weir of hermiston-第15章

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good；　worthy　man；　as　he　continued　to　expound　justification　by　faith；　

what　was　his　true　business：　to　play　the　part　of　derivative　to　a　pair　of　

children　at　the　old　game　of　falling　in　love。



Christina　was　greatly　relieved　at　first。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　she　was　

clothed　again。　　She　looked　back　on　what　had　passed。　　All　would　have　been　

right　if　she　had　not　blushed；　a　silly　fool！　　There　was　nothing　to　blush　

at；　if　she　HAD　taken　a　sugar…bool。　　Mrs。　MacTaggart；　the　elder's　wife　in　

St。　Enoch's；　took　them　often。　　And　if　he　had　looked　at　her；　what　was　

more　natural　than　that　a　young　gentleman　should　look　at　the　best…dressed　

girl　in　church？　　And　at　the　same　time；　she　knew　far　otherwise；　she　knew　

there　was　nothing　casual　or　ordinary　in　the　look；　and　valued　herself　on　

its　memory　like　a　decoration。　　Well；　it　was　a　blessing　he　had　found　

something　else　to　look　at！　　And　presently　she　began　to　have　other　

thoughts。　　It　was　necessary；　she　fancied；　that　she　should　put　herself　

right　by　a　repetition　of　the　incident；　better　managed。　　If　the　wish　was　

father　to　the　thought；　she　did　not　know　or　she　would　not　recognise　it。　　

It　was　simply　as　a　manoeuvre　of　propriety；　as　something　called　for　to　

lessen　the　significance　of　what　had　gone　before；　that　she　should　a　

second　time　meet　his　eyes；　and　this　time　without　blushing。　　And　at　the　

memory　of　the　blush；　she　blushed　again；　and　became　one　general　blush　

burning　from　head　to　foot。　　Was　ever　anything　so　indelicate；　so　forward；　

done　by　a　girl　before？　　And　here　she　was；　making　an　exhibition　of　

herself　before　the　congregation　about　nothing！　　She　stole　a　glance　upon　

her　neighbours；　and　behold！　they　were　steadily　indifferent；　and　Clem　had　

gone　to　sleep。　　And　still　the　one　idea　was　becoming　more　and　more　potent　

with　her；　that　in　common　prudence　she　must　look　again　before　the　service　

ended。　　Something　of　the　same　sort　was　going　forward　in　the　mind　of　

Archie；　as　he　struggled　with　the　load　of　penitence。　　So　it　chanced　that；　

in　the　flutter　of　the　moment　when　the　last　psalm　was　given　out；　and　

Torrance　was　reading　the　verse；　and　the　leaves　of　every　psalm…book　in　

church　were　rustling　under　busy　fingers；　two　stealthy　glances　were　sent　

out　like　antennae　among　the　pews　and　on　the　indifferent　and　absorbed　

occupants；　and　drew　timidly　nearer　to　the　straight　line　between　Archie　

and　Christina。　　They　met；　they　lingered　together　for　the　least　fraction　

of　time；　and　that　was　enough。　　A　charge　as　of　electricity　passed　through　

Christina；　and　behold！　the　leaf　of　her　psalm…book　was　torn　across。



Archie　was　outside　by　the　gate　of　the　graveyard；　conversing　with　Hob　and　

the　minister　and　shaking　hands　all　round　with　the　scattering　

congregation；　when　Clem　and　Christina　were　brought　up　to　be　presented。　　

The　laird　took　off　his　hat　and　bowed　to　her　with　grace　and　respect。　　

Christina　made　her　Glasgow　curtsey　to　the　laird；　and　went　on　again　up　

the　road　for　Hermiston　and　Cauldstaneslap；　walking　fast；　breathing　

hurriedly　with　a　heightened　colour；　and　in　this　strange　frame　of　mind；　

that　when　she　was　alone　she　seemed　in　high　happiness；　and　when　any　one　

addressed　her　she　resented　it　like　a　contradiction。　　A　part　of　the　way　

she　had　the　company　of　some　neighbour　girls　and　a　loutish　young　man；　

never　had　they　seemed　so　insipid；　never　had　she　made　herself　so　

disagreeable。　　But　these　struck　aside　to　their　various　destinations　or　

were　out…walked　and　left　behind；　and　when　she　had　driven　off　with　sharp　

words　the　proffered　convoy　of　some　of　her　nephews　and　nieces；　she　was　

free　to　go　on　alone　up　Hermiston　brae；　walking　on　air；　dwelling　

intoxicated　among　clouds　of　happiness。　　Near　to　the　summit　she　heard　

steps　behind　her；　a　man's　steps；　light　and　very　rapid。　　She　knew　the　

foot　at　once　and　walked　the　faster。　　〃If　it's　me　he's　wanting；　he　can　

run　for　it；〃　she　thought；　smiling。



Archie　overtook　her　like　a　man　whose　mind　was　made　up。



〃Miss　Kirstie；〃　he　began。



〃Miss　Christina；　if　you　please；　Mr。　Weir；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃I　canna　

