Білі люди
Chapter I
Itwasaninsulttotellhimtostopplaying,becauseitwashisreligiontobelievethatTheMuircarriemustbepipedproudlyto;andhisancestorshadbeenpiperstotheheadoftheclanforfivegenerations.Itwashisdutytomarchroundthedining-hallandplaywhiletheguestsfeasted,butIwasobligedintheendtomakehimbelievethathecouldbeheardbetterfromtheterrace—becausewhenhewasoutsidehismusicwasnotspoiledbythesoundoftalking.Itwasverydifficult,atfirst.ButbecauseIwashischieftainess,andhadlearnedhowtogiveordersinaratherproud,sternlittlevoice,heknewhemustobey.
Eventhiskindofthingmayshowthatmylifewasapeculiarone;butthestrangestpartofitwasthat,whileIwasattheheadofsomanypeople,Ididnotreallybelongtoanyone,andIdidnotknowthatthiswasunusual.OneofmyearlymemoriesisthatIheardanunder-nursemaidsaytoanotherthiscuriousthing:“Bothherfatherandmotherweredeadwhenshewasborn.”IdidnotevenknowthatwasaremarkablethingtosayuntilIwasseveralyearsolderandJeanBraidfutetoldmewhathadbeenmeant.
Myfatherandmotherhadbothbeenveryyoungandbeautifulandwonderful.ItwassaidthatmyfatherwasthehandsomestchieftaininScotland,andthathiswifewasasbeautifulashewas.TheycametoMuircarrieassoonastheyweremarriedandlivedasplendidyeartheretogether.Sometimestheywerequitealone,andspenttheirdaysfishingorridingorwanderingonthemoortogether,orreadingbythefireinthelibrarytheancientbooksAngusMacayrefoundforthem.
