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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 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 unreasoning fear。 The fear was superstitious； there came up again
and again in her memory Dandie's ill…omened words； and a hundred grisly
and black tales out of the immediate neighbourhood read her a commentary
on their force。 The pleasure was never realised。 You might say the
joints of her body thought and remembered； and were gladdened； but her
essential self； in the immediate theatre of consciousness； talked
feverishly of something else； like a nervous person at a fire。 The
image that she most complacently dwelt on was that of Miss Christina
in her character of the Fair Lass of Cauldstaneslap； carrying all before
her in the straw…coloured frock； the violet mantle； and the yellow cobweb
stockings。 Archie's image； on the other hand； when it presented itself
was never welcomed … far less welcomed with any ardour； and it was exposed
at times to merciless criticism。 In the long vague dialogues she held in
her mind； often with imaginary； often with unrealised interlocutors；
Archie； if he were referred to at all came in for savage handling。 He
was described as 〃looking like a stork；〃 〃staring like a caulf；〃 〃a face
like a ghaist's。〃 〃Do you call that manners？〃 she said； or； 〃I soon put
him in his place。〃 〃 ‘MISS CHRISTINA； IF YOU PLEASE； MR。 WEIR！' says I；
and just flyped up my skirt tails。〃 With gabble like this she would
entertain herself long whiles together； and then her eye would perhaps
fall on the torn leaf； and the eyes of Archie would appear again from
the darkness of the wall； and the voluble words deserted her； and she
would lie still and stupid； and think upon nothing with devotion； and be
sometimes raised by a quiet sigh。 Had a doctor of medicine come into
that loft； he would have diagnosed a healthy； well…developed； eminently
vivacious lass lying on her face in a fit of the sulks； not one who had
just contracted； or was just contracting； a mortal sickness of the mind
which should yet carry her towards death and despair。 Had it been a
doctor of psychology； he might have been pardoned for divining in the
girl a passion of childish vanity； self…love IN EXCELSIS； and no more。
It is to be understood that I have been painting chaos and describing
the inarticulate。 Every lineament that appears is too precise； almost
every word used too strong。 Take a finger…post in the mountains on a
day of rolling mists； I have but copied the names that appear upon the
pointers； the names of definite and famous cities far distant； and now
perhaps basking in sunshine； but Christina remained all these hours； as
it were； at the foot of the post itself； not moving； and enveloped in
mutable and blinding wreaths of haze。
The day was growing late and the sunbeams long and level； when she sat
suddenly up； and wrapped in its handkerchief and put by that psalm…book
which had already played a part so decisive in the first chapter of her
love…story。 In the absence of the mesmerist's eye； we are told nowadays
that the head of a bright nail may fill his place； if it be steadfastly
regarded。 So that torn page had riveted her attention on what might
else have been but little； and perhaps soon forgotten； while the ominous
words of Dandie … heard； not heeded； and still remembered … had lent to
her thoughts； or rather to her mood； a cast of solemnity； and that idea
of Fate … a pagan Fate； uncontrolled by any Christian deity； obscure；
lawless； and august … moving indissuadably in the affairs of Christian
men。 Thus even that phenomenon of love at first sight； which is so rare
and seems so simple and violent； like a disruption of life's tissue； may
be decomposed into a sequence of accidents happily concurring。
She put on a grey frock and a pink kerchief； looked at herself a moment
with approval in the small square of glass that served her for a toilet
mirror； and went softly downstairs through the sleeping house that
resounded with the sound of afternoon snoring。 Just outside the door；
Dandie was sitting with a book in his hand； no