She started back when she beheld Robin, and again thought that some evil genius had determined to oppose her wherever she went.
“Ah! is that you, Peggy? It’s many a long day since I’ve seen you. Have the fiends played you any more tricks?”
Margaret made her curtsy to the lady, but dared not reply to the salutation of the old fisherman, lest he should betray the secret of her heart. She was evidently confused.
“You need not be so proud either, young woman, as to forget a friend; but you are like the rest of the world:—‘Those whom we first serve are the first to forget us.’ Now, to my mind, you’re a fit match for Will Laud, and he’s about as ungracious a chap as any I know.”
The tear started into Margaret’s eye, and she could not utter a word. In the accents of kindness, however, the lady addressed the trembling girl.
“You must not mind all the wanderings of old Robin, you will be better acquainted with him hereafter.”
“And so will you, ma’am, with her before long. The foul fiend has long dwelt with her and hers, and you’ll soon find that out. I’ve known her almost as long as I’ve known you, ma’am; and if she’s a-coming to your service, why, all I can say is, there will be pretty pranks a-going on in your house.”
Here the poor girl could refrain no longer from tears; she sobbed as if her heart would break, and the scene more than commonly interested the benevolent lady.
“What has Robin known of you, young woman, that he should speak so harshly against you? How have you offended him?”
“I never offended him, ma’am—never that I know of! He was very kind to me, and once, ma’am—once——" and here Margaret paused, and could not finish her sentence.