"I have seen your bonny father smile on the wrong side this day.

Not that I mean he was afraid, of course," I added hastily, "but he preferred the other way of it." "What is this ?" she asked.
"When I offered to draw with him," said I.
"You offered to draw upon James More ?" she cried.
"And I did so," said I, "and found him backward enough, or how would we be here ?" "There is a meaning upon this," said she.

"What is it you are meaning ?" "He was to make you take me," I replied, "and I would not have it.

I said you should be free, and I must speak with you alone; little I supposed it would be such a speaking! '_And what if I refuse_ ?' says he.--'_Then it must come to the throat cutting_,' says I, '_for I will no more have a husband forced on that young lady than what I would have a wife forced upon myself_.' These were my words, they were a friend's words; bonnily have I been paid for them! Now you have refused me of your own clear free will, and there lives no father in the Highlands, or out of them, that can force on this marriage.

I will see that your wishes are respected; I will make the same my business, as I have all through.