It was too dark for Malcolm to see the keen look of
wistful regret with which Lizzy tried to pierce the
gloom and read his face: for a moment the poor
girl thought he meant he had loved her himself.
But far other thoughts were in Malcolm’s mind:
one was that her whom, as a scarce approachable goddess,
he had loved before he knew her of his own blood,
he would rather see married to an honest fisherman
in the Seaton of Portlossie, than to such a lord as
Meikleham. He had seen enough of him at Lossie
House to know what he was, and puritanical fish catching
Malcolm had ideas above those of most marquises of
his day: the thought of the alliance was horrible
to him. It was possibly not inevitable, however;
only what could he do, and at the same time avoid
grievous hurt?
“I dinna think he’ll ever merry my leddy,”
he said.
“What gars ye say that, Ma’colm?”
returned Lizzy, with eagerness.
“I canna tell ye jist i’ the noo; but
ye ken a body canna weel be aye aboot a place ohn
seein things. I’ll tell ye something o’
mair consequence hooever,” he continued. .
“Some fowk say there’s a God, an’
some say there’s nane, an’ I ha’e
no richt to preach to ye, Lizzy; but I maun jist tell
ye this—’at gien God dinna help them
’at cry till ‘im i’ the warst o’
tribles, they micht jist as weel ha’e nae God
at a’. For my ain pairt I ha’e been
helpit, an’ I think it was him intil ‘t.
Wi’ his help, a man may warstle throu’
onything. I say I think it was himsel’ tuik
me throu’ ‘t, an’ here I stan’
afore ye, ready for the neist trible, an’ the
help ’at ’ll come wi’ ’t.
What it may be, God only knows!”
He was interrupted by the sudden opening of the door,
and the voice of the factor in exultant wrath.
“MacPhail!” it cried. “Come
out with you. Don’t think to sneak there.
I know you. What right have you to be on the premises?
Didn’t I send you about your business this morning?”
“Ay, sir, but ye didna pay me my wages,”
said Malcolm, who had sprung to the door and now stood
holding it half shut, while Mr Crathie pushed it half
open.
“No matter. You’re nothing better
than a housebreaker if you enter any building about
the place.”
“I brak nae lock,” returned Malcolm.
“I ha’e the key my lord gae me to ilka
place ‘ithin the wa’s excep’ the
strong room.”
“Give it me directly. I’m master
here now.”
“‘Deed, I s’ du nae sic thing, sir.
What he gae me I’ll keep.”
“Give up that key, or I’ll go at once
and get a warrant against you for theft.”
“Weel, we s’ refar’t to Maister
Soutar.”
“Damn your impudence—’at I
sud say’t!—what has he to do with
my affairs? Come out of that directly.”
“Huly, huly, sir!” returned Malcolm, in
terror lest he should discover who was with him.
“You low bred rascal! Who have you there
with you?”
