第21章

Ibelievenot，’’shereplied。Thispoorcreaturehadabrother，andHeaven，asiftocompensatetothefamilyDaviesdeficiencies，hadgivenhimwhatthehamletthoughtuncommontalents。AnunclecontrivedtoeducatehimfortheScottishkirk，buthecouldnotgetprefermentbecausehecamefromour_ground。_Hereturnedfromcollegehopelessandbrokenhearted，andfellintoadecline。Myfathersupportedhimtillhisdeath，whichhappenedbeforehewasnineteen。Heplayedbeautifullyontheflute，andwassupposedtohaveagreatturnforpoetry。

Hewasaffectionateandcompassionatetohisbrother，whofollowedhimlikehisshadow，andwethinkthatfromhimDaviegatheredmanyfragments，ofsongsandmusicunlikethoseofthiscountry。Butifweaskhimwherehegotsuchafragmentasheisnowsinging，heeitheranswerswithwildandlongfitsoflaughter，orelsebreaksintotearsoflamentation；butwasneverheardtogiveanyexplanation，ortomentionhisbrother’snamesincehisdeath。’’

Surely，’’saidEdward，whowasreadilyinterestedbyataleborderingontheromantic，surelymoremightbelearnedbymoreparticularinquiry。’’

Perhapsso，’’answeredRose，butmyfatherwillnotpermitanyonetopractiseonhisfeelingsonthissubject。’’

BythistimetheBaron，withthehelpofMr。Saunderson，hadinduedapairofjack-bootsoflargedimensions，andnowinvitedourherotofollowhimashestalkedclatteringdowntheamplestaircase，tappingeachhugebalustradeashepassedwiththebuttofhismassivehorse-whip，andhumming，withtheairofachasseurofLouisQuatorze，Pourlachasseordonneilfautprparertout，Holaho！Vite！vitedebout。

TheBaronofBradwardine，mountedonanactiveandwell-managedhorse，andseatedonademi-piquesaddle，withdeephousingstoagreewithhislivery，wasnobadrepresentativeoftheoldschool。Hislight-colouredembroideredcoat，andsuperblybarredwaistcoat，hisbrigadierwig，surmountedbyasmallgold-lacedcocked-hat，completedhispersonalcostume；buthewasattendedbytwowell-mountedservantsonhorseback，armedwithholster-pistols。

Inthisguiseheambledforthoverhillandvalley，theadmirationofeveryfarm-yardwhichtheypassedintheirprogress，till，lowdowninagrassyvale，’’theyfoundDavieGellatleyleadingtwoverytalldeergreyhounds，andpresidingoverhalf-a-dozencurs，andaboutasmanybare-leggedandbare-headedboys，who，toprocurethechosendistinctionofattendingonthechase，hadnotfailedtoticklehisearswiththedulcetappellationof_MaisterGellatley，_thoughprobablyallandeachhadhootedhimonformeroccasionsinthecharacterof_daftDavie。_Butthisisnouncommonstrainofflatterytopersonsinoffice，noraltogetherconfinedtothebare-leggedvillagersofTully-Veolan：itwasinfashionSixtyYearssince，isnow，andwillbesixhundredyearshence，ifthisadmirablecompoundoffollyandknavery，calledtheworld，shallbetheninexistence。

These_gillie-wet-foots，_<>astheywerecalled，weredestinedtoAbare-footedHighlandladiscalledagillie-wet-foot。Gillie，ingeneral，meansservantorattendant。

beatthebushes，whichtheyperformedwithsomuchsuccess，thatafterhalf-an-hour’ssearcharoewasstarted，coursed，andkilled；theBaronfollowingonhiswhitehorse，likeEarlPercyofyore，andmagnanimouslyflayingandembowellingtheslainanimal(which，heobserved，wascalledbytheFrenchchasseurs_fairelacure_)withhisownbaronial_couteaudechasse。_Afterthisceremonyheconductedhisguesthomewardbyapleasantandcircuitousroute，commandinganextensiveprospectofdifferentvillagesandhouses，toeachofwhichMr。Bradwardineattachedsomeanecdoteofhistoryorgenealogy，toldinlanguagewhimsicalfromprejudiceandpedantry，butoftenrespectableforthegoodsenseandhonourablefeelingswhichhisnarrativedisplayed，andalmostalwayscurious，ifnotvaluable，fortheinformationtheycontained。

Thetruthis，therideseemedagreeabletobothgentlemen，becausetheyfoundamusementineachother’sconversation，althoughtheircharactersandhabitsofthinkingwereinmanyrespectstotallyopposite。Edward，wehaveinformedthereader，waswarminhisfeelings，wildandromanticinhisideasandinhistasteofreading，withastrongdispositiontowardspoetry。

Mr。Bradwardinewasthereverseofallthis，andpiquedhimselfuponstalkingthroughlifewiththesameupright，starched，stoicalgravitywhichdistinguishedhiseveningpromenadeupontheterraceofTully-Veolan，whereforhou