Jarvis Barrow had returned from the
northward-stretching moor, Thomas and Willy from the southerly fields.
Men who had begun to drag deep places in the stream were here for some
provision. A handful of women, hooded and wrapped, had come from
neighboring farms or from the village. Among them talked Mrs.
Macmurdo, who kept the shop, and the hostess of the Jardine Arms. And
there was here Jock Binning, who, for all his lameness and his
crutches, could go where he wished.... But it was Gilian, crossing
upon the stepping-stones, who saw Glenfernie coming by the stream with
the covered form in his arms. She met him; they went up the bank to
the house together. She had uttered one cry, but no more.
"The Kelpie's Pool," he had answered.
Jarvis Barrow came out of the door. "Eh! God help us!"
They laid the form upon a bed. All the houseful crowded about. There
was no helping that, and as little might be helped Jenny's
lamentations and the ejaculations of others. It was White Farm
himself who took away the plaid. It lay there before them all, the
drowned form. The face was very quiet, strangely like Elspeth again,
the Elspeth of the springtime. All looked, all saw.
"Gude guide us!" cried Mrs. Macmurdo. "And I wadna be some at the
Judgment Day when come up the beguiled, self-drownit lassies!"
Jock Binning's voice rose from out the craning group.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183