Scotland/Scots > Wilson's tales of the Borders and of Scotland > Volume 3

20
TALES OF THE BOKDEES.
“ ‘ I don’t know what this is like, Bill,’ said the other;
‘ but it an’t like those meetings we used to have.’
“ ‘ Why so silent, love,’ said William, addressing Mary;
‘in another hour I shall be off duty, and in one day of
happiness let us forget the past.’
“ ‘ Dear William,’ she replied, ‘ I know not what I
should say, nor what I should conceal. I have so little of
joy to communicate, that I would not embitter the plea¬
sure of the present short hour, by a recital of the events
that have occurred during your absence.’
“ ‘ Hide nothing from me, Mary,’ said he earnestly;
‘ but tell me, have my forebodings, regarding the monster
Wates, been but too true? Or are your parents You
tremble love—you are pale! 0 Jenkins, speak!—tell me
what is the meaning of this?’
“ 1 Drop it, Bill, my dear fellow,’ said the other, ‘ drop it.
You have got Polly alongside of you there, with a heart as
sound and true to you as when you left her; and don’t dis¬
tress her Avith questions; she didn’t come aboard for that.
I served out the old fellow Wates, as you requested me,
with a rope’s end, t’other night, and that pretty smartly too.
And, with regard to father Danvers, why, poor soul, some¬
how or other, misfortune has got the weather-gage of him,
and the other day he was taken to jail. So, say no more
about it, Bill—we can’t mend it.’
“ 1 Why,’ he exclaimed, stamping his foot as he spoke,
* why am I a slave ? And who, my beloved Mary—who
now shall protect you? But I can still do something.
I have a bank bill for a hundred pounds, the savings of
former voyages. I know not why I took it out of my
locker this morning. I had it carefully placed away with
the ringlet which I cut from your brow, dearest. Here
are both ; I will keep the ringlet, and think it dearer than
ever; take you the note, my love; it may be of service to
■your father.’