This request embarrassed him, for soon again he did not know how to act.  There was Grizel’s strange behaviour with the child, for instance.  “No, I won’t come down to see him to-day, Corp,” she had said; “somehow children weary me.”

Such words from Grizel!  His mouth would not shut and he could say nothing.  “Forgive me, Corp!” she cried remorsefully, and ran downstairs, and with many a passionate caress asked forgiveness of the child.

Corp followed her, and for the moment he thought he must have been dreaming upstairs.  “I wish I saw you wi’ bairns o’ your ain, Grizel,” he said, looking on entranced; but she gave him such a pitiful smile that he could not get it out of his head.  Deprived of Gavinia’s counsel, and afraid to hurt Elspeth, he sought out the doctor and said bluntly to him, “How is it he never writes to Grizel?  She misses him terrible.”

“So,” David thought, “Grizel’s dejection is becoming common talk.”  “Damn him!” he said, in a gust of fury.

But this was too much for loyal Corp.  “Damn you!” he roared.

But in his heart he knew that the doctor was a just man, and henceforth, when he was meaning to comfort Grizel, he was often seeking comfort for himself.

He did it all with elaborate cunning, to prevent her guessing that he was disturbed about her:  asked permission to sit with her, for instance, because he was dull downstairs; mentioned as a ludicrous thing that there were people who believed Tommy could treat a woman badly, and waited anxiously for the reply.  Oh, he was transparent, was Corp, but you may be sure Grizel never let him know that she saw through him.  Tommy could not be blamed, she pointed out, though he did not care for some woman who perhaps cared for him.

“Exac’ly,” said Corp.

And if he seemed, Grizel went on, with momentary bitterness, to treat her badly, it could be only because she had made herself cheap.

“That’s it,” said Corp, cheerfully.  Then he added hurriedly, “No, that’s no it ava.  She’s the last to mak’ hersel’ cheap.”  Then he saw that this might put Grizel on the scent.  “Of course there’s no sic woman,” he said artfully, “but if there was, he would mak’ it a’ right.  She mightna see how it was to be done, but kennin’ what a crittur he is, she maun be sure he would find a wy.  She would never lose hope, Grizel.”

And then, if Grizel did not appease him instantly, he would say appealingly, “I canna think less o’ him, Grizel; no, it would mak’ me just terrible low.  Grizel,” he would cry sternly, “dinna tell me to think less o’ that laddie.”