Just tell it to her
plainly--tell her ye're a muckle ass at the off-set; and then, if I
were you, and ye could do it naitural, I would just mint to her I
was in some kind of a danger; a' weemenfolk likes that."
"I cannae lee, Alan, I cannae do it naitural," says I, mocking him.
"The more fool you!" says he. "Then ye'll can tell her that I
recommended it; that'll set her to the laughing; and I wouldnae
wonder but what that was the next best. But see to the pair of
them! If I didnae feel just sure of the lassie, and that she was
awful pleased and chief with Alan, I would think there was some
kind of hocus-pocus about you."
"And is she so pleased with ye, then, Alan?" I asked.
"She thinks a heap of me," says he. "And I'm no like you: I'm one
that can tell. That she does--she thinks a heap of Alan. And
troth! I'm thinking a good deal of him mysel; and with your
permission, Shaws, I'll be getting a wee yont amang the bents, so
that I can see what way James goes."
One after another went, till I was left alone beside the breakfast
table; James to Dunkirk, Alan dogging him, Catriona up the stairs
to her own chamber. I could very well understand how she should
avoid to be alone with me; yet was none the better pleased with it
for that, and bent my mind to entrap her to an interview before the
men returned. Upon the whole, the best appeared to me to do like
Alan. If I was out of view among the sandhills, the fine morning
would decoy her forth; and once I had her in the open, I could
please myself.
No sooner said than done; nor was I long under the bield of a
hillock before she appeared at the inn door, looked here and there,
and (seeing nobody) set out by a path that led directly seaward,
and by which I followed her. I was in no haste to make my presence
known; the further she went I made sure of the longer hearing to my
suit; and the ground being all sandy it was easy to follow her
unheard. The path rose and came at last to the head of a knowe.
Thence I had a picture for the first time of what a desolate
wilderness that inn stood hidden in; where was no man to be seen,
nor any house of man, except just Bazin's and the windmill. Only a
little further on, the sea appeared and two or three ships upon it,
pretty as a drawing. One of these was extremely close in to be so
great a vessel; and I was aware of a shock of new suspicion, when I
recognised the trim of the Seahorse. What should an English ship
be doing so near in to France? Why was Alan brought into her
neighbourhood, and that in a place so far from any hope of rescue?
and was it by accident, or by design, that the daughter of James
More should walk that day to the seaside?
Presently I came forth behind her in the front of the sandhills and
above the beach. It was here long and solitary; with a man-o'-
war's boat drawn up about the middle of the prospect, and an
officer in charge and pacing the sands like one who waited. I sat
down where the rough grass a good deal covered me, and looked for
what should follow. Catriona went straight to the boat; the
officer met her with civilities; they had ten words together; I saw
a letter changing hands; and there was Catriona returning. At the
same time, as if this were all her business on the Continent, the
boat shoved off and was headed for the Seahorse. But I observed
the officer to remain behind and disappear among the bents.
I liked the business little; and the more I considered of it, liked
it less. Was it Alan the officer was seeking? or Catriona? She
drew near with her head down, looking constantly on the sand, and
made so tender a picture that I could not bear to doubt her
innocence. The next, she raised her face and recognised me; seemed
to hesitate, and then came on again, but more slowly, and I thought
with a changed colour. And at that thought, all else that was upon
my bosom--fears, suspicions, the care of my friend's life--was
clean swallowed up; and I rose to my feet and stood waiting her in
a drunkenness of hope.