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caressed and embellished her。 By the lines of a rich and vigorous
maternity； she seemed destined to be the bride of heroes and the mother
of their children； and behold； by the iniquity of fate； she had passed
through her youth alone； and drew near to the confines of age； a
childless woman。 The tender ambitions that she had received at birth
had been； by time and disappointment； diverted into a certain barren
zeal of industry and fury of interference。 She carried her thwarted
ardours into housework； she washed floors with her empty heart。 If she
could not win the love of one with love； she must dominate all by her
temper。 Hasty； wordy； and wrathful； she had a drawn quarrel with most
of her neighbours； and with the others not much more than armed
neutrality。 The grieve's wife had been 〃sneisty〃； the sister of the
gardener who kept house for him had shown herself 〃upsitten〃； and she
wrote to Lord Hermiston about once a year demanding the discharge of the
offenders； and justifying the demand by much wealth of detail。 For it
must not be supposed that the quarrel rested with the wife and did not
take in the husband also … or with the gardener's sister； and did not
speedily include the gardener himself。 As the upshot of all this petty
quarrelling and intemperate speech； she was practically excluded （like a
lightkeeper on his tower） from the comforts of human association； except
with her own indoor drudge； who； being but a lassie and entirely at her
mercy； must submit to the shifty weather of 〃the mistress's〃 moods
without complaint； and be willing to take buffets or caresses according
to the temper of the hour。 To Kirstie； thus situate and in the Indian
summer of her heart； which was slow to submit to age； the gods sent this
equivocal good thing of Archie's presence。 She had known him in the
cradle and paddled him when he misbehaved； and yet； as she had not so
much as set eyes on him since he was eleven and had his last serious
illness； the tall； slender； refined； and rather melancholy young
gentleman of twenty came upon her with the shock of a new acquaintance。
He was 〃Young Hermiston；〃 〃the laird himsel' 〃： he had an air of
distinctive superiority； a cold straight glance of his black eyes； that
abashed the woman's tantrums in the beginning； and therefore the
possibility of any quarrel was excluded。 He was new； and therefore
immediately aroused her curiosity； he was reticent； and kept it awake。
And lastly he was dark and she fair； and he was male and she female； the
everlasting fountains of interest。
Her feeling partook of the loyalty of a clanswoman； the hero…worship of
a maiden aunt； and the idolatry due to a god。 No matter what he had
asked of her； ridiculous or tragic； she would have done it and joyed to
do it。 Her passion； for it was nothing less； entirely filled her。 It
was a rich physical pleasure to make his bed or light his lamp for him
when he was absent； to pull off his wet boots or wait on him at dinner
when he returned。 A young man who should have so doted on the idea；
moral and physical； of any woman； might be properly described as being
in love； head and heels； and would have behaved himself accordingly。
But Kirstie … though her heart leaped at his coming footsteps … though；
when he patted her shoulder； her face brightened for the day … had not a
hope or thought beyond the present moment and its perpetuation to the
end of time。 Till the end of time she would have had nothing altered；
but still continue delightedly to serve her idol； and be repaid （say
twice in the month） with a clap on the shoulder。
I have said her heart leaped … it is the accepted phrase。 But rather；
when she was alone in any chamber of the house； and heard his foot
passing on the corridors； something in her bosom rose slowly until her
breath was suspended； and as slowly fell again with a deep sigh； when
the steps had passed and she was disappointed of her eyes' desire。 This
perpetual hunger and thirst of his presence kept her all day on the
alert。 When he went forth at morning； she would stand and follow him
with admiring looks。 As it grew late and drew to the time of his return；
she would steal forth to a corner of the policy wall and be seen standing
there sometimes by the hour together； gazing with shaded eyes； waiting the
exquisite and barren pleasure of his view a mile off on the mountains。
When at night she had trimmed and gathered the fire； turned down his
bed； and laid out his night…gear … when there was no more to be done for
the king's pleasure； but to remember him fervently in her usually very
tepid prayers； and go to bed brooding upon his perfections； his future
career； and what she should give him the next day for dinner … there
still remained before her one more opportunity； she was still to take in
the tray and say good…night。 Sometimes Archie would glance up from his
book with a preoccupied nod and a perfunctory salutation which was in
truth a dismissal； sometimes … and by degrees more often … the volume
would be laid aside； he would meet her coming with a look of relief； and
the conversation would be engaged； last out the supper； and be prolonged
till the small hours by the waning fire。 It was no wonder that Archie
was fond of company after his solitary days； and Kirstie； upon her side；
exerted all the arts of her vigorous nature to ensnare his attention。
She would keep back some piece of news during dinner to be fired off
with the entrance of the supper tray； and form as it were the LEVER DE
RIDEAU of the evening's entertainment。 Once he had heard her tongue
wag； she made sure of the result。 From one subject to another she moved
by insidious transitions； fearing the least silence； fearing almost to
give him time for an answer lest it should slip into a hint of
separation。 Like so many people of her class； she was a brave narrator；
her place was on the hearth…rug and she made it a rostrum； mimeing her
stories as she told them； fitting them with vital detail； spinning them
out with endless 〃quo' he's〃 and 〃quo' she's；〃 her voice sinking into a
whisper over the supernatural or the horrific； until she would suddenly
spring up in affected surprise； and pointing to the clock； 〃Mercy； Mr。
Archie！〃 she would say； 〃whatten a time o' night is this of it！ God
forgive me for a daft wife！〃 So it befell； by good management； that she
was not only the first to begin these nocturnal conversations； but
invariably the first to break them off； so she managed to retire and not
to be dismissed。
3。 A BORDER FAMILY
Such an unequal intimacy has never been uncommon in Scotland； where the
clan spirit survives； where the servant tends to spend her life in the
same service； a helpmeet at first； then a tyrant； and at last a
pensioner； where； besides； she is not necessarily destitute of the pride
of birth； but is； perhaps； li