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.
