John Graham leaned back in his chair with a quick amused look and threw back his clustering love locks.
"No," he said; "there is, I think, little fear of that."
"What then is the difficulty—her mother?"
"Aye," said Claverhouse, "that is more like it. Yet though the Lady Dundonald drills me and flytes me and preaches at me, I care not so much. For like the hardships of life, that will come to an end. Nevertheless, I own that at times I am tempted to take the lady at my saddle-bow, and ride out from Paisley to return no more."
"You will not do that, John!" said Balmaghie quietly, with a certain light of irony in his eye.
Claverhouse looked up quickly.
"How so, Balmaghie?" he said, and I saw through my little slant wicket the pride grow in his eye.
"The forty thousand marks, John."
Claverhouse struck his hand on the table.
"Thank you——" he said coldly, and then for a moment was silent.