“Johnson, you fool, can’t you see that you’ve got a character to keep up,” cried Eddy, half-choking with laughter. The youth was full of mischievous delight in his mystification, but he was not without a meaning behind it, which was the thing most interesting to his present victim. “I see your game, Mr. Eddy,” said Johnson: “but you aint going to get the better of me. Be done with that stuff, and come out and let us have a bit of serious talk. You know as well as I do what’s hanging over your head. If you can’t bring him something to stop his mouth, that old cove will---- or give him security as you’re to be married before a certain day. I don’t mind who I speak before. If you’ll not listen to me one time, you’ll have to listen another!” cried Johnson, working himself up into energy. Eddy stood facing the light with the ruddy glow of the flames playing over him, his somewhat worn and pale young face broadened with laughter. The effect of his youth, and perhaps a special impishness of nature, gave him a delight in mischief which the most serious emergency could not destroy. “I told you,” he said, “this man’s always got his thoughts filled with marrying--especially in Scotland, where you can always do it at a moment’s notice. When he’s not in terror for himself he’s in terror for me.” “Ye may deliver your soul o’ a’ such terrors,” said Rankin angrily. “There’s naebody will marry ye here but the minister, and him no afore a’ inquiry’s made. There’s an awfu’ deal o’ nonsense prevalent about Scotch marriages. It’s a question I would have no objection to argue oot with ye, if ye prefer that to a mair learned subject,” said the gamekeeper with a disdainful wave of his hand. “I argue!” cried Johnson; “I’ll not argue; it aint my line. I’m not a parson, nor I aint a lawyer; I’m a plain man, by Jove! I’ve got my own business, and I know how to do it; and this I tell you, Master Eddy, if you aint ready with that cash, and before the month’s out, come by it as ye will----” “Can’t you hold your d----d tongue! Can’t you see what’s expected of you!” said Eddy in a rapid whisper.--“Rankin,” he said, raising his voice, “I’m ashamed of my man. He hasn’t pluck enough to come up to the scratch. The sight of you has routed him hand and foot. There’s no spirit left in him at all.”