XVIII.
John Storm went back to Victoria Square with a bright and joyful face and found Mrs. Callender waiting for him, grim as a judge. He could see that her eyes were large and red with weeping, but she fell on him instantly with withering scorn.
“So you're here at last, are ye? A pretty senseless thing this is, to be sure! What are you dreaming about? Are you bewitched or what? Do you suppose things can be broken off in this way? You to go to the leper islands indeed!”
“I'm called, auntie, and when God calls a man, what can he do but answer with Samuel——”
“Tut! Don't talk sic nonsense. Besides, Samuel had some sense. He waited to be called three times, and I havena heard this is your third time of calling.”
John Storm laughed, and that provoked her to towering indignation. “Good God, what are you thinking of, man? There's that puir lassie—you're running away from her, too, aren't you? It's shameful, it's disgraceful, it's unprincipled, and you to do it too!”
“You needn't trouble about that, auntie,” said John; “she is going with me.”
“What?” cried Mrs. Callender, and her face expressed boundless astonishment.
“Yes,” said John, “you women are brimful of courage, God bless you! and she's the bravest of you all.”
“But you'll no have the assurance to tak' that puir bit lassie to yonder God-forsaken spot?”