"An' gien I had ta'en the disgrace ye offert me, ye wad hae drawn back?" "No, certainly." "Ye wasna tryin' me, then: ye was duin' yer best to corrup' me." "I'm no splitter of hairs." "My lord, it's nane but the corrup'ible wad seek to corrup'." The marquis gnawed a nail or two in silence. Miss Horn dragged an easy-chair within a couple of yards of him. "We'll see wha tires o' this ghem first, my lord," she said as she sank into its hospitable embrace. The marquis turned to lock the door, but there was no key in it. Neither was there any chair within reach, and he was not fond of standing. Clearly, his enemy had the advantage. "Hae ye h'ard o' puir Sandy Graham--hoo they're misguidin' him, my lord?" she asked with composure. The marquis was first astounded, and then tickled by her assurance. "No," he answered. "They hae turnt him oot o' hoose an' ha'--schuil, at least, an' hame," she rejoined. "I may say they hae turnt him oot o' Scotlan', for what presbytery wad hae him efter he had been fun' guilty o' no thinkin' like ither fowk? Ye maun stan' his guid freen', my lord." "He shall be Malcolm's tutor," answered the marquis, not to be outdone in coolness, "and go with him to Edinburgh--or Oxford, if he prefers it." "Never yerl o' Colonsay had a better," said Miss Horn. "Softly, softly, ma'am," returned the marquis. "I did not say he should go in that style." "He s' gang as my lord o' Colonsay or he s' no gang at _your_ expense, my lord," said his antagonist. "Really, ma'am, one would think you were my grandmother, to hear you order my affairs for me." "I wuss I war, my lord: I sud gar ye hear risson upo' baith sides o' yer heid, I s' warran'." The marquis laughed. "Well, I can't stand here all day," he said, impatiently swinging one leg. "I'm weel awaur o' that, my lord," answered Miss Horn, rearranging her scanty skirt. "How long are you going to keep me, then?" "I wadna hae ye bide a meenute langer nor's agreeable to yersel'. But _I_'m in nae hurry sae lang's ye're afore me. Ye're nae ill to luik at, though ye maun hae been bonnier the day ye wan the hert o' my Grizel." The marquis uttered an oath and left the door. Miss Horn sprang to it, but there was the marquis again. "Miss Horn," he said, "I beg you will give me another day to think of this." "Whaur's the use? A' the thinkin' i' the warl' canna alter a single fac'. Ye maun do richt by my laddie o' yer ainsel', or I maun gar ye." "You would find a lawsuit heavy, Miss Horn." "An' ye wad fin' the scandal o' 't ill to bide, my lord. It wad come sair upo' Miss--I kenna what name she has a richt till, my lord." The marquis uttered a frightful imprecation, left the door, and, sitting down, hid his face in his hands.