sae hearty."
"Life's wark wants life's food; and we canna sit wi' idle hands anither
seven days. You were saying you had news, what will it be?"
"Ay, I had forgotten. Willie Johnson's Willie has brought back wi' him
a young man. He wants a quiet room to himsel', and there's naebody in
Pittenloch can gie him ane, if it be na us, or the Widow Thompson.
He's offered a crown a week for ane."
"You should hae said instanter we'd be thankfu'. My certie! A crown a
week, that's a fair godsend, Davie."
"The widow has the first right to the godsend; if she canna tak' it, she'll
send it our way, Maggie."
"Davie, there is £50 in Largo Bank."
"I ken that."
"You'll tak' it. It will gie you a' the start you need at Aberdeen. Fayther
said £30 a year wad do, wi' a carefu' hand to guide it. You'll be Helping
yoursel' wi' a bit teaching afore it is a' gane."
"I'll no touch it. What are you talking aboot? Oor fayther saved it for
his auld age and his burying."
"And he'll ne'er be auld now, Davie! and God has found him a grave
that only He kens o'! I can spin, and weave, and sew, and the lasses
roun' aboot have keepit my needle aye busy. Why not? I served my
time in Largo, and I can cut a skirt or josey, and mak' a kirk gown,
better than any one nearer."
"You'll be wanting to marry ere lang, Maggie. Angus Raith thinks
much o' you; and £50 wad buy his share in Cupar's boat. I sall hae the
cottage, and the £50 is to be for your wedding and plenishing."
"This is na a time to talk o' wedding, Davie; and there is na any
promise made to Angus Raith! Go into Kinkell the morn and speak wi'
the minister; he is a wise man, and we will baith o' us do the thing he
says."
After this, the conversation drifted hither and thither, until the meal
Was finished. Then while Maggie tidied up the room, David opened the
door And stood thoughtfully within its shadow. "There's a voice in the
sea to-night," he said mournfully, "and when the tide turns back, the
wind will have its way."
"Can you see aught?"
"Naething. There's a heavy mist and a thick smur--but I hear steps on
the shingle. I'm thinking it will be Johnson wi' the stranger I spoke o'."
"Ay, weel, I hae gotten my feet dressed," and she looked down with
approval at her ribbed gray stockings, and low shoes, the brass clasps
of which she had just latched.
David did not answer her, for he was bidding his visitors welcome.
Then Maggie turned round with the freshly lit "cruisie" in her hand, and
her eyes were caught by two other eyes, and held as if by a spell. She
was conscious, as she stood blushing, that the stranger had been
astonished at her appearance, but she certainly did not dream that it was
her great beauty which had for one moment made him incapable of
controlling his sense of it. It was only one moment, in the next he
turned to David, and offered to pay him two shillings a day for the use
of his vacant room, and a share of his simple fare.
The interview lasted but a very short time. Maggie said, she could have
the room ready for him by noon of the following day, and as soon as
the matter was settled, he went.
He had not sat down, and so every one else had remained standing; but
at the open door he caught Maggie's eyes once more, and with a slight
movement of adieu to her, he disappeared. She trembled, and turned
hot and cold, and felt as if she must cry. It was with difficulty she hid
her emotion from her brother, who looked queerly at her as he said, "I
ne'er saw any man look like that man."
"He had a bonnie braidcloth cloak on."
"Sae handsome and sae stately; and if kings hae any grander way,
there's nae wonder folks bow down to them. I aye thocht that Dr.
Balmuto had the maist compelling look wi' him; but I think yonder man
wouldna fear him, e'en though the doctor had on his Geneva bands and
his silk gown."
"What's his name, Davie?"
"I dinna ken. I never thocht to ask him."
Then a singular sadness, one quite distinct from the shadow of their
known sorrow, settled upon both brother and sister. Was it a sorrow of
apprehension? one of those divinations which we call presentiments.
Neither David nor Maggie questioned it; they were not given to
analyzing Their feelings, indeed they were totally unacquainted with
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