The Edge of the World Page #2

awful guilty

and all the time you've been

stealing a march on me.

Polly.

Polly Manson.

Mmm. I don't know

whether I like it or not.

Whether you do or you don't,

she's gonna be your sister-in-law.

And tomorrow, Father'll know it.

When parliament meets tomorrow,

I'm going to speak out.

- He'll be awful angry.

- I'm not a child any more.

There are others who think like me,

James Gray for one.

- Andrew doesn't.

- Oh, Andrew.

And what's wrong with Andrew?

There'll be a deal wrong with

his neck if he doesna take care.

Andrew!

Tell him to get down!

Get down! You're frightening Ruth!

That was a sudden idea.

It looked like it.

In the old days, you had to show

your courage to win a wife.

I said to myself "Andrew, my lad,

you're as good as they are

and Ruth has got to be sure of you."

Remember it's the Sabbath!

That's what Father said,

and I'm no likely to forget it.

But if a man can't

put his arm round his girl

without John Knox

turning in his grave,

then the world's full of sinners.

Here's good luck for us.

We don't need any.

What were you two talking about?

- You.

- Oh? That's natural enough.

Oh, you're not the only one.

Robbie's got a bonnet full of bees.

You're one, I'm the other,

but the busiest of the lot

is the girl from Norway.

Robbie! I'm glad.

Why don't you bring her over?

I'm not bringing her back to Hirta,

now or ever.

But I hope you and she and Ruth will

be good friends and... neighbours.

- What do you mean?

- Just that.

- I like plain speech.

- Then you'll have it.

- You're leaving the island?

- Aye.

- Short-handed as we are?

- Aye.

- Does anybody know?

- Only you two.

- When are you going to tell Peter?

- Tomorrow.

- The boat parliament?

- Aye.

Ah, Robbie, man,

you've gone over to the other side.

Before I went away,

I would have said the same as you.

But the world's changed,

it's bigger, it's easier to get at.

Before, we were no worse off

than anyone else.

Now we're living in an old world.

I've got a turn for machinery,

I can do things with it.

Why should I give it up?

What can Polly and I hope for

if I drag her back here?

Ah, Robbie, you're too clever for me.

You go your way and I'll go mine.

- Aye, but can't you see...

- That's final.

If you want to run away because

the work's too hard, or your fancy...

- Leave her out of it!

- I'd be glad to.

I'm as good a man as you. I could

always beat you on the cliffs.

- You're a stone lighter.

- Oh, that's nothing.

Do you see Wester Hoevdi?

To climb Wester Hoevdi without a rope

was another of the old trials.

Well, what do you say?

- (Andrew) Shall we make it a race?

- Aye.

Look.

The hills of Scotland.

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