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the profound humanity and sentimentality of her nature； she had
recognised the coming of fate。 Not thus would she have chosen。 She had
seen； in imagination； Archie wedded to some tall； powerful； and rosy
heroine of the golden locks； made in her own image； for whom she would
have strewed the bride…bed with delight； and now she could have wept to
see the ambition falsified。 But the gods had pronounced； and her doom
was otherwise。
She lay tossing in bed that night； besieged with feverish thoughts。
There were dangerous matters pending； a battle was toward； over the fate
of which she hung in jealousy； sympathy； fear； and alternate loyalty and
disloyalty to either side。 Now she was reincarnated in her niece； and now
in Archie。 Now she saw； through the girl's eyes； the youth on his knees to
her； heard his persuasive instances with a deadly weakness； and received
his overmastering caresses。 Anon； with a revulsion； her temper raged to
see such utmost favours of fortune and love squandered on a brat of a girl；
one of her own house； using her own name … a deadly ingredient … and that
〃didna ken her ain mind an' was as black's your hat。〃 Now she trembled
lest her deity should plead in vain； loving the idea of success for him like a
triumph of nature； anon； with returning loyalty to her own family and sex；
she trembled for Kirstie and the credit of the Elliotts。 And again she had a
vision of herself； the day over for her old…world tales and local gossip；
bidding farewell to her last link with life and brightness and love； and
behind and beyond； she saw but the blank butt…end where she must crawl
to die。 Had she then come to the lees？ she； so great； so beautiful； with a
heart as fresh as a girl's and strong as womanhood？ It could not be； and yet
it was so； and for a moment her bed was horrible to her as the sides of the
grave。 And she looked forward over a waste of hours； and saw herself go
on to rage； and tremble； and be softened； and rage again； until the day
came and the labours of the day must be renewed。
Suddenly she heard feet on the stairs … his feet； and soon after the
sound of a window…sash flung open。 She sat up with her heart beating。 He
had gone to his room alone； and he had not gone to bed。 She might again
have one of her night cracks； and at the entrancing prospect； a change
came over her mind； with the approach of this hope of pleasure； all the
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baser metal became immediately obliterated from her thoughts。 She rose；
all woman； and all the best of woman； tender； pitiful； hating the wrong；
loyal to her own sex … and all the weakest of that dear miscellany；
nourishing； cherishing next her soft heart； voicelessly flattering； hopes that
she would have died sooner than have acknowledged。 She tore off her
nightcap； and her hair fell about her shoulders in profusion。 Undying
coquetry awoke。 By the faint light of her nocturnal rush； she stood before
the looking…glass； carried her shapely arms above her head； and gathered
up the treasures of her tresses。 She was never backward to admire herself；
that kind of modesty was a stranger to her nature； and she paused； struck
with a pleased wonder at the sight。 〃Ye daft auld wife！〃 she said；
answering a thought that was not； and she blushed with the innocent
consciousness of a child。 Hastily she did up the massive and shining coils；
hastily donned a wrapper； and with the rushlight in her hand； stole into the
hall。 Below stairs she heard the clock ticking the deliberate seconds； and
Frank jingling with the decanters in the dining…room。 Aversion rose in her；
bitter and momentary。 〃Nesty； tippling puggy！〃 she thought； and the next
moment she had knocked guardedly at Archie's door and was bidden enter。
Archie had been looking out into the ancient blackness； pierced here
and there with a rayless star； taking the sweet air of the moors and the
night into his bosom deeply； seeking； perhaps finding； peace after the
manner of the unhappy。 He turned round as she came in； and showed her a
pale face against the window…frame。
〃Is that you； Kirstie？〃 he asked。 〃Come in！〃
〃It's unco late； my dear；〃 said Kirstie； affecting unwillingness。
〃No； no；〃 he answered； 〃not at all。 Come in； if you want a crack。 I am
not sleepy； God knows！〃
She advanced； took a chair by the toilet table and the candle； and set
the rushlight at her foot。 Something … it might be in the comparative
disorder of her dress； it might be the emotion that now welled in her
bosom … had touched her with a wand of transformation； and she seemed
young with the youth of goddesses。
〃Mr。 Erchie；〃 she began； 〃what's this that's come to ye？〃
〃I am not aware of anything that has come；〃 said Archie； and blushed；
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and repented bitterly that he had let her in。
〃O； my dear； that'll no dae！〃 said Kirstie。 〃It's ill to blend the eyes of
love。 O； Mr。 Erchie； tak a thocht ere it's ower late。 Ye shouldna be
impatient o' the braws o' life； they'll a' come in their saison； like the sun
and the rain。 Ye're young yet； ye've mony cantie years afore ye。 See and
dinna wreck yersel' at the outset like sae mony ithers！ Hae patience … they
telled me aye that was the owercome o' life … hae patience； there's a braw
day coming yet。 Gude kens it never cam to me； and here I am； wi' nayther
man nor bairn to ca' my ain； wearying a' folks wi' my ill tongue； and you
just the first； Mr。 Erchie！〃
〃I have a difficulty in knowing what you mean；〃 said Archie。
〃Weel； and I'll tell ye；〃 she said。 〃It's just this； that I'm feared。 I'm
feared for ye； my dear。 Remember； your faither is a hard man； reaping
where he hasna sowed and gaithering where he hasna strawed。 It's easy
speakin'； but mind！ Ye'll have to look in the gurly face o'm； where it's ill to
look； and vain to look for mercy。 Ye mind me o' a bonny ship pitten oot
into the black and gowsty seas … ye're a' safe still； sittin' quait and crac