A Daughter of Fife

"Your foot is aye welcome in my house, sir; and when you are wanting a

week's fishing, there is naething to prevent you taking it, if Aunt Janet

is here. She is a vera strict pairson; the deil himsel' wouldna be

suspected o' wrang-doing, if she were watching him."

"Poor Maggie! David, it does seem a hard lookout for her; especially when

you will be so happy with your books, and I am going on a two years'

pleasure trip to America."

David's face brightened involuntarily, and Allan could see that the

thought of his certain absence was not at all displeasing. But he did not

blame him for a fear so brotherly and natural; he was, however,

dissatisfied with the arrangements made for Maggie's comfort, and he

asked, "Can she not go to Glasgow with you, David? It would be a fine

thing to have a little home for yourself there, and Maggie to look after

your comfort. You would study better."

"I wad do naething o' the sort. I wad be keepit back by ony woman. There

is many a ceevil word to say to them, that is just time and strength ta'en

from study. Maggie kens weel, that when I hae my kirk, she'll be first and

foremost wi' me. I'll count nae honor or pleasure worth the having she

doesna share. Forbye, sir, when you hae a hame, and the plenishing o' it,

folk should think lang ere they scatter it to the four winds. It is easy

to get rid o' household things; whiles, it is maist impossible to get them

thegither again. I might die, and Maggie be left to fight her ain battle.

If it should come to that, Hame is a full cup; Hame is a breastwark; you

can conquer maist things on your ain hearthstone."

"Perhaps you are right, David."

"I ken weel I am right. Maggie and I hae thocht o' every thing; her gude

name, and her happiness is my first wish. She is vera dear to me. She is

a' I have, sir."

"I shall not be in Pittenloch for two years, David, so I will pay you now

for the use of my room. The rent I believe is seven shillings weekly, that

is £36. I wish you would give this sum entire to Maggie. I should like her

to feel in some measure independent; and I should like you to feel that

you had no necessity to take thought about her from week to week."

"Thank you, sir, for the kind thocht, as weel as for the siller; and I

shall tell Maggie to keep the knowledge o' it from her aunt, who is a

woman o' a vera parsimonious disposition."

"Also my boat is to be hers. She can hire it out or she can sell it. It is

absolutely her own. It would be folly for me to keep it rocking at anchor,

and rusting away. I can not speak to her on such subjects, but you will be

sure and make her understand, David."