Haith! lass, 'must' is a bold doggie enow; but 'you can't' is the doggie that kin pu' him doon, an' hold him there, I wot."
"Perhaps so," said Alice, carelessly. "But 'I can and will' can conquer even him, I think; and I tell you now plainly that I both can and will."
"Tut, tut! lass. Dinna bark when ye kinna bite—hoo kin ye, an' hoo will ye?"
"I will go to the women I met in the street; it is clear to me that they know what you refuse to tell me. 'An open enemy is better than a false friend'—I will go to them."
"Alice, girl, are ye mad? Would ye gang to those awfu', leeing creatures that hae the power o' the evil-eye? Ye wad na'—ye wad na'."
"I will," said Alice, calmly; "I fear them not. I will brave the evil-eye, and the evil tongue too—but I will find out the truth you are hiding from me. I will give you the day to make up your mind in—I will wait until the evening; if you choose to tell me then, I will have the story from you—if not, then before this night closes I will try to learn it from them."
