Part 3 (2/2)
”I have no doubt, sir,” said the Sergeant, calmly, ”that you mean to do what seems to you to be right, and what you believe to be your duty.
But----” and there was a pause, ”but I will not deceive you, nor promise to do what I feel I can never perform. _I_ must also do _my_ duty, and I daurna do what seems to me to be wrang, cruel, and unnecessar'. I canna' kill the bird. It is simply impossible! Do pardon me, sir.
Dinna think me disrespectful or prood. At this moment I am neither, but verra vexed to have had ony disturbance wi' my minister. Yet----”
”Yet what, Mr. Mercer?”
”Weel, Mr. Porteous, I dinna wish to detain you; but as far as I can see my duty, or understand my feelings----”
”Feelings! forsooth!” exclaimed Mr. Porteous.
”Or understand my feelings,” continued Adam, ”I canna--come what may, let me oot with it--I _will not_ kill the bird!”
Mr. Porteous rose and said, in a cold, dry voice, ”If such is your deliverance, so be it. I have done my duty. On you, and you only, the responsibility must now rest of what appears to me to be _contumacious_ conduct--an offence, if possible, worse than the original one. You sin with light and knowledge--and it is, therefore, heinous by reason of several aggravations. I must wish you good-morning. This matter cannot rest here. But whatever consequences may follow, you, and you alone, I repeat, are to blame--my conscience is free. You will hear more of this most unfortunate business, Sergeant Mercer.” And Mr. Porteous, with a stiff bow, walked out of the house.
Adam made a movement towards the door, as if to speak once more to Mr.
Porteous, muttering to himself, ”He canna be in earnest!--The thing's impossible!--It canna be!” But the minister was gone.
CHAPTER VI
THE STARLING ON HIS TRIAL
Adam was left alone with his wife. His only remark as he sat down opposite to her was: ”Mr. Porteous has forgot himself, and was too quick;” adding, ”nevertheless it is our duty to gang to the kirk.”
”Kirk!” exclaimed Katie, walking about in an excited manner, ”that's a'
ower! Kirk! pity me! hoo can you or me gang to the kirk? Hoo can we be glowered at and made a speculation o', and be the sang o' the parish?
The kirk! waes me; that's a' by! I never, never thocht it wad come to this wi' me or you, Adam! I think it wad hae kilt my faither. It's an awfu' chastees.e.m.e.nt.”
”For what?” quietly asked the Sergeant.
”Ye needna speer--ye ken weel eneuch it's for that bird. I aye telt ye that ye were ower fond o't, and noo!--I'm real sorry for ye, Adam. It's for _you_, for _you_, and no' for mysel', I'm sorry. Sirs me, what a misfortun'!”
”What are ye sae sorry for?” meekly inquired Adam.
”For everything!” replied Katie, groaning; ”for the stramash amang the weans; for the clish-clash o' the neebors; for you and me helping to break the Sabbath; for the minister being sae angry, and that nae doubt, for he kens best, for gude reasons; and, aboon a', for you, Adam, my bonnie man, an elder o' the kirk, brocht into a' this habble for naething better than a bit bird!” And Katie threw herself into the chair, covering her face with her hands.
The Sergeant said nothing, but rose and went outside to bring in the cage. There were signs of considerable excitement in the immediate neighbourhood. The long visit of the minister in such circ.u.mstances could mean only a conflict with Adam, which would be full of interest to those miserable gossips, who never thought of attending church except on rare occasions, and who were glad of something to occupy their idle time on Sunday morning. Sundry heads were thrust from upper windows, directing their gaze to the Sergeant's house. Some of the boys reclined on the gra.s.s at a little distance, thus occupying a safe position, and commanding an excellent retreat should they be pursued by parson or parents. The cage was the centre of attraction to all.
The Sergeant at a glance saw how the enemy lay, but without appearing to pay any attention to the besiegers, he retired with the cage into the house and fixed it in its accustomed place over his boy's empty cot.
When the cage was adjusted, the starling scratched the back of his head, as if something annoyed him; he then cleaned his bill on each side of the perch, as if present duties must be attended to; after this he hopped down and began to describe figures with his open bill on the sanded floor of the cage, as if for innocent recreation. Being refreshed by these varied exercises, he concluded by repeating his confession and testimony with a precision and vigour never surpa.s.sed.
Katie still occupied the arm-chair, blowing her nose with her Sunday pocket-handkerchief. The Sergeant sat down beside her.
”It's time to gang to the kirk, gudewife,” he remarked, although, from the bells having stopped ringing, and from the agitated state of his wife's feelings, he more than suspected that, for the first time during many years, he would be obliged to absent himself from morning wors.h.i.+p--a fact which would form another subject of conversation for his watchful and thoughtful neighbours.
<script>