ready, before the curtain rose on the dark drama.

In the same moment of time that she disappeared from Archie, there
opened before Kirstie's eyes the cup-like hollow in which the farm lay.
She saw, some five hundred feet below her, the house making itself
bright with candles, and this was a broad hint to her to hurry. For
they were only kindled on a Sabbath night with a view to that family
worship which rounded in the incomparable tedium of the day and brought
on the relaxation of supper. Already she knew that Robert must be
within-sides at the head of the table, "waling the portions"; for it was
Robert in his quality of family priest and judge, not the gifted
Gilbert, who officiated. She made good time accordingly down the steep
ascent, and came up to the door panting as the three younger brothers,
all roused at last from slumber, stood together in the cool and the dark
of the evening with a fry of nephews and nieces about them, chatting and
awaiting the expected signal. She stood back; she had no mind to direct
attention to her late arrival or to her labouring breath.

"Kirstie, ye have shaved it this time, my lass?" said Clem. "Whaur were
ye?"

"O, just taking a dander by mysel'," said Kirstie.

And the talk continued on the subject of the American War, without
further reference to the truant who stood by them in the covert of the
dusk, thrilling with happiness and the sense of guilt.

The signal was given, and the brothers began to go in one after another,
amid the jostle and throng of Hob's children.