The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

462 The Highland Monthly.
understandin' o' him ; but a man o' sax feet, an' no far frae
saxty, gaethering' floors ! Folks are beginnin' tae say he's
a he witch."
"And so the Professor goes botanising?" David
remarked, more to himself than to John.
" Na, faith, he hasna a boat o' ony size or shape. Sir,
I'm aboot tae tell ye a bit o' my mind, as an auld servant
an' a freend o' the family ; an' ye'll no tak' it ill."
" Well ? "
" I'll say naething against the dochter—as I've said,
she's a weel-faured cummer—but this furinero'a Professor's
no canny. In my humble opeenin, the less some Castle
folk have tae dae wi' him the better. That's oot an' by vvi'
an' ye'll no mind my sayn't."
"John," said David, halting in front of that alarmed
individual, " you are quite right to apologise for discussing
family affairs with me, but I will forgive you on this
occasion. I am interested in what you mention. What
do you know about Master Richard's doings at the Hall
you servants observe and gossip a great deal."
" It's no me that ken's muckle aboot his ongauns,"
responded John, feeling a little tart at the insinuation,
" but I took a letter there yesterday."
" From Richard ? "
" Aye, frae nae ither budy, an' wi' instructions tae put it
in the lassie Somerton's very haund."
" That's neither your business nor mine," said David,
moving to the window, feeling that the conversation had
gone far enough.
"There's something mair I was inclined tae tell ye, sir,"
resumed John presently, his mind filled by his own
matrimonial prospects.
" Nothing very serious, I hope."
" Tae be engaged is gey serious," said John, twisting his
towel and getting quite red in the face.
John was scarcely prepartid for the unwarrantably
alarming effect his words had, for he did not see that
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