_Ch._ (_suddenly seeing her_). Maggie, come here. Angus, do take your arm from round that girl’s waist. Stand back, and don’t you listen. Maggie, three months ago I told you that I loved you passionately; to-day I tell you that I love you as passionately as ever; I may add that I am still a rich man. Can you oblige me with a postage-stamp? (_MAGGIE gives him a stamp from her pocket--he sticks it on to his letter._) What do you say? I must trouble you for an immediate answer, as this is not pleasure--it’s business. _Mag._ Oh, sir, ye’re ower late. Oh, Maister Cheviot, if I’d only ken’d it before! Oh, sir, I love ye right weel; the bluid o’ my hairt is nae sae dear to me as thou. (_Sobbing on his shoulder._) Oh, Cheviot, my ain auld love! my ain auld love! _Ang._ (_aside_). Puir lassie, it just dra’s the water from my ee to hear her. Oh, mither, mither! my hairt is just breaking. (_Sobs on Mrs. MACFARLANE’S shoulder._) _Ch._ But why is it too late? You say that you love me. I offer to marry you. My station in life is at least equal to your own. What is to prevent our union? _Mag._ (_wiping her eyes_). Oh, sir, ye’re unco guid to puir little Maggie, but ye’re too late; for she’s placed the matter in her solicitor’s hands, and he tells her that an action for breach will just bring damages to the tune of a thousand pound. There’s a laddie waiting outside noo, to serve the bonnie writ on ye! (_Turns affectionately to ANGUS_.) _Ch._ (_falling sobbing on to sofa_). No one will marry me. There is a curse upon me--a curse upon me. No one will marry me--no, not one! _Mrs. Mac._ Dinna say that, sir. There’s mony a woman--nae young, soft, foolish lassie, neither; but grown women o’ sober age, who’d be mair a mither than a wife to ye; and that’s what ye want, puir laddie, for ye’re no equal to takin’ care o’ yersel’. _Ch._ Mrs. Macfarlane, you are right. I am a man of quick impulse. I see, I feel, I speak. I--you are the tree upon which--that is to say--no, no, d----n it, I can’t; I can’t! One must draw the line somewhere. (_Turning from her with disgust._) _Enter MISS TREHERNE and BELVAWNEY. They are followed by SYMPERSON and MINNIE._ _Ch._ Belinda! Can I believe my eyes? You have returned to me, you have not gone off with Belvawney after all? Thank heaven, thank heaven! _Miss T._ I thought that, as I came in, I heard you say something about a tree. _Ch._ You are right. As you entered I was remarking that I am a man of quick impulse. I see, I feel, I speak. I have two thousand a year, and I love you passionately. I lay my hand, my heart, and my income, all together, in one lot, at your feet!