XIV
A man may know his own boots when he
sees them, and yet not recognise his own joke.
Diana did everything that was asked of her as tenant of Glenbossie and more. She loved the Minister’s wife, her soft voice and gentle manner, and when she asked Diana to come to the Sale, to be held in the schools, Diana said, of course she would come, and on the appointed day she went down to the schools with her pockets full of Uncle Marcus’s money, and on her way she passed old women whom she loved for the mutches they wore, and for the smiles within them. Every one had a soft word for her and a smile. When she got to the schools she did not stop to wonder why so many people were gathered together outside the door. They made way for her, and she went in and she bought all the shirts and all the socks: praised the making of them—and wondered at their strength and their softness—the softness of the socks and strength of the shirts. She bought other things, less useful, and perhaps not strictly beautiful, but she paid for them all right royally.
As she was the only person there she bought everything she could lay hands on, remembering the soft voice and the gentle manner of the Minister’s wife. One or two stall-holders, she remembered afterwards, did protest faintly: but she thought they were only afraid she was being too generous.
Having bought most things she rested from her labours, and walking to the window looked out, and saw sailing down upon the schoolhouse a party consisting of a very small, but very important-looking mother, and a charming-looking daughter and several other people, and she knew them to be the Scott party. Very important people were the Scotts—very important was their party. It was trimmed with white heather. The men wore kilts and the women the next best things. They all wore tartan stockings and some—some men, bonnets.
Diana’s heart began to fail. The Minister was at the door to meet the Scott party and he welcomed Mrs. Scott and them all with great ceremony, and Mrs. Scott smiled upon him and said how delighted she was to open the bazaar.
The Minister consulted his watch in answer to her question, “Was she late?” and it was found she was not late.
“Not late, perhaps,” thought Diana, “but everything was sold!”
After the opening of the Sale with prayer, Mrs. Scott proclaimed it ready for buyers and she hoped that people would buy as many things as they could, and spend as much money as they—had—no, not that; but as much as they could spare! The crowd that had gathered outside now filled the hall.