It is quite impossible except I get some one to help me--
and there are so few who have any influence with him!"
Malcolm thought she must surely have had chances enough before he
ran away from her; but he could not help feeling softened towards
her.
"Supposin' I was to get ye speech o' 'im, mem?" he said.
"That would not be of the slightest use. He is so prejudiced against
me, he would only shriek, and go into one of those horrible fits."
"I dinna see what's to be dune than," said Malcolm.
"I must have him brought here--there is no other way."
"An' whaur wad be the guid o' that, mem? By yer ain shawin', he
wad rin oot o' 's verra body to win awa' frae ye."
"I did not mean by force," returned Mrs Stewart. "Some one he
has confidence in must come with him. Nothing else will give me a
chance. He would trust you now; your presence would keep him from
being terrified--at his own mother, alas! through you he would
learn to trust me; and if a course of absolute indulgence did not
bring him to live like other people--that of course is impossible
--it might at least induce him to live at home, and cease to be
a byword to the neighbourhood."
Her tone was so refined, and her voice so pleading; her sorrow was
so gentle; and she looked, in the dimness, to Malcolm's imagination
at least, so young and handsome, that the strong castle of his
prejudices was swaying as if built on reeds; and had it not been
that he was already the partizan of her son, and therefore in honour
bound to give him the benefit of every doubt, he would certainly
have been gained over to work her will.
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