diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-03 08:26:14 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-03-03 08:26:14 -0800 |
| commit | be42a73dc8330b5e582ae1a3c5e33a808d4f9718 (patch) | |
| tree | 4344cbb0bd8d98f214b918aaaaf77c2194123bfe /43445.txt | |
| parent | e5c35b251844c2e625d4d162782f15ed6781856f (diff) | |
Diffstat (limited to '43445.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 43445.txt | 6864 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 6864 deletions
diff --git a/43445.txt b/43445.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 20d3fdc..0000000 --- a/43445.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6864 +0,0 @@ - WHITE HEATHER (VOL. II) - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: White Heather (Volume II of 3) - A Novel -Author: William Black -Release Date: August 11, 2013 [EBook #43445] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHITE HEATHER (VOLUME II OF 3) -*** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - - - WHITE HEATHER - - A Novel - - - BY - - WILLIAM BLACK - - - AUTHOR OF 'MACLEOD OF DARE,' - 'JUDITH SHAKESPEARE,' ETC. - - - - _IN THREE VOLUMES_ - - VOL. II. - - - - London - MACMILLAN AND CO. - 1885 - - _The right of translation is reserved._ - - - - - Printed by R. & R. CLARK, Edinburgh. - - - - - *CONTENTS OF VOL. II.* - - - CHAPTER I. - -A FURTHER DISCOVERY - - CHAPTER II. - -CONFESSIONS - - CHAPTER III. - -HESITATIONS - - CHAPTER IV. - -'AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS' - - CHAPTER V. - -A LESSON IN FLY-FISHING - - CHAPTER VI. - -POETA ... NON FIT - - CHAPTER VII. - -A LAST DAY ON THE LOCH - - CHAPTER VIII. - -THE PARTING - - CHAPTER IX. - -SOUTHWARDS - - CHAPTER X. - -GRAY DAYS - - CHAPTER XI. - -KATE - - CHAPTER XII. - -A SOCIAL EVENING - - CHAPTER XIII. - -INDUCEMENTS - - CHAPTER XIV. - -ENTANGLEMENTS - - CHAPTER XV. - -CAMPSIE GLEN - - CHAPTER XVI. - -THE DOWNWARD WAY - - - - - *WHITE HEATHER.* - - - - *CHAPTER I.* - - *A FURTHER DISCOVERY.* - - -It can hardly be wondered at that these suddenly presented ambitious -projects--this call to be up and doing, and getting forward in the -general race of the world--should add a new interest and fascination, in -his eyes, to the society of the American father and daughter who had -wandered into these distant wilds. And perhaps, after all, he had been -merely wasting his time and throwing away his life? That solitary, -contented, healthy and happy existence was a mistake--an idle dream--an -anachronism, even? The common way of the world was right; and that, as -he heard of it in the echoes brought by these strangers from without, -was all a pushing and striving and making the most of opportunities, -until the end was reached--independence and ease and wealth; the power -of choosing this or that continent for a residence; the radiant -happiness and glow of success. And then it all seemed so easy and -practicable when he heard these two talking about their friends and the -fortunes they had made; and it seemed still more easy--and a far more -desirable and beautiful thing--when it was Miss Carry herself who was -speaking, she seated alone in the stern of the boat, her eyes--that had -a kind of surface darkness and softness, like blackberries wet with -rain--helping out her speech, and betraying an open friendliness, and -even conferring a charm on her descriptions of that far-off -pork-producing city of the west. Mr. Hodson, as he sate upright in his -easy-chair before the fire, spoke slowly and sententiously, and without -any visible enthusiasm; Miss Carry, in the stern of the coble, her face -all lit up with the blowing winds and the sunlight, talked with far -greater vivacity, and was obviously deeply interested in the future of -her companion. And it had come to this now, that, as she sate opposite -him, he quite naturally and habitually regarded her eyes as -supplementing her meaning; he no longer rather shrank from the -directness of her look; he no longer wished that she would sit the other -way, and attend to the tops of the salmon-rods. As for their speech -together, the exceeding frankness of it and lack of conventionality -arose from one or two causes, but no doubt partly from this--that during -their various adventures on the loch there was no time for the -observance of studied forms. It was 'Do this' and 'Do that,' on his -part--sometimes with even a sharp word of monition; and with her it was -'Will that do, Ronald?' or again,--when she was standing up in fell -encounter with her unseen enemy, both hands engaged with the -rod--'Ronald, tie my cap down, or the wind will blow it away--No, no, -the other strings--underneath!' - -Indeed, on the morning after the evening on which they had been urging -him to make a career for himself, there was not much chance of any calm -discussion of that subject. The proceedings of the day opened in a -remarkably lively manner. For one thing the wind had backed still -farther during the night, and was now blowing briskly from the north, -bringing with it from time to time smart snow showers that blackened the -heavens and earth for a few minutes and then sped on, leaving the peaks -and shoulders and even the lower spurs of the hills all a gleaming white -in the wintry sunlight. - -'Salmon-fishing in a snow-storm--well, I declare!' said she, as she -stood on the shore of the lake, watching him putting the rods together. - -'The very best time,' said he, in his positive way (for he had assumed a -kind of authority over her, whereas with Meenie he was always reserved -and distant and timidly gentle). 'None better. I would just like to -find a foot of snow on the ground, right down to the edge of the loch; -and the flakes falling so thick ye couldna see a dozen yards ahead of -ye.' - -'Do you know where I should be then?' she retorted. 'I should be warming -my toes in front of Mrs. Murray's peat-fire.' - -'Not one bit,' said he, just as positively. 'If ye heard the salmon -were taking, ye'd be down here fast enough, I'm thinking.' - -And presently it seemed as if this early start of theirs was to be -rewarded, for scarcely were both lines out--and Miss Carry was just -settling herself down for a little quiet talk, and was pulling the -collar of her ulster higher over her ears (for the wind was somewhat -cold)--when a sudden tugging and straining at one of the rods, followed -by a sharp scream of the reel, upset all these little plans. She made a -dash at the rod and raised it quickly. - -'That's a good fish--that's a good fish!' Ronald cried, with his mouth -set hard. 'Now let's see if we canna hold on to this one. Let him go, -lassie!--I beg your pardon--let him go--let him go--that's right--a -clean fish, and a beauty!' - -Beauty or no, the salmon had no hesitation about showing himself, at -least; for now he began to lash the surface of the water, some fifty -yards away, not springing into the air, but merely beating the waves -with head and body and tail to get rid of this unholy thing that he had -pursued and gripped. Then down he went with a mighty plunge--the reel -whirring out its shrill cry, and Miss Carry's gloves suffering in -consequence--and there he sulked; so that they backed the boat again, -and again she got in some of the line. What was the sound that came -across the lake to them, in the face of the northerly wind? - -'They're waving a handkerchief to ye, Miss Hodson,' said he, 'from the -other boat.' - -'Oh, bother,' said she (for the strain of a heavy salmon and forty yards -of line was something on her arms), 'here, take the handkerchief from -this breast-pocket, and wave it back to them--stand up beside me--they -won't see the difference----' - -He did as he was bid; apparently she paid little attention; she seemed -wholly bent on getting the fish. And clearly the salmon had somewhat -exhausted himself with his first escapades; he now lay deep down, not -stirring an inch; so that she got in her line until there was not more -than twenty yards out: then they waited. - -And meanwhile this strange thing that was overtaking them? The bright, -windy, changeable day--with its gleaming snow-slopes and sunlit straths -and woods darkened by passing shadows--seemed to be slowly receding from -them, and around them came a kind of hushed and stealthy gloom. And -then the wind stirred again; the gusts came sharper and colder; here and -there a wet particle stung the cheek or the back of the hand. Of -course, she was in a death-struggle with a salmon; she could not heed. -And presently the gathering blackness all around seemed to break into a -soft bewilderment of snow; large, soft, woolly flakes came driving along -before the wind; all the world was shut out from them; they could see -nothing but a short space of livid dark water, and feel nothing but this -choking silent thing in the air. And then again, with a magical -rapidity, the heavens and the earth seemed to open above and around -them; the clouds swept on; there was a great deep of dazzling blue -suddenly revealed in the sky overhead; and all the dancing waters of the -lake, from the boat to the farthest shores, were one flashing and -lapping mass of keen, pure cobalt, absolutely bewildering to the eyes. -The joy of that radiant colour, after the mystery and the darkness! And -then the sunlight broke out; and Clebrig had a touch of gold along his -mighty shoulders; and Ben Loyal's snow-slopes were white against the -brilliant blue; and it seemed as if the fairest of soft summer skies -were shining over Bonnie Strath-Naver. - -To her it meant that she could see a little more clearly. She shook the -snowflakes from her hair. - -'Ronald, you are sure it is not a kelt?' - -'Indeed I am. There's nothing of the kelt about that one.' - -'If it is,' said she, 'I'll go home and tell my ma.' - -She was clearly feeling a little more secure about this one. And she -did capture the creature in the end, though it was after a long and -arduous struggle. For he was a strong fish--fresh run up from the sea, -and heavy for his size; and again and again, and a dozen times repeated, -he would make rushes away from the boat just as they thought he was -finally showing the white feather. It was the toughest fight she had -had; but practice was hardening her muscles a little; and she had -acquired a little dexterity in altering her position and shifting the -strain. By this time the other boat was coming round. - -'Stick to him, Carry!' her father cried. 'No Secesh tactics allowed: -hold on to him!' - -The next moment Ronald had settled all that by a smart scoop of the -clip; and there in the bottom of the boat lay a small-headed -deep-shouldered fish of just over sixteen pounds--Ronald pinning him -down to get the minnow out of his jaw, and the lad Johnnie grinning all -over his ruddy face with delight. - -Miss Carry looked on in a very calm and business-like fashion; though in -reality her heart was beating quickly--with gladness and exultation. -And then, with the same business-like calmness, she took from the deep -pocket of her ulster a flask that she had borrowed from Mr. Murray. - -'Ronald,' said she, 'you must drink to our good luck.' - -She handed him the flask. She appeared to be quite to the manner born -now. You would not have imagined that her heart was beating so quickly, -or her hands just a little bit nervous and shaky after that prolonged -excitement. - -Good luck seemed to follow the Duke's boat this morning. Within the next -three quarters of an hour they had got hold of another salmon--just over -ten pounds. And it was barely lunch time when they had succeeded in -landing a third--this time a remarkably handsome fish of fifteen pounds. -She now thought she had done enough. She resumed her seat contentedly; -there was no elation visible on her face. But she absolutely forbade -the putting out of the lines again. - -'Look here, Ronald,' she said seriously. 'What do you think I came here -for? Do you think I came here to leave my bones in a foreign land? I -am just about dead now. My arms are not made of steel. We can go -ashore, and get lunch unpacked; the other boat will follow quickly -enough. I tell you my arms and wrists have just had about enough for -one morning.' - -And a very snug and merry little luncheon-party they made there--down by -the side of the lapping water, and under the shelter of a wood of young -birch-trees. For the other boat had brought ashore two salmon; so that -the five handsome fish, laid side by side on a broad slab of rock, made -an excellent show. Miss Carry said nothing about her arms aching; but -she did not seem to be in as great a hurry as the others to set to work -again. No; she enjoyed the rest; and, observing that Ronald had -finished his lunch, she called to him, under the pretext of wanting to -know something about sending the fish south. This led on to other -things; the three of them chatting together contentedly enough, and -Ronald even making bold enough to light his pipe. A very friendly -little group this was--away by themselves there in these wintry -solitudes--with the wide blue waters of the lake in front of them, and -the snows of Clebrig white against the sky. And if he were to go away -from these familiar scenes, might he not come back again in the after -days? And with the splendid power of remaining or going, just as he -pleased?