52
and shivered. Hamilton’s face lit up with a slow unfamiliar smile. She
turned her eyes away and pulled the cowl of her shawl over her face. The
young farmer’s boot clumped down on the floor and he walked slowly
towards the door. "Is there ocht else ye want before I go? Water?
Kindling?"
'"Thank ye kindly, Hamilton. All’s in now."
He turned again at the door. "I’ll come over tae see ye, maybe?"
Martha hastened forward both hands outstretched, her face glowing
with affection. "You’ll aye be welcome." She caught his hand between
her thin hard palms.
Hamilton clambered up into the cart and wheeled the horse to the
road. "Goodnight tae ye, Martha" he said. The old woman was an indistinct
figure in the gloom of the cottage. The flesh of her head and her hands
and her feet shone palely in the glow of the fire.
At the top of the hill he checked the horse and looked back at the
cottage. The light suddenly grew stronger in the window, Martha had lit
her lamp.
