Part 8 (2/2)
”Lady Allardyce,” said I, ”for that I suppose to be your na, which is a very poor ive me rather a hoallow's foot, a young lady whom I have seen but once I have told you already I would never be so untenty as to coo some ith you If I continue to like the lass as well as I have reason to expect, it will be soallows either, that keeps the two of us apart As for my family, I found it by the wayside like a lost bawbee! I owe less than nothing to my uncle and if ever I marry, it will be to please one person: that's myself”
”I have heard this kind of talk before ye were born,” said Mrs Ogilvy, ”which is perhaps the reason that I think of it so little There's much to be considered This James More is a kinsman of mine, to my shaed or headed, that's always been poor Scotland's story And if it was just the hanging! For allohich would be at least an end to hiood-hearted, and lets herself be deaved all day with a runt of an auld wife like me But, ye see, there's the weak bit She's daft about that long, false, fleeching beggar of a father of hers, and red- Jauide her, ye would find yourself sore mista'en Ye say ye've seen her but the once”
”Spoke with her but the once, I should have said,” I interrupted ”I saw her again this e's”
This I daresay I put in because it sounded well; but I was properly paid for my ostentation on the return
”What's this of it?” cries the old lady, with a sudden pucker of her face ”I think it was at the Advocate's door-cheek that ye met her first”
I told her that was so
”H' tone, ”I have your bare word for it,” she cries, ”as to who and what you are By your way of it, you're Balfour of the Shaws; but for what I ken you may be Balfour of the Deevil's oxter It's possible ye may come here for what ye say, and it's equally possible yeto sit quiet, and to have keepit all ood enough Whig to be made a fool of neither And I tell you fairly, there's too much Advocate's door and Advocate'shere for a hter Ye can tell that to the Advocate that sent ye, with my fond love And I kissthe action to the word; ”and a braw journey to ye back to where ye cam frae”
”If you think me a spy,” I broke out, and speech stuck in my throat I stood and looked murder at the old lady for a space, then bowed and turned away
”Here! Hoots! The callant's in a creel!” she cried ”Think ye a spy? what else would I think ye-; and as I cannot fight, I'll have to apologise A bonny figure I would be with a broadsword Ay! ay!” she went on, ”you're none such a bad lad in your way; I think ye'll have so vices But, O! Davit Balfour, ye're damned countryfeed Ye'll have to win over that, lad; ye'll have to soople your back-bone, and think a wee pickle less of your dainty self; and ye'll have to try to find out that worenadiers But that can never be To your last day you'll ken no ”
I had never been used with such expressions froue, the only two ladies I had known, Mrs Ca most devout and most particular women; and I suppose my amazeilvy burst forth suddenly in a fit of laughter
”Keepwith her mirth, ”you have the finest tihter of a Hieland cateran! Davie, my dear, I think we'll have to make a match of it-if it was just to see the weans And now,” she went on, ”there's nowoman is from home, and it's my fear that the old woman is no suitable companion for your father's son Forbye that I have nobody but h alone with a sedooctive youth And come back another day for your saxpence!” she cried after ave hts a boldness they had otheranted For two days the ie of Catriona had round, so that I scarce enjoyed lint of her in a corner of my mind But now she came immediately near; I seemed to touch her, whom I had never touched but the once; I letall about, and before and behind, saw the world like an undesirable desert, wheretheir duty hat constancy they have, and Catriona alone there to offer me some pleasure of my days I wondered at myself that I could dwell on such considerations in that tirace; and when I remembered my youth I was ashamed I had my studies to complete: I had to be called into some useful business; I had yet to take my part of service in a place where all must serve; I had yet to learn, and know, and prove myself a man; and I had so much sense as blush that I should be already tehts and duties My education spoke hoar biscuits but on the hard food of the truth I knew that he was quite unfit to be a husband as not prepared to be a father also; and for a boy like me to play the father was a hts and about half-way back to town I saw a figure cohtened It see to say first; and re at the Advocate's I made sure that I would find myself struck dumb But when she came up my fears fled away; not even the consciousness of what I had been privately thinking disconcerted me the least; and I found I could talk with her as easily and rationally as Iyour sixpence; did you get it?”
I told her no; but now I had h I have seen you to-day already,” said I, and told her where and when
”I did not see you,” she said ”My eyes are big, but there are better thanin the house”
”That was Miss Grant,” said I, ”the eldest and the bonniest”
”They say they are all beautiful,” said she
”They think the sa to theto observe you”
”It is a pity about ht have seen the the fine time with the fine music and the pretty ladies”
”There is just where you are wrong,” said I; ”for I was as uncouth as a sea-fish upon the brae of a o about with rudas men than pretty ladies”
”Well, I would think so too, at all events!” said she, at which we both of us laughed
”It is a strange thing, now,” said I ”I am not the least afraid with you, yet I could have run from the Miss Grants And I was afraid of your cousin too”
”O, I think any man will be afraid of her,” she cried ”My father is afraid of her hiht me to a stop I looked at her as she walked by my side; I recalled the uessed of hi the one with the other, felt like a traitor to be silent