To be sure, he was out all day with his sheep, while his lass was alone in the sheiling.

Or, if by sickness _he_ was forced to stay home, then _she_ was out all day with the sheep alone.
Gossip said that the young marquis visited the handsome shepherdess in her sheiling, and met her by appointment, when she was out with her flock.
And as the occasion grew, so grew the scandal, and so grew indignation against the marquis and scorn of the shepherdess.
"He'll nae mean to marry the quean! If she were my lass, I'd kick him out, an' he were twenty times a markis!" said the shepherd's next neighbor, and many approved his sentiment.

These were among the detractors of the young nobleman.
But he had warm defenders--who affirmed that the Marquis of Arondelle would never seek a peasant girl to win her affections, unless he intended to make her his marchioness--which was an idea too preposterous to be entertained for an instant--therefore there could be no truth in these rumors.
And at length, when the great thunderbolt fell that destroyed Lone and banished the ducal family, there were not wanting "guid neebors" who taunted Rose Cameron with such words as these: "The braw young markis hae made a fule o' ye, lass.

Thoul't ne'er see him mair.

And a guid job, too.