Chapter 2 Two Macomb House

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 clear waters of Lake Lemont bathed the stone foundations of the high walls, and this house had belonged to the Glenarvan family from a long time ago.Greenarvan lives in Rob.Roy and Fergus.The home of such heroes as MacGregor still preserves the hospitality of the heroes of antiquity.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 believes that faith binds the nobles the same as it binds the common people.They always treat their tenants with faith.So not one of their tenants left their old home, and none left their native land, but all continued to be Glenarvan's subjects.So even in that kind of troubled time, only Scots live in Glenarvan's Macomb House, 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 are honest people, loyal to the old master with all their hearts, and some of them can remember the old Caledonia. ] What about the voice.

Sir Glenarvan was a man of great wealth, and his kindness surpassed his generosity.Because generosity still has limits, but kindness can be boundless.The lord of Macomb Hall, a gentleman of the village of Lys, was the elder of the English nobility, representing the county.However, due to his Jacobite [Note: Britain is loyal to the faction of King James II of Inson. ] thought, because he did not want to cater to the dynasty at that time, he was quite discriminated against by British politicians.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 narrow-minded, mediocre, backward-thinking man, yet, though he opened the doors of his county to all that was progressive, he was always first in Scotland, and he was at the Royal Thames Cruise. They competed with each other in their fast boats in the race, just to do honor to Scotland.Sir Glenarvan was now thirty-two years old, tall and austere in features, but infinitely gentle in his eyes, and his whole appearance reflected the Highlands. 】 Poetry.Everyone knows that he is very bold, courageous, chivalrous, and has the demeanor of an ancient knight. He is indeed a Fergus in the 19th century. 】.But the most outstanding thing is his benevolent heart, he is even more holy than the medieval Christian saints.Marcie was more charitable, and he wished to give all the overcoats he wore to the poor in the Highlands.

Sir Glenarvan and Miss Helen have only been married for three months. Miss Helen is the famous traveler William.Tufnell's daughter, William, died for the study of geography and for 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 all called her our good 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 climbed the steep peak of Mount Lemont, or rode horses through the deserted valleys.They observed, experienced, and admired the poetic and picturesque scene, which is still called Rob.The beauty of Roy's hometown, and Walter.Those famous views that Scott sang.In the evening, when Mike.When the Lantern of Falun shone 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, and asked to speak to Sir, and asked her if she would like to receive them. . Are you a local?the lady asked. No, madam.Because I don't know them.They took the train to Balezhi [Note: A place name. ], from Balezhi to Lusi Village, they came on foot.replied the butler. Let them come up, Hubbard.said Mrs. 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 was holding her twelve-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?As she asked, she encouraged the girl with her eyes, no, not looking for you.We want Sir Glenarvan himself.The boy answered in a firm tone. Please forgive him, madam.The elder sister said immediately, looking at the younger brother with her eyes. Sir Glenarvan was not at home, the lady said, and I am his wife.if i could replace him Are you Mrs. Greenarvan?said the girl. yes miss. Is it the lady of Sir Glenarvan of Malcolm Hall who put an advertisement in The Times about the sinking of the Britannia? Exactly!Exactly!Madam Helen quickly went on to answer, who are you?

I am Miss Grant, madam, and this is my brother. ah!Miss Grant!Miss Grant!Madame cried out.While pulling the girl to his side, holding her hands, he kissed the little hero's face at the same time. Ma'am, what do you know about my father's shipwreck?is he still aliveWill we still see him?I implore you, please speak! My dear children, said Mrs. Helen, in this case, I do not want to give you an empty joy Speak, madam, speak!I am strong enough, I am not afraid to hear bad news, I can bear the pain. My dear children, there is little hope, but it is possible that one day you will meet your father again.

