She threw up her chin and made a step and a cry at me, so that I
fell back incontinent.
"Out upon your leeing throat!" she cried. "What! ye come and speir
at me! She's in jyle, whaur ye took her to--that's all there is to
it. And of a' the beings ever I beheld in breeks, to think it
should be to you! Ye timmer scoun'rel, if I had a male left to my
name I would have your jaicket dustit till ye raired."
I thought it not good to delay longer in that place, because I
remarked her passion to be rising. As I turned to the horse-post
she even followed me; and I make no shame to confess that I rode
away with the one stirrup on and scrambling for the other.
As I knew no other quarter where I could push my inquiries, there
was nothing left me but to return to the Advocate's. I was well
received by the four ladies, who were now in company together, and
must give the news of Prestongrange and what word went in the west
country, at the most inordinate length and with great weariness to
myself; while all the time that young lady, with whom I so much
desired to be alone again, observed me quizzically and seemed to
find pleasure in the sight of my impatience. At last, after I had
endured a meal with them, and was come very near the point of
appealing for an interview before her aunt, she went and stood by
the music-case, and picking out a tune, sang to it on a high key--
"He that will not when he may, When he will he shall have nay."
But this was the end of her rigours, and presently, after making
some excuse of which I have no mind, she carried me away in private
to her father's library. I should not fail to say she was dressed
to the nines, and appeared extraordinary handsome.
"Now, Mr. David, sit ye down here and let us have a two-handed
crack," said she. "For I have much to tell you, and it appears
besides that I have been grossly unjust to your good taste."
"In what manner, Mistress Grant?" I asked. "I trust I have never
seemed to fail in due respect."
"I will be your surety, Mr, David," said she. "Your respect,
whether to yourself or your poor neighbours, has been always and
most fortunately beyond imitation. But that is by the question.
You got a note from me?" she asked.
"I was so bold as to suppose so upon inference," said I, "and it
was kindly thought upon."
"It must have prodigiously surprised you," said she. "But let us
begin with the beginning. You have not perhaps forgot a day when
you were so kind as to escort three very tedious misses to Hope
Park? I have the less cause to forget it myself, because you was
so particular obliging as to introduce me to some of the principles
of the Latin grammar, a thing which wrote itself profoundly on my
gratitude."
"I fear I was sadly pedantical," said I, overcome with confusion at
the memory. "You are only to consider I am quite unused with the
society of ladies."
"I will say the less about the grammar then," she replied. "But
how came you to desert your charge? 'He has thrown her out,
overboard, his ain dear Annie!'" she hummed; "and his ain dear
Annie and her two sisters had to taigle home by theirselves like a
string of green geese! It seems you returned to my papa's, where
you showed yourself excessively martial, and then on to realms
unknown, with an eye (it appears) to the Bass Rock; solan geese
being perhaps more to your mind than bonny lasses."
Through all this raillery there was something indulgent in the
lady's eye which made me suppose there might be better coming.
"You take a pleasure to torment me," said I, "and I make a very
feckless plaything; but let me ask you to be more merciful. At
this time there is but the one thing that I care to hear of, and
that will be news of Catriona."
"Do you call her by that name to her face, Mr. Balfour?" she asked.
"In troth, and I am not very sure," I stammered.
"I would not do so in any case to strangers," said Miss Grant.