“And what would become of us all?” asked Shenac, her cheeks growing pale in the pain and surprise of the moment.
“He would put out the money in such a way that it would bring an income to my mother, who could live here still, with Colin and little Flora. He says he will take Dan to keep till he is of age, and Elder McMillan will take Hugh. You are old enough to do for yourself, he says; and as for me—” He turned away, so that his sister might not see the working of his face. But Shenac was thinking of something else, and did not notice him.
“But, Hamish, we have written to Allister, and he will be sure to come home when he hears what has happened to us.”
Hamish shook his head.
“Black Angus says Allister will never come back. He says he was an unsettled lad before he went away. And, Shenac, he says our Allister beguiled Evan, or he never would have left home. He looked black when he said it. He was angry.”
Shenac’s eyes blazed again.
“Our Allister unsettled—he that went away for our father’s sake, and for us all! Our Allister to beguile Evan, that wild lad! And you sat and heard him say it, Hamish!”
“What else could I do?” said Hamish bitterly.
“And my mother?” said Shenac.
“She could only cry, and say that Allister had always been a good son to her and to my father, and a dear brother to us all.”