A Winters Tale 225 



on the snow covering of which the moonlight fell fair 

 and softly, making the hard wheel-tracks glitter and 

 silvering the half-black, half-whitened hedgerows. 

 Willie never before had seemed so true and earnest 

 and loyal as Kitty poured into his ear the story of 

 her persecution. 



' Never mind, lass,' he said, ' let him keep the 

 money. I've little, but I'm not in debt, and if you'll 

 but promise to come to the Croft, I'll yes Kitty 

 I'll sell every live thing I have and work day and 

 night for you.' 



' No, no, Will, there's no need for that ; but do you 

 think I'll give up my rights to please that wretch 

 Aleck ? It's just what he wants for me to marry you 

 and leave everything to him ; and, do you know, I've a 

 good mind to take him at his word just out of spite. 

 That's the worst I could do to him.' 



' Whist, whist ! ' Willie interrupted her with, 

 ' You're jokin', lass, but I dinna like it. Say anything 

 but that. You would never leave me fora bit dirty gold.' 



' Would I not ? ' queried Kitty, who was an in- 

 corrigible tease. ' You'll maybe see me make a run- 

 away match of it ; aye, and glad you would be after 

 awhile to get quit of me ; but here's the door. If I'm 

 not away I'll maybe be in the wood on Sunday night/ 

 and she was off, leaving Willie to go home so thought- 

 ful that he quite forgot to feed his tame fox until 

 wakened in the night by its yelping, a thing that had 

 never happened in his life before. 



Q 



