Just then Christina entered, remarking:
'It's an awfu' job tryin' to sell what a person doesna want to a person that wants what ye ha'ena got; but I done it this time. Evenin', Mac. Mr. Thomson, I am delighted to meet ye.'
'Aw,' murmured Willie helplessly.
'Dinna terrify him,' Macgregor whispered.
'Sorry,' she said with quick compunction. 'I'm gled to see ye, Wullie. Sit doon an' feel at hame. The kettle's jist at the bile. See, tak' Miss Tod's chair. She'll like to think that a sojer sat in it. She'll never ha'e been as near to a man. I was askin' her the ither nicht if she had ever had a lad. The answer was in the negative.'
'Maybe,' Macgregor suggested, 'she didna like to tell ye the truth.'
Christina smiled gently, saying, 'Ye've a lot to learn aboot us females, Mac.'
'By Jings, ye're richt there!' Willie exploded, and immediately subsided in confusion.
'Ay,' she agreed placidly; 'he's no a connoisseur like you, Wullie.
Talkin' o' females, hoo's yer aunt keepin'?'
'Rotten—at least she was fine the last time I seen her ugly.'