'What may you be doing there at this time of the morning, Nell?' I said
at last.
'Just like yourself--trying to find a quiet way to my bed,' said she;
'but I must hasten, or I shall be late to let in Marjorie.'
'What Marjorie,' said I, pretending that I knew nothing of the matter.
'Lie to other folk gin ye like, Spurheel,' said the madcap,
contemptuously, 'but dinna think ye can lie to Nell Kennedy. I saw ye
come from the hole down by the Cove.'
'But what do you here, Nell?' said I, for it might be that the mad
lassie had a lad, and it seemed a terrible thing that she should be so
misguided at her age as to meet him alone by night.
'Maybe I was down by seeing Kate Allison, the Grieve's lassie,' said
she. 'Do you honestly think, Spurheel, that Helen Kennedy would permit
a sister of hers to gang jooking here and there about the shore wi' a
bonny young man at the dead of nicht all by her lone? It is not very
likely.'