Dus'ta mind I was amang the lads that went ahint her--I was, mysel'.

But she wad hev nowt wi' me; she trysted wid Angus; so I went back home and broke the click reel of my new loom straight away.

And it's parlish odd I've not lived marraless iver sin'." This reminiscence of his early and all but only love adventure seemed to touch a sensitive place in the old man's nature, and he pulled for a time more vigorously at his pipe.
Mrs.Ray Still sat gazing into the fire, hardly heeding the old weaver's garrulity, and letting him chatter on as he pleased.
Occasionally she would look anxiously over her shoulder to ask Rotha if Ralph had got back, and on receiving answer that he had not yet been seen she would resume her position, and, with an absent look in her eyes, gaze back into the fire.

When a dog's bark would be heard in the distance above the sound of the wind, she would break into consciousness afresh, and bid Rotha prepare the supper.

But still Ralph did not come.