"Suppose I do want to go and see her, what then?"
"You could not go. The thing is simply impossible for some months at
least. We know neither her name nor her place of residence. I should have
to write to Allan on that matter; he might decline to tell me; if he did
tell me, his answer will come with the snow and the winter storms. How
then are you going to reach the Fife coast? And what kind of excuse could
a lady make for visiting it about Christmas?"
"Excuses are plenty as blackberries in season. I wonder you did not 'speer
her name and hame;' that would have been my first question."
"If I am buying a ship, Mary, I look at her build; I want to know if she
is sea-trusty; her name is of small account. Now, if I were you, I would
not trouble myself about Allan's sweetheart. I dare say she is happy
enough."
"I am quite sure she is wretched. I feel it. And I have an idea that Allan
would expect me, feeling so, to look after her."
Mary Campbell's divination was a correct one. Maggie was even thus early
very wretched. In fact her misery began before Allan and David were quite
out of sight. For a few minutes Janet Caird let her stand and watch the
departing boat; then she said with an air of business, "Weel, weel,
Maggie, they are gane, but the wark o' the house bides. If you are ready
I'll just gae through it, and tak' a look at the things put under my hand
and charge."
Maggie turned round sharply. "There is nae charge in your hand, Aunt
Janet. I hae keepit the house since I was seventeen years auld, and I'm no
needing help frae onybody."
"Then whatna for was I brought here, frae my ain bit o' heather roof? It
will ill set you to put your fayther's auldest sister under your thumb.
Folks will talk ill o' you."
"They will talk as they like to talk, and it's mair often ill than gude.
But the house is mine, and I'll guide it yet. You are vera welcome, Aunt
Janet, and I'll be thankfu' for your company, and your word o' advisement,
and if you'll bide under my roof, I'll bide under the shelter o' your gude
heart, and gude word; for you ken, a lone lassie ought to hae some person
weel respectit to stand by her, and to be a witness that she lives as a
decent lassie ought to live."