"Almost ten years ago. Once—twice—thrice in ten years. How idly were they spent, those years!"
"Oh," cried Elspeth, "they say that you have been to world's end and have gotten great learning!"
"One comes home from all that to find world's end and great learning."
Elspeth leaned from him, back against the thorn-tree. She looked somewhat disquietedly, somewhat questioningly, at this new laird. Glenfernie, in his turn, laid upon himself both hands of control. He thought:
"Do not peril all—do not peril all—with haste and frightening!"
He sat upon the green hillock and talked of country news. She met him with this and that ... White Farm affairs, Littlefarm.
"Robin," said Alexander, "manages so well that he'll grow wealthy!"
"Oh no! He manages well, but he'll never grow wealthy outside! But inside he has great riches."
"Does she love him, then?" It poured fear into his heart. A magician with a sword—with a great, evil, written-upon creese like that hanging at Black Hill—was here before the palace.
"Do you love him?" asked Alexander, and asked it with so straight a simplicity that Elspeth Barrow took no offense.