And while he meditated, his aunt and uncle appeared together.

‘Yer aunt’ll explain,’ said Mr. Purdie, looking most unhappy.  ’I couldna dae it.’

‘How do you do, Macgregor?’ said Aunt Purdie, shaking hands with stiff kindliness.  ’I am delighted to perceive you in Aberdeen.  But what a deplorable catastrophe!—­what a dire calamity!—­what an ironical mishap!——­’

‘She means——­’ began Mr. Purdie, noting his nephew’s puzzled distress.

’Hush, Robert!  Allow me.  I must break it gently to the boy.  What a cruel fiascio!—­what a vexatious disappintment!——­’

‘Whaur’s Christina?’ Macgregor demanded.

‘Courage, boy!’ said Aunt Purdie in lofty tones.  ’Remember you are a sojer—­soldier—­of the Queen—­or rather, King!’

‘But——­’

’Christina left for Glasgow per the 1.10 p.m. train, one short hour before you arrived.’

‘Weel, I’m——­’

’She decided very suddenly this morning.  She did not hand me the letter, or p.c., for my perusual, but I understood her to observe that Miss Tod was not feeling so able and desired her presence.  We were real sorry to let her go——­’

‘Ma impression,’ Mr. Purdie put in, ‘is that she was wearyin’ for her lad.  But for ill-luck this is the maist confounded, dampest——­’

‘Robert, behave yourself!’

‘Weel, it’s a fair sickener.  But there’s nae use talkin’ aboot it.  Come awa’, lad, an’ ha’e something to eat.  Ye canna keep up yer heart on a toom kyte.’

They were very kind to him and pressed him to remain overnight, but he was bent on leaving by the 3.40 express, which is due at Glasgow about 7.30.  With good luck, he told himself, he might catch Christina at Miss Tod’s.  Meanwhile youth and health compelled him to enjoy his dinner, during which Aunt Purdie insisted on refunding the cost of his futile journey.

‘Ye’re ower guid to me,’ he said awkwardly.

‘Not at all, not at all, Macgregor.  It is quite unmentionable,’ she returned with a majestic wave.  ’Robert, give Macgregor some of your choice cigars.’

In the train he smoked one of them, but finding it a trifle heady, preserved the rest for presentation to his sergeant, whom he greatly admired.

* * * * *

At 5.30 Christina was in Glasgow.  Mrs. Purdie had commissioned her to deliver two small parcels—­’presents from Aberdeen’—­to Macgregor’s sister and little brother, and she decided to fulfil the errand before going home.  Perhaps the decision was not unconnected with a hope of obtaining some news of Macgregor.  His postcard had worried her.  She felt she had gone too far and wanted to tell him so.  She would write to him the moment she got home, and let her heart speak out for once.  Pride was in abeyance.  She was all tenderness.

At the Robinson’s house she received a warm welcome.  Mrs. Robinson had almost got over her secret fear of her future daughter-in-law.  Jeannie admired her intensely, and wee Jimsie frankly loved her.  Aunt Purdie’s were not the only gifts she delivered.