“We hae been friends for four generations, and we may safely tie the knot tighter now.  There are wise folk that say the Dutch and the Lowland Scotch are of the same stock, and a vera gude stock it is,—­the women o’ baith being fair as lilies and thrifty as bees, and the men just a wonder o’ every thing wise and weel-spoken o’.  For-bye, baith o’ us—­Scotch and Dutch—­are strict Protestors.  The Lady o’ Rome never threw dust in our een, and neither o’ us would put our noses to the ground for either powers spiritual or powers temporal.  When I think o’ our John Knox”—­

“First came Erasmus, Elder.”

“Surely.  Well, well, it was about wedding and housekeeping I came to speak, and we’ll hae it oot.  The land between this place and my place, on the river-side, is your land, Joris.  Give it to Katherine, and I will build the young things a house; and the furnishing and plenishing we’ll share between us.”

“There is more to a wedding than house and land, Elder.”

“Vera true, madam.  There’s the income to meet the outgo.  Neil has a good practice now, and is like to have better.  They’ll be comfortable and respectable, madam; but I think well o’ you for speering after the daily bread.”

“Well, look now, it was not the bread-making I was thinking about.  It was the love-making.  A young girl should be wooed before she is married.  You know how it is; and Katherine, the little one, she thinks not of such a thing as love and marriage.”

“Wha kens what thoughts are under curly locks at seventeen?  You’ll hae noticed, madam, that Katherine has come mair often than ordinar’ to Semple House lately?”

“That is so.  It was because of Colonel Gordon’s wife, who likes Katherine.  She is teaching her a new stitch in her crewel-work.”

“Hum-m-m!  Mistress Gordon has likewise a nephew, a vera handsome lad.  I hae seen that he takes a deal o’ interest in the crewel-stitch likewise.  And Neil has seen it too,—­for Neil has set his heart on Katherine,—­and this afternoon there was a look passed between the young men I dinna like.  We’ll be haeing a challenge, and twa fools playing at murder, next.”

“I am glad you spoke, Elder.  Thank you.  I’ll turn your words over in my heart.”  But Van Heemskirk was under a certain constraint:  he was beginning to understand the situation, to see in what danger his darling might be.  He was apparently calm; but an angry fire was gathering in his eyes, and stern lines settling about the lower part of his face.

“You ken,” answered Semple, who felt a trifle uneasy in the sudden constraint, “I hae little skill in the ordering o’ girl bairns.  The Almighty thought them beyond my guiding, and I must say they are a great charge, a great charge; and, wi’ all my infirmities and simplicity,—­anent women,—­one that would hae been mair than I could hae kept.  But I hae brought up my lads in a vera creditable way.  They know how to manage their business, and they hae the true religion.  I am sure Neil would make a good husband, and I would be glad to hae him settled near by.  My three eldest lads hae gone far off, Joris, as you ken.”