God!God!cried Miss Grant, and burst into tears, while little Robert took Mrs. 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 must have encountered. He seemed to see his father standing on the deck of the Britannia, saw him struggling in the waves, and he seemed to be with his father, lying on the ground. I landed on 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!dad!Our poor father!While screaming, he leaned close to his sister. As for Miss Grant, she folded her hands and listened in silence, until she had finished, and said: Ah!lady!What about the file?What about the file? That document is not with me, my dear boy.Madame replied. Are you not here? No, sir took the papers to London for your father's sake.But I have told you word for word what was written in the document, and I have also told you how we found out the correct meaning of the document.Among the remaining handwriting that was almost completely eroded by sea water, the waves still preserved a few numbers, but it is a pity that the longitude Longitude is not required!cried the little boy. Yes, Robert.The lady replied, looking at his resolute look, and couldn't help smiling, so, you see, Miss Grant, you know down to the smallest detail of the paper, as much as I do! yes ma'am.But I'd like to see my father's handwriting. Well, wait until tomorrow, maybe the Jazz will come back tomorrow.My husband has this undeniable paper, and wants to show it to the Board of Auditors of the Admiralty, so as to encourage them to send a ship immediately to find your father.said Mrs. Is it true, madam?Have you two really negotiated with the Admiralty for us?The girl cried out, expressing her gratitude. Yes, boy, we should not accept any gratitude.Anyone in our position would do the same as we do.May we make possible the hope that springs up in your hearts!Please stay at our house until Sir comes back Madame, we must not bother you with your sympathy for strangers like us!said the girl. stranger? !My dear boy, your brother and you are no strangers in this room, and now that you are here, I want sir to tell Captain Grant's children what they will do 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 Greenarvan's letter regarding the attitude of the Admiralty Audit Committee.Nor does it touch a word on the fact that Captain Grant may have been captured by Indians in South America.Such words, if spoken, would surely have made the poor children worry 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. Mary.Miss Grant and Robert.Grant was 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 is St.The priest who taught 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 first few years of 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 is as much a part of the Lowlands as the people of Glenarvan. Like some of the great families in the ], they are dissatisfied with the England that has been occupying 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, news of him continued to be heard, but since he left Callao in June, nothing was heard of the Britannia, The Daily Merchant Shipping said nothing 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 fourteen years old. She was brave and determined, and she did not fear this encounter. She devoted all her energies to 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 lost 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 Mary.Grant's account of Lady Helen's history of her 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. Helene thought of this, and several times she couldn't help shedding tears, and held her siblings tightly in her arms. For Robert, he heard this story for the first time, and he listened to his sister with wide eyes, and he only now knew what her sister had done and endured.Finally, he hugged his sister and cried: ah!Sister!You are my real mother!It 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!After listening to the major, he said with admiration. May God bless my husband to negotiate successfully!Mrs. Helen said, otherwise the situation of these two children would be even more unimaginable. 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. At dawn the next day, Mary.Grant and her brother got up.They were walking up and down the yard when they heard the sound of a carriage.Sir Glenarvan came back at full speed.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?Madam asked anxiously. Why; my dear Helen, there is no heart in those people! They refused? yes!They refused to send me a boat!Millions, they said, had been spent in vain looking for Franklin!They claim the document is too obscure to read!Also, those unfortunate people have been missing for two years and it is very difficult to find them again!Since they fell into the hands of the Indians, they must be taken inland. How can there be three Scots for these three!Search all of Patagonia!It is useless and dangerous to do so, and more people may be sacrificed than saved.In short, they are unwilling, and they can move out for any reason.They remembered the plan of Captain Grant, the poor captain was hopeless! O my father!My poor father!Mary.Grant cried out, and knelt before the Sir. your father!what's the matter, ma'am?Sir asked, startled to see the girl kneeling before him. Yes, Edward, these are the children of Miss Mary and her brother, Captain Grant.Mrs. Helen said, with the Admiralty doing this, they are doomed to be orphans! ah!Miss, sir, as he said, he lifted 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, major, and the servants who gathered quietly around the master, none of them could speak, but it could be seen that there was not one of these Scots who 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. so good!cried little Robert, I'm going out to find those people, we want to see Before Robert could finish his harsh words, he was stopped by his sister.But he clenched his two small fists tightly, showing a full stomach of indignation. No way, Robert, no way!These kind-hearted adults have done their best for us, we want to thank them, we will always be grateful in our hearts, let's go.Mary said. Mary!cried Madame. Miss, where are you going?Sir asked. I'm going to kneel before the Queen, and we'll see if the Queen is deaf to us two children who are pleading for their father's help. Sir Glenarvan shook his head.It wasn't that he doubted Her Majesty's kindness, but that he expected Mary.Grant could not see the Queen.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 are asked not to 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 minute, my boy, 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 told him, when Captain Grant wrote this letter and threw it overboard, he put his trust in God, and God has given us this letter!There is no doubt that God holds us accountable for saving the unfortunate few. What do you mean, Helen?Sir asked. The whole audience listened quietly. What I mean is that if a person can do one good thing after getting married, he should feel infinitely happy.And you, dear Edward, you want to make me happy, have made plans for a tour.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!Jazz cried out. yes, you see what I mean?Edward, dear!The Duncan was a good light and strong ship, and she could stand the storms of the southern seas!It 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: Uh!Uh!Uh! ! !Support Mrs. Luce!For Sir and Lady Greenarvan!