Mrs. Robinson sighed. 'I wud gi'e something if it had been a fish wi' kind regairds. I wonder what he did wi' the socks.'
'I got them at the back o' the chest o' drawers. Weel, mither, that proves he doesna care for her.'
'That's no the p'int, dearie.' Mrs. Robinson paused in her work. 'I'm beginnin' to think I should ha'e tell't him aboot the paircel bein' open when Christina was here. It's maybe no fair to let him gang to her——'
'I'll run efter him,' said Jeannie promptly. 'I'll maybe catch him afore he gets to Miss Tod's shop.'
'Ay; run, Jeannie; run as quick's ye can!'
So Jeannie threw off her apron, tidied her hair with a couple of touches, and flew as though a life depended on her speed.
And, panting, she came in sight of Miss Tod's shop just in time—just in time to see the beloved kilted figure disappear into the doorway.
XIX
A SERIOUS REVERSE
The fact that Christina had not written was a paralyzing blow to Macgregor's self-confidence and left him altogether uncertain of his ground. For the time being his sense of guilt as well as that of injury was almost swamped by the awful dread that she had simply grown tired of him. He entered the shop with foreboding—and received another blow.