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Twice Peter stood on his way home; the first time he slapped his leg and chuckled: "Sall, it was gey clever o' me; a hale kerridge o' Drumtochty lads, and no ane o' them ever hed a glint o' her." At the second stoppage he drew his hand across his eyes. "Puir lassie, a' houp her father 'ill be kind tae her, for she's sair broken, and looks liker deith than life."
She bade him put down his gun and walk with her up the hill towards the ruins. "Look here, Stewart," she commanded in a confidential tone, "I'm going to take you into my confidence. I know I can trust you with a secret." "Ye may, miss," replied the keen-eyed Scot. "I houp Sir Henry trusts me as a faithfu' servant. I've been on Glencardine estate noo, miss, thae forty year."
"I houp it winna tak' awa' the brig." He meant the wooden bridge a few hundred yards below them, which, inaccessible from either side, was now very little above the level of the water. "It's jist the riggin' o' some cottar's bit hoosie," answered Thomas. "What's come o' them that was aneath it, the Lord only kens. The water's jist liftit the roof bodily. There it gangs throu' aneath the brig.
"Dinna greet like that, Bell wumman, sae lang as Saunders is still livin'; a'll never give up houp, for ma pairt, till oor ain man says the word. "A' the doctors in the land dinna ken as muckle aboot us as Weelum MacLure, an' he's ill tae beat when he's tryin' tae save a man's life." MacLure, on his coming, would say nothing, either weal or woe, till he had examined Saunders.
But I hae been weel and richteously punished! The Father drew his han' oot o' mine, and loot me try to gang my lane; sae doon I cam, for I was fit for naething but to fa': naething less could hae broucht me to mysel and it took a lang time! I houp Mr. Robertson will see the thing as I dee mysel! Wull I write and speir him oot to Stanecross to advise wi my father aboot Isy? That would bring him!
I'll be better workin' wi' my han's nor wi' my heid whan I hae nae houp left o' ever seein' yer face again. I winna lowse a day aboot it. Gien I lowse time I may lowse my rizon. Hae patience wi' me ae meenute, mem; I'm jist driven to tell ye the trowth. It's mony a lang sin' I hae kent mysel' wantin' you. Ye're the boady, an' I'm the shaidow.
"I houp no a'thegither, Miss Barton," replied I, makin an abortive attempt at a captivatin smile. "I took the liberty o' addressin a letter to ye yesterday; an' here's yer invitation on the back o't," continued I, an' noo puttin her ain card into her hands. The puir lassie looked confounded, an', in great agitation, said "Oh, sir, it's a mistak! I'm so sorry. It's an entire mistak on my part.
"Well?" she returned, without even lifting her eyes, for, with the inherited privilege of her rank, she could be insolent with coolness, and call it to mind without remorse. "I houp the bit buikie wasna muckle the waur, my leddy," he said. "'Tis of no consequence," she replied. "Gien it war mine, I wadna think sae," he returned, eyeing her anxiously.
For I hae seen him noo, and ken him noo the houp o' glory in my hert and my life! Whatever he said ance, that I believe for ever." The talks James Blatherwick and the soutar had together, were now, according to Mr. Robertson, even wonderful. But it was chiefly the soutar that spoke, while James sat and listened in silence.
Forbye sic herrin's as are supplied by me, Tib MacLellan, at less than cost price as I houp your honour will no forget, when in the course o' natur' and the providence o' God you and her comes to hae a family atween ye." Sholto promised that he would not forget when the time alluded to arrived.
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