field-preaching, or for a tent on sacramental occasions, 'but it was an unco-like thing to think of marrying folk under the canopy of the heavens;' adding, 'that he did na think it was canny to be married under a tree.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The Doctor soon, however, obviated this objection, by assuring him that Adam and Eve had been married under a tree. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Gude keep us a' frae sic a wedding as they had,' replied Watty; 'where the deil was best-man? |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Howsever, Doctor, sin it's no an apple-tree, I'll mak a conformity.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | At which the pipes again struck up, and, led by the worthy Doctor bare-headed, the whole assemblage proceeded to the spot. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Noo, Doctor,' said the bridegroom, as all present were composing themselves to listen to the religious part of the ceremony--'Noo, Doctor, dinna scrimp the prayer, but tie a sicker knot; I hae nae broo o' the carnality o' five minute marriages, like the Glasgowers, and ye can weel afford to gie us half an hour, 'cause ye're weel payt for the wind o' your mouth: the hat and gloves I sent you cost me four-and-twenty shillings, clean countit out to my brother Charlie, that would na in his niggerality faik me a saxpence on a' the liveries I bought frae him.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | This address occasioned a little delay, but order being again restored, the Reverend Doctor, folding his hands together, and lowering his eyelids, and assuming his pulpit voice, began the prayer. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | It was a calm and beautiful evening, the sun at the time appeared to be resting on the flaky amber that adorned his western throne, to look back on the world, as if pleased to see the corn and the fruits gathered, with which he had assisted to fill the wide lap of the matronly earth. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | We happened at the time to be walking alone towards Blantyre, enjoying the universal air of contentment with which all things at the golden sunsets of autumn invite the anxious spirit of man to serenity and repose. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | As we approached the little gate that opened to the footpath across the glebe by which the road to the village was abridged to visitors on foot, our attention was first drawn towards the wedding party, by the kindly, pleasing, deep-toned voice of the venerable pastor, whose solemn murmurs rose softly into the balmy air, diffusing all around an odour of holiness that sweetened the very sense of life. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | We paused, and uncovering, walked gently and quietly towards the spot, which we reached just as the worthy Doctor had bestowed the benediction. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The bride looked blushing and expectant, but Walter, instead of saluting her in the customary manner, held her by the hand at arm's length, and said to the Doctor, 'Be served.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Ye should kiss her, bridegroom,' said the minister. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'I ken that,' replied Watty, 'but no till my betters be served. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Help yoursel, Doctor.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Upon which the Doctor, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, enjoyed himself as he was requested. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'It's the last buss,' added Walter, 'it's the last buss, Betty Bodle, ye'll e'er gie to mortal man while am your gudeman.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'I did na think,' said the Reverend Doctor aside to us, 'that the creature had sic a knowledge o' the vows.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The pipes at this crisis being again filled, the guests, hand in hand, following the bridegroom and bride, then marched to the ornamented barn at Grippy, to which we were invited to follow; but what then ensued deserves a new chapter. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | CHAPTER XXX Having accepted the invitation to come with the minister's family to the wedding, we stopped and took tea at the manse with the Reverend Doctor and Mrs. Denholm,--the young ladies and their brother having joined the procession. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | For all our days we have been naturally of a most sedate turn of mind; and although then but in our twenty-third year, we preferred the temperate good humour of the Doctor's conversation, and the householdry topics of his wife, to the boisterous blair of the bagpipes. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | As soon, however, as tea was over, with Mrs. Denholm dressed in her best, and the pastor in his newest suit, we proceeded towards Grippy. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | By this time the sun was set, but the speckless topaz of the western skies diffused a golden twilight, that tinged every object with a pleasing mellow softness. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Like the wedding-ring of a bashful bride, the new moon just showed her silver rim, and the evening star was kindling her lamp, as we approached the foot of the avenue which led to the house, the windows of which sparkled with festivity; while from the barn the merry yelps of two delighted fiddles, and the good-humoured grumbling of a well-pleased bass, mingling with laughter and squeaks, and the thudding of bounding feet, made every pulse in our young blood circle as briskly as the dancers in their reeling. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | When we reached the door, the moment that the venerable minister made his appearance, the music stopped, and the dancing was suspended, by which we were enabled to survey the assembly for a few minutes, in its most composed and ceremonious form. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | At the upper end of the barn stood two arm-chairs, one of which, appropriated to the bridegroom, was empty; in the other sat the bride, panting from the vigorous efforts she had made in the reel that was interrupted by our entrance. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The bridegroom himself was standing near a table close to the musicians, stirring a large punch-bowl, and filling from time to time the glasses. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | His father sat in a corner by himself, with his hands leaning on his staff, and his lips firmly drawn together, contemplating the scene before him with a sharp but thoughtful eye. