_Ang._ Nae, Meg, not if takin’ care and thought could help the poor dumb thing! (_Wiping his eyes._) There, see, lass (_looking off_), the train’s at a standstill, and there’s nae harm done. I’ll just go and tell the puir distraught passengers that they may rest them here, in thy cot, gin they will, till the line is cleared again. Mither, get thy rooms ready, and put brose i’ the pot, for mebbe they’ll be hungry, puir souls. Farewell, Meg; I’ll be back ere lang, and if I don’t bring ’ee a full half-dozen o’ well-paying passengers, thou may’st just wed the red-headed exciseman! [_Exit ANGUS._ _Mag._ Oh, mither, mither, I’m ower happy! I’ve nae deserved sic a good fortune as to be the wife o’ yon brave and honest lad! _Mrs. Mac._ Meg, thine auld mither’s hairt is sair at the thought o’ losin’ ye, for hitherto she’s just been a’ the world to ’ee; but now thou’lt cleave to thine Angus, and thou’lt learn to love him better than thy puir auld mither! But it mun be--it mun be! _Mag._ Nay, mither, say not that. A gude girl loves her husband wi’ one love and her mither wi’ anither. They are not alike, but neither is greater nor less than the ither, and they dwell together in peace and unity. That is how a gude girl loves. _Mrs. Mac._ And thou art a gude girl, Meg? _Mag._ I am a varra gude girl indeed, mither--a varra, varra gude girl! _Mrs. Mac._ I’m richt sure o’ that. Well, the puir belated passengers will be here directly, and it is our duty to provide for them sic puir hospitality as our humble roof will afford. It shall never be said o’ Janie Macfarlane that she ever turned the weary traveller fainting from her door. _Mac._ My ain gentle-hearted mither! [_Exeunt together into cottage._ _Enter ANGUS with BELVAWNEY and MISS TREHERNE. She is in travelling costume, and both are much agitated and alarmed._ _Ang._ Step in, sir--step in, and sit ye doun for a wee. I’ll just send Mistress Macfarlane to ye. She’s a gude auld bodie, and will see to your comforts as if she was your ain mither. _Bel._ Thank you, my worthy lad, for your kindness at this trying moment. I assure you we shall not forget it. _Ang._ Ah, sir, wadna any mon do as muckle? A dry shelter, a bannock and a pan o’ parritch is a’ we can offer ye, but sic as it is ye’re hairtily welcome. _Bel._ It is well--we thank you. _Ang._ For wha wadna help the unfortunate? _Bel._ (_occupied with MISS TREHERNE_). Exactly--every one would. _Ang._ Or feed the hungry? _Bel._ No doubt. _Ang._ It just brings the tear drop to my ee’ to think---- _Bel._ (_leading him off_). My friend, we would be alone, this maiden and I. Farewell! (_Exit ANGUS, into cottage._) Belinda--my own--my life! Compose yourself. It was in truth a weird and gruesome accident. The line is blocked--your parasol is broken, and your butterscotch trampled in the dust, but no serious harm is done. Come, be cheerful. We are safe--quite safe.