"Good heavens! engaged to a madwoman?" said Julia.—
"Or to a gipsy, who has her band in the wood ready to murder you!" said Lucy.
"That was not spoken like a bairn of Ellangowan," said Meg, frowning upon Miss Bertram. "It is the ill-doers are ill-dreaders."
"In short, I must go," said Bertram, "it is absolutely necessary. wait for me five minutes on this spot."
"Five minutes?" said the gipsy; "five hours may not bring you here again."
"Do you hear that? said Julia for Heaven's sake do not go!"
"I must, I must—Mr. Dinmont will protect you back to the house."
"No," said Meg, "he must come with you; it is for that he is here. He maun take part wi' hand and heart; and weel his part it is, for redding his quarrel might have cost you dear,"
"Troth, Luckie, it's very true," said the steady farmer; "and ere I turn back frae the Captain's side, I'll show that I haena forgotten't."
"Oh yes!" exclaimed both the ladies at once, "let Mr. Dinmont go with you, if go you must, on this strange summons."