Part 24 (1/2)
”He has been a good ood man to Katrine, and I was there to see to it,” said she
”And she pled for ly,” said Miss Grant ”I would not like to tell you what she said-I find you vain enough already”
”God reward her for it!” cried I
”With Mr David Balfour, I suppose?” says she
”You do me too much injustice at the last!” I cried ”I would tremble to think of her in such hard hands Do you think I would presued my life? She would do that for a nehelped puppy! I have had more than that to set me up, if you but ken'd She kissed that hand of ht I was playing a brave part andtothat to you, that cannot look at ht was bravery I believe there is none but me and poor Prince Charlie had that honour done them Was this not to make a God of me? and do you not think h at you a good deal, and a good deal more than is quite civil,” said she; ”but I will tell you one thing: if you speak to her like that, you have sos of a chance”
”Me?” I cried, ”I would never dare I can speak to you, Miss Grant, because it's a matter of indifference what ye think of me But her? no fear!” said I
”I think you have the largest feet in all broad Scotland,” says she
”Troth they are no very s down
”Ah, poor Catriona!” cries Miss Grant
And I could but stare upon her; for though I now see very hat she was driving at (and perhaps some justification for the same), I was never swift at the uptake in such flioes sore againstboard She shall know you caht upon the news of her imprisonment; she shall know you would not pause to eat; and of our conversation she shall hear just so e and inexperience Believe me, you will be in that way much better served than you could serve yourself, for I will keep the big feet out of the platter”
”You knohere she is, then?” I exclaimed
”That I do, Mr David, and will never tell,” said she
”Why that?” I asked
”Well,” she said, ”I aood friend, as you will soon discover; and the chief of those that I am friend to is my papa I assure you, you will never heat nor melt me out of that, so you may spare me your sheep's eyes; and adieu to your David-Balfourshi+p for the now”
”But there is yet one thingthatmere ruin to herself, and to me too”
”Well,” she said, ”be brief; I have spent half the day on you already”
”My Lady Allardyce believes,” I began-”she supposes-she thinks that I abducted her”
The colour came into Miss Grant's face, so that at first I was quite abashed to find her ear so delicate, till I bethoughtrather with ether confir of her voice as she replied-
”I will take up the defence of your reputation,” she said ”You may leave it in my hands”
And with that she withdrew out of the library
CHAPTER XX-I CONTINUE TO MOVE IN GOOD SOCIETY