Wee Macgreegor Enlists | Page 2

In a few minutes he returned suppressing a smile.

'I couldna ha'e presumed frae her voice that she was delighted,' he
reported; 'but she commanded me to gi'e ye five pound for accidental
expenses, as she calls them, an' yer place here is to be preserved for ye,
an' yer wages paid, even supposin' the war gangs on for fifty year.'
With these words Mr. Purdie placed five notes in his astonished
nephew's hand and bade him begone.
'Ye maun tell yer mither instanter. I canna understan' what way ye
didna tell her first.'
'I--I was feart I wud maybe be ower wee for the Glesca Hielanders,'
Macgregor explained.
'Ye seem to me to be a heid taller since yesterday. Weel, weel. God
bless ye an' so forth. Come back an' see me in the efternune.'
Macgregor went out with a full heart as well as a well-filled pocket. It
is hardly likely that the very first 'accidental expense' which occurred to
him could have been foreseen by Aunt Purdie--yet who shall discover
the secrets of that august lady's mind?
On his way home he paused at sundry shop windows--all jewellers'.
And he entered one shop, not a jeweller's, but the little stationery and
fancy goods shop owned by Miss M. Tod, and managed, with perhaps
more conscience than physical toil, by the girl he had been courting for
two years without having reached anything that could be termed a
definite understanding, though their relations were of the most friendly
and confidential nature.
'Mercy!' exclaimed Christina, at his entrance at so unusual an hour; 'is
the clock aff its onion, or ha'e ye received the sack?'
He was not quick at answering, and she continued: 'Ye're ower early,
Mac. Yer birthday present'll no be ready till the evenin'. Still, here's
wishin' ye many happies, an' may ye keep on improvin'.'
He smiled in a fashion that struck her as unfamiliar.
'What's up, Mac?' she asked, kindly. 'Surely ye ha'ena cast oot wi' yer
uncle?'
'I've enlisted,' he softly exploded.
She stared, and the colour rose in her pretty face, but her voice was
calm. 'Lucky you!' said she.
He was disappointed. Involuntarily he exclaimed: 'Ye're no a bit
surprised!'
'What regiment?'

He told her, and she informed him that he wouldn't look so bad in the
kilt. He announced that he was to report himself on the morrow, and
she merely commented, 'Quick work.'
'But, Christina, ye couldna ha'e guessed I was for enlistin',' he said,
after a pause.
'I was afraid--I mean for to say, I fancied ye were the sort to dae it. If I
had kent for sure, I wud ha'e been knittin' ye socks instead o' a silly tie
for yer birthday.'
'Ha'e ye been knittin' a tie for me?'
'Uh-ha--strictly platonic, of course.'
She had used the word more than once in the past, and he had not
derived much comfort from looking it up in the dictionary. But now he
was going--he told himself--to be put off no longer. Seating himself at
the counter, he briefly recounted his uncle's kindness and his aunt's
munificence. Then he attempted to secure her hand.
She evaded his touch, asking how his parents had taken his enlistment.
On his answering----
'Dear, dear!' she cried, with more horror than she may have felt, 'an
here ye are, wastin' the precious time in triflin' conversation wi' me!'
'It's you that's daein' the triflin',' he retorted, with sudden spirit; 'an' it's
your fau't I'm here noo instead o' at hame.'
'Well, I never!' she cried. 'I believe I gave ye permission to escort me
from these premises at 8 p.m.,' she proceeded in her best English,
which he hated, 'but I have not the slightest recollection of inviting ye
to call at 10 a.m. However, the 8 p.m. appointment is hereby cancelled.'
'Cancel yer Auntie Kate!' he rejoined, indignant. 'Hoo can ye speak like
that when dear knows when I'll see ye again?'
'Oh, ye'll no be at the Front for a week or so yet, an' we'll hope for the
best. Still, I'll forgive ye, seein' it's yer nineteenth birthday. Only, I'm
thinkin' yer parents 'll be wantin' ye to keep the hoose the nicht.'
Macgregor's collar seemed to be getting tight, for he tugged at it as he
said: 'I'll tell them I'm gaun oot to see you.'
'That'll but double the trouble,' she said, lightly.
Their eyes met, and for the first time in their acquaintance, perhaps,
hers were first to give way.
'Christina,' he said, abruptly, 'I want to burst that five pound.'
'Ye extravagant monkey!'

'On a--a ring.'
'A ring! Ha'e ye enlisted as a colonel?' But her levity lacked sparkle.
As for Macgregor, he had dreamed of this moment for ages. 'Ye'll tak' it,
Christina?' he whispered. 'Gi'e