mounted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡second¡¡stair£»¡¡and¡¡called¡¡in¡¡a¡¡keen
whisper£»
'Noo£»¡¡Shargar£»¡¡cut¡¡for¡¡the¡¡life¡¡o'¡¡ye¡£'
And¡¡down¡¡came¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡fellow£»¡¡with¡¡long¡¡gliding¡¡steps£»¡¡ragged¡¡and
reluctant£»¡¡and£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡or¡¡a¡¡look£»¡¡launched¡¡himself¡¡out¡¡into
the¡¡cold£»¡¡and¡¡sped¡¡away¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡whither¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡left¡¡the¡¡door£»
the¡¡only¡¡suspicion¡¡of¡¡light¡¡was¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡and¡¡doubtful¡¡shimmer¡¡of¡¡the
snow¡¡that¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡keen¡¡particles¡¡of¡¡which¡¡were¡¡blown¡¡in
his¡¡face¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wind£»¡¡which£»¡¡having¡¡been¡¡up¡¡all¡¡night£»¡¡had¡¡grown
very¡¡cold£»¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡delighted¡¡to¡¡find¡¡one¡¡unprotected¡¡human¡¡being
whom¡¡it¡¡might¡¡badger¡¡at¡¡its¡¡own¡¡bitter¡¡will¡£¡¡¡¡Outcast¡¡Shargar£¡
Where¡¡he¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡interval¡¡between¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Falconer's¡¡door¡¡and¡¡that
of¡¡the¡¡school£»¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡report¡¡amongst¡¡his
school¡fellows¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡by¡¡Scroggie£»¡¡the¡¡fish¡cadger£»
lying¡¡at¡¡full¡¡length¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡old¡¡horse£»¡¡which£»¡¡either
from¡¡compassion¡¡or¡¡indifference£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡up¡¡under¡¡the
burden¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡said¡¡likewise¡¡that£»¡¡when¡¡accused¡¡by¡¡Scroggie¡¡of
housebreaking£»¡¡though¡¡nothing¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡broken¡¡to¡¡get¡¡in£»¡¡only¡¡a
string¡¡with¡¡a¡¡peculiar¡¡knot£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡invention¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡cadger
prided¡¡himself£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡undone£»¡¡all¡¡that¡¡Shargar¡¡had¡¡to¡¡say¡¡in¡¡his
self¡defence¡¡was£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡sair¡¡wame£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the
horse¡¡was¡¡warmer¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡stanes¡¡i'¡¡the¡¡yard£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡dune¡¡him¡¡nae
ill£»¡¡nae¡¡even¡¡drawn¡¡a¡¡hair¡¡frae¡¡his¡¡tailwhich¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a
difficult¡¡feat£»¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡horse's¡¡tail¡¡was¡¡as¡¡bare¡¡as¡¡his¡¡hoof¡£
CHAPTER¡¡VII¡£
ROBERT¡¡TO¡¡THE¡¡RESCUE£¡
That¡¡Shargar¡¡was¡¡a¡¡parish¡¡scholarwhich¡¡means¡¡that¡¡the¡¡parish¡¡paid
his¡¡fees£»¡¡although£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡hardly¡¡worth¡¡payingmade¡¡very
little¡¡difference¡¡to¡¡his¡¡position¡¡amongst¡¡his¡¡school¡fellows¡£¡¡¡¡Nor
did¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡his¡¡being¡¡ragged¡¡and¡¡dirty¡¡affect¡¡his¡¡social
reception¡¡to¡¡his¡¡discomfort¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡accumulated¡¡facts¡¡of¡¡the
oddity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡personal¡¡appearance£»¡¡his¡¡supposed¡¡imbecility£»¡¡and¡¡the
bad¡¡character¡¡borne¡¡by¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡placed¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡unenviable
relation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tyrannical¡¡and¡¡vulgar¡minded¡¡amongst¡¡them¡£
Concerning¡¡his¡¡person£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡long£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡his¡¡name¡¡implied£»¡¡lean£»
with¡¡pale¡red¡¡hair£»¡¡reddish¡¡eyes£»¡¡no¡¡visible¡¡eyebrows¡¡or¡¡eyelashes£»
and¡¡very¡¡pale¡¡facein¡¡fact£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡half¡way¡¡to¡¡an¡¡Albino¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡arms
