25
in a low voice to her mother, tossing the words like coins to placate the
old woman. She swept on, looking neither to right nor left, down to the
parlour to tell the eldest son of the minister’s arrival.
Hamilton was screwing his reflection sidewards in the narrow plushbound
mirror over the fireboard as he pulled up hi3 tie. "Mr Sorleyson's here" she
said. He adjusted his tie before he turned. She noticed that he had placed
the lid loosely on the coffin. "I’ll go up now and speak to him. 1 want you
and your mother to be here when the prayer’s said." They heard the kitchen
door open and the footsteps of someone coming down the passage, the steps
faltered as the intruder realised that he was approaching the death-room.
Pentland appeared in the doorway.
He came into the room and took his cousin’s hand. "I’m right and sorry
to hear what happened, Hami. It's a terrible thing that it should have
happened crossing from our place, too."
Hamilton nodded and returned the pressure of the other's hand. "It was
a sore blow tae us all, Fergus, but its well it wasn't worse. I’ll leave ye
now, for I’ve to go up and speak tae the neighbours. Frank's in bed wi' a
bad fever."
When Hamilton had gone Pentland stood gazing down at the coffin but he
did not make a move to raise the lid. "I’ll never forgive myself for letting
you go that day" he said at last.
"Oh, dont talk like that!" cried Sarah. "Sure, Andra was as set on going
as anybody was. There’s no blame lies wi’ you, Mr Pentland."
'Ye think not?" He turned and looked anxiously into her face. Sarah
shook her head. "It was ill-chance, that’s what it was."
"Did ye cry?" asked Pentland suddenly, leaning over her. "Did ye shout
in the water?"
"No" answered Sarah, unwinding her clasped fingers and stepping back a
little.
