"Ay, there's nae talk but marrying yonder. I am thinking the mistress would rather be having the other man," said she, and rose to put peat on the fire.
"Whatever other man is it?" says the mother.
"Kate will be meaning Dan McBride's bastard," says Dol Beag, and his hand shook a little on the hook.
"He is free with his money whatever, and a fine man they are saying."
"Ay, ay, the father o' him was free with his gifts too," said her father. "They will all be thonder, I am thinking. Laird and leddies and bastards, the whole clamjamfry. We will be hoping for a good day at the time o' the year."
"John McCook would be telling me there will be a ploy that night at the
Cleiteadh mor," said the lass; "the folk will have a cargo ready.
McBride and his son will be there for the ploy," said the lass, "but he
said no' to be speaking of it."
Her father stopped a little at his baiting.
"They were aye the great hands for a ploy," said he, and twitched his shoulder, and the black shadow on the wall wobbled and was still. There came a long whistle as you will hear a shepherd call.
"That will be himsel'," said Kate.
"Fetch the lad in," said the mother, and went to the fire.