must make the best of what time she would give him.

"Noo, Lizzy!" he said hurriedly. "Speyk while ye can."

"Ma'colm," said the girl, and looked him full in the face for a
moment, for agony had overcome shame; then her gaze sought the far
horizon, which to seafaring people is as the hills whence cometh
their aid to the people who dwell among mountains; "--Ma'colm,
he's gaein' to merry Leddy Florimel."

Malcolm started. Could the girl have learned more concerning his
sister than had yet reached himself? A fine watching over her was
his, truly! But who was this he?

Lizzy had never uttered the name of the father of her child, and
all her people knew was that he could not be a fisherman, for then
he would have married her before the child was born. But Malcolm
had had a suspicion from the first, and now her words all but
confirmed it.--And was that fellow going to marry his sister? He
turned white with dismay--then red with anger, and stood speechless.

But he was quickly brought to himself by a sharp pinch under the
shoulder blade from Kelpie's long teeth: he had forgotten her, and
she had taken the advantage.

"Wha tellt ye that, Lizzy?" he said.

"I'm no at leeberty to say, Ma'colm, but I'm sure it's true, an'
my hert's like to brak."