Chapter 2 2.Lady Glenarvan

Macomb House is a poetic residence in the south of Scotland. It is located near the village of Lys, overlooking the beautiful little valley in the village of Lys.The stone foundation of the high wall is bathed by the clear waves of Lake Lemont. This house has belonged to the Galinafan family since a long time ago.Glenarvan lives in the homeland of such heroes as Rob Roy and Fergus MacGregor, and still preserves the hospitality of the heroes of old.When the social revolution broke out in Scotland, many tenants were driven away by the lords because they could not pay the excessive rent.Some of them starved to death, some became fishermen, and some left their hometown.The whole society is in a state of despair.Among all the nobles, only the Glenarvan family believed that faith bound the nobles the same as it bound the commoners.They always treat their tenants with faith.Therefore not one of their tenants left their native land, and none left their native land, but all continued to be subjects of Corinavan.Therefore, in that kind of troubled times, only Scots lived in the Macomb House of the Colinavan family, just like the only Scots on board the Duncan now.These Scots are all descendants of the old lords McGregor, McFarlane, McNabs, and McNaughton's households, that is to say, they are all children born and raised in the counties of Stirling and Dunbarton. They were honest men, wholeheartedly loyal to their masters, and some of them could speak the old Caledonian voice.

Sir Glenarvan was a man of great wealth, and had always given away his wealth, and his kindness surpassed his generosity.Because generosity still has limits, but kindness can be boundless.The "lord" of Malcolm Hall, a gentleman of the village of Lys, was the elder of the English nobility, representing the county.However, he was discriminated against by British politicians because of his Jacobite (the faction of Britain loyal to King James II of Inson) and because he did not want to cater to the dynasty at that time.Furthermore, he has always inherited the tradition of his ancestors and resolutely resisted the political aggression of the English, which is why he was discriminated against.

Sir, though not a man of narrow minds, mediocrity of intellect, and backwardness of mind, though he opened the gates of his county to all progressive things, he was always first in Scotland at heart, and he was on the Royal Qinmes River Cruise. It is to do honor to Scotland by pitting their galleys against others in club races.Sir Glenarvan is now 32 years old, with a tall body and a somewhat harsh appearance, but his eyes are infinitely gentle. His whole appearance reflects the poetry of the Highlands (the name of the southern part of Scotland).Everyone knows that he is very bold, daring, chivalrous, and has the demeanor of an ancient knight. He is indeed a Fergus in the 19th century (the Scottish monarch in the Middle Ages, the leader and model of knights).But the most outstanding thing is his benevolent heart. He is even more benevolent than the medieval Christian saint, Marcie.

Sir Glenarvan and Miss Helen had only been married for three months. Miss Helen was the daughter of the famous traveler William Tufnell. William sacrificed his life for the study of geography and his passion for exploration. Miss Helen is not from aristocratic background, but she is a pure Scotsman, which, in the eyes of Sir, is worth any noble family status. She is a charming, brave, passionate girl, and the gentleman in Luss Village is Became a life partner with such a girl. When he first met her, she was a fatherless orphan with little property, living alone in a house owned by her father.He knew the poor girl would make a good wife, so he married her.Miss Helen was only twenty-two years old, a fair-haired beauty with eyes as blue as a lake in a Scottish spring morning.She loves her husband more than she appreciates him.Seeing her loving her husband so much, it was as if she herself was the heir of a rich man, while her husband was an orphan whom no one cares about.As for her tenants and servants, they called her "our gracious Mrs. Luce," and would have given their lives for her.

Sir Glenarvan and Lady Helen live happily in Malcolm House.The path by the lake outside the mansion is full of deep shades of maple and chestnut trees, and there are people singing ancient war songs on the lake shore.There are many remains of ancient buildings in the desolate gorge, reminiscent of the glory of Scotland's history.The couple often took walks in these beautiful scenery.Today they slip into birch or larch woods, and disappear in endless frosty undergrowth.Tomorrow, they will climb the steep peak of Mount Lemont, or ride horses through the rare valleys.They observed, felt, and admired the idyllic scenery that is still called "Rob Roy's Country" today, and the famous scenery sung by Walter Stewart.In the evening, when the "Mac Farren's Lamp" glowed in the sky, they wandered along the path outside the mansion.This ancient cloister seemed to put a castle-like collar on Malcolm House.There, sitting the two of them on a solitary rock, brooding, in the silence of nature, in the pale moonlight, as if there were no one else in the world; In the realm of cheerfulness.Only two hearts in love can appreciate this secret and obscurity on the earth.

