Chapter 41

_To these_, JEAN

JEAN (_from she door_). Wullie, Wullie!

LAWSON. Guid guide us, Mrs. Watt! A dacent wumman like yoursel’! Whatten a time o’ nicht is this to come to folks’ doors?

JEAN (_to_ BRODIE). Hawks, Wullie, hawks!

BRODIE. I suppose you know what you’ve done, Jean?

JEAN. I _had_ to come, Wullie, he wadna wait another minit. He wad have come himsel’.

BRODIE. This is my mistress.

LAWSON. William, dinna tell me nae mair.

BRODIE. I have told you so much. You may as well know all. That good man knows it already. Have you issued a warrant for me . . . yet?

LAWSON. No, no, man: not another word.

BRODIE, (_pointing to the window_). That is my work. I am the man. Have you drawn the warrant?

LAWSON (_breaking down_). Your father’s son!

LESLIE (_to_ LAWSON). My good friend! Brodie, you might have spared the old man this.

BRODIE. I might have spared him years ago; and you and my sister, and myself. I might . . . would God I had! (_Weeping himself_.) Don’t weep, my good old friend; I was lost long since; don’t think of me; don’t pity me; don’t shame me with your pity! I began this when I was a boy. I bound the millstone round my neck; [it is irrevocable now,] and you must all suffer . . . all suffer for me! . . . [for this suffering remnant of what was once a man]. O God, that I can have fallen to stand here as I do now. My friend lying to save me from the gallows; my second father weeping tears of blood for my disgrace! And all for what? By what? Because I had an open hand, because I was a selfish dog, because I loved this woman.

JEAN. O Wullie, and she lo’ed ye weel! But come near me nae mair, come near me nae mair, my man; keep wi’ your ain folks . . . your ain dacent folks.

LAWSON. Mistress Watt, ye shall sit rent free as lang’s there’s breath in William Lawson’s body.

LESLIE. You can do one thing still . . . for Mary’s sake. You can save yourself; you must fly.

BRODIE. It is my purpose; the day after to-morrow. It cannot be before. Then I will fly; and O, as God sees me, I will strive to make a new and a better life, and to be worthy of your friendship, and of your tears . . . your tears. And to be worthy of you too, Jean; for I see now that the bandage has fallen from my eyes; I see myself, O how unworthy even of you.

LESLIE. Why not to-night?

BRODIE. It cannot be before. There are many considerations. I must find money.

JEAN. Leave me, and the wean. Dinna fash yoursel’ for us.

LESLIE (_opening the strong-box_, _and pouring gold upon the table_). Take this and go at once.

BRODIE. Not that . . . not the money that I came to steal!

LAWSON. Tak’ it, William; I’ll pay him.

BRODIE. It is in vain. I cannot leave till I have said. There is a man; I must obey him. If I slip my chain till he has done with me, the hue and cry will blaze about the country; every outport will be shut; I shall return to the gallows. He is a man that will stick at nothing.