didna do so, for she turned her bonnie
face up to his, and looked sae loving and airnest in his e'e, that it
was quite a sight. And, Jenny, lassie, ain't ye glad I'm head-gairdener
noo. I dinna care myself, but I thought ye'd be glad."

"McCray," exclaimed Jane, earnestly, as she came once more closer to
him, "you're a good and true-hearted man, and I'm not worthy of you."

"Hoot--hoot! lassie; haud that clap."

"But," continued Jane, "I've no one else to talk to and confide in. You
are thoughtful and wise, and see a great deal, and then say nothing
about it. You know how Sir Murray and my lady have been of late, and
how he has behaved."

"Yes--yes," said Sandy; "he's been feeling just as I used to feel
when--"

"Don't, please--don't say any more about that."

"Not I, lassie," said Sandy, caressingly.

"But this soft way of his, now, I don't like it," said Jane. "My life
on it, he's never had any cause for his jealousy. I believe now it was
all due to that wicked wretch saying things of my dear lady, and Sir
Murray getting to hear of them."

"Hoot, not so fast, lassie. What wicked wretch?"

"Oh, don't ask me," said Jane, with pained face. "You know who I mean."

"So I do, lassie--so I do," said Sandy, smiling, and softly rubbing his
hands. "But he'll do nae mair mischief."

"Well," said Jane, eagerly, "I saw Sir Murray only this morning talking
gently to my lady, and as soon as he left her, he was looking that evil,
and muttering so, that it was horrible. I don't believe in him, and
there's something wrong. She has offended him, and he hasn't forgiven
her. You know how I love my lady."

"Gude sake, yes, lassie, and I love ye for't."

"And that dear, sweet babe! I don't think she loves it better herself.
And only a night or two since she was down on her knees, crying fit to
break her heart, by its side; and she said to me, `Jane--Jane, when
something happens to me, be a mother to it; never leave her side, come
what may.'"

"And ye promised her?" said Sandy, earnestly.

"Of course," exclaimed Jane, as she wiped her eyes.

"Gude lass--gude lass; and it's not me that will ask ye to. Ye shall
watch over the little thing, Jenny, and I'll help ye. But what's she
mean aboot when something happens her?"

"Oh, it's her low way, and I think she's afraid of Sir Murray; and now
all this change in him isn't natural. I tell you, Alexander--"

"Gude; I like that," muttered the Scot, as, in her earn