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〃Is there not a girl too？〃 he asked。
〃Ay： Kirstie。 She was named for me； or my grandmother at least … it's
the same thing；〃 returned the aunt； and went on again about Dand； whom
she secretly preferred by reason of his gallantries。
〃But what is your niece like？〃 said Archie at the next opportunity。
〃Her？ As black's your hat！ But I dinna suppose she would maybe be what
you would ca' ILL…LOOKED a'thegither。 Na； she's a kind of a handsome
jaud … a kind o' gipsy；〃 said the aunt； who had two sets of scales for
men and women … or perhaps it would be more fair to say that she had
three； and the third and the most loaded was for girls。
〃How comes it that I never see her in church？〃 said Archie。
〃 'Deed； and I believe she's in Glesgie with Clem and his wife。 A heap
good she's like to get of it！ I dinna say for men folk； but where
weemen folk are born； there let them bide。 Glory to God； I was never
far'er from here than Crossmichael。〃
In the meanwhile it began to strike Archie as strange； that while she
thus sang the praises of her kinsfolk； and manifestly relished their
virtues and （I may say） their vices like a thing creditable to herself；
there should appear not the least sign of cordiality between the house
of Hermiston and that of Cauldstaneslap。 Going to church of a Sunday；
as the lady housekeeper stepped with her skirts kilted； three tucks of
her white petticoat showing below； and her best India shawl upon her
back （if the day were fine） in a pattern of radiant dyes； she would
sometimes overtake her relatives preceding her more leisurely in the
same direction。 Gib of course was absent： by skreigh of day he had been
gone to Crossmichael and his fellow…heretics； but the rest of the family
would be seen marching in open order： Hob and Dand； stiff…necked；
straight…backed six…footers； with severe dark faces； and their plaids
about their shoulders； the convoy of children scattering （in a state of
high polish） on the wayside； and every now and again collected by the
shrill summons of the mother； and the mother herself； by a suggestive
circumstance which might have afforded matter of thought to a more
experienced observer than Archie； wrapped in a shawl nearly identical
with Kirstie's； but a thought more gaudy and conspicuously newer。 At
the sight； Kirstie grew more tall … Kirstie showed her classical
profile； nose in air and nostril spread； the pure blood came in her
cheek evenly in a delicate living pink。
〃A braw day to ye； Mistress Elliott；〃 said she； and hostility and
gentility were nicely mingled in her tones。 〃A fine day； mem；〃 the
laird's wife would reply with a miraculous curtsey； spreading the while
her plumage … setting off； in other words； and with arts unknown to the
mere man； the pattern of her India shawl。 Behind her； the whole
Cauldstaneslap contingent marched in closer order； and with an
indescribable air of being in the presence of the foe； and while Dandie
saluted his aunt with a certain familiarity as of one who was well in
court； Hob marched on in awful immobility。 There appeared upon the face
of this attitude in the family the consequences of some dreadful feud。
Presumably the two women had been principals in the original encounter；
and the laird had probably been drawn into the quarrel by the ears； too
late to be included in the present skin…deep reconciliation。
〃Kirstie；〃 said Archie one day； 〃what is this you have against your
family？〃
〃I dinna complean；〃 said Kirstie； with a flush。 〃I say naething。〃
〃I see you do not … not even good…day to your own nephew；〃 said he。
〃I hae naething to be ashamed of；〃 said she。 〃I can say the Lord's
prayer with a good grace。 If Hob was ill； or in preeson or poverty； I
would see to him blithely。 But for curtchying and complimenting and
colloguing； thank ye kindly！〃
Archie had a bit of a smile： he leaned back in his chair。 〃I think you
and Mrs。 Robert are not very good friends；〃 says he slyly； 〃when you
have your India shawls on？〃
She looked upon him in silence； with a sparkling eye but an
indecipherable expression； and that was all that Archie was ever
destined to learn of the battle of the India shawls。
〃Do none of them ever come here to see you？〃 he inquired。
〃Mr。 Archie；〃 said she； 〃I hope that I ken my place better。 It would be
a queer thing； I think； if I was to clamjamfry up your faither's house …
that I should say it！ … wi' a dirty； black…a…vised clan； no ane o' them
it was worth while to mar soap upon but just mysel'！ Na； they're all
damnifeed wi' the black Ellwalds。 I have nae patience wi' black folk。〃
Then； with a sudden consciousness of the case of Archie； 〃No that it
maitters for men sae muckle；〃 she made haste to add； 〃but there's
naebody can deny that it's unwomanly。 Long hair is the ornament o'
woman ony way； we've good warrandise for that … it's in the Bible … and
wha can doubt that the Apostle had some gowden…haired lassie in his mind
… Apostle and all； for what was he but just a man like yersel'？〃
CHAPTER VI … A LEAF FROM CHRISTINA'S PSALM…BOOK
ARCHIE was sedulous at church。 Sunday after Sunday he sat down and
stood up with that small company； heard the voice of Mr。 Torrance
leaping like an ill…played clarionet from key to key； and had an
opportunity to study his moth…eaten gown and the black thread mittens
that he joined together in prayer； and lifted up with a reverent
solemnity in the act of benediction。 Hermiston pew was a little square
box； dwarfish in proportion with the kirk itself； and enclosing a table
not much bigger than a footstool。 There sat Archie； an apparent prince；
the only undeniable gentleman and the only great heritor in the parish；
taking his ease in the only pew； for no other in the kirk had doors。
Thence he might command an undisturbed view of that congregation of
solid plaided men； strapping wives and daughters； oppressed children；
and uneasy sheep…dogs。 It was strange how Archie missed the look of
race； except the dogs； with their refined foxy faces and inimitably
curling tails； there was no one present with the least claim to
gentility。 The Cauldstaneslap party was scarcely an exception； Dandie
perhaps； as he amused himself making verses through the interminable
burden of the service； stood out a little by the glow in his eye and a
certain superior animation of face and alertness of body； but even
Dandie slouched like a rustic。 The rest of the congregation； like so
many sheep； oppressed him with a sense of hob…nailed routine； day
following day … of physical labour in the open air； oatmeal porridge；
peas bannock the somnolent fireside in the evening； and the night…long
nasal slumbers in a box…bed。 Yet he knew many of them to be shrewd and
humorous； men of character； notable women； making a bustle in the world
and radiating an influence from t