‘I ken ye dinna ken whaur she is, for I div,’ returned Kirsty. ‘Ye answer a queston I never speired! What are ye aboot wi’ Phemy, I challenge ye again! Puir lassie, she has nae brither to say the word!’ ‘That’s a’ verra weel; but ye see, Kirsty,’ he began--then stopped, and having stared at her a moment in silence, exclaimed, ‘Lord, what a splendid woman you’ve grown!’--He had probably been drinking with his mother. Kirsty sat speechless, motionless, changeless as a soldier on guard. Gordon had to resume and finish his sentence. ‘As I was going to say, _you_ can’t take the place of a brother to her, Kirsty, else I should know how to answer you!--It’s awkward when a lady takes you to task,’ he added with a drawl. ‘Dinna trouble yer heid aboot that, Francie: hert ye hae little to trouble aboot onything!’ rejoined Kirsty. Then changing to English as he had done, she went on: ‘I claim no consideration on that score.’ Francis Gordon felt very uncomfortable. It was deuced hard to be bullied by a woman! He stood silent, because he had nothing to say. ‘Do you mean to marry my Phemy?’ asked Kirsty. ‘Really, Miss Barclay,’ Francis began, but Kirsty interrupted him. ‘Mr. Gordon,’ she said sternly, ‘be a man, and answer me. If you mean to marry her, say so, and go and tell her father--or my father, if you prefer. She is at the Knowe, miserable, poor child! that she did not meet you to-night. That was my doing; she could not help herself.’ Gordon broke into a strained laugh. ‘Well, you’ve got her, and you can keep her!’ he said. ‘You have not answered my question!’ ‘Really, Miss Barclay, you must not be too hard on a man! Is a fellow not to speak to a woman but he must say at once whether or not he intends to marry her?’ ‘Answer my question.’ ‘It is a ridiculous one!’ ‘You have been trystin’ with her almost every night for something like a month!’ rejoined Kirsty, ‘and the question is not at all ridiculous.’ ‘Let it be granted then, and let the proper person ask me the question, and I will answer it. You, pardon me, have nothing to do with the matter in hand.’ ‘That is the answer of a coward,’ returned Kirsty, her cheek flaming at last. ‘You know the guileless nature of your old schoolmaster, and take advantage of it! You know that the poor girl has not a man to look to, and you will not have a woman befriend her! It is cowardly, ungrateful, mean, treacherous. You are a bad man, Francie! You always were a fool, but now you are a wicked fool! If I were her brother--if I were a man, I would thrash you!’ ‘It’s a good thing you’re not able, Kirsty! I should be frightened!’ said Gordon, with a laugh and a shrug, thinking to throw the thing aside as done with. ‘I said, if I was a man!’ returned Kirsty. ‘I did not say, if I was able. I _am_ able.