--just as these friendly folk could, who spoke so lightly of -choosing this or that quarter of the globe for their temporary -habitation? Yes, there were many things that money could do: these two -strangers, now, could linger here at Inver-Mudal just as long as the -salmon-fishing continued to amuse them; or they could cross over to -Paris, and see the wonders there; or they could go away back to the -great cities and harbours and lakes and huge hotels that they spoke so -much about. He listened with intensest interest, and with a keen -imagination. And was this part of the shore around them--with its rocks -and brushwood and clear water--really like the shores of Lake George, -where she was so afraid of rattlesnakes? She said she would send him -some photographs of Lake Michigan. - -Then in the boat in the afternoon she quite innocently remarked that she -wished he was going back home with them; for that he would find the -voyage across the Atlantic so amusing. She described the people coming -out to say good-bye at Liverpool; and the throwing of knives and -pencil-cases and what not as farewell gifts from the steamer to the -tender, and _vice versa_; she described the scamper round Queenstown and -the waiting for the mails; then the long days on the wide ocean, with -all the various occupations, and the concerts in the evening, and the -raffles in the smoking-room (this from hearsay); then the crowding on -deck for the first glimpse of the American coast-line; and the gliding -over the shallows of Sandy Hook; and the friends who would come steaming -down the Bay to wave handkerchiefs and welcome them home. She seemed to -regard it as a quite natural and simple thing that he should be of this -party; and that, after landing, her father should take him about and -'see him through,' as it were; and if her fancy failed to carry out -these forecasts, and to picture him walking along Dearborn Avenue or -driving out with them to Washington Park, it was that once or twice ere -now she had somehow arrived at the notion that Ronald Strang and Chicago -would prove to be incongruous. Or was it some instinctive feeling that, -however natural and fitting their friendship might be in this remote -little place in the Highlands, it might give rise to awkwardness over -there? Anyhow, that could not prevent her father from seeing that -Ronald had ample introductions and guidance when he landed at New York; -and was not that the proper sphere for one of his years and courage and -abilities? - -When they got ashore at the end of the day it was found that each boat -had got two more salmon, so that there was a display of nine big fish on -the grass there in the gathering dusk. - -'And to think that I should live to catch five salmon in one day,' said -Miss Carry, as she contemplated her share of the spoil. 'Well, no one -will believe it; for they're just real mean people at home; and they -won't allow that anything's happened to you in Europe unless you have -something to show for it. I suppose Ronald would give me a written -guarantee. Anyway, I am going to take that big one along to the -Doctor--it will be a good introduction, won't it, pappa?' - -But a curious thing happened about that same salmon. When they got to -the inn the fish were laid out on the stone flags of the dairy--the -coolest and safest place for them in the house; and Miss Carry, who had -come along to see them, when she wanted anything done, naturally turned -to Ronald. - -'Ronald,' said she, 'I want to give that big one to Mrs. Douglas, and I -am going along now to the cottage. Will you carry it for me?' - -He said something about getting a piece of string and left. A couple of -minutes thereafter the lad Johnnie appeared, with a stout bit of cord in -his hand; and he, having affixed that to the head and the tail of the -salmon, caught it up, and stood in readiness. She seemed surprised. - -'Where is Ronald?' said she--for he was always at her bidding. - -'He asked me to carry the fish to the Doctor's house, mem,' said the -lad. 'Will I go now?' - -Moreover, this salmon was accidentally responsible for a still further -discovery. When Miss Carry went along to call on the Douglases, little -Maggie was with her friend Meenie; and they all of them had tea -together; and when the little Maggie considered it fitting she should go -home, Miss Carry said she would accompany her--for it was now quite -dark. And they had a good deal of talk by the way, partly about -schooling and accomplishments, but much more largely about Ronald, who -was the one person in all the world in the eyes of his sister. And if -Maggie was ready with her information, this pretty young lady was -equally interested in receiving it, and also in making inquiries. And -thus it came about that Miss Carry now for the first time learned that -Ronald was in the habit of writing poems, verses, and things of that -kind; and that they were greatly thought of by those who had seen them -or to whom he had sent them. - -'Why, I might have guessed as much,' she said to herself, as she walked -on alone to the inn--though what there was in Ronald's appearance to -suggest that he was a writer of rhymes it might have puzzled any one to -determine. - -But this was a notable discovery; and it set her quick and fertile brain -working in a hundred different ways; but mostly she bethought her of one -John C. Huysen and of a certain newspaper-office on Fifth Avenue, -Chicago, 111. - -'Well, there,' she said to herself, as the result of these rapid -cogitations, 'if Jack Huysen's good for anything--if he wants to say he -has done me a service--if he wants to show he has the spirit of a man in -him--well, _now's his chance_.' - - - - - *CHAPTER II.* - - *CONFESSIONS.* - - -It was but another instance of the curiously magnetic influence of this -man's personality that she instantly and unhesitatingly assumed that -what he wrote must be of value. Now every second human being, as well -she knew, writes verses at one period of his life, and these are mostly -trash; and remain discreetly hidden, or are mercifully burned. But what -Ronald wrote, she was already certain, must be characteristic of -himself, and have interest and definite worth; and what better could she -do than get hold of some of these things, and have them introduced to -the public, perhaps with some little preliminary encomium written by a -friendly hand? She had heard from the little Maggie that Ronald had -never sent any of his writings to the newspapers; might not this be a -service? She could not offer him a sovereign because he happened to be -in the boat when she caught her first salmon; but fame--the appeal to -the wide-reading public--the glory of print? Nay, might they not be of -some commercial value also? She knew but little of the customs of the -Chicago journals, but she guessed that a roundabout hint conveyed to Mr. -John C. Huysen would not be without effect. And what were the subjects, -she asked herself, that Ronald wrote about? In praise of deerstalking, -for one thing, and mountain-climbing, and out-of-door life, she felt -assured: you could see it in his gait and in his look; you could hear it -in his laugh and his singing as he went along the road. Politics, -perhaps--if sarcastic verses were in his way; for there was a sharp -savour running through his talk; and he took abundant interest in public -affairs. Or perhaps he would be for recording the charms of some rustic -maiden--some 'Jessie, the Flower o' Dumblane'--some blue-eyed and rather -silent and uninteresting young person, living alone in a glen, and -tending cattle or hanging out things to dry on a hedge? Well, even a -song would be something. The _Chicago Citizen_ might not pay very much -for it, but the great and generous public might take kindly to it; and -if Jack Huysen did not say something friendly about it, then she would -know the reason why. - -But the stiffest struggle Miss Carry ever had with any salmon was mere -child's play compared with the fight she had with Ronald himself over -this matter. At first he was exceedingly angry that she should have -been told; but then he laughed, and said to her that there were plenty -of folk in Scotland as elsewhere who wrote idle verses, but that they -had the common sense to say nothing about it. If she wanted a memento of -her stay in the Highlands to take back with her to America, he would -give her her choice of the deer-skins he had in the shed; that would be -appropriate, and she was welcome to the best of them; but as for -scribblings and nonsense of that kind--no, no. On the other hand she -was just as persistent, and treated him to a little gentle raillery, -wondering that he had not yet outgrown the years of shyness; and -finally, when everything else had failed, putting her request as a grace -and courtesy to be granted to an American stranger. This was hardly -fair; but she was very anxious about the matter; and she knew that her -demand was founded far less on mere curiosity than on an honest desire -to do him a service. - -Of course he yielded; and a terrible time he had of it the night he set -about selecting something to show to her. For how could she understand -the circumstances in which these random things were written--these idle -fancies of a summer morning--these careless love songs--these rhymed -epistles in which the practical common sense and shrewd advice were much -more conspicuous than any graces of art? And then again so many of them -were about Meenie; and these were forbidden; the praise of Meenie--even -when it was the birds and the roses and the foxgloves and the summer -rills that sang of her--was not for alien eyes. But at last he lit upon -some verses supposed to convey the sentiments of certain exiles met -together on New Year's night in Nova Scotia; and he thought it was a -simple kind of thing; at all events it would get him out of a grievous -difficulty. So--for the lines had been written many a day ago, and came -upon him now with a new aspect--he altered a phrase here or there, by -way of passing the time; and finally he made a fair copy. The next -morning, being a Sunday, he espied Miss Carry walking down towards the -river; and he overtook her and gave her this little piece to redeem his -pledge. - -'It's not worth much,' said he, 'but you'll understand what it is about. -Burn it when you've read it--that's all I ask of ye----' Then on he -went, glad not to be cross-questioned, the faithful Harry trotting at -his heels. - -So she sat down on the stone parapet of the little bridge--on this -hushed, still, shining morning that was quite summer-like in its -calm--and opened the paper with not a little curiosity. And well enough -she understood the meaning of the little piece: she knew that the -Mackays[#] used to live about here; and was not Strath-Naver but a few -miles off; and this the very Mudal river running underneath the bridge -on which she was sitting? But here are the verses she read--and he had -entitled them - -[#] Pronounced _Mackise_, with the accent on the second syllable. - - - _ACROSS THE SEA._ - -_In Nova Scotia's clime they've met_ - _To keep the New Year's night;_ -_The merry lads and lasses crowd_ - _Around the blazing light._ - -_But father and mother sit withdrawn_ - _To let their fancies flee_ -_To the old, old time, and the old, old home_ - _That's far across the sea._ - -_And what strange sights and scenes are these_ - _That sadden their shaded eyes?_ -_Is it only thus they can see again_ - _The land of the Mackays?_ - -_O there the red-deer roam at will:_ - _And the grouse whirr on the wing;_ -_And the curlew call, and the ptarmigan_ - _Drink at the mountain spring;_ - -_And the hares lie snug on the hillside:_ - _And the lusty blackcock crows;_ -_But the river the children used to love_ - _Through an empty valley flows._ - -_Do they see again a young lad wait_ - _To shelter with his plaid,_ -_When she steals to him in the gathering dusk._ - _His gentle Highland maid?_ - -_Do they hear the pipes at the weddings;_ - _Or the low sad funeral wail_ -_As the boat goes out to the island,_ - _And the pibroch tells its tale?_ - -_O fair is Naver's strath, and fair_ - _The strath that Mudal laves;_ -_And dear the haunts of our childhood,_ - _And dear the old folks' graves;_ - -_And the parting from one's native land_ - _Is a sorrow hard to dree:_ -_God's forgiveness to them that sent us_ - _So far across the sea!_ - -_And is bonnie Strath-Naver shining,_ - _As it shone in the bygone years?--_ -_As it shines for us now--ay, ever--_ - _Though our eyes are blind with tears._ - - -Well, her own eyes were moist--though that was but for a moment; for -when she proceeded to walk slowly and meditatively back to the inn, her -mind was busy with many things; and she began to think that she had not -got any way near to the understanding of this man, whom she had treated -in so familiar a fashion, as boatman, and companion, and gillie--almost -as valet. What lay behind those eyes of his, that glowed with so -strange a light at times, and seemed capable of reading her through and -through, only that the slightly tremulous eyelids came down and veiled -them, or that he turned away his head? And why this strain of pathos in -a nature that seemed essentially joyous and glad and careless? Not only -that, but in the several discussions with her father--occasionally -becoming rather warm, indeed--Ronald had been invariably on the side of -the landlord, as was naturally to be expected. He had insisted that the -great bulk of the land given over to deer was of no possible use to any -other living creature; he had maintained the right of the landlord to -clear any portion of his property of sheep and forest it, if by so doing -he could gain an increase of rental; he had even maintained the right of -the landlord to eject non-paying tenants from holdings clearly not -capable of supporting the ever-increasing families; and so forth. But -was his feeling, after all, with the people--he himself being one of the -people? His stout championship of the claims and privileges of Lord -Ailine--that was not incompatible with a deeper sense of the cruelty of -driving the poor people away from the land of their birth and the home -of their childhood? His natural sentiment as a man was not to be -overborne by the fact that he was officially a dependant on Lord Ailine? -These and a good many other curious problems concerning him--and -concerning his possible future--occupied her until she had got back to -the snug little parlour; and there, as she found her father seated in -front of the blazing fire, and engaged in getting through the mighty -pile of newspapers and illustrated journals and magazines that had come -by the previous day's mail, she thought she might as well sit down and -write a long letter to her bosom friend in Chicago, through whose -intermediation these verses might discreetly be brought to the notice of -Mr. Huysen. She had reasons for not asking any favour directly. - -'DEAREST EM,' she wrote--after having studied a long while as to how she -should begin--'would it surprise you to know that I have at last found -my _fate_ in the very handsome person of a Scotch gamekeeper? Well, it -aint so; don't break the furniture; but the fact is my poor brain has -been wool-gathering a little in this land of wild storms and legends and -romantic ballads; and to-morrow I am fleeing away to Paris--the region -of clear atmosphere, and reasonable people, and cynicism; and I hope to -have any lingering cobwebs of romance completely blown out of my head. -Not that I would call it romance, _even if it were to happen;_ I should -call it merely the plain result of my father's theories. You know he is -always preaching that all men are born equal; which isn't true anyhow; -he would get a little nearer the truth if he were to say that all men -are born equal except hotel clerks, who are of a superior race; but -wouldn't it be a joke if I were to take him at his word, and ask him how -he would like a gamekeeper as his son-in-law? But you need not be -afraid, my dear Em; this chipmunk has still got a little of her senses -left; and I may say in the words of the poet-- - - "There is not in this wide world a valet so sweet"-- - -no, nor any Claude Melnotte of a gardener, nor any handsome coachman or -groom, who could induce me to run away with him. It would be "playing -it too low down on pa," as you used to say; besides, one knows how these -things always end. Another besides; how do I know that he would marry -me, even if I asked him?