Not
but what the Captain seemed a worthy, fatherly man; but I hated to
behold her in the least familiarity with anyone except myself.
Altogether, she was so quick to avoid me, and so constant to keep
herself surrounded with others, that I must watch a long while
before I could find my opportunity; and after it was found, I made
not much of it, as you are now to hear.
"I have no guess how I have offended," said I; "it should scarce be
beyond pardon, then. O, try if you can pardon me."
"I have no pardon to give," said she; and the words seemed to come
out of her throat like marbles. "I will be very much obliged for
all your friendships." And she made me an eighth part of a
curtsey.
But I had schooled myself beforehand to say more, and I was going
to say it too.
"There is one thing," said I. "If I have shocked your
particularity by the showing of that letter, it cannot touch Miss
Grant. She wrote not to you, but to a poor, common, ordinary lad,
who might have had more sense than show it. If you are to blame
me--"
"I will advise you to say no more about that girl, at all events!"
said Catriona.
Pages:
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329