"
"You're a dangerous accomplice," said the lady.
"I'm a tule ye maun tak by the han'le, or ye'll rue the edge,"
returned the other quietly.
"As soon then as I get a hold of that misbegotten elf--"
"Mean ye the yoong laird, or the yoong markis, mem?"
"You forget, Mrs Catanach, that you are speaking to a lady!"
"Ye maun hae been unco like ane ae nicht, ony gait, mem. But I'm
dune wi' my jokin'."
"As soon, I say, as I get my poor boy into proper hands, I shall
be ready to take the next step."
"What for sod ye pit it aff till than? He canna du muckle ae w'y
or ither."
"I will tell you. His uncle, Sir Joseph, prides himself on being
an honest man, and if some busybody were to tell him that poor
Stephen, as I am told people are saying, was no worse than harsh
treatment had made him--for you know his father could not bear
the sight of him till the day of his death--he would be the more
determined to assert his guardianship, and keep things out of my
hands. But if I once had the poor fellow in an asylum, or in my
own keeping--you see--"
"Weel, mem, gien I be potty, ye're panny!" exclaimed the midwife with
her gelatinous laugh. "Losh, mem!" she burst out after a moment's
pause, "sen you an' me was to fa' oot, there wad be a stramash!
He! he! he!"
They rose and left the cave together, talking as they went; and
Phemy, trembling all over, rejoined the laird.
She could understand little of what she had heard, and yet, enabled
by her affection, retained in her mind a good deal of it.
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