SHUTTERS***


E-text prepared by David Clarke, Martin Pettit, and the Project Gutenberg
Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)



THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN SHUTTERS

by

GEORGE DOUGLAS







[Illustration: Publisher's logo]

Thomas Nelson and Sons, Ltd.
London, Edinburgh, and New York




THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN SHUTTERS.




CHAPTER I.


The frowsy chambermaid of the "Red Lion" had just finished washing the
front door steps. She rose from her stooping posture and, being of
slovenly habit, flung the water from her pail straight out, without
moving from where she stood. The smooth round arch of the falling water
glistened for a moment in mid-air. John Gourlay, standing in front of
his new house at the head of the brae, could hear the swash of it when
it fell. The morning was of perfect stillness.

The hands of the clock across "the Square" were pointing to the hour of
eight. They were yellow in the sun.

Blowsalinda, of the Red Lion, picked up the big bass that usually lay
within the porch, and carrying it clumsily against her breast, moved off
round the corner of the public-house, her petticoat gaping behind.
Halfway she met the hostler, with whom she stopped in amorous dalliance.
He said something to her, and she laughed loudly and vacantly. The silly
_tee-hee_ echoed up the street.

A moment later a cloud of dust drifting round the corner, and floating
white in the still air, showed that she was pounding the bass against
the end of the house. All over the little town the women of Barbie were