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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； at sight of this daintiness； put two and two together。 It was a silk
handkerchief； then they would be silken hose； they matched … then the
whole outfit was a present of Clem's； a costly present； and not something
to be worn through bog and briar； or on a late afternoon of Sunday。 He
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whistled。 〃My denty May； either your heid's fair turned； or there's some
ongoings！〃 he observed； and dismissed the subject。
She went slowly at first； but ever straighter and faster for the
Cauldstaneslap； a pass among the hills to which the farm owed its name。
The Slap opened like a doorway between two rounded hillocks； and
through this ran the short cut to Hermiston。 Immediately on the other side
it went down through the Deil's Hags； a considerable marshy hollow of the
hill tops； full of springs； and crouching junipers； and pools where the black
peat…water slumbered。 There was no view from here。 A man might have
sat upon the Praying Weaver's stone a half century； and seen none but the
Cauldstaneslap children twice in the twenty…four hours on their way to the
school and back again； an occasional shepherd； the irruption of a clan of
sheep； or the birds who haunted about the springs； drinking and shrilly
piping。 So； when she had once passed the Slap； Kirstie was received into
seclusion。 She looked back a last time at the farm。 It still lay deserted
except for the figure of Dandie； who was now seen to be scribbling in his
lap； the hour of expected inspiration having come to him at last。 Thence
she passed rapidly through the morass； and came to the farther end of it；
where a sluggish burn discharges； and the path for Hermiston accompanies
it on the beginning of its downward path。 From this corner a wide view
was opened to her of the whole stretch of braes upon the other side； still
sallow and in places rusty with the winter； with the path marked boldly；
here and there by the burn…side a tuft of birches； and … two miles off as the
crow flies … from its enclosures and young plantations； the windows of
Hermiston glittering in the western sun。
Here she sat down and waited； and looked for a long time at these far…
away bright panes of glass。 It amused her to have so extended a view； she
thought。 It amused her to see the house of Hermiston … to see 〃folk〃； and
there was an indistinguishable human unit； perhaps the gardener； visibly
sauntering on the gravel paths。
By the time the sun was down and all the easterly braes lay plunged in
clear shadow； she was aware of another figure coming up the path at a
most unequal rate of approach； now half running； now pausing and
seeming to hesitate。 She watched him at first with a total suspension of
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thought。 She held her thought as a person holds his breathing。 Then she
consented to recognise him。 〃He'll no be coming here； he canna be； it's no
possible。〃 And there began to grow upon her a subdued choking suspense。
He WAS coming； his hesitations had quite ceased； his step grew firm and
swift； no doubt remained； and the question loomed up before her instant：
what was she to do？ It was all very well to say that her brother was a laird
himself： it was all very well to speak of casual intermarriages and to count
cousinship； like Auntie Kirstie。 The difference in their social station was
trenchant； propriety； prudence； all that she had ever learned； all that she
knew； bade her flee。 But on the other hand the cup of life now offered to
her was too enchanting。 For one moment； she saw the question clearly； and
definitely made her choice。 She stood up and showed herself an instant in
the gap relieved upon the sky line； and the next； fled trembling and sat
down glowing with excitement on the Weaver's stone。 She shut her eyes；
seeking； praying for composure。 Her hand shook in her lap； and her mind
was full of incongruous and futile speeches。 What was there to make a
work about？ She could take care of herself； she supposed！ There was no
harm in seeing the laird。 It was the best thing that could happen。 She
would mark a proper distance to him once and for all。 Gradually the
wheels of her nature ceased to go round so madly； and she sat in passive
expectation； a quiet； solitary figure in the midst