--and I _should_ have to ask him, for he would -never ask me. Now, Em, if you don't burn this letter the moment you -have read it, I will murder you, as sure as you are alive. - -'Besides, it is a shame. He is a real good fellow; and no such nonsense -has got into his head, I know. I know it, because I tried him twice for -fun; I got him to tie my cap under my chin; and I made him take my -pocket-handkerchief out of my breast-pocket when I was fighting a salmon -(I caught _five in one day_--monsters!), and do you think the bashful -young gentleman was embarrassed and showed trembling fingers? Not a -bit; I think he thought me rather a nuisance--in the polite phraseology -of the English people. But I wish I could tell you about him, really. -It's all very well to say he is very handsome and hardy-looking and -weather-tanned; but how can I describe to you how respectful his manner -is, and yet always keeping his own self-respect, and he won't quarrel -with me--he only laughs when I have been talking absolute folly--though -papa and he have rare fights, for he has very positive opinions, and -sticks to his guns, I can tell you. But the astonishing thing is his -education; he has been nowhere, but seems to know everything; he seems -to be quite content to be a gamekeeper, though his brother took his -degree at college and is now in the Scotch Church. I tell you he makes -me feel pretty small at times. The other night papa and I went along to -his cottage after dinner, and found him reading Gibbon's _Decline and -Fall of the Roman Empire_--lent him by his brother, it appeared. I -borrowed the first volume--but, oh, squawks! it is a good deal too stiff -work for the likes of me. And then there is never the least pretence or -show, but all the other way; he will talk to you as long as you like -about his deerstalking and about what he has seen his dogs do; but never -a word about books or writing--unless you happen to have found out. - -'Now I'm coming to business. I have never seen any writing of his until -this morning, when, after long goading, he showed me a little poem which -I will copy out and enclose in this letter when I have finished. Now, -darling Em, I want you to do me a real kindness; the first time you see -Jack Huysen--I don't want to ask the favour of him direct--will you ask -him to print it in the _Citizen_, and to say something nice about it? I -don't want any patronage: understand--I mean let Jack Huysen -understand--that Ronald Strang is a particular _friend_ of both my -father and myself; and that I am sending you this without his authority, -but merely to give him a little pleasant surprise, perhaps, when he sees -it in print; and perhaps to tempt him to give us some more. I should -like him to print a volume,--for he is really far above his present -station, and it is absurd he should not take his _place_,--and if he did -that I know of a young party who would buy 500 copies even if she were -to go back home without a single Paris bonnet. Tell Jack Huysen there is -to be _no patronage_, mind; there is to be nothing about the peasant -poet, or anything like that; for this man is a _gentleman_, if I know -anything about it; and I won't have him trotted out as a phenomenon--to -be discussed by the dudes who smoke cigarettes in Lincoln Park. If you -could only talk to him for ten minutes it would be better than fifty -letters, but I suppose there are _attractions nearer home_ just at -present. My kind remembrances to T.T. - -'I forgot to say that I am quite ignorant as to whether newspapers ever -pay for poetry--I mean if a number of pieces were sent? Or could Jack -Huysen find a publisher who would undertake a volume; my father will see -he does not lose anything by it. I really want to do something for this -Ronald, for he has been so kind and attentive to us; and before long it -may become more difficult to do so; for of course a man of his abilities -is not likely to remain as he is; indeed, he has already formed plans -for getting away altogether from his present way of life, and whatever -he tries to do I know he will do--and easily. But if I talk any more -about him, you will be making very _very_ mistaken guesses; and I won't -give you the delight of imagining even for a moment that I have been -caught at last; when the sad event arrives there will be time enough for -you to take your cake-walk of triumph up and down the room--of course to -_Dancing in the Barn_, as in the days of old.' - -Here followed a long and rambling chronicle of her travels in Europe -since her last letter, all of which may be omitted; the only point to be -remarked was that her very brief experiences of Scotland took up a -disproportionately large portion of the space, and that she was minute -in her description of the incidents and excitement of salmon-fishing. -Then followed an outline of her present plans; a string of questions; a -request for an instant reply; and finally-- - -_'With dearest love, old Em,_ - _'Thine,_ - _'Carry.'_ - -And then she had to copy the verses; but when she had done that, and -risen, and gone to the window for a time, some misgiving seemed to enter -her mind, for she returned to the table, and sate down again, and wrote -this postscript: - -'Perhaps, after all, you won't see much in this little piece; if you -were here, among the very places, and affected by all the old stories -and romantic traditions and the wild scenery, it might be different. -Since I've been to Europe I've come to see what's the trouble about our -reading English history and literature at home; why, you can't do it, -you can't understand it, unless you have lived in an atmosphere that is -just full of poetry and romance, and meeting people whose names tell you -they belong to the families who did great things in history centuries -and centuries ago. I can't explain it very well--not even to myself; -but I feel it; why, you can't take a single day's drive in England -without coming across a hundred things of interest--Norman churches, and -the tombs of Saxon Kings, and old abbeys, and monasteries, and -battlefields, and, just as interesting as any, farm-houses of the -sixteenth century in their quaint old-fashioned orchards. And as for -Scotland, why, it is just steeped to the lips in poetry and tradition; -the hills and the glens have all their romantic stories of the clans, -many of them very pathetic; and you want to see these wild and lonely -places before you can understand the legends. And in southern Scotland -too--what could any one at home make of such a simple couplet as this-- - -_"The King sits in Dunfermline town,_ - _Drinking the blude-red wine;"_ - -but when you come near Dunfermline and see the hill where Malcolm -Canmore built his castle in the eleventh century, and when you are told -that it was from this very town that Sir Patrick Spens and the Scots -lords set out for "Norroway o'er the faem," everything comes nearer to -you. In America, I remember very well, Flodden Field sounded to us -something very far away, that we couldn't take much interest in; but if -you were here just now, dear Em, and told that a bit farther north there -was a river that the Earl of Caithness and his clan had to cross when -they went to Flodden, and that the people living there at this very day -won't go near it on the anniversary of the battle, because on that day -the ghosts of the earl and his men, all clad in green tartan, come home -again and are seen to cross the river, wouldn't that interest you? In -America we have got nothing behind us; when you leave the day before -yesterday you don't want to go back. But here, in the most vulgar -superstitions and customs, you come upon the strangest things. Would -you believe it, less than twenty miles from this place there is a little -lake that is supposed to cure the most desperate diseases--diseases that -the doctors have given up; and the poor people meet at midnight, on the -first Monday after the change of the moon, and then they throw a piece -of money into the lake, and go in and dip themselves three times, and -then they must get home before sunrise. Perhaps it is very absurd, but -they belong to that same imaginative race of people who have left so -many weird stories and poetical legends behind them; and what I say is -that you want to come over and breathe this atmosphere of tradition and -romance, and see the places, before you can quite understand the charm -of all that kind of literature. And perhaps you don't find much in -these verses about the poor people who have been driven away from their -native strath? Well, they don't claim to be much. They were never -meant for you to see. But yes, I do think you will like them; and -anyhow Jack Huysen has got to like them, and treat them hospitably, -unless he is anxious to have his hair raised. - -'Gracious me, I think I must hire a hall. I have just read this scrawl -over. Sounds rather muzzy, don't it? But it's this poor brain of mine -that has got full of confusion and cobwebs and theories of equality, -when I wasn't attending to it. My arms had the whole day's work to -do--as they remind me at this minute; and the Cerebral Hemispheres laid -their heads, or their half-heads together, when I was busy with the -salmon; and entered into a conspiracy against me; and began to make -pictures--ghosts, phantom earls, and romantic shepherds and -peasant-poets, and I don't know what kind of dreams of a deer stalker -walking down Wabash Avenue. But, as I said, to-morrow I start for -Paris, thank goodness; and in that calmer atmosphere I hope to come to -my senses again; and I will send you a long account of Lily Selden's -marriage--though your last letter to me was a fraud: what do I care -about the C.M.C.A.? _This_ letter, anyhow, you must burn; I don't feel -like reading it over again myself, or perhaps I would save you the -trouble; but you may depend on it that the one I shall send you from -Paris will be quite sane. - -'Second P.S.--Of course you must manage Jack Huysen with a little -discretion. I don't want to be drawn into it any more than I can help; -I mean, I would just hate to write to him direct and ask him for a -particular favour; but this is a very little one, and you know him as -well as any of us. And mind you burn this letter--instantly--the moment -you have read it--for it is just full of nonsense and wool-gathering; -and _it will not occur again. Toujours a toi_. C.H.' - -'What have you been writing all this time?' her father said, when she -rose. - -'A letter--to Emma Kerfoot.' - -'It will make her stare. You don't often write long letters.' - -'I do not,' said she, gravely regarding the envelope; and then she added -solemnly: 'But this is the record of a chapter in my life that is now -closed for ever--at least, I hope so.' - - - - - *CHAPTER III.* - - *HESITATIONS.* - - -The waggonette stood at the door; Miss Carry's luggage was put in; and -her father was waiting to see her off. But the young lady herself -seemed unwilling to take the final step; twice she went back into the -inn, on some pretence or another; and each time she came out she looked -impatiently around, as if wondering at the absence of some one. - -'Well, ain't you ready yet?' her father asked. - -'I want to say good-bye to Ronald,' she said half angrily. - -'Oh, nonsense--you are not going to America. Why, you will be back in -ten days or a fortnight. See here, Carry,' he added, 'are you sure you -don't want me to go part of the way with you?' - -'Not at all,' she said promptly. 'It is impossible for Mary to mistake -the directions I wrote to her; and I shall find her in the Station Hotel -at Inverness all right. Don't you worry about me, pappa.' - -She glanced along the road again, in the direction of the keeper's -cottage; but there was no one in sight. - -'Pappa dear,' she said, in an undertone--for there were one or two -onlookers standing by--'if Ronald should decide on giving up his place -here, and trying what you suggested, you'll have to stand by him.' - -'Oh yes, I'll see him through,' was the complacent answer. 