on him. She had been the
occasion of so many words and acts of which he was ashamed. In fact,
his conscience was troubling him, and he was trying to lay the whole
blame of his cruelty and injustice on her. For some time he did not
speak, and she was too much occupied with her own thoughts to ask him
any questions. At length he snapped out, "Jan Vedder came back to
Lerwick yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

"I said yesterday. Did thou think he would run here to see thee the
first moment? Not he. He was at Tulloch's last night. He will have
been at Torr's all day, no doubt."

Margaret's eyes filled with tears, and Peter looked angrily at her.

"Art thou crying again? Now listen, thou art not like to see him at
all. He has thrown thy L600 to the bottom of the sea--ship, cargo, and
crew, all gone."

"Jan? Father, is Jan safe?"

"He is safe enough. The devil holds his own from water. Now, if he
does come to see thee, thou shalt not speak with him. That is my
command to thee."

Margaret answered not, but there was a look upon her face, which he
understood to mean rebellion.

"Bring me the Bible here." Then as he turned to the place he wanted,
he said: "Now, Margaret, if thou art thinking to disobey thy father,
I want thee to hear in what kind of company thou wilt do so;" and he
slowly read aloud:

"'Backbiters--haters of God--despiteful--proud--boasters--inventors of
evil things--_disobedient to parents_;' dost thou hear, Margaret?
'_disobedient to parents_--without understanding--covenant
breakers--without natural affection--implacable--unmerciful.'"

"Let me see him once, father? Let me see him for half an hour."

"Not for one moment. Disobey me if thou dares."

"He is my husband."

"I am thy father. Thy obligation to me began with thy birth, twenty
years before thou saw Jan Vedder. Between man and wife there may be a
divorce, between father and daughter there can be no bill of
separation. The tie of thy obedience is for life, unless thou wilt
take the risk of disobeying thy God. Very well, then, I say to thee,
thou shalt not speak to Jan Vedder again, until he has proved himself
worthy to have the care of a good woman. That is all I say, but mind
it! If thou disobey me, I will never speak to thee again. I will send
thee and thy child from my sight, I will leave every penny I have to
my two nephews, Magnus and Thorkel. That is enough. Where is thy
mother?"

"She is in pain, and has gone to bed."

"It is a sick