“He is welcome to do that; but remember, you must not be tumbling overboard.”
“I can take very good care of myself,” answered Norman, folding his arms, and trying to look very grand.
A broad grin came over the countenance of Sandy, who knew enough of English to understand him. He nodded to his master.
“If he comes with me I will take gude care of the child, and maybe he will catch a big trout some day; and you will come, young lady, and I will teach you to catch fish too,” he said, turning to Fanny.
“Oh, I am sure I should not like to ran a hook into their mouths, it must hurt them so dreadfully,” answered Fanny.
“They are given to us for food, my little girl,” observed Mr Maclean, “and most conscientiously I believe they suffer no real pain, and although the instinct of self-preservation makes them wish to escape, I doubt even whether they are frightened when they feel the hook in their mouths.”
Still Fanny was incredulous, and thought she should never agree with the laird on that point.
“I do not care whether the fish are hurt or not if I want to catch them,” observed Norman, showing his usual indifference to the feelings of others, whether human beings or animals.
Fanny enjoyed the row very much, and thanked Sandy for offering to take her and Norman out.
They reached home in time to have the trout dressed for dinner, and the laird insisted that the children should come down, and partake of some of the fish which they, as he said, had assisted to catch.