'I should -take him to be the sort of man who can look after himself; but if he -wants any kind of help--well, here I am; I won't go back on a man who is -acting on my advice. Why, if he were to come out to Chicago----' - -'Oh no, not Chicago, pappa,' she said, somewhat earnestly, 'not to -Chicago. I am sure he will be more at home--he will be happier--in his -own country.' - -She looked around once more; and then she stepped into the waggonette. - -'He might have come to see me off,' she said, a little proudly. -'Good-bye, pappa dear--I will send you a telegram as soon as I get to -Paris.' - -The two horses sprang forward; Miss Carry waved her lily hand; and then -set to work to make herself comfortable with wraps and rugs, for the -morning was chill. She thought it was very unfriendly of Ronald not to -have come to say good-bye. And what was the reason of it? Of course he -could know nothing of the nonsense she had written to her friend in -Chicago. - -'Have you not seen Ronald about anywhere?' she asked of the driver. - -'No, mem,' answered that exceedingly shy youth, 'he wass not about all -the morning. But I heard the crack of a gun; maybe he wass on the -hill.' - -And presently he said-- - -'I'm thinking that's him along the road--it's two of his dogs whatever.' - -And indeed this did turn out to be Ronald who was coming striding along -the road, with his gun over his shoulder, a brace of setters at his -heels, and something dangling from his left hand. The driver pulled up -his horses. - -'I've brought ye two or three golden plover to take with ye, Miss -Hodson,' Ronald said--and he handed up the birds. - -Well, she was exceedingly pleased to find that he had not neglected her, -nay, that he had been especially thinking of her and her departure. But -what should she do with these birds in a hotel? - -'It's so kind of you,' she said, 'but really I'm afraid they're--would -you not rather give them to my father?' - -'Ye must not go away empty-handed,' said he, with good-humoured -insistence; and then it swiftly occurred to her that perhaps this was -some custom of the neighbourhood; and so she accepted the little parting -gift with a very pretty speech of thanks. - -He raised his cap, and was going on. - -'Ronald,' she called, and he turned. - -'I wish you would tell me,' she said--and there was a little touch of -colour in the pretty, pale, interesting face--'if there is anything I -could bring from London that would help you--I mean books about -chemistry--or--or--about trees--or instruments for land-surveying--I am -sure I could get them----' - -He laughed, in a doubtful kind of a way. - -'I'm obliged to ye,' he said, 'but it's too soon to speak about that. I -havena made up my mind yet.' - -'Not yet?' - -'No.' - -'But you will?' - -He said nothing. - -'Good-bye, then.' - -She held out her hand, so that he could not refuse to take it. So they -parted; and the horses' hoofs rang again in the silence of the valley; -and she sat looking after the disappearing figure and the meekly -following dogs. And then, in the distance, she thought she could make -out some faint sound: was he singing to himself as he strode along -towards the little hamlet? - -'At all events,' she said to herself, with just a touch of pique, 'he -does not seem much downhearted at my going away.' And little indeed did -she imagine that this song he was thus carelessly and unthinkingly -singing was all about Meenie, and red and white roses, and trifles light -and joyous as the summer air. For not yet had black care got a grip of -his heart. - -But this departure of Miss Carry for the south now gave him leisure to -attend to his own affairs and proper duties, which had suffered somewhat -from his attendance in the coble; and it was not until all these were -put straight that he addressed himself to the serious consideration of -the ambitious and daring project that had been placed before him. -Hitherto it had been pretty much of an idle speculation--a dream, in -short, that looked very charming and fascinating as the black-eyed young -lady from over the seas sate in the stern of the boat and chatted -through the idle hours. Her imagination did not stay to regard the -immediate and practical difficulties and risks; all these seemed already -surmounted; Ronald had assumed the position to which he was entitled by -his abilities and personal character; she only wondered which part of -Scotland he would be living in when next her father and herself visited -Europe; and whether they might induce him to go over with them for a -while to the States. But when Ronald himself, in cold blood, came to -consider ways and means, there was no such plain and easy sailing. Not -that he hesitated about cutting himself adrift from his present -moorings; he had plenty of confidence in himself, and knew that he could -always earn a living with his ten fingers, whatever happened. Then he -had between L80 and L90 lodged in a savings bank in Inverness; and out -of that he could pay for any classes he might have to attend, or perhaps -offer a modest premium if he wished to get into a surveyor's office for -a short time. But there were so many things to think of. What should -he do about Maggie, for example? Then Lord Ailine had always been a good -master to him: would it not seem ungrateful that he should throw up his -situation without apparent reason? And so forth, and so forth, through -cogitations long and anxious; and many a half-hour on the hillside and -many a half-hour by the slumbering peat-fire was given to this great -project; but always there was one side of the question that he shut out -from his mind. For how could he admit to himself that this lingering -hesitation--this dread, almost, of what lay await for him in the -future--had anything to do with the going away from Meenie, and the -leaving behind him, and perhaps for ever, the hills and streams and -lonely glens that were all steeped in the magic and witchery of her -presence? Was it not time to be done with idle fancies? And if, in the -great city--in Edinburgh or Glasgow, as the case might be--he should -fall to thinking of Ben Loyal and Bonnie Strath-Naver, and the long, -long days on Clebrig; and Meenie coming home in the evening from her -wanderings by Mudal-Water, with a few wild-flowers, perhaps, or a bit of -white heather, but always with her beautiful blue-gray Highland eyes so -full of kindness as she stopped for a few minutes' friendly -chatting--well, that would be a pretty picture to look back upon, all -lambent and clear in the tender colours that memory loves to use. A -silent picture, of course: there would be no sound of the summer rills, -nor the sweeter sound of Meenie's voice; but not a sad picture; only -remote and ethereal, as if the years had come between, and made -everything distant and pale and dreamlike. - -The first definite thing that he did was to write to his brother in -Glasgow, acquainting him with his plans, and begging him to obtain some -further particulars about the Highland and Agricultural Society's -certificates. The answer that came back from Glasgow was most -encouraging; for the Rev. Alexander Strang, though outwardly a heavy and -lethargic man, had a shrewd head enough, and was an enterprising shifty -person, not a little proud of the position that he had won for himself, -and rather inclined to conceal from his circle of friends--who were -mostly members of his congregation--the fact that his brother was merely -a gamekeeper in the Highlands. Nay, more, he was willing to assist; he -would take Maggie into his house, so that there might be no difficulty -in that direction; and in the meantime he would see what were the best -class-books on the subjects named, so that Ronald might be working away -at them in these comparatively idle spring and summer months, and need -not give up his situation prematurely. There was even some hint thrown -out that perhaps Ronald might board with his brother; but this was not -pressed; for the fact was that Mrs. Alexander was a severely rigid -disciplinarian, and on the few occasions on which Ronald had been their -guest she had given both brothers to understand that the frivolous -gaiety of Ronald's talk, and the independence of his manners, and his -Gallio-like indifference about the fierce schisms and heart-burnings in -the Scotch Church were not, in her opinion, in consonance with the -atmosphere that ought to prevail in a Free Church minister's house. But -on the whole the letter was very friendly and hopeful; and Ronald was -enjoined to let his brother know when his decision should be finally -taken, and in what way assistance could be rendered him. - -One night the little Maggie stole away through the dark to the Doctor's -cottage. There was a light in the window of Meenie's room; she could -hear the sound of the piano; no doubt Meenie was practising and alone; -and on such occasions a visit from Maggie was but little interruption. -And so the smaller girl went boldly towards the house and gained -admission, and was proceeding upstairs without any ceremony, when the -sudden cessation of the music caused her to stop. And then she heard a -very simple and pathetic air begin--just touched here and there with a -few chords: and was Meenie, tired with the hard work of the practising, -allowing herself this little bit of quiet relaxation? She was singing -too--though so gently that Maggie could scarcely make out the words. -But she knew the song--had not Meenie sung it many times before to -her?--and who but Meenie could put such tenderness and pathos into the -simple air? She had almost to imagine the words--so gentle was the -voice that went with those lightly-touched chords-- - -_'The sun rase sae rosy, the gray hills adorning,_ - _Light sprang the laverock, and mounted on hie,_ -_When true to the tryst o' blythe May's dewy morning,_ - _Jeanie cam' linking out owre the green lea._ -_To mark her impatience I crap 'mong the brackens,_ - _Aft, aft to the kent gate she turned her black e'e;_ -_Then lying down dowilie, sighed, by the willow tree,_ - _"I am asleep, do not waken me."'[#]_ - -[#] 'I am asleep, do not waken me' is the English equivalent of the -Gaelic name of the air, which is a very old one, and equally pathetic in -its Irish and Highland versions. - -Then there was silence. The little Maggie waited; for this song was a -great favourite with Ronald, who himself sometimes attempted it; and she -would be able to tell him when she got home that she had heard Meenie -sing it--and he always listened with interest to anything, even the -smallest particulars, she could tell him about Meenie and about what she -had done or said. But where were the other verses? She waited and -listened; the silence was unbroken. And so she tapped lightly at the -door and entered. - -And then something strange happened. For when Maggie shut the door -behind her and went forward, Meenie did not at once turn her head to see -who this was, but had hastily whipped out her handkerchief and passed it -over her eyes. And when she did turn, it was with a kind of look of -bravery--as if to dare any one to say that she had been crying--though -there were traces of tears on her cheeks. - -'Is it you, Maggie? I am glad to see you,' she managed to say. - -The younger girl was rather frightened and sorely concerned as well. - -'But what is it, Meenie dear?' she said, going and taking her hand. -'Are you in trouble?' - -'No, no,' her friend said, with an effort to appear quite cheerful, 'I -was thinking of many things--I scarcely know what. And now take off -your things and sit down, Maggie, and tell me all about this great news. -It was only this afternoon that my father learnt that you and your -brother were going away; and he would not believe it at first, till he -saw Ronald himself. And it is true, after all? Dear me, what a change -there will be!' - -She spoke quite in her usual manner now; and her lips were no longer -trembling, but smiling; and the Highland eyes were clear, and as full of -kindness as ever. - -'But it is a long way off, Meenie,' the smaller girl began to explain -quickly, when she had taken her seat by the fire, 'and Ronald is so -anxious to please everybody, and--and that is why I came along to ask -you what you think best.' - -'I?' said Meenie, with a sudden slight touch of reserve. - -'It'll not be a nice thing going away among strange folk,' said her -companion, 'but I'll no grumble if it's to do Ronald good; and even -among strange folk--well, I don't care as long as I have Ronald and you, -Meenie. And it's to Glasgow, and not to Edinburgh, he thinks he'll have -to go; and then you will be in Glasgow too; so I do not mind anything -else. It will not be so lonely for any of us; and we can spend the -evenings together--oh no, it will not be lonely at all----' - -'But, Maggie,' the elder girl said gravely, 'I am not going to Glasgow.' - -Her companion looked up quickly, with frightened eyes. - -'But you said you were going, Meenie!' - -'Oh no,' the other said gently. 'My mother has often talked of it--and -I suppose I may have to go some time; but my father is against it; and I -know I am not going at present anyway.' - -'And you are staying here--and--and Ronald and me--we will be by -ourselves in Glasgow!' the other exclaimed, as if this prospect were too -terrible to be quite comprehended as yet. - -'But if it is needful he should go?' Meenie said. 'People have often to -part from their friends like that.' - -'Yes, and it's no much matter when they have plenty of friends,' said -the smaller girl, with her eyes becoming moist, 'but, Meenie, I havena -got one but you.' - -'Oh no, you must not say that,' her friend remonstrated. 'Why, there is -your brother in Glasgow, and his family; I am sure they will be kind to -you. And Ronald will make plenty of friends wherever he goes--you can -see that for yourself; and do you think you will be lonely in a great -town like Glasgow? It is the very place to make friends, and plenty of -them-- - -'Oh, I don't know what to do--I don't know what to do, if you are not -going to Glasgow, Meenie!' she broke in. 'I wonder if it was that that -Ronald meant. He asked me whether I would like to stay here or go with -him, for Mrs. Murray has offered to take me in, and I would have to help -at keeping the books, and that is very kind of them, I am sure, for I -did not think I could be of any use to anybody. And you are to be here -in Inver-Mudal--and Ronald away in Glasgow----' - -Well, it was a bewildering thing. These were the two people she cared -for most of all in the world; and virtually she was called upon to -choose between them. And if she had a greater loyalty and reverence -towards her brother, still, Meenie was her sole girl-friend, and -monitress, and counsellor. What would her tasks be without Meenie's -approval; how could she get on with her knitting and sewing without -Meenie's aid; what would the days be like without the witchery of -Meenie's companionship--even if that were limited to a passing word or a -smile? Ronald had not sought to influence her choice; indeed, the -alternative had scarcely been considered, for she believed that Meenie -was going to Glasgow also; and with her hero brother and her beautiful -girl-friend both there, what more could she wish for in the world? But -now---? - -Well, Meenie, in her wise and kind way, strove to calm the anxiety of -the girl; and her advice was altogether in favour of Maggie's going to -Glasgow with her brother Ronald, if that were equally convenient to him, -and of no greater expense than her remaining in Inver-Mudal with Mrs. -Murray. - -'For you know he wants somebody to look after him,' Meenie continued, -with her eyes rather averted, 'and if it does not matter so much here -about his carelessness of being wet and cold, because he has plenty of -health and exercise, it will be very different in Glasgow, where there -should be some one to bid him be more careful.' - -'But he pays no heed to me,' the little sister sighed, 'unless I can -tell him you have been saying so-and-so--then he listens. He is very -strange. He has never once worn the blue jersey that I knitted for him. -He asked me a lot of questions about how it was begun; and I told him as -little as I could about the help you had given me,' she continued -evasively, 'and when the snow came on, I thought he would wear it; but -no--he put it away in the drawer with his best clothes, and it's lying -there all neatly folded up--and what is the use of that? If you were -going to Glasgow, Meenie, it would be quite different. It will be very -lonely there.' - -'Lonely!' the other exclaimed; 'with your brother Ronald, and your other -brother's family, and all their friends. And then you will be able to go -to school and have more regular teaching--Ronald spoke once or twice to -me about that.' - -'Yes, indeed,' the little Maggie said; but the prospect did not cheer -her much; and for some minutes they both sate silent, she staring into -the fire. And then she said bitterly-- - -'I wish the American people had never come here. It is all their doing. -It never would have come into Ronald's head to leave Inver-Mudal but for -them. And where else will he be so well known--and--and every one -speaking well of him--and every one so friendly----' - -'But, Maggie, these things are always happening,' her companion -remonstrated. 