Nor is the night’s fair queen;
Then wha kens wha the minstrel is
That’s wooin bonny Jean?
Jeanie could not help feeling a little strange as the minstrel proceeded with a song which seemed to have so close a reference to herself.
She, of course, did not consider this circumstance otherwise than as merely accidental; but she could not help, nevertheless, being somewhat embarrassed by it; and this was made sufficiently evident by the blush that mantled on her cheek, and by the confusion of her manner under the fixed gaze of the singer, while repeating the verses just quoted.
When he had concluded, “Well, good folks all,” he said, “what think ye of my song?” And without waiting for an answer, about which he seemed very indifferent, he added, “and how do you like it, Jeanie?” directing the question exclusively to the party he named.
“Very weel,” replied Jeanie, again blushing, but still more deeply than before; “the song is pretty, an’ the air delightfu’; but some o’ the verses are riddles to me. I dinna thoroughly understand them.”
“Don’t you?” replied Sir John, laughing; “then I’ll explain them to you by-and-by; but, in the meantime, I must screw my pegs anew, and work for my dinner, for I see the good folk about me here are all impatience to begin.” A fact this which was instantly acknowledged by a dozen voices; and straightway the whole party proceeded, in compliance with a suggestion of Mr Harrison, to the green in front of the house, where Sir John took up his position on the top of an inverted wheelbarrow, and immediately commenced his labours.
For several hours the dance went on with uninterrupted glee, old Mr Harrison and his wife appearing to enjoy the sport as much as the youngest of the party, and both being delighted with the masterly playing of the musician. But although, as on a former occasion, Sir John did not suffer anything to interfere with, or interrupt the charge of the duties expected of him, there was but a very small portion of his mind or thoughts engrossed by the employment in which he was engaged. All, or nearly all, were directed to the contemplation of the object on which his affections had now become irrevocably fixed.
Neither was his visit to Todshaws, on this occasion, by any means dictated solely by the frivolous object of affording its inmates entertainment by his musical talents. His purpose was a much more serious one. It was to ascertain, as far as such an opportunity would afford him the means, the dispositions and temper of his fair enslaver. Of these, his natural shrewdness had enabled him to make a pretty correct estimate on the night of the wedding; but he was desirous of seeing her in other circumstances, and he thought none more suitable for his purpose than those of a domestic nature.