[Christie Johnstone by Charles Reade]@TWC D-Link book
Christie Johnstone

CHAPTER XIV
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"I saw ye face the mad sea, to save a ship fra' the rocks, an' will I fear a mon's hand, when I can save" _( rising to double her height)_ "my feyther's auld freend fra' the puir mon's enemy, the enemy o' mankind, the cursed, cursed drink?
Oh, Sandy Liston, hoow could ye think to put an enemy in your mooth to steal awa your brains!" "This 's no Newhaven chat; wha lairns ye sic words o' power ?" "A deed mon!" "I would na wonder, y' are no canny; she's ta'en a' the poower oot o' my body, I think." Then suddenly descending to a tone of abject submission, "What's your pleesure, Flucker Johnstone's dochter ?" She instantly withdrew the offending grasp, and, leaning affectionately on his shoulder, she melted into her rich Ionic tones.
"It's no a time for sin; ye'll sit by my fire, an' get your dinner; a bonny haggis hae I for you an' Flucker, an' we'll improve this sorrowfu' judgment; an' ye'll tell me o' auld times--o' my feyther dear, that likeit ye weel, Sandy--o' the storrms ye hae weathered, side by side--o' the muckle whales ye killed Greenland way--an' abune a', o' the lives ye hae saved at sea, by your daurin an' your skell; an', oh, Sandy, will na that be better as sit an' poor leequid damnation doown your throat, an' gie awa the sense an' feeling o' a mon for a sair heed and an ill name ?" "I'se gang, my lamb," said the rough man, quite subdued; "I daur say whisky will no pass my teeth the day." And so he went quietly away, and sat by Christie's fireside.
Jean and Christie went toward the boats.
Jean, after taking it philosophically for half a minute, began to whimper.
"What's wrang ?" said Christie.
"Div ye think my hairt's no in my mooth wi' you gripping yon fierce robber ?" Here a young fishwife, with a box in her hand, who had followed them, pulled Jean by the coats.
"Hets," said Jean, pulling herself free.
The child then, with a pertinacity these little animals have, pulled Christie's coats.
"Hets," said Christie, freeing herself more gently.
"Ye suld mairry Van Amburgh," continued Jean; "ye are just such a lass as he is a lad." Christie smiled proudly, was silent, but did not disown the comparison.
The little fishwife, unable to attract attention by pulling, opened her box, and saying, "Lasses, I'll let ye see my presoner.

Hech! he's boenny!" pulled out a mouse by a string fastened to his tail and set him in the midst for friendly admiration.
"I dinna like it--I dinna like it!" screamed Christie.

"Jean, put it away--it fears me, Jean!" This she uttered (her eyes almost starting from her head with unaffected terror) at the distance of about eight yards, whither she had arrived in two bounds that would have done no discredit to an antelope.
"Het," said Jean, uneasily, "hae ye coowed you savage, to be scared at the wee beastie ?" Christie, looking askant at the animal, explained: "A moose is an awesome beast--it's no like a mon!" and still her eye was fixed by fascination upon the four-footed danger.
Jean, who had not been herself in genuine tranquillity, now turned savagely on the little Wombwelless.

"An' div ye really think ye are to come here wi' a' the beasts i' the Airk?
Come, awa ye go, the pair o' ye." These severe words, and a smart push, sent the poor little biped off roaring, with the string over her shoulder, recklessly dragging the terrific quadruped, which made fruitless grabs at the shingle .-- _Moral._ Don't terrify bigger folk than yourself.
Christie had intended to go up to Edinburgh with her eighty pounds, but there was more trouble in store this eventful day.
Flucker went out after dinner, and left her with Sandy Liston, who was in the middle of a yarn, when some one came running in and told her Flucker was at the pier crying for her.

She inquired what was the matter.


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