bear　the　contraction。〃



〃You　forget　it　has　a　friendly　sound　for　me。　　Your　aunt　is　an　old　friend　

of　mine；　and　a　very　good　one。　　I　hope　we　shall　see　much　of　you　at　

Hermiston？〃



〃My　aunt　and　my　sister…in…law　doesna　agree　very　well。　　Not　that　I　have　

much　ado　with　it。　　But　still　when　I'm　stopping　in　the　house；　if　I　was　to　

be　visiting　my　aunt；　it　would　not　look　considerate…like。〃



〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Archie。



〃I　thank　you　kindly；　Mr。　Weir；〃　she　said。　　〃I　whiles　think　myself　it's　a　

great　peety。〃



〃Ah；　I　am　sure　your　voice　would　always　be　for　peace！〃　he　cried。



〃I　wouldna　be　too　sure　of　that；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　my　days　like　other　

folk；　I　suppose。〃



〃Do　you　know；　in　our　old　kirk；　among　our　good　old　grey　dames；　you　made　

an　effect　like　sunshine。〃



〃Ah；　but　that　would　be　my　Glasgow　clothes！〃



〃I　did　not　think　I　was　so　much　under　the　influence　of　pretty　frocks。〃



She　smiled　with　a　half　look　at　him。　　〃There's　more　than　you！〃　she　said。　　

〃But　you　see　I'm　only　Cinderella。　　I'll　have　to　put　all　these　things　by　

in　my　trunk；　next　Sunday　I'll　be　as　grey　as　the　rest。　　They're　Glasgow　

clothes；　you　see；　and　it　would　never　do　to　make　a　practice　of　it。　　It　

would　seem　terrible　conspicuous。〃



By　that　they　were　come　to　the　place　where　their　ways　severed。　　The　old　

grey　moors　were　all　about　them；　in　the　midst　a　few　sheep　wandered；　and　

they　could　see　on　the　one　hand　the　straggling　caravan　scaling　the　braes　

in　front　of　them　for　Cauldstaneslap；　and　on　the　other；　the　contingent　

from　Hermiston　bending　off　and　beginning　to　disappear　by　detachments　

into　the　policy　gate。　　It　was　in　these　circumstances　that　they　turned　to　

say　farewell；　and　deliberately　exchanged　a　glance　as　they　shook　hands。　　

All　passed　as　it　should；　genteelly；　and　in　Christina's　mind；　as　she　

mounted　the　first　steep　ascent　for　Cauldstaneslap；　a　gratifying　sense　of　

triumph　prevailed　over　the　recollection　of　minor　lapses　and　mistakes。　　

She　had　kilted　her　gown；　as　she　did　usually　at　that　rugged　pass；　but　

when　she　spied　Archie　still　standing　and　gazing　after　her；　the　skirts　

came　down　again　as　if　by　enchantment。　　Here　was　a　piece　of　nicety　for　

that　upland　parish；　where　the　matrons　marched　with　their　coats　kilted　in　

the　rain；　and　the　lasses　walked　barefoot　to　kirk　through　the　dust　of　

summer；　and　went　bravely　down　by　the　burn…side；　and　sat　on　stones　to　

make　a　public　toilet　before　entering！　　It　was　perhaps　an　air　wafted　from　

Glasgow；　or　perhaps　it　marked　a　stage　of　that　dizziness　of　gratified　

vanity；　in　which　the　instinctive　act　passed　unperceived。　　He　was　looking　

after！　　She　unloaded　her　bosom　of　a　prodigious　sigh　that　was　all　

pleasure；　and　betook　herself　to　run。　　When　she　had　overtaken　the　

stragglers　of　her　family；　she　caught　up　the　niece　whom　she　had　so　

recently　repulsed；　and　kissed　and　slapped　her；　and　drove　her　away　again；　

and　ran　after　her　with　pretty　cries　and　laughter。　　Perhaps　she　thought　

the　laird　might　still　be　looking！　　But　it　chanced　the　little　scene　came　

under　the　view　of　eyes　less　favourable；　for　she　overtook　Mrs。　Hob　

marching　with　Clem　and　Dand。



〃You're　shurely　fey；　lass！〃　quoth　Dandie。



〃Think　shame　to　yersel'；　miss！〃　said　the　strident　Mrs。　Hob。　　〃Is　this

the　gait　to　guide　yersel'　on　the　way　hame　frae　kirk？　　You're　shiirely

no　sponsible　the　day！　　And　anyway　I　would　mind　my　guid　claes。〃



〃Hoot！〃　said　Christina；　and　went　on　before　them　head　in　air；　treading　

