"Ha! ha! I forgot," replied she laughing; "but turn up thy face—art thou the man?"
"So say my companions, fair leddy," replied he. "I brocht doon wi' this arm five o' Otterstone's men."
"With that arm!" replied she, "and what spirit nerved the dead lumber, thinkest thou?"
"Dootless yours, fair leddy," answered he, smiling knowingly; "but, though the spirit was borrowed, I'm no the less entitled to my reward."
"A good stickler for the rights of your sex," answered she, keeping up the humour; "but what guerdon demandest thou?"
"That whilk knights hae sued in vain for at your fair feet," answered the man, smiling, as he uttered nearly the words she had used at the battle.
"Caught in my own snare," replied she, laughing loudly.
"Ah, Kate, Kate!" said the baron, joining in the humour, "hoo mony gallant barons, and knights, and gentlemen hae ye tormented by thae fair lips o' yours, which carry in their cunnin' words a defence o' themsels sae weel contrived that nane daur approach them! Ye're caught at last. Stand to yer richts, man. A kiss was promised ye, and by the honour o' Innerkepple, a kiss ye'll hae, if I should haud her head by a grip o' her bonny auburn locks."
"Hold! hold!" cried Katherine; "this matter dependeth on the answer to a question. Art thou married, sirrah?"