Kit Kennedy thought a long time, till indeed they had walked quite across a field. Then he spoke.
"I canna feed ye, nor yet look after the bairns for ye. I hae nae hoose to put ye in, Vara. But O, I am that fond of ye, it's like to break my heart."
Vara stretched out her hand.
"An' I'm fond o' you too, laddie!" she said.
"Aye, but no the way I mean!" said Kit sadly, with a sob in his voice.
"I'll be aye thinkin' on ye," said Vara. "I wish ye war awa' frae this place."
"Dinna gie that a thocht!" said Kit, bravely; "I'm no mindin' a hair for my auntie—at least, I wadna if ye had only bided, so that whiles I could hae looked at ye, Vara!"
They had been walking hand in hand for some time. Kit Kennedy was tingling with a great desire. His heart was beating violently, as he nerved himself for the plunge.
They were at the march-dyke, just where it plunged into the wood of birches and alders. The path went down close along the lake shore from that point. The trees made a green haze of dusk there, with airs blowing cool from off the lake.
"Gloriana," said Kit suddenly, "will ye gie me a bit kiss to mind ye by?"