"I have come to ask you, Mr. MacLear, if you will give me your daughter to
be my wife!" he said.
"Ow, sae that's it!" returned the soutar, without raising his eyes.
"You have no objection, I hope?" continued the minister, finding him
silent.
"What says she hersel? Ye comena to me first, I reckon!"
"She said, or implied at least, that she could not leave the child. But she
cannot mean that!"
"And what for no?--There's nae need for me to objeck!"
"But I shall soon persuade her to withdraw that objection!"
"Then I should _hae_ objections--mair nor ane--to put to the fore!"
"You surprise me! Is not a woman to leave father and mother and cleave to
her husband?"
"Ow ay--sae be the woman is his wife! Than lat nane sun'er them!--But
there's anither sayin, sir, that I doobt may hae something to dee wi'
Maggie's answer!"
"And what, pray, may that be?"
"That man or woman must leave father and mother, wife and child, for the
sake o' the Son o' Man."
"You surely are not papist enough to think that means a minister is not to
marry?"
"Not at all, sir; but I doobt that's what it'll come til atween you and
Maggie!"
"You mean that she will not marry?"
"I mean that she winna merry _you_, sir.
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