“I didna mean to, lassie,” said McCray, coolly.
Jane was piqued, and said nothing.
“There, lassie, I winna beat aboot the bush any more. It was settled at last that we twain are to gang thegither; and I agreed for both, and Sir Mooray starts next week for the Lake Como.”
“And like you!” said Jane, with asperity. “How could you know that I’d go?”
“Why, didn’t I ken that ye’d gang for my sake?” said McCray.
“No, indeed!” exclaimed Jane.
“That’s just what I thocht,” said McCray, with a twinkle in his eye; “but I was quite sure ye would on account of the bairn.”
Jane smiled, in spite of herself, as McCray’s arm was passed round her: but her eyes filled with tears directly after, as she placed the child upon a chair, and then went down upon her knees before it, kissing it again and again.
“It was good, and kind, and thoughtful of you, Alexander,” she said, turning to the gardener; “and I know you’ve been having a hard battle for me.”
“Weel, lassie, he did want a deal o’ pruning, certainly,” said McCray.