"It's what I ha'e been sayin' for the last three month," said
Malcolm.

"Ay, I daursay; but ye ha'e been sayin' 't upo' the braid o' yer
back, and I wad ha'e ye up an' sayin' 't."

"Gien I but kent what to du!" said Malcolm, for the thousandth
time.

"Ye can at least gang whaur ye ha'e a chance o' learnin'," returned
his friend.--"Come an' tak yer supper wi' me the nicht--a
rizzart haddie an' an egg, an' I'll tell ye mair aboot yer mither."

But Malcolm avoided a promise, lest it should interfere with what
he might find best to do.



CHAPTER IV: KELPIE'S AIRING


When Miss Horn left him--with a farewell kindlier than her
greeting--rendered yet more restless by her talk, he went back
to the stable, saddled Kelpie, and took her out for an airing.

As he passed the factor's house, Mrs Crathie saw him from the
window. Her colour rose. She arose herself also, and looked after
him from the door--a proud and peevish woman, jealous of her
husband's dignity, still more jealous of her own.