The Little Minister Read online

  Chapter Thirteen.

  SECOND COMING OF THE EGYPTIAN WOMAN.

  The gypsy had been passing the house, perhaps on her way to Thrums forgossip, and it was only curiosity, born suddenly of Gavin's cry, thatmade her enter. On finding herself in unexpected company she retainedhold of the door, and to the amazed minister she seemed for a momentto have stepped into the mud house from his garden. Her eyes danced,however, as they recognised him, and then he hardened. "This is noplace for you," he was saying fiercely, when Nanny, too distraught tothink, fell crying at the Egyptian's feet.

  "They are taking me to the poorhouse," she sobbed; "dinna let them,dinna let them."

  The Egyptian's arms clasped her, and the Egyptian kissed a sallowcheek that had once been as fair as yours, madam, who may read thisstory. No one had caressed Nanny for many years, but do you think shewas too poor and old to care for these young arms around her neck?There are those who say that women cannot love each other, but it isnot true. Woman is not undeveloped man, but something better, andGavin and the doctor knew it as they saw Nanny clinging to herprotector. When the gypsy turned with flashing eyes to the two men shemight have been a mother guarding her child.

  "How dare you!" she cried, stamping her foot; and they quaked likemalefactors.

  "You don't see----" Gavin began, but her indignation stopped him.

  "You coward!" she said.

  Even the doctor had been impressed, so that he now addressed the gypsyrespectfully.

  "This is all very well," he said, "but a woman's sympathy----"

  "A woman!--ah, if I could be a man for only five minutes!"

  She clenched her little fists, and again turned to Nanny.

  "You poor dear," she said tenderly, "I won't let them take you away."

  She looked triumphantly at both minister and doctor, as one who hadfoiled them in their cruel designs.

  "Go!" she said, pointing grandly to the door.

  "Is this the Egyptian of the riots," the doctor said in a low voice toGavin, "or is she a queen? Hoots, man, don't look so shamefaced. Weare not criminals. Say something."

  Then to the Egyptian Gavin said firmly--

  "You mean well, but you are doing this poor woman a cruelty in holdingout hopes to her that cannot be realised. Sympathy is not meal andbedclothes, and these are what she needs."

  "And you who live in luxury," retorted the girl, "would send her tothe poorhouse for them. I thought better of you!"

  "Tuts!" said the doctor, losing patience, "Mr. Dishart gives more thanany other man in Thrums to the poor, and he is not to be preached toby a gypsy. We are waiting for you, Nanny."

  "Ay, I'm coming," said Nanny, leaving the Egyptian. "I'll hae to gang,lassie. Dinna greet for me."

  But the Egyptian said, "No, you are not going. It is these men who aregoing. Go, sirs, and leave us."

  "And you will provide for Nanny?" asked the doctor contemptuously.

  "Yes."

  "And where is the siller to come from?"

  "That is my affair, and Nanny's. Begone, both of you. She shall neverwant again. See how the very mention of your going brings back life toher face."

  "I won't begone," the doctor said roughly, "till I see the colour ofyour siller."

  "Oh, the money," said the Egyptian scornfully. She put her hand intoher pocket confidently, as if used to well-filled purses, but couldonly draw out two silver pieces.

  "I had forgotten," she said aloud, though speaking to herself.

  "I thought so," said the cynical doctor. "Come, Nanny."

  "You presume to doubt me!" the Egyptian said, blocking his way to thedoor.

  "How could I presume to believe you?" he answered. "You are a beggarby profession, and yet talk as if----pooh, nonsense."

  "I would live on terrible little," Nanny whispered, "and Sanders willbe out again in August month."

  "Seven shillings a week," rapped out the doctor.

  "Is that all?" the Egyptian asked. "She shall have it."

  "When?"

  "At once. No, it is not possible to-night, but to-morrow I will bringfive pounds; no, I will send it; no, you must come for it."

  "And where, O daughter of Dives, do you reside?" the doctor asked.

