A Daughter of Fife

"But you are glad to have seen more of the world. You would not like to go

back to Fife, now?"

"If my eye hadna seen, my heart wouldna hae wanted. I was happy."

"Promoter is an uncommon name. I never knew a Promoter before; but the

Campbells are a big clan. I dare say you have known a great many

Campbells?"

"The man whom fayther sold his fish to was a Campbell. And the woman I

lodged wi' in Glasgow had a daughter married to a Campbell. And Mistress

Lauder often sent me to Campbell's big store for silk and trimmings. And

whiles, there was a minister preached in oor kirk, called Campbell--and

there is yoursel', miss, the best o' them all to Maggie Promoter."

"Thank you, Maggie." Not in the faintest way had Maggie betrayed her

knowledge of Allan, and Mary respected her for the reticence very much.

"Now for our work. I will sew, and you shall read aloud. I want you to

learn how to talk as I do, and reading aloud is an excellent exercise."

"I'll ne'er speak such high English as you, and I like my braid Scotch

weel."

"But your voice is so delightful when you say the words as you ought to.

You can read 'high English,' why not talk it?"

"My ain tongue is mair homelike and kindly. But I'll try yours, an' you

want me to."

After Mary had listened an hour, she suddenly interrupted Maggie. "You

read that love scene with wonderful feeling. Had you ever a lover, Maggie?"

"Maist girls have lovers. I couldna expect to escape. You will dootless

hae lovers yoursel', ma'am?"

"I had one lover, Maggie, not much of a lover, he wanted to marry

Drumloch, not me."

"That was a' wrang. Folks shouldna marry for gold. Sorrow comes that way."

"You would not, I am sure'"

"No, not for a' the gold in Scotland."

"Is your lover poor then, Maggie?"

"I ne'er asked him if he had this or that. He is a gude kind lad."

"Did he ever give you any beautiful things--precious rings or lockets--as

the lovers in books do? The Sir Everard of whom you have just been reading

gave Lady Hilda a ring of diamonds and opals, you remember?"

"The Fife lads break a sixpence in twa wi' their troth lass; and I hae my

half sixpence. There can be no ring but a wedding ring for a lassie like

me."

Then Mary laid down her work, and as she passed Maggie she touched her

gently, and smiled in her face. She was rapidly coming to a decision; a

few minutes in her own room enabled her to reach it. "The girl is a born

lady; I gave her every opportunity, but neither to the text of 'Campbell,'

nor 'lover,' did she betray herself or Allan. And really, when I think of

it, I had almost a special direction about her. I did not intend to go to

Mrs. Lauder's that morning. I should not have gone, if Madame Bartholemew

had been at home. I should not have gone if Miss Fleming had been able to

do my work. Maggie has evidently been put in my charge. Not to go any

higher than Uncle John and Allan, I think when they demand her of me, they

will say--'Where is thy sister?' not 'Where is thy servant maid, or thy

sewing maid.' But I must be sure of myself. If I accept this obligation, I

must accept it fully with all its contingencies and results. Can I be

generous enough? Patient enough? Just enough? Loving enough?" And no

wonder men honor good women! Who could have helped honoring Mary Campbell

who saw her stand with honest purpose examining her own heart, and then

lowly kneeling, asking God's blessing and help for the resolve so

consecrated.