He was a regular guest at theLaverlaw clippings,
and was a special friend of Stoddarts.
Some day she will be a raging beauty, with
thativory skin and those sea-blue eyes.
It was not only ease that he was gaining. The sight
of her was my second gleam of hope. His mental troublewas being quieted by the
renascence of an old affection.
But as we approached the house I was suddenly
recalled tomy senses.
Stoddart thought he wanted something out of him.
Then he told his story, which I give in his own words.
I couldnt stand up against the toothyyoung man and
the formidable-looking chauffeur.
Thatll be aboutthe over-draft for the beasts he
bocht at Kelso.
It looked as if I was too late,and that the other
side had got in first. There had been visitors, it appeared, at the clipping
thatafternoon.
Anyhow, unless it caught me up soon, it would be
atfault.
I was sitting behind the keel-pot cuttinga whistle,
and I heard all his talk with Mr. Pinchanother girls if you cant find your own.
Thesepeople Bletso, who came this morning and say theyre your cousins,are
humbugs.
Itwas not for the present but for the future. One
was Little, the auctioneer from Laverkirk.
His mental troublewas being quieted by the
renascence of an old affection. I said cordially that I was glad that Annas
relations werecarrying her off for a cruise. That sounds good sense, I said; but it
wont do.