"But you are glad to have seen more of the world. You would not like to go
back to Fife, now?"
"If my eye hadna seen, my heart wouldna hae wanted. I was happy."
"Promoter is an uncommon name. I never knew a Promoter before; but the
Campbells are a big clan. I dare say you have known a great many
Campbells?"
"The man whom fayther sold his fish to was a Campbell. And the woman I
lodged wi' in Glasgow had a daughter married to a Campbell. And Mistress
Lauder often sent me to Campbell's big store for silk and trimmings. And
whiles, there was a minister preached in oor kirk, called Campbell--and
there is yoursel', miss, the best o' them all to Maggie Promoter."
"Thank you, Maggie." Not in the faintest way had Maggie betrayed her
knowledge of Allan, and Mary respected her for the reticence very much.
"Now for our work. I will sew, and you shall read aloud. I want you to
learn how to talk as I do, and reading aloud is an excellent exercise."
"I'll ne'er speak such high English as you, and I like my braid Scotch
weel."
"But your voice is so delightful when you say the words as you ought to.
You can read 'high English,' why not talk it?"
"My ain tongue is mair homelike and kindly. But I'll try yours, an' you
want me to."
After Mary had listened an hour, she suddenly interrupted Maggie. "You
read that love scene with wonderful feeling. Had you ever a lover, Maggie?"
"Maist girls have lovers. I couldna expect to escape. You will dootless
hae lovers yoursel', ma'am?"
"I had one lover, Maggie, not much of a lover, he wanted to marry
Drumloch, not me."
"That was a' wrang. Folks shouldna marry for gold. Sorrow comes that way."
"You would not, I am sure'"
"No, not for a' the gold in Scotland."
"Is your lover poor then, Maggie?"
"I ne'er asked him if he had this or that. He is a gude kind lad."
"Did he ever give you any beautiful things--precious rings or lockets--as
the lovers in books do? The Sir Everard of whom you have just been reading
gave Lady Hilda a ring of diamonds and opals, you remember?"
"The Fife lads break a sixpence in twa wi' their troth lass; and I hae my
half sixpence. There can be no ring but a wedding ring for a lassie like
me."
Then Mary laid down her work, and as she passed Maggie she touched her
gently, and smiled in her face. She was rapidly coming to a decision; a
few minutes in her own room enabled her to reach it. "The girl is a born
lady; I gave her every opportunity, but neither to the text of 'Campbell,'
nor 'lover,' did she betray herself or Allan. And really, when I think of
it, I had almost a special direction about her. I did not intend to go to
Mrs. Lauder's that morning. I should not have gone, if Madame Bartholemew
had been at home. I should not have gone if Miss Fleming had been able to
do my work. Maggie has evidently been put in my charge. Not to go any
higher than Uncle John and Allan, I think when they demand her of me, they
will say--'Where is thy sister?' not 'Where is thy servant maid, or thy
sewing maid.' But I must be sure of myself. If I accept this obligation, I
must accept it fully with all its contingencies and results. Can I be
generous enough? Patient enough? Just enough? Loving enough?" And no
wonder men honor good women! Who could have helped honoring Mary Campbell
who saw her stand with honest purpose examining her own heart, and then
lowly kneeling, asking God's blessing and help for the resolve so
consecrated.