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

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>