"Where is Hugh?" said I.
"He came into us," said the lass, "like a wraith."
"'I have provoked my cousin,' he said, 'and wounded and maybe killed him, and I am owing him my life forbye,' and I ran to be waiting for you, and locked my door on all of them, even my mother."
She had a droll coaxing way with her, Margaret—a way of saying, "Will you tell me?" and then of repeating it, and she started now.
"Hamish," said she, "will you tell me one thing? Will you tell me?"
I nodded.
"Would it be—will you tell me—truly?" and she waited for my assent.
"Would it be Helen the boys were fighting over?"
"It would not," said I, and she said nothing more after that; but as I took her to the door she pulled my head down.
"I am thinking often, Hamish," said she, "you are the best one of us all."