SANDY. A lady? What lady? (_Anxiously._) Your niece, your daughter,
your cousin--who is she, what is she? A young lady or an old lady?
WIDOW (_smiling_). No relation of mine, sir. You’ll soon be seeing
her yourself. Maybe I’ll better go and tell her you are here.
She’s neither young nor old, but somesing between the two.
(_Aside._) I musn’t be telling him it was his own mother.
SANDY. No, don’t go. I’m in no mood to meet any of my acquaintances.
(_Aside._) Those prying gossips! One can’t go a step for them.
(_Aloud._) I prefer to talk to yourself, Mrs Mackay, but I must
ask you to do me a special favour.
WIDOW. I’m at your service, sir.
SANDY. _Don’t_ call me “sir.” My name is Sandy.
WIDOW. Indeet. A very homely name indeet, _sir_--I beg your
pardon--there will be one or two Sandys in this same glen already.
SANDY. Splendid! I’ll be able to hide myself. If anybody calls here
asking for Sandy, you’ll send them to some other Sandy....
(_Gazes steadfastly at Mrs Mackay._) Look through the window,
Mrs Mackay.
WIDOW (_alarmed_). What is it?
SANDY. Sit down, please, don’t move. You make an excellent picture.
Just look towards the window. (_Widow looks nervously._) Ah!
wonderful; she was Spring, you are late September. (_Sighs._) I
must paint you.
WIDOW (_astonished_). Paint me?
SANDY. I will paint your portrait and present it to you afterwards.
WIDOW (_aside_). Màiri said the veesitors were so kind to people.
(_Aloud._) That’s very good of you, Mr----
SANDY. Sandy.
WIDOW. Mr Sandy.
SANDY. No, simply Sandy. (_Laughs._) Simple Sandy, if you like, or
just Sandy.
Widow (_aside_). So simple and plain; he must be a born gentleman.
(_Aloud._) I’ll be trying to remember. (_Smiles._)
SANDY (_musingly_). What is there in you Highland people that makes
you seem all alike, I wonder? When you smile, you remind me
of--of someone I knew. A Highland lady also. (_Aside._) Ah! dear
me, can I never get her out of my mind?--Màiri, Màiri, my soul
calls you. You haunt me night and day. (_Aloud._) This is a very
beautiful little house. What a rare window! And this fire-place!
(_Sits down on a stool._)
WIDOW. Take the easy chair, if you please. I’m sure you’re feeling
tired.
SANDY. Is that your most comfortable chair, Mrs Mackay?