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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
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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； like Kirstie； a connection of her master's； and at least knows the
legend of her own family； and may count kinship with some illustrious
dead。 For that is the mark of the Scot of all classes： that he stands in an
attitude towards the past unthinkable to Englishmen； and remembers and
cherishes the memory of his forebears； good or bad； and there burns alive
in him a sense of identity with the dead even to the twentieth generation。
No more characteristic instance could be found than in the family of
Kirstie Elliott。 They were all； and Kirstie the first of all； ready and eager to
pour forth the particulars of their genealogy； embellished with every detail
that memory had handed down or fancy fabricated； and； behold！ from
every ramification of that tree there dangled a halter。 The Elliotts
themselves have had a chequered history； but these Elliotts deduced；
besides； from three of the most unfortunate of the border clans … the
Nicksons； the Ellwalds； and the Crozers。 One ancestor after another might
be seen appearing a moment out of the rain and the hill mist upon his
furtive business； speeding home； perhaps； with a paltry booty of lame
horses and lean kine； or squealing and dealing death in some moorland
feud of the ferrets and the wild cats。 One after another closed his obscure
adventures in mid…air； triced up to the arm of the royal gibbet or the
Baron's dule…tree。 For the rusty blunderbuss of Scots criminal justice；
which usually hurt nobody but jurymen； became a weapon of precision for
the Nicksons； the Ellwalds； and the Crozers。 The exhilaration of their
exploits seemed to haunt the memories of their descendants alone； and the
shame to be forgotten。 Pride glowed in their bosoms to publish their
relationship to 〃Andrew Ellwald of the Laverockstanes； called ‘Unchancy
Dand；' who was justifeed wi' seeven mair of the same name at Jeddart in
the days of King James the Sax。〃 In all this tissue of crime and misfortune；
the Elliotts of Cauldstaneslap had one boast which must appear legitimate：
the males were gallows… birds； born outlaws； petty thieves； and deadly
brawlers； but； according to the same tradition； the females were all chaste
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and faithful。 The power of ancestry on the character is not limited to the
inheritance of cells。 If I buy ancestors by the gross from the benevolence
of Lyon King of Arms； my grandson （if he is Scottish） will feel a
quickening emulation of their deeds。 The men of the Elliotts were proud；
lawless； violent as of right； cherishing and prolonging a tradition。 In like
manner with the women。 And the woman； essentially passionate and
reckless； who crouched on the rug； in the shine of the peat fire； telling
these tales； had cherished through life a wild integrity of virtue。
Her father Gilbert had been deeply pious； a savage disciplinarian in the
antique style； and withal a notorious smuggler。 〃I mind when I was a bairn
getting mony a skelp and being shoo'd to bed like pou'try；〃 she would say。
〃That would be when the lads and their bit kegs were on the road。 We've
had the riffraff of two…three counties in our kitchen； mony's the time；
betwix' the twelve and the three； and their lanterns would be standing in
the forecourt； ay； a score o' them at once。 But there was nae ungodly talk
permitted at Cauldstaneslap。 My faither was a consistent man in walk and
conversation； just let slip an aith； and there was the door to ye！ He had that
zeal for the Lord； it was a fair wonder to hear him pray； but the family has
aye had a gift that way。〃 This father was twice married； once to a dark
woman of the old Ellwald stock； by whom he had Gilbert； presently of
Cauldstaneslap； and； secondly； to the mother of Kirstie。 〃He was an auld
man when he married her； a fell auld man wi' a muckle voice … you could
hear him rowting from the top o' the Kye…skairs；〃 she said； 〃but for her； it
appears she was a perfit wonder。 It was gentle blood she had； Mr。 Archie；
for