She was not in a generous mood, and she was calculating, as she silently
set the table, how much of her seven shillings a week would be left, when
she had paid Janet Caird five out of it, and entertained all her kimmers.
When the tea was brewed, the old woman went to her blue kist, and brought
out a bottle of Glenlivet, "just to tak' off the wersh taste o' the tea;"
and Maggie, perceiving they had set down for a morning's gossip and
reminiscence, said, "I'll awa' up the beach a wee, friends. I hae a
headache, and I'll see if the wind will blow it awa'."
No one opposed the proposition. She folded her plaid around her head and
shoulders and went out. Then Janet Caird put down her tea cup, looked
mournfully after her, sighed, and shook her head. Upon which, there was a
general sigh, and a general setting down of tea cups, and a short, but
eloquent silence.
"You'll hae your ain adoo wi' that self-willed lass, I'm feared, Mistress
Caird."
"'Deed, Mistress Raith, she's had o'er much o' her ain way, and she is
neither to rule, nor to reason wi'."
"Davie Promoter is a wise-like lad; he did right to bring you here."
"And nane too soon."
"She's sae setten up wi' the fuss Maister Campbell made wi' baith o' them.
Naething gude enough for Dave and Maggie Promoter. The best o' teachers
and nae less than Glasca College itsel', for the lad--"
"My nephew Davie isna quite a common lad, Mistress Buchan. Dr. Balmuto
gied him the books he needed. Think o' that noo."
"And the lass is a handsome lass. Maister Campbell thocht that. Angus just
hated the sight o' him, for he said he came between himsel' and Maggie."
"She wouldna hae the impudence to even hersel' wi' Maister Campbell, a man
connectit wi' the nobility, and just rollin' in gowd and siller," said
Aunt Janet; drawing on her imagination for Mr. Campbell's distinctions.
This was the key-note to a conversation about Maggie in which every one of
the five women present gave their own opinion, and the opinion of all
their absent cronies about the girl's behavior. And though Janet Caird
knew nothing of Maggie, and could say nothing definitely about her, she
yet contrived in some manner to give the impression, that David Promoter
had been afraid to leave his sister alone, on account of her attachment to
Mr. Campbell; and that she had been specially brought from Dron Point to
keep watch over the honor of the Promoter family.