"There's mother."
"Ay, there's your mother, she's a gude example. She's a Gordon; and
thae Gordon women cried the 'slogan' till their men's heads were a' on
Carlisle gate or Temple Bar, and their lands a' under King George's
thumb. But is she any wiser for the lesson? Not her. Women are born
rebels; the 'powers that be' are always tyrants to them, Neil."
"You ought to know, father. I have small and sad experience with them."
"Sae, I hope you'll stand by my side. We twa can keep the house
thegither. If we are a' right, the Government will whistle by a woman's
talk."
"Did you not say Katherine was coming back?"
"I did that. See there, again. Hyde has dropped his uniform, and sold a'
that he has, and is coming to fight in a quarrel that's nane o' his.
Heard you ever such foolishness? But it is Katherine's doing; there's
little doot o' that."
"He's turned rebel, then?"
"Ay has he. That's what women do. Politics and rebellion is the same
thing to them."
"Well, father, I shall not turn rebel."
"O Neil, you take a load off my heart by thae words!"
"I have nothing against the king, and I could not be Hyde's comrade."