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whom he might ride to glory or the grave at pleasure。 Which was it to be？
He lingered long； relishing the details of schemes that he was too idle to
pursue。 Poor cork upon a torrent； he tasted that night the sweets of
omnipotence； and brooded like a deity over the strands of that intrigue
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which was to shatter him before the summer waned。
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CHAPTER VIII … A NOCTURNAL
VISIT
KIRSTIE had many causes of distress。 More and more as we grow old
… and yet more and more as we grow old and are women； frozen by the
fear of age … we come to rely on the voice as the single outlet of the soul。
Only thus； in the curtailment of our means； can we relieve the straitened
cry of the passion within us； only thus； in the bitter and sensitive shyness
of advancing years； can we maintain relations with those vivacious figures
of the young that still show before us and tend daily to become no more
than the moving wall…paper of life。 Talk is the last link； the last relation。
But with the end of the conversation； when the voice stops and the bright
face of the listener is turned away； solitude falls again on the bruised heart。
Kirstie had lost her 〃cannie hour at e'en〃； she could no more wander with
Archie； a ghost if you will； but a happy ghost； in fields Elysian。 And to her
it was as if the whole world had fallen silent； to him； but an unremarkable
change of amusements。 And she raged to know it。 The effervescency of
her passionate and irritable nature rose within her at times to bursting
point。
This is the price paid by age for unseasonable ardours of feeling。 It
must have been so for Kirstie at any time when the occasion chanced； but
it so fell out that she was deprived of this delight in the hour when she had
most need of it； when she had most to say； most to ask； and when she
trembled to recognise her sovereignty not merely in abeyance but annulled。
For； with the clairvoyance of a genuine love； she had pierced the mystery
that had so long embarrassed Frank。 She was conscious； even before it was
carried out； even on that Sunday night when it began； of an invasion of her
rights； and a voice told her the invader's name。 Since then； by arts； by
accident； by small things observed； and by the general drift of Archie's
humour； she had passed beyond all possibility of doubt。 With a sense of
justice that Lord Hermiston might have envied； she had that day in church
considered and admitted the attractions of the younger Kirstie； and with
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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