'What the de'il is it you're feared of? Are ye not my daughter? What is there in this and about it all to make ye grue like that?'
She thought of the lofty examination hall, filled by the scratching of a score of fiercely competitive pens; she saw the silent, black-gowned figure of the examiner upon his rostrum sitting severe and omnipotent like a judge; she saw her own small, bowed insignificant figure writing feverishly but, veiling her gaze, she replied hurriedly:
'There's nothing I'm afraid of, Father! It's maybe the thought of the journey that's upsetting me a bit. I'm not thinkin' of the Latta at all. They might have posted the result already, for all the good it'll do the others to go up.'
He smiled at her again broadly, exclaiming:
'That's more like the spirit! That's more like my daughter! We havena put ye through your paces for nothing. Now that I'm showin' you, ye maun step high when you're in the ring.' He paused, pleased by his comparison, which combined with his present elation and the excitement of her departure, reminded him vaguely of those days when he had set out for the Cattle Show, and he cried, 'You're on show the day, Nessie, and I'm proud of ye. I know before ye go up who'll come back with the red ticket round her neck. My daughter, Nessie Brodie that's the name that'll be on everybody's lips. We're goin' to startle the town between us. By God! They'll look the other way along their noses when they meet me now. We'll show them!' He considered her fondly, almost admiringly, remarking, after
a moment, 'Gad! It fair beats me, when I look at that wee head o' yours and think on all that's in it. Latin and French and mathematics, and heaven knows a' what. And yet it's no bigger than my fist. Ay! It's a true word that good gear gangs in small bulk. It's the quality that counts. It's downright gratify in' for a man to see his own brains comin' out in his daughter; ay, and to be able to give her the opportunity. When I was your age I never had a chance like you.'
He sighed commiseratingly. 'No! I would have gone far had I been given the chance, but I had to get out into the world and make my own way. There were no Lattas in those days or I would have lifted the whole jing bang o' them.' He lifted his eyes to her and exclaimed in an altered, excited tone, 'But it'll be different with you, Nessie. You'll have your chance. I'll see to that. You'll see what I'll do for ye when you've won the Latta. I'll I'll I'll push ye on to the highest ye can go.' He banged his fist upon the table and considered her triumphantly, adding, 'Are ye not pleased with what I'm doin' for ye?'
'Yes, Father,' she murmured. 'I'm I'm real pleased at it all.'
'And I should think so!' he cried. 'There's not a man in Levenford would have done what I've done for ye. See that ye don't forget it!
When ye come back with that Latta don't let it fly to your head. Remember who has done it for you!'
She glanced at him timidly, as she remarked in a low voice:
'You're not expecting me to bring it home to-night, Father? It'll be a good while before the result comes out a fortnight, anyway!'
As though she had suddenly baulked him of the keen zest of his enjoyment, his look took on a sudden displeasure.
'Are ye off again on that tack? What's all this goin’ on about results? Do you think I expect ye to bring the money back in a bag? I know it'll come in good time. I know it's for your studies. I'm not just gaspin' for't. But I seem to feel that you Ye gettin' anxious as to whethei you'll get your fingers on it or not.'
'Oh! No, Father,' she said hastily, 'I'm not thinking about that at all. I was just afraid ye might think I would know for sure tonight.'
'For sure,' he repeated slowly; 'are ye not 'for sure' already?'
'Yes! Yes!' she cried. 'I'm sure. I'm dead positive about it. I hardly know what I'm saying, I'm so excited at going up to the University.'
'Don't let all this grand excitement run awa' with you,' he replied warningly. 'Remember you Ye sixteen years old now, and if that's not old enough for you to have some control, then you'll never have it. Don't lose your heid, that's all I say! Have ye got a' things that you need your pen and your nibs and your rubber and what not ?'
'I get everything I want up there,' she answered meekly. 'Everything like that is supplied to us.'
'I see! Well, in that case ye canna very well say ye had forgotten your pen.' He paused and looked at the clock. 'It's gettin' near time for your train. Have ye eaten your fill of everything?'
