Intrusion of Haggart 183

at you is, can I gang down to the Tenements for
aminute? I'll run there and back.”

“ Certainly you can go, Jean, but you must not
run. You are always running. Did Dow bring
you word that you were wanted in the Tene-
ments?”

“No exactly, but I—I want to consult Tam-
mas Haggart about — about something.”

“ About Dow, I believe, Jean?”

“Na, but about something he has done. Oh,
ma’am, you surely dinna think I would take a
widow man?”

It was the day after Gavin’s meeting with the
Egyptian at the Kaims, and here is Jean’s real
reason for wishing to consult Haggart. Haif an
hour before she hurried to the parlour, she had
been at the kitchen door wondering whether she
should spread out her washing in the garret, or
risk hanging it in the courtyard. She had just
decided on the garret when she saw Rob Dow
morosely regarding her from the gateway.

“ Whaur is he?” growled Rob.

“‘ He’s out, but it’s no for me to say whaur he
is,” replied Jean, whose weakness was to be con-
sidered a church official. “No that I ken,”
truthfulness compelled her to add, for she had an
ambition to be everything she thought Gavin
would like a woman to be.

Rob seized her wrists viciously, and glowered
into her face.

“You’re ane o’ them,” he said.

“Let me go. Ane o’ what?”

“ Ane o’ thae limmers called women.”

“Sal,” retorted Jean, with spirit, “ you’re ane