“Tuts! she’ll try,” replied Ian.
Soon after sunrise, Ian took the forbidden path, and he had pursued it without molestation for a considerable way, when he heard some one hallooing after him; and turning his head to look back, he beheld a gentleman, whom he at once guessed to be the laird, hurrying up to him.
“Soldier!” cried Mr. Barclay, “I allow no one to go this way, so thou must turn thee back.”
“She be sorry tat she has anghered her honour,” said Ian bowing submissively, “but troth it be ower far a gate to gang back noo.”
“Far gate or short gate, friend, back thou must go,” said Mr. Barclay.
“Hoot na! she canna gang back,” said Ian.
“But thou must go back, friend,” said the laird.
“Troth, she wunna gang back,” replied Ian.
“But thou must go back, I tell thee,” said the laird, “and if thou wilt not go back peaceably, I’ll turn thee back whether with thy will or not.”
“Hoot, toot, she no be fit to turn her back,” said Ian with one of his broad good-humoured grins.