Geordie had now occasion to call upon Lady Maitland for his yearly allowance. Louise having been liberated without trial, it had not yet reached the ears of her or Lady Maitland that Peter Finlayson was, in fact, Geordie Willison. Brodie had made no communication of that fact as yet, and neither Louise nor Lady Maitland could have any idea that Geordie knew of the hand they had in the attempted abduction, or of their knowledge or suspicion that Jessie Warriston was the intended victim of their cruelty.
“My leddy,” began Geordie, with his accustomed bow, but with more than his usual significancy of look, “this is the first time for these seventeen years that I hae been awantin’ in my attention and duty as yer leddyship’s freend; for I am ae day ahint the usual time o’ my veesit to yer leddyship, for whilk mark o’ disrespect I beg leave to solicit yer leddyship’s pardon, upon the condition that I offer, that I shall promise, as I here most solemnly do, that I shall not be again wantin’ in my duty to yer leddyship. Can I say I hae yer leddyship’s pardon?”
Crucified by Geordie’s cruel humour, but compelled to be silent, Lady Maitland signified her favour.
“Yer leddyship’s condescension is a great relief to me,” resumed Geordie. “They say Sir Marmaduke’s nevey, Brodie o’ Birkiehaugh, is in jail for attempting to rin awa’ wi’ a young lassie. What he was to do wi’ her, God only kens, but there can be nae doubt that he would get sma’ favour and grace frae yer leddyship to ony attempt on the puir cratur’s life. Na, na—a nobility sae michtie as yer leddyship’s, an’ a saftness o’ heart whilk far excels that o’ the bleatin’ ewe for the puir lambie that lies deein’ by its side, couldna patroneeze onything like the takin’ awa o’ God’s breath frae the nostrils o’ innocence.”
Geordie, whose cruelty was refined, paused, and fixed his eyes on the lady, who appeared to be in agony. She rose quickly, and went, as usual, to her bureau to give him money.
“Stop,” said Geordie; “I haena asked ye for’t yet. I dinna like awmous. It’s only when I want to favour yer leddyship that I tak siller fra ye, and naething I hae yet said could warrant yer leddyship in supposing that I was to confer sic a favour on ye, at least at the particular time when ye rose to open yer kist; and I dinna need to say, that favours quickly conferred are sune repented o’. Weel, the bit lassie wham Birkiehaugh was after, is a young creature, ca’ed Jessie Warriston, wha lives wi’ my mither. Few folk on earth ken meikle about her; but my mither swears that her mither maun hae been hanged, for she has a ring round her bonny white craig, like that on the neck o’ the turtle doo. I laugh, an’ say to the bonny bairn, that it will stan’ in place o’ a coral or cornelian necklace to her.—Ha! ha! I see your leddyship’s inclined to laugh too—eh?”
And Geordie again eyed the lady, who was as far from laughing as the criminal at the stake.
“Weel,” resumed the crucifier, “Birkiehaugh didna succeed—thanks to Peter Finlayson, honest fallow—and the lassie is safe again; but I hae made a vow, and I hope sae gude a ane will be regularly recorded whar it should be, that the first person wha tries to lay sae meikle as a finger on that bonny bairn’s head, or blaw a single breath o’ suspicion against her reputation, will meet wi’ the just indignation o’ Geordie Willison. An’ noo, my leddy, I will favour ye by accepting, at yer hands, twenty pund.”
Geordie received, and counted the money, as usual, and, with a bow, retired.
The six months of Birkiehaugh’s confinement expired, and, about the same time, Sir Marmaduke Maitland died. Having had no children by his wife, the title and fine property of Castle Gower fell to Brodie, who was his brother’s son—Brodie being the name of the family who had succeeded to the title. No time was lost by Brodie’s man of business to take out a brief from Chancery, for getting him served heir male of taillie to the estate and honours. The brief was published, and no doubt anywhere prevailed of the verdict which would be pronounced under it.