We cannot venture to say that Mrs. Charles Walkinshaw was exactly what we should call surprised at this information. She knew enough of the characters of her mother-in-law and of George, to hear even more extraordinary communications from the former unmoved. We need scarcely add, however, that the Leddy’s argument was not calculated with her to produce the effect intended; on the contrary, she said,--
‘What you tell me only serves to convince me of the impropriety I should be guilty of in leaving my child with Walter.’
But their conversation was interrupted at this juncture by the entrance of Walter, leading Mary.
‘I’m come,’ said he, ‘Bell Fatherlans, to tell you that ye’re to gang away hame, and bring Jamie here to stay wi’ us. The house is big enough to haud us a’, and it’ll be a grand ploy to my mother--for ye ken she has such a heart for a thrangerie butt and ben, that, rather than want wark, she’ll mak a baby o’ the beetle, and dance til’t, cracking her thumbs, and singing,
Dance to your deddie, my bonny leddie; Jink through the reelie; jook round and wheelie; Bob in the setting, my bonny lamb; And ye’s get a slicie o’ a dishie nicie-- Red-cheekit apples and a mutton ham.
So just gang hame at ance, Bell, and bring your laddie, and we’ll a’ live thegither, and rookettycoo wi’ ane anither like doos in a doocot.’
But although Leddy Grippy certainly did like a bustle with all her heart and spirit, she had still that infirmity which ever belongs to human nature gifted with similar propensities,--namely, a throbbing apprehension at the idea of it, such as mankind in general suffer in the prospect of enjoying pleasure; and the expression of this feeling with her took commonly the form and language of repugnance and reluctance, yea sometimes it even amounted to refusal.
‘What say ye?’ cried she to Walter, under a strong impression of it at the moment,--‘are ye utterly bereav’t o’ your senses, to speak o’ bringing the lade o’ another family on my hands?’
‘I’m sure,’ was his answer, ‘if ye dinna like to tak the pleasure o’t, ye’re free to set up your jointure house, and live the life o’ dowager duchess, for me, mother. But Bell Fatherlans and her bairns are to come here,--for this is my house, ye ken--settlet on me and mine, past a’ power o’ law, by my father--and what’s my ain I’ll mak my ain.’