“No, no, Malcolm!” she said. “It’s very silly of me, I dare say; but I’ve been so frightened. They’re such a set of geese—Mrs Courthope, and the butler, and all of them! Don’t leave me, please.”
“I maun gang and see what’s amiss, my leddy,” answered Malcolm; “but ye can come wi’ me gien ye like. What’s fa’en, div ye think?”
“Nobody knows. It fell with a noise like thunder, and shook the whole house.”
“It’s far ower dark to see onything frae the ootside,” rejoined Malcolm, “—at least afore the mune’s up. It’s as dark ’s pick. But I can sune saitisfee mysel’ whether the deil’s i’ the hoose or no.”
He took a candle from the hall-table, and went up the square staircase, followed by Florimel.
“What w’y is ’t, my leddy, ’at the hoose is no lockit up, an’ ilka body i’ their beds?” he asked.
“My father is coming home to-night. Didn’t you know? But I should have thought a storm like this enough to account for people not being in bed!”
“It’s a fearfu’ nicht for him to be sae far frae his! Whaur’s he comin’ frae? Ye never speyk to me noo, my leddy, an’ naebody tell’t me.”
“He was to come from Fochabers to-night. Stoat took the bay mare to meet him yesterday.”
“He wad never start in sic a win’! It’s fit to blaw the saiddle aff o’ the mear’s back.”