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The Little Minister, a novel by James Matthew Barrie |
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Chapter XXXIII - While the Ten o'Clock Bell was Ringing |
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_ In the square and wynds--weavers in groups:
"How did the minister no come to the meeting? I wonder how you "This is what has occurred, Tailor: Mr. Dishart never got the "I canna get at the richts o' what keeped him frae the meeting, "Man, man, Andrew, the wite o't lies wi' Peter Tosh. He thocht we "Yes, as sure as death, Tammas Whamond locked the kirk-door in Mr. "I'm a' shaking! And small wonder, Marget, when I've heard this "Nothing o' the kind. It was Rob that the lichtning struck dead in "What are you listening to, woman? Is it to a dog barking? I've In the manse kitchen: "Jean, did you not hear me ring? I want you to--Why are you "I--I was just hearkening to the ten o'clock bell, ma'am." "I never saw you doing nothing before! Put the heater in the fire, "The--the drouth, ma'am, has been so cruel hard." "And, to my shame, I am so comfortable that I almost forgot how "No, ma'am." "Bring the iron to the parlor, then. And if the minis--Why did you "I thocht, ma'am--at first I thocht it was Mr. Dishart opening the "Even you, Jean, are nervous at nights, I see, if there is no man "When he comes home, ma'am." On the middle of a hill--a man and a woman: "Courage, beloved; we are nearly there." "But, Gavin, I cannot see the encampment." "The night is too dark." "But the gypsy fires?" "They are in the Toad's-hole." "Listen to that dog barking." "There are several dogs at the encampment, Babbie." "There is one behind us. See, there it is!" "I have driven it away, dear. You are trembling." "What we are doing frightens me, Gavin. It is at your heels "It seems to know you." "Oh, Gavin, it is Lord Rintoul's collie Snap. It will bite you." "No, I have driven it back again. Probably the earl is following "Gavin, I cannot go on with this." "Quicker, Babbie." "Leave me, dear, and save yourself." "Lean on me, Babbie." "Oh, Gavin, is there no way but this?" "No sure way." "Even though we are married to-night--" "We shall be maried in five minutes, and then, whatever befall, he "But after?" "I will take you straight to the manse, to my mother." "Were it not for that dog, I should think we were alone on the "But we are not. See, there are the gypsy fires." On the west side of the hill--two figures: "Tammas, Tammas Whamond, I've lost you. Should we gang to the "Wheesht, Hendry!" "What are you listening for?" "I heard a dog barking." "Only a gypsy dog, Tammas, barking at the coming storm." "The gypsy dogs are all tied up, and this one's atween us and the "It was nothing but the rubbing of the branches in the cemetery on "It was a dog barking at somebody that's stoning it. I ken that "May I die the death, Tammas Whamond, if a great drap o' rain "I'm for seeing who drove awa that dog. Come back wi' me, Hendry." "I winna. There's no a soul on the hill but you and me and thae In the broom--a dogcart: "Do you see nothing yet, McKenzie?" "Scarce the broom at my knees, Rintoul. There is not a light on "McKenzie, can that schoolmaster have deceived us?" "It is probable." "Urge on the horse, however. There is a road through the broom, I "Rintoul, she is not here. I promised to help you to bring her "I will search this gypsy encampment first, if it is on the hill. "For some time, Rintoul, it has seemed to me that we are being "I hear nothing. At last, McKenzie, at last, we are out of the "And as I live, Rintoul, I see the gypsy lights!" It might have been a lantern that was flashed across the hill. The hill had been illumined thus for nearly half a minute. During They were all released by the crack of the thunder, but for "That was Lord Rintoul in the dogcart," Babbie whispered, drawing "Yes, dear," Gavin answered resolutely, "and now is the time for "But, Gavin, he has seen. I fear him still." "He cannot touch you now, Babbie. You are my wife." In the vivid light Gavin had thought the dogcart much nearer than "Who was the man, McKenzie?" "My lord, I have lost sight of you. This is not the way to the "Tell me, McKenzie, that you did not see what I saw." "Rintoul, I beseech you to turn back. We are too late." "We are not too late." Gavin broke through the darkness between them and him, but they "Is that you, Gavin?" Babbie asked just then. For reply, the man who had crept up to her clapped his hand upon Gavin heard her cry, and ran back to the encampment. Babbie was Lord Rintoul had kidnapped Babbie. Gavin had no other thought as |