"Ye may weel say that, Kirsty," answered Jock; "if Providence had been pleased to give ye a coontinance half as winsome, nae doot ye would have been married afore this, my lass. As for him, the women just rin after Claverhouse in flooks. It doesna matter whether it be Holland or whether it be London, whether it be duchesses at Whitehall or merchants' daughters at Dundee, he could have married a hundred times over wi' money and rank and beauty and power. Lord's sake! the opportunities he has had, and the risks he has run, it's been a merciful thing he had me by his side to be, if I may say it, a guide and a protector."
"If the Almichty hasna done muckle for your face, Jock, He's given you a grand conceit o' yoursel', and that must be a rael comfort. I wish I'd a share o' it. So you have preserved your maister safe till this day, and he's still gaeing aboot heart-free and hand-free."
"Na, Kirsty"--and Grimond looked shrewdly at her--"I'll no say that Claverhouse isna bound to marry some day or ither, and, of course, in his posseetion it behove him to find a lady of his ain rank and his ain creed. Noo, what I'm tellin' ye is strictly between oorsel's, and ye're no to mention it even to your ain mistress. Claverhouse is contracted in marriage to Miss Helen Graham, the daughter of Sir James Graham, his own uncle, and the heiress to the Earl of Monteith. Ye see, Miss Helen is his kinswoman, and she brings him an earldom in her lap. Besides that she's verra takin' in her appearance and manner, and I needna say just hates a Covenanter as she would a brock (badger). It's a maist suitable match every way ye look at it, and it has my entire approbation. But no a word aboot this, mind ye, Kirsty--though I was juist thinkin' this afternoon of recommendin' Claverhouse to let this contract be known. He's an honorable man, is the laird, and, by ordinary, weel-livin'; but there's nae doot he is awfu' temptit by women, and I wouldna like to see their hearts broken."
"A word in season to my Lady Jean, if I'm no sair mistaken"--and Jock chuckled to himself when Kirsty had gone--"and a warning to the laird micht no be amiss. It would be fine business for a Graham o' Claverhouse to marry a Covenantin' fanatic and the daughter o' sic a mither. Dod! it would be fair ruin for his career, and misery for himsel'. I'll no deny her looks, but I'll guarantee she has her mither's temper. What would Claverhouse have done without me--though I wouldna say that to onybody except mysel'--he would have been just an object--aye, aye, just a fair object."