“Dacent fowk!” said Stephen.
“They are that!” responded Donal, “—as good people as I know!”
“Wud ye du them a guid turn?” asked the fisherman.
“Indeed I would!”
“Weel, it’s this, sir: I hae grit doobts gien a’ be gaein’ verra weel wi’ the lass at the castel.”
As he said the words he turned his head aside, and spoke so low and in such a muffled way that Donal could but just make out what he said.
“You must be a little plainer if you would have me do anything,” he returned.
“I’ll be richt plain wi’ ye, sir,” answered Stephen, and then fell silent as if he would never speak again.
Donal waited, nor uttered a sound. At last he spoke once more.
“Ye maun ken, sir,” he said, “I hae had a fancy to the lass this mony a day; for ye’ll alloo she’s baith bonnie an’ winsome!”