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〃There's　what　I　hae；〃　returned　Donal。

〃Na；　na；　nane　o'　that！〃　said　Andrew。　〃Ye're　treatin'　me　like　a
muckle；　reivin'；　sornin'　beggarofferin'　me　a'　that　at　ance！　Whaur
syne　wad　be　the　prolonged　sweetness　o'　haein'　't　i'　portions　frae
yer　han'；　as　frae　the　neb　o'　an　angel…corbie　sent　frae　verra　hame
wi'　yer　denner！〃Here　a　glimmer　of　the　old　merriment　shone　through
the　worn　look　and　pale　eyes。〃Na；　na；　sir；〃　he　went　on；　〃jist　talk
the　thing　ower　wi'　Doory；　an'　lat　her　hae　what　she　wants　an'　nae
mair。　She　wudna　like　it。　Wha　kens　what　may　came　i'　the
meantimeDeith　himsel'；　maybe！　Or　seegie　Doory　a　five　shillins；
an'　whan　that's　dune　she　can　lat　ye　ken！〃

Donal　was　forced　to　leave　it　thus；　but　he　did　his　utmost　to　impress
upon　Doory　that　all　he　had　was　at　her　disposal。

〃I　had　new　clothes；〃　he　said；　〃before　I　came；　I　have　all　I　want　to
eat　and　drink；　and　for　books；　there's　a　whole　ancient　library　at　my
service！what　possibly　could　I　wish　for　more？　It's　a　mere　luxury　to
hand　the　money　over　to　you；　Doory！　I'm　thinkin'；　Doory；〃　for　he　had
by　this　time　got　to　address　her　by　her　husband's　name　for　her；
〃there's　naebody　i'　this　warl'；　'cep'　the　oonseen　Lord　himsel'；
lo'es　yer　man　sae　weel　as　you　an'　me；　an'　weel　ken　I　you　an'　him　wad
share　yer　last　wi'　me；　sae　I'm　only　giein'　ye　o'　yer　ain　gude　wull；
an'　I'll　doobt　that　gien　ye　takna　sae　lang　as　I　hae。〃

Thus　adjured；　and　satisfied　that　her　husband　was　content；　the　old
woman　made　no　difficulty。




CHAPTER　XLIII。

EPPY　AND　KENNEDY。

When　Stephen　Kennedy　heard　that　Eppy　had　gone　back　to　her
grandparents；　a　faint　hope　revived　in　his　bosom；　he　knew　nothing　of
the　late　passage　between　the　two　parties。　He　but　knew　that　she　was
looking　sad：　she　might　perhaps　allow　him　to　be　of　some　service　to
her！　Separation　had　fostered　more　and　more　gentle　thoughts　of　her　in
his　heart；　he　was　ready　to　forgive　her　everything；　and　believe
nothing　serious　against　her；　if　only　she　would　let　him　love　her
again。　Modesty　had　hitherto　kept　him　from　throwing　himself　in　her
way；　but　he　now　haunted　the　house　in　the　hope　of　catching　a　glimpse
of　her；　and　when　she　began　to　go　again　into　the　town；　saw　her
repeatedly；　following　her　to　be　near　her；　but　taking　care　she　should
not　see　him：　partly　from　her　self…absorption　he　had　succeeded　in
escaping　her　notice。

At　length；　however；　one　night；　he　tried　to　summon　up　courage　to
accost　her。　It　was　a　lovely；　moonlit　night；　half　the　street　black
with　quaint　shadows；　the　other　half　shining　like　sand　in　the　yellow
light。　On　the　moony　side　people　standing　at　their　doors　could
recognize　each　other　two　houses　away；　but　on　the　other；　friends
might　pass　without　greeting。　Eppy　had　gone　into　the　baker's；　Kennedy
had　seen　her　go　in；　and　stood　in　the　shadow；　waiting；　all　but
determined　to　speak　to　her。　She　staid　a　good　while；　but　one
accustomed　to　wait　for　fish　learns　patience。　At　length　she　appeared。
By　this　time；　however；　though　not　his　patience；　Kennedy's　courage
had　nearly　evaporated；　and　when　he　saw　her　he　stepped　under　an
archway；　let　her　pass；　and　followed　afresh。　All　at　once　resolve；
which　yet　was　no　resolve；　awoke　in　him。　It　was　as　if　some　one　took
him　and　set　him　before　her。　She　started　when　he　stepped　in　front；
and　gave　a　little　cry。

〃Dinna　be　feart；　Eppy；〃　he　said；　〃I　wudna　hurt　a　hair　o'　yer　heid。　I
wud　raither　be　skinned　mysel'！〃

