"Hen! How dare you?"
"In fact," he continued, unrestrained by the little woman's tones or scolding eyes, "I believe I have to thank jealousy for ever reinstating me to the head of the family."
"Indeed," remarked Stuart, with attention impressively flattering; "may I ask how it was effected?"
"Oh, very simply—very simply. Chance brought her the knowledge that there was another girl up the country to whom her hero sang Chinook songs, and, presto! she has ever since found English sufficient for all her needs."
And Tillie, finding she had enough to do to defend herself without teasing Rachel, gave her attention to her husband, and the girl turned to Stuart.
"All this gives no reason for your spasms of Scotch expression this morning," she reminded him.
"No? Well, my father confessor in the feminine, I was musical—beg pardon, tried to be—because I awoke this morning with an unusually light heart; and I sang Scotch songs—or tried to sing them—because I was thinking of a Scotchman, and contemplating a visit to him to-day."
"Davy MacDougall?"
"The same."
"And you were with him only yesterday."