McQueen flung himself back in his chair to enjoy this joke.
"Fancy mistaking that woman for a lady!" he said to Gavin, who had not laughed with him.
"I think Nanny has some justification for considering her a lady," the minister said, firmly.
"Well, I grant that. But what made me guffaw was a vision of the harum-scarum, devil-may-care little Egyptian mistress of an Auld Licht manse!"
"She is neither harum-scarum nor devil-may-care," Gavin answered, without heat, for he was no longer a distracted minister. "You don't understand her as I do."
"No, I seem to understand her differently."
"That is just it," said the doctor, irritated by Gavin's coolness. "I know she saved Nanny from the poorhouse, but I don't know where she got the money. I know she can talk fine English when she chooses, but I don't know where she learned it. I know she heard that the soldiers were coming to Thrums before they knew of their destination themselves, but I don't know who told her. You who understand her can doubtless explain these matters?"
"She offered to explain them to me," Gavin answered, still unmoved, "but I forbade her."
"It is no business of yours, doctor. Forgive me for saying so."
"In Thrums," replied McQueen, "a minister's business is everybody's business. I have often wondered who helped her to escape from the soldiers that night. Did she offer to explain that to you?"
"Perhaps," said the doctor, sharply, "because it was unnecessary?"
"I have always understood that you concealed two of them in your own stable."
"Maybe I did," the doctor had to allow. "But I took my stick to them next morning. Besides, they were Thrums folk, while you had never set eyes on that imp of mischief before."
"I cannot sit here, doctor, and hear her called names," Gavin said, rising, but McQueen gripped him by the shoulder.
"For pity's sake, sir, don't let us wrangle like a pair of women. I brought you here to speak my mind to you, and speak it I will. I warn you, Mr. Dishart, that you are being watched. You have been seen meeting this lassie in Caddam as well as at the Kaims."
"Let the whole town watch, doctor. I have met her openly."
"And why? Oh, don't make Nanny your excuse."
"Are you mad?" cried McQueen. "You speak as if you would marry her."