"But you haven't finished your story, quite," suggested Marjory, flushing at his praise.
"Well," he continued, "I'd made up my mind that if the wife would have nothing to say to me, I'd take an offer I'd had--good ship, long voyage, and three days to think it over. Off I went, and I didn't get her letter for some time. When I did get it I didn't answer it--I don't quite know why, except that I'm not much good when it comes to writing down my feelings--and I thought the best answer would be myself at her door. What with one thing and another, I was away longer than I expected. Then we were quarantined for fourteen days--no end of a tiresome business. But I got here at last, and found a warm welcome. 'All's well that ends well,' miss, and now I'm sure we've bothered you long enough.--Come along, missus."
"But you _must_ let me thank you for all you did for me; you were more than kind."
Captain Shaw was marshalling his wife out of the room, and he turned and said, "I don't want any thanks--it was little enough I did; besides, one good turn deserves another, you know. Think of those keepers!" laughing again at Marjory's poacher theory. "All we want is to see you up and about again, miss; and the sooner we can welcome you at the Low Farm the better pleased we'll be--eh, Alison?"
Left to herself, Marjory lay thinking. How happy these two seemed now that they were together! How thankful she was that things had come right for them in the end! She had so often reproached herself for that suggestion of a lie. What very serious consequences it might have had--indeed had, for it had added another year to the separation of these two good people! Then she fell to musing over the great happenings that may come from apparently small causes.
Marjory had plenty of time to think in those days. After the first week she did not feel ill, only tired and rather weak, but she was ordered to be continually on her back. A great doctor came from Edinburgh to see her, and he only confirmed what Dr. Morison had said--that she would be quite well in time, but that complete rest was the only cure; she must not try to walk or move about.
Poor Marjory--she had begun very bravely, saying it was not at all hard, but indeed she found it to be very hard, especially when she began to feel much better and stronger, and still had to keep lying down.