Amelia Barr - Christine: A Fife Fisher Girl стр 7.

Why did they call the men Hovellers? asked Margot. That word seems to pull down a sailor. I dont like it. No, I dont.

I have been told, Margot, that it is from the Danish word, overlever, which means a deliverer.

I kent it wasna a decent Scotch word, she answered, a little triumphantly; no, nor even from the English. Hoveller! You couldna find an uglier word for a life-saver, and if folk canna be satisfied wi their ain natural tongue, and must hae a foreign name, they might choose a bonnie one. Hoveller! Hoveller indeed! Its downright wicked, to ca a sailor a hoveller.

The Domine smiled, and continued Every man and woman and child has loved something inanimate. Your mother, Christine, loves her wedding ring, your father loves his boat, you love your Bible, I love the silver cup that holds the sacramental wine we drink in remembrance of Him; and he closed his eyes a moment, and was silent. Then he gave his cup to Christine. No more, he said, it was a good drink. Thanks be! Now our talk must come to an end. I leave blessing with you.

They stood and watched him walk into the dusk in silence, and then Margot said, Wheres Neil?

Feyther asked him to go wi them for this night, and Neil didna like to refuse. Feyther has been vera kind to him, anent his books an the like. He went to pleasure Feyther. It was as little as he could do.

And hell come hame sea-sick, and his clothes will be wet and uncomfortable as himsel.

Weel, thats his way, Mither. I wish the night was oer.

Tak patience. By Gods leave the day will come.

CHAPTER III

ANGUS BALLISTER

The next morning the women of the village were early at the pier to watch the boats come in. They were already in the offing, their gunwales deep in the water, and rising heavily on the ascending waves; so they knew that there had been good fishing. Margot was prominent among them, but Christine had gone to the town to take orders from the fish dealers; for Margot Rulesons kippered herring were famous, and eagerly sought for, as far as Edinburgh, and even Glasgow.

It was a business Christine liked, and in spite of her youth, she did it well, having all her mothers bargaining ability, and a readiness in computing values, that had been sharpened by her knowledge of figures and profits. This morning she was unusually fortunate in all her transactions, and brought home such large orders that they staggered Margot.

Ill neer be able to handle sae many fish, she said, with a happy purposeful face, but theres naething beats a trial, and I be to do my best.

And Ill help you, Mither. It must neer be said that we twa turned good siller awa.

Im feared you canna do that today, Christine. Neil hasna been to speak wi, since he heard ye had gone to the toun; he wouldna even hear me when I caed breakfast.

Neil be to wait at this time. It willna hurt him. If Neil happens to hae a wish, he instantly feels it to be a necessity, and then he thinks the hale house should stop till his wish is gien him. Im going to the herring shed wi yoursel.

Then there will be trouble, and no one so sorry for it as Christine! Im telling you!

At this moment Neil opened the door, and looked at the two women. Mother, he said in a tone of injury and suffering, can I have any breakfast this morning?

Pray, whas hindering you? Your feyther had his, an hour syne. Your porridge is yet boiling in the pot, the kettle is simmering on the hob, and the cheena still standing on the table. Why didna you lift your ain porridge, and mak yoursel a cup o tea? Christine and mysel had our breakfasts before it chappit six oclock. You cam hame wi your feyther, you should hae taen your breakfast with him.

I was wet through, and covered with herring scales. I was in no condition to take a meal, or to sit with my books and Christine all morning, writing.

I canna spare Christine this morning, Neil. Thats a fact. His provoking neatness and deliberation were irritating to Margots sense of work and hurry, and she added, Get your breakfast as quick as you can. Im wanting the dishes out o the way.

I suppose I can get a mouthful for myself.

Get a you want, answered Margot; but Christine served him with his plate of porridge and basin of new milk, and as he ate it, she toasted a scone, and made him a cup of tea.

Mother is cross this morning, Christine. It is annoying to me.

It needna. Theres a big take o fish in, and every man and woman, and every lad and lass, are in the herring sheds. Mither just run awa from them, to see what orders for kippers I had brought and I hae brought nine hundred mair than usual. I must rin awa and help her now.

No, Christine! I want you most particularly, this morning.

Ill be wi you by three in the afternoon.

Stay with me now. Ill be ready for you in half an hour.

I can hae fifty fish ready for Mither in half an hour, and I be to go to her at once. Ill be back, laddie, by three oclock.

Im just distracted with the delay, but he stopped speaking, for he saw that he was alone. So he took time thoroughly to enjoy his scone and tea, and then, not being quite insensible to Christines kindness, he washed the dishes and put them away.

He had just finished this little duty, when there was a knock at the outside door. He hesitated about opening it. He knew no villager would knock at his fathers door, so it must be a stranger, and as he was not looking as professional and proper as he always desired to appear, he was going softly away, when the door was opened, and a bare-footed lad came forward, and gave him a letter.

He opened it, and looked at the signature Angus Ballister. A sudden flush of pleasure made him appear almost handsome, and when he had read the epistle he was still more delighted, for it ran thus:

Dear Neil,

I am going to spend the rest of vacation at Ballister Mansion, and I want you with me. I require your help in a particular business investigation. I will pay you for your time and knowledge, and your company will be a great pleasure to me. This afternoon I will call and see you, and if you are busy with the nets, I shall enjoy helping you.

Neil was really much pleased with the message, and glad to hear of an opportunity to make money, for though the young man was selfish, he was not idle; and he instantly perceived that much lucrative business could follow this early initiation into the Ballister affairs. He quickly finished his arrangement of the dishes and the kitchen, and then, putting on an old academic suit, made his room as scholarly and characteristic as possible. And it is amazing what an air books and papers give to the most commonplace abode. Even the old inkhorn and quill pens seemed to say to all who entered Tread with respect. This is classic ground.

His predominating thought during this interval was, however, not of himself, but of Christine. She had promised to come to him at three oclock. How would she come? He was anxious about her first appearance. If he could in any way have reached her, he would have sent his positive command to wear her best kirk clothes, but at this great season neither chick nor child was to be seen or heard tell of, and he concluded finally to leave what he could not change or direct to those household influences which usually manage things fairly well.