A cocoa-nut! She was just laughing at him!
He was about to conceal the nut when Willie appeared.
'My! ye're the lucky deevil, Macgreegor! Frae yer uncle, I
suppose. I'll help ye to crack it. I'll toss ye for the milk--if
there's ony.'
'I'm no gaun to crack it the noo, Wullie,' Macgregor said,
restraining himself.
'At nicht--eh?'
'I'll see.'
By evening, however, Willie was not thinking of cocoa-nuts or,
indeed, of anything in the nature of eatables. His first
experience in firing a rifle had taken place that afternoon and had
left him with an aching jaw and a highly swollen face. On the
morrow he was not much better.
'I'll no be able to use ma late pass the nicht,' he said bitterly.
'I'm no carin' whether I use mines or no,' Macgregor remarked from
the depths of his dejection.
Willie gave him a grostesque wink, and observed: 'I believe ye're
feart to gang into Glesca noo. Oh, they weemen!'
'If ye hadna a face for pies already, I wud gi'e ye yin!'
'Ah, but ye daurna strike a man that's been wounded in his
country's service. Aw, gor, I wisht I had never enlisted! What
country's worth a mug like this? . . . Which girl are ye maist
feart for, Macgreegor?'
Macgregor fled from the tormentor. He had not intended to use his
late pass, but Willie's taunt had altered everything. Afraid? He
would soon show Willie! Also he would show Maggie! Likewise he
would show--Well, Christina had no business to behave as if she
were the only girl in the world, as if he were a fool.
Pages:
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90