Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

198
A HIGHLAND PARISH.
character, and honest love, and sufficient means,
always get fair play from the fair, when opposed
by rivals having less character and less love, but
with more than sufficient means ? According to
the reader’s replies to these questions will be his
opinion as to the probability of Duncan winning
Mary, and of Mary forsaking poor Donald and
accepting his “highly respectable” and wealthy
rival.
It must be mentioned that another power came
into play at this juncture of affairs, and that was
an elder sister of Mary’s, who lived in the neigh¬
bourhood of the farmer, and who was supposed,
by the observing dames of the district, to have
“ set her cap ” at Duncan. But it was more the
honour of the connexion than love which had
prompted those gentle demonstrations on the part
of Peggy. She wished to give him the hint, as it
were, that he need not want a respectable wife
for the asking; although, of course, she was quite
happy and contented to remain in her mother’s
house, and help to manage the small croft, with
its cow, pig, poultry, and potatoes. Duncan,
without ever pledging himself, sometimes seemed