’Tut, he’ll never mind the money!’ cried Nancy. ’He’s been a lender to half the fathers, brothers, uncles, and guardians in Scotland; for ’tis the only way he can get word with a woman. It’s second nature to him to get the go-by, and if he misses Ally, he’ll take up with one of her sisters in the twinkling of an eye.’ ’’Tis easy to be speaking to _me_,’ said the laird, grimly. ’Why don’t you speak to the mistress? ’Tis her business rather than mine, surely?’ ’She’s not to be moved,’ said Nancy, demurely. ’But, laird, that which cannot be done by force, can often be done by guile. Are you willing, in your heart of hearts, to be off with this marriage? I know you are!’ ’I am,’ said the laird, rather heavily, for his conscience spoke at last. ’Well, give me a hand, and ’twill be done!’ said Nancy. ’I leave this place in four days, and a man and chaise from C—— take me to Green Loaning to get the Edinburgh coach—isn’t that so? And I must leave this door in the dark of the morning, before six? Isn’t that the case?’ ’Ay is it,’—said the laird, ’an awkward start.’ ’Make it yet an hour awkwarder,’ cried Nancy. ’And let no one know the time, save Ally and me, and you. Let the chaise be at the outer gate, and we’ll slip down and be off before a soul’s stirring. Is the mistress a good sleeper?’ ’A gey and heavy sleeper in the mornings, now that she puts on years and weight,’ answered the husband, with a sigh. ’She talks enough at night, God wot! But ’tis snoring in the morning, and I that have to rise to bustle the maids from their beds. Well?’ ’Then you can slip down without danger and see us away,’ said Nancy. ’I doubt, without your countenance in the matter, Ally would never come. But with it she’ll fly this marriage as she would the devil.’ ’I believe she will,’ the laird muttered; but he seemed to hesitate. ’’Tis a simple enough plan,’ he conceded. ’I see nothing to hinder its working. But how can I consent to foist the lass on to you? Her future—’ ’Ah—bah—the future!’ said Nancy, ’let the future take care of itself! There is but one for a fine girl like Ally. And this storm will blow by, besides, and you be glad to see her here again, long before I am ready to part from her. For I’ll be glad of Ally, let me tell you. There’s nothing so needful in my unhappy situation as a companion of my own sex. Are not the prudent among my acquaintance telling me so every day of my life? So consent, for my sake as well as Alison’s, and believe that you confer a favour by doing so.’ ’You make the debtor seem generous,’ said the laird, not unkindly, ’but I consent. Though the Lord only knows what I shall say to the wife when you’re gone!’