Rintoul and Babbie 409

“ Pooh!” said the earl, nervously, “that was
but mummery on the hill.”

“It was a marriage.”

“With gypsies for witnesses. Their word
would count for less than nothing. Babbie, I am
still in time to save you.”

“1 don’t want to be saved. The marriage had
witnesses no court could discredit.”

“What witnesses ?”

“ Mr. McKenzie and yourself.”

She heard his teeth meet. When next she
looked at him, there were tears in his eyes as well
as in her own. It was perhaps the first time
these two had ever been in close sympathy. Both
were grieving for Rintoul.

“Tam so sorry,” Babbie began, in a broken
voice; then stopped, because they seemed such
feeble words.

“If you are sorry,” the earl answered, eagerly,
“it is not yet too late. McKenzie and I saw
nothing. Come away with me, Babbie, if only
in pity for yourself.”

“ Ah, but I don’t pity myself.”

“ Because this man has blinded you.”

“No, he has made me see.”

“This mummery on the hill —”’

“ Why do you call it so? I believe God ap-
proved of that marriage, as he could never have
countenanced yours and mine.”

“God! I never heard the word on your lips
before.”

‘lkenow that.

“Tt is his teaching, doubtless?”

tess