At these words, so unexpected and uncalled for, Irma put out her hand and took mine. She spoke very gently. "Duncan," she said, "we are not wanted here. Let us be going!" "But--Irma----!" I gasped, for even then I would take no advantage. "Whither shall I conduct you? Have you other friends in Edinburgh?" "Before a minister!" she said. "That will be best. I have no friends but you!" "Aye, there ye are!" cried the old lady, "I was sure there was something at the back of this sudden flight to Edinburgh. The dear little brother--oh, but we were that fond of him--the poor, poor innocent bairn. Such a comfort for him to know his sister near at hand! Yet, though I have done with you, Mistress Irma Sobieski, I may say that I wish you no ill. Make a better use of your youth than maybe I have done. If ye need a helping hand, there's my sister Frances out at the Sciennes. She's fair crammed like a Strasburg goose wi' the _belles-lettres_. She will maybe never let ye within the door, but a shilling a week of outdoor relief ye are sure of--for she sets up for being full of the milk of human kindness. She set her cap at John Home when he came home from London. She would never even allow that Davie Hume was an atheist, whilk was as clear as that I hae a nose to my face!---- Off with you to Fanny's at the Sciennes. And a long guid day to the pair of ye--ye are a disobedient regardless lassock, and ye are heapin' up wrath again the day of wrath, but for all that I'm no sayin' that I'll forget you in my will! There are others I like waur nor you, when all's said and done!" "I would not take a penny of yours if I were starving on the street!" cried Irma. "Save us!" said the old lady, lifting up her black wand, "ye will maybe think different when ye are real hungrysome. The streets are nae better than they are caa'ed. But off wi' ye, and get honestly tied up! Bid Samuel Whan shut the yett after ye!" CHAPTER XXXI TWICE MARRIED Now I have never to this day been able to make up my mind whether the Lady Kirkpatrick was really stirred with such anger as she pretended, whether she was only more than a little mad, or if all was done merely to break down Irma's reserve by playing on her anger and pride. If the last was the cause of my lady's strange behaviour to us, it was shiningly successful. "We will not go a step to find my Lady Frances," said Irma when we were outside; "if she be so full of all the wisdoms, she would very likely try to separate us."