"And me so busy, too," muttered the gardener. "I did say that all my bit of courting should be done of an evening; and here's a temptation, coming in the middle of the day. But there, gude save us, I must go when she calls, if I lose my place." "And there ye are, then," he said, as he reached the place where Jane was anxiously awaiting him, "the brightest flower in the garden, lassie." "Oh, Alexander!" ejaculated Jane. "Bless ye for that, my bairn! Ye've taken, then, to ca' me by my name at last." "Pray--pray make haste and help me. What shall I do?" "Do, lassie," exclaimed the downright Scot. "Why, tell me what's the matter." "Yes, yes," cried the agitated girl. "You know my lady went out a little while since." "Ay, I saw her go." "And then Sir Murray came down." "To be sure, and he askit me the which way she'd gone." "Yes, yes," cried Jane, "and I went up on to the top of the house on the leads, and I've been watching him, and he's followed her." "To be sure, lassie; and wadna I ha'e done the same if ye'd gone the same gait?" "Oh yes--no,--I don't know," said Jane; "but I don't like it, and I want you to follow them." "Me? Follow? What, go after Sir Mooray and my lady?" exclaimed McCray. "Hoot, lassie, and have ye gone daft?" "Daft! no!" cried Jane, angrily. "You must--indeed, you must go after them. He came to me quite angry when he found that her ladyship had gone out, and asked me where I thought she'd be; and I told him, like the fool that I was; and I don't like things--I don't, indeed; and I'm afraid there's mischief on the way." "My dear bairn," said the thoughtful Scot, "I'm afraid ye've been letting your fancy run away with ye full galop. Once you women get an idea into your poor little heads ye go racing after it full tear. Now, let me ask ye what is there strange in my lady going out to pick specimens, as she's done hundreds o' times before? and, now that they're making it up, for Sir Mooray to go after her?" "Nothing--nothing," said Jane, earnestly, "if it were all genuine; but, Alexander--dear Alexander, there's Judas kisses as well as true ones, and I know he did not mean what you saw. I'm troubled about it all, and I come to you for help: don't fail me, please, now this first time." "Nay, nay," cried the Scot, eagerly. "I'll not fail thee, lassie. But what am I to do? Where am I to go?" "Follow them and watch them, never leaving them for an instant, and always being ready to give help." "Yes, yes; I'll do it, lassie." "I knew you would," cried Jane, pressing his great hand between both of hers; "and now run--run all the way, for he went to his room after he left me, and came out pushing a pistol into his pocket. And, oh! Alexander, if you love me, make haste, for I'm sure that there's something wrong!" Book 1, Chapter XXXII. WHAT SANDY DID NOT SEE.