“I’ll go no further with Winsome,” said Greatorix gloomily, breaking the silence.  “You said that if I consulted her about the well-being of the poor rats over at the huts, and took her advice about the new cottages for the foresters, she would listen to me.  Well, she did listen, but as soon as I hinted at any other subject, I might as well have been talking to the old daisy in the sitting-room with the white band round her head.”

“Did anybody ever see the like of you menfolk?” cried Jess, throwing up her hands hopelessly; “d’ye think that a bonny lass is just like a black ripe cherry on a bough, ready to drap into your mooth when it pleases your high mightinesses to hold it open?”

“Has Winsome charteris any sweetheart?” asked the captain.

“What for wad she be doing with a sweetheart?  She has muckle else to think on.  There’s a young man that’s baith braw an’ bonny, a great scholar frae Enbra’ toon that comes gye an’ aften frae the manse o’ Dullarg, whaur he’s bidin’ a’ the simmer for the learnin’.  He comes whiles, an’ Winsome kind o’ gies him a bit convoy up the hill.”

“Jess Kissock,” said the young man passionately, “tell me no lies, or—­”

“Nane o’ yer ill tongue for me, young man; keep it for yer mither.  I’m little feared o’ ye or ony like ye.  Ye’ll maybe get a bit dab frae the neb o’ a jockteleg [point of a sheath-knife] that will yeuk [tickle] ye for a day or twa gin ye dinna learn an’ that speedily, as Maister Welsh wad say, to keep yer Han’s aff my faither’s dochter.”  Jess’s good Scots was infinitely better and more vigorous than the English of the lady’s maid.

“I beg your pardon, Jess.  I am a passionate, hasty man.  I am sure I meant no harm.  Tell me more of this hulking landlouper [intruder], and I’ll give you a kiss.”

“Keep yer kisses for them that likes them.  The young man’s no landlouper ony mair nor yersel’—­no as mickle indeed, but a very proper young man, wi’ a face as bonny as an angel—­”

“But, Jess, do you mean to say that you are going to help him with Winsome?” asked the young man.

“Feint a bit!” answered the young woman frankly.  “She’ll no get him gin I can help it.  I saw him first and bid him guid-day afore ever she set her een on him.  It’s ilka yin for hersel’ when it comes to a braw young man,” and Jess tossed her gipsy head, and pouted a pair of handsome scarlet lips.

Greatorix laughed.  “The land lies that way, does it?” he said.  “Then that’s why you would not give me a kiss to-day, Jess,” he went on; “the black coat has routed the red baith but an’ ben—­but we’ll see.  You cannot both have him, Jess, and if you are so very fond of the parson, ye’ll maybe help me to keep Winsome Charteris to myself.”

“Wad ye mairry her gin ye had the chance, Agnew Greatorix?”

“Certainly; what else?” replied the young man promptly.

“Then ye shall hae her,” replied Jess, as if Winsome were within her deed of gift,