Ringan Gilhaize, or, The Covenanters
Page 22
CHAPTER XXI
When my grandfather had returned to the bailie's house after deliveringhis message to the Reformer, he spent an evening of douce but pleasantpastime with him and the modest Elspa Ruet, whose conversation was farabove her degree, and seasoned with the sweet savour of holiness. Butever and anon, though all parties strove to eschew the subject, theybegan to speak of her erring sister, the bailie compassionating hercontinuance in sin as a man and a Christian should, but showing no wishnor will to mind her any more as kith or kin to him or his; a temperthat my grandfather was well content to observe he had attained. Not sowas that of Elspa; but her words were few and well chosen, and they madea deep impression on my grandfather; for she seemed fain to hide whatwas passing in her heart.
Twice or thrice she spoke of the ties of nature, intimating that theywere as a bond and obligation laid on by THE MAKER, whereby kindred werebound to stand by one another in weal or in woe, lest those who sinnedshould be utterly abandoned by all the world. The which tender andChristian sentiment, though it was melodious to my grandfather's spirit,pierced it with a keen pain; for he thought of the manner in which hehad left his own parents, even though it was for the blessed sake ofreligion, and his bosom was at the moment filled with sorrow. But, whenhe said how much he regretted and was yet unrepentant of that step,Elspa cheered him with a consolation past utterance, by reminding him,that he had neither left them to want nor to sin; that, by quitting theshelter of their wing, he had but obeyed the promptings of nature, andthat if, at any time hereafter, father or mother stood in need of hisaid or exhortation, he could still do his duty.
Without well considering what he said, the bailie observed on this, thathe was surprised to hear her say so, and yet allow her sister to remainso long unreproved in her offences.
Elspa Ruet to this made no immediate reply,--she was indeed unable; andmy grandfather sympathised with her, for the sting had plainlypenetrated to the very marrow of her soul. At last, however, she said,--
"Your reproach is just, I hae been to blame baith to Heaven and man--butthe thing has na been unthought, only I kent na how to gang about thetask; and yet what gars me say sae but a woman's weakness, for theroad's no sae lang to St Andrews, and surely iniquity does not there soabound, that no ane would help me to the donsie woman's bower."
My grandfather, on hearing this, answered, that if she was indeed mindedto try to rescue her sister, he was ready and willing to do all with herand for her that she could desire; but, bearing in mind the lightwoman's open shame, he added, "I'm fearful it's yet owre soon to hopefor her amendment: she'll hae to fin the evil upshot of her ungodlycourses, I doubt, before she'll be wrought into a frame of sincerepenitence."
"Nevertheless," replied Elspa Ruet, "I will try; it's my duty, and mysisterly love bids me no to be slothful in the task." At which words sheburst into sore and sorrowful weeping, saying, "Alas, alas! that sheshould have so fallen!--I loved her--oh! naebody can tell howdearly--even as I loved myself. When I first saw my ain face in alooking-glass I thought it was her, and kissed it for the likeness, inpity that it didna look sae fair as it was wont to be. But it's theLord's pleasure, and in permitting her to sink so low HE has no doubtsome lesson to teach."
Thus, from less to more, as they continued conversing, it was agreedthat Elspa Ruet should ride on a pad ahint my grandfather next morningto St Andrews, in order to try if the thing could be to move her sisterto the humiliation of contrition for her loose life. And some smallpreparations being needful, Elspa departed and left the bailie and mygrandfather together.
"But," said my grandfather to him, after she had been some time away,"is't your design to take the unfortunate woman back among your innocentlassie bairns?"
"No," replied the bailie; "that's no a thing to be now thought of;please Providence, she'll ne'er again darken my door; I'll no, however,allow her to want. Her mother, poor auld afflicted woman, that has ne'errefraint from greeting since her flight, she'll tak her in; but atweenher and me there's a divorce for ever."
By daylight my grandfather had his horse at the door; and Elspa havingborrowed the provost's lady's pad overnight, it was buckled on, and theywere soon after on the road.
It was a sunny morning in June, and all things were bright, and blithe,and blooming. The spirits of youth, joy and enjoyment were spread abouton the earth. The butterflies, like floating lilies, sailed from blossomto blossom, and the gowans, the bright and beautiful eyes of the summer,shone with gladness, as Nature walked on bank and brae, in maiden pride,spreading and showing her new flowery mantle to the sun. The very airsthat stirred the glittering trees were soft and genial as the breath oflife; and the leaves of the aspine seemed to lap the sunshine like thetongues of young and happy creatures that delight in their food.
As my grandfather and Elspa Ruet rode along together, they partook ofthe universal benignity with which all things seemed that morning sograciously adorned, and their hearts were filled with the hope thattheir united endeavours to save her fallen sister would be blessed withsuccess. But when they came in sight of the papal towers and gorgeousedifices of St Andrews, which then raised their proud heads, like Babel,so audaciously to the heavens, they both became silent.
My grandfather's thoughts ran on what might ensue if the Archbishop wereto subject him to his dominion, and he resolved, as early as possible,to make known his arrival to the Lord James Stuart, who, in virtue ofbeing head of the priory, was then resident there, and to claim hisprotection. Accordingly he determined to ride with Elspa Ruet to thehouse of the vintner in the Shoegate, of which I have already spoken,and to leave her under the care of Lucky Kilfauns, as the hostess wascalled, until he had done so. But fears and sorrows were busy with thefancy of his fair companion; and it was to her a bitter thing, as sheafterwards told him, to think that the purpose of her errand was toentreat a beloved sister to leave a life of shame and sin, and sadlydoubting if she would succeed.
Being thus occupied with their respective cogitations, they entered thecity in silence, and reached the vintner's door without having exchangeda word for several miles. There Elspa alighted, and being commended tothe care of Lucky Kilfauns, who, though of a free outspoken nature, wasa most creditable matron, my grandfather left her, and rode up the gaitto the priory yett, where, on his arrival, he made himself known to theporter, and was admitted to the Lord Prior, as the Lord James was therepapistically called.
Having told his Lordship that he had delivered his message to John Knox,and that the Reformer would not fail to attend the call, he then relatedpartly what had happened to himself in his former sojourn at St Andrews,and how and for what end he had brought Elspa Ruet there that day withhim, entreating the Lord James to give him his livery and protection,for fear of the Archbishop; which, with many pleasing comments on hisdevout and prudent demeanour, that noble worthy most readily vouchsafed,and my grandfather returned to the vintner's.