old christmas-第4部分

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We　were　interrupted　by　the　clangour　of　a　troop　of　dogs　of　all　sorts　and　sizes；　〃mongrel；　puppy；　whelp；　and　hound；　and　curs　of　low　degree；〃　that；　disturbed　by　the　ringing　of　the　porter's　bell；　and　the　rattling　of　the　chaise；　came　bounding；　open…mouthed；　across　the　lawn。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃The　little　dogs　and　all；　　　　　Tray；　Blanch；　and　Sweetheartsee；　they　bark　at　me！〃


cried　Bracebridge；　laughing。　　At　the　sound　of　his　voice　the　bark　was　changed　into　a　yelp　of　delight；　and　in　a　moment　he　was　surrounded　and　almost　overpowered　by　the　caresses　of　the　faithful　animals。

We　had　now　come　in　full　view　of　the　old　family　mansion；　partly　thrown　in　deep　shadow；　and　partly　lit　up　by　the　cold　moonshine。　　It　was　an　irregular　building　of　some　magnitude；　and　seemed　to　be　of　the　architecture　of　different　periods。　　One　wing　was；　evidently　very　ancient；　with　heavy　stone…shafted　bow　windows　jutting　out　and　overrun　with　ivy；　from　among　the　foliage　of　which　the　small　diamond…shaped　panes　of　glass　glittered　with　the　moonbeams。　　The　rest　of　the　house　was　in　the　French　taste　of　Charles　the　Second's　time；　having　been　repaired　and　altered；　as　my　friend　told　me；　by　one　of　his　ancestors；　who　returned　with　that　monarch　at　the　Restoration。　　The　grounds　about　the　house　were　laid　out　in　the　old　formal　manner　of　artificial　flower…beds；　clipped　shrubberies；　raised　terraces；　and　heavy　stone　balustrades；　ornamented　with　urns；　a　leaden　statue　or　two；　and　a　jet　of　water。　　The　old　gentleman；　I　was　told；　was　extremely　careful　to　preserve　this　obsolete　finery　in　all　its　original　state。　　He　admired　this　fashion　in　gardening；　it　had　an　air　of　magnificence；　was　courtly　and　noble；　and　befitting　good　old　family　style。　　The　boasted　imitation　of　nature　in　modern　gardening　had　sprung　up　with　modern　republican　notions；　but　did　not　suit　a　monarchical　government；　it　smacked　of　the　levelling　system。　I　could　not　help　smiling　at　this　introduction　of　politics　into　gardening；　though　I　expressed　some　apprehension　that　I　should　find　the　old　gentleman　rather　intolerant　in　his　creed。　　Frank　assured　me；　however；　that　it　was　almost　the　only　instance　in　which　he　had　ever　heard　his　father　meddle　with　politics；　and　he　believed　that　he　had　got　this　notion　from　a　member　of　Parliament　who　once　passed　a　few　weeks　with　him。　　The　Squire　was　glad　of　any　argument　to　defend　his　clipped　yew…trees　and　formal　terraces；　which　had　been　occasionally　attacked　by　modern　landscape　gardeners。

As　we　approached　the　house；　we　heard　the　sound　of　music；　and　now　and　then　a　burst　of　laughter　from　one　end　of　the　building。　　This；　Bracebridge　said；　must　proceed　from　the　servants'　hall；　where　a　great　deal　of　revelry　was　permitted；　and　even　encouraged；　by　the　Squire　throughout　the　twelve　days　of　Christmas；　provided　everything　was　done　comformably　to　ancient　usage。　　Here　were　kept　up　the　old　games　of　hoodman　blind；　shoe　the　wild　mare；　hot　cockles；　steal　the　white　loaf；　bob　apple　and　snapdragon：　the　Yule　log　and　Christmas　candle　were　regularly　burnt；　and　the　mistletoe；　with　its　white　berries；　hung　up　to　the　imminent　peril　of　all　the　pretty　housemaids。*


