But it gradually gained power. This country bumpkin, this cow-herd,
this man of spelling-books and grammars, to come between his cousin
and him! Of course he was not so silly as imagine for a moment she
cared for him!--that she would disgrace herself by falling in love
with a fellow just loosed from the plough-tail! She was a Graeme,
and could never be a traitor to her blood! If only he had not been
such an infernal fool! A vulgar little thing without an idea in her
head! So unpleasant--so disgusting at last with her love-making!
Nothing pleased her but hugging and kissing!--That was how he spoke
to himself of the girl he had been in love with!
Damn that schoolmaster! She would never fall in love with him, but
he might prevent her from falling in love with another! No
attractions could make way against certain prepossessions! The girl
had a fancy for being a saint, and the lout burned incense to her!
So much he gathered from Davie. His father must get rid of the
fellow! If he thought he was doing so well with Davie, why not send
the two away together till things were settled?
But the earl thought it would be better to win Donal. He counselled
him that every Grant was lord Seafield's cousin, and every
highlander an implacable enemy where his pride was hurt. His
lordship did not reflect that, if what he said were true of Donal,
he must have left the castle long ago.
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