and¡¡legs¡¡seemed¡¡of¡¡equal¡¡length£»¡¡both¡¡exceedingly¡¡long¡£¡¡¡¡The
handsomeness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡appeared¡¡only¡¡in¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡and¡¡mouth£»
which¡¡were¡¡regular¡¡and¡¡good£»¡¡though¡¡expressionless£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of
his¡¡father¡¡only¡¡in¡¡his¡¡small¡¡delicate¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡feet£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡any
girl¡¡who¡¡cared¡¡only¡¡for¡¡smallness£»¡¡and¡¡heeded¡¡neither¡¡character¡¡nor
strength£»¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡proud¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡feet£»¡¡however£»¡¡were¡¡supposed
to¡¡be¡¡enormous£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡difficulty¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡dragged¡¡after¡¡him
the¡¡huge¡¡shoes¡¡in¡¡which¡¡in¡¡winter¡¡they¡¡were¡¡generally¡¡encased¡£
The¡¡imbecility£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡large¡¡feet£»¡¡was¡¡only¡¡imputed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡certainly
was¡¡not¡¡brilliant£»¡¡but¡¡neither¡¡did¡¡he¡¡make¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡of¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡any
of¡¡the¡¡few¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡learning¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡parish¡scholar¡¡came¡¡in
for¡¡a¡¡share¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡which¡¡gained¡¡him¡¡the¡¡imputation¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that
his¡¡nature¡¡was¡¡without¡¡a¡¡particle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡aggressive£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡its
defensive¡¡of¡¡as¡¡purely¡¡negative¡¡a¡¡character¡¡as¡¡was¡¡possible¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡he
been¡¡a¡¡dog£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡anything¡¡for¡¡his
own¡¡protection¡¡beyond¡¡turning¡¡up¡¡his¡¡four¡¡legs¡¡in¡¡silent¡¡appeal¡¡to
the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavens¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡an¡¡absolute¡¡sepulchre¡¡in¡¡the
swallowing¡¡of¡¡oppression¡¡and¡¡ill¡usage¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡vanished¡¡in¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡There
was¡¡no¡¡echo¡¡of¡¡complaint£»¡¡no¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡resentment¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hollows
of¡¡that¡¡soul¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡blows¡¡that¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡resounded¡¡not£»¡¡and¡¡no
one¡¡but¡¡God¡¡remembered¡¡them¡£
His¡¡mother¡¡made¡¡her¡¡living¡¡as¡¡she¡¡herself¡¡best¡¡knew£»¡¡with¡¡occasional
well¡begrudged¡¡assistance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡parish¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡chief¡¡resource¡¡was
no¡¡doubt¡¡begging¡¡from¡¡house¡¡to¡¡house¡¡for¡¡the¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡oatmeal
which¡¡was¡¡the¡¡recognized£»¡¡and£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡court¡¡of¡¡custom¡taught
conscience£»¡¡the¡¡legalized¡¡dole¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡every¡¡beggar¡¡had¡¡a¡¡claim£»
and¡¡if¡¡she¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡a¡¡chicken£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡boy's¡¡rabbit£»
or¡¡any¡¡other¡¡stray¡¡luxury£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡only¡¡following¡¡the¡¡general¡¡rule
of¡¡society£»¡¡that¡¡your¡¡first¡¡duty¡¡is¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡yourself¡£¡¡¡¡She
was¡¡generally¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡a¡¡gipsy£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡any¡¡gipsy
blood¡¡in¡¡her¡¡veins¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡simply¡¡a¡¡tramper£»¡¡with¡¡occasional¡¡fits
of¡¡localization¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡worst¡¡fault¡¡was¡¡the¡¡way¡¡she¡¡treated¡¡her¡¡son£»
