Catriona

Page 112

"Can I do anything for YOU, Mr. Drummond?" says I.

He stifled a yawn, which again I thought to be duplicity. "Why,

Mr. David," said he, "since you are so obliging as to propose it,

you might show me the way to a certain tavern" (of which he gave

the name) "where I hope to fall in with some old companions in

arms."

There was no more to say, and I got my hat and cloak to bear him

company.

"And as for you," say he to his daughter, "you had best go to your

bed. I shall be late home, and EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE,

GARS BONNY LASSES HAVE BRIGHT EYES."

Whereupon he kissed her with a good deal of tenderness, and ushered

me before him from the door. This was so done (I thought on

purpose) that it was scarce possible there should be any parting

salutation; but I observed she did not look at me, and set it down

to terror of James More.

It was some distance to that tavern. He talked all the way of

matters which did not interest me the smallest, and at the door

dismissed me with empty manners. Thence I walked to my new

lodging, where I had not so much as a chimney to hold me warm, and

no society but my own thoughts. These were still bright enough; I

did not so much as dream that Catriona was turned against me; I

thought we were like folk pledged; I thought we had been too near

and spoke too warmly to be severed, least of all by what were only

steps in a most needful policy. And the chief of my concern was

only the kind of father-in-law that I was getting, which was not at

all the kind I would have chosen: and the matter of how soon I

ought to speak to him, which was a delicate point on several sides.

In the first place, when I thought how young I was I blushed all

over, and could almost have found it in my heart to have desisted;

only that if once I let them go from Leyden without explanation, I

might lose her altogether. And in the second place, there was our

very irregular situation to be kept in view, and the rather scant

measure of satisfaction I had given James More that morning. I

concluded, on the whole, that delay would not hurt anything, yet I

would not delay too long neither; and got to my cold bed with a

full heart.

The next day, as James More seemed a little on the complaining hand

in the matter of my chamber, I offered to have in more furniture;

and coming in the afternoon, with porters bringing chairs and

tables, found the girl once more left to herself. She greeted me

on my admission civilly, but withdrew at once to her own room, of

which she shut the door. I made my disposition, and paid and

dismissed the men so that she might hear them go, when I supposed

she would at once come forth again to speak to me. I waited yet

awhile, then knocked upon her door.

"Catriona!" said I.

The door was opened so quickly, even before I had the word out,

that I thought she must have stood behind it listening. She

remained there in the interval quite still; but she had a look that

I cannot put a name on, as of one in a bitter trouble.

"Are we not to have our walk to-day either?" so I faltered.

"I am thanking you," said she. "I will not be caring much to walk,

now that my father is come home."

"But I think he has gone out himself and left you here alone," said

I.

"And do you think that was very kindly said?" she asked.

"It was not unkindly meant," I replied. "What ails you, Catriona?

What have I done to you that you should turn from me like this?"

"I do not turn from you at all," she said, speaking very carefully.

"I will ever be grateful to my friend that was good to me; I will

ever be his friend in all that I am able. But now that my father

James More is come again, there is a difference to be made, and I

think there are some things said and done that would be better to

be forgotten. But I will ever be your friend in all that I am

able, and if that is not all that .

Robert Louis Stevenson
Classic Literature Library

All Pages of This Book