"You will be married by that time," continued the Egyptian, frowning at this interruption, "for I see your wife. She is a shrew. She marries you in your dotage. She lauchs at you in company. She doesna allow you to smoke." "Away with you, you jade," cried the doctor in a fury, and feeling nervously for his pipe, "Mr. Dishart, you had better stay and arrange this matter as you choose, but I want a word with you outside." "And you're no angry wi' me, doctor, are you?" asked Nanny wistfully. "You've been richt good to me, but I canna thole the thocht o' that place. And, oh, doctor, you winna tell naebody that I was so near taen to it?" In the garden McQueen said to Gavin:-- "You may be right, Mr. Dishart, in this matter, for there is this in our favour, that the woman can gain nothing by tricking us. She did seem to feel for Nanny. But who can she be? You saw she could put on and off the Scotch tongue as easily as if it were a cap." "She is as much a mystery to me as to you," Gavin answered, "but she will give me the money, and that is all I ask of her." "Ay, that remains to be seen. But take care of yourself; a man's second childhood begins when a woman gets hold of him." "Don't alarm yourself about me, doctor. I daresay she is only one of those gypsies from the South. They are said to be wealthy, many of them, and even, when they like, to have a grand manner. The Thrums people had no doubt but that she was what she seemed to be." "Ay, but what does she seem to be? Even that puzzles me. And then there is this mystery about her which she admits herself, though perhaps only to play with us." "Perhaps," said Gavin, "she is only taking precautions against her discovery by the police. You must remember her part in the riots." "Yes, but we never learned how she was able to play that part. Besides, there is no fear in her, or she would not have ventured back to Thrums. However, good luck attend you. But be wary. You saw how she kept her feet among her shalls and wills? Never trust a Scotch man or woman who does not come to grief among them." The doctor took his seat in the dog-cart. "And, Mr. Dishart," he called out, "that was all nonsense about the locket." CHAPTER XIV. THE MINISTER DANCES TO THE WOMAN'S PIPING.