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〃There's what I hae；〃 returned Donal。
〃Na； na； nane o' that！〃 said Andrew。 〃Ye're treatin' me like a
muckle； reivin'； sornin' beggarofferin' me a' that at ance！ Whaur
syne wad be the prolonged sweetness o' haein' 't i' portions frae
yer han'； as frae the neb o' an angel…corbie sent frae verra hame
wi' yer denner！〃Here a glimmer of the old merriment shone through
the worn look and pale eyes。〃Na； na； sir；〃 he went on； 〃jist talk
the thing ower wi' Doory； an' lat her hae what she wants an' nae
mair。 She wudna like it。 Wha kens what may came i' the
meantimeDeith himsel'； maybe！ Or seegie Doory a five shillins；
an' whan that's dune she can lat ye ken！〃
Donal was forced to leave it thus； but he did his utmost to impress
upon Doory that all he had was at her disposal。
〃I had new clothes；〃 he said； 〃before I came； I have all I want to
eat and drink； and for books； there's a whole ancient library at my
service！what possibly could I wish for more？ It's a mere luxury to
hand the money over to you； Doory！ I'm thinkin'； Doory；〃 for he had
by this time got to address her by her husband's name for her；
〃there's naebody i' this warl'； 'cep' the oonseen Lord himsel'；
lo'es yer man sae weel as you an' me； an' weel ken I you an' him wad
share yer last wi' me； sae I'm only giein' ye o' yer ain gude wull；
an' I'll doobt that gien ye takna sae lang as I hae。〃
Thus adjured； and satisfied that her husband was content； the old
woman made no difficulty。
CHAPTER XLIII。
EPPY AND KENNEDY。
When Stephen Kennedy heard that Eppy had gone back to her
grandparents； a faint hope revived in his bosom； he knew nothing of
the late passage between the two parties。 He but knew that she was
looking sad： she might perhaps allow him to be of some service to
her！ Separation had fostered more and more gentle thoughts of her in
his heart； he was ready to forgive her everything； and believe
nothing serious against her； if only she would let him love her
again。 Modesty had hitherto kept him from throwing himself in her
way； but he now haunted the house in the hope of catching a glimpse
of her； and when she began to go again into the town； saw her
repeatedly； following her to be near her； but taking care she should
not see him： partly from her self…absorption he had succeeded in
escaping her notice。
At length； however； one night； he tried to summon up courage to
accost her。 It was a lovely； moonlit night； half the street black
with quaint shadows； the other half shining like sand in the yellow
light。 On the moony side people standing at their doors could
recognize each other two houses away； but on the other； friends
might pass without greeting。 Eppy had gone into the baker's； Kennedy
had seen her go in； and stood in the shadow； waiting； all but
determined to speak to her。 She staid a good while； but one
accustomed to wait for fish learns patience。 At length she appeared。
By this time； however； though not his patience； Kennedy's courage
had nearly evaporated； and when he saw her he stepped under an
archway； let her pass； and followed afresh。 All at once resolve；
which yet was no resolve； awoke in him。 It was as if some one took
him and set him before her。 She started when he stepped in front；
and gave a little cry。
〃Dinna be feart； Eppy；〃 he said； 〃I wudna hurt a hair o' yer heid。 I
wud raither be skinned mysel'！〃
〃Gang awa；〃 said Eppy。 〃Ye hae no richt to stan' i' my gait！〃
〃Nane but the richt o' lo'ein' ye better nor ever！〃 said Kennedy；
〃gien sae be as ye'll lat me ony gait shaw 't！〃
The words softened her； she had dreaded reproach； if not indignant
remonstrance。 She began to cry。
〃Gien onything i' my pooer wud mak the grief lichter upo' ye； Eppy；〃
he said； 〃ye hae but to name 't！ I'm no gauin' to ask ye to merry
me； for that I ken ye dinna care aboot； but gien I micht be luikit
upon as a freen'； if no to you； yet to yoursalloot onyw'y to help
i' yer trible； I mean； I'm ready to lay me i' the dirt afore ye。 I
hae nae care for mysel' ony mair； an' maun do something for
somebodyan' wha sae soon as yersel'； Eppy！〃
For sole answer； Eppy went on crying。 She was far from happy。 She
had nearly persuaded herself that all was over between her and lord
Forgue； and almost she could； but for shame； have allowed Kennedy to
comfort her as an old friend。 Everything in her mind was so
confused； and everything around her so miserable； that she could but
cry。 She continued crying； and as they were in a walled lane into
which no windows looked； Kennedy； in the simplicity of his heart；
and the desire to comfort her who little from him deserved comfort；
came up to her； and putting his arm round her； said again；
〃Dinna be feart of me； Eppy。 I'm a man ower sair…hertit to do ye ony
hurt。 It's no as thinkin' ye my ain； Eppy； I wud preshume to du
onything for ye； but as an auld freen'； fain to tak the dog aff o'
ye。 Are ye in want o' onything？ Ye maun hae a heap o' trible； I weel
ken； wi' yer gran'father's mischance； an' it's easy to un'erstan'
'at things may well be turnin' scarce aboot ye； but be sure o' this；
that as lang's my mither has onything； she'll be blyth to share the
same wi' you an' yours。〃
He said his mother； but she had nothing save what he provided her
with。
〃I thank ye； Stephen；〃 said Eppy； touched with his goodness； 〃but
there's nae necessity； we hae plenty。〃
She moved on； her apron still to her eyes。 Kennedy followed her。
〃Gien the yoong lord hae wranged ye ony gait；〃 he said from behind
her； 〃an' gien there be ony amen's ye wad hae o' him；〃
She turned with a quickness that was fierce； and in the dim light
Kennedy saw her eyes blazing。
〃I want naething frae your han'； Stephen Kennedy；〃 she said。 〃My
lord's naething to younor yet muckle to me！〃 she added； with
sudden reaction and an outburst of self…pity； and again fell a
weepingand sobbing now。
With the timidity of a strong man before the girl he loves and
therefore fears； Kennedy once more tried to comfort her； wiping her
eyes with her apron。 While he did so； a man； turning a corner
quickly； came almost upon them。 He started back； then came nearer；
looked hard at them； and spoke。 It was lord Forgue。
〃Eppy！〃 he exclaimed； in a tone in which indignation blended with
surprise。
Eppy gave a cry； and ran to him。 He pushed her away。
〃My lord；〃 said Kennedy； 〃the lass will nane o' me or mine。 I sair
doobt there's nane but yersel' can please her。 But I sweir by God；
my lord； gien ye du her ony wrang； I'll no rest； nicht nor day； till
I hae made ye repent it。〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 said Forgue； 〃there's an old crow； I suspect； yet
to pluck between us！ For me you may take her； though。 I don't go
halves。〃
Eppy laid her hand timidly on his arm； but again he pushed her away。
〃Oh； my lord！〃 she sobbed； and could say no more for weeping。
〃How is it I find you here with this man？〃 he asked。 〃I don't want
to be unfair to you； but it looks rather bad！〃
〃My lord；〃 said Kennedy。
〃Hold your tongue； let her speak for herself。〃
〃I had no tryst wi' him； my lord！ I never said come nigh me；〃 sobbed
Eppy。 〃Ye see what ye hae dune！〃 she cried； turning in anger on
Kennedy； an