'Look at the changes my father has had to make.' - -'And I wonder if we are never to come back to Inver-Mudal, Meenie?' the -girl said suddenly, with appealing eyes. - -Meenie tried to laugh, and said-- - -'Who can tell? It is the way of the world for people to come and go. -And Glasgow is a big place--perhaps you would not care to come back -after having made plenty of friends there.' - -'My friends will always be here, and nowhere else,' the smaller girl -said, with emphasis. 'Oh, Meenie, do you think if Ronald were to get on -well and make more money than he has now, he would come back here, and -bring me too, for a week maybe, just to see every one again?' - -'I cannot tell you that, Maggie,' the elder girl said, rather absently. - -After this their discussion of the strange and unknown future that lay -before them languished somehow; for Meenie seemed preoccupied, and -scarcely as blithe and hopeful as she had striven to appear. But when -Maggie rose to return home--saying that it was time for her to be -looking after Ronald's supper--her friend seemed to pull herself -together somewhat, and at once and cheerfully accepted Maggie's -invitation to come and have tea with her the following afternoon. - -'For you have been so little in to see us lately,' the small Maggie -said; 'and Ronald always engaged with the American people--and often in -the evening too as well as the whole day long.' - -'But I must make a great deal of you now that you are going away,' said -Miss Douglas, smiling. - -'And Ronald--will I ask him to stay in till you come?' - -But here there was some hesitation. - -'Oh no, I would not do that--no doubt he is busy just now with his -preparations for going away. I would not say anything to him--you and I -will have tea together by ourselves.' - -The smaller girl looked up timidly. - -'Ronald is going away too, Meenie.' - -Perhaps there was a touch of reproach in the tone; at all events Meenie -said, after a moment's embarrassment-- - -'Of course I should be very glad if he happened to be in the -house--and--and had the time to spare; but I think he will understand -that, Maggie, without your saying as much to him.' - -'He gave plenty of his time to the American young lady,' said Maggie, -rather proudly. - -'But I thought you and she were great friends,' Meenie said, in some -surprise. - -'It takes a longer time than that to make friends,' the girl said; and -by and by she left. - -Then Meenie went up to her room again, and sate down in front of the -dull, smouldering peat-fire, with its heavy lumps of shadow, and its -keen edges of crimson, and its occasional flare of flame and shower of -sparks. There were many pictures there--of distant things; of the -coming spring-time, with all the new wonder and gladness somehow gone -out of it; and of the long long shining summer days, and Inver-Mudal -grown lonely: and of the busy autumn time, with the English people come -from the south, and no Ronald there, to manage everything for them. For -her heart was very affectionate; and she had but few friends; and -Glasgow was a great distance away. There were some other fancies too, -and self-questionings and perhaps even self-reproaches, that need not be -mentioned here. When, by and by, she rose and went to the piano, which -was still open, it was not to resume her seat. She stood absently -staring at the keys--for these strange pictures followed her; and indeed -that one half-unconscious trial of '_I am asleep, do not waken me_' had -been quite enough for her in her present mood. - - - - - *CHAPTER IV.* - - *'AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS.'* - - -Yes; it soon became clear that Meenie Douglas, in view of this -forthcoming departure, had resolved to forego something of the too -obvious reserve she had recently imposed on herself--if, indeed, that -maidenly shrinking and shyness had not been rather a matter of instinct -than of will. When Ronald came home on the following evening she was -seated with Maggie in the old familiar way at a table plentifully -littered with books, patterns, and knitting; and when she shook hands -with him, her timidly uplifted eyes had much of the old friendliness in -them, and her smile of welcome was pleasant to see. It was he who was -diffident and very respectful. For if her mother had enjoined her to be -a little more distant in manner towards this one or the other of those -around her--well, that was quite intelligible; that was quite right; and -he could not complain; but on the other hand, if the girl herself, in -this very small domestic circle, seemed rather anxious to put aside -those barriers which were necessary out of doors, he would not presume -on her good-nature. And yet--and yet--he could not help thawing a -little; for she was very kind, and even merry withal; and her eyes were -like the eyes of the Meenie of old. - -'I am sure Maggie will be glad to get away from Inver-Mudal,' she was -saying, 'for she will not find anywhere a schoolmistress as hard as I -have been. But maybe she will not have to go to school at all, if she -has to keep house for you?' - -'But she'll no have to keep house for me,' Ronald said at once. 'If she -goes to Glasgow, she'll be much better with my brother's family, for -that will be a home for her.' - -'And where will you go, Ronald?' she said. - -'Oh, into a lodging--I can fend for myself.' - -At this she looked grave--nay, she did not care to conceal her -disapproval. For had she not been instructing Maggie in the mysteries -of housekeeping in a town--as far as these were known to herself: and -had not the little girl showed great courage; and declared there was -nothing she would not attempt rather than be separated from her brother -Ronald? - -'It would never do,' said he, 'to leave the lass alone in the house all -day in a big town. It's very well here, where she has neighbours and -people to look after her from time to time; but among strangers----' - -Then he looked at the table. - -'But where's the tea ye said ye would ask Miss Douglas in to?' - -'We were so busy with the Glasgow housekeeping,' Meenie said, laughing, -'that we forgot all about it.' - -'I'll go and get it ready now,' the little Maggie said, and she went -from the room, leaving these two alone. - -He was a little embarrassed; and she was also. There had been no -_amantium irae_ of any kind; but all the same the _integratio amoris_ -was just a trifle difficult; for she on her side was anxious to have -their old relations re-established during the brief period that would -elapse ere he left the neighbourhood, and yet she was hesitating and -uncertain; while he on his side maintained a strictly respectful -reserve. He 'knew his place;' his respect towards her was part of his -own self-respect; and if it did not occur to him that it was rather hard -upon Meenie that all the advances towards a complete rehabilitation of -their friendship should come from her, that was because he did not know -that she was moved by any such wish, and also because he was completely -ignorant of a good deal else that had happened of late. Of course, -certain things were obvious enough. Clearly the half-frightened, -distant, and yet regretful look with which she had recently met and -parted from him when by chance they passed each other in the road was no -longer in her eyes; there was a kind of appeal for friendliness in her -manner towards him; she seemed to say, 'Well, you are going away; don't -let us forget the old terms on which we used to meet.' And not only did -he quickly respond to that feeling, but also he was abundantly grateful -to her; did not he wish to carry away with him the pleasantest memories -of this beautiful, sweet-natured friend, who had made all the world -magical to him for a while, who had shown him the grace and dignity and -honour of true womanhood, and made him wonder no less at the charm of -her clear-shining simplicity and naturalness? The very name of 'Love -Meenie' would be as the scent of a rose--as the song of a lark--for him -through all the long coming years. - -'It will make a great change about here,' said she, with her eyes -averted, 'your going away.' - -'There's no one missed for long,' he answered, in his downright fashion. -'Where people go, people come; the places get filled up.' - -'Yes, but sometimes they are not quite the same,' said she rather -gently. She was thinking of the newcomer. Would he be the universal -favourite that Ronald was--always good-natured and laughing, but -managing everybody and everything; lending a hand at the sheep-shearing -or playing the pipes at a wedding--anything to keep life moving along -briskly; and always ready to give her father a day's hare-shooting or a -turn at the pools of Mudal-Water when the spates began to clear? She -knew quite well--for often had she heard it spoken of--that no one could -get on as well as Ronald with the shepherds at the time of the -heather-burning: when on the other moors the shepherds and keepers were -growling and quarrelling like rival leashes of collies, on Lord Ailine's -ground everything was peace and quietness and good humour. And then she -had a vague impression that the next keeper would be merely a keeper; -whereas Ronald was--Ronald. - -'I'm sure I was half ashamed,' said he, 'when I got his lordship's -letter. It was as fair an offer as one man could make to another; or -rather, half a dozen offers; for he said he would raise my wage, if that -was what was wrong; or he would let me have another lad to help me in -the kennels; or, if I was tired of the Highlands he would get me a place -at his shooting in the south. Well, I was sweirt to trouble his -lordship with my small affairs; but after that I couldna but sit down -and write to him the real reason of my leaving----' - -'And I'm certain,' said she quickly, 'that he will write back and offer -you any help in his power.' - -'No, no,' said he, with a kind of laugh, 'the one letter is enough--if -it ever comes to be a question of a written character. But it's just -real friendly and civil of him; and if I could win up here for a week or -a fortnight in August, I would like well to lend them a hand and set -them going; for it will be a good year for the grouse, I'm thinking----' - -'Oh, will you be coming to see us in August?' she said, with her eyes -suddenly and rather wistfully lighting up. - -'Well, I don't know how I may be situated,' said he. 'And there's the -railway expense--though I would not mind that much if I had the chance -otherwise; for his lordship has been a good master to me; and I would -just like to lend him a hand, and start the new man with the management -of the dogs and the beats. That's one thing Lord Ailine will do for me, -I hope: I hope he will let me have a word about the man that's coming in -my place; I would not like to have a cantankerous ill-tempered brute of -a fellow coming in to have charge of my dogs. They're the bonniest lot -in Sutherlandshire.' - -All this was practical enough; and meanwhile she had set to work to -clear the table, to make way for Maggie. When the young handmaiden -appeared with the tea-things he left the room for a few minutes, and -presently returned with a polecat-skin, carefully dressed and smoothed, -in his hand. - -'Here's a bit thing,' said he, 'I wish ye would take, if it's of any use -to you. Or if ye could tell me anything ye wished it made into, I could -have that done when I go south. And if your mother would like one or -two of the deer-skins, I'm sure she's welcome to them; they're useful -about a house.' - -'Indeed, you are very kind, Ronald,' said she, flushing somewhat, 'and -too kind, indeed--for you know that ever since we have known you all -these kindnesses have always been on one side--and--and--we have never -had a chance of doing anything in return for you----' - -'Oh, nonsense,' said he good-naturedly. 