"Dinna say it, Angus! Dinna say it! I warn you to keep a still tongue in
your head."

"If he isna your man, he ought to be."

In a moment she had struck him on the mouth a blow so swift and stinging
that it staggered him. Allan heard it; he stepped quickly forward and put
his hand upon her shoulder. She was quivering like a wounded bird. But she
drew herself proudly away from Allan's touch and faced Angus in a blaze of
scornful passion.

"Ay; strike me back! It wad be like you!" For the first impulse of the man
on recovering himself had been to raise his hand. "But I'd rayther you
struck me dead at your feet, than to be your wife for ane five minutes."

Angus laughed mockingly. "You kent wha was behind the rock dootless! The
blank--blank--blank fine gentleman! The----the----the----" and a volley of
epithets and imprecations followed which made Maggie put her hands to her
ears.

"Let me take you home." It was Allan who spoke, and again he laid his hand
gently upon her. She shook it angrily off. "Dinna touch me, sir!" she
cried, "I hae had scorn and sorrow in plenty for you. I can tak' mysel'
hame finely;" and she walked rapidly away with her head flung proudly
backward.

The girl had never been taught to control her feelings. She was a natural
woman suffering under a sense of insult and injustice, and resenting it.
And she was angry at Allan for being a witness to her emotion. His very
calmness had seemed like a reproof to her. Wrath, chagrin, shame,