  No doubt the Egyptian could have found a ready answer had her pity forNanny been less sincere; as it was, she hesitated, wanting topropitiate the doctor, while holding her secret fast.

  "I only asked," McQueen said, eyeing her curiously, "because when Imake an appointment I like to know where it is to be held. But Isuppose you are suddenly to rise out of the ground as you have doneto-day, and did six weeks ago."

  "Whether I rise out of the ground or not," the gypsy said, keeping hertemper with an effort, "there will be a five-pound note in my hand.You will meet me to-morrow about this hour at--say the Kaims ofCushie?"

  "No," said the doctor after a moment's pause; "I won't. Even if I wentto the Kaims I should not find you there. Why can you not come tome?"

  "Why do you carry a woman's hair," replied the Egyptian, "in thatlocket on your chain?"

  Whether she was speaking of what she knew, or this was only a chanceshot, I cannot tell, but the doctor stepped back from her hastily, andcould not help looking down at the locket.

  "Yes," said the Egyptian calmly, "it is still shut; but why do yousometimes open it at nights?"

  "Lassie," the old doctor cried, "are you a witch?"

  "Perhaps," she said; "but I ask for no answer to my questions. If youhave your secrets, why may I not have mine? Now will you meet me atthe Kaims?"

  "No; I distrust you more than ever. Even if you came, it would be toplay with me as you have done already. How can a vagrant have fivepounds in her pocket when she does not have five shillings on herback?"

  "You are a cruel, hard man," the Egyptian said, beginning to losehope. "But, see," she cried, brightening, "look at this ring. Do youknow its value?"

  She held up her finger, but the stone would not live in the dulllight.

  "I see it is gold," the doctor said cautiously, and she smiled at theignorance that made him look only at the frame.

  "Certainly, it is gold," said Gavin, equally stupid.

  "Mercy on us!" Nanny cried; "I believe it's what they call adiamond."

  "How did you come by it?" the doctor asked suspiciously.

  "I thought we had agreed not to ask each other questions," theEgyptian answered drily. "But, see, I will give it to you to hold inhostage. If I am not at the Kaims to get it back you can keep it."

  The doctor took the ring in his hand and examined it curiously.

  "There is a quirk in this," he said at last, "that I don't like. Takeback your ring, lassie. Mr. Dishart, give Nanny your arm, and I'llcarry her box to the machine."

  Now all this time Gavin had been in the dire distress of a manpossessed of two minds, of which one said, "This is a true woman," andthe other, "Remember the seventeenth of October." They were at warwithin him, and he knew that he must take a side, yet no sooner had hecast one out than he invited it back. He did not answer the doctor.

  "Unless," McQueen said, nettled by his hesitation, "you trust thiswoman's word."

  Gavin tried honestly to weigh those two minds against each other, butcould not prevent impulse jumping into one of the scales.

  "You do trust me," the Egyptian said, with wet eyes; and now that helooked on her again--

  "Yes," he said firmly, "I trust you," and the words that had been sodifficult to say were the right words. He had no more doubt of it.

  "Just think a moment first," the doctor warned him. "I decline to haveanything to do with this matter. You will go to the Kaims for thesiller?"

  "If it is necessary," said Gavin.

  "It is necessary," the Egyptian said.

  "Then I will go."

  Nanny took his hand timidly, and would have kissed it had he been lessthan a minister.

  "You dare not, man," the doctor said gruffly, "make an appointmentwith this gypsy. Think of what will be said in Thru
ms."

  I honour Gavin for the way in which he took this warning. For him, whowas watched from the rising of his congregation to their lying down,whose every movement was expected to be a text to Thrums, it was nosmall thing that he had promised. This he knew, but he only reddenedbecause the doctor had implied an offensive thing in a woman'spresence.

  "You forget yourself, doctor," he said sharply.

  "Send some one in your place," advised the doctor, who liked thelittle minister.

