"Well, what would she have? Man! think ye what many a woman would give for her chance! A house of her own, and wealth, no responsibilities, no inc.u.mbrances, and not a true word to be spoken against her. Why! it would be the beginning of a new life to her. With her good looks, and the grip she has of herself (her self-possession), she would hold her own--no fear of that. And no one has a right to meddle with her. There is her brother, but it is hardly likely he will trouble her. And she is the stronger of the two, and she has had experience since the old days.

I canna fathom it--unless there be somebody else," said Mr Rainy, standing still in the street. "Doctor, can you tell me that? I think I would have heard of him, surely. And he would be a queer lad that would object to her coming to him with her hands full. And there is not a word said about her not marrying again. No, it must just be that she is a woman of weak judgment."

They had walked a long way by this time, and now they turned into another street, and soon came to Mr Rainy's door.

"Come in, doctor, come in. You surely must have something to say about this strange freak, though I own I have not given you much chance to say it. Come in if you can spare the time. It's early yet."

The doctor went in with him, but he had not much to say except that he was not altogether surprised at Mistress Allison's decision. Indeed he owned that he would have been surprised had she decided otherwise.

"But what, I ask, in the name of common sense, is the reason? You must know, for you seem to have foreseen her refusal."

"I do not believe she herself could find a reason, except that she cannot do this thing. The reason lies in her nature. She came to him, as she says, because she was sorry for him, and because she wished that they might forgive one another before he died. And I daresay she thought she might do him some good. And so she did. May G.o.d bless her!

But as to what he had, or what he might do with it, I doubt if the thought of it ever came into her mind, till you spoke the word to-night."

Mr Rainy shook his head.

"I don't say that it is altogether beyond possibility. She seems to be a simple-minded creature in some ways, but she's a woman. And just think of it! A free life before her, and all that money can give--I mean of the things dear to women--even to good and sensible women--gowns and bonnets and--things. It couldna but have come into her mind."

"But even if she has thought of all these things, she refuses them now."

"Yes, she does that, but why? It may be that she hasna confidence in herself. But that would come. There is no fear of a fine, stately woman like her. It is a pity that the poor man didna get to his own house to die."

"Yes, it was Brownrig's sole reason for wishing to go, that all might be made easier for her. He was eager to see her in the possession of all he had to give. It was too late, however. He failed rapidly, after he told me his wish. Still, I do not think that her being there would have made any difference in the end."

"Do you mean that she would have said the same in those circ.u.mstances, and that she will hold out now? That she will go her own ways, and earn her bread, and call herself Allison Bain to the end of her days? No, no! she will come round. We'll give her time, and she'll come round, and ken her ain mind better. A year and a day I'll give her, and by that time she will be wiser and less--less, what shall I call it? Less scrupulous."

"There are, doubtless, folk ready to put in a claim for a share of what is left, should she refuse."

"There is one man, and he has a family. I have had my eye on him for a while. He knows his connection with Brownrig. I don't think he is proud of it. But he will have no scruples about taking all that he can get, I daresay. The will, as it stands, is not to be meddled with. I hope he may have to content himself with his five hundred pounds."

Doctor Fleming smiled.

"I should say that he stands a fair chance of taking that and all else besides. Time will show."

"I think, doctor," said Mr Rainy gravely, "if you were to give your mind to it, you could make her see her interest, and her duty as well."

"I am not so sure of that. Nor would I like to say, that to take _your_ way, would be either her interest or her duty."

"Nonsense, man! Consider the good a woman like that might do. I think I'll send a letter to her friend Mr Hume. He can set her duty before her, as to the spending of the money. They are good at that, these ministers. And there is Mrs Esselmont! If she were to take up Allison Bain, it would be the making of her. And she might well do it. For John Bain came of as good a stock as any Esselmont of them all. Only of late they let slip their chances--set them at naught, I daresay, as Mistress Allison is like to do. Yes, I'll write to Mrs Esselmont. She has taken to serious things of late, I hear, but she kens as weel as anither the value of a competence to a young woman like Allison Bain."

"Does Mistress Allison know anything of this nephew of Brownrig's?"

"All that she knows is that there are folk who can claim kinship with her husband."

"Well, I hope he is a good man if this money is to go to him, as I cannot but think it may."

Mr Rainy said nothing for a moment, but looked doubtfully at the doctor.

"He is an unworldly kind of a man," said he to himself, "and though he has not said as much, I daresay he is thinking in his heart that it is a fine thing in Allison Bain to be firm in refusing to take the benefit of what was left to her. And if I were to tell who the next of kin is, it might confirm her in her foolishness. But I'll say nothing to him, nor to Mrs Esselmont."

Then he added aloud:

"Speak you a word to her. She will hear you if she will hear any one.

Make her see that it is her _duty_ to give up her own will, and take what is hers, and help other folk with it. She is one of the kind that thinks much of doing her duty, I should say."

Doctor Fleming smiled.

"Yes, that is quite true; if I were only sure as to what is her duty, I would set it before her clearly. I will speak to her, however, since you wish it, but I will let a few days pa.s.s first."

That night Robert Hume looked in upon Allison, as was his custom now and then. Marjorie's letter lay on the table.

"There is no bad news, I hope?" said he as he met Allison's glance.

"No. Marjorie would like me to come 'home,' as she calls it. Or, if that canna be, she would like to come here."

"She could hardly come here, but you should go to the manse. You _must_ go when spring comes."

"I would like to go for some reasons. But--I would like to see my Marjorie, and the sight of your mother would do me good, and yet I canna think of going with any pleasure. But I may feel differently when the spring comes."

"You went back to your auld wives too soon," said Robin.

"No, it is not that. If I am not fit to go to them, what am I fit for?"

And, to Robert's consternation, the tears came into her eyes.

"Allie," said he, "come away home to my mother."

But when Allison found her voice again, she said "no" to that.

"I havena the heart to go anywhere. My auld wives are my best friends now. I must just have patience and wait."

"Allison," said Robert gravely, "would you not like to come with me to America?"

Allison looked at him in astonishment.

"With you! To America!"

"Yes, with me. Why not? They have fine colleges. I could learn to be a doctor as well there as here, at least I could learn well enough. And then there is your brother, and--John Beaton. The change is what you need. You wouldna, maybe, like to go by yourself, and I could take care of you as well as another."

This hold and wise proposal had the effect of staying Allison's tears, which was something.

"And what would your father and mother say to that, think ye?" said Allison with a smile.

"I dinna--just ken. But I ken one thing. They would listen to reason.

They ay do that. And a little sooner or later, what difference would it make? For it is there I am going some time, and that soon."

"And so am I, I hope--but not just yet. I couldna go to a strange land, to bide among strange folk, until--I am fitter for it. If my brother had a house of his own, I might go."

"But when your brother gets a house of his own, he'll be taking a wife,"

said Robert gravely.