Scottie made no reply but to gaze absent-mindedly at her.
“Was it any secret who she was engaged to, or that she was engaged?” she asked.
“No,” said Scottie, slowly, and applied him to his cup again.
Mrs. Dan fidgeted. She told Dan afterwards that she had never been so tantalized in her life, nor made so to feel that she was an inquisitive gossiping busybody. “Not a thing would the man tell me except what I asked him point-blank; and then he’d dodge it if he could.” And Dan had laughed at her.
“Who was it, Mr. Mackellar? I’m not asking out of idle curiosity,” said Mrs. Dan. “I’ll be having a talk with her soon, and I might be able to help her. You know a woman can often tell and ask another woman things she can’t or won’t a man.”
“It was Ned Gunliffe,” said Scottie. Mrs. Dan mentally clapped her hands.
She dropped the subject as lightly as she could, so as to take a new line.
“He’s a man I don’t know much of—well or ill,” she said, “but I’ve no doubt Miss Ess will have acted wisely.”
“I’m glad ye’re sure o’ that,” said Scottie, drily. Mrs. Dan felt uncomfortable. “But aren’t you?” she asked.
“Me?” said Scottie, with a slight air of surprise. “I’m never sure what a woman is doin’, right or wrong; or what she’s thinkin’.”