“Books’ sir, he’s got a boat fu’ o’ them. It isn’t vera kindly taken, his using a boat for kirk business. Some think it willna be lucky for the rest.”
“What foolishness, Willie!”
“‘Deed, sir, it is just an invite to misfortune to bring the kirk into the boats. There’s naething so unlucky around them as a minister, if it be nae a black cat, or a pair o’ tongs.”
Allan laughed; he could not help laughing, he was so happy. Maggie was growing nearer to him every moment; and it was a real joy to be again upon the sea, to feel the fresh wind blowing through his hair, and the cradling motion of the wide swell of the waves. Early in the morning they arrived at Pittenloch. There was the brown pier, and the blue water, and the spaces of yellow sand, and the sea-weed and tangle all populous with birds whose shrill cries filled the air. There were the white cottages, and the men strolling off to the boats and the women in the open doors watching them away.
There was the Promoters cottage. It was closed and Allan was disappointed. Surely Maggie should have felt him coming. Every moment as he went toward it, he expected the door to open, and a sense of unkindness was chilling his heart, when he heard a swift, light step behind him. He turned, and there stood Maggie. She had the dew of the sea on her face, her cheeks were like a rose, pink and wet before sunrise. Her eyes had a glint as of the morning star in them, she was trembling and panting with her surprise and rapid motion.
He had thought of the sweetest words to greet her with, he had imagined that he might find it possible to take her in his arms and kiss his welcome from her lips. But in spite of her evident gladness, something in her manner restrained him; also, there was Christie Buchan, and half a dozen other women watching them. So what he said and did, was only to hold out his hand, and ask, “Are you well, Maggie? Are you glad to see me?”
“Weel, and right happy, sir.”
“And David?”
“He is weel and happy too, sir. He likes the early hours for study, and I aye try to tak’ a walk and let him hae the house place quiet, and to himsel’.”
“He should have used my room. Students are tyrants, Maggie, if you give in to them, they will stop the clock and make you breathe with your fingers on your lips.”