She felt her stomach turn uneasily as she whispered:
'Yes, Father.'
He arose and went over to his pipe rack, remarking complacently:
'Well, I've done my bit of the business, anyway.'
As he turned his back, Mary moved nearer to her sister, saying in a low tone, close to Nessie's ear:
'I'll go down to the station with you, Nessie, just to keep you company and see that you get away all right. I'll not worry you by speaking.'
'What's that?' cried Brodie, turning like a flash. He had, unfortunately, heard something of her words. 'You'll go down to the station, will ye?' he sneered. 'Indeed now! That is verra considerate of ye. You'll do this and you'll do that with your interfering the same sleekit way that your mother used to have. Is Nessie not capable of walkin' a few yards by herself, that you must tie a bit of string round her neck and lead her along?' His sneer became a snarl. 'Have I not told ye to leave my Nessie alone? You'll go to no station. You’ll do nothing for her. Shell go down by herself.' He turned to Nessie. 'You don't want her botherin' you, do you, hinny?'
Her eyes fell as she faltered, in a faint voice, 'No, Father, not if you say it.'
Brodie returned his glance to Mary with a dark insolence.
'You see!' he cried. 'She doesna want ye! Keep out of what doesna concern ye. I'll do all that's wanted. I'll get her things for her myself this morning. Here! Nessie! Where's your hat and coat? I'm goin' to see you to the door.' He swelled at the thought of the honour he was conferring upon her as she dumbly indicated the sofa where, brushed, sponged and pressed, lay the worn, blue serge jacket of her, every-day wear the only one she now possessed and her straw hat which now bravely flaunted a new satin band bought by her sister and stitched in place by her devoted fingers. He lifted the coat and hat, handed them to her, assisted her even, in the fullness of his service, to assume the coat so that she now stood, a small, indescribably pathetic figure, clothed and ready for her journey. He patted her upon the shoulder with an extravagant flourish, exclaiming, as though he had dressed her fully with his own hands, 'There now! you're all set up for the road. Do ye not think it's a great honour for you that
I've taken the day off to see you out like this? Come on and I'll take you to the door.'
She was, however, strangely disinclined to move, but remained with her head averted from him, her gaze drawn to Mary's dark and tender eyes, her lower lip drooping slightly, her thin fingers into locked and twisting nervously. The clear skin of her face, denuded of its one-time colour almost to a pale transparency, seemed stretched tightly over the puny framework of her features, its pallor accentuated by the fine-spun sheen of the flaxen hair which, now unplaited invested loosely the small, drawn countenance. She stood inert, realising that the climax of her endeavours was at hand and that she was loath to face it; then, suddenly appearing to forget the presence of her father, she advanced close to Mary and murmured in a low, almost inaudible tone, 'I'm not wanting to go, Mary. I've got the band round my brow again. I would rather stay at home.' Yet almost in the same breath, as though she were unaware that she had uttered these whispered words, she cried:
'I'm ready then, Father. I've got everything I want. I'm as right as the mail and ready to stick into it.'
He stared at her, then relaxed slowly.
'Come on, then, and look sharp about it. What are you moonin' about her for? No more of your silly dawdlin' or you'll miss your train.'
'I'll not miss it, Father,' she cried eagerly, breaking away from Mary without looking at her as though she had not heard her sister's last murmur of encouragement or the promise to meet her at the station on her return. 'No! No!' she exclaimed. 'That wouldn't be like me to do a thing like that. I haven't worked all these six months for nothing. What an idea!' She drew back her narrow shoulders and, demonstrating her willingness by passing him and hastening into the hall, she went to the front door and opened it wide. 'I'm away then, Father,' she cried loudly and in a fashion something after his own manner. 'I'll be back when you see me!'
'Hold on a minute,' he exclaimed, with a frown, lumbering after her. 'I said I was goin' to see ye to the door, did I not! What's come over ye that you're rushing like this.' He surveyed her for a moment from beneath his heavy
