But there was something about his look and behaviour that, while
it perplexed, restrained her; and instead of breaking out upon him,
she eyed him curiously.
She had found that it would not do to stare at him. The instant
she began to do so, he began to fidget, and turned his back to her.
It had made her lose her temper for a moment, and declare aloud as
her conviction that he was after all an impostor, and saw as well
as any of them.
"She has told you so, Mistress Partan, one hundred thousand times,"
replied Duncan with an odd smile: "and perhaps she will pe see a
little petter as any of you, no matter."
Thereupon she murmured to herself "The cratur 'ill be seein' something!"
and with mingled awe and curiosity sought to lay restraint upon
her unwelcome observation of him.
Thus it went on the whole day, and as the evening approached, he
grew still more excited. The sun went down, and the twilight began;
and, as the twilight deepened, still his excitement grew.
Straightway it seemed as if the whole Seaton had come to share in
it. Men and women were all out of doors; and, late as it was when
the sun set, to judge by the number of red legs and feet that trotted
in and out with a little shadowy flash, with a dull patter pat on
earthen floor and hard road, and a scratching and hustling among
the pebbles, there could not have been one older than a baby in
bed; while of the babies even not a few were awake in their mothers'
arms, and out with them on the sea front.
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