It was plain he had had a master talking-to; and I could see there must be more of the devil in the girl than I had guessed, and more good-humor about the man than I had given him the credit of.
He began, at least, calling me Mr.Balfour, and plainly speaking from a lesson; but he got not very far, for at the first pompous swell of his voice, Catriona cut in.
"I will tell you what James More is meaning," said she.

"He means we have come to you, beggar-folk, and have not behaved to you very well, and we are ashamed of our ingratitude and ill-behaviour.

Now we are wanting to go away and be forgotten; and my father will have guided his gear so ill, that we cannot even do that unless you will give us some more alms.

For that is what we are, at all events, beggar-folk and sorners." "By your leave, Miss Drummond," said I, "I must speak to your father by myself." She went into her own room and shut the door, without a word or a look.
"You must excuse her, Mr.Balfour," says James More.

"She has no delicacy." "I am not here to discuss that with you," said I, "but to be quit of you.