“FAR ABOVE RUBIES.”
Mr. Barrie also showed her a long list of other texts: “A succourer of many, and of myself also,”—“who bestowed much labour on us,”—“in labours more abundant, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often,” etc. He almost grudged Mrs. Barrie her quotation from Ruth, but he took part of the 12th verse of the second chapter, as also the blessing of the tribes in Numbers vi. 24–26: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace,” and a few other passages, until the front fly-leaf of both volumes was fairly covered.
Bell was immensely delighted with this gift, and the volumes occupied in the “room” at Blackbrae the place of honour on the small back table.
The very important question of the marriage gown—Bell never got the length of a dress—was confined to the matters of colour and fabric, as the shape was to be her “invariable.” The dressmaker asked her if she would like it to be low-bodied, for bare necks and bare arms were in vogue for dress occasions at that time.
“What d’ye mean by low-bodied?” said Bell. “D’ye mean lang tails that ye hae to hand up for fear o’ their trailing amang the mud? That I’ll never wear; mak’ it just like this every way.” This only reached to the ankles, and was, as all her “kirk-claes” were, of douce black.
“Oh,” said the dressmaker, “I meant, would you like a bare neck and sleeves? These are the fashion for dress occasions at present.”
Bell looked indignantly at her, and said: “Hoo dare you speak o’ sic heathenish fal-de-rals to me? Bare necks and sleeves! I think I see mysel’!” But she was quieted by the dressmaker’s gentle reply, that she was merely inquiring, not proposing such a thing; for she had an elderly lady to fit yesterday who would have a “low-bodied.”
“There’s nae fules like auld fules, they say. Black’s no’ lucky to get married in, so I’ve ta’en a red merino, an’ mak’ it as ye’ve aye done my goons. An’ be sure an’ send me the bits that’s ower—they micht come usefu’; an’ as I’ll no’ aye hae somebody to ‘hook my back’ where I’m gaun, pit gude big hooks an’ gude wide eyes on’t.”
Dresses in those days were fastened by hooks and eyes at the back, and many a firm “yerk” it took to make them meet when done by the wearer alone. The words may seem strange to younger readers, but older householders will well remember the familiar sound of “Hook my back.”
“THEY’LL HELP TO GAR THE BOATIE ROW.”