with a ruffled linen cap upon her head, and a faded tartan plaid about her
shoulders. David's offer had been a great piece of good fortune to her,
but she had no intention of letting the obligation rest on her side. Her
first words on landing were a complaint.

"I ne'er was on such an upsetting sea, niece Maggie. It's vera seldom I
hae the grievous prostration o' the sea sickness, but the boat was ill
rigged and waur managed, and if I hadna been a vera Judith in fortitude, I
wad hae just turned round about, and gane my ways hame again."

"The 'Allan Campbell' is thought to be a fine boat, aunt."

"Fife fishers dinna ken a' things."

"They'll ken aboot boats, though."

"They may. I'm no sae sure. They lose a gude many every year that comes to
them."

"How is Aunt Margery?"

"Her man has got into the excise. She holds her head as high as a hen
drinking water aboot it. I never could abide pride o' any kind. It's no in
me to think mair o' mysel' than other folks think o' me."

Allan joined the family party in the evening, and he did his best to win
Janet Caird's favor, and conciliate her numerous prejudices. But
unfortunately she intercepted a glance intended for Maggie, and her
suspicions were at once roused. Young people, in her opinion, were full of
original and acquired sins, and she made up her mind in a moment that