'Well, there is one thing your -father could do for me--if he would take my gun, and my rifle, and rods -and reels, and just keep them in good working order, that would be -better than taking them to Glasgow and getting them spoiled with rust -and want of use. I don't want to part with them altogether; for they're -old friends; and I would like to have them left in safe keeping---- - -She laughed lightly. - -'And that is your way of asking a favour--to offer my father the loan of -all these things. Well, I am sure he will be very glad to take charge -of them----' - -'And to use them,' said he, 'to use them; for that is the sure way of -keeping them in order.' - -'But perhaps the new keeper may not be so friendly?' - -'Oh, I will take care about that,' said he confidently; 'and in any case -you know it was his lordship said your father might have a day on the -Mudal-Water whenever he liked. And what do you think, now, about the -little skin there?' - -'I think I will keep it as it is--just as you have given it to me,' she -said simply. - -In due course they had tea together; but that afternoon or evening meal -is a substantial affair in the north-cold beef, ham, scones, oatmeal -cake, marmalade, jam, and similar things all making their -appearance--and one not to be lightly hurried over. And Meenie was so -much at home now; and there was so much to talk over; and she was so -hopeful. Of course, Ronald must have holiday-times, like other people; -and where would he spend these, if he did not come back to his old -friends? And he would have such chances as no mere stranger could have, -coming through on the mail-cart and asking everywhere for a little -trout-fishing. Ronald would have a day or two's stalking from Lord -Ailine; and there was the loch; and Mudal-Water; and if the gentlemen -were after the grouse, would they not be glad to have an extra gun on -the hill for a day or two, just to make up a bag for them? - -'And then,' said Meenie, with a smile, 'who knows but that Ronald may in -time be able to have a shooting of his own? Stranger things have -happened.' - -When tea was over and the things removed he lit his pipe, and the girls -took to their knitting. And never, he thought, had Meenie looked so -pretty and pleased and quickly responsive with her clear and happy eyes. -He forgot all about Mrs. Douglas's forecast as to the future estate of -her daughter; he forgot all about the Stuarts of Glengask and Orosay; -this was the Meenie whom Mudal knew, whom Clebrig had charge of, who was -the friend and companion of the birds and the wild-flowers and the -summer streams. What a wonderful thing it was to see her small fingers -so deftly at work; when she looked up the room seemed full of light and -entrancement; her sweet low laugh found an echo in the very core of his -heart. And they all of them, for this one happy evening, seemed to -forget that soon there was to be an end. They were together; the world -shut out; the old harmony re-established, or nearly re-established; and -Meenie was listening to his reading of 'the Eve of St. Agnes'--in the -breathless hush of the little room--or she was praying, and in vain, for -him to bring his pipes and play 'Lord Lovat's Lament,' or they were -merely idly chatting and laughing, while the busy work of the fingers -went on. And sometimes he sate quite silent, listening to the other -two; and her voice seemed to fill the room with music; and he wondered -whether he could carry away in his memory some accurate recollection of -the peculiar, soft, rich tone, that made the simplest things sound -valuable. It was a happy evening. - -But when she rose to go away she grew graver; and as she and Ronald went -along the road together--it was very dark, though there were a few stars -visible here and there--she said to him in rather a low voice-- - -'Well, Ronald, the parting between friends is not very pleasant, but I -am sure I hope it will all be for the best, now that you have made up -your mind to it. And every one seems to think you will do well.' - -'Oh, as for that,' said he, 'that is all right. If the worst comes to -the worst, there is always the Black Watch.' - -'What do you mean?' - -'Well, they're always sending the Forty-Second into the thick of it, no -matter what part of the world the fighting is, so that a man has a good -chance. I suppose I'm not too old to get enlisted; sometimes I wish I -had thought of it when I was a lad--I don't know that I would like -anything better than to be a sergeant in the Black Watch. And I'm sure -I would serve three years for no pay at all if I could only get one -single chance of winning the V.C. But it comes to few; it's like the -big stag--it's there when ye least expect it; and a man's hand is not -just always ready, and steady. But I'm sure ye needna bother about -what's going to happen to me--that's of small account.' - -'It is of very great account to your friends, at all events,' said she -valiantly, 'and you must not forget, when you are far enough away from -here, that you have friends here who are thinking of you and always -wishing you well. It will be easy for you to forget; you will have all -kinds of things to do, and many people around you; but the others here -may often think of you, and wish to hear from you. It is the one that -goes away that has the best of it, I think--among the excitement of -meeting strange scenes and strange faces----' - -'But I am not likely to forget,' said he, rather peremptorily; and they -walked on in silence. - -Presently she said-- - -'I have a little album that I wish you would write something in before -you go away altogether.' - -'Oh yes, I will do that,' said he, 'and gladly.' - -'But I mean something of your own,' she said rather more timidly. - -'Why, but who told you-- - -'Oh, every one knows, surely!' said she. 'And why should you conceal -it? There were the verses that you wrote about Mrs. Semple's little -girl--I saw them when I was at Tongue last--and indeed I think they are -quite beautiful: will you write out a copy of them in my album?' - -'Or something else, perhaps,' said he--for instantly it flashed upon him -that it was something better than a mere copy that was needed for -Meenie's book. Here, indeed, was a chance. If there was any -inspiration to be gained from these wild hills and straths and lonely -lakes, now was the time for them to be propitious; would not -Clebrig--the giant Clebrig--whose very child Meenie was--come to his -aid, that so he might present to her some fragment of song or rhyme not -unworthy to be added to her little treasury? - -'I will send for the book to-morrow,' said he. - -'I hope it will not give you too much trouble,' said she, as they -reached the small gate, 'but it is very pleasant to turn over the leaves -and see the actual writing of your friends, and think of when you last -saw them and where they are now. And that seems to be the way with most -of our friends; I suppose it is because we have moved about so; but -there is scarcely any one left--and if it was not for a letter -occasionally, or a dip into that album, I should think we were almost -alone in the world. Well, good-night, Ronald--or will you come in and -have a chat with my father?' - -'I am afraid it is rather late,' he said. - -'Well, good-night.' - -'Good-night, Miss Douglas,' said he, and then he walked slowly back to -his home. - -And indeed he was in no mood to turn to the scientific volumes that had -already arrived from Glasgow. His heart was all afire because of the -renewal of Meenie's kindness; and the sound of her voice was still in -his ears; and quite naturally he took out that blotting-pad full of -songs and fragments of songs, to glance over them here and there, and -see if amongst them there was any one likely to recall to him when he -was far away from Inver-Mudal the subtle mystery and charm of her manner -and look. And then he began to think what a stranger coming to -Inver-Mudal would see in Meenie? Perhaps only the obvious things--the -pretty oval of the cheek and chin, the beautiful proud mouth, the -wide-apart contemplative eyes? And perhaps these would be sufficient to -attract? He began to laugh with scorn at this stranger--who could only -see these obvious things--who knew nothing about Meenie, and the -sweetness of her ways, her shrewd common-sense and the frank courage and -honour of her mind. And what if she were to turn coquette under the -influence of this alien admiration? Or perhaps become sharply proud? -Well, he set to work--out of a kind of whimsicality--and in time had -scribbled out this-- - - _FLOWER AUCTION._ - -_Who will buy pansies?_ - _There are her eyes,_ -_Dew-soft and tender,_ - _Love in them lies._ - -_Who will buy roses?_ - _There are her lips,_ -_And there is the nectar_ - _That Cupidon sips._ - -_Who will buy lilies?_ - _There are her cheeks,_ -_And there the shy blushing_ - _That maidhood bespeaks._ - -_'Meenie, Love Meenie,_ - _What must one pay?'_ -_'Good stranger, the market's_ - _Not open to-day!'_ - - -He looked at the verses again and again; and the longer he looked at -them the less he liked them--he scarcely knew why. Perhaps they were a -little too literary? They seemed to lack naturalness and simplicity; at -all events, they were not true to Meenie; why should Meenie figure as a -flippant coquette? And so he threw them away and turned to his -books--not the scientific ones--to hunt out something that was like -Meenie. He came near it in Tannahill, but was not quite satisfied. A -verse or two in Keats held his fancy for a moment. But at last he found -what he wanted in Wordsworth-- - -_'A violet by a mossy stone_ - _Half hidden from the eye;_ -_--Fair as a star, when only one_ - _Is shining in the sky.'_ - - -Yes; that was liker Meenie--who 'dwelt among the untrodden ways.' - - - - - *CHAPTER V.* - - *A LESSON IN FLY-FISHING.* - - -Miss Carry Hodson returned from Paris in a very radiant mood; she had -had what she called a real good time, and everything connected with the -wedding had gone off most successfully. Her dress, that she had ordered -long before she came to the Highlands, was a perfect fit; Lily Selden -made the most charming and beautiful of brides; and no less a person -than a prince (rather swarthy, and hailing from some mysterious region -east of the Carpathians) had proposed the health of the bridesmaids, and -had made especial mention of the young ladies who had travelled long -distances to be present on the auspicious occasion. - -However, on the morning after her return to Inver-Mudal her equanimity -was somewhat dashed. When she went along the passage to the little -hall--to see what the morning was like outside--she found waiting there -a respectable-looking elderly Highlander, with grizzled locks, who -touched his cap to her, and who had her waterproof over his arm. This -last circumstance made her suspicious; instantly she went back to her -father. - -'Who is that man?' she asked. - -'What man?' - -'Why, an old man, who is waiting there, and he has got my waterproof -slung over his arm.' - -'Well, I suppose that is the new gillie.' - -'Isn't Ronald going down?' she said, with very evident disappointment. - -'Of course not,' her father said, with some sharpness. 'I think you have -taken up enough of his time. And just now, when he is getting ready to -go away, do you think I could allow him to waste day after day in -attending to us? Seems to me it would be more to the point if you put -your small amount of brain into devising some means of squaring up with -him for what he has done already.' - -'Oh, very well,' she said--or rather, what she did really say was 'Oh, -vurry well'--and the pretty, pale, attractive face resumed its ordinary -complacency, and she went off to make friends with the new gillie. She -was on good terms with the old Highlander in about a couple of minutes; -and presently they were on their way down to the loch, along with the -lad John. Her father was to follow as soon as he had finished his -letters. - -But she was now to discover, what she had never discovered before, that -salmon-fishing on a loch is a rather monotonous affair, unless the fish -are taking very freely indeed. For one thing, the weather had settled -down into a fine, clear, spring-like calm and quiet that was not at all -favourable to the sport. It was very beautiful, no doubt; for sometimes -for hours together the lake would be like a sheet of glass--the yellow -shores and purple birch-woods all accurately doubled, with nearer at -hand the faint white reflections of the snow-peaks in the north -stretching out into the soft and deep blue; and when a breath of wind, -from some unexpected point of the compass, began to draw a sharp line of -silver between earth and water, and then came slowly across the loch to -them, ruffling out that magic inverted picture on its way, the breeze -was deliciously fresh and balmy, and seemed to bring with it tidings of -the secret life that was working forward to the leafiness of summer. -They kept well out into the midst of this spacious circle of loveliness, -for old Malcolm declared they would be doing more harm than good by -going over the fishing-ground; so she had a sufficiently ample view of -this great panorama of water and wood and far mountain-slopes. But it -grew monotonous. She began to think of Paris, and the brisk, busy -days--a hurry of gaiety and pleasure and interest using up every -possible minute. She wished she had a book--some knitting--anything. -Why, when Ronald was in the boat--with his quick sarcastic appreciation -of every story she had to tell, or every experience she had to -describe--there was always enough amusement and talking. But this old -man was hopeless. She asked him questions about his croft, his family, -his sheep and cows; and he answered gravely; but she took no interest in -his answers, as her father might have done. She was unmistakably glad -to get ashore for lunch--which was picturesque enough, by the way, with -that beautiful background all around; and neither her father nor herself -was in any hurry to break up the small picnic-party and set to work -again. - -Nor did they do much better in the afternoon--though her father managed -to capture a small eight-pounder; and so, in the evening, before dinner, -she went along to Ronald to complain. She found him busy with his -books; his gun and cap and telescope lying on the table beside him, -showed that he had just come in. - -'Ay,' said he, 'it's slow work in weather like this. But will ye no sit -down?' and he went and brought her a chair. - -'No, I thank you,' said she; 'I came along to see if you thought there -was likely to be any change. Is your glass a good one?' - -'First-rate,' he answered, and he went to the small aneroid and tapped -it lightly. 'It was given me by a gentleman that shot his first stag up -here. I think he would have given me his head, he was so pleased. -Well, no, Miss Hodson, there's not much sign of a change. But I'll tell -ye what we'll do, if you're tired of the loch, we'll try one or two of -the pools on the Mudal.' - -'You mean the river down there?' - -'There's not much hope there either--for the water's low the now; but we -might by chance get a little wind, or there are some broken bits in the -stream-- - -'But you mean with a fly--how could I throw a fly?' she exclaimed. - -'Ye'll never learn younger,' was the quiet answer. 'It there's no -change to-morrow I'll take ye up the river myself--and at least ye can -get some practice in casting----' - -'Oh no, no,' said she hurriedly, 'thank you very much, but I must not -take up your time----' - -'I'm no so busy that I cannot leave the house for an hour or two,' said -he--and she understood by his manner that he was 'putting his foot -down,' in which case she knew she might just as well give in at once. -'But I warn ye that it's a dour river at the best, and not likely to be -in good ply; however, we might just happen on one.' And then he added, -by way of explanation, 'If we should, it will have to be sent to Lord -Ailine, ye understand.' - -'Why?' - -'Because the river doesna belong to your fishing; it goes with the -shooting.' - -'Oh,' said she, somewhat coldly. 