The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

720
The Highland Monthly.
but I scarcely understand ye. Dae ye mean tae mak me
believe that ye dinna believe in ghaists?"
" Certainly."
John gazed at David for a few seconds in order to
comprehend the full depth of the heresy to which he had
descended, and then, with a superior air, walked from the
room ; in doing which he forgot the solemnity of the
occasion and gave the door a decided shake.
"Folks say that a little learnin's a dangerous thing;
faith, an' I believe it," muttered John as he went along the
passage leading to the kitchen, " a ghaist's a ghaist for a'
that," as Burns wad say.
A surprise awaited John when he reached the culinary
department of the Castle, in the substantial form of Kirsty.
At the unexpected sight of his wife to be, he did not rush
forward and fold her in his arms, but drew himself up with
the assumption of resenting an intrusion.
" You here again, Kirsty ?''
" What for no, my dearie ?"
" We canna coort an' death i' the hoose."
" I dinna want tae coort," pouted Kirsty with a toss of
the head.
This statement quite non-plussed John ; he quite expected
her to come forward and coax him with a kiss and
an embrace. Therefore he resolved, for once, to cast upon
her a reflection.
" Perhaps ye e'en dinna want tae get marrit ?" said he,
thrusting both hands into his trouser pockets, attempting
an incoherent whistle, and becoming suddenly interested in
the condition of some crockery ware.
" John !"
" Well ?"
" \e ken fine !"
" Ken what ?"
" That !"
John did not contradict this indefinite insinuation regarding
his intelligence on matters matrimonial.