“So I see, Willie.” Then mindful of Maggie’s good name, and of the fact that their betrothal was unknown, he said, with as much of his old manner as he could assume, “What has come to the Promoters? I hope some good fortune?”
“I hope that, too; but there’s nane can say, if it be good or ill. Davie, you will dootless hae heard tell o’?”
“I have heard nothing from him for two years.”
“Then your ears will be like to tingle wi’ the news; for he has set himsel’ in a’ the high seats in Glasca’ College; and folks talk o’ naething less than a Glasca’ pu’pit for him; and you ken, it tak’s doctors in divinity to stand up afore a Glasca’ congregation. Elder Mackelvine never wearies o’ talking anent him. For mysel’, I canna say I ever likit him o’er weel; and since puir Maggie gaed awa’, I hae ta’en little pleasure in the honor he has done oor village.”
“Maggie gone away! Where to?”
“Nane can tell. She had a sair trial wi’ yonder auld harridan her brother brought to bide wi’ her.”
“I did not like the woman, Willie.”
“Like her? Wha wad like her but the blackhearted and the black-tongued? She gied the girl’s gude name awa’ to win hersel’ a bit honor wi’ auld wives, and even the minister at first was against Maggie; sae when she couldna thole her trouble langer, she went to her brither, and folks say, he gied her the cold shoulder likewise. But when four months had gane he cam’ here oot o’ his wits nearly, and sent Janet Caird hame wi’ a word, and the care o’ the house was put on Mysie Jardine. Davie hasna set e’en on his cottage, nor foot in it, since; nor sent any word to his auld frien’s—though as to frien’s it is naething less than a professor he changes hats or the time o’ day with noo, they tell me; and I can weel believe it, for he aye had the pride o’ a Nebuchadnezzar in him.”
Elder Mackelvine in a measure corroborated Willie Johnson’s statements. Maggie had been “hardly spoken of,” he admitted; but “I dinna approve o’ the way oot o’ trouble that she took,” he added sternly. “Lasses ought to sit still and thole wrang, until He undertakes their case. If Maggie had bided in her hame a few weeks langer, He wad hae brought oot her righteousness as the noon-day. There was a setting o’ public feeling in the right direction followed close on her leaving, and then cam’ Dr. Balmuto wi’ searchings, and examinations, and strong reproofs, for a’, and sundry; and I didna escape mysel’;” said the elder in a tone of injury.
“What could they say wrong of Maggie Promoter?” asked Allan, with flashing eyes.