“And what do you know about it?” said Rankin, scornfully. “There’s the evidence that he just would not face me, the moment he heard who I was. I never thought he had the root of the maitter in him. Just a blethering retailer o’ other men’s opinions, no fit to haud his ain in any real controversy. I’m a wee disappointed, for it would have been a grand sensation to have it oot with ane of those Oxford ignoramuses in my ain house; but ye see he could not put out a finger without his authorities at his back.--I think I’ll maybe take a pickle mair broth.” “If yon’s a college man and a gentleman,” said Janet, “I’ll just allow that I never was mair deceivit in my life.” Eddy took his friend’s arm as they issued out from the shadow of the cottage. “Why didn’t you show fight?” he said, “you fool! You can act well enough when you like. Why didn’t you be civil and draw him out? He’d have done all the talk himself, and you’d have saved your character as a college fellow and a don.” “There’s been enough of this nonsense,” said Johnson. “I tried it on with the lady the other day, and I put my foot into it. She didn’t believe I was a don, as you call it, any more--than any other person would. What was I to say to that old fool? I didn’t know what he was talking about. Look here, we must have some talk serious, none of your humbug. I have my orders as clear as daylight. If he can’t pay up--” “I know,” said Eddy, impatiently, “I know! I’ve heard all that before.” “You’ll not hear it again, my fine fellow, or else it’ll be before the judge for something that is more ticklish than debt. Don’t you know there’s that little bit of paper as was refused at the bank. No assets, just your luck to keep you from the Old Bailey. But he’s got it all the time. If you’re safe to marry the railway man’s daughter, perhaps I might get him persuaded to wait. For I’m your friend, Eddy Saumarez, you know as I always stand your friend when you don’t play any of your tricks. I can’t go bail for him that he’ll do that; for what with putting him off, and never answering his letters, and letting things swing, he’s in the temper of the very----; but if it’s certain and settled, and the figure of her fortune known, and all that--” “You saw for yourself how things were going,” said Eddy, not without a faint blush of shame, “the other day on the hill.” “Oh, I saw you, fast enough--carrying on. But when I said to the lady, ‘That’s a case if ever there was one,’ she looked at me as if she could have knocked me down. ‘If you mean it’s an engagement,’ she says, as sharp as anything, ‘you’re mistaken, and it wouldn’t be allowed for a minute on either side.’”