White Heather (Volume III of 3)

gone now; he was nervous, distracted, easily alarmed; ready to imagine evil things; and conscious that he was in no fit state to present himself before Meen

at she had now sent for him, he would go all the same. He deserved that and more. I

policeman unseen; the rest was darkness and a terrible silence. He wandered away through the lonely streets, he scarcely knew whither. He was longing that the morning should come, and yet dreading its approach. He reached the little thoroughfare that leads into Queen's Crescent: but he held on his way without turning aside; it was not for this poor trembling ghost and coward to pass under her window, with 'Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast' as his unspoken benediction. He held on his way towards the open country, wandering quite aiml

would keep the appointment, doubtless; she would not appear-taking it for granted he would not expect her; and then-then for the recruiting-sergeant and a final settlement of all these ills and shames. Nevertheless he dressed himself with scrupulous neatness; and brushed and rebrushed his clothes; and p

g how well content and satisfied with themselves these people seemed to be who were now hurrying by under their streaming umbrellas. His thoughts went far afield. Vimiera-Salamanca-Ciudad Rodrigo-Balaklava-Alma-Lucknow-Alumbagh-these were the names and memories that were in his head. An old school companion of

okseller's window. A tim

nal

e was the reproach of them? They were full of a kind of half-hidden joy-timid and reluctant, perhaps, a little-but honest and clear and unmistakable; and as for him-well, his breath was clean taken away by the

not-not very well, Rona

ought with it associations of years-see

ill get quite wet! Will you not put up yo

g to appear very happy indeed. 'I do not mind the rain. We did not heed the rain much at Inver-Mudal, Ronald, when t

could not keep Miss Douglas thus standing in the wet. He would ask her why she had sent for him; and then he w

ver after so long a time,' said she; 'I hope

u in the rain,

t for me-it is not the first time, Ronald, that you and I have had to walk in the rain together, and without any umbrella. And do you know why I do not care f

dress was magnetic and strange. Strange, indeed; and strange that he should find himself walking side by side with Meenie through the streets of Glasgow town; and listening mutely and humbly the while to all her varied talk of what had happened since he left Inver-Mudal. Whatever she had heard of

ements and door-steps and house-fronts; and far overhead, and dimly seen through the mysteriously moving pall of mist and smoke, there were faint touches of blue, foretelling the opening out to a joyfuller day. The wide square was almost deserted; they could talk to each other as they chose; tho

e to his own affairs, so that he might get accustomed

out yoursel

he answered. 'I wish that I

t was only the other day I had a letter from Miss Hodson-the young American lady, you remember-and she was asking all about you, and whether you had

pay no heed

? It's little enough of that I've had since I came to this town. But for whatever has happened to me, I've got

said quickly. 'Ronald, do you know

yes were steadfast and clear and kind; and

at were downcast; 'and I knew you would do much for me-at least, I thought so,-and I said to myse

k. Well, it's easily promised and easily done, now-indeed, I've scarce touched a drop since ever I got the bit of

t was I that sent it-I meant

t drove me that way,' he said. 'I think it wa

Ronald?' she aske

d come away here among strangers, and bind myself to strive for what I had no interest in. But

you and to talk about your affairs and nothing else; and you are not going to hurry a

ok his

ting to Lord Ailine, and asking to be taken back, if it was only to look after the do

e?' she said, rat

g,' said he, 'and I know the surest way. I mean to enlist into one of the

nal

his hand

ou will no

red by the entreaty so plainly visible in the beautiful eyes; and p

u, even at a distance-for a moment even-I would wait days for that. When I made up my mind to enlist, I had no thought that I might ever have the chance of seeing

l do nothing until then, anyway; and i

ghted up wi

generous in your good nature that you spoiled us all at Inver-Mudal; here-here it is different. You are living with your sister, I suppose? and of course you have many friends, and many things to

ie was revolving certain little schemes and artifices in her brain-with a view to their future meeting. And the morning had grown so much brighter; and there was a

said, 'but you will not forget, Ronald, that

I but knew what ye wished. I mean for you yourself. For my own self, I care

ald?' said she quickly; for she wou

ha

promise that you wil

worth heeding one

said she, and she regarded

s my ha

work hard and try and get

etting his respect for her. 'I have put all t

t their faith in you? Do you think they are not still looking forward and hoping the time may come that they may be proud of your success, and-and

held his hand in an imploring kind of way; and surely, if ever a brave and unselfish devotion a

-there might come a time when I could have the chance of winning the V.C.-the Victoria Cross, I me

?' she said, r

er happened to me after tha

have pr

ise, and any others you ma

enie, for one?' she said,

he answered-and yet the permiss

st be getting back home; and yet I should like to see you again soon, Ronald, for th

invitation; moreover, it occurred to herself that there would be little chance of her having any private

aps, since-since there are one or two private matters to talk over, we-we

ay "good morning"-that would be a well-spent day for me; no more than

row at eleven, Ronald?' s

d said good-bye to each other; and she had set out for Que

and true affection; and never had Meenie's eyes been so beautiful and solicitous with all good wishes; never had her voice been so strangely tender, every tone of it seeming to reach the very core of his heart. And how was he to requite her for this bountiful care and sympathy-that overawed him almost when he came to think of it?

is landlady a fortnight's rent in lieu of notice, as had been agreed upon. That same night he was established in new quarters, in the Garscube Road; and he had left no address beh