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The Little Minister, a novel by James Matthew Barrie |
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Chapter XV - The Minister Bewitched--Second Sermon against Women |
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_ To Nanny it was a dizzying experience to sit at the head of her own table, and, with assumed calmness, invite the minister not to spare the loaf-bread. Babbie's prattle, and even Gavin's answers, were but an indistinct noise to her, to be as little regarded, in the excitement of watching whether Mr. Dishart noticed that there was a knife for the butter, as the music of the river by a man who is catching trout. Every time Gavin's cup went to his lips Nanny calculated (correctly) how much he had drunk, and yet, when the right moment arrived, she asked in the English voice that is fashionable at ceremonies, "if his cup was toom." Perhaps it was well that Nanny had these matters to engross her, Even though our thoughts are not with our company, the mention of "You can tell me, Nanny," the Egyptian had said, with an arch look "She is saying, Nanny," Gavin broke in, almost gaily for a "Na," Nanny answered artlessly, "you have just the thin brown coat "You see," Gavin said to Babbie, "I could not have a new "Three bawbees the yard at Kyowowy's shop," replied Nanny, "Nevertheless," Babbie persisted, "I am sure the minister has a "Na, we would hae kent o't if it was there," said Nanny. "But it may be in a chest, and the chest may be locked," the "Ay, but the kist in the garret isna locked," Nanny answered. "How do you get to know all these things, Nanny?" asked Gavin, "Your congregation tells me. Naebody would lay by news about a "But how do they know?" "I dinna ken. They just find out, because they're so fond o' you." "I hope they will never become so fond of me as that," said "Losh, what would make him hod it?" demanded the old woman. "Folk At the word "bury" Gavin's hand fell on the table, and he returned "That would depend on how the cloak was got," said the cruel "Lassie," cried Nanny, "behave yoursel'." "Or if he found it in his possession against his will?" suggested "From his wife, for instance," said Babbie, whereupon Gavin "Ay, ay, the minister was hitting at you there, Babbie," Nanny "It was rather like the one the minister's wife gave him," said "The minister has neither a wife nor a cloak," retorted Nanny. "He isn't married?" asked Babbie, the picture of incredulity. Nanny gathered from the minister's face that he deputed to her the Thus do the best of women sell their sex for nothing. "I did wonder," said the Egyptian, gravely, "at any mere woman's "Ay," replied Nanny, spiritedly, "but there's dauring limmers "So I have often suspected," said Babbie, duly shocked. "But, "He lied, then," answered Nanny turning to Gavin for further "But, see, the minister does not deny the horrid charge himself." "No, and for the reason he didna deny the cloak: because it's no "It was one of the soldiers," Babbie said, "who told me about her. "Sojers!" cried Nanny. "I could never thole the name o' them. "I was told," Babbie went on, "that the minister's wife was rather "Heaven forbid!" ejaculated Nanny, so fervently that all three "I'm no meaning," Nanny continued hurriedly, fearing to offend her If Nanny had not taken her eyes off Gavin for the moment she would "When did he preach against the wiles of women, Nanny?" "It was long ago," said Gavin, hastily. "No so very lang syne," corrected Nanny. "It was the Sabbath after "Thomas Whamond is too officious," Gavin said with dignity. "I "But what made you change your text?" asked Babbie. "You see he winna tell," Nanny said, wistfully. "Ay, I dinna deny "Perhaps more puzzled," answered the Egyptian, with a smile that "By your face," he replied, boldly; "by your eyes." "Nanny," exclaimed the Egyptian, "did you hear what the minister "Woe is me," answered Nanny, "I missed it." "He says he would know me anywhere by my eyes." "So would I mysel'," said Nanny. "Then what colour are they, Mr. Dishart?" demanded Babbie. "Don't She closed her eyes tightly. Gavin was in a quandary. I suppose he "Blue," he guessed at last. "Na, they're black," said Nanny, who had doubtless known this for "No but what they micht be blue in some lichts," Nanny added, out "Oh, don't defend him, Nanny," said Babbie, looking reproachfully Was not all this intoxicating to the little minister, who had It was later than it should have been when the minister left the "But not your way," she added. "I go into the wood and vanish. You "Dinna say that," said Nanny, anxiously, "or I'll be fleid about "Don't fear about it. Mr. Dishart will get some of it to-morrow at "Then I'll hae peace to the end o' my days," said the old woman, "Ah," Babbie replied, mournfully, "I have read my fortune, Nanny, "I hope that is not true," Gavin said, simply. They were standing at the door, and she was looking toward the "Do you really care?" she asked, without looking at him. "Yes," he said stoutly, "I care." "Because you do not know me," she said. "Because I do know you," he answered. Now she did look at him. "I believe," she said, making a discovery, "that you misunderstand This was a perilous confidence, for it at once made Gavin say "Ah," she answered, frankly, "I am glad to hear that. I thought Gavin drew a great breath. "That was not the reason," he said. The reason was now unmistakable. "I was wrong," said the Egyptian, a little alarmed; "you do not She returned to Nanny, and Gavin set off, holding his head high, "I had forgotten," he said, with a fierceness aimed at himself, "Need that make any difference?" asked the gypsy. "At this hour on Monday," said Gavin, hoarsely, "I will be at the He went away without another word, and Babbie watched him from the "What a pity he is a minister!" the girl said, reflectively. The old woman was making the ring flash by the light of the fire. "Nanny, do you hear me? Did you see Mr. Dishart come back?" "I heard the door open," Nanny answered, without taking her greedy "Give it me back, Nanny, I am going now." But Nanny did not give it back; she put her other hand over it to "Give it me, Nanny." "It winna come off my finger." She gloated over it, nursed it, "I must have it, Nanny." The Egyptian put her hand lightly on the old woman's shoulder, and "Nanny, give me back my ring or I will take it from you." The cruel light of the diamond was in Nanny's eyes for a moment, In the meantime Gavin was trudging home gloomily composing his |