So excellently was it controlled that he awoke next morning with his head full of a different, though a cognate subject.What was Archie's little game? Why did he shun Frank's company? What was he keeping secret? Was he keeping tryst with somebody, and was it a woman? It would be a good joke and a fair revenge to discover.To that task he set himself with a great deal of patience, which might have surprised his friends, for he had been always credited not with patience so much as brilliancy; and little by little, from one point to another, he at last succeeded in piecing out the situation.First he remarked that, although Archie set out in all the directions of the compass, he always came home again from some point between the south and west.From the study of a map, and in consideration of the great expanse of untenanted moorland running in that direction towards the sources of the Clyde, he laid his finger on Cauldstaneslap and two other neighbouring farms, Kingsmuirs and Polintarf.But it was difficult to advance farther.
With his rod for a pretext, he vainly visited each of them in turn;nothing was to be seen suspicious about this trinity of moorland settlements.He would have tried to follow Archie, had it been the least possible, but the nature of the land precluded the idea.He did the next best, ensconced himself in a quiet corner, and pursued his movements with a telescope.It was equally in vain, and he soon wearied of his futile vigilance, left the telescope at home, and had almost given the matter up in despair, when, on the twenty-seventh day of his visit, he was suddenly confronted with the person whom he sought.The first Sunday Kirstie had managed to stay away from kirk on some pretext of indisposition, which was more truly modesty; the pleasure of beholding Archie seeming too sacred, too vivid for that public place.
On the two following, Frank had himself been absent on some of his excursions among the neighbouring families.It was not until the fourth, accordingly, that Frank had occasion to set eyes on the enchantress.With the first look, all hesitation was over.She came with the Cauldstaneslap party; then she lived at Cauldstaneslap.Here was Archie's secret, here was the woman, and more than that - though Ihave need here of every manageable attenuation of language - with the first look, he had already entered himself as rival.It was a good deal in pique, it was a little in revenge, it was much in genuine admiration:
the devil may decide the proportions! I cannot, and it is very likely that Frank could not.
"Mighty attractive milkmaid," he observed, on the way home.
"Who?" said Archie.
"O, the girl you're looking at - aren't you? Forward there on the road.
She came attended by the rustic bard; presumably, therefore, belongs to his exalted family.The single objection! for the four black brothers are awkward customers.If anything were to go wrong, Gib would gibber, and Clem would prove inclement; and Dand fly in danders, and Hob blow up in gobbets.It would be a Helliott of a business!""Very humorous, I am sure," said Archie.
"Well, I am trying to be so," said Frank."It's none too easy in this place, and with your solemn society, my dear fellow.But confess that the milkmaid has found favour in your eyes, or resign all claim to be a man of taste.""It is no matter," returned Archie.
But the other continued to look at him, steadily and quizzically, and his colour slowly rose and deepened under the glance, until not impudence itself could have denied that he was blushing.And at this Archie lost some of his control.He changed his stick from one hand to the other, and - "O, for God's sake, don't be an ass!" he cried.
"Ass? That's the retort delicate without doubt," says Frank."Beware of the homespun brothers, dear.If they come into the dance, you'll see who's an ass.Think now, if they only applied (say) a quarter as much talent as I have applied to the question of what Mr.Archie does with his evening hours, and why he is so unaffectedly nasty when the subject's touched on - ""You are touching on it now," interrupted Archie with a wince.
"Thank you.That was all I wanted, an articulate confession," said Frank.