I'll no even ask ye hoo ye cam' to hear aboot Maggie.
Maggie's jist an or'nar' girl, an' I'm jist an or'nar' chap that
done a stupid thing because he couldna think what else to dae.
Weel, ye'll sune forget me, an' maybe I'll sune forget you--wi' the
help o' a bullet----'
'Oh, dinna!' she whispered.
'An' as for this'--he picked up the ring and let it drop on the
floor--'to hell wi' sich nonsense!'--and ground it under his heel.
'So long!' he said, and went out quickly.
XX
THE REAL THING AT LAST
For an appreciable number of seconds after the door had closed
Christina continued to gaze in its direction, her head well up, her
face stern and rather pale. Then, quite suddenly, her bosom gave a
quick heave, her lips parted, trembling, her eyes blinked, her
whole attitude became lax. But she was not going to cry; certainly
not! She was far too angry for tears; angry with herself no less
than Macgregor. He had actually departed without being dismissed;
worse still, he had had the last word! An observer--the thought
struck her--would have assumed that she, weak wretch, had humbly
allowed him to go and leave her in the wrong! Her maiden pride had
somehow failed her, for she ought to have sent him forth crushed.
And yet, surely, she had hurt, punished, humiliated him. Oh, no
doubt of that! And for a moment her illogical heart wavered. She
drew out her hanky, muttering 'how I hate him!'--and blew her
pretty nose.
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