[#] 'Redd,' a setting to rights.
'It is your brother the minister that Maggie will be going to?' she said.
'Oh yes; he is married, and has a family of his own; she will be comfortable there.'
'Well, it is strange,' said she, 'that you should have a brother in Glasgow, and I a sister, and that your mother should be Highland and mine too.'
But this was putting himself and her on much too common a footing; and he was always on his guard against that, however far her gentleness and good-nature might lead her.
'When is your father coming back, Miss Douglas?' said he.
'Well, I really do not know,' she said. 'I do not think he has ever had so wide a district to attend to, and we are never sure of his being at home.'
'It must be very lonely for a young lady brought up like you,' he ventured to say, 'that ye should have no companions. And for your mother, too; I wonder she can stand it.'
'Oh no,' she said, 'for the people are so friendly with us. And I do not know of any place that I like better.'
By this time they were come to the little wooden gate of the garden, and he opened that for her. Before them was the cottage, with its windows, despite the moonlight on the panes, showing the neat red blinds within. She gave him her hand for a second.