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Old Kilmarkeckle, with an ivory snuff-box, mounted with gold, in his hand, was sitting with Mr. Keelevin on the left hand of Claud, evidently explaining some remarkable property in the flavour of the snuff, to which the honest lawyer was paying the utmost attention, looking at the philosophical Laird, however, every now and then, with a countenance at once expressive of admiration, curiosity, and laughter. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Leddy Grippy sat on the left of the bride, apparelled in a crimson satin gown, made for the occasion, with a stupendous fabric of gauze and catgut, adorned with vast convolutions of broad red ribbons for a head-dress, and a costly French shawl, primly pinned open, to show her embroidered stomacher. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | At her side sat the meek and beautiful Isabella, like a primrose within the shadow of a peony; and on Isabella's left the aged Lady Plealands, neatly dressed in white silk, with a close cap of black lace, black silk mittens, and a rich black apron. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | But we must not attempt thus to describe all the guests, who, to the number of nearly a hundred, young and old, were seated in various groups around the sides of the barn; for our attention was drawn to Milrookit, the Laird of Dirdumwhamle, a hearty widower for the second time, about forty-five--he might be older--who, cozily in a corner, was engaged in serious courtship with Miss Meg. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | When the formalities of respect, with which Doctor Denholm was so properly received, had been duly performed, the bridegroom bade the fiddlers again play up, and, going towards the minister, said, 'Do ye smell ony thing gude, Sir?' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'No doubt, bridegroom,' replied the Doctor, 'I canna be insensible to the pleasant savour of the supper.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Come here, then,' rejoined Watty, 'and I'll show you a sight would do a hungry body good--weel I wat my mother has na spared her skill and spice. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | '--In |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | saying which, he lifted aside a carpet that had been drawn across the barn like a curtain behind the seats at the upper end of the ball-room, and showed him the supper table, on which about a dozen men and maid-servants were in the act of piling joints and pies that would have done credit to the Michaelmas dinner of the Glasgow magistrates--'Is na that a gallant banquet?' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | said Watty. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Look at yon braw pastry pie wi' the King's crown on't.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The Reverend Pastor declared that it was a very edificial structure, and he had no doubt it was as good as it looked--'Would ye like to pree't, Doctor? |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | I'll just nip off ane o' the pearlies on the crown to let you taste how good it is. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | It'll never be missed.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The bride, who overheard part of this dialogue, started up at these words, and as Walter was in the act of stretching forth his hand to plunder the crown, she pulled him by the coat-tail, and drew him into the chair appropriated for him, sitting down, at the same time, in her own on his left, saying, in an angry whisper,--'Are ye fou' already, Watty Walkinshaw? |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | If ye mudge out o' that seat again this night, I'll mak you as sick o' pies and puddings as ever a dog was o' het kail.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Nothing more particular happened before supper; and every thing went off at the banquet as mirthfully as on any similar occasion. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The dancing was then resumed, and during the bustle and whirl of the reels, the bride and bridegroom were conducted quietly to the house to be bedded. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | When they were undressed, but before the stocking was thrown, we got a hint from Charles to look at the bridal chamber, and accordingly ran with him to the house, and bolting into the room, beheld the happy pair sitting up in bed, with white napkins drawn over their heads like two shrouds, and each holding one of their hands, so as to conceal entirely their modest and downcast faces. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | But, before we had time to say a word, the minister, followed by the two pipers, and the best-men and bridesmaids, bringing posset and cake, came in,--and while the distribution, with the customary benedictions, was going forward, dancing was recommenced in the bedroom. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | How it happened, or what was the cause, we know not; but the dancing continued so long, and was kept up with so much glee, that somehow, by the crowded state of the apartment, the young pair in bed were altogether forgotten, till the bridegroom, tired with sitting so long like a mummy, lost all patience, and, in a voice of rage and thunder, ordered every man and mother's son instantly to quit the room,--a command which he as vehemently repeated with a menace of immediate punishment,--putting, at the same time, one of his legs out of bed, and clenching his fist, in the act of rising. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The bride cowered in giggling beneath the coverlet, and all the other ladies, followed by the men and the pipers, fled pell-mell, and hurly-burly, glad to make their escape. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | CHAPTER XXXI When Claud first proposed the marriage to Kilmarkeckle, it was intended that the young couple should reside at Plealands; but an opportunity had occurred, in the meantime, for Mr. Keelevin to intimate to Mr. Auchincloss, the gentleman who possessed the two farms, which, with the Grippy, constituted the ancient estate of Kittlestonheugh, that Mr. Walkinshaw would be glad to make an excambio with him, and not only give Plealands, but even a considerable inducement in money. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | This proposal, particularly the latter part of it, was agreeable to Mr. Auchincloss, who, at the time, stood in want of ready money to establish one of his sons in the Virginian trade; and, in consequence, the negotiation was soon speedily brought to a satisfactory termination. