_ CHAPTER LVII. TOO SURE COMES TOO LATE
The same day Cosmo left, Lord Lick-my-loof sent to the castle the message that he wanted to see young Mr. Warlock. The laird returned the answer that Cosmo was from home, and would not be back till the day following.
In the afternoon came his lordship, desiring an interview with the laird; which, not a little against his liking, the laird granted.
"Set ye doon, my lord," said Grizzie, "an' rist yer shins. The ro'd atween this an' the ludge, maun be slithery."
His lordship yielded and took the chair she offered, for he would rather propitiate than annoy her, seeing he was more afraid of Grizzie than aught in creation except dogs. And Grizzie, appreciating his behaviour, had compassion upon him and spared him.
"His lairdship," she said, "maunna be hurried puttin' on his dressin'-goon. He's no used to see onybody sae ear'. I s' gang an' see gien I can help him; he never wad hae a man aboot 'im 'cep' the yoong laird himsel'."
Relieved by her departure, his lordship began to look about the kitchen, and seeing Aggie, asked after her father. She replied that he was but poorly.
"Getting old!"
"Surely, my lord. He's makin' ready to gang."
"Poor old man!"
"What wad yer lordship hae? Ye wadna gang on i' this warl' for ever?"
"'Deed and I would have no objection--so long as there were pretty girls like you in it."
"Suppose the lasses had a ch'ice tu, my lord?"
"What would they do?"
"Gang, I'm thinkin'."
"What makes you so spiteful, Aggie? I never did you any harm that I know of."
"Ye ken the story o' the guid Samaritan, my lord?" said Aggie.
"I read my bible, I hope."
"Weel, I'll tell ye a bit mair o' 't nor ye'll get there. The Levite an' the Pharisee--naebody ever said yer lordship was like aither o' them--"
"No, thank God! nobody could."
"--they gaed by o' the ither side, an' loot him lie. But there was ane cam up, an' tuik 'im by the legs,'cause he lay upo' his lan', an'wad hae pu'dhim aff. But jist i' the nick o' time by cam the guid Samaritan, an' set him rinnin'. Sae it was sune a sma' maitter to onybody but the ill neebour, wha couldna weel gang straucht to Paradise. Abraham wad hae a fine time o' 't wi' sic a bairn in 's bosom!"
"Damn the women! Young and old they're too many for me!" said his lordship to himself,--and just then Grizzie returning invited him to walk up to the laird's room, where he made haste to set forth the object of his visit.
"I said to your son, Glenwarlock, when he came to me the other morning, that I would not buy."
"Yes, my lord."
"I have however, lawyer though I be, changed my mind, and am come to renew my offer."
"In the meantime, however, we have changed our minds, my lord, and will not sell."
"That's very foolish of you."
"It may seem so, my lord; but you must allow us to do the best with what modicum of judgment we possess."
"What can have induced you to come to such a fatal resolution! I am thoroughly acquainted with the value of the land all about here, and am convinced you will not get such a price from another, be he who he may."
"You may be right, my lord, but we do not want to sell."
"Nobody, I repeat, will make you a better--I mean an equal offer."
"I could well believe it might not be worth more to anyone else--so long, that is, as your lordship's property shuts it in on every side; but to your lordship--"
"That is my affair; what it is worth to you is the question.
"It is worth more to us than you can calculate."
"I daresay, where sentiment sends prices up! But that is not in the market. Take my advice and a good offer. You can't go on like this, you know. You will lose your position entirely. Why, what are you thinking of!"
"I am thinking, my lord, that you have scarcely been such a neighbour as to induce us to confide our plans to you. I have said we will not sell--and as I am something of an invalid--"
Lord Lick-my-loof rose, feeling fooled--and annoyed with himself and everybody in "the cursed place."
"Good morning, Glenwarlock," he said. "You will live to repent this morning."
"I hope not, my lord. I have lived nearly long enough. Good morning!"
His lordship went softly down the stair, hurried through the kitchen, and walked slowly home, thinking whether it might not be worth his while to buy up Glenwarlock's few remaining debts. _