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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。 He was described as 〃looking like a
stork；〃 〃staring like a caulf；〃 〃a face like a ghaist's。〃 〃Do you call that
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manners？〃 she said； or； 〃I soon put him in his place。〃 〃 ‘MISS
CHRISTINA； IF YOU PLEASE； MR。 WEIR！' says I； and just flyped up
my skirt tails。〃 With gabble like this she would entertain herself long
whiles together； and then her eye would perhaps fall on the torn leaf； and
the eyes of Archie would appear again from the darkness of the wall； and
the voluble words deserted her； and she would lie still and stupid； and
think upon nothing with devotion； and be sometimes raised by a quiet sigh。
Had a doctor of medicine come into that loft； he would have diagnosed a
healthy； well…developed； eminently vivacious lass lying on her face in a fit
of the sulks； not one who had just contracted； or was just contracting； a
mortal sickness of the mind which should yet carry her towards death and
despair。 Had it been a doctor of psychology； he might have been pardoned
for divining in the girl a passion of childish vanity； self…love IN
EXCELSIS； and no more。 It is to be understood that I have been painting
chaos and describing the inarticulate。 Every lineament that appears is too
precise； almost every word used too strong。 Take a finger…post in the
mountains on a day of rolling mists； I have but copied the names that
appear upon the pointers； the names of definite and famous cities far
distant； and now perhaps basking in sunshine； but Christina remained all
these hours； as it were； at the foot of the post itself； not moving； and
enveloped in mutable and blinding wreaths of haze。
The day was growing late and the sunbeams long and level； when she
sat suddenly up； and wrapped in its handkerchief and put by that psalm…
book which had already played a part so decisive in the first chapter of her
love…story。 In the absence of the mesmerist's eye； we are told nowadays
that the head of a bright nail may fill his place； if it be steadfastly regarded。
So that torn page had riveted her attention on what might else have been
but little； and perhaps soon forgotten； while the ominous words of Dandie
… heard； not heeded； and still remembered … had lent to her thoughts； or
rather to her mood； a cast of solemnity； and that idea of Fate … a pagan Fate；
uncontrolled by any Christian deity； obscure； lawless； and august … moving
indissuadably in the affairs of Christian men。 Thus even that phenomenon
of love at first sight； which is so rare and seems so simple and violent； like
a disruption of life's tissue； may be decomposed into a sequence of
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accidents happily concurring。
She put on a grey frock and a pink kerchief； looked at herself a
moment with approval in the small square of glass that served her for a
toilet mirror； and went softly downstairs through the sleeping house that
resounded with the sound of afternoon snoring。 Just outside the door；
Dandie was sitting with a book in his hand； not reading； only honouring
the Sabbath by a sacred vacancy of mind。 She came near him and stood
still。
〃I'm for off up the muirs； Dandie；〃 she said。
There was something unusually soft in her tones that made him look
up。 She was pale； her eyes dark and bright； no trace remained of the levity
of the morning。
〃Ay； lass？ Ye'll have yer ups and downs like me； I'm thinkin'；〃 he
observed。
〃What for do ye say that？〃 she asked。
〃O； for naething；〃 says Dand。 〃Only I think ye're mair like me than the
lave of them。 Ye've mair of the poetic temper； tho' Guid kens little enough
of the poetic taalent。 It's an ill gift at the best。 Look at yoursel'。 At denner
you were all sunshine and flowers and laughter； and now you're like the
star of evening on a lake。〃
She drank in this hackneyed compliment like wine； and it glowed in
her veins。
〃But I'm saying； Dand〃 … she came nearer him … 〃I'm for the muirs。 I
must have a braith of air。 If Clem was to be speiring for me； try and quaiet
him； will ye no？〃
〃What way？〃 said Dandie。 〃I ken but the ae way； and that's leein'。〃 I'll
say ye had a sair heid； if ye like。〃
〃But I havena；〃 she objected。
〃I daursay no；〃 he returned。 〃I said I would say ye had； and if ye like
to nay…say me when ye come back； it'll no mateerially maitter； for my
chara'ter's clean gane a'ready past reca'。〃
〃O； Dand； are ye a lecar？〃 she asked； lingering。
〃Folks say sae；〃 replied the bard。
〃Wha says sae？〃 she pursued。
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〃Them that should ken the best；〃 he responded。 〃The lassies； for ane。〃
〃But； Dand； you would never lee to me？〃 she asked。
〃I'll leave that for your pairt of it； ye girzie；〃 said he。 〃Ye'll lee to me
fast eneuch； when ye hae gotten a jo。 I'm tellin' ye and it's true； when you
have a jo； Miss Kirstie； it'll be for guid and ill。 I ken： I was made that way
mysel'； but the deil was in my luck！ Here； gang awa wi' ye to your muirs；
and let me be； I'm in an hour of inspiraution； ye upsetting tawpie！〃
But she clung to her brother's neighbourhood； she knew not why。
〃Will ye no gie's a kiss； Dand？〃 she said。 〃I aye likit ye fine。〃
He kissed her and considered her a moment； he found something
strange in her。 But he was a libertine through and through； nourished equal
contempt and suspicion of all womankind； and paid his way among them
habitually with idle compliments。
〃Gae wa' wi' ye！〃 said he。 〃Ye're a dentie baby； and be content wi'
that！〃
That was Dandie's way； a kiss and a comfit to Jenny … a bawbee and
my blessing to Jill … and goodnight to the whole clan of ye； my dears！
When anything approached the serious； it became a matter for men； he
both thought and said。 Women； when they did not absorb； were only
children to be shoo'd away。 Merely in his character of connoisseur；
however； Dandie glanced carelessly after his sister as she crossed the
meadow。 〃The brat's no that bad！〃 he thought with surprise； for though he
had just been paying her compliments； he had not really looked at her。
〃Hey！ what's yon？〃 For the grey dress was cut with short sleeves and
skirts； and displayed her trim strong legs clad in pink stockings of the
same shade as the kerchief she wore round her shoulders； and that
shimmered as she went。 This was not her way in undress； he knew her
ways and the ways of the whole sex in the country…side； no one better；
when they did not go barefoot； they wore stout 〃rig and furrow〃 woollen
hose of an invisible blue mostly； when they were not black outright； and
Dandie