"And what if he does?" I asked, as I repeated the offence.
"Did you see me on the road to the Tolbooth?" she continued.
"Yes," I said, "that is where I saw you. Just when hope seemed utterly dead--you came."
The woman in her spoke: "Did I look feart?" she asked.
"Not a bit; you looked as brave as you are."
She laughed as she replied, "I'm gled I didna show it, for mither would ha'e been ashamed o' me if she knew, but in my hert I was as frichtened as a bairn."
"Never mind," I said, "you have nothing to fear now. You are mine for ever."
"For ever," she answered. "That's a lang, lang time; are ye sure ye'll never get tired o' me?"
"Sweetheart," I answered fervently, "long ago you told me to love you for your soul. I have learned to do so, and such a love can never die"; and as the captain's back was turned and there was neither sea-gull nor sailor-man to see, I took her winsome face in both my hands and smothered her with kisses.
CHAPTER XLVI