re wrong, Mysie," he replied mollifyingly. "I love, you and I told
you that before it happened, and I also hinted that I wanted to marry
you."

"Ay, but that was just at the time. Maybe if nothing had happened, an' I
had never been in your company again, you'd soon hae forgotten."

"No, Mysie, you are wrong. I love you, and I've brought you to this, for
which I am sorry, so we must be married," he said decisively.

"Why?" she asked, and her eyes met his honestly and fairly.

"Because it is the right thing to do," he replied quietly.

"Is that a'?" she asked.

"Is it not enough? What else is there to do?" Mysie was silent, and
after a while Peter went on;--"It is a duty, dear, but I am going to
face it, and shoulder the responsibility. It is the right thing to do,
and it must be done."

"Ay, an' you are gaun to dae it, just as a bairn tak's medicine; because
you are forced. I asked if that was a', and it seems to be. But what if
I don't have onything mair to dae with you?"

"You would not do that, Mysie," he said hurriedly, and incredulously. It
had never entered his mind that she would refuse to marry him, and he
looked upon his offer as a great service which he was doing her. "Why,
what could you do otherwise?" he asked looking blankly at her.

"I could work as I hae always done," she said sharply. "You surely think
you are a catch. Man, efter what has happened I feel that I wudna care
than I never saw you again. You hae little o' rale manliness in you. You
thocht it was gran' to carry on wi' a workin' lassie, maybe," and there
was bitter scorn in her voice, "an' now when you hae landed yourself
into a mess you are grinning like a bear with the branks an' wantin' to
dae what is richt as you call it," and Mysie was now really in a temper.

"Mysie, you must not speak like that," he broke in, in earnest tones.
"You know I love you, and loving you as I do, I want to shield you as
much--"

"Ay, but you want to shield yourself first," she said.

"No, dear, it is only of you I am thinking. I love you very much and
want to do what is right. Even although this had not happened, I was
going to ask you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Mysie?"

"What'll your folks say?" she asked bluntly. "You ken that I'm no' the
wife you would have gotten nor the yin your folk would like you to get,"
she said, searching his face with a keen look. "I'm no' born in your
class. I'm ignorant an' have not the fine manners your wife sho