White Heather: A Novel (Volume 2 of 3)Black, William
General
White Heather: A Novel (Volume 2 of 3)
Black, William
Scotland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
’I have made a little drawing for you, Ronald,’ said she—and the
beautiful Highland eyes were downcast a little—’as well as I could, of
the loch and the hills and the river; and I want you to take it to
Glasgow with you, and put it on the mantelpiece of your room, and then
sometimes it will make you think of the old place and of us all.’
’I’m sure, it will not need a picture to make me do that,’ said he, ’but
all the same I am obliged to ye, and it will be the chief treasure in
the house——’
’Oh no, oh no,’ she said, with a rueful smile—and she ventured to raise
her eyes. ’You must not think it a picture at all—but only a few lines
scribbled on a paper-knife to make you remember the place when you
happen to find it lying about. And you must not look at it until I have
gone, because you would feel bound to praise it; and that would be as
awkward for you as for me—for indeed it is nothing at all. And here,’
she added, producing a small slip of paper, ’is my sister’s address in
Glasgow; and I have written to her; and she will be very glad if you
will call on them when you have the time.’
’I don’t know how to thank ye,’ said he. ’It’s when people are going
away that they find out how many friends they are leaving behind.’
’In your case’ said she, very modestly and prettily, ’it is not
difficult to count—you have only to say the whole country-side.’ And
then she added: ’I heard of the lads that came all the way from Tongue.’
’The wild fellows!—they had a long tramp here and back home again.’
She looked at him rather hesitatingly.
’There will be a great many coming to see you off to-morrow morning,
Ronald,’ she said.
’I should think not—I should think not,’ he said.
’Oh, but I know there will be. Every one is talking of it. And I was
thinking—if it was not too much trouble—if you were not too busy—I was
wondering if you would come along and say good-bye to my father and
mother this evening—I would rather have that than—than—with a crowd of
people standing by——’
’Oh yes, certainly,’ he said, at once. ’When will I come? Now, if ye
like.’
’And Maggie too?’
’Yes, yes, why not?’
’And about my album, Ronald?’
’Well,’ said he, with not a little embarrassment, ’I have not written
anything in it yet; but I will give it to you in the morning; and—and if
there’s nothing in it, then ye must just understand that I could not get
anything good enough, and I will send something from Glasgow——’
’Indeed no,’ said she promptly. ’Why should you trouble about a thing
like that? Write your name in the book, Ronald, and that will be
enough.’
The three of them now went outside, and the door was shut behind them.
It was a beautiful night; the moon was slowly rising over the solitudes
of Strath-Terry; and the lake was like a sheet of silver. They were
rather silent as they walked along the gray highway; to-morrow was to
make a difference to all of their lives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account