She hesitated a moment, then answered—
“It can be naething, I suppose, sir, but just that I’m growin older and beginnin to think aboot things.”
She stood near him. He put his arm round her little waist, and would have drawn her down upon his knees, but she resisted.
“I don’t see what difference that can make in you all at once, Isy! We’ve known each other so long that there can be no misunderstanding of any sort between us. You have always behaved like the good and modest girl you are; and I’m sure you have been most attentive to me all the time I have been in your aunt’s house.”
He spoke in a tone of superior approval.
“It was my bare duty, and ye hae aye been kinder to me than I could hae had ony richt to expec’. But it’s nearhan’ ower noo!” she concluded with a sigh that indicated approaching tears, as she yielded a little to the increased pressure of his arm.
“What makes you say that?” he returned, giving her a warm kiss, plainly neither unwelcome nor the first.
“Dinna ye think it would be better to drop that kin’ o’ thing the noo, sir?” she said, and would have stood erect, but he held her fast.
“Why now, more than any time—I don’t know for how long? Where does a difference come in? What puts the notion in your pretty little head?”
“It maun come some day, and the langer the harder it’ll be!”