The Little Minister

“If you do not come down this instant,” Gavin said in a rage, “and give me what I was so foolish as to come for, I – ”

The Egyptian broke in —

“‘I wouldna kiss thee, great Argyle,
I wouldna kiss thee fairly;
I wouldna kiss thee, great Argyle,
Gin you shouldna leave a standing stane in Airly.’”

“You have deceived Nanny,” Gavin cried, hotly, “and you have brought me here to deride me. I will have no more to do with you.”

He walked away quickly, but she called after him, “I am coming down. I have the money,” and next moment a snowball hit his hat.

“That is for being cross,” she explained, appearing so unexpectedly at his elbow that he was taken aback. “I had to come close up to you before I flung it, or it would have fallen over my shoulder. Why are you so nasty to-day? and, oh, do you know you were speaking to yourself?”

“You are mistaken,” said Gavin, severely. “I was speaking to you.”

“You didn’t see me till I began to sing, did you?”

“Nevertheless I was speaking to you, or rather, I was saying to myself what – ”

“What you had decided to say to me?” said the delighted gypsy. “Do you prepare your talk like sermons? I hope you have prepared something nice for me. If it is very nice I may give you this bunch of holly.”

She was dressed as he had seen her previously, but for a cluster of holly berries at her breast.

“I don’t know that you will think it nice,” the minister answered, slowly, “but my duty – ”

“If it is about duty,” entreated Babbie, “don’t say it. Don’t, and I will give you the berries.”

She took the berries from her dress, smiling triumphantly the while like one who had discovered a cure for duty; and instead of pointing the finger of wrath at her, Gavin stood expectant.

“But no,” he said, remembering who he was, and pushing the gift from him, “I will not be bribed. I must tell you – ”

“Now,” said the Egyptian, sadly, “I see you are angry with me. Is it because I said I lived in a tree? Do forgive me for that dreadful lie.”

She had gone on her knees before he could stop her, and was gazing imploringly at him, with her hands clasped.

“You are mocking me again,” said Gavin, “but I am not angry with you. Only you must understand – ”

She jumped up and put her fingers to her ears.

“You see I can hear nothing,” she said.

“Listen while I tell you – ”

“I don’t hear a word. Why do you scold me when I have kept my promise? If I dared to take my fingers from my ears I would give you the money for Nanny. And, Mr. Dishart, I must be gone in five minutes.”

“In five minutes!” echoed Gavin, with such a dismal face that Babbie heard the words with her eyes, and dropped her hands.

“Why are you in such haste?” he asked, taking the five pounds mechanically, and forgetting all that he had meant to say.

“Because they require me at home,” she answered, with a sly glance at her fir. “And, remember, when I run away you must not follow me.”

“I won’t,” said Gavin, so promptly that she was piqued.

“Why not?” she asked. “But of course you only came here for the money. Well, you have got it. Good-bye.”

“You know that was not what I meant,” said Gavin, stepping after her. “I have told you already that whatever other people say, I trust you. I believe in you, Babbie.”

“Was that what you were saying to the tree?” asked 148 the Egyptian, demurely. Then, perhaps thinking it wisest not to press this point, she continued irrelevantly, “It seems such a pity that you are a minister.”

“A pity to be a minister!” exclaimed Gavin, indignantly. “Why, why, you – why, Babbie, how have you been brought up?”

“In a curious way,” Babbie answered, shortly, “but I can’t tell you about that just now. Would you like to hear all about me?” Suddenly she seemed to have become confidential.

“Do you really think me a gypsy?” she asked.

“I have tried not to ask myself that question.”

“Why?”

“Because it seems like doubting your word.”

“I don’t see how you can think of me at all without wondering who I am.”

“No, and so I try not to think of you at all.”

“Oh, I don’t know that you need do that.”

“I have not quite succeeded.”

The Egyptian’s pique had vanished, but she may have thought that the conversation was becoming dangerous, for she said abruptly —

“Well, I sometimes think about you.”

“Do you?” said Gavin, absurdly gratified. “What do you think about me?”

“I wonder,” answered the Egyptian, pleasantly, “which of us is the taller.”

Gavin’s fingers twitched with mortification, and not only his fingers but his toes.

“Let us measure,” she said, sweetly, putting her back to his. “You are not stretching your neck, are you?”

But the minister broke away from her.

“There is one subject,” he said, with great dignity, “that I allow no one to speak of in my presence, and that is my – my height.”

His face was as white as his cravat when the surprised Egyptian next looked at him, and he was panting 149 like one who has run a mile. She was ashamed of herself, and said so.