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〃Now； I have your solemn promise to do it here； and at once； you will
find me on the beach behind these boatsdo it。〃
The reader will understand that during the last few days Mrs。 Gatty had
improved her advantage； and that Charles had positively consented to obey
her； the poor boy was worn out with the strugglehe felt he must have
peace or die； he was thin and pale； and sudden twitches came over him；
his temperament was not fit for such a battle； and； it is to be observed；
nearly all the talk was on one side。 He had made one expiring
strugglehe described to his mother an artist's nature； his strength；
his weaknesshe besought her not to be a slave to general rules； but to
inquire what sort of a companion the individual Gatty needed； he lashed
with true but brilliant satire the sort of wife his mother was ready to
see him saddled witha stupid； unsympathizing creature； whose ten
children would； by nature's law； be also stupid； and so be a weight on
him till his dying day。 He painted Christie Johnstone； mind and body； in
words as true and bright as his colors； he showed his own weak points；
her strong ones； and how the latter would fortify the former。
He displayed； in short； in one minute； more intellect than his mother had
exhibited in sixty years； and that done； with all his understanding； wit
and eloquence； he succumbed like a child to her stronger willhe
promised to break with Christie Johnstone。
When Christie had recovered her composure and turned round to her
companions； she found herself alone with Charles。
〃Chairles；〃 said she； gravely。
〃Christie；〃 said he； uneasily。
〃Your mother does na like me。 Oh； ye need na deny it； and we are na
together as we used to be； my lad。〃
〃She is prejudiced； but she has been the best of mothers to me；
Christie。〃
〃Aweel。〃
〃Circumstances compel me to return to England。〃
（Ah； coward！ anything but the real truth！）
〃Aweel； Chairles； it will no be for lang。〃
〃I don't know； you will not be so unhappy as I shallat least I hope
not。〃
〃Hoow do ye ken that？〃
〃Christie； do you remember the first night we danced together？〃
〃Ay。〃
〃And we walked in the cool by the seaside； and I told you the names of
the stars； and you said those were not their real names； but nicknames we
give them here on earth。 I loved you that first night。〃
〃And I fancied you the first time I set eyes on you。〃
〃How can I leave you； Christie？ What shall I do？〃
〃I ken what I shall do；〃 answered Christie coolly； then； bursting into
tears； she added； 〃I shall dee！ I shall dee！〃
〃No！ you must not say so； at least I will never love any one but you。〃
〃An' I'll live as I am a' my days for your sake。 Oh； England！ I hae
likeit ye sae weel； ye suld na rob me o' my ladhe's a' the joy I hae！〃
〃I love you；〃 said Gatty。 〃Do you love me？〃
All the answer was； her head upon his shoulder。
〃I can't do it；〃 thought Gatty； 〃and I won't！ Christie；〃 said he； 〃stay
here； don't move from here。〃 And he dashed among the boats in great
agitation。
He found his mother rather near the scene of the late conference。
〃Mother；〃 said he； fiercely； like a coward as he was； 〃ask me no more； my
mind is made up forever； I will not do this scoundrelly； heartless；
beastly； ungrateful action you have been pushing me to so long。〃
〃Take care； Charles； take care；〃 said the old woman； trembling with
passion； for this was a new tone for her son to take with her。 〃You had
my blessing the other day； and you saw what followed it； do not tempt me
to curse an undutiful； disobedient； ungrateful son。〃
〃I must take my chance；〃 said he； desperately； 〃for I am under a curse
any way！ I placed my ring on her finger； and held up my hand to God and
swore she should be my wife； she has my ring and my oath； and I will not
perjure myself even for my mother。〃
〃Your ring！ Not the ruby ring I gave you from your dead father's
fingernot that！ not that！〃
〃Yes！ yes！ I tell you yes！ and if he was alive； and saw her； and knew her
goodness； he would have pity on me； but I have no friend； you see how ill
you have made me； but you have no pity； I could not have believed it；
but； since you have no mercy on me； I will have the more mercy on myself；
I marry her to…morrow； and put an end to all this shuffling and
maneuvering against an angel！ I am not worthy of her； but I'll marry her
to…morrow。 Good…by。〃
〃Stay！〃 said the old woman； in a terrible voice； 〃before you destroy me
and all I have lived for； and suffered； and pinched for； hear me； if that
ring is not off the hussy's finger in half an hour； and you my son again；
I fall on this sand and〃
〃Then God have mercy upon me； for I'll see the whole creation lost
eternally ere I'll wrong the only creature that is an ornament to the
world。〃
He was desperate； and the weak； driven to desperation； are more furious
than the strong。
It was by Heaven's mercy that neither mother nor son had time to speak
again。
As they faced each other； with flaming eyes and faces； all self…command
gone； about to utter hasty words； and lay up regret； perhaps for all
their lives to come； in a moment； as if she had started from the earth；
Christie Johnstone stood between them！
Gatty's words； and； still more； his hesitation； had made her quick
intelligence suspect。 She had resolved to know the truth； the boats
offered every facility for listeningshe had heard every word。
She stood between the mother and son。
They were confused； abashed； and the hot blood began to leave their
faces。
She stood erect like a statue； her cheek pale as ashes； her eyes
glittering like basilisks； she looked at neither of them。
She slowly raised her left hand； she withdrew a ruby ring from it； and
dropped the ring on the sand between the two。
She turned on her heel； and was gone as she had come； without a word
spoken。
They looked at one another； stupefied at first； after a considerable
pause the stern old woman stooped； picked up the ring； and； in spite of a
certain chill that the young woman's majestic sorrow had given her； said；
placing it on her own finger； 〃This is for your wife！！！〃
〃It will be for my coffin； then；〃 said her son； so coldly； so bitterly
and so solemnly that the mother's heart began to quake。
〃Mother；〃 said he calmly； 〃forgive me； and accept your son's arm。
〃I will； my son！〃
〃We are alone in the world now； mother。〃
Mrs。 Gatty had triumphed； but she felt the price of her triumph more than
her victory。 It had been done in one moment； that for which she had so
labored； and it seemed that had she spoken long ago to Christie； instead
of Charles； it could have been done at any moment。
Strange to say； for some minutes the mother felt more uneasy than her
son； she was a woman； after all； and could measure a woman's heart； and
she saw how deep the wound she had given one she was now compelled to
respect。
Charles； on the other hand； had been so harassed backward and forward；
that to him certainty was relief； it was a great matter to be no longer
called upon to decide。 His mother had said； 〃Part；〃 and now Christie had
said； 〃Part〃； at least the affair was taken out of his hands； and his
first feeling