“But, oh, Reginald, he never had my heart!”
“I never knew he had sought it, dearest.”
“Yet he did. I should have told you before, but he persecuted me with his protestations of love. Often and often have I remained in my room all the evening long when I knew he was below.”
“Well, he cursed me from the bottom of his heart and departed. Not before I told him that our quarrel could not end thus, that I was too proud to stand abuse, that when well I should fight him.”
“Oh, no—no—no! For my sake you must not fight.”
“Annie, my ain little dove, do you remember these two wee lines:
“‘I could not love thee half so much,
Loved I not honour more.’
“There is no hatred so deep and bitter as that between two men who have once been friends. No; both Craig and I will be better pleased after we fight; but this quarrel I fear must end in blood.”
Poor Annie shuddered. Just at that moment Shufflin’ Sandie appeared on the scene. He was never far away.
“Can I get ye a plaid, Mr Grahame, to throw o’er your legs? It’s gettin’ cold now, I fear.”