"And Rachel kept a little beneath me on the brae, and bade me lean my well hand on her shoulder, saying that I could not press over-hard, and that the more I did so, the more would she know that I loved her. In this not unpleasing fashion we came to the house of the curate that had so lately been intruded upon the manse of godly Mr. Gilbert.
"The place was all dark, and the shutters put over the windows for fear of shots from without. Then with my sword hilt I began to knock, and the noise of the blows resounded through the house hollow and loud. For the Highlandman had as yet put little furniture into it, save as they said a sheave or two of rushes for a bed for himself, and another for the wench that keeped house to him—his sister, as he averred.
"In no long space of time his reverence set a shock head out of the window to ask what was the din. The which he did in a bold manner, as though he were the lord and master of the neighbourhood. But I tamed him, for I bade him do his curate's coat upon him, and bring his service book, for that he was to marry two people there and then.
"'Who be you that seek to be married so untimeous?' he asked. 'Cannot ye be content till the morning?'
"'That is just why we cannot be content,' I answered; 'we must be far away by then!'
"So in a little he rose up grumbling and came down.
"'Have you not also a maid in the house?' I asked of him.
"'Aye,' said he, very dried like, 'my sister Jean!'
"'Bid her rise. We have need of a witness!' I bade him.
"'And I, of someone to hold the candle!' he added.