"I am not so sure of that either," said I.
"She would never be so bold."
I believed Lady Leighton bold enough for anything, and said so, telling Mrs. Deborah what I had heard in my walk. I did not add what I thought—that Sir Julius had gone away on purpose to leave matters in the hands of his wife. One hesitates before telling a sister that her only brother, the head of her house, is a base coward, even though one may be convinced that she knows as much already.
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
"AN EARLY SNOW SAVES MUCKLE WOE."
IT was two or three days before we heard a word from the Hall.
Even my clothes were not sent to me, and I began to think I was to be deprived of them.
Meantime a visitor arrived in the shape of Alick Graham, old Elsie's nephew, and Lady Thornyhaugh's servant. He brought Mrs. Deborah a present of moor game, cheeses, and fine wool for her knitting, of his mistress' own spinning, and for Amabel and me each a large soft plaid or mantle, such as were then worn by all classes in Scotland. He would fain have gone at once to the Hall to see his sweet-heart, saying that he had but little time to stay, and, in the language of the old ballad—
"He could not come ilka day to woo."