Free Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg Page A

ever. His lips were primmed so close that his mouth was hardly discernible, and his dark deep eye flashed gleams of holy indignation on the godless set, but particularly on his brother. His presence acted as a mildew on all social intercourse or enjoyment; the game was marred, and ended ere ever it was well begun. There were whisperings apart — the party separated, and, in order to shake off the blighting influence of this dogged persecutor, they entered sundry houses of their acquaintances, with an understanding that they were to meet on the Links for a game at cricket.
    They did so; and, stripping off part of their clothes, they began that violent and spirited game. They had not played five minutes till Wringhim was stalking in the midst of them, and totally impeding the play. A cry arose from all corners of: ‘Oh, this will never do. Kick him out of the play-ground! Knock down the scoundrel; or bind him, and let him lie in peace.’
    ‘By no means,’ cried George. ‘It is evident he wants nothing else. Pray do not humour him so much as to touch him with either foot or finger.’ Then, turning to a friend, he said in a whisper: ‘Speak to him, Gordon; he surely will not refuse to let us have the ground to ourselves, if you request it of him.’
    Gordon went up to him, and requested of him, civilly, but ardently, ‘to retire to a certain distance, else none of them could or would be answerable, however sore he might be hurt.’
    He turned disdainfully on his heel, uttered a kind of pulpit hem! and then added, ‘I will take my chance of that; hurt me, any of you, at your peril.’
    The young gentlemen smiled, through spite and disdain of the dogged animal. Gordon followed him up, and tried to remonstratewith him; but he let him know that ‘it was his pleasure to be there at that time; and, unless he could demonstrate to him what superior right he and his party had to that ground, in preference to him, and to the exclusion of all others, he was determined to assert his right, and the rights of his fellow-citizens, by keeping possession of whatsoever part of that common field he chose.’
    ‘You are no gentleman, Sir,’ said Gordon.
    ‘Are you one, Sir?’ said the other.
    ‘Yes, Sir. I will let you know that I am, by G—-!’
    ‘Then, thanks be to Him whose name you have profaned, I am none. If
one
of the party be a gentleman,
I do hope in God I am not!’
    It was now apparent to them all that he was courting obloquy and manual chastisement from their hands, if by any means he could provoke them to the deed; and, apprehensive that he had some sinister and deep-laid design in hunting after such a singular favour, they wisely restrained one another from inflicting the punishment that each of them yearned to bestow, personally, and which he so well deserved.
    But the unpopularity of the younger George Colwan could no longer be concealed from his associates. It was manifested wherever the populace were assembled; and his young and intimate friend, Adam Gordon, was obliged to warn him of the circumstance that he might not be surprised at the gentlemen of their acquaintance withdrawing themselves from his society, as they could not be seen with him without being insulted. George thanked him; and it was agreed between them that the former should keep himself retired during the daytime while he remained in Edinburgh, and that at night they should meet together, along with such of their companions as were disengaged.
    George found it every day more and more necessary to adhere to this system of seclusion; for it was not alone the hisses of the boys and populace that pursued him — a fiend of more malignant aspect was ever at his elbow, in the form of his brother. To whatever place of amusement he betook himself, and however well he concealed his intentions of going there from all fleshliving, there was his brother Wringhim also, and always within a few yards of him, generally about the same distance, and ever and anon