"And what about Boris?" "The very name of Boris tires my tongue! I can do without Boris." "Well, then, that is good! Thou art learning 'the grand habit of doing without.'" "Wilt thou take me to Edinburgh? My mother would like thee to do that. I think I deserve it, Grandfather; yes, and so I ask thee." "If I was going, I should have no mind to go without thee. One thing I wish to know--in what way hast thou deserved it?" "I did not expect thee to ask me a question like that. Have I fretted and pined, and forgot to eat and sleep, and gone dowdy and slovenly, because my lover has been fool enough to desert me? Well, then, that is what any other girl would have done. But because I am of thy blood and stock, I take what comes to me as part of my day's work, and make no more grumble on the matter than one does about bad weather. Is that not the truth?" "One thing is sure--thou art the finest all round girl in the Orcades." "Then it seems to me thou should take me to Edinburgh. I want that something, that polish, only great cities can give me." "Blessings on thee! All Edinburgh can give, thou shalt have! But it is my advice to thee to remain here until Mrs. Brodie goes back, then go thou with her." "That will be what it should be. Mrs. Brodie, I feel, will be my stepmother; and----" "She will never step past thee. Fear not!" "Nor will any one--man or woman--step between thee and me! Doubt me not!" "Well, then, have thy way. I give thee my word to take thee to Edinburgh in the autumn. Thou shalt either stay with Mrs. Brodie or at the Queen's Hotel on Prince's Street, with old Adam Vedder." "Best of all is thy last offer. I will stay with thee. I am used to men's society. Women bore me." "Women bore me also." "Know this, there are three women who do not bore thee. Shall I speak their names?" "I will not hinder thee." "Sunna Vedder?" "I love her. She cannot bore me." "Rahal Ragnor?" "I respect her. She does not bore me--often." "Yes, that is so; it is but seldom thou sees her. Well, then, Barbara Brodie?" "I once loved her. She can never be indifferent to me." "Thou hast told me the truth and I will not follow up this catechism." "For that favour, I am thy debtor. I might not always have been so truthful. Now, then, be honest with me. What wilt thou do all the summer, with no lover to wait on thy whims and fancies?"