weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第23章
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the fiery eye of the topaz and the pale florets of primrose fascinated him。
He saw the breasts heave； and the flowers shake with the heaving； and
marvelled what should so much discompose the girl。 And Christina was
conscious of his gaze … saw it； perhaps； with the dainty plaything of an ear
that peeped among her ringlets； she was conscious of changing colour；
conscious of her unsteady breath。 Like a creature tracked； run down；
surrounded； she sought in a dozen ways to give herself a countenance。 She
used her handkerchief … it was a really fine one … then she desisted in a
panic： 〃He would only think I was too warm。〃 She took to reading in the
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metrical psalms； and then remembered it was sermon…time。 Last she put a
〃sugar…bool〃 in her mouth； and the next moment repented of the step。 It
was such a homely…like thing！ Mr。 Archie would never be eating sweeties
in kirk； and； with a palpable effort； she swallowed it whole； and her colour
flamed high。 At this signal of distress Archie awoke to a sense of his ill…
behaviour。 What had he been doing？ He had been exquisitely rude in
church to the niece of his housekeeper； he had stared like a lackey and a
libertine at a beautiful and modest girl。 It was possible； it was even likely；
he would be presented to her after service in the kirk…yard； and then how
was he to look？ And there was no excuse。 He had marked the tokens of her
shame； of her increasing indignation； and he was such a fool that he had
not understood them。 Shame bowed him down； and he looked resolutely at
Mr。 Torrance； who little supposed； good； worthy man； as he continued to
expound justification by faith； what was his true business： to play the part
of derivative to a pair of children at the old game of falling in love。
Christina was greatly relieved at first。 It seemed to her that she was
clothed again。 She looked back on what had passed。 All would have been
right if she had not blushed； a silly fool！ There was nothing to blush at； if
she HAD taken a sugar…bool。 Mrs。 MacTaggart； the elder's wife in St。
Enoch's； took them often。 And if he had looked at her； what was more
natural than that a young gentleman should look at the best…dressed girl in
church？ And at the same time； she knew far otherwise； she knew there was
nothing casual or ordinary in the look； and valued herself on its memory
like a decoration。 Well； it was a blessing he had found something else to
look at！ And presently she began to have other thoughts。 It was necessary；
she fancied； that she should put herself right by a repetition of the incident；
better managed。 If the wish was father to the thought； she did not know or
she would not recognise it。 It was simply as a manoeuvre of propriety； as
something called for to lessen the significance of what had gone before；
that she should a second time meet his eyes； and this time without
blushing。 And at the memory of the blush； she blushed again； and became
one general blush burning from head to foot。 Was ever anything so
indelicate； so forward； done by a girl before？ And here she was； making an
exhibition of herself before the congregation about nothing！ She stole a
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glance upon her neighbours； and behold！ they were steadily indifferent；
and Clem had gone to sleep。 And still the one idea was becoming more
and more potent with her； that in common prudence she must look again
before the service ended。 Something of the same sort was going forward in
the mind of Archie； as he struggled with the load of penitence。 So it
chanced that； in the flutter of the moment when the last psalm was given
out； and Torrance was reading the verse； and the leaves of every psalm…
book in church were rustling under busy fingers； two stealthy glances were
sent out like antennae among the pews and on the indifferent and absorbed
occupants； and drew timidly nearer to the straight line between Archie and
Christina。 They met； they lingered together for the least fraction of time；
and that was enough。 A charge as of electricity passed through Christina；
and behold！ the leaf of her psalm…book was torn across。
Archie was outside by the gate of the graveyard； conversing with Hob
and the minister and shaking hands all round with the scattering
congregation； when Clem and Christina were brought up to be presented。
The laird took off his hat and bowed to her with grace and respect。
Christina made her Glasgow curtsey to the laird； and went on again up the
road for Hermiston and Cauldstaneslap； walking fast； breathing hurriedly
with a heightened colour； and in this strange frame of mind； that when she
was alone she seemed in high happiness； and when any one addressed her
she resented it like a contradiction。 A part of the way she had the company
of some neighbour girls and a loutish young man； never had they seemed
so insipid； never had she made herself so disagreeable。 But these struck
aside to their various destinations or were out…walked and left behind； and
when she had driven off with sharp words the proffered convoy of some of
her nephews and nieces； she was free to go on alone up Hermiston brae；
walking on air； dwelling intoxicated among clouds of happiness。 Near to
the summit she heard steps behind her； a man's steps； light and very rapid。
She knew the foot at once and walked the faster。 〃If it's me he's wanting；
he can run for it；〃 she thought； smiling。
Archie overtook her like a man whose mind was made up。
〃Miss Kirstie；〃 he began。
〃Miss Christina； if you please； Mr。 Weir；〃 she interrupted。 〃I canna
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bear the contraction。〃
〃You forget it has a friendly sound for me。 Your aunt is an old friend of
mine； and a very good one。 I hope we shall see much of you at
Hermiston？〃
〃My aunt and my sister…in…law doesna agree very well。 Not that I have
much ado with it。 But still when I'm stopping in the house； if I was to be
visiting my aunt； it would not look considerate…like。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said Archie。
〃I thank you kindly； Mr。 Weir；〃 she said。 〃I whiles think myself it's a
great peety。〃
〃Ah； I am sure your voice would always be for peace！〃 he cried。
〃I wouldna be too sure of that；〃 she said。 〃I have my days like other
folk； I suppose。〃
〃Do you know； in our old kirk； among our good old grey dames； you
made an effect like sunshine。〃
〃Ah； but that would be my Glasgow clothes！〃
〃I did not think I was so much under the influence of pretty frocks。〃
She smiled with a half look at him。 〃There's more than you！〃 she said。
〃But you see I'm only Cinderella。 I'll have to put all these things by in my
trunk； next Sunday I'll be as grey as the rest。 They're Glasgow clothes； you
see； and it would never do to make a practice of it。 It would seem terrible
conspicuous。〃
By that they were come to the place where their ways severed。 The old
grey moors were all about them； in the midst a few sheep wandered； and
they could see on the one hand the straggling caravan scaling the braes in
front of them for Cauldstaneslap； and on the other； the contingent from