'And so, when Lord Ailine gives any -one a day's fishing he claims whatever fish they may catch?' - -'When his lordship gives a day's fishing he does not; but when the -keeper does--that's different,' was the perfectly simple and respectful -answer. - -'Oh, I beg your pardon,' said she hastily, and sincerely hoping she had -said nothing to wound his feelings. Apparently she had not, for he -proceeded to warn her about the necessity of her putting on a thick pair -of boots; and he also gently hinted that she might wear on her head -something less conspicuous than the bright orange Tam o' Shanter of -which she seemed rather fond. - -Accordingly, next morning, instead of sending him a message that she was -ready, she walked along to the cottage, accoutred for a thorough stiff -day's work. The outer door was open, so she entered without ceremony; -and then tapped at the door of the little parlour, which she proceeded -to open also. She then found that Ronald was not alone; there was a -young man sitting there, who instantly rose as she made her appearance. -She had but a momentary glimpse of him, but she came to the conclusion -that the gamekeepers in this part of the world were a good-looking race, -for this was a strongly-built young fellow, keen and active, apparently, -with a rather pink and white complexion, closely-cropped head, bright -yellow moustache, and singularly clear blue eyes. He wore a plain tweed -suit; and as he rose he picked up a billycock hat that was lying on the -table. - -'I'll see you to-night, Ronald,' said he, 'I'm going off by the mail -again to-morrow.' - -And as he passed by Miss Carry, he said, very modestly and -respectfully-- - -'I hope you will have good sport.' - -'Thank you,' said she, most civilly, for he seemed a well-mannered young -man, as he slightly bowed to her in passing, and made his way out. - -Ronald had everything ready for the start. - -'I'm feared they'll be laughing at us for trying the river on so clear a -day,' said he, as he put his big fly-book in his pocket. 'And there's -been no rain to let the fish get up.' - -'Oh I don't mind about that,' said she, as he held the door open, and -she went out, 'it will be more interesting than the lake. However, I've -nothing to say against the lake fishing, for it has done such wonders -for my father. I have not seen him so well for years. Whether it is -the quiet life, or the mountain air, I don't know, but he sleeps -perfectly, and he has entirely given up the bromide of potassium. I do -hope he will take the shooting and come back in the autumn.' - -'His lordship was saying there were two other gentlemen after it,' -remarked Ronald significantly. - -'Who was saying?' - -'His lordship--that was in the house the now when ye came in.' - -'Was that Lord Ailine?' she said--and she almost paused in their walk -along the road. - -'Oh yes.' - -'You don't say! Why, how did he come here?' - -'By the mail this morning.' - -'With the country people?' - -'Just like anybody else,' he said. - -'Well, I declare! I thought he would have come with a coach and -outriders--in state, you know----' - -'What for?' said he impassively. 'He had no luggage, I suppose, but a -bag and a waterproof. It's different in the autumn, of course, when all -the gentlemen come up, and there's luggage and the rifles and the -cartridge-boxes--then they have to have a brake or a waggonette.' - -'And that was Lord Ailine,' she said, half to herself; and there was no -further speaking between them until they had gone past the Doctor's -cottage and over the bridge and were some distance up 'the strath that -Mudal laves'--to quote her companion's own words. - -'Now,' said he, as he stooped and began to put together the slender -grilse-rod, 'we'll just let ye try a cast or two on this bit of open -grass--and we'll no trouble with a fly as yet.' - -He fastened on the reel, got the line through the rings, and drew out a -few yards' length. Then he gave her the rod; showed her how to hold it; -and then stood just behind her, with his right hand covering hers. - -'Now,' said he, 'keep your left hand just about as steady as ye can--and -don't jerk--this way-- - -Of course it was really he who was making these few preliminary casts, -and each time the line ran out and fell straight and trembling on the -grass. - -'Now try it yourself.' - -At first she made a very bad job of it--especially when she tried to do -it by main force; the line came curling down not much more than the -rod's length in front of her, and the more she whipped the closer became -the curls. - -'I'm afraid I don't catch on quite,' she said, unconsciously adopting -one of her father's phrases. - -'Patience--patience,' said he; and again he gripped her hand in his and -the line seemed to run out clear with the gentlest possible forward -movement. - -And then he put out more line--and still more and more--until every -backward and upward swoop of the rod, and every forward cast, was -accompanied by a 'swish' through the air. This was all very well; and -she was throwing a beautiful, clean line; but she began to wonder when -the bones in her right hand would suddenly succumb and be crunched into -a jelly. The weight of the rod--which seemed a mighty engine to -her--did not tell on her, for his one hand did the whole thing; but his -grip was terrible; and yet she did not like to speak. - -'Now try for yourself,' said he, and he stepped aside. - -'Wait a minute,' she said--and she shook her hand, to get the life back -into it. - -'I did not hurt you?' said he, in great concern. - -'We learn in suffering what we teach in song,' she said lightly. 'If I -am to catch a salmon with a fly-rod, I suppose I have got to go through -something.' - -She set to work again; and, curiously enough, she seemed to succeed -better with the longer line than with the short one. There was less -jerking; the forward movement was more even; and though she was far -indeed from throwing a good line, it was very passable for a beginner. - -'You know,' said she, giving him a good-humoured hint, 'I don't feel -like doing this all day.' - -'Well, then, we'll go down to the water now,' said he, and he took the -rod from her. - -They walked down through the swampy grass and heather to the banks of -the stream; and here he got out his fly-book--a bulged and baggy volume -much the worse for wear. And then it instantly occurred to her that -this was something she could get for him--the most splendid fly-book and -assortment of salmon flies to be procured in London--until it just as -suddenly occurred to her that he would have little use for these in -Glasgow. She saw him select a smallish black and gold and -crimson-tipped object from that bulky volume; and a few minutes -thereafter she was armed for the fray, and he was standing by watching. - -Now the Mudal, though an exceedingly 'dour' salmon-river, is at least -easy for a beginner to fish, for there is scarcely anywhere a bush along -its level banks. And there were the pools--some of them deep and drumly -enough in all conscience; and no doubt there were salmon in them, if -only they could be seduced from their lair. For one thing, Ronald had -taken her to a part of the stream where she could not, in any case, do -much harm by her preliminary whippings of the water. - -She began--not without some little excitement, and awful visions of -triumph and glory if she should really be able to capture a salmon by -her own unaided skill. Of course she caught in the heather behind her -sometimes; and occasionally the line would come down in a ghastly heap -on the water; but then again it would go fairly out and over to the -other bank, and the letting it down with the current and drawing it -across--as he had shown her in one or two casts--was a comparatively -easy matter. She worked hard, at all events, and obeyed -implicitly--until alas! there came a catastrophe. - -'A little bit nearer the bank if you can,' said he; 'just a foot -nearer.' - -She clenched her teeth. Back went the rod with all her might--and -forward again with all her might--but midway and overhead there was a -mighty crack like that of a horse-whip; and calmly he regarded the line -as it fell on the water. - -'The fly's gone,' said he--but with not a trace of vexation. - -'Oh, Ronald, I'm so sorry!' she cried, for she knew that these things -were expensive, even where they did not involve a considerable outlay of -personal skill and trouble. - -'Not at all,' said he, as he quietly sate down on a dry bunch of heather -and got out his book again. 'All beginners do that. I'll just show ye -in a minute or two how to avoid it. And we'll try a change now.' - -Indeed she was in no way loth to sit down on the heather too; and even -after he had selected the particular Childers he wanted, she took the -book, and would have him tell her the names of all the various flies, -which, quite apart from their killing merits, seemed to her beautiful -and interesting objects. And finally she said-- - -'Ronald, my arms are a little tired. Won't you try a cast or two? I am -sure I should learn as much by looking on.' - -He did as he was bid; and she went with him; but he could not stir -anything. The river was low; the day was clear; there was no wind. But -at last they came to a part of the stream where there was a dark and -deep pool, and below that a wide bed of shingle, while between the -shingle and the bank was a narrow channel where the water tossed and -raced before breaking out into the shallows. He drew her a little bit -back from the bank and made her take the rod again. - -'If there's a chance at all, it's there,' he said. 'Do ye see that -stone over there?--well, just try to drop the fly a foot above the -stone, and let it get into the swirl.' - -She made her first cast--the line fell in a tangled heap about three -yards short. - -'Ye've got out of the way of it,' said he, and he took the rod from her, -let out a little more line, and then gave it to her again, standing -behind her, with his hand over-gripping hers. - -'Now!' - -The fly fell a foot short--but clean. The next cast it fell at the -precise spot indicated, and was swept into the current, and dragged -slowly and jerkily across. Again he made the cast for her, with the -same negative result; and then he withdrew his hand. - -'That's right--very well done!' he said, as she continued. - -'Yes, but what's the use when you have tried----' - -She had scarcely got the words out when she suddenly found the line held -tight--and tighter--she saw it cut its way through the water, up and -towards the bank of the pool above--and down and down was the point of -the rod pulled until it almost touched the stream. All this had -happened in one wild second. - -'Let the line go!--what are ye doing, lassie?' he cried. The fact was -that in her sudden alarm she had grasped both line and rod more firmly -than ever; and in another half second the fish must inevitably have -broken something. But this exclamation of his recalled her to her -senses--she let the line go free--got up the rod--and then waited -events--with her heart in her mouth. She had not long to wait. It very -soon appeared to her as if she had hooked an incarnate flash of -lightning; for there was nothing this beast did not attempt to do; now -rushing down the narrow channel so close to the bank that a single -out-jutting twig must have cut the line; now lashing on the edge of the -shallows; twice jerking himself into the air; and then settling down in -the deep pool, not to sulk, but to twist and tug at the line in a series -of angry snaps. And always it was 'Oh, Ronald, what shall I do now?' or -'Ronald, what will he do next?' - -'You're doing well enough,' said he placidly. 'But it will be a long -fight; and ye must not let him too far down the stream, or he'll take ye -below the foot bridge. And don't give him much line; follow him, -rather.' - -She was immediately called on to act on this advice; for with one -determined, vicious rush, away went the salmon down the stream--she -after him as well as her woman's skirts would allow, and always and -valorously she was keeping a tight strain on the pliant rod. Alas! all -of a sudden her foot caught in a tuft of heather--down she went, prone, -her arms thrown forward so that nothing could save her. But did she let -go the rod? Not a bit! She clung to it with the one hand; and when -Ronald helped her to her feet again, she had no thought of herself at -all--all her breathless interest was centred on the salmon. Fortunately -that creature had now taken to sulking, in a pool farther down; and she -followed him, getting in the line the while. - -'But I'm afraid you're hurt,' said he. - -'No, no.' - -Something was tickling the side of her face. She shifted the grip of -the rod, and passed the back of her right hand across her ear; a brief -glance showed her that her knuckles were stained with blood. But she -took no further heed; for she had to get both hands on the rod again. - -'She has pluck, that one,' Ronald said to himself; but he said nothing -aloud, he wanted her to remain as self-possessed as possible. - -'And what if he goes down to the footbridge, Ronald?' she said -presently. - -'But ye must not let him.' - -'But if he will go?' - -'Then ye'll give me the rod and I'll take it under the bridge.' - -The fish lay there as heavy and dead as a stone; nothing they could do -could stir him an inch. - -'The beast has been at this work before,' Ronald said. 'That jagging to -get the hook out is the trick of an old hand. But this sulking will -never do at all.' - -He left her and went farther up the stream to the place where the river -ran over the wide bed of shingle. There he deliberately walked into the -water--picking up a few pebbles as he went--and, with a running leap, -crossed the channel and gained the opposite bank. Then he quickly -walked down to within a yard or two of the spot where the 'dour' salmon -lay. - -She thought this was very foolish child's play that he should go and -fling little stones at a fish he could not see. But presently she -perceived that he was trying all he could to get the pebbles to drop -vertically and parallel with the line. And then the object of this -device was apparent. The salmon moved heavily forward, some few inches -only. Another pebble was dropped. This time the fish made a violent -rush up stream that caused Miss Carry's reel to shriek; and off she set -after him (but with more circumspection this time as regards her -footing), getting in the line as rapidly as possible as she went. -Ronald now came over and joined her, and this was comforting to her -nerves. - -Well, long before she had killed that fish she had discovered the -difference between loch-fishing and river-fishing; but she did kill him -in the end; and mightily pleased she was when she saw him lying on the -sere wintry grass. Ronald would have had her try again; but she had had -enough; it was past lunch time, and she was hungry; moreover, she was -tired; and then again she did not wish that he should waste the whole -day. So, when she had sate down for a while, and watched him tie the -salmon head and tail, they set out for the village again, very well -content; while as for the slight wound she had received by her ear -catching on a twig of heather when she fell, that was quite forgotten -now. - -'And ye are to have the fish,' said he. 'I told his lordship this -morning you were going to try your hand at the casting; and he said if -you got one you would be proud of it, no doubt, and ye were to keep it, -of course.' - -'Well, that is very kind; I suppose I must thank him if I see him?' - -And she was very curious to know all about Lord Ailine; and why he -should come to Inver-Mudal merely for these few hours; and what kind of -people he brought with him in the autumn. He answered her as well as he -could; and then they went on to other things--all in a very gay and -merry mood, for he was as proud as she was over this achievement. - -At the same moment Meenie Douglas was in her own little room, engaged on -a work of art of a not very ambitious kind. She had lying before her on -the table a pencil-sketch in outline of such features of the landscape -as could be seen from the window--the loch, the wooded promontories, Ben -Clebrig, and the little clump of trees that sheltered the inn; and she -was engaged in making a smaller copy of this drawing, in pen and ink, on -a paper-cutter of brown wood. She was not much of an artist, perhaps; -but surely these simple outlines were recognisable; and if they were to -be entitled '_A Souvenir_,' and carried away to the south as a little -parting present, might they not in some idle moment of the future recall -some brief memory of these northern wilds? So she was at work on this -task--and very careful that the lines should be clear and precise--when -she heard the sound of voices without--or rather one voice, which -presently she recognised to be Ronald's: she could not easily mistake -it. And if she were to go to the window and get him to stop for a -minute, at the gate, and show him the sketch that she had just about -finished--perhaps he would be pleased? - -She went to the window--but instantly drew back. She had just caught a -glimpse: it was the American young lady he was walking with--at a time -when he was supposed to be so busy; and he was carrying her rod for her -and her ulster as well as the salmon; and they were laughing and gaily -talking together, like a pair of lovers almost on this clear spring day. -Meenie went slowly back to the table--her face perhaps a trifle paler -than usual; and she sate down, and began to look at the little drawing -that she had been rather proud of. But her lips were proud and firm. -Why should she give a drawing to any one--more especially to one who was -so ready with his friendship and so quick to consort with strangers? -The lines on the brown wood seemed cold and uninteresting; she was no -longer anxious that they should suggest an accurate picture; nay, she -pushed the thing away from her, and rose, and went back to the window, -and stood idly gazing out there, her lips still proud, her mien defiant. - -And then--well, Ronald was going away. Was it worth while to let pride -or self-love come between them and becloud these last few days, when -perhaps they might never see each other again? For well she knew of her -mother's aims and hopes with regard to herself; and well she knew -that--whatever she may have guessed from the verses of Ronald's which -assuredly had never been meant for her to see--it was neither for him -nor for her to expect that the harsh facts and necessities of the world -should give place and yield to a passing fancy, a dream, a kind of -wistful, half-poetic shadow of what otherwise might have been. But at -least Ronald and she might part friends; nay, they should part friends. -And so she returned to the table--overmastering her momentary pride; and -she took up the discarded little drawing and regarded it with gentler -eyes. For, after all (as she could not forget) Ronald was going away. - - - - - *CHAPTER VI.* - - *POETA ... NON FIT.* - - -It soon became obvious that the salmon-fishers from the other side of -the Atlantic had got into a long spell of deplorably fine weather; and a -gentle melancholy settled down upon the souls of the gillies. In vain, -morning after morning, the men searched every quarter of the heavens for -any sign of even a couple of days' deluge to flood the rivers and send -the kelts down and bring the clean salmon up from the sea. This wild -and bleak region grew to be like some soft summer fairyland; the blue -loch and the yellow headlands, and the far treeless stretches of moor -lay basking in the sunlight; Ben Loyal's purples and browns were clear -to the summit; Ben Clebrig's snows had nearly all melted away. Nor -could the discontented boatmen understand how the two strangers should -accept this state of affairs with apparent equanimity. Both were now -provided with a book; and when the rods had been properly set so as to -be ready for any emergency, they could pass the time pleasantly enough -in this perfect stillness, gliding over the smooth waters, and drinking -in the sweet mountain air. As for Miss Carry, she had again attacked -the first volume of Gibbon--for she would hot be beaten; and very -startling indeed it was when a fish did happen to strike the minnow, to -be so suddenly summoned back from Palmyra to this Highland loch. In -perfect silence, with eyes and attention all absented, she would be -reading thus-- - -'_When the Syrian queen was brought into the presence of Aurelian, he -sternly asked her, how she had presumed to rise in arms against the -Emperor of Rome? The answer of Zenobia was a prudent mixture of respect -and firmness_'--when sharp would come the warning cry of Malcolm--'There -he is, Miss!--there he is!'--and she would dash down the historian to -find the rod being violently shaken and the reel screaming out its -joyous note. Moreover, in this still weather, the unusual visitor not -unfrequently brought some other element of surprise with him. She -acquired a considerable experience of the different forms of -foul-hooking and of the odd manoeuvres of the fish in such -circumstances. On one occasion the salmon caught himself on the minnow -by his dorsal fin; and for over an hour contented himself with rolling -about under water without once showing himself, and with such a strain -that she thought he must be the champion fish of the lake: when at last -they did get him into the boat he was found to be a trifle under ten -pounds. But, taken altogether, this cultivation of literature, varied -by an occasional 'fluke' of a capture, and these placid and dreamlike -mornings and afternoons, were far from being as satisfactory as the -former and wilder days when Ronald was in the boat, even with all their -discomforts of wind and rain and snow. - -By this time she had acquired another grievance. - -'Why did you let him go, pappa, without a single word?' she would say, -as they sate over their books or newspapers in the evening. 'It was my -only chance. You could easily have introduced yourself to him by -speaking of the shooting----' - -'You know very well, Carry,' he would answer--trying to draw her into -the fields of common sense--'I can say nothing about that till I see how -mother's health is.' - -'I am sure she would say yes if she saw what the place has done for you, -pappa; salmon-fishing has proved better for you than bromide of -potassium. But that's not the trouble at all. Why did you let him go? -Why did you let him spend the evening at the Doctor's?--and the next -morning he went about the whole time with Ronald! My only chance of -spurning a lord, too. Do they kneel in this country, pappa, when they -make their declaration; or is that only in plays? Never mind; it would -be all the same. "No, my lord; the daughter of a free Republic cannot -wed a relic of feudalism; farewell, my lord, farewell! I know that you -are heart-broken for life; but the daughter of a free Republic must be -true to her manifest destiny."' - -'Oh, be quiet!' - -'And then the girls at home, when I got back, they would all have come -crowding around: "Do tell, now, did you get a British nobleman to -propose, Carry?" "What do you imagine I went to Europe for?" "And you -rejected him?" "You bet your pile on that. Why, you should have seen -him writhe on the floor when I spurned him! I spurned him, I tell you I -did--the daughter of a free Republic"----' - -'Will you be quiet!' - -'But it was really too bad, pappa!' she protested. 'There he was -lounging around all the morning. And all I heard him say was when he -was just going--when he was on the mail-car, "Ronald," he called out, -"have you got a match about you?"--and he had a wooden pipe in his hand. -And that's all I know about the manners and conversation of the British -nobility; and what will they say of me at home?' - -'When does Ronald go?' he would ask; and this, at least, was one sure -way of bringing her back to the paths of sanity and soberness; for the -nearer that this departure came, the more concerned she was about it, -having some faint consciousness that she herself had a share of the -responsibility. - -And in another direction, moreover, she was becoming a little anxious. -No message of any kind had arrived from the _Chicago Citizen_. Now she -had written to Miss Kerfoot before she left for Paris; her stay in the -French capital had extended to nearly three weeks; there was the space -occupied in going and returning; so that if Jack Huysen meant to do -anything with the verses it was about time that that should appear. And -the more she thought of it the more she set her heart on it, and hoped -that Ronald's introduction to the reading public would be a flattering -one and one of which he could reasonably be proud. Her father had it in -his power to secure his material advancement; and that was well enough; -but what if it were reserved for her to confer a far greater service on -him? For if this first modest effort were welcomed in a friendly way, -might he not be induced to put forth a volume, and claim a wider -recognition? It need not interfere with his more practical work; and -then, supposing it were successful? Look at the status it would win for -him--a thing of far more value in the old country, where society is -gradated into ranks, than in her country, where every one (except hotel -clerks, as she insisted) was on the same plane. He would then be the -equal of anybody--even in this old England; she had at least acquired so -far a knowledge of English society. And if he owed the first suggestion -and impulse to her?--if she were to be the means, in however small and -tentative a fashion, of his ultimately establishing his fame? That he -could do so if he tried, she never thought of doubting. She saw him -every day, and the longer she knew him the more she was certain that the -obvious mental force that seemed to radiate from him in the ordinary -conversation and discussion of everyday life only wanted to be put into -a definite literary channel to make its mark. And was not the time ripe -for a poet? And it was not Edinburgh, or Glasgow, or London that had -nowadays to decide on his merits, but two great continents of -English-speaking people. - -At length came the answer to her urgent prayer--a letter from Miss -Kerfoot and a copy of the _Chicago Citizen_. The newspaper she opened -first; saw with delight that a long notice--a very long notice -indeed--had been accorded to the verses she had sent; and with a proud -heart she put the paper in her pocket, for careful reading when she -should get down to the lake. Miss Kerfoot's letter she glanced over; -but it did not say much; the writer observed that Mr. Jack Huysen had -only seemed half pleased when informed of Carry's extraordinary interest -in the phenomenal Scotch gamekeeper; and, referring to the article in -the _Citizen_, she said Jack Huysen had entrusted the writing of it to -Mr. G. Quincy Regan, who was, she understood, one of the most cultured -young men in Chicago, and likely to make quite a reputation for himself -ere long. There were some other matters mentioned in this letter; but -they need not detain us here. - -Miss Carry was in very high spirits as she set forth from the inn with -her father to walk down to the boats. They met Ronald, too, on their -way; he was accompanied by the man who was to take his place after his -leaving; and Miss Carry could not help comparing the two of them as they -came along the road. But, after all, it was not outward appearance that -made the real difference between men; it was mental stature; she had -that in her pocket which could show to everybody how Ronald was a head -and shoulders over any of his peers. And she took but little interest -in the setting up of the rods or the selection of the minnows; she -wanted to be out on the lake, alone, in the silence, to read line by -line and word by word this introduction of her hero to the public. - -The following is the article: - -'A REMARKABLE LITERARY DISCOVERY--OUR FELLOW-CITIZENS ABROAD--ANOTHER -RUSTIC POET--CHICAGO CLAIMS HIM. It may be in the recollection of some -of our readers that a few years ago a small party of American tourists, -consisting of Curtis H. Mack, who was one of our most distinguished -major-generals in the rebellion, and is now serving on the Indian -frontier; his niece, Miss Hettie F. Doig, a very talented lady and -contributor to several of our best periodicals; and John Grimsby -Patterson, editor of the Baltimore _Evening News_, were travelling in -Europe, when they had the good fortune to discover an Irish poet, -Patrick Milligan, who had long languished in obscurity, no doubt the -victim of British jealousy as well as of misrule. Major-General Mack -interested himself in this poor man, and, in conjunction with William B. -Stevens, of Cleveland, Ohio, had him brought over to this country, where -they were eventually successful in obtaining for him a postmastership in -New Petersburg, Conn., leaving him to devote such time as he pleased to -the service of the tuneful nine. Mr. Milligan's Doric reed has not piped -to us much of late years; but we must all remember the stirring verses -which he wrote on the occasion of Colonel George W. Will's nomination -for Governor of Connecticut. It has now been reserved for another party -of American travellers, still better known to us than the above, for -they are no other than our esteemed fellow-citizen, Mr. Josiah Hodson -and his brilliant and accomplished daughter, Miss Caroline Hodson, to -make a similar discovery in the Highlands of Scotland; and in view of -such recurring instances, we may well ask whether there be not