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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。
She sat up as if to sing。 〃I'll only can sooth it to ye；〃 she explained。 〃I
wouldna like to sing out loud on the Sabbath。 I think the birds would carry
news of it to Gilbert；〃 and she smiled。 〃It's about the Elliotts；〃 she
continued； 〃and I think there's few bonnier bits in the book…poets； though
Dand has never got printed yet。〃
And she began； in the low； clear tones of her half voice； now sinking
almost to a whisper； now rising to a particular note which was her best；
and which Archie learned to wait for with growing emotion：…
〃O they rade in the rain； in the days that are gane； In the rain and the
wind and the lave； They shoutit in the ha' and they routit on the hill； But
they're a' quaitit noo in the grave。 Auld； auld Elliotts； clay…cauld Elliotts；
dour； bauld Elliotte of auld！〃
All the time she sang she looked steadfastly before her； her knees
straight； her hands upon her knee； her head cast back and up。 The
expression was admirable throughout； for had she not learned it from the
lips and under the criticism of the author？ When it was done； she turned
upon Archie a face softly bright； and eyes gently suffused and shining in
the twilight； and his heart rose and went out to her with boundless pity and
sympathy。 His question was answered。 She was a human being tuned to a
sense of the tragedy of life； there were pathos and music and a great heart
in the girl。
He arose instinctively； she also； for she saw she had gained a point；
and scored the impression deeper； and she had wit enough left to flee upon
a victory。 They were but commonplaces that remained to be exchanged；
but the low； moved voices in which they passed made them sacred in the
memory。 In the falling greyness of the evening he watched her figure
winding through the morass； saw it turn a last time and wave a hand； and
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then pass through the Slap； and it seemed to him as if something went
along with her out of the deepest of his heart。 And something surely had
come； and come to dwell there。 He had retained from childhood a picture；
now half obliterated by the passage of time and the multitude of fresh
impressions； of his mother telling him； with the fluttered earnestness of
her voice； and often with dropping tears； the tale of the 〃Praying Weaver；〃
on the very scene of his brief tragedy and long repose。 And now there was
a companion piece； and he beheld； and he should behold for ever；
Christina perched on the same tomb； in the grey colours of the evening；
gracious； dainty； perfect as a flower； and she also singing…
〃Of old； unhappy far off things； And battles long ago；〃
of their common ancestors now dead； of their rude wars composed；
their weapons buried with them； and of these strange changelings； their
descendants； who lingered a little in their places； and would soon be gone
also； and perhaps sung of by others at the gloaming hour。 By one of the
unconscious arts of tenderness the two women were enshrined together in
his memory。 Tears； in that hour of sensibility； came into his eyes
indifferently at the thought of either； and the girl； from being something
merely bright and shapely； was caught up into the zone of things serious as
life and death and his dead mother。 So that in all ways and on either side；
Fate played his game artfully with this poor pair of children。 The
generations were prepared； the pangs were made ready； before the curtain
rose on the dark drama。
In the same moment of time that she disappeared from Archie； there
opened before Kirstie's eyes the cup…like hollow in which the farm lay。
She saw； some five hundred feet below her； the house making itself bright
with candles； and this was a broad hint to her to hurry。 For they were only
kindled on a Sabbath night with a view to that family worship which
rounded in the incomparable tedium of the day and brought on the
relaxation of supper。 Already she knew that Robert must be within…sides at
the head of the table； 〃waling the portions〃； for it was Robert in his quality
of family priest and judge； not the gifted Gilbert； who officiated。 She made
good time accordingly down the steep ascent； and came up to the door
panting as the three younger brothers； all roused at last from slumber；
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stood together in the cool and the dark of the evening with a fry of
nephews and nieces about them； chatting and awaiting the expected signal。
She stood back； she had no mind to direct attention to her late arrival or to
her labouring breath。
〃Kirstie； ye have shaved it this time； my lass？〃 said Clem。 〃Whaur
were ye？〃
〃O； just taking a dander by mysel'；〃 said Kirstie。
And the talk continued on the subject of the American War； without
further reference to the truant who stood by them in the covert of the dusk；
thrilling with happiness and the sense of guilt。
The signal was given； and the brothers began to go in one after another；
amid the jostle and throng of Hob's children。
Only Dandie； waiting till the last； caught Kirstie by the arm。 〃When
did ye begin to dander in pink hosen；