"I got yon letter back frae the Weedow—an', as I wasna gangin' hame, I gied it to my faither."
"What letter?"
Elspeth could hear the sudden angry alarm in Frank's voice; but she herself had no premonition of danger.
"The letter ye took doon to Crosspatrick for Elspeth ten days syne. Ye'll catch it, my man!"
The girl's heart sank, and then leapt again within her.
Her father had her letter—he would read it. It was plainly addressed in her handwriting to Allan Syme. What should she do?
But wait—there was something else. With a quick back-spang came the countering joy.
"But then he has never got my letter. He knows nothing of my unhappiness. He has not forgotten me. He loves me still. What care I for aught else but that?"
There came up from the courtyard a sound of blows, and then Sandy's wail.
"I'll tell my faither on ye, that I will. How was I to ken aboot Elspeth's letter? And they say the minister-man it was wrote to is dead, at ony rate!"