Matilda Sabiston sat on the hearthstone grumbling at the cold, while the man-servant who had brought her so far was piling the peats upon the fire to warm her feet and hands. When David and Nanna entered she did not move, but she turned her eyes upon them with a malignant anger that roused in both a temper very different from that in which their hopeless walk had been taken. It was immediately noticeable in Nanna. She dropped David’s hand and walked forward to her visitor, and they looked steadily at each other for a few moments. Then Matilda said:
“Think shame of yourself, to be so soon at the courting again, and, above all, with him!”
Nanna took no notice of the remark, but asked, “Why are you here? I wish to have no dealings with you, for no good can come of them.”
“Would I come here for good? There is no good in any of your kind. I came here to tell you that I was glad that there is one Borson less.”
“There has been death among your own kin, mistress,” said David, “and such death as should make the living fear to bring it to remembrance.”
“I know it. You ought to fear. Did you slay Nicol, as your father slew Bele Trenby, by water? or did you poison him with drugs? or is your hand red with his life-blood? And now, before the fish have had time to pick his bones, you are wooing his wife.”
“Will you let Nanna alone? She is ill.”
“Ill? Babble! Look at her rosy cheeks! She has been listening to your love-words. Who sent you to the Sea Rover? What were you doing there? A great plot! A wicked plot against poor Nicol!”
“I went to the Sea Rover because–”
“Very ready you were to go to Nicol’s ship and to do your will there! Oh, it was a great opportunity! None to see! none to tell tales! But I know you! I know you! The black drop of murder is in every Borson’s veins.”