*　See　Note　A。


So　intent　were　the　servants　upon　their　sports；　that　we　had　to　ring　repeatedly　before　we　could　make　ourselves　heard。　　On　our　arrival　being　announced；　the　Squire　came　out　to　receive　us；　accompanied　by　his　two　other　sons；　one　a　young　officer　in　the　army；　home　on　leave　of　absence；　the　other　an　Oxonian；　just　from　the　University。　　The　Squire　was　a　fine；　healthy…looking　old　gentleman；　with　silver　hair　curling　lightly　round　an　open；　florid　countenance；　in　which　a　physiognomist；　with　the　advantage；　like　myself；　of　a　previous　hint　or　two；　might　discover　a　singular　mixture　of　whim　and　benevolence。

The　family　meeting　was　warm　and　affectionate；　as　the　evening　was　far　advanced；　the　Squire　would　not　permit　us　to　change　our　travelling　dresses；　but　ushered　us　at　once　to　the　company；　which　was　assembled　in　a　large　old…fashioned　hall。　　It　was　composed　of　different　branches　of　a　numerous　family　connection；　where　there　were　the　usual　proportion　of　old　uncles　and　aunts；　comfortably　married　dames；　superannuated　spinsters；　blooming　country　cousins；　half…fledged　striplings；　and　bright…eyed　boarding…school　hoydens。　They　were　variously　occupied；　some　at　a　round　game　of　cards；　others　conversing　around　the　fireplace；　at　one　end　of　the　hall　was　a　group　of　the　young　folks；　some　nearly　grown　up；　others　of　a　more　tender　and　budding　age；　fully　engrossed　by　a　merry　game；　and　a　profusion　of　wooden　horses；　penny　trumpets；　and　tattered　dolls；　about　the　floor；　showed　traces　of　a　troop　of　little　fairy　beings；　who；　having　frolicked　through　a　happy　day；　had　been　carried　off　to　slumber　through　a　peaceful　night。

While　the　mutual　greetings　were　going　on　between　Bracebridge　and　his　relatives；　I　had　time　to　scan　the　apartment。　　I　have　called　it　a　hall；　for　so　it　had　certainly　been　in　old　times；　and　the　Squire　had　evidently　endeavoured　to　restore　it　to　something　of　its　primitive　state。　　Over　the　heavy　projecting　fireplace　was　suspended　a　picture　of　a　warrior　in　armour　standing　by　a　white　horse；　and　on　the　opposite　wall　hung　helmet；　buckler；　and　lance。　　At　one　end　an　enormous　pair　of　antlers　were　inserted　in　the　wall；　the　branches　serving　as　hooks　on　which　to　suspend　hats；　whips；　and　spurs；　and　in　the　corners　of　the　apartment　were　fowling…pieces；　fishing…rods；　and　other　sporting　implements。　　The　furniture　was　of　the　cumbrous　workmanship　of　former　days；　though　some　articles　of　modern　convenience　had　been　added；　and　the　oaken　floor　had　been　carpeted；　so　that　the　whole　presented　an　odd　mixture　of　parlour　and　hall。

The　grate　had　been　removed　from　the　wide　overwhelming　fireplace；　to　make　way　for　a　fire　of　wood；　in　the　midst　of　which　was　an　enormous　log　glowing　and　blazing；　and　sending　forth　a　vast　volume　of　light　and　heat；　this　I　understood　was　the　Yule…log；　which　the　Squire　was　particular　in　having　brought　in　and　illumined　on　a　Christmas　eve；　according　to　ancient　custom。*


*　See　Note　B。


It　was　really　delightful　to　see　the　old　Squire　seated　in　his　hereditary　elbow…chair　by　the　hospitable　fireside　of　his　ancestors；　and　looking　around　him　like　the　sun　of　a　system；　beaming　warmth　and　gladness　to　every　heart。　　Even　the　very　dog　that　lay　stretched　at　his　feet；　as　he　lazily　shifted　his　position　and　yawned；　would　look　fondly　up　in　his　master's　face；　wag　his　tail　against　the　floor；　and　stretch　himself　again　to　sleep；　confident　of　kindness　and　protection。　　There　is　an　emanation　from　the　heart　in　genuine　hospitality　which　cannot　be　described；　but　is　immediately　felt；　and　puts　the　stranger　at　once　at　his　ease。　　I　had　not　been　seated　many　minutes　by　the　comfortable　hearth　of　the　worthy　cavalier　before　I　found　myself　as　much　at　home　as　if　I　had　been　one　of　the　family。

