按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sprinkled ‘God willings' should have blinded them to the essence of this
venomous letter； and that they should have been at the pains to bind it in
with others （many of them highly touching） in their memorial of
harrowing days。 But the good ladies were without guile and without
suspicion； they were victims marked for the axe； and the religious
impostors snuffed up the wind as they drew near。
I have referred above to my grandmother； it was no slip of the pen： for
by an extraordinary arrangement； in which it is hard not to suspect the
managing hand of a mother； Jean Smith became the wife of Robert
Stevenson。 Mrs。 Smith had failed in her design to make her son a
minister； and she saw him daily more immersed in business and worldly
ambition。 One thing remained that she might do： she might secure for
him a godly wife； that great means of sanctification； and she had two
under her hand； trained by herself； her dear friends and daughters both in
law and love … Jean and Janet。 Jean's complexion was extremely pale；
Janet's was florid； my grandmother's nose was straight； my great…aunt's
aquiline； but by the sound of the voice； not even a son was able to
distinguish one from other。 The marriage of a man of twenty… seven and
a girl of twenty who have lived for twelve years as brother and sister； is
difficult to conceive。 It took place； however； and thus in 1799 the family
was still further cemented by the union of a representative of the male or
worldly element with one of the female and devout。
This essential difference remained unbridged； yet never diminished the
strength of their relation。 My grandfather pursued his design of
advancing in the world with some measure of success； rose to distinction
in his calling； grew to be the familiar of members of Parliament； judges of
the Court of Session； and ‘landed gentlemen'； learned a ready address； had
a flow of interesting conversation； and when he was referred to as ‘a
highly respectable BOURGEOIS；' resented the description。 My
grandmother remained to the end devout and unambitious； occupied with
her Bible； her children； and her house； easily shocked； and associating
19
… Page 20…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
largely with a clique of godly parasites。 I do not know if she called in the
midwife already referred to； but the principle on which that lady was
recommended； she accepted fully。 The cook was a godly woman； the
butcher a Christian man； and the table suffered。 The scene has been often
described to me of my grandfather sawing with darkened countenance at
some indissoluble joint … ‘Preserve me； my dear； what kind of a reedy；
stringy beast is this？' … of the joint removed； the pudding substituted and
uncovered； and of my grandmother's anxious glance and hasty；
deprecatory comment； ‘Just mismanaged！' Yet with the invincible
obstinacy of soft natures； she would adhere to the godly woman and the
Christian man； or find others of the same kidney to replace them。 One of
her confidants had once a narrow escape； an unwieldy old woman； she had
fallen from an outside stair in a close of the Old Town； and my
grandmother rejoiced to communicate the providential circumstance that a
baker had been passing underneath with his bread upon his head。 ‘I
would like to know what kind of providence the baker thought it！' cried
my grandfather。
But the sally must have been unique。 In all else that I have heard or
read of him； so far from criticising； he was doing his utmost to honour and
even to emulate his wife's pronounced opinions。 In the only letter which
has come to my hand of Thomas Smith's； I find him informing his wife
that he was ‘in time for afternoon church'； similar assurances or cognate
excuses abound in the correspondence of Robert Stevenson； and it is
comical and pretty to see the two generations paying the same court to a
female piety more highly strung： Thomas Smith to the mother of Robert
Stevenson … Robert Stevenson to the daughter of Thomas Smith。 And if
for once my grandfather suffered himself to be hurried； by his sense of
humour and justice； into that remark about the case of Providence and the
Baker； I should be sorry for any of his children who should have stumbled
into the same attitude of criticism。 In the apocalyptic style of the
housekeeper of Invermay； woe be to that person！ But there was no fear；
husband and sons all entertained for the pious； tender soul the same
chivalrous and moved affection。 I have spoken with one who
remembered her； and who had been the intimate and equal of her sons； and
20
… Page 21…
RECORDS OF A FAMILY OF ENGINEERS
I found this witness had been struck； as I had been； with a sense of
disproportion between the warmth of the adoration felt and the nature of
the woman； whether as described or observed。 She diligently read and
marked her Bible； she was a tender nurse； she had a sense of humour
under strong control； she talked and found some amusement at her （or
rather at her husband's） dinner…parties。 It is conceivable that even my
grandmother was amenable to the seductions of dress； at least； I find her
husband inquiring anxiously about ‘the gowns from Glasgow；' and very
careful to describe the toilet of the Princess Charlotte； whom he had seen
in church ‘in a Pelisse and Bonnet of the same colour of cloth as the Boys'
Dress jackets； trimmed with blue satin ribbons； the hat or Bonnet； Mr。
Spittal said； was a Parisian slouch； and had a plume of three white
feathers。' But all this leaves a blank impression； and it is rather by
reading backward in these old musty letters； which have moved me now to
laughter and now to impatience； that I glean occasional glimpses of how
she seemed to her contemporaries； and trace （at work in her queer world of
godly and grateful parasites） a mobile and responsive nature。 Fashion
moulds us； and particularly women； deeper than we sometimes think； but a
little while ago； and； in some circles； women stood or fell by the degree of
their appreciation of old pictures； in the early years of the century （and
surely with more reason） a character like that of my grandmother warmed；
charmed； and subdued； like a strain of music； the hearts of the men of her
own household。 And there is little doubt that Mrs。 Smith； as she looked on
at the domestic life of her son and her stepdaughter； and numbered the
heads in their increasing nursery； must have breathed fervent thanks to her
Creator。
Yet this was to be a family unusually tried； it was not for nothing that
one of the godly women saluted Miss Janet Smith as ‘a veteran in
affliction'；