'No, anything but that. I am sick of it.'
She thought for a moment, and then dashed into another, of which one verse will suffice, and which was quite as objectionable to his lordship, though he did not understand it all.
'There's auld Robin Morris that dwells in yonder glen,
He's the king o' a' guid fellows and choice o' auld men,
He has gold in his coffers, he has oxen and kine,
And one bonnie lassie—his darling and mine.'
'It is a man's song,' said Alison, when she had concluded the five verses, and continued to idle over the keys.
'And I suppose auld Robin Morris might be twin brother to the other Robin,' said Cadbury, with ill-concealed annoyance, as he conceived there was more in the song than his ear detected.
'It only tells the old story, my lord—the hopeless love of a handsome young fellow for a rich and lovely girl—an old man's pride and avarice standing in the way—' said Alison, with a soft smile playing about her lips, and thankful that her father's entrance put an end to a most obnoxious tête-à-tête.
A few minutes later and Lord Cadbury's carriage was conveying them home, but even then Alison's annoyances did not cease.
'Did Cadbury say anything particular to you, Alison dear, when I was having a nap to-night?' asked Sir Ranald, suddenly breaking a silence that was rather oppressive.
'No, papa.'
'No! Nothing?'