"That wad be such a thing!" says the auld woman, "and him sitting there! Now, I'm vexed at mysel for having mooted it before ye."
"I feel a pleasure," says I, "in going; and it's o' no use Robert tiring himsel, as he was thrashing aneugh through the day."
"But ye're sae kind and considerate, Maister Brown," says she—"it's just imposing on your guid nature athegither. Hurry her hame, sir, if ye please, afore the darkening; but, to be sure, we needna fret, kenning she's in such excellent company."
I accordingly set off for the Greystone Mill; and when I came in front o' the premises, I began to see that it was rather an awkward business I was out on; for I didna ken but Margery might hae somebody o' her ain to see her hame; and to go straight up to an unco house, and speer for a female that I had only spoken twice till, and that in a dry "how-do-ye-do" kind o' manner, was rather a trying affair, Richard, for one that was naturally bashful, as ye may weel conceive. Into the house I went, however, and meeting auld mooter-the-melder in the entry—
"How's a' wi' ye, freend?" says I, in guid braid Scotch, shooting out my hand, at the same time, to give him a hearty shake.
"Ye hae the advantage o' me," says he, drawing back and puckering up his mealy mouth. "I dinna ken ye."
"I'm the schulemaister o' Selkirk," says I.
"And what may the schulemaister o' Selkirk be wanting wi' me?" says he, gruffly, still keeping me standing like a borrowed body in the passage.
"I'm seeking a young woman," says I.
"Oh," says he, "ye'll be Margery Johnson's sweetheart, Ise warrant—come awa ben."