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The Little Minister, a novel by James Matthew Barrie |
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Chapter XVI - Continued Misbehavior of the Egyptian Woman |
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_ BY the following Monday it was known at many looms that something sat heavily on the Auld Licht minister's mind. On the previous day he had preached his second sermon of warning to susceptible young men, and his first mention of the word "woman" had blown even the sleepy heads upright. Now he had salt fish for breakfast, and on clearing the table Jean noticed that his knife and fork were uncrossed. He was observed walking into a gooseberry bush by Susy Linn, who possessed the pioneer spring-bed of Thrums, and always knew when her man jumped into it by suddenly finding herself shot to the ceiling. Lunan, the tinsmith, and two women, who had the luck to be in the street at the time, saw him stopping at Dr. McQueen's door, as if about to knock, and then turning smartly away. His hat blew off in the school wynd, where a wind wanders ever, looking for hats, and he chased it so passionately that Lang Tammas went into Allardyce's smiddy to say-- "I dinna like it. Of course he couldna afford to lose his hat, but Gavin, indeed, was troubled. He had avoided speaking of the I suppose no young man to whom society has not become a cheap This was because he had not yet decided which of two women she Her "Need that make any difference?" sang in his ear like another And then it was no mocker of the Sabbath he was addressing, but a Now Gavin made an heroic attempt to look upon both these women at It was not the disappearance of one of the women that clipped this "It fell on a day, on a bonny summer day, "The Duke of Montrose has written to Argyle "Where are you?" cried Gavin in bewilderment. "I am watching you from my window so high," answered the Egyptian; "How did you get up there?" he asked in amazement. "On my broomstick," Babbie replied, and sang on-- "The lady looked o'er her window sae high, "What are you doing there?" Gavin said, wrathfully. "This is my home," she answered. "I told you I lived in a tree." "Come down at once," ordered Gavin. To which the singer responded- "'Come down, come down, Lady Margaret,' he says; "If you do not come down this instant," Gavin said in a rage, "and The Egyptian broke in-- "'I wouldna kiss thee, great Argyle, "You have deceived Nanny," Gavin cried, hotly, "and you have He walked away quickly, but she called after him, "I am coming "That is for being cross," she explained, appearing so "You are mistaken," said Gavin, severely. "I was speaking to you." "You didn't see me till I began to sing, did you?" "Nevertheless I was speaking to you, or rather, I was saying to "What you had decided to say to me?" said the delighted gypsy. "Do She was dressed as he had seen her previously, but for a cluster "I don't know that you will think it nice," the minister answered, She took the berries from her dress, smiling triumphantly the "But no," he said, remembering who he was, and pushing the gift "Now," said the Egyptian, sadly, "I see you are angry with me. Is She had gone on her knees before he could stop her, and was gazing "You are mocking me again," said Gavin, "but I am not angry with She jumped up and put her fingers to her ears. "You see I can hear nothing," she said. "Listen while I tell you--" "I don't hear a word. Why do you scold me when I have kept my "In five minutes!" echoed Gavin, with such a dismal face that "Why are you in such haste?" he asked, taking the five pounds "Because they require me at home," she answered, with a sly glance "I won't," said Gavin, so promptly that she was piqued. "Why not?" she asked. "But of course you only came here for the "You know that was not what I meant," said Gavin, stepping after "Was that what you were saying to the tree?" asked the Egyptian, "A pity to be a minister!" exclaimed Gavin, indignantly. "Why, "In a curious way," Babbie answered, shortly, "but I can't tell "Do you really think me a gypsy?" she asked. "I have tried not to ask myself that question." "Why?" "Because it seems like doubting your word." "I don't see how you can think of me at all without wondering who "No, and so I try not to think of you at all." "Oh, I don't know that you need do that." "I have not quite succeeded." The Egyptian's pique had vanished, but she may have thought that "Well, I sometimes think about you." "Do you?" said Gavin, absurdly gratified. "What do you think about "I wonder," answered the Egyptian, pleasantly, "which of us is the Gavin's fingers twitched with mortification, and not only his "Let us measure," she said, sweetly, putting her back to his. "You But the minister broke away from her. "There is one subject," he said, with great dignity, "that I allow His face was as white as his cravat when the surprised Egyptian "It is a topic I would rather not speak about," Gavin answered, He meant that he would rather be a tall man in her company than in "You wanted to know if I am really a gypsy. Well, I am." "An ordinary gypsy?" "Do you think me ordinary?" "I wish I knew what to think of you." "Ah, well, that is my forbidden topic. But we have a good many There fell between them a silence that gave Babbie time to "I have already stayed too long," she said. "Give my love to "I--I cannot say." "No, you will be too busy. Are you to take the holly berries?" "I had better not," said Gavin, dolefully. "Oh, if you don't want them--" "Give them to me," he said, and as he took them his hand shook. "I know why you are looking so troubled," said the Egyptian, He would have answered, but she checked him. "Make no pretence," she said, severely; "I know you think they are She came close to him until her face almost touched his. "Look hard at them," she said, solemnly, "and after this you may At each repetition of the word she shook her head in his face. She When the little minister had gone, a man came from behind a tree "It's the Egyptian!" he cried. "You limmer, wha are you that hae He pursued her, but she vanished as from Gavin is Windyghoul. "A common Egyptian!" he muttered when he had to give up the |