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of his fate。
His heart； for a moment； was in danger of deteriorating。 He was
miserable； the Devil suggested to him； 〃make others miserable too；〃 and
he listened to the advice。
There was a fine breeze； but instead of sailing on a wind； as he might
have done； he made a series of tacks； and all were ill。
The earnest man first； and Flucker announced the skipper's insanity to
the whole town of Newhaven； for； of course； these tacks were all marine
solecisms。
The other discontented Picnician was Christie Johnstone。 Gatty never
came； and this； coupled with five or six days' previous neglect； could no
longer pass unnoticed。
Her gayety failed her before the afternoon was ended； and the last two
hours were spent by her alone； watching the water on all sides for him。
At last； long after the departure of his lordship's yacht； the Newhaven
boat sailed from Inch Coombe with the wedding party。 There was now a
strong breeze； and the water every now and then came on board。 So the men
set the foresail with two reefs； and drew the mainsail over the women；
and there； as they huddled together in the dark； Jean Carnie discovered
that our gay story…teller's eyes were wet with tears。
Jean said nothing； she embraced her； and made them flow faster。
But； when they came alongside the pier； Jean； who was the first to get
her head from under the sail； whipped it back again and said to Christie：
〃Here he is； Christie； dinna speak till him。〃
And sure enough there was； in the twilight； with a pale face and an
uneasy lookMr。 Charles Gatty！
He peered timidly into the boat； and； when he saw Christie； an 〃Ah！〃 that
seemed to mean twenty different things at once； burst from his bosom。 He
held out his arm to assist her。
She cast on him one glance of mute reproach； and； placing her foot on the
boat's gunwale； sprang like an antelope upon the pier； without accepting
his assistance。
Before going further； we must go back for this boy； and conduct him from
where we left him up to the present point。
The moment he found himself alone with Jean Carnie； in his own house； he
began to tell her what trouble he was in； how his mother had convinced
him of his imprudence in falling in love with Christie Johnstone； and how
she insisted on a connection being broken off which had given him his
first glimpse of heaven upon earth； and was contrary to common sense。
Jean heard him out； and then； with the air of a lunatic…asylum keeper to
a rhodomontading patient； told him 〃he was one fool； and his mother was
another。〃 First she took him up on the score of prudence。
〃You；〃 said she； 〃are a beggarly painter； without a rap； Christie has
houses； boats； nets； and money； you are in debt； she lays by money every
week。 It is not prudent on her part to take up with youthe better your
bargain； my lad。〃
Under the head of common sense； which she maintained was all on the same
side of the question； she calmly inquired：
〃How could an old woman of sixty be competent to judge how far human
happiness depends on love； when she has no experience of that passion；
and the reminiscences of her youth have become dim and dark？ You might as
well set a judge in court； that has forgotten the lawcommon sense；〃
said she； 〃the old wife is sixty； and you are twentywhat can she do for
you the forty years you may reckon to outlive her？ Who is to keep you
through those weary years but the wife of your own choice； not your
mother's？ You English does na read the Bible； or ye'd ken that a lad is
to 'leave his father and mother； and cleave until his wife；'〃 added she；
then with great contempt she repeated； 〃common sense； indeed！ ye're fou
wi' your common sense； ye hae the name o' 't pat eneuchbut there's na
muckle o' that mairchandise in your harns。〃
Gatty was astonished。 What！ was there really common sense on the side of
bliss？ and when Jean told him to join her party at Inch Coombe； or never
look her in the face again； scales seemed to fall from his eyes； and；
with a heart that turned in a moment from lead to a feather； he vowed he
would be at Inch Coombe。
He then begged Jean on no account to tell Christie the struggle he had
been subjected to； since his scruples were now entirely conquered。
Jean acquiesced at once； and said： 〃Indeed； she would be very sorry to
give the lass that muckle pain。〃
She hinted； moreover； that her neebor's spirit was so high； she was quite
capable of breaking with him at once upon such an intimation； and she；
Jean； was 〃nae mischief…maker。〃
In the energy of his gratitude； he kissed this dark…browed beauty；
professing to see in her a sister。
And she made no resistance to this way of showing gratitude； but muttered
between her teeth； 〃He's just a bairn！〃
And so she went about her business。
On her retreat； his mother returned to him； and； with a sad air； hoped
nothing that that rude girl had said had weakened his filial duty。
〃No； mother；〃 said he。
She then； without explaining how she came acquainted with Jean's
arguments； proceeded to demolish them one by one。
〃If your mother is old and experienced；〃 said she； 〃benefit by her age
and experience。 She has not forgotten love； nor the ills it leads to；
when not fortified by prudence。 Scripture says a man shall cleave to his
wife when he has left his parents； but in making that； the most important
step of life； where do you read that he is to break the fifth
commandment？ But I do you wrong； Charles； you never could have listened
to that vulgar girl when she told you your mother was not your best
friend。〃
〃Nno； mother； of course not。〃
〃Then you will not go to that place to break my heart； and undo all you
have done this week。〃
〃I should like to go； mother。〃
〃You will break my heart if you do。〃
〃Christie will feel herself slighted； and she has not deserved this
treatment from me。〃
〃The other will explain to her； and if she is as good a girl as you
say〃
〃She is an angel！〃
〃How can a fishwife be an angel？ Well； then； she will not set a son to
disobey his mother。〃
〃I don't think she would！ but is all the goodness to be on her side？〃
〃No； Charles； you do your part； deny yourself； be an obedient child； and
your mother's blessing and the blessing of Heaven will rest upon you。〃
In short； he was not to go to Inch Coombe。
He stayed at home； his mother set him to work； he made a poor hand of it；
he was so wretched。 She at last took compassion on him； and in the
evening； when it was now too late for a sail to Inch Coombe； she herself
recommended a walk to him。
The poor boy's feet took him toward Newhaven； not that he meant to go to
his love； but he could not forbear from looking at the place which held
her。
He was about to return； when a spacious blue jacket hailed him。 Somewhere
inside this jacket was Master Flucker； who had returned in the yacht；
leaving his sister on the island。
Gatty instantly poured out a flood of questions。
The baddish boy reciprocated fluency。 He informed him 〃that his sister
had been the star of a goodly company； and that； her own lad having
stayed away； she had condescended to make a conquest of the skipper
himself。
〃He had come in qui