'It's a peety Macgreegor didna see his intended the nicht,' Mr.
Robinson observed when his son, after a couple of hours at the
parental hearth, had gone to bed, 'but we canna help trains bein'
late.'
Mrs. Robinson felt that it was perhaps just as well the two young
people had not met that night, but refrained from saying so. 'Hoo
dae ye think Macgreegor's lookin,' John?' she asked after a pause.
'I didna notice onything wrang wi' him. He hadna a great deal to
say for hissel'; but that's naething new. Queer hoo a noisy,
steerin' wean like he was, grows into a quiet, douce young man.'
'He's maybe no as douce as ye think,' said Lizzie under her breath.
'What's that?'
'Naething, John.' She sighed heavily.
'What's wrang, wife?'
'I was wishin' we had a niece called Maggie. . . . I suppose it's
nae use askin' if ye ever heard o' Macgreegor ha'ein' an
acquaintance o' that name.'
'Maggie? Weel, it's no what ye would call a unique name. But
what----'
'Listen, John. When Christina was here the day, a wee paircel cam'
for Macgreegor, an' when I opened it, there was a pair o' socks
wi'--wi' fondest love from Maggie.'
'Hurray for Maggie!
'But, John, Christina read the words!'
'Oho!' John guffawed. 'She wudna like that--eh?'
'Man, what are ye laughin' at? Ye ken Christina's terrible prood.'
'No ony prooder nor Macgreegor is o' her. Lizzie.'
'That's no what I meant. Christina wud never put up wi' Macgreegor
lookin' at anither lass.'
'Weemen was born jealous; but it's guid for them.'
'John Robi'son! ha'e ye the face to tell me ye wud approve o'
Macgreegor cairryin' on wi' anither lass when he's engaged to
Christina?'
'Of course I wudna exac'ly approve o' it.' Mr. Robinson scratched
his head. 'But surely ye're raisin' an awfu' excitement ower a
pair o' socks.'
'It wasna the socks, ye stupid: it was the fondest love!'
John laughed again, but less boisterously,
'Maggie's no blate, whaever she is. Did ye no speir at Macgreegor
aboot her?'
'Oh, man! ha'e ye nae sense?' I jist tied up the paircel again an'
left it on his bed.'
'Weel, that ends it,' John said comfortably. 'But'--with a
wink--'let it be a lesson to ye never to tamper wi' yer son's
correspondence. Ye're pretty sure to find mair nor ye expec'.'
Mrs. Robinson clasped her hands. 'Oh, dear! hoo can ye joke aboot
it? What if Christina breaks her engagement.'
'What?' he cried, suddenly alarmed. 'Break her engagement! Surely
ye dinna mean that! Did she say onything? Did she seem offended?
Did she----'
'Never a word--but her look was different. But whatever stupid
thing the laddie may ha'e done, his heart's set on Christina. It
wud break his heart if----'
'This is bad,' said John, all dismayed. 'I didna think it wud be
that serious. But I'll tell ye what I'll dae, Lizzie. I'll gang
the morn and see Christina an' tell her----'
'What'll ye tell her?'
'Dear knows! What wud ye say yersel'?'
'Neither you nor me can say onything. Macgreegor'll ha'e to
explain--if he can.'
Mr. Robinson groaned, then brightened. 'I yinst had a cousin
called Maggie,' he said; 'unfortunately she's been deid for fifteen
year. Still----'
'It's time ye was in yer bed, John. Ye canna dae onything, ma man,
excep' hope for the best.'
* * * * *