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | But, in this affair, Grippy did not think fit to confer with any of his sons. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | He was averse to speak to Charles on the subject, possibly from some feeling connected with the deed of entail; and, it is unnecessary to say, that, although Walter was really principal in the business, he had no regard for what his opinion might be. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The consequence of which was, that the bridegroom was not a little amazed to find, next day, on proposing to ride the Brous to his own house at Plealands, and to hold the infare there, that it was intended to be assigned to Mr. Auchincloss, and that, as soon as his family were removed thither, the house of Divethill, one of the exchanged farms, would be set in order for him in its stead. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The moment that this explanation was given to Walter, he remembered the parchments which he had signed, and the agitation of his father on the way home, and he made no scruple of loudly and bitterly declaring, with many a lusty sob, that he was cheated out of his inheritance by his father and Charles. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The old man was confounded at this view which the natural plausibly enough took of the arrangement; but yet, anxious to conceal from his first-born the injustice with which he had used him in the entail, he at first attempted to silence Walter by threats, and then to cajole him with promises, but without effect; at last, so high did the conflict rise between them, that Leddy Grippy and Walter's wife came into the room to inquire what had happened. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'O Betty Bodle!' exclaimed Walter, the moment he saw them; 'what are we to do? |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | My father has beguiled me o' the Plealands, and I hae neither house nor ha' to tak you to. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | He has gart me wise it awa to Charlie, and we'll hae nathing as lang as Kilmarkeckle lives, but scant and want and beggary. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | It's no my fau't, Betty Bodle, that ye'll hae to work for your daily bread, the sin o't a' is my father's. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | But I'll help you a' I can, Betty, and if ye turn a washerwoman on the Green of Glasgow, I'll carry your boynes, and water your claes, and watch them, that ye may sleep when ye're weary't, Betty Bodle,--for though he's a false father, I'll be a true gudeman.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Betty Bodle sat down in a chair, with her back to the window, and Walter, going to her, hung over her with an air of kindness, which his simplicity rendered at once affecting and tender; while Leddy Grippy, petrified by what she heard, also sat down, and, leaning herself back in her seat, with a look of amazement, held her arms streaked down by her side, with all her fingers stretched and spread to the utmost. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | Claud himself was for a moment overawed, and had almost lost his wonted self-possession, at the just accusation of being a false father; but, exerting all his firmness and fortitude, he said calmly,-- 'I canna bear this at thy hand, Watty. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | I hae secured for thee far mair than the Plealands; and is the satisfaction that I thought to hae had this day, noo when I hae made a conquest of the lands o' my forefathers, to be turned into sadness and bitterness o' heart?' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'What hae ye secur'd?' exclaimed Leddy Grippy. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Is na it ordaint that Charlie, by his birthright, will get your lands? |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | How is't then that ye hae wrang't Watty of his ain? |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | the braw property that my worthy father left him both by will and testament. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | An he had been to the fore, ye durst na, gudeman, hae played at sic jookery-pookery; for he had a skill o' law, and kent the kittle points in a manner that ye can never fathom; weel wat I, that your ellwand would hae been a jimp measure to the sauvendie o' his books and Latin taliations. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | But, gudeman, ye's no get a' your ain way. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | I'll put on my cloak, and, Betty Bodle, put on yours, and Watty, my ill-used bairn, get your hat. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | We'll oure for Kilmarkeckle, and gang a' to Mr. Keelevin together to make an interlocutor about this most dreadful extortioning.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | The old man absolutely shuddered; his face became yellow, and his lips white with anger and vexation at this speech. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Girzy Hypel,' said he, with a troubled and broken voice, 'were t'ou a woman o' understanding, or had t'at haverel get o' thine the gumtion o' a sucking turkey, I could speak, and confound your injustice, were I no restrained by a sense of my own shame.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'But what's a' this stoor about?' said the young wife, addressing herself to her father-in-law. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Surely ye'll no objek to mak me the wiser?' 'No, my dear,' replied Claud, 'I hope I can speak and be understood by thee. |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | I hae gotten Mr. Auchincloss to mak an excambio of the Divethill for the Plealands, by the whilk the whole of the Kittlestonheugh patrimony will be redeemed to the family; and I intend and wis you and Watty to live at the Divethill, our neighbours here, and your father's neighbours; that, my bairn, is the whole straemash.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'But,' said she, 'when ye're dead, will we still hae the Divethill?' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'No doubt o' that, my dawty,' said the old man delighted; 'and even far mair.' |
44,573 | The Entail; or, The Lairds of Grippy | 'Then, Watty Walkinshaw, ye gaumeril,' said she, addressing her husband, 'what would ye be at?--Your father's a most just man, and will do you and a' his weans justice.' |
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