"What will you do with Kelpie, my lady?" asked Malcolm quietly.
"There it is, you see!" she returned. "So awkward! If you had not
told me, things could have gone on as before, and for your sake I
could have pretended I came this voyage of my own will and pleasure.
Now, I don't know what I can do--except indeed you--let me see
--if you were to hold your tongue, and tell nobody what you have
just told me--I don't know but you might stay till you got her
so far trained that another man could manage her. I might even be
able to ride her myself.--Will you promise?"
"I will promise not to let the fact come out so long as I am in
your service, my lady."
"After all that has passed, I think you might promise me a little
more! But I will not press it."
"May I ask what it is, my lady?"
"I am not going to press it, for I do not choose to make a favour
of it. Still, I do not see that it would be such a mighty favour
to ask--of one who owes respect at least to the house of Lossie.
But I will not ask. I will only suggest; Malcolm, that you should
leave this part of the country--say this country altogether, and
go to America, or New South Wales, or the Cape of Good Hope. If
you will take the hint, and promise never to speak a word of this
unfortunate--yes, I must be honest, and allow there is a sort
of relationship between us; but if you will keep it secret, I will
take care that something is done for you--something, I mean, more
than you could have any right to expect.
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