'Aw, ye never can tell what'll please yer aunt. At least, that's
been ma experience for quarter o' a century. But it'll be best to
tell her--through the 'phone, of course. A handy invention the
'phone. Bide here till I come back.'
In a few minutes he returned suppressing a smile.
'I couldna ha'e presumed frae her voice that she was delighted,' he
reported; 'but she commanded me to gi'e ye five pound for
accidental expenses, as she calls them, an' yer place here is to be
preserved for ye, an' yer wages paid, even supposin' the war gangs
on for fifty year.'
With these words Mr. Purdie placed five notes in his astonished
nephew's hand and bade him begone.
'Ye maun tell yer mither instanter. I canna understan' what way ye
didna tell her first.'
'I--I was feart I wud maybe be ower wee for the Glesca Hielanders,'
Macgregor explained.
'Ye seem to me to be a heid taller since yesterday. Weel, weel.
God bless ye an' so forth. Come back an' see me in the efternune.'
Macgregor went out with a full heart as well as a well-filled
pocket. It is hardly likely that the very first 'accidental
expense' which occurred to him could have been foreseen by Aunt
Purdie--yet who shall discover the secrets of that august lady's
mind?
On his way home he paused at sundry shop windows--all jewellers'.
And he entered one shop, not a jeweller's, but the little
stationery and fancy goods shop owned by Miss M. Tod, and managed,
with perhaps more conscience than physical toil, by the girl he had
been courting for two years without having reached anything that
could be termed a definite understanding, though their relations
were of the most friendly and confidential nature.
'Mercy!' exclaimed Christina, at his entrance at so unusual an
hour; 'is the clock aff its onion, or ha'e ye received the sack?'
He was not quick at answering, and she continued: 'Ye're ower
early, Mac. Yer birthday present'll no be ready till the evenin'.
Still, here's wishin' ye many happies, an' may ye keep on
improvin'.'
He smiled in a fashion that struck her as unfamiliar.
'What's up, Mac?' she asked, kindly. 'Surely ye ha'ena cast oot
wi' yer uncle?'
'I've enlisted,' he softly exploded.
She stared, and the colour rose in her pretty face, but her voice
was calm. 'Lucky you!' said she.
He was disappointed. Involuntarily he exclaimed: 'Ye're no a bit
surprised!'
'What regiment?'
He told her, and she informed him that he wouldn't look so bad in
the kilt. He announced that he was to report himself on the
morrow, and she merely commented, 'Quick work.'
'But, Christina, ye couldna ha'e guessed I was for enlistin',' he
said, after a pause.
'I was afraid--I mean for to say, I fancied ye were the sort to dae
it. If I had kent for sure, I wud ha'e been knittin' ye socks
instead o' a silly tie for yer birthday.'
'Ha'e ye been knittin' a tie for me?'
'Uh-ha--strictly platonic, of course.'
She had used the word more than once in the past, and he had not
derived much comfort from looking it up in the dictionary. But now
he was going--he told himself--to be put off no longer. Seating
himself at the counter, he briefly recounted his uncle's kindness
and his aunt's munificence. Then he attempted to secure her hand.
She evaded his touch, asking how his parents had taken his
enlistment. On his answering----
'Dear, dear!' she cried, with more horror than she may have felt,
'an here ye are, wastin' the precious time in triflin' conversation
wi' me!'
'It's you that's daein' the triflin',' he retorted, with sudden
spirit; 'an' it's your fau't I'm here noo instead o' at hame.'
'Well, I never!' she cried. 'I believe I gave ye permission to
escort me from these premises at 8 p.m.,' she proceeded in her best
English, which he hated, 'but I have not the slightest recollection
of inviting ye to call at 10 a.m. However, the 8 p.m. appointment
is hereby cancelled.'
'Cancel yer Auntie Kate!' he rejoined, indignant. 'Hoo can ye
speak like that when dear knows when I'll see ye again?'
'Oh, ye'll no be at the Front for a week or so yet, an' we'll hope
for the best. Still, I'll forgive ye, seein' it's yer nineteenth
birthday. Only, I'm thinkin' yer parents 'll be wantin' ye to keep
the hoose the nicht.'
Macgregor's collar seemed to be getting tight, for he tugged at it
as he said: 'I'll tell them I'm gaun oot to see _you_.'
'That'll but double the trouble,' she said, lightly.
Their eyes met, and for the first time in their acquaintance,
perhaps, hers were first to give way.
'Christina,' he said, abruptly, 'I want to burst that five pound.'
'Ye extravagant monkey!'
'On a--a ring.'
'A ring! Ha'e ye enlisted as a colonel?' But her levity lacked
sparkle.
As for Macgregor, he had dreamed of this moment for ages. 'Ye'll
tak' it, Christina?' he whispered. 'Gi'e me yer size--a hole in a
bit pasteboard. . . .' Speech failed him.
'Me?' she murmured--and shook her head. 'Ye're ower young, Mac,'
she said, gently.
'I'm a year aulder nor you . . . Christina, let's get engaged
afore I gang--say ye will!'
She moved a little way up the counter and became engrossed in the
lurid cover of a penny novel. He moved also until he was directly
opposite.
'Christina! . . . Yer third finger is aboot the same as ma wee
yin.'
'Ay; but ye needna remind me o' ma clumsy han's.'
'Play fair,' he said. 'Will ye tak' the ring?'
'I dinna ken, Mac.'
But her hand was in his.
Too soon they heard Miss Tod stirring in the back room.
'If ye spend mair nor a pound on a ring,' said Christina, 'I'll
reconsider ma decision!'
'Ye've decided!' he almost shouted.
'No yet,' she said, with a gesture of dismissal as Miss Tod entered.