"We hae had a lang and a hard ride, Mr Melville," said she. "My feth, ye did weel, but your horse did better; and, Giles, man, ye did as I never saw ye do before."
"I couldna want ye, Matty," replied Giles; "and, if I havena testified my love for ye by this nicht's wark, never a man in Scotland ever proved his affection for his wife."
The absence of all ill-humour, the winks which Matty directed to the wonderstruck youth, and his apparent amazement, added to the puzzle which perplexed the minds of the father and the mother.
"What does all this mean, Robert?" cried the mother.
"For God's sake, explain this extraordinary affair!" rejoined the father.
The youth was still mute. At length Matty whispered something in his ear. He spoke for the first time since the scene commenced.
"It may be as you say, Mrs Ramsay," said he.
"Aweel, it's a' richt," replied she; "but it may please Giles and mysel if ye will acknowledge it in the presence o' your father and mother."
"I have no objections," replied he; and, turning to his parents, who understood not one word of all this dialogue, and far less of the strange scene still acting around them, he added, "I hereby declare, in presence of you, as witnesses, that I hereby renounce all claim——"
"To whom?" cried the mother; "to another man's wife—an aged matron? Fie, Robert! Say no more. Close the lips that would dishonour a son in presence of his parents."