When first Mercy felt his arms, she could not have spoken if she would—her heart seemed to grow too large for her body. But in a moment or two she controlled herself, and was able to say—sufficiently in his mother's tone and manner to keep up the initiated misconception:
"They put me out of the house, Alister."
"Put you out of the house!" he returned, like one hearing and talking in a dream. "Who dared interfere with you, mother? Am I losing my senses? I seem not to understand my own words!"
"Mr. Palmer."
"Mr. Palmer! Was it to him I sold the land in London? What could he have to do with you, mother? How did they allow him to come near the house in my absence? Oh, I see! He came and worried you so about Mercy that you were glad to take refuge from him up here!—I understand now!"
He ended in a tone of great relief: he felt as if he had just recovered his senses.
"No, that was not it. But we are going so soon, there would have been no good in fighting it out. We ARE going soon, are we not?"
"Indeed we are, please God!" replied the chief, who had relapsed into bewilderment.
"That is well—for you more than anybody. Would you believe it—the worthless girl vows she will never leave her mother's house!"
"Ah, mother, YOU never heard her say so! I know Mercy better than that! She will leave it when I say COME. But that won't be now. I must wait, and come and fetch her when she is of age."