Thus passed the first three months of their marriage.But the Sir did not forget that his wife was the daughter of a great traveler!He thought that the madam must still have those wishes of his father's life in her heart.Sure enough, his thinking was not wrong at all. The Duncan was built, and it would carry the couple to the most beautiful places in the world, passing through the Mediterranean Sea and reaching the islands near Greece.We can imagine how happy Lady Helene was when her husband put the Duncan at her disposal!Yes, go to the beautiful Greece to spend love life, and watch the honeymoon spend on the fairyland-like eastern coast. Is there any happiness in the world that is bigger and more beautiful than this?

By this time, however, Sir Glenarvan had gone to London.The current urgent task is to rescue a few unfortunate crew members who were in distress, so Mrs. Helen is not so depressed about this short separation, she just hangs the jazz, wondering if this matter can be done.The next day, she received a telegram from her husband, who estimated that he would be back soon.In the evening I received a letter saying that it would be postponed, because Sir's proposal had encountered some difficulties.On the third day, there was another letter in which the Sir expressed his dissatisfaction with the Admiralty.

On this day, Mrs. Helen felt uneasy. At night, when she was sitting in the room alone, Hubbard, the butler, suddenly came in and told her that there was a girl and a boy who asked to speak to Sir, and asked her if she would like to. to meet. "Is it a native?" the lady asked. "No, madam. Because I don't know them. They took the train to Baloch (a place name), and from Baloch to the village of Lus, and they came on foot," replied the steward. "Come up, please, Hubbard," said Madame. The butler is out.After a while, the girl and child were led into Mrs. Helen's room.You can tell from their faces that they are siblings.My sister is sixteen years old, her beautiful face looks a little tired, her eyes seem to be swollen from crying, her expression is calm and brave, and her attire is simple and neat.All these make people have a good impression of her at the first sight.She carried her 12-year-old brother by the arm, who was as determined as his sister's bodyguard.real!If anyone offends his sister, this little hero will stand up immediately.When the elder sister first arrived in front of his wife, she was a little stunned.Mrs. Helen quickly spoke first and said:

"Do you want to talk to me?" she asked, encouraging the girl with her eyes. "No, not you. We want Sir Glenarvan himself." The boy replied firmly. "Forgive him, ma'am," said the sister at once, looking at the brother with her eyes. "Sir Glenarvan is not at home," the lady continued, "I am his wife. If I may take his place..." "Are you Madame Glenarvan?" said the girl. "Yes, miss." "Is that the lady of Sir Glenarvan of Malcolm House who published an advertisement in The Times about the sinking of the Britannia?" "Exactly! Exactly!" went on Lady Helen quickly Answer, "Who are you?

..." "I am Miss Grant, madam, and this is my brother." "Ah! Miss Grant! Miss Grant!" cried the madame.While pulling the girl to his side, holding her hands, he kissed the little hero's face at the same time. "Madame, what do you know about my father's shipwreck? Is he still alive? Will we ever see him again? Tell me, I beseech you!" "My dear child," said Lady Helene, "Under the circumstances, I don't want to give you an empty joy..." "Speak, madam, speak! I am strong enough, I am not afraid of bad news, and I can bear pain."

