"
As he ended, Malcolm held out his hand. The factor's trembled in
his strong grasp.
"Mistress Crathie is sorely vexed, my lord," he said, rising to
take his leave, "at things both said and done in the dark."
Malcolm laughed.
"Give Mrs Crathie my compliments," he said, "and tell her a man
is more than a marquis. If she will after this treat every honest
fisherman as if he might possibly turn out a lord, she and I shall
be more than quits."
The next morning he carried her again a few mackerel he had just
caught, and she never forgot the lesson given her. That morning, I
may mention, he did not go fishing alone, but had a lady with him
in the dinghy; and indeed they were together, in one place and
another, the most of the day--at one time flying along the fields,
she on the bay mare, and he on Kelpie.
When the evening came, the town hall was crammed--men standing
on all the window sills; and so many could not get in that Malcolm
proposed they should occupy the square in front. A fisherman in
garb and gesture, not the less a gentleman and a marquis, he stood
on the steps of the town hall and spoke to his people. They received
him with wild enthusiasm.
"The open air is better for everything," he began. "Fishers, I have
called you first, because you are my own people.
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