Supper　was　announced　shortly　after　our　arrival。　　It　was　served　up　in　a　spacious　oaken　chamber；　the　panels　of　which　shone　with　wax；　and　around　which　were　several　family　portraits　decorated　with　holly　and　ivy。　　Beside　the　accustomed　lights；　two　great　wax　tapers；　called　Christmas　candles；　wreathed　with　greens；　were　placed　on　a　highly…polished　buffet　among　the　family　plate。　　The　table　was　abundantly　spread　with　substantial　fare；　but　the　Squire　made　his　supper　of　frumenty；　a　dish　made　of　wheat　cakes　boiled　in　milk　with　rich　spices；　being　a　standing　dish　in　old　times　for　Christmas　eve。　I　was　happy　to　find　my　old　friend；　minced…pie；　in　the　retinue　of　the　feast；　and　finding　him　to　be　perfectly　orthodox；　and　that　I　need　not　be　ashamed　of　my　predilection；　I　greeted　him　with　all　the　warmth　wherewith　we　usually　greet　an　old　and　very　genteel　acquaintance。

The　mirth　of　the　company　was　greatly　promoted　by　the　humours　of　an　eccentric　personage　whom　Mr。　Bracebridge　always　addressed　with　the　quaint　appellation　of　Master　Simon。　　He　was　a　tight；　brisk　little　man；　with　the　air　of　an　arrant　old　bachelor。　　His　nose　was　shaped　like　the　bill　of　a　parrot；　his　face　slightly　pitted　with　the　smallpox；　with　a　dry　perpetual　bloom　on　it；　like　a　frost…bitten　leaf　in　autumn。　　He　had　an　eye　of　great　quickness　and　vivacity；　with　a　drollery　and　lurking　waggery　of　expression　that　was　irresistible。　　He　was　evidently　the　wit　of　the　family；　dealing　very　much　in　sly　jokes　and　innuendoes　with　the　ladies；　and　making　infinite　merriment　by　harpings　upon　old　themes；　which；　unfortunately；　my　ignorance　of　the　family　chronicles　did　not　permit　me　to　enjoy。　　It　seemed　to　be　his　great　delight　during　supper　to　keep　a　young　girl　next　him　in　a　continual　agony　of　stifled　laughter；　in　spite　of　her　awe　of　the　reproving　looks　of　her　mother；　who　sat　opposite。　　Indeed；　he　was　the　idol　of　the　younger　part　of　the　company；　who　laughed　at　everything　he　said　or　did；　and　at　every　turn　of　his　countenance。　　I　could　not　wonder　at　it；　for　he　must　have　been　a　miracle　of　accomplishments　in　their　eyes。　　He　could　imitate　Punch　and　Judy；　make　an　old　woman　of　his　hand；　with　the　assistance　of　a　burnt　cork　and　pocket…handkerchief：　and　cut　an　orange　into　such　a　ludicrous　caricature；　that　the　young　folks　were　ready　to　die　with　laughing。

I　was　let　briefly　into　his　history　by　Frank　Bracebridge。　　He　was　an　old　bachelor　of　a　small　independent　income；　which　by　careful　management　was　sufficient　for　all　his　wants。　　He　revolved　through　the　family　system　like　a　vagrant　comet　in　its　orbit；　sometimes　visiting　one　branch；　and　sometimes　another　quite　remote；　as　is　often　the　case　with　gentlemen　of　extensive　connections　and　small　fortunes　in　England。　　He　had　a　chirping；　buoyant　disposition；　always　enjoying　the　present　moment；　and　his　frequent　change　of　scene　and　company　prevented　his　acquiring　those　rusty　unacommodating　habits　with　which　old　bachelors　are　so　uncharitably　charged。　　He　was　a　complete　family　chronicle；　being　versed　in　the　genealogy；　history；　and　intermarriages　of　the　whole　house　of　Bracebridge；　which　made　him　a　great　favourite　with　the　old　folks；　he　was　a　beau　of　all　the　elder　ladies　and　superannuated　spinsters；　among　whom　he　was　habitually　considered　rather　a　young　fellow；　and　he　was　a　master　of　the　revels　among　the　children；　so　that　there　was　not　a　more　popular　being　in　the　sphere　in　which　he　moved　than　Mr。　Simon　Bracebridge。　　Of　late　years　he　had　resided　almost　entirely　with　the　Squire；　to　whom　he　had　become　a　fact