The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

466
The Highland Monthly.
faces of the brothers in positive bewilderment. " John has
just sworn upon his solemn oath that you are engaged to
the Professor's daughter !"
" Then John's a greater fool than you !"
" Never heed the consequences, John, tell us honestly
how you came to know what he is knave enough to deny,"
David pleaded, without the slightest suspicion of the
revelation that was impending.
" I did not say that, sir !" said John wonderingly.
" Did not say what ?" cried David.
" That Master Richard was engaged ?"
" Then who is engaged ?"
" Jist me and Kirsty the cook at The Ha' !"
Had looks been bullets, John would have fallen per-
fectly riddled by those David cast at him, as the truth
flashed upon him that he and John, in the excitement of
their respective trains of thought, had been at cross purposes.
Then, without remark, he hurriedly strode away
through the Fir Wood, followed by Richard's irritating
laugh.
" There is one thing devilish certain," mused Richard as
he went Castlewards, " David is head and ears in love with
Flo. WJiy should he not marry her P"
[to be continued]