Lammas Read Online Free

back in an hour.’
    She could not believe her good fortune. ‘Go to the fair?’
    â€˜Did I not say so? Here.’ He gave her two bright pennies from the counter cash box. ‘Buy a wee treat to yerself.’
    It was her due, was it not? The money no more than her worth. Her pleasure in the fee eclipsed all sense of guilt. Marie smiled at Geordie as she filled his cup.
    Walter Bone made his way up Kirk Heugh. He did not go at once to the house on the South Street where the woman was who made up his pills. She might be at the fair. He hoped that she was not. He might find her at the market close to the apothecar, stocking up on spices, sugarloaf and herbs. He would not purchase physic she did not prescribe; he trusted her. The medicines she distilled for the torment in his bones brought him some relief. They could not yet dispel the underlying cause. Relief was transitory. And, when it returned, the hurt was sharper, crueller than before. He had not telt a lie to Marie about the pain. But for Elspet, he could have borne it, he thought. He could have borne much more.
    It strained him to walk up the hill. The market was in full thrang, in the mercat place. But at the west sands, by the golf links, there were sports and games, and races on the shore, while the tide was low. In mid-water, there were horses chasing through the spray. And up at the butts were archery contests, for young boys and men in all stages of life. Walter Bone had never taken part. The gripping in his banes had afflicted him since childhood. Yet he was a sharp man, no less; it had not afflicted his mind.

    (4)
    Henry Balfour too was going to the fair. He had left his college at the end of term, and moved across the street with the regent Robert Black. He looked forward to a summer of adventure and excess. If the Spanish came, he would take up arms, and place himself where practical upon the winning side. Meanwhile he would ride and spend time with his lass. The future augured well, despite prognostications that the world would end. Breakfast had been served. Henry had an egg, herrings and a cheese, while Robert’s interest in his bread and ale was watered by the tone of the letter in his hand, which he read aloud with increasing gloom. ‘Your father’s word is clear. And though I find the manner of it somewhat strict and strained, I cannot in good conscience let you go against it, while you are in my care,’ he said.
    Henry took advantage of his tutor’s loss of appetite to relieve him of the best part of his bread. He was not at all dismayed by the thunder of a father who was far away, when he had a summer’s day in hand. He pointed out simply, ‘He does not prohibit the fair.’
    â€˜Not,’ conceded Robert, ‘in so many words.’
    â€˜When there are so many words, you can be quite certain that his silence is assent.’
    Robert hesitated. He suspected Henry’s father would make short work of that argument. ‘Does he even ken there is a fair today?’
    Henry said, ‘He has sent a present of a bow. At Lammas there are always contests at the butts. Therefore he must mean that I should try it there. I am sure to win.’
    The bow was a reward for passing the black stane, where Henry had received, on his third attempt, his bachelor’s degree. Henry had shown promise through the years in archery, the only distraction which his parent had approved. And it was more than likely he would take the prize.
    â€˜Well, you may go,’ Robert Black agreed, ‘if you give your word to me that you will not converse or meddle with your lass in any secret place. Though she is free and willing, please remember this. Your father will not furnish you a fart for buttock-mail.’ Lord Balfour knew his son, perhaps a little better than his son knew him, and a full page of his letter was devoted to a case which, should it arise, would not be well received.
    â€˜I noticed he said