〃Gang　awa；〃　said　Eppy。　〃Ye　hae　no　richt　to　stan'　i'　my　gait！〃

〃Nane　but　the　richt　o'　lo'ein'　ye　better　nor　ever！〃　said　Kennedy；
〃gien　sae　be　as　ye'll　lat　me　ony　gait　shaw　't！〃

The　words　softened　her；　she　had　dreaded　reproach；　if　not　indignant
remonstrance。　She　began　to　cry。

〃Gien　onything　i'　my　pooer　wud　mak　the　grief　lichter　upo'　ye；　Eppy；〃
he　said；　〃ye　hae　but　to　name　't！　I'm　no　gauin'　to　ask　ye　to　merry
me；　for　that　I　ken　ye　dinna　care　aboot；　but　gien　I　micht　be　luikit
upon　as　a　freen'；　if　no　to　you；　yet　to　yoursalloot　onyw'y　to　help
i'　yer　trible；　I　mean；　I'm　ready　to　lay　me　i'　the　dirt　afore　ye。　I
hae　nae　care　for　mysel'　ony　mair；　an'　maun　do　something　for
somebodyan'　wha　sae　soon　as　yersel'；　Eppy！〃

For　sole　answer；　Eppy　went　on　crying。　She　was　far　from　happy。　She
had　nearly　persuaded　herself　that　all　was　over　between　her　and　lord
Forgue；　and　almost　she　could；　but　for　shame；　have　allowed　Kennedy　to
comfort　her　as　an　old　friend。　Everything　in　her　mind　was　so
confused；　and　everything　around　her　so　miserable；　that　she　could　but
cry。　She　continued　crying；　and　as　they　were　in　a　walled　lane　into
which　no　windows　looked；　Kennedy；　in　the　simplicity　of　his　heart；
and　the　desire　to　comfort　her　who　little　from　him　deserved　comfort；
came　up　to　her；　and　putting　his　arm　round　her；　said　again；

〃Dinna　be　feart　of　me；　Eppy。　I'm　a　man　ower　sair…hertit　to　do　ye　ony
hurt。　It's　no　as　thinkin'　ye　my　ain；　Eppy；　I　wud　preshume　to　du
onything　for　ye；　but　as　an　auld　freen'；　fain　to　tak　the　dog　aff　o'
ye。　Are　ye　in　want　o'　onything？　Ye　maun　hae　a　heap　o'　trible；　I　weel
ken；　wi'　yer　gran'father's　mischance；　an'　it's　easy　to　un'erstan'
'at　things　may　well　be　turnin'　scarce　aboot　ye；　but　be　sure　o'　this；
that　as　lang's　my　mither　has　onything；　she'll　be　blyth　to　share　the
same　wi'　you　an'　yours。〃

He　said　his　mother；　but　she　had　nothing　save　what　he　provided　her
with。

〃I　thank　ye；　Stephen；〃　said　Eppy；　touched　with　his　goodness；　〃but
there's　nae　necessity；　we　hae　plenty。〃

She　moved　on；　her　apron　still　to　her　eyes。　Kennedy　followed　her。

〃Gien　the　yoong　lord　hae　wranged　ye　ony　gait；〃　he　said　from　behind
her；　〃an'　gien　there　be　ony　amen's　ye　wad　hae　o'　him；〃

She　turned　with　a　quickness　that　was　fierce；　and　in　the　dim　light
Kennedy　saw　her　eyes　blazing。

〃I　want　naething　frae　your　han'；　Stephen　Kennedy；〃　she　said。　〃My
lord's　naething　to　younor　yet　muckle　to　me！〃　she　added；　with
sudden　reaction　and　an　outburst　of　self…pity；　and　again　fell　a
weepingand　sobbing　now。

With　the　timidity　of　a　strong　man　before　the　girl　he　loves　and
therefore　fears；　Kennedy　once　more　tried　to　comfort　her；　wiping　her
eyes　with　her　apron。　While　he　did　so；　a　man；　turning　a　corner
quickly；　came　almost　upon　them。　He　started　back；　then　came　nearer；
looked　hard　at　them；　and　spoke。　It　was　lord　Forgue。

〃Eppy！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　in　which　indignation　blended　with
surprise。

Eppy　gave　a　cry；　and　ran　to　him。　He　pushed　her　away。

〃My　lord；〃　said　Kennedy；　〃the　lass　will　nane　o'　me　or　mine。　I　sair
doobt　there's　nane　but　yersel'　can　please　her。　But　I　sweir　by　God；
my　lord；　gien　ye　du　her　ony　wrang；　I'll　no　rest；　nicht　nor　day；　till
I　hae　made　ye　repent　it。〃

〃Go　to　the　devil！〃　said　Forgue；　〃there's　an　old　crow；　I　suspect；　yet
to　pluck　between　us！　For　me　you　may　take　her；　though。　I　don't　go
halves。〃

Eppy　laid　her　hand　timidly　on　his　arm；　but　again　he　pushed　her　away。

〃Oh；　my　lord！〃　she　sobbed；　and　could　say　no　more　for　weeping。

〃How　is　it　I　find　you　here　with　this　man？〃　he　asked。　〃I　don't　want
to　be　unfair　to　you；　but　it　looks　rather　bad！〃

〃My　lord；〃　said　Kennedy。

〃Hold　your　tongue；　let　her　speak　for　herself。〃

〃I　had　no　tryst　wi'　him；　my　lord！　I　never　said　come　nigh　me；〃　sobbed
Eppy。　〃Ye　see　what　ye　hae　dune！〃　she　cried；　turning　in　anger　on
Kennedy；　and　her　tears　suddenly　ceasing。　〃Never　but　ill　hae　ye
brocht　me！　What　business　had　ye　to　come　efter　me　this　gait；　makin'
mischief　'atween　my　lord　an'　me？　Can　a　body　no　set　fut　ayont　the
door…sill；　but　they　maun　be　followt　o'　them　they　wud　see　far
eneuch！〃

Kennedy　turned　and　went；　and　Eppy　with　a　fresh　burst　of　tears　turned
to　go　also。　But　she　had　satisfied　Forgue　that　there　was　nothing
between　them；　and　he　was　soon　more　successful　than　Kennedy　in
consoling　her。

While　absent　he　had　been　able　enough　to　get　on　without　her；　but　no
sooner　was　he　home　than；　in　the　weary　lack　of　interest；　the　feelings
which；　half　lamenting；　half　rejoicing；　he　had　imagined　extinct；
began　to　revive；　and　he　went　to　the　town　vaguely　hoping　to　get　a
sight　of　Eppy。　Coming　upon　her　t阾e　？t阾e　with　her　old　lover；　first
a　sense　of　unpardonable　injury　possessed　him；　and　next　the
conviction　that　he　was　as　madly　in　love　with　her　as　ever。　The　tide
of　old　tenderness　came　throbbing　and　streaming　back　over　the　ghastly
sands　of　jealousy；　and　ere　they　parted　he　had　made　with　her　an
appointment　to　meet　the　next　night　in　a　more　suitable　spot。

Donal　was　seated　by　Andrew's　bedside　reading：　he　had　now　the
opportunity　of　bringing　many　things　before　him　such　as　the　old　man
did　not　know　to　exist。　Those　last　days　of　sickness　and　weakness　were
among　the　most　blessed　of　his　life；　much　that　could　not　be　done　for
many　a　good　man　with　ten　times　his　education；　could　be　done　for　a
man　like　Andrew　Comin。

Eppy　had　done　her　best　to　remove　all　traces　of　emotion　ere　she
re…entered　the　house；　but　she　could　not　help　the　shining　of　her
eyes：　the　joy…lamp　relighted　in　her　bosom　shone　through　them：　and
Andrew　looking　up　when　she　entered；　Donal；　seated　with　his　back　to
her；　at　once　knew　her　secret：　her　grandfather　read　it　from　her　face；
and　Donal　read　it　from　his。

〃She　has　seen　Forgue！〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃I　hope　the　old　man　will
die　soon。〃




CHAPTER　XLIV。

HIGH　AND　LOW。

When　lord　Morven　heard　of　his　son's　return；　he　sent　for　Donal；
received　him　in　a　friendly　way；　gave　him　to　understand　that；　however
he　might　fail　to　fall　in　with　his　views；　he　depended　thoroughly　on
his　honesty；　and　begged　he　would　keep　him　informed　of　his　son's
proceedings。

Donal　replied　that；　while　he　fully　acknowledged　his　lordship's　right
to　know　what　his　son　was　doing；　he　could　not　take　the　office　of　a
spy。

〃But　I　will　warn　lord　Forgue；〃　he　concluded；　〃that　I　may　see　it
right　to　let　his　father　know　what　he　is　about。　I　fancy；　however；　he
understands　as　much　already。〃

〃Pooh！　that　would　be　only　to　teach　him　cunning；〃　said　the　earl。

〃I　can　do　nothing　underhand；〃　replied　Donal。　〃I　will　help　no　man　to
keep　an　unrighteous　secret；　but　neither　will　I　secretly　disclose
it。〃

Meeting　him　a　few　days　after；　Forgue　would　have　passed　him　without
recognition；　but　Donal　stopped　him；　and　said

〃I　believe；　my　lord；　you　have　seen　Eppy　since　your　return。〃

〃What　the　deuce　is　that　to　you？〃

〃I　wish　your　lordship　to　understand　that　whatever　comes　to　my