"
"I will have no choice left," said she. "My father James More has
not used me very well, and it is not the first time, I am cast upon
your hands like a sack of barley meal, and have nothing else to
think of but your pleasure. If you will have me, good and well.
If you will not"--she turned and touched her hand upon my arm--
"David, I am afraid," said she.
"No, but I ought to warn you," I began; and then bethought me I was
the bearer of the purse, and it would never do to seem too
churlish. "Catriona," said I, "don't misunderstand me: I am just
trying to do my duty by you, girl! Here am I going alone to this
strange city, to be a solitary student there; and here is this
chance arisen that you might dwell with me a bit, and be like my
sister; you can surely understand this much, my dear, that I would
just love to have you?"
"Well, and here I am," said she. "So that's soon settled."
I know I was in duty bounden to have spoke more plain. I know this
was a great blot on my character, for which I was lucky that I did
not pay more dear. But I minded how easy her delicacy had been
startled with a word of kissing her in Barbara's letter; now that
she depended on me, how was I to be more bold? Besides, the truth
is, I could see no other feasible method to dispose of her.
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