ped as soon as
he felt my grandmother's strong, well-accustomed hands grasp him. Yet
she was not in the least tender with him. On the contrary, she heaved
him, as it were promiscuously, over one shoulder with his head hanging
down her back, and tucking his swathed legs under one armpit she
proceeded about her household business, as if wholly disembarrassed--all
the while Duncan never uttering a word.

But through all the talk of the weather and the crops, the night runs to
Kirk Anders and the Borgue shore, the capture made by the preventives at
the Hass of the Dungeon, the misdoings of Tim Cleary who had got seven
days for giving impudence to the Provost of Dumfries in his own
court-room, there pierced the strange sough of politics.

The elections were upon us also in Galloway, and the Government
candidate was reported to be staying at Tereggles with the Lord
Lieutenant. He had not yet been seen, but (it was, of course, Boyd
Connoway who brought us word) his name was the Honourable Lalor
Maitland, late Governor of the Meuse--a province in the Low Countries.

CHAPTER XXXVII

THE RETURN OF THE SERPENT TO EDEN VALLEY

I did not tell Irma, and I enjoined silence on all about the house. But
there was no keeping such a thing, and perhaps it was as well. Jo
Kettle's father, always keen to show his wit at the expense of his
betters, cried out to me in the hearing of Irma, "How much, besides his
pardon, has that uncle of yours gotten in guineas for his treachery?"

And when I protested ignorance, he added, "I mean the new grand
Government candidate, that has been sae lang in the Netherlands, and was
a rebel not so long ago--many is the braw lad's head that he has garred
roll in the sawdust, I warrant."

For it was currently reported of Lalor in his own day that he had been a
spy for the King of France as well as for King George--aye, and
afterwards against the emigrants at Coblentz in the service of the
Revolution. Indeed, I do think there is little doubt but that, at some
time of his life, the man had been in such a desperate way that he had
spied and betrayed whoever trusted him to whomsoever would pay for his
treachery.

"Lalor Maitland--is he, then, in the country?" said Irma, with a white
and frightened look. "I must get home--to Baby!"

So completely had her heart changed its magnetic pole. Poor Louis, small
wonder he was jealous--and rightly, not of me, but of the small and
leathern-lunged person who fr