326 The Little Minister

“ If it does,’ the minister answered, “he will |
be the scorn of himself. Babbie, there is a
chance.”

“There is no chance,” she told him. “I shall
be back at the Spittal without any one’s knowing
of my absence, and when I begin to tell him of
you, he will tremble, lest it means my refusal to
marry him; when he knows it does not, he will
wonder only why I told him anything.”

“ He will ask you to take time— ”

“No, he will ask me to put on my wedding
dress. You must not think anything else pos-
sible.”

“So be it, then,” Gavin said, firmly.

“Yes, it will be better so,” Babbie answered,
and then, seeing him misunderstand her mean-
ing, exclaimed, reproachfully, “I was not think-
ing of myself. In the time to come, whatever
be my lot, I shall have the one consolation, that
this is best for you. Think of your mother.”

“ She will love you,” Gavin said, “when J tell
her of you.”

“Yes,” said Babbie, wringing her hands; “she
will almost love me, but for what? For not
marrying you. That is the only reason any one
in Thrums will have for wishing me well.”

“No others,” Gavin answered, “will ever
know why I remained unmarried.”

‘Will you never marry?” Babbie asked, exult-
ingly. “Ah!” she cried, ashamed, “but you
must.”

“ Never.”

Well, many a man and many a woman has
made that vow in similar circumstances, and not