"Sir," said Ann, indignantly, and struggling as she spoke, "if you have the fortune of a gentleman, have, at least, the decency of a man." "Nay, sweetest; but you, having the beauty of an angel, have the heart of a woman." And he attempted to kiss her cheek. "Laird Horslie!" shouted Peter, as if an earthquake had burst at the heels of the squire--"hands off!--I say, hands off!" Now, Peter did not exactly suit the action to the word; for, while he yet exclaimed "hands off!" he, with both hands, clutched the laird by the collar, and hurling him across the path, caused him to roll like a ball at the foot of a tree. "Fellow!" exclaimed Horslie, furiously, rising on his knee, and rubbing his sores-- "Fellow!" interrupted Peter--"confound ye, sir, dinna _fellow_ me, or there'll be _fellin_' in the way. You can keep yer farm, and be hanged to ye; and let me tell ye, sir, if ye were ten thousand lairds, if ye dared to lay yer ill-faur'd lips on a sweetheart o' mine, I wad twist yer neck about like a turnip-shaw! Come awa, Annie, love," added he, tenderly, "and be thankfu' I cam in the way." Before they entered the house, he had obtained her consent to their immediate union; but the acquiescence of the old skipper was still wanting; and when Peter made known his wishes to him-- "Belay," cried the old boy; "not so fast, Master Peter; a craft such as my girl is worth a longer run, lad. Time enough to take her in tow, when you've a harbour to moor her in, Master Peter. There may be other cutters upon the coast, too, that will give you a race for her, and that have got what I call _shot_ in their lockers. So you can take in a reef, my lad; and, if you don't like it, why--helm about--that's all." "Captain Graham," said Peter, proudly and earnestly, "I both understand and feel your remarks; and, but for Ann's sake, I would resent them also. But, sir, you are a faither--you are an affectionate one--dinna be a deluded one. By a side-wind, ye hae flung my poverty in my teeth; but, sir, if I hae poverty, and Laird Horslie riches, I hae loved yer dochter as a man--he seeks to destroy her like a villain." "'Vast, Peter, 'vast!" cried the old man; "mind I am Ann's father--tell me what you mean." "I mean, sir, that ye hae been hoodwinked," added the other--"that ye hae been flung aff yer guard, and led to the precipice o' the deep, dark sea o' destruction an' disgrace; that a villain has hovered round yer house, like a hawk round a wood-pigeon's nest, waiting an opportunity to destroy yer peace for ever! Sir, to use a phrase o' yer ain, wad ye behold yer dochter driven a ruined wreck upon the world's bleak shore, the discarded property o' the lord o' the manor? If ye doubt me, as to the rascal's intentions, ask Ann hersel." "'Sdeath, Peter, man!" cried the old tar, "do you say that the fellow has tried to make a marine of me?--that a lubber has got the weathergage of Bill Graham? Call in Ann." Ann entered the room where her father and Peter sat.