every meal sack with their daggers. The storeroom's awash with oats."
Aunt Blair started up with a cry of horror, planted Andrew in the nearest pair of arms, which happened to be Annie's, and rushed outside.
"Father, we must do something! We can't just let Mr. Barbour go like that! We must go into Paisley, whatever the risk, speak to—"
"That's foolishness, Ritchie. What good would it do to be arrested ourselves? There's only one thing we can do, and it's the most important thing of all."
"What's that?"
"We must pray. Without ceasing."
I saw the effort that it cost Ritchie to say, "Yes, Father, of course." But then he brightened. "And the more people that pray, the better. I'll run over to Newton and tell the John Lairds."
He dashed off, and my own feet itched as I watched him go. I was still shaken with anger at the soldiers' contempt for us and fear at the threats of Lieutenant Dundas.
I wish I was a boy. At least there's something he can do, I thought enviously.
"Grizel, take two buckets to the burn and fill them with water," came Aunt Blair's voice from the door. "The well will be unusable for weeks. Annie, put that child in his cradle. Martha, rock him to sleep. Maggie, fetch out the needles and yarn. You and Annie can get down all the bowls from the shelf and come to the barn to salvage the meal."
I had never heard such a hard edge to her voice. Though I didn't realize it until later, Lieutenant Dundas had achieved what all Uncle Blair's preaching had been unable quite to do. He had roused a passion for the cause in Aunt Blair. She had become a rebel in her heart.
***
The winter days slipped past, and Mr. Renwick didn't come. Uncle Blair, who had expected his arrival hourly, stopped looking up eagerly every time a knock came at the door.
I was relieved. I liked the quiet rhythm of life at Ladymuir and had no wish for more turmoil and danger. I set myself to learn all that I could, and by the time the buds were swelling on the ash tree by the entrance to the yard, I could read the Bible quite well, except for the long difficult names, and I could write a little too. I could spin a decent thread, churn butter, make a posset, and sew a straight seam.
Annie had the sense to keep clear of me most of the time. Bit by bit, she had wormed her way into the heart of the family. For my aunt, she could do no wrong, and Nanny followed her around like a devoted lamb. Martha and Grizel staunchly refused to be charmed by her, and Ritchie, on whom she never ceased to work her wiles, ignored her and spoke curtly to her whenever he had to speak at all. I was grateful to him for that.
Mr. Renwick arrived one ordinary afternoon, when a clammy, cold mist hung over the hills. He slipped into the house as quietly as a whisper, following Dandy Fleming, who had brought him by lonely mountain paths across the hills from Whinnerston. I was alone in the kitchen, minding Andrew and turning the oatcakes on the griddle over the fire, while Aunt Blair, Grizel, and Annie were busy in the storeroom.
I knew Dandy by sight. He had been one of the young men who had stood with Ritchie by the kirk door, hindering Mr. Alexander's escape.
"Are you Maggie?" he asked me. "Is your uncle at home?"
"He'll be out with the sheep," I said. I had barely noticed the other young man, standing quietly by the door, and I turned back to my oatcakes. "He'll be in soon with the men for their dinner, if you care to wait."
Dandy came up close to me.
"I've brought Mr. Renwick," he said in my ear. "Is there anyone here who shouldn't be told?"
I whipped around and peered forward to see the face of the man standing in the shadow by the door. Then he stepped into the middle of the room, and I saw how slim he was, how short, and how very young.
"Are you really Mr. Renwick?" I said disbelievingly.
He laughed.
"I am indeed. 'The boy Renwick,' my enemies call me, 'that the nation is so troubled with.' Or, if you prefer, 'the seditious vagabond.'"
His voice was surprisingly deep and musical, and I felt a little shock at the sound of it, as if I'd touched something hot.
"But you're so young," I