"What ails you today, Christine? Has the law injured you in any way?"
"Ay, it played us a' a trick. When you took up the books, and went to the big school i' the toun to prepare for Aberdeen, we all o' us thought it was King's College you were bound for, and then when you were ready for Aberdeen, you turned your back on King's College, and went to the Maraschal."
"King's College is for the theology students. The Maraschal is the law school."
"I knew that. We a' know it. The Maraschal spelt a big disappointment to feyther and mysel'."
"I have some work to finish, Christine, and I will be under an obligation if you will leave me now. You are in an upsetting temper, and I think you have fairly forgotten yourself."
"Well I'm awa, but mind you! When the fishing is on, I canna be at your bidding. I'm telling you!"
"I'll hae no time for you, and your writing. I'll be helping Mither wi' the fish, from the dawn to the dark."
She was at the open door of the room as she spoke, and Neil said with provoking indifference: "If you are seeing Father, you might speak to him anent the books I am needing."
"I'll not do it! What are you feared for? You're parfectly unreasonable, parfectly ridic-lus!" And she emphasized her assertions by her decided manner of closing the door.
On going into the yard, she found her father standing there, and he was looking gravely over the sea. "Feyther!" she said, and he drew her close to his side, and looked into her lovely face with a smile.
"Are you watching for the fish, Feyther?"
"Ay, I am! They are long in coming this year."
"Every year they are long in coming. Perhaps we are impatient."
"Just sae. We are a' ready for them--watching for them--Cluny went to Cupar Head to watch. He has a fine sea-sight. If they are within human ken, he will spot them, nae doubt. What hae you been doing a' the day lang?"
"I hae been writing for Neil. He is uncommon anxious about this session, Feyther."
"He is requiring some expensive books, and he is feared to name them to you; he thinks you hae been sae liberal wi' him already--if I was you, Feyther, I would be asking him--quietly when you were by your twa sel's--if he was requiring anything i' the way o' books."
"He has had a big sum for that purpose already, Christine."