“Many have talked of the fault, none but thou have asked me why or how it came that I was 127 so foolish. I will tell thee the very truth. I went to spend the day with Nana Bork––with thy consent I went––and towards afternoon there came an invitation from McLeod to Nana to join an informal dance that night at eight o’clock. And Nana told me so many pleasant things about these little dances I could not resist her talk and I thought if I stayed with Nana all night thou would never know. I have heard that I stole away out of thy house to go to McLeod’s. I did not! I went with Nana Bork whose guest I was.”
“Why did thou not tell me this before?”
“I knew no one in Kirkwall would dare to say to thee this or that about thy grandchild, and I hoped thou would never know. I am sorry for my disobedience; it has always hurt me––if thou forgive it now, so much happier I will be.”
Then Adam drew her to his side and kissed her, and words would have been of all things the most unnecessary. But he moved a chair close to him, and she sat down in it and laid her hand upon his knee and he clasped and covered it with his own.
“Very unkindly Boris has treated thee.”
“He has mocked at my love before all Kirkwall. Well, then, it is Thora Ragnor’s complacency that affronts me most. If she would put her boasting 128 into words, I could answer her; but who can answer looks?”
“She is in the heaven of her first love. Thou should understand that condition.”
“It is beyond my understanding; nor would I try to understand such a lover as Ian Macrae. I believe that he is a hypocrite––Thora is so easily deceived–––”
“And thou?”
“I am not deceived. I see Boris just as he is, rude and jealous and hateful, but I think him a far finer man than Ian Macrae ever has been, or ever will be.”