"Did she love someone else?" I asked softly.
Dauvit took some time to reply.
"No, man, Maggie wanted me."
"Then the fault lay on your side? You didn't love her!"
Dauvit brought his hand down on the board.
"Goad, man, but I did!"
I could not understand.
"Man, on the road hame frae Kirrie Market I was to speer if she wud marry me . . . but I didna."
We smoked silently for a long minute.
"Ye see," he went on slowly, "Maggie was a bonny lassie and I liked to kiss and cuddle her, but kissin' and cuddlin' are a very sma' part o' marriage, dominie. There was something in Maggie that I was aye lookin' for, but cud never find. Aye, I tried to find it in other lassies, but I never fund it."