  "He must come himself and alone," said the Egyptian. "You must bothgive me your promise not to mention who is Nanny's friend, and shemust promise too."

  "Well," said the doctor, buttoning up his coat, "I cannot keep myhorse freezing any longer. Remember, Mr. Dishart, you take the soleresponsibility of this."

  "I do," said Gavin, "and with the utmost confidence."

  "Give him the ring then, lassie," said McQueen.

  She handed the minister the ring, but he would not take it.

  "I have your word," he said; "that is sufficient."

  Then the Egyptian gave him the first look that he could think ofafterwards without misgivings.

  "So be it," said the doctor. "Get the money, and I will say nothingabout it, unless I have reason to think that it has been dishonestlycome by. Don't look so frightened at me, Nanny. I hope for your sakethat her stocking-foot is full of gold."

  "Surely it's worth risking," Nanny said, not very brightly, "when theminister's on her side."

  "Ay, but on whose side, Nanny?" asked the doctor. "Lassie, I bear youno grudge; will you not tell me who you are?"

  "Only a puir gypsy, your honour," said the girl, becoming mischievousnow that she had gained her point; "only a wandering hallen-shaker,and will I tell you your fortune, my pretty gentleman?"

  "No, you shan't," replied the doctor, plunging his hands so hastilyinto his pockets that Gavin laughed.

  "I don't need to look at your hand," said the gypsy, "I can read yourfortune in your face."

  She looked at him fixedly, so that he fidgeted.

  "I see you," said the Egyptian in a sepulchral voice, and speakingslowly, "become very frail. Your eyesight has almost gone. You aresitting alone in a cauld room, cooking your ain dinner ower a feeblefire. The soot is falling down the lum. Your bearish manners towardswomen have driven the servant lassie frae your house, and your wifebeats you."

  "Ay, you spoil your prophecy there," the doctor said, considerablyrelieved, "for I'm not married; my pipe's the only wife I ever had."

  "You will be married by that time," continued the Egyptian, frowningat this interruption, "for I see your wife. She is a shrew. Shemarries you in your dotage. She lauchs at you in company. She doesnaallow you to smoke."

  "Away with you, you jade," cried the doctor in a fury, and feelingnervously for his pipe. "Mr. Dishart, you had better stay and arrangethis matter as you choose, but I want a word with you outside."

  "And you're no angry wi' me, doctor, are you?" asked Nanny wistfully."You've been richt good to me, but I canna thole the thocht o' thatplace. And, oh, doctor, you winna tell naebody that I was so near taento it?"

  In the garden McQueen said to Gavin:--

  "You may be right, Mr. Dishart, in this matter, for there is this inour favour, that the woman can gain nothing by tricking us. She didseem to feel for Nanny. But who can she be? You saw she could put onand off the Scotch tongue as easily as if it were a cap."

  "She is as much a mystery to me as to you," Gavin answered, "but shewill give me the money, and that is all I ask of her."

  "Ay, that remains to be seen. But take care of yourself; a man'ssecond childhood begins when a woman gets hold of him."

  "Don't alarm yourself about me, doctor. I daresay she is only one ofthose gypsies from the South. They are said to be wealthy, many ofthem, and even, when they like, to have a grand manner. The Thrumspeople had no doubt but that she was what she seemed to be."

  "Ay, but what does she seem to be? Even that puzzles me. And thenthere is this mystery about her which she admits herself, thoughperhaps only to play with us."

  "Perhaps," said Gavin, "she is only taking precautions against herdiscovery by the police. You must remember her part in the riots."

  "Yes, but we never learned how she was able to play that part.Besides, there is no fear in her, or she would not have ventured backto Thrums. However, good luck attend you. But be wary. You saw how shekept her feet among her shalls and wills? Never trust a Scotch man orwoman who does not come to grief among them."

  The doctor took his seat in the dogcart.

  "And, Mr. Dishart," he called out, "that was all nonsense about thelocket."