But Alison, not so easily consoled, wept over the horrid fate of her sister. Her father, otherwise, wrote cheerfully. The impending wedding had restored good humour to his consort, and he expressed a belief that Alison, if she had a mind to, might now return home, and all would be forgotten and forgiven. The laird, however, proceeded to counsel his daughter to remain where she was for the present, and ’get all the good she could for her coach-hire to the town,’ as he expressed it, after the matter-of-fact manner of The Mains. ’Sure, Ally, you’d never think of leaving me?’ said Nancy in sincere alarm, and with imploring eyes. ’Indeed, I’ve no wish to,’ said Alison. ’For, you know,’ went on the little woman, clinging to Alison’s hand, which she fondled as she spoke, ’I get to lean on you, Ally, day by day, and more and more. You’re so big, and strong, and steady, not a poor little straw like me, blown about by every wind.’ Alison looked a little doubtful. ’I’m big and strong, I know,’ she said pensively, ’but I doubt ’tis more in the body than in the mind, Nancy. I’m like a child in leading-strings, I sometimes think. ’Twas our mother kept us all so, I suppose, being herself strong-willed.’ ’Well, to be sure,’ said Nancy, with a laugh, ’you’d have married Mr. Cheape if it hadn’t been for me. ’Yes, I believe I should,’ said Alison, slowly. ’It seemed best for everybody. I’d never have had the power alone, to break with it. So, you see, I doubt my own strength, Nancy, when I’m put to it.’