“I’m very sorry, sir, to have to make complaints. It’s a thing I don’t like, and I’m not given to. I’m sure I try to do my duty by Master Ranald as well as everyone else in this house.”
I felt a little confused, for I now saw clearly enough that my father could not approve of our proceedings. I whispered to Allister—
“Run and fetch Turkey. Tell him to come directly.”
Allister always did whatever I asked him. He set off at once. The Kelpie looked suspicious as he left the room, but she had no pretext for interference. I allowed her to tell her tale without interruption. After relating exactly how we had served her the night before, when she had gone on a visit of mercy, as she represented it, she accused me of all my former tricks—that of the cat having, I presume, enlightened her as to the others; and ended by saying that if she were not protected against me and Turkey, she must leave the place.
“Let her go, father,” I said. “None of us like her.”
“I like her,” whimpered little Davie.
“Silence, sir!” said my father, very sternly. “Are these things true?”
“Yes, father,” I answered. “But please hear what I’ve got to say. She’s only told you her side of it.”
“You have confessed to the truth of what she alleges,” said my father. “I did think,” he went on, more in sorrow than in anger, though a good deal in both, “that you had turned from your bad ways. To think of my taking you with me to the death-bed of a holy man, and then finding you so soon after playing such tricks!—more like the mischievousness of a monkey than of a human being!”
“I don’t say it was right, father; and I’m very sorry if I have offended you.”