"What would she mean by that, Hugh?"
"I am not sure," said he, "but I ken that John o' Scaurdale and my father are set on a weddin', and the lass kens it too, and I am thinking it is the land she is thinking of; it will be all in the family when we make a match of it."
"Just that," said I; but in my mind there was another thought that I never was telling, and this was it—
Mistress Helen was thinking that Bryde would never have Margaret, because of a fault that was none of his making, and that would leave two lonely ones; and maybe, too, she was thinking that she herself would never be having Bryde (for another reason), and that would make three lonely ones. As for being all in the family—well, if she could not be having Bryde, she could be having his cousin, and I'm thinking that not the half of an acre of land was even in her mind at all. But it would not do to be telling that to a man that would just have left his trysted wife.
When Margaret had the word there were tears standing in her eyes.
"I am wondering if there would be something to leap up when Helen promised herself to our Hugh," said she.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
IN WHICH BETTY COMPLAINS OF GROWING-PAINS.
It was the Halflin that brought me word that Betty was not so well, and would I be coming to see her.
"What is her complaint?" said I.