"But I do say it. His future wife is coming here to Elgin
next month, she and her aunt, or her grandmother, or
somebody, and they're to stay at Dr Drummond's and be
married as soon as possible."
"Nonsense," said Mr Murchison, which was his way of
expressing simple astonishment.
"There's no nonsense about it. Advena told me herself
this afternoon."
"Did she seem put out about it?"
"She's not a girl to show it," Mrs Murchison hedged, "if
she was. I just looked at her. 'Well,' I said, 'that's
a piece of news. When did you hear it?' I said. 'Oh, I've
known it all the winter!' says my lady. What I wanted to
say was that for an engaged man he had been pretty liberal
with his visits, but she had such a queer look in her
eyes I couldn't express myself, somehow."
"It was just as well left unsaid," her husband told her,
thoughtfully.
"I'm not so sure," Mrs Murchison retorted. "You're a
great man, John, for letting everything alone. When he's
been coming here regularly for more than a year, putting
ideas into the girl's head--"
"He seems to have told her how things were."
"That's all very well--if he had kept himself to himself
at the same time."
"Well, Mother, you know you never thought much of the
prospect."
"No, I didn't," Mrs Murchison said. "It wouldn't be me
that would be married to him, and I've always said so.
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