“That’s no’ bad,” said David. These were the first words he had uttered since he entered the room.
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT?
A “towsie tea,” or “tea and eating,” followed the ceremony. Mary and the schoolmaster cut up the bridescake, and to Bell’s great delight Gordie got the ring. Mr. Barrie made a short and happy speech, but Bell rather broke down in the middle of it. Mr. Walker also said a little about both David and Bell; she brightened up as he referred to her “Black Daisy,” and all were put into excellent humour by his reference to “Braidnebs.”
When this was over, Bell, forgetting her new position, started to collect the tea-things, and said she would wash them up before she went away. Mrs. Barrie did not object to Bell’s singular procedure, but followed her to the kitchen, and after again wishing her everything that was good, she said:
“Bell”—not Mrs. Tait, greatly to Bell’s delight—“I understand that the young lads of the village intend to give Mr. Tait and you a noisy convoy. I think you should slip quietly away, so as to get to Blackbrae before they assemble.”
This hint was taken, and the couple set off alone—not, however, until Gordie had made David’s back feel the weight of an old slipper with which he had armed himself, and which he applied with all his might.
Those in the manse that intended to take part in the “home-coming” allowed about half an hour to elapse before they followed to Blackbrae, where David’s sister and a few neighbours were surprised to see the “happy pair” arrive earlier than they were expected—and alone. Indeed, David and Bell, or rather Mr. and Mrs. Tait, appeared at the “room” door before the table was “set,” and Mrs. Brunton, David’s sister, stood quite aghast when she saw them.
“Preserve us a’,” said she, “what’s brocht ye sae sune? I wasna lookin’ for ye for an hour yet, an’ it’ll no’ dae to come into the house without gettin’ the lucky cake broken o’er your heid, Bell. Ye’ll need tae gang out again till the lave [rest] comes, for I’m no’ gaun to crown ye wi’t till the best-man an’ the best-maid’s here,—it wadna be canny [safe], forbye [besides] it wadna be wiselike to break the infar-cake[29] till there’s some wanters and swankies [unmarried females and nimble young men] to scram’le for’t; so Bell, David and you’ll just need to gang into the garden or through the parks till the lave comes.”
[29] Infar,—the entertainment made for the reception of the bride in the bridegroom’s house.—Spalding.
David said: “We’ll dae nae sic things,” and Bell said: “It was nae matter about the infar-cake, for it was jist an auld superstition about it’s no’ bein’ lucky no’ to hae’t richt broken, or about dreamin’ ower’t to ken wha wad marry ye.”