the　rough　track　with　the　tread　of　a　wild　doe。



She　was　in　love　with　herself；　her　destiny；　the　air　of　the　hills；　the　

benediction　of　the　sun。　　All　the　way　home；　she　continued　under　the　

intoxication　of　these　sky…scraping　spirits。　　At　table　she　could　talk　

freely　of　young　Hermiston；　gave　her　opinion　of　him　off…hand　and　with　a　

loud　voice；　that　he　was　a　handsome　young　gentleman；　real　well　mannered　

and　sensible…like；　but　it　was　a　pity　he　looked　doleful。　　Only　…　the　

moment　after　…　a　memory　of　his　eyes　in　church　embarrassed　her。　　But　for　

this　inconsiderable　check；　all　through　meal…time　she　had　a　good　

appetite；　and　she　kept　them　laughing　at　table；　until　Gib　（who　had　

returned　before　them　from　Crossmichael　and　his　separative　worship）　

reproved　the　whole　of　them　for　their　levity。



Singing　〃in　to　herself〃　as　she　went；　her　mind　still　in　the　turmoil　of　a　

glad　confusion；　she　rose　and　tripped　upstairs　to　a　little　loft；　lighted　

by　four　panes　in　the　gable；　where　she　slept　with　one　of　her　nieces。　　The　

niece；　who　followed　her；　presuming　on　〃Auntie's〃　high　spirits；　was　

flounced　out　of　the　apartment　with　small　ceremony；　and　retired；　smarting　

and　half　tearful；　to　bury　her　woes　in　the　byre　among　the　hay。　　Still　

humming；　Christina　divested　herself　of　her　finery；　and　put　her　treasures　

one　by　one　in　her　great　green　trunk。　　The　last　of　these　was　the　psalm…book；

it　was　a　fine　piece；　the　gift　of　Mistress　Clem；　in　distinct　old…faced　type；

on　paper　that　had　begun　to　grow　foxy　in　the　warehouse　…　not　by　service　…

and　she　was　used　to　wrap　it　in　a　handkerchief　every　Sunday　after　its

period　of　service　was　over；　and　bury　it　end…wise　at　the　head　of　her

trunk。　　As　she　now　took　it　in　hand　the　book　fell　open　where　the　leaf

was　torn；　and　she　stood　and　gazed　upon　that　evidence　of　her　bygone

discomposure。　　There　returned　again　the　vision　of　the　two　brown　eyes

staring　at　her；　intent　and　bright；　out　of　that　dark　corner　of　the　kirk。　　

The　whole　appearance　and　attitude；　the　smile；　the　suggested　gesture　of

young　Hermiston　came　before　her　in　a　flash　at　the　sight　of　the　torn

page。　　〃I　was　surely　fey！〃　she　said；　echoing　the　words　of　Dandie；　and

at　the　suggested　doom　her　high　spirits　deserted　her。　　She　flung　herself

prone　upon　the　bed；　and　lay　there；　holding　the　psalm…book　in　her　hands

for　hours；　for　the　more　part　in　a　mere　stupor　of　unconsenting　pleasure

and　unreasoning　fear。　　The　fear　was　superstitious；　there　came　up　again

and　again　in　her　memory　Dandie's　ill…omened　words；　and　a　hundred　grisly

and　black　tales　out　of　the　immediate　neighbourhood　read　her　a　commentary

on　their　force。　　The　pleasure　was　never　realised。　　You　might　say　the

joints　of　her　body　thought　and　remembered；　and　were　gladdened；　but　her

essential　self；　in　the　immediate　theatre　of　consciousness；　talked

feverishly　of　something　else；　like　a　nervous　person　at　a　fire。　　The

image　that　she　most　complacently　dwelt　on　was　that　of　Miss　Christina

in　her　character　of　the　Fair　Lass　of　Cauldstaneslap；　carrying　all　before

her　in　the　straw…coloured　frock；　the　violet　mantle；　and　the　yellow　cobweb

stockings。　　Archie's　image；　on　the　other　hand；　when　it　presented　itself

was　never　welcomed　…　far　less　welcomed　with　any　ardour；　and　it　was　exposed

at　times　to　merciless　criticism。　　In　the　long　vague　dialogues　she　held　in

her　mind；　often　with　imaginary；　often　with　unrealised　interlocutors；

Archie；　if　he　were　referred　to　at　all　came　in　for　savage　handling。