vexatiously
absurd.

"Sheila," he said, "you will come to a better understanding about
that. I suppose you wass afraid the people would wonder at you coming
back alone. But they will know nothing about it. Mairi she is a very
good lass: she will do anything you will ask of her: you hef no need
to think she will carry stories. And every one wass thinking you will
be coming to the Lewis this year, and it is ferry glad they will be to
see you; and if the house at Borvabost hass not enough amusement
for you after you hef been in a big town like this, you will live in
Stornoway with some of our friends there, and you will come over to
Borva when you please."

"If I went up to the Lewis," said Sheila, "do you think I could live
anywhere but in Borva? It is not any amusements I will be thinking
about. But I cannot go back to the Lewis alone."

Her father saw how the pride of the girl had driven her to this
decision, and saw, too, how useless it was for him to reason with her
just at the present moment. Still, there was plenty of occasion here
for the use of a little diplomacy merely to smooth the way for the
reconciliation of husband and wife; and Mr. Mackenzie concluded in
his own mind that it was far from being injudicious to allow Sheila to
convince herself that she bore part of the blame of this separation.
For example, he now proposed that the discussion of the whole question
should be postponed for the present, and that Sheila should take him
about London and show him all that she had learned; and he suggested
that they should then and there get a hansom cab and drive to some
exhibition or other.

"A hansom, papa?" said Sheila. "Mairi must go with us, you know."

This was precisely what he had angled for, and he said, with a show of
impatience, "Mairi! How can we take about Mairi to every place? Mairi
is a ferry good lass--oh yes--but she is a servant-lass."

The words nearly stuck in his throat; and indeed had any other
addressed such a phrase to one of his kith and kin there would have
been an explosion of rage; but now he was determined to show to Sheila
that her husband had some cause for objecting to this girl sitting
down with his friends.

But neither husband nor father could make Sheila forswear allegiance
to what her own heart told her was just and honorable and generous;
and indeed her father at this moment was not displeased to see her
turn round on himself with just a touch of indignation in her voic