"I promised Anthy's father I'd look after her, an' I wull."
"But, Fergus, what have you got against me? I thought we were friends."
"What's friendship to do wi' it? Ye ain't good enough for Anthy: an' I wull na' ha' ye breakin' her heart. Who are ye that ye should be lookin' upon a girl like that?"
Fergus's voice was shaking with emotion.
"Well, I know I'm not good enough, Fergus, you're right about that. No one is, I think. But I—I love her, Fergus."
"Ye love her: ye think ye do: next week ye'll think ye don't."
At this a flame of swift anger swept over Nort.
"If I love her and she loves me, who else has got anything to say about it I'd like to know?"
"Wull, I have," said Fergus grimly.
Nort laughed, a nervous, fevered laugh, and threw out his arms in a gesture of impatience.