_Ch._ Maggie Macfarlane, I’m a plain, blunt, straightforward man, and I come quickly to the point. I see more to love in you than I ever saw in any woman in all my life before. I have a large income, which I do not spend recklessly. I love you passionately; you are the essence of every hope; you are the tree upon which the fruit of my heart is growing--my Past, my Present, my Future--you are my own To Come. Tell me, will you be mine--will you join your life with mine? _Enter ANGUS, who listens._ _Mag._ Ah, kind sir, I’m sairly grieved to wound sae true and tender a love as yours, but ye’re ower late, my love is nae my ain to give ye, it’s given ower to the best and bravest lad in a’ the bonnie Borderland! _Ch._ Give me his address that I may go and curse him! _Mag._ (_kneels to HILL_). Ah, ye must not curse him. Oh, spare him, spare him, for he is good and brave, and he loves me, oh, sae dearly, and I love him, oh, sae dearly too. Oh, sir, kind sir, have mercy on him, and do not--do not curse him, or I shall die! (_Throwing herself at his feet._) _Ch._ Will you, or will you not, oblige me by telling me where he is, that I may at once go and curse him? _Ang._ (_coming forward_). He is here, sir, but dinna waste your curses on me. Maggie, my bairn (_raising her_), I heard the answer ye gave to this man, my true and gentle lassie! Ye spake well and bravely, Meg--well and bravely! Dinna heed the water in my e’e--it’s a tear of joy and gratitude, Meg--a tear of joy and gratitude! _Ch._ (_touched_). Poor fellow! I will _not_ curse him! (_Aloud._) Young man, I respect your honest emotion. I don’t want to distress you, but I cannot help loving this most charming girl. Come, is it reasonable to quarrel with a man because he’s of the same way of thinking as yourself? _Ang._ Nay, sir, I’m nae fasht, but it just seems to drive a’ the bluid back into my hairt when I think that my Meg is loved by anither! Oh, sir, she’s a fair and winsome lassie, and I micht as justly be angry wi’ ye for loving the blue heavens! She’s just as far above us as they are! (_Wiping his eyes and kissing her._) _Ch._ (_with decision_). Pardon me, I cannot allow that. _Ang._ Eh? _Ch._ I love that girl madly--passionately--and I cannot possibly allow you to do that--not before my eyes, I beg. You simply torture me. _Mag._ (_to ANG._). Leave, off, dear, till the puir gentleman’s gone, and then ye can begin again. _Ch._ Angus, listen to me. You love this girl? _Ang._ I love her, sir, a’most as weel as I love mysel’!