Then, gradually, small changes began to take place. Their chief initiator was the smooth-tongued and unctuous Ogil-vie, keeper of an immaculate and well-stocked General Store. The first television mast to go up in the community was on his chimney-head. He belonged to the same breed as Chekhov's trader, Lopakhin, who was prepared to cut down the Cherry Orchard to make way for a housing estate. Ogilvie was impatient at the slow pace of Highland life; he believed in progress.
immaculate fools the best of
There wasn't a sound to be heard as he went on, ``I've started to take stock of myself up there -- more than I ever did for my shop,'' he added wryly. ``You've laughed at me, like a last pine of the Caledonian Forest, you thought, due for felling, an obstinate fool, aye talking of our Highland heritage. Yet there's truth in what I said and you'd do well to mind it. Ogilvie's right, we can't stop time, but there will be no good future if we don't hold on to the best of the values handed down by our forebears, honesty, bravery, kindliness. I've a long walk back to Mallaig so I'll be on my way.'' He shook Ogilvie firmly by the hand, smiling round the room. ``Good luck to you all.''
The strangest look had grown on Ogilvie's face as Balfour spoke, and not only on his. Who had come out best after all? We would have liked to have spoken to our old friend again, but it was a good final sight of the man, with his big, lumbering figure and grizzled head, walking with a fine dignity out of the school. 2ff7e9595c
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