'She
never gi'ed me a chance!' . . . And so back to Duty.
* * * * *
Not more than five minutes later Private William Thomson came along
in hot haste and banged into the shop.
'Macgreegor no here?' he demanded, and looked astounded.
'No,' answered Christina, without laying down the book she had been
trying to read.
'Jist left ye?'
'No.'
'When did ye see him?'
'This morning.'
'Gor! I could ha'e bet onything I wud ha'e catched him here. He
had jist left the hoose when I----'
'Why are you so excited?' she coldly inquired.
'Me? I'm no excited. Jist been canoodlin' wi' ma aunt. She
sprung five bob! Come oot an' I'll stan' ye a slider.'
'I regret I cannot accept your kind invitation.'
'Haw, haw! It's you for the language! But I say!' He leaned over
the counter. 'What way are ye no greetin'?'
She flushed hotly, wondering how much he knew or guessed, but
replied coolly enough: 'I have nothing to weep about. Have you?'
'Plenty, by Jings! I expected to see yer eyes an' nose rid,
onyway, Christina.'
'Indeed! Is that how it affects you?'
He looked hard at her. 'My! ye're a game yin!' he said admiringly.
'Weel, I maun slope,' he went on, with a sigh that sounded absurd,
coming from him. 'I suppose ye've nae message for
Macgreegor--something ye forgot to say at the last meenute? Eh?'
Christina was at a loss. Apparently he knew nothing, yet his
manner was odd.
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