He found Semple with his hat in his hand, giving his last orders before

leaving business for the day; but when Joris said, "There is trouble,

and your advice I want," he returned with him to the back of the store,

where, through half-opened shutters, the sunshine and the river-breeze

stole into an atmosphere laden with the aromas of tea and coffee and

West Indian produce.

In a few short, strong sentences, Joris put the case before Semple. The

latter stroked his right knee thoughtfully, and listened. But his first

words were not very comforting: "I must say, that it is maistly your own

fault, Joris. You hae given Neil but a half welcome, and you should hae

made a' things plain and positive to Katherine. Such skimble-skamble,

yea and nay kind o' ways willna do wi' women. Why didna you say to her,

out and out, 'I hae promised you to Neil Semple, my lassie. He'll mak'

you the best o' husbands; you'll marry him at the New Year, and you'll

get gold and plenishing and a' things suitable'?"

"So young she is yet, Elder."

"She has been o'er auld for you, Joris. Young! My certie! When girls are

auld enough for a lover, they are a match for any gray head. I'm a

thankfu' man that I wasna put in charge o' any o' them. You and your

household will hae to keep your e'en weel open, or there will be a

wedding to which nane o' us will get an invite. But there is little

good in mair words. Hame is the place we are baith needed in. I shall

hae to speak my mind to Neil, and likewise to Colonel Gordon; and you

canna put off your duty to your daughter an hour longer. Dear me! To

think, Joris, o' a man being able to sit wi' the councillors o' the

nation, and yet no match for a lassie o' seventeen!"

There are men who can talk their troubles away: Joris was not one of

them. He was silent when in sorrow or perplexity; silent, and ever

looking around for something to do in the matter. As they walked

homewards, the elder talked, and Joris pondered, not what was said, but

the thoughts and purposes that were slowly forming in his own mind. He

was later than usual, and the tea and the cakes had passed their prime

condition; but, when Lysbet saw the trouble in his eyes, she thought

them not worth mentioning. Joanna and Batavius were discussing their new

house then building on the East River bank, and they had forgotten all

else. But Katherine fretted about her father's delay, and it was at her

Joris first looked. The veil had now been taken from his eyes; and he

noticed her pretty dress, her restless glances at the clock, her

ill-concealed impatience at the slow movement of the evening meal.




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