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expectation； a quiet； solitary figure in the midst of the grey moss。 I have
said she was no hypocrite； but here I am at fault。 She never admitted to
herself that she had come up the hill to look for Archie。 And perhaps after
all she did not know； perhaps came as a stone falls。 For the steps of love in
the young； and especially in girls； are instinctive and unconscious。
In the meantime Archie was drawing rapidly near； and he at least was
consciously seeking her neighbourhood。 The afternoon had turned to ashes
in his mouth； the memory of the girl had kept him from reading and drawn
him as with cords； and at last； as the cool of the evening began to come on；
he had taken his hat and set forth； with a smothered ejaculation； by the
moor path to Cauldstaneslap。 He had no hope to find her； he took the off
chance without expectation of result and to relieve his uneasiness。 The
greater was his surprise； as he surmounted the slope and came into the
hollow of the Deil's Hags； to see there； like an answer to his wishes； the
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little womanly figure in the grey dress and the pink kerchief sitting little；
and low； and lost； and acutely solitary； in these desolate surroundings and
on the weather…beaten stone of the dead weaver。 Those things that still
smacked of winter were all rusty about her； and those things that already
relished of the spring had put forth the tender and lively colours of the
season。 Even in the unchanging face of the death…stone； changes were to
be remarked； and in the channeled lettering； the moss began to renew itself
in jewels of green。 By an afterthought that was a stroke of art； she had
turned up over her head the back of the kerchief； so that it now framed
becomingly her vivacious and yet pensive face。 Her feet were gathered
under her on the one side； and she leaned on her bare arm； which showed
out strong and round； tapered to a slim wrist； and shimmered in the fading
light。
Young Hermiston was struck with a certain chill。 He was reminded
that he now dealt in serious matters of life and death。 This was a grown
woman he was approaching； endowed with her mysterious potencies and
attractions； the treasury of the continued race； and he was neither better
nor worse than the average of his sex and age。 He had a certain delicacy
which had preserved him hitherto unspotted； and which （had either of
them guessed it） made him a more dangerous companion when his heart
should be really stirred。 His throat was dry as he came near； but the
appealing sweetness of her smile stood between them like a guardian
angel。
For she turned to him and smiled； though without rising。 There was a
shade in this cavalier greeting that neither of them perceived； neither he；
who simply thought it gracious and charming as herself； nor yet she； who
did not observe （quick as she was） the difference between rising to meet
the laird； and remaining seated to receive the expected admirer。
〃Are ye stepping west； Hermiston？〃 said she； giving him his territorial
name after the fashion of the country…side。
〃I was；〃 said he； a little hoarsely； 〃but I think I will be about the end of
my stroll now。 Are you like me； Miss Christina？ The house would not hold
me。 I came here seeking air。〃
He took his seat at the other end of the tombstone and studied her；
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wondering what was she。 There was infinite import in the question alike
for her and him。
〃Ay；〃 she said。 〃I couldna bear the roof either。 It's a habit of mine to
come up here about the gloaming when it's quaiet and caller。〃
〃It was a habit of my mother's also；〃 he said gravely。 The recollection
half startled him as he expressed it。 He looked around。 〃I have scarce been
here since。 It's peaceful；〃 he said； with a long breath。
〃It's no like Glasgow；〃 she replied。 〃A weary place； yon Glasgow！ But
what a day have I had for my homecoming； and what a bonny evening！〃
〃Indeed； it was a wonderful day；〃 said Archie。 〃I think I will remember
it years and years until I come to die。 On days like this … I do not know if
you feel as I do … but everything appears so brief； and fragile； and exquisite；
that I am afraid to touch life。 We are here for so short a time； and all the
old people before us … Rutherfords of Hermiston； Elliotts of the
Cauldstaneslap … that were here but a while since riding about and keeping
up a great noise in this quiet corner … making love too； and marrying … why；
where are they now？ It's deadly commonplace； but； after all； the
commonplaces are the great poetic truths。〃
He was sounding her； semi…consciously； to see if she could understand
him； to learn if she were only an animal the colour of flowers； or had a
soul in her to keep her sweet。 She； on her part； her means well in hand；
watched； womanlike； for any opportunity to shine； to abound in his
humour； whatever that might be。 The dramatic artist； that lies dormant or
only half awake in most human beings； had in her sprung to his feet in a
divine fury； and chance had served her well。 She looked upon him with a
subdued twilight look that became the hour of the day and the train of
thought； earnestness shone through her like stars in the purple west； and
from the great but controlled upheaval of her whole nature there passed
into her voice； and rang in her lightest words； a thrill of emotion。
〃Have you mind of Dand's song？〃 she answered。 〃I think he'll have
been trying to say what you have been thinking。〃
〃No； I never heard it；〃 he said。 〃Repeat it to me； can you？〃
〃It's nothing wanting the tune；〃 said Kirstie。
〃Then sing it me；〃 said he。
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〃On the Lord's Day？ That would never do； Mr。 Weir！〃
〃I am afraid I am not so strict a keeper of the Sabbath； and there is no
one in this place to hear us； unless the poor old ancient under the stone。〃
〃No that I'm thinking that really；〃 she said。 〃By my way of thinking；
it's just as serious as a psalm。 Will I sooth it to ye； then？〃
〃If you please；〃 said he； and； drawing near to her on the tombstone；
prepared to listen。