whom¡¡she¡¡starved¡¡apparently¡¡that¡¡she¡¡might¡¡continue¡¡able¡¡to¡¡beat
him¡£
The¡¡particular¡¡occasion¡¡which¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡recognition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡growing
relation¡¡between¡¡Robert¡¡and¡¡Shargar¡¡was¡¡the¡¡following¡£¡¡¡¡Upon¡¡a
certain¡¡Saturdaysome¡¡sidereal¡¡power¡¡inimical¡¡to¡¡boys¡¡must¡¡have
been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ascendanta¡¡Saturday¡¡of¡¡brilliant¡¡but¡¡intermittent
sunshine£»¡¡the¡¡white¡¡clouds¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡the¡¡school¡¡windows¡¡indicating
by¡¡their¡¡rapid¡¡transit¡¡across¡¡those¡¡fields¡¡of¡¡vision¡¡that¡¡fresh
breezes¡¡friendly¡¡to¡¡kites£»¡¡or¡¡draigons£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡called¡¡at
Rothieden£»¡¡were¡¡frolicking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡regionsnearly¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡boys
were¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡for¡¡not¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡down¡¡from¡¡memory¡¡the¡¡usual
instalment¡¡of¡¡Shorter¡¡Catechism¡¡always¡¡due¡¡at¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡week¡£
Amongst¡¡these¡¡boys¡¡were¡¡Robert¡¡and¡¡Shargar¡£¡¡¡¡Sky¡revealing¡¡windows
and¡¡locked¡¡door¡¡were¡¡too¡¡painful£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡as¡¡the¡¡feeling
of¡¡having¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡increased£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡uneasy¡¡did¡¡the¡¡active
element¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡become£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡more¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡break¡¡out¡¡into
some¡¡abnormal¡¡manifestation¡£¡¡¡¡Everythingsun£»¡¡wind£»¡¡cloudswas
busy¡¡out¡¡of¡¡doors£»¡¡and¡¡calling¡¡to¡¡them¡¡to¡¡come¡¡and¡¡join¡¡the¡¡fun£»¡¡and
activity¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡moment¡¡excited¡¡and¡¡restrained¡¡naturally¡¡turns
to¡¡mischief¡£¡¡¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡already¡¡learned¡¡the¡¡obnoxious
taskone¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡was¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡thatand¡¡now¡¡what
should¡¡they¡¡do¡¡next£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eldest¡¡of
them¡¡fell¡¡simultaneously¡¡upon¡¡Shargar¡£
Robert¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡plunged¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡day¡dreams£»¡¡for¡¡he£»¡¡too£»
had¡¡learned¡¡his¡¡catechism£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡roused¡¡from¡¡his¡¡reverie¡¡by¡¡a
question¡¡from¡¡a¡¡pale¡faced¡¡little¡¡boy£»¡¡who¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a
great¡¡authority¡£
'What¡¡for¡¡'s¡¡'t¡¡ca'd¡¡the¡¡Shorter¡¡Carritchis£»¡¡Bob£¿'
''Cause¡¡it's¡¡no¡¡fully¡¡sae¡¡lang's¡¡the¡¡Bible£»'¡¡answered¡¡Robert£»
without¡¡giving¡¡the¡¡question¡¡the¡¡consideration¡¡due¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡was
proceeding¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡over¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡mental
process¡¡was¡¡arrested¡¡by¡¡a¡¡shout¡¡of¡¡laughter¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡other¡¡boys¡¡had
tied¡¡Shargar's¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡at¡¡which¡¡he¡¡satlikewise¡¡his¡¡hands£»
at¡¡full¡¡stretch£»¡¡then£»¡¡having¡¡attached¡¡about¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡strings¡¡to¡¡as
many¡¡elf¡locks¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pale¡red¡¡hair£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡never¡¡cut¡¡or¡¡trimmed£»
had¡¡tied¡¡them¡¡to¡¡various¡¡pegs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the
poor¡¡fellow¡¡could¡¡not¡¡stir¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡now¡¡crushing¡¡up¡¡pieces¡¡of
waste¡paper£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡few¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡stray¡¡school¡books¡¡being¡¡regarded
