Immediately after the funeral Claud returned home to Grippy, where he
continued during the remainder of the day secluded in his bed-chamber.
Next morning, being Sunday, he was up and dressed earlier than usual;
and after partaking slightly of breakfast, he walked into Glasgow, and
went straight to the house of his daughter-in-law.
The widow was still in her own room, and not in any state or condition
to be seen; but the children were dressed for church, and when the
bells began to ring, he led them out, each holding him by the hand,
innocently proud of their new black clothes.
In all the way up the High Street, and down the pathway from the
church-yard gate to the door of the cathedral, he never raised his
eyes; and during the sermon he continued in the same apparent state of
stupor. In retiring from the church, the little boy drew him gently
aside from the path to show his sister the spot where their father
was laid; and the old man, absorbed in his own reflections, was
unconsciously on the point of stepping on the grave, when James checked
him,--
‘It’s papa--dinna tramp on him.’
Aghast and recoiling, as if he had trodden upon an adder, he looked
wildly around, and breathed quickly and with great difficulty, but
said nothing. In an instant his countenance underwent a remarkable
change--his eyes became glittering and glassy, and his lips white. His
whole frame shook, and appeared under the influence of some mortal
agitation. His presence of mind did not, however, desert him, and he
led the children hastily home. On reaching the door, he gave them in to
the servant that opened it without speaking, and went immediately to
Grippy, where, the moment he had seated himself in his elbow-chair, he
ordered one of the servants to go for Mr. Keelevin.
‘What ails you, father?’ said Walter, who was in the room at the time;
‘ye speak unco drumly--hae ye bitten your tongue?’ But scarcely had
he uttered these words, when the astonished creature gave a wild and
fearful shout, and, clasping his hands above his head, cried, ‘Help!
help! something’s riving my father in pieces!’
The cry brought in the servants, who, scarcely less terrified, found
the old man smitten with a universal paralysis, his mouth and eyes
dreadfully distorted, and his arms powerless.
In the alarm and consternation of the moment, he was almost immediately
deserted; every one ran in quest of medical aid. Walter alone remained
with him, and continued gazing in his face with a strange horror, which
idiocy rendered terrific.
Before any of the servants returned, the violence of the shock seemed
to subside, and he appeared to be sensible of his situation. The moment
that the first entered the room he made an effort to speak, and the
name of Keelevin was two or three times so distinctly articulated, that
even Walter understood what he meant, and immediately ran wildly to
Glasgow for the lawyer. Another messenger was dispatched for the Leddy,
who had, during the forenoon, gone to her daughter-in-law, with the
intention of spending the day.
In the meantime a doctor was procured, but he seemed to consider the
situation of the patient hopeless; he, however, as in all similar
cases, applied the usual stimulants to restore energy, but without any
decisive effect.
The weather, which had all day been lowering and hazy, about this time
became drizzly, and the wind rose, insomuch that Leddy Grippy, who came
flying to the summons, before reaching home was drenched to the skin,
and was for some time, both from her agitation and fatigue, incapable
of taking any part in the bustle around her husband.
Walter, who had made the utmost speed for Mr. Keelevin, returned soon
after his mother; and, on appearing before his father, the old man
eagerly spoke to him; but his voice was so thick, that few of his words
were intelligible. It was, however, evident that he inquired for the
lawyer; for he threw his eyes constantly towards the door, and several
times again was able to articulate his name.
At last, Mr. Keelevin arrived on horseback, and came into the room,
dressed in his trotcosey; the hood of which, over his cocked hat, was
drawn so closely on his face, that but the tip of his sharp aquiline
nose was visible. But, forgetful or regardless of his appearance, he
stalked with long strides at once to the chair where Claud was sitting;
and taking from under the skirt of the trotcosey a bond of provision
for the widow and children of Charles, and for Mrs. Milrookit, he knelt
down, and began to read it aloud.
‘Sir,’ said the doctor, who was standing at the other side of the
patient, ‘Mr. Walkinshaw is in no condition to understand you.’
Still, however, Mr. Keelevin read on; and when he had finished, he
called for pen and ink.
‘It is impossible that he can write,’ said the doctor.
‘Ye hae no business to mak ony sic observation,’ exclaimed the
benevolent lawyer. ‘Ye shou’d say nothing till we try. In the name of
justice and mercy, is there nobody in this house that will fetch me pen
and ink?’
It was evident to all present that Claud perfectly understood what his
friend said; and his eyes betokened eagerness and satisfaction; but the
expression with which his features accompanied the assent in his look
was horrible and appalling.
At this juncture Leddy Grippy came rushing, half dressed, into the
room, her dishevelled grey hair flying loosely over her shoulders,
exclaiming,--
‘What’s wrang noo?--what new judgement has befallen us?--Whatna fearfu’
image is that like a corpse out o’ a tomb, that’s making a’ this rippet
for the cheatrie instruments o’ pen and ink, when a dying man is at his
last gasp?’
‘Mrs. Walkinshaw, for Heaven’s sake be quiet;--your gudeman,’ replied
Mr. Keelevin, opening the hood of his trotcosey, and throwing it back;
taking off, at the same time, his cocked hat--‘Your gudeman kens very
weel what I hae read to him. It’s a provision for Mrs. Charles and her
orphans.’
‘But is there no likewise a provision in’t for me?’ cried the Leddy.
‘Oh, Mrs. Walkinshaw, we’ll speak o’ that hereafter; but let us get
this executed aff-hand,’ replied Mr. Keelevin. ‘Ye see your gudeman
kens what we’re saying, and looks wistfully to get it done. I say, in
the name of God, get me pen and ink.’
‘Ye’s get neither pen nor ink here, Mr. Keelevin, till my rights are
cognost in a record o’ sederunt and session.’
‘Hush!’ exclaimed the doctor--all was silent, and every eye turned
on the patient, whose countenance was again hideously convulsed;--a
troubled groan struggled and heaved for a moment in his breast, and was
followed by short quivering through his whole frame.
‘It is all over!’ said the doctor. At these words the Leddy rushed
towards the elbow-chair, and, with frantic cries and gestures, flew on
the body, and acted an extravagance of sorrow ten times more outrageous
than grief. Mr. Keelevin stood motionless, holding the paper in his
hand; and, after contemplating the spectacle before him for about two
or three minutes, shook his head disconsolately, and replacing his
cocked hat, drew the hood of the trotcosey again over his face, and
left the house.