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"Gien 't be a' ane till 's lordship," said Malcolm, without looking at Bykes, "it wad be better no to speir, for it gangs sair agen me to refeese him." "I should like to know," said the marquis. "Ye maun trust me, my lord, that I was efter no ill. I gie ye my word for that, my lord."
Each group that entered had a joke or a jibe for Johnny Bykes, which he met in varying, but always surly fashion in that of utter silence in the case of Duncan and Malcolm, at which the former was indignant, the latter merry. By the town gate came the people of Portlossie.
"An' I'm no to lowse sicht o' ye till ye hae put in yer appearance," he added; "sae gien ye dinna come peaceable, I maun gar ye." "Whaur's yer warrant?" asked Malcolm coolly. "Ye wad hae the impidence to deman' my warrant, ye young sorner!" cried Bykes indignantly. "Come yer wa's, my man, or I s' gar ye smairt for 't" "Haud a quaiet sough, an' gang hame for yer warrant," said Malcolm.
"Ye comena in wi'oot the leave o' me," he cried, with a vengeful expression. "What's that for?" said Malcolm, who had already interposed his great boot, so that the spring bolt could not reach its catch. "There s' nae lan' loupin' rascals come in here," said Bykes, setting his shoulder to the gate. That instant he went staggering back to the wall of the lodge, with the gate after him.
Besides, to get in by that, they would have had to rouse the cantankerous Bykes, and what a jar would not that bring into the music of the silence! Instead, therefore, of turning up by the side of the stream where it crossed the shore, he took Clementina once again in his arms unforbidden, and carried her over. Then the long sands lay open to their feet.
But as soon as they were beyond the village the old man took the young one's arm, not to guide him, for that was needless, but to stay his steps a little, for when dressed he would, as I have said, carry no staff; and thus they entered the nearest gate of the grounds. Bykes saw them and scoffed, but with discretion, and kept out of their way.
Before the end of the week, his few household goods were borne in a cart through the sea gate dragonised by Bykes, to whom Malcolm dropped a humorous "Weel Johnny!" as he passed, receiving a nondescript kind of grin in return. The rest of the forenoon was spent in getting the place in order, and in the afternoon, arrayed in his new garments, Malcolm reported himself at the House.
"The burn was atween me an' hit, an' it's a lang road roon'." "Well, I must lay some penalty upon you, to deter others," said the marquis. "Verra well, my lord. "It shan't be too hard. It's just this to give John Bykes the thrashing he deserves, as soon as you're out of sight of the House." "Na, na, my lord; I canna do that," said Malcolm. "So you're afraid of him, after all!"
An' gien there bena a man or twa killt a'ready, " Before he finished his sentence, Kelpie was levelling herself for the sea gate. Johnny Bykes was locking it on the other side, in haste to secure his eye share of what was going on, when he caught sight of Malcolm tearing up.
The style in which his message was delivered was probably modified by the fact that he found Malcolm seated with his grandfather at their evening meal of water brose and butter; for he had been present when Malcolm was brought before the marquis by Bykes, and had in some measure comprehended the nature of the youth: it was in politest phrase, and therefore entirely to Duncan's satisfaction in regard of the manner as well as matter of the message, that he requested Mr Duncan MacPhail's attendance on the marquis the following evening at six o'clock, to give his lordship and some distinguished visitors the pleasure of hearing him play on the bagpipes during dessert.
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