Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1893 - David Balfour

362 DAVID BALFOUR
'•'You have no right to speak to me like that," said I.
'•• What have I done but to be good to you, or try to ?
And here is my repayment ! 0, it is too much."
She kept looking at me with a hateful smile. " Cow-
ard ! " said she,
"The word in your tliroat and in your father's ! "' I
cried. "I have dared him this day already in your
interest. I will dare him again, the nasty pole-cat;
little I care which of us should fall ! Come," said I,
''back to the house with us ; let us be done with it,
let me be done with the whole Hieland crew of you !
You will see what you think when I am dead."
She shook her head at me with that same smile I
could have struck her for.
"0, smile away!" I cried. "I have seen your
bonny father smile on the wrong side this day. Not
that I mean he was afraid, of course," I added hastily,
"but he preferred the other way of it."
'' What is this ? " she asked.
" When I offered to draw with him," said I.
"■ You offered to draw upon James More ? " she
cried.
"And I did so," said I, "and found him backward
enough, or how would we be here ? "
" There is a meaning upon this," said she. " Wliat
is it you are meaning ? "
"He was to make you take me," I replied, "and I
would not have it. I said you sliould be free, and I