"Nane can tell. She had a sair trial wi' yonder auld harridan her brother
brought to bide wi' her."
"I did not like the woman, Willie."
"Like her? Wha wad like her but the blackhearted and the black-tongued?
She gied the girl's gude name awa' to win hersel' a bit honor wi' auld
wives, and even the minister at first was against Maggie; sae when she
couldna thole her trouble langer, she went to her brither, and folks say,
he gied her the cold shoulder likewise. But when four months had gane he
cam' here oot o' his wits nearly, and sent Janet Caird hame wi' a word,
and the care o' the house was put on Mysie Jardine. Davie hasna set e'en
on his cottage, nor foot in it, since; nor sent any word to his auld
frien's--though as to frien's it is naething less than a professor he
changes hats or the time o' day with noo, they tell me; and I can weel
believe it, for he aye had the pride o' a Nebuchadnezzar in him."
Elder Mackelvine in a measure corroborated Willie Johnson's statements.
Maggie had been "hardly spoken of," he admitted; but "I dinna approve o'
the way oot o' trouble that she took," he added sternly. "Lasses ought to
sit still and thole wrang, until He undertakes their case. If Maggie had
bided in her hame a few weeks langer, He wad hae brought oot her
righteousness as the noon-day. There was a setting o' public feeling in
the right direction followed close on her leaving, and then cam' Dr.
Balmuto wi' searchings, and examinations, and strong reproofs, for a',
and sundry; and I didna escape mysel';" said the elder in a tone of
injury.
"What could they say wrong of Maggie Promoter?" asked Allan, with flashing
eyes.
"Ou, ay, a better girl ne'er broke her cake; but folks said this, and
that, and to tell the even-down truth, they put your ain name, sir, wi'
hers--and what but shame could come o' your name and her name in the same
breath?"
"'Shame!' Who dared to use my name to shame hers with? Let me tell you,
elder, and you may tell every man and woman in Pittenloch, that if I could
call Maggie Promoter my wife, I would count it the greatest honor and
happiness God could give me. And if I find her to-morrow, and she will
marry me, I will make her Mrs. Allan Campbell the same hour."
"You are an honorable young man, there's my hand, and I respect you wi' a'
my heart. Gudewife, mak' us a cup o' tea, and put some herring to toast.
Maister Campbell will eat wi' me this night, and we' hae a bed to spare
likewise, if he will tak' it."