in¡¡that¡¡light£»¡¡into¡¡bullets£»¡¡dipping¡¡them¡¡in¡¡ink¡¡and¡¡aiming¡¡then¡¡at
Shargar's¡¡face¡£
For¡¡some¡¡time¡¡Shargar¡¡did¡¡not¡¡utter¡¡a¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡Robert£»¡¡although
somewhat¡¡indignant¡¡at¡¡the¡¡treatment¡¡he¡¡was¡¡receiving£»¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡no
impulse¡¡to¡¡interfere£»¡¡for¡¡success¡¡was¡¡doubtful¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡he¡¡was
not¡¡very¡¡easily¡¡roused¡¡to¡¡action¡¡of¡¡any¡¡kind£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡as¡¡yet
mostly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡larva¡condition¡¡of¡¡character£»¡¡when¡¡everything¡¡is
transacted¡¡inside¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡fun¡¡grew¡¡more¡¡furious£»¡¡and¡¡spot¡¡after
spot¡¡of¡¡ink¡¡gloomed¡¡upon¡¡Shargar's¡¡white¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡Robert¡¡took¡¡no
notice£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hurting¡¡him¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡when¡¡he
saw¡¡the¡¡tears¡¡stealing¡¡down¡¡his¡¡patient¡¡cheeks£»¡¡making¡¡channels
through¡¡the¡¡ink¡¡which¡¡now¡¡nearly¡¡covered¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡bear¡¡it¡¡no
longer¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡took¡¡out¡¡his¡¡knife£»¡¡and¡¡under¡¡pretence¡¡of¡¡joining¡¡in¡¡the
sport£»¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡to¡¡Shargar£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡rapid¡¡hand¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡cordsall
but¡¡those¡¡that¡¡bound¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡less¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡without
exposing¡¡himself¡¡defenceless¡£
The¡¡boys¡¡of¡¡course¡¡turned¡¡upon¡¡Robert¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡ere¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡more
than¡¡abusive¡¡words¡¡a¡¡diversion¡¡took¡¡place¡£
Mrs¡£¡¡Innes£»¡¡the¡¡school¡master's¡¡wifea¡¡stout£»¡¡kind¡hearted¡¡woman£»
the¡¡fine¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡temperament¡¡was¡¡clearly¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of
her¡¡physical¡¡prosperityappeared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡which¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the
dwelling¡house¡¡above£»¡¡bearing¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡tureen¡¡of
potato¡soup£»¡¡for¡¡her¡¡motherly¡¡heart¡¡could¡¡not¡¡longer¡¡endure¡¡the
thought¡¡of¡¡dinnerless¡¡boys¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡husband¡¡being¡¡engaged¡¡at¡¡a¡¡parish
meeting£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡interfering¡¡with¡¡success¡£
But¡¡ere¡¡Nancy£»¡¡the¡¡servant£»¡¡could¡¡follow¡¡with¡¡the¡¡spoons¡¡and¡¡plates£»
Wattie¡¡Morrison¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡tureen£»¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡spite¡¡at¡¡Robert£»
had¡¡emptied¡¡its¡¡contents¡¡on¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡Shargar£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡still¡¡tied
by¡¡the¡¡feet£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡words£º¡¡'Shargar£»¡¡I¡¡anoint¡¡thee¡¡king¡¡over¡¡us£»
and¡¡here¡¡is¡¡thy¡¡crown£»'¡¡giving¡¡the¡¡tureen£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡said¡¡so£»¡¡a¡¡push¡¡on
to¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡remained¡£
Shargar¡¡did¡¡not¡¡move£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡one¡¡moment¡¡could¡¡not¡¡speak£»¡¡but¡¡the
next¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡shriek¡¡that¡¡made¡¡Robert¡¡think¡¡he¡¡was¡¡far¡¡worse
scalded¡¡than¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡case¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡darted¡¡to¡¡him¡¡in¡¡rage£»
took¡¡the¡¡tureen¡¡from¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and£»¡¡his¡¡b
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