"What are you about?" he said feebly but angrily. "Set me down."
They did so. He staggered to the road-side, and leaned against the bank.
"What's been the row?" he asked. "Oh, I remember!—Well, you've had the best of it!"
He held out his hand in a vague sort of way, and the gesture invaded their soft hearts. Each took the hand.
"I was all right about the girl though," said Sercombe. "I didn't mean her any harm."
"I don't think you did," answered Alister; "and I am sure you could have done her none; but the girl did not like it."
"There is not a girl of the clan, or in the neighbourhood, for whom my brother would not have done the same." said Ian.
"You're a brace of woodcocks!" cried Sercombe. "It's well you're not out in the world. You would be in hot water from morning to night! I can't think how the devil you get on at all!"
"Get on! Where?" asked Ian with a smile.
"Come now! You ain't such fools as you want to look! A man must make a place for himself somehow in the world!"