Next day Walkinshaw found himself constrained, by many motives, to go
into Glasgow, in order to thank his uncle for the liberality of his
offer, and, in accepting it, to ask pardon for the rudeness of his
behaviour.
His reception in the counting-house was all he could have wished; it
was even more cordial than the occasion required, and the cheque given,
as the realization of the promise, considerably exceeded the necessary
amount. Emboldened by so much kindness, Walkinshaw, who felt for his
cousins, and really sympathised with the Leddy under the burden of
expense which she had brought upon herself, ventured to intercede in
their behalf, and he was gratified with his uncle’s answer.
‘I am pleased, James,’ said he, ‘that you take so great an interest in
them; but make your mind easy, for, although I have been shamefully
used, and cannot but long resent it, still, as a man, I ought not to
indulge my anger too far. I, therefore, give you liberty to go and tell
them, that, although I do not mean to hold any intercourse with Robina
and her husband, I have, nevertheless, ordered my man of business to
prepare a deed of settlement on her, such as I ought to make on my
daughter.’
Walkinshaw believed, when he heard this, that he possessed no faculty
whatever to penetrate the depths of character, so bright and shining
did all the virtues of his uncle at that moment appear;--virtues of
which, a month before, he did not conceive he possessed a single
spark. It may, therefore, be easily imagined, that he hastened with
light steps and long strides towards his grandmother’s house, to
communicate the generous tidings. But, on reaching the door, he met
the old lady, wrapped up, as it seemed, for a journey, with her maid,
coming out, carrying a small trunk under her arm. On seeing him, she
made a movement to return; but, suddenly recollecting herself, she
said,--‘Jamie, I hae nae time, for I’m gaun to catch the Greenock
flying coach at the Black Bull, and ye can come wi’ me.’
‘But, what has become o’ Robina?’ cried he, surprised at this
intelligence and sudden movement.
His grandmother took hold of him by the arm, and giving it an
indescribable squeeze of exultation, said,--‘I’ll tell you, it’s just
a sport. They would need long spoons that sup parridge wi’ the de’il,
or the like o’ me, ye maun ken. I was just like to be devour’t into
beggary by them. Ae frien’ after another calling, glasses o’ wine
ne’er devauling; the corks playing clunk in the kitchen frae morning
to night, as if they had been in a change-house on a fair-day. I could
stand it no longer. So yesterday, when that nabal, Dirdumwhamle, sent
us a pair o’ his hunger’t hens, I told baith Beenie and Walky, that
they were obligated to go and thank their parents, and to pay them a
marriage visit for a day or twa, although we’re a’ in black for your
aunty, her mother; and so this morning I got them off, Lord be praised;
and I am noo on my way to pay a visit to Miss Jenny Purdie, my cousin,
at Greenock.’
‘Goodness! and is this to throw poor Beenie and Walky adrift?’
exclaimed Walkinshaw.
‘Charity, Jamie, my bairn, begins at hame, and they hae a nearer claim
on Dirdumwhamle, who is Walky’s lawful father, than on me; so e’en let
them live upon him till I invite them back again.’
Walkinshaw, though really shocked, he could not tell why, was yet so
tickled by the Leddy’s adroitness, that he laughed most immoderately,
and was unable for some time in consequence to communicate the
message, of which he was the joyous bearer; but when he told her, she
exclaimed,--
‘Na, if that’s the turn things hae ta’en, I’ll defer my visit to Miss
Jenny for the present; so we’ll return back. For surely, baith Beenie
and Walky will no be destitute of a’ consideration, when they come to
their kingdom, for the dreadfu’ cost and outlay that I hae been at
the last five weeks. But, if they’re guilty o’ sic niggerality, I’ll
mak out a count--bed, board, and washing, at five and twenty shillings
a-week, Mrs. Scrimpit, the minister’s widow of Toomgarnels, tells me,
would be a charge o’ great moderation;--and if they pay’t, as pay’t
they shall, or I’ll hae them for an affront to the Clerk’s Chambers;
ye’s get the whole half o’t, Jamie, to buy yoursel a braw Andrew
Ferrara. But I marvel, wi’ an exceeding great joy, at this cast o’
grace that’s come on your uncle. For, frae the hour he saw the light,
he was o’ a most voracious nature for himsel; and while the fit lasts,
I hope ye’ll get him to do something for you.’
Walkinshaw then told her not only what his uncle had done, but with the
ardour in which the free heart of youth delights to speak of favours,
he recapitulated all the kind and friendly things that had been said to
him.
‘Jamie, Jamie, I ken your uncle Geordie better than you,--for I hae
been his mother. It’s no for a courtesy o’ causey clash that he’s
birling his mouldy pennies in sic firlots,--tak my word for’t.’
‘There is no possible advantage can arise to him from his kindness to
me.’
‘That’s to say, my bairn, that ye hae na a discerning spirit to see’t;
but if ye had the second sight o’ experience as I hae, ye would fin’ a
whaup in the nest, or I am no a Christian sister, bapteesed Girzel.’
By this time they had returned to the house, and the maid having
unlocked the door, and carried in the trunk, Walkinshaw followed his
grandmother into the parlour, with the view of enjoying what she
herself called, the observes of her phlosification; but the moment
she had taken her seat, instead of resuming the wonted strain of her
jocular garrulity, she began to sigh deeply, and weep bitterly, a
thing which he never saw her do before but in a way that seldom failed
to amuse him; on this occasion, however, her emotion was unaffected,
and it moved him to pity her. ‘What’s the matter with you?’ said he,
kindly;--she did not, however, make any answer for some time, but at
last she said,--
‘Thou’s gaun awa to face thy faes,--as the sang sings, “far far frae
me and Logan braes,”--and I am an aged person, and may ne’er see thee
again; and I am wae to let thee gang, for though thou was ay o’ a
nature that had nae right reverence for me, a deevil’s buckie, my heart
has ay warm’t to thee mair than to a’ the lave o’ my grandchildren;
but it’s no in my power to do for thee as thy uncle has done, though
it’s well known to every one that kens me, that I hae a most generous
heart,--far mair than e’er he had,--and I would na part wi’ thee
without hanselling thy knapsack. Hegh, Sirs! little did I think whan
the pawky laddie spoke o’ my bit gathering wi’ Robin Carrick, that
it was in a sincerity; but thou’s get a part. I’ll no let thee gang
without a solid benison, so tak the key, and gang into the scrutoire
and bring out the pocket-book.’
Walkinshaw was petrified, but did as he was desired; and, having
given her the pocket-book, sewed by his aunt, Mrs. Milrookit, at the
boarding-school, she took several of Robin’s promissory-notes out, and
looking them over, presented him with one for fifty pounds.
‘Now, Jamie Walkinshaw,’ said she, ‘if ye spend ae plack o’ that like a
prodigal son,--it’s no to seek what I will say whan ye come back,--but
I doot, I doot, lang before that day I’ll be deep and dumb aneath the
yird, and naither to see nor hear o’ thy weel or thy woe.’
So extraordinary and unlooked-for an instance of liberality on the part
of his grandmother, together with the unfeigned feeling by which she
was actuated, quite overwhelmed Walkinshaw, and he stood holding the
bill in his hand, unable to speak. In the meantime, she was putting up
her other bills, and, in turning them over, seeing one for forty-nine
pounds, she said, ‘Jamie, forty-nine pounds is a’ the same as fifty to
ane that pays his debts by the roll of a drum, so tak this, and gie me
that back.’