The Little Minister Page #7

has become of her?

Who?

Oh, you mean the gypsy?

Oh, where do the flies

vanish to in the winter?

Those gadabout bodies,

They canna be happy

in one place for long.

But she was different.

Aye, she was that.

But she was

only a gypsy girl.

You canna get away

from that.

Yes, she was

only a gypsy girl.

But I had hoped that

she would be my wife.

Mr. Dishart!

That's my prayer meeting.

I will bid you

good night, nanny.

Oh, god, you canna mean for them

to bury their youth so soon.

Look at me.

What is anything

when you're old

Without somebody?

Mr. Dishart!

Yes, nanny.

What is it?

Uh...

Oh, my wheel.

Would you mind?

Why, of course not,

nanny.

How was he, nanny?

Did he ask about-

Babbie.

No, no.

Babbie, tell me why you've

left me all this time.

You cannot know what

i've gone through.

There is something

i must tell you.

Tell me that

you love me first.

No, no, you will not

ask me to say that

When I tell

you what I am.

I'm to be

married tomorrow.

Married.

I'm to be married

to lord rintoul.

You...

Can't you just say that

You will try to forgive

me before I go?

Won't you even

look at me?

Not that way.

I meant no harm.

I swear I didn't.

I didn't even know

what I was doing

Until it was

too late.

And then I meant never

to see you again.

When I came

into your life,

I was wild and careless.

So little heeding,

i never even dreamed.

You don't blame

the birds

When their song

comes for a moment

Between you and your work.

You smile and forgive them.

Let it be that way with me.

It is myself I cannot forgive.

I have been a dull-Witted fool.

But I cannot understand

Why you should have

acted so strangely.

The gypsy clothes

you wore-

I have no wish

to excuse myself.

But have you ever

seen a gypsy cart

Where there's sort of

hammocks swung beneath it

In which gypsy children

are carried about

The countryside?

That was the only cradle

i've ever known.

But one day, I suppose

the road was rough

For I was thrown out.

I can remember

picking myself up

After a little

and running after the cart.

But they-They didn't

hear my cries,

Or if they did, they

didn't come back for me.

I like to think that my

mother did come back for me

And then went away again

When she heard that I was

in better hands than hers.

It was lord rintoul

who found me.

And so I owe

everything to him.

He took me home on his horse

And paid his gardner's

wife to rear me.

Afterwards, he sent

me to fine schools.

He's lavished

everything upon me.

He has been very

kind to you.

Yes, he's been

very kind to me.

And i'm to marry him.

Does he love you?

No.

He doesn't know

what love is.

Nor did i...

Until...

You were laughing

at me all the time.

Only a little...

At first,

but not afterwards.

You never cared

for me at all.

Always.

Always since I first

knew what love was.

And it was you

who taught me.

That night in

the manse garden.

Do you remember?

I knew that I could...

Never again be

altogether unhappy.

All my life I would

have that to remember.

And when I went away,

So that I would

not bring disgrace

And wretchedness upon

you and your mother

I was strong.

Your love had made me strong.

I'm going now.

Don't think of me as unhappy.

It will be happiness

for me to try to be

All you thought I was.

Your face will always

come between me

And ungenerous hearts.

Babbie!

I cannot let you go.

Don't tell me

that you love me still.

Oh, gavin,

Do you?

We will go to

lord rintoul at once.

You are mine,

and I will tell him so.

He will release you

when he hears of me.

Oh, how little

you know him.

His only

interest in you

Will be to turn the town against you.

He has great

influence here.

I can defend myself.

Nothing but duty

of the highest kind

Could keep mr. Dishart

so long.

Aye, but, snecky,

i do not like it.

Why, mrs. Mcclarin.

My john's got

to be at work

At 5:
00 in the morning.

We cannot

wait longer.

Aye. Come along,

nancy.

Did mr. Dishart have any

calls to make after his tea?

I don't know.

He uh...

He was nae

home for tea.

He was nae

home for tea.

I think there's

something to the talk-

What talk?

I've heard no talk.

AndI'll cut the tongue

out of any man who has

So that he'd no repeat it.

Oh, I did nae

hear it myself,

I only heard of a man

that did hear of it.

He saw him.

He saw the minister.

Come in here.

What's sam langlins

doing here?

He's no auld licht.

He says the minister

came to his place

Not 10 minutes ago asking

to hire a carriage.

What? Hire a carriage! Aye.

While we're sitting

here waiting for him.

Where did he go?

Samuel cannot tell.

Because he said he

would nae let a horse

Of his out on

a night like this.

Not for no auld licht.

Well...

Most likely he was going

on some errand of mercy.

Aye!

But samuel said he had

a woman with him.

I see nothing to do

But to dismiss

the congregation

And notify

mr. Dishart

That the pulpit

is vacant.

I'm thinking he can

hardly explain his actions

To the satisfaction

of this session.

Mr. Whammond,

don't be hasty.

Maybe it's nae his fault.

Mind your place,

rob dow.

Putting yourself

on the equal

With the elders

of this kirk.

Have mercy on him.

God himself would give

him a second chance.

Rob dow, what

can you know

Of the ways of god?

That's true.

I know little.

But, oh, mr. Whammond,

you know.

Then why should

the minister be punished

For what's no his fault?

It's the gypsies.

I saw her!

You saw her?

With mr. Dishart?

No, no,

i didn't see them.

Out with it,

rob dow!

Or as chief elder

of this kirk

I say it will be

the worse for him.

You saw them

together.

He didn't have his

arms around her.

It was her wrapping

her coils around him.

May I burn forever

if this is no true.

He had his arms

around her!

I tell you, he didn't. It was her!

The minister!

The gypsy!

Quiet.

Hendry munn,

As chief elder

of this kirk,

I command you to go and

dismiss the congregation.

I hereby pronounce

this congregation dismissed

While the session

prepares to do its duty.

Oh, jean!

Jean proctor!

It's a terrible thing

they're saying

Against the minister,

is it no?

Did they say

the woman's name?

You leave me be.

You've got no right

to talk like that.

Easy, jean, easy.

Remember,

i'm police.

The impudent

baggage.

But i'd rather go with

you, gavin, please!

No, you will wait

at the manse

Until I get back.

Dr. Mcqueen has offered

me his carriage

Many a time-

Mr. Dishart!

Mr. Dishart!

It's not for me

to remind you,

But have you not forgot

your prayer meeting?

Prayer meeting.

Half of them

has gone home.

Uh, yes,

thank you.

Gavin, did you have a prayer meeting?

Yes, but, but,

i'll go as soon-

No, no, you

must go at once.

If you think it's

storming here,

You ought to see it

over at the kirk.

Come, dear,I'll see

you to the manse.

Gavin, go to your church immediately,

For my sake.

I'll go to

the manse.

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