A Tillyloss Scandal by J. M. Barrie--Delphi Classics (Illustrated) by J. M. Barrie

Author:J. M. Barrie [BARRIE, J. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Parts Edition 11 of 54 by Delphi Classics
Publisher: Delphi Classics (Parts Edition)
Published: 2017-08-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER V

THE RETURN OF HAGGART

Haggart came home on a Saturday evening, when the water-barrels were running over, and our muddy roads had lost their grip. But at all times he took small note of the weather, and often said it was a fine day out of politeness to the acquaintances he met casually, when Tillyloss dripped in rain. To a man who has his loom for master it only occurs as an afterthought to look out at the window.

His shortest and natural route would have taken the wanderer to Tillyloss without zigzagging him through the rest of Thrums, but he made a circuit of the town, and came marching down the Roods.

“I wanted to burst upon the place sudden like,” he admitted, “and to let everybody see me. I dinna deny but what it was a proud moment, lads, as Thrums came in sicht. I had naturally a sort of contempt for the placey, and yet I was fell awid to be back in it too, just as a body is glad to slip into his bed at nicht. Ay, foreign parts is grand for adventure, but Thrums for company.”

At the top of the Roods he was recognised by two boys who had been to a farm for milk, and were playing at swinging their flagon over their heads without dropping its contents. The apparition stayed the flagon in the air, and the boys clattered off screaming. Their father had subsequently high words with Tammas, who refused to refund the price of the milk.

“Though my expectations was high,” Haggart said, “they were completely beaten by the reality. Nothing could have been more gratifying than the sensation I created, not only among laddies and lassies but among grown men and women. Very weel I ken that Dan’l Strachen pretends he stood his ground when I came upon him at the mouth of Saunders Rae’s close, but whaur was the honour in that, when the crittur was paralyzed with fear? Ah, he wasna the only man that lost his legs in the Roods that day; Will’um Crewe beA TILLYLOSS SCANDAL ing another. Snecky Hobart, you was one of them as I walked into at Peter Lambie’s shop door, and I’ll never speak to ye again if ye dinna allow as I scattered ye like a showman in the square does when he passes round the hat.”

“I allow, Tammas, as I made my feet my friend that nicht.”

“And did I no send the women flying and skirling in all directions? Was it me or was it no me that made Mysy Dinnie faint on her back in the corner of the school-wynd?”

“It was you, Tammas, and michty boastful the crittur was when she came to, and heard she had fainted.”

“And there’s a curran women as says they hung out at their windows looking at me. I would like to hear of one proved case in which ony woman did that except at a second storey window?

“Sal, they didna dare look out at low windows.

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