I think it was Catriona turned
your heart in my direction. She is too simple to perceive as you
do the stiffness of her friend."
"I would not like to wager upon that, Mr. David," said she. "The
lasses have clear eyes. But at least she is your friend entirely,
as I was to see. I carried her in to his lordship my papa; and his
Advocacy being in a favourable stage of claret, was so good as to
receive the pair of us. HERE IS GREY EYES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
DEAVED WITH THESE DAYS PAST, said I, SHE IS COME TO PROVE THAT WE
SPOKE TRUE, AND I LAY THE PRETTIEST LASS IN THE THREE LOTHIANS AT
YOUR FEET--making a papistical reservation of myself. She suited
her action to my words: down she went upon her knees to him--I
would not like to swear but he saw two of her, which doubtless made
her appeal the more irresistible, for you are all a pack of
Mahomedans--told him what had passed that night, and how she had
withheld her father's man from following of you, and what a case
she was in about her father, and what a flutter for yourself; and
begged with weeping for the lives of both of you (neither of which
was in the slightest danger), till I vow I was proud of my sex
because it was done so pretty, and ashamed for it because of the
smallness of the occasion. She had not gone far, I assure you,
before the Advocate was wholly sober, to see his inmost politics
ravelled out by a young lass and discovered to the most unruly of
his daughters. But we took him in hand, the pair of us, and
brought that matter straight. Properly managed--and that means
managed by me--there is no one to compare with my papa."
"He has been a good man to me," said I.
"Well, he was a good man to Katrine, and I was there to see to it,"
said she.
"And she pled for me?" say I.
"She did that, and very movingly," 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
presume, because she begged my life? She would do that for a new
whelped puppy! I have had more than that to set me up, if you but
ken'd. She kissed that hand of mine. Ay, but she did. And why?
because she thought I was playing a brave part and might be going
to my death. It was not for my sake--but I need not be telling
that to you, that cannot look at me without laughter. It was for
the love of what she thought 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 my heart would quake
when I remember it?"
"I do laugh 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 some glimmerings 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 small," said I, looking down.
"Ah, poor Catriona!" cries Miss Grant.
And I could but stare upon her; for though I now see very well what
she was driving at (and perhaps some justification for the same), I
was never swift at the uptake in such flimsy talk.
"Ah well, Mr. David," she said, "it goes sore against my
conscience, but I see I shall have to be your speaking board. She
shall know you came to her straight upon the news of her
imprisonment; she shall know you would not pause to eat; and of our
conversation she shall hear just so much as I think convenient for
a maid of her age 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 know where she is, then?" I exclaimed.