"My dear children, there is little hope, but it is possible that one day you will meet your father again." "My God! My God!" cried Miss Grant, weeping, while little Robert took Lady Glenarvan's hands and kissed them. A moment of mixed feelings of sadness and joy passed, and the girl couldn't help asking a lot of questions.Mrs. Helen told her how the documents had been recovered, and how the Britannia had sunk off Patagonia.Why only the captain and two sailors escaped with their lives and probably later climbed onto the mainland.How did they write a document in three languages ​​and throw it into the sea, asking for help from the whole world. " When Mrs. Helen was narrating in this way, little Robert looked at her helplessly.His life seemed to hang on Lady Helen's lips.His imagination pictured in his mind the many dangers his father was bound to encounter: he seemed to see his father standing on the deck of the Britannia, saw him struggling in the waves, he seemed to be with his father , grabbed the rocks by the sea, and then crawled on the beach panting, leaving the raging waves of the sea.When Mrs. Helen narrated, he unconsciously yelled out several times: "Ah! Papa! Our poor papa!" cried he, clinging to his sister. As for Miss Grant, she listened attentively, with folded hands, in silence, until the narrative was over, when she said: "Ah, ma'am! What about the papers? What about the papers?" "The papers are not with me, my dear child," answered the madame. "Not with you?" "No, sir, for your father's sake, the document was taken to London. But I have told you word for word what is written in the document, and how we found out the correct meaning of the document, I also told you .Among the remaining handwriting that was almost completely eroded by sea water, the waves still preserved a few numbers, but it's a pity that the longitude..." "No need for longitude!" cried the little boy. "Yes, Robert," replied the lady, smiling at his resolute expression, "so, you see, Miss Grant, you know down to the smallest detail of the document, you know As much as I do!" "Yes, ma'am. But I'd like to see my father's handwriting." "To-morrow, then, perhaps the Sir will be back tomorrow. My husband has this undeniable document and wants to show it to the Admiralty. The audit committee members of your office should look at it, so as to encourage them to send a ship to find your father at once," said the madam. "Is it true, ma'am? Did you two really negotiate with the Admiralty for us?" cried the girl, expressing her gratitude. "Yes, children, we ought not to accept any gratitude. Anyone in our place would do as we do. May we bring to pass the hopes that spring up in your hearts! Stay with us, please, and wait." Jazz is back..." "Madame, you have such sympathy for strangers like us, but we must not bother you too much!" said the girl. "Strangers?! My dear boy, neither your brother nor you are strangers in this house. Now that you are here, I want Sir to tell Captain Grant's children how they will try to rescue their father. " It is not convenient to refuse such a cordial invitation.So Miss Grant agreed to wait for the Sir at Malcolm House with her brother. In this conversation, Lady Helene made no mention of the anxiety expressed in Sir Glenarvan's letter regarding the attitude of the Audit Committee of the Admiralty.Nor does it touch a word on the fact that Captain Grant may have been captured by Indians in South America.These words, had they been spoken, must have disturbed the poor children for their father, and lessened their hopes.What good is that?It's not helpful at all.Therefore, Mrs. Helen decided not to mention these two points.After answering Miss Grant's various questions, she in turn asked questions about Miss Grant's life and situation.It seemed to her that Miss Grant was her brother's only protector in the world. Miss Grant's life and situation is a touching and simple history, which increases Lady Helene's sympathy for her. Miss Mary Grant and Robert Grant were Captain Grant's only two children.Grant was their last name.The captain's name is Harry.Harry Grant's wife died when Robert was born.Whenever he made long voyages, he entrusted his two children to an old and kind cousin.The captain is a shrewd and capable seaman. He is good at both sailing and business.He lives in Dundee, Perthshire, Scotland.Here Captain Grant is a native.His father, a priest teaching at St. Catherine, had given him a full education.For his father thought that a full education was always in the interest of no one, even a captain of an ocean-going seagoing ship. Harry Grant, first mate and then captain, was successful in business during his first voyages, and by the few years after Robert's birth he had amassed some fortune. It was then that he conceived of a great plan, which spread his name throughout Scotland.He, like the people of the Glenarvan family, and like some great families in the Lowlands (central Scotland), was dissatisfied with the England that had been encroaching and bullying.In his view, the interests of his native Scotland could not be the interests of England.Therefore, he wanted to promote the development of Scotland with his own strength, and was determined to find a piece of land in Australia to enable Scotland to do large-scale immigration.Was he trying to win the independence of Scots from the British Empire?Maybe he thought so.Presumably he had leaked this inner thought.Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that the government will not support his immigration plan.Not only did the government not support it, but it even created difficulties for him, which, in other countries, might have cost the lives of those who had such a plan.But Harry Grant was not discouraged.He called on his compatriots to carry forward the spirit of patriotism, and he himself used all his property to realize his plan.He built a ship and assembled a crew, all capable and capable.He entrusted his children to the elderly cousin, and set off to explore the various islands in the Pacific Ocean by himself.That was in 1861.During the first year, until May, 1862, people kept hearing about him, but since he left Callao in June, no one has heard of the Britannia, Daily Merchant Shipping Not a word was said about the fate of the captain. It was at this time that Harry's cousin died.Since then, the two children have become unaccompanied orphans. At that time, Mary Grant was only 14 years old. She was brave and resolute, and she was not afraid of this encounter. She put all her energy on her young brother.The younger brother not only needs to be raised, but also taught.This is thanks to her economy, prudence and intelligence.She worked day and night, sacrificing everything for her brother.The young sister actually took on the task of raising her younger brother.She fulfilled her motherly duties with aplomb.This situation is very touching. The two children live like this, stubbornly enduring poverty and fighting against poverty bravely.Mary thought only of her brother, for whom she dreamed of a happy future.pitiful!She had always thought that the Britannia was over forever, that her father was dead, dead.When she happened to turn to the notice in The Times, she suddenly ran out of despair again.Her excitement and excitement are indescribable. Without hesitation, she immediately decided to inquire about the news.Even the news that her father's body had been found in the bottom of a wreck by the deserted sea would be better than the agony of not knowing whether he was alive or dead, better than the torment of half-belief and worry. So she told her brother the news and her determination, and the two children took the train to Perth that same day, and arrived at Macomb House in the evening, and when they arrived at Macomb House, Mary began to hope again after long worries. up. This is what Mary Grant told Lady Helen about her history of suffering.She simply said that she had no idea that in this period of history, during these long and painful years, she was a hero girl.But Mrs. Helen thought of this, and several times she couldn't help shedding tears, and held her siblings tightly in her arms. For Robert, it was the first time he heard this story, and he listened to his sister with wide eyes, and he only now knew what her sister had done and endured in the past.Finally, he hugged his sister and cried: "Ah! Sister! You are my real mother!" This came out involuntarily from the depths of his heart. Everyone was talking and talking, it was already late at night.Mrs. Helen was afraid that the two children would be too tired and unwilling to talk too long, so she led the siblings into the bedroom prepared for them.They fell asleep and dreamed of a bright future.After they had gone away, the madam sent for the major, and told him all of the conversation she had had with the boys that night. "What a little girl, Mary Grant!" said the major with admiration. "May God bless my husband with success!" said Mrs. Helen, "otherwise the situation of these two children will be even more dire." "He will succeed, or the hearts of the gentlemen of the Admiralty are harder than the hardest rock." Despite the major's assurance, Mrs. Helen was still worried and didn't sleep well that night. Mary Grant and her brother were up at dawn the next day.They were walking up and down the yard when they heard the sound of a carriage.Sir Glenarvan came back with great haste.At about this time Lady Helene, accompanied by the major, also entered the yard, and ran straight to her husband.Jazz seems very melancholy, very frustrated, very angry.He hugged his wife, but said nothing. "What's the matter, Edward?" asked the lady anxiously. "Why, my dear Helen, there is no heart in those people!" "They refused?..." "Yeah! They refused to send me a ship! They said millions were wasted trying to find Franklin! They said the documents were too vague to read! They said those unfortunates had been missing for two years and it was hard to Find them again! How can all Patagonia be searched for these three—three Scots!—who must have been taken inland, since they fell into the hands of the Indians! It's useless and dangerous, and more people may be killed than saved. In short, they don't want to, and they can move out for any reason. They still remember Captain Grant's plan, and the poor captain is hopeless! " "My father! My poor father!" cried Mary Grant, kneeling before him. "Your father! What's the matter, miss? . . . " asked the sir, startled when he saw the girl kneeling before him. "Yes, Edward, these are the children of Miss Mary and her brother, Captain Grant," said Lady Helene, "and they are doomed to be orphans by the Admiralty." "Ah, madam," said the sergeant, helping the girl up, "if I had known you were here--" He couldn't speak anymore.Only intermittent whimpers could be heard in the yard, breaking through the painful silence.Sir, lady, the major, and the servants who gathered quietly around the master, none of them could speak, but it could be seen that none of these Scots did not express their indignation at the decision of the British government. After a while the major spoke first, and he said to his sir: "So there's no hope?" "There is no hope." "Well, then!" cried little Robert, "I'll go out and look for the people, and we'll see..." Before Robert could finish his harsh words, his sister stopped him.But he clenched his two small fists tightly, showing a full stomach of indignation. "It can't be like this, Robert, it can't be like this! These kind adults have done their best for us, and we want to thank them, and we will always be grateful in our hearts. Let us go," said Mary. "Mary!" cried Madame. "Where are you going, madam?" asked Sir. "I'm going to kneel before the queen, and we'll see if the queen is also deaf to us two children who are begging for help for their father." Ser Glenarvan shook his head.It was not that he doubted Her Majesty's kindness, but that he expected that Mary Grant would never see her.Those who ask for favors seldom make it to the stone steps in front of the throne.For the Englishmen write on the gates of their palaces as they do on the rudder of their ships: "Passengers please do not speak to the helmsman." Lady Helene understood what her husband meant.She also knew that the girl would not succeed in seeking to see the queen.As she saw the hopeless existence of the two children, a great and generous thought arose in her mind. "Mary Grant, wait a moment, my children, and listen to me now." Mary was already about to leave with her brother on her arm, but she stopped. Lady Helene walked towards her husband tearfully but resolutely and excitedly. "Edward," she said to him, "when Captain Grant wrote this letter and threw it overboard, he placed his trust in God, and it is God who has given us this letter! God, no doubt, Put us in charge of saving those unfortunates." "What do you mean, Helen?" asked Sir. The whole audience listened quietly. "I mean, a man ought to be infinitely happy if he can do one good thing after marriage. Then you, dear Edward, you want to make me happy, and you have made plans for a trip But to save some unfortunate people abandoned by the country, I think that is the happiest thing in the world, and the more valuable thing!" "Helen!" exclaimed Sir. "Yes, you know what I mean? Edward, my dear! The Duncan is a good light and strong ship, and she can stand the storms of the southern seas! She can travel around the world if need be, so let's go, Edward! We're going to find Captain Grant." The Sir had already stretched out his arms to his young lady when he heard this.He smiled and hugged her tightly.At this time, Mary and Robert also took her hands and kissed.In this touching scene, all the servants were moved and excited, and they couldn't help but let out a cry of gratitude from their hearts: "Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!!! For Mrs. Luce! For Sir and Lady Glenarvan!"