He leaned upon his staff; his collie lay at his feet. "Many
wad say a lang time, with the healing in it of lang time, since a
fause lover sang in the ear of my granddaughter, in the glen there!"
"Aye, many would say it."
"I say 'a fause lover.' But the ane to whom she truly listened is an
aulder serpent than he ... wae to her!"
"No, no!"
"But I say 'aye!' I am na weak! She that worked evil and looseness,
harlotry, strife, and shame, shall she na have her hire? As, Sunday by
Sunday, I wad ha' set her in kirk, before the congregation, for the
stern rebuking of her sin, so, mak no doubt, the Lord pursues her now!
Aye, He shakes His wrath before her eyes! Wherever she turns she sees
'Fornicatress' writ in flames!"
"No!"
"But aye!"
"Where she was mistaken--where, maybe, she was wilfully blind--she
must learn. Not the learning better, but the old mistake until it is
lost in knowledge, will clothe itself in suffering! But that is but a
part of her! If there is error within, there is also Michael within to
make it of naught! She releases herself. It is horrible to me to see
you angered against her, for you do not discriminate--and you are your
Michael, but not hers!"
"Adam is speaking--still the woman's lover! I'm not for contending
with you. She tore my heart working folly in my house, and an ill
example, and for herself condemnation!"
"Leave her alone! She has had great unhappiness!" He moved the small
stones of the cairn with his fingers.
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