she insisted on gaining her point staggered Lamh Laudher not a little.

"There must be something undher this," he replied, "that makes you set
your heart on it so much. Ellen, tell me the truth; what is it?"

"If I loved you less, John, an' my brother too, I wouldn't care so much
about it. Remember that I'm a woman, an' on my knees before you. A
blow from you would make him take your life or mine, sooner than that I
should become your wife. You ought to know his temper."

"You know, Ellen, I can't at heart refuse you any thing. I will not
strike your brother."

"You promise, before God, that no provocation will make you strike him."

"That's hard, Ellen; but--well, I do; before God, I won't--an' it's for
your sake I say it. Now, get up, dear, get up. You have got me to do
what no mortal livin' could bring me to but yourself. I suppose that's
what made you send Nanse M'Collum for my staff?"

"Nancy M'Collum! When?"

"Why, a while ago. She tould me a quare enough story, or rather no story
at all, only that you couldn't come, an' you could come, an' I was to
give up my staff to her by your ordhers."

"She tould you false, John. I know nothing about what you say."

"Well, Ellen," replied Lamh Laudher, with a firm seriousness of manner,
"you have brought me into danger. I doubt, without knowin' it. For my