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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
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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。
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Weir of Hermiston
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
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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