Part 49 (2/2)

”Grandpapa,” whispered Marion, as her husband and her brother drew near, ”do you think there ever was so glad and proud a woman as I am to-night?”

He had not time to answer her, but he shook her brother's hand cordially.

”G.o.d bless ye, Willie, man. Welcome home.” And for the moment he quite forgot the shock which the first sight of the young man had given him.

It was only for a moment, however, and the remembrance of it brought a cloud to his brow, and sharpened his voice as he said,--

”George, man, I think ye have been forgetting your wife with your speech-making.”

George laughed.

”She will forgive the first offence in that way, for the sake of the occasion.”

”Weel, weel! haste ye home now for it's mair than time baith for her and the bairn. No, ye'll go with her yourself I have sent Robbie Saugster with the inn fly to your aunt's, and they'll all come out in it. And I'm going to walk. I have a word to say to Captain Calderwood. Not go?” added the old man sharply as a look of hesitation and doubt pa.s.sed over Willie's face. ”Where on earth should you go but to your ain sister's house? It's hers while she's in it, and so it's yours, to say nothing o' George there, who surely is your friend and brother, whatever ye may ca' me.”

And as Captain Calderwood had something to say to him also, they set off together. But they walked half the distance before either uttered a word. Willie waited for Mr Dawson to speak, and he, remembering that no one bad seen him at his sister's house, was at a loss how to begin.

But when they came in sight of Saughleas, Captain Calderwood paused.

”Mr Dawson, I must say a word to you now, or I shall be taking a welcome from you under false pretences. I love your daughter. I have loved her all my life.”

Here was an opening with a vengeance!

”And what says she to that?” asked Mr Dawson grimly.

”I have never spoken a word to her. May I speak to her now?”

”And how was that--since it's been all your life?” said Mr Dawson ignoring the question.

”There were reasons enough. I was only the mate of the 'John Seaton,'

and she was the young lady of Saughleas. And I had promised my mother that I would never even look my love without your sanction. Afterwards there were other reasons as well.”

”I dare say ye may have a guess as to what her answer might be?”

”Mr Dawson, give me your leave to ask her. I have not seen her for years. Yes, I have seen her--but she has not seen me, and we have not spoken a word to each other, since the day before May's marriage.”

”And I mind ye left in a hurry. Did she send ye awa'?”

”No. I did not speak to her; but if I had stayed I must have spoken.

And what would you have thought of my pretensions beside those of Captain Harefield? And indeed, I knew well that, except for my love of her, I wasna her equal. So I said, I will forget her and I went away?”

”That's a long time since. And ye have never seen her again?”

”Yes. I have seen her. I saw her once in the Park riding with her brother and Captain Harefield, and I saw her looking at the pictures among all the great folk, and I used to see her whiles, playing in the garden with her sister's bairns.”

”And that was the way ye took to forget her?” said Mr Dawson dryly.

”No. I had given that up as impossible. That was the way I took to teach myself the folly of remembering her.”

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