"Na, na, na; that is the thing I'm feared for I dinna want my name in
everybody's lips; and you ken, sir, hoo women-folks talk anent women.
They'd say; 'Weel, weel, there's aye fire where there's smoke,' and the
like o' that, and they wad shake their heads, and look oot o' the corner
o' their e'en, and I couldna thole it, sir."

"There is David to remember also. Dr. Balmuto thinks with me. He is to go
to Glasgow College in the autumn, and a quarrel might now be a bad thing
for his whole life. He wants every hour for study, he has no time for
Angus Raith I think."

"Thank you, sir--and if you wad try and forget the shame put upon me, and
no quite tak' away the gude will you had for me, I'd be vera grateful and
happy." And she covered her eyes with her left hand, and shyly put out the
right one to Allan.

"Oh, Maggie! Maggie!" he said almost in a whisper, "you little know how
you try me! Dear girl, forget all, and be happy!" And as her hand lay in
his hand, his eyes fell upon it. It was a brown hand, large, but finely
formed, the hand of a sensitive, honorable, capable woman. It was the hand
with which she had struck Angus Raith; yet Allan bowed his head to it, and
left both a kiss and a tear on its palm.



CHAPTER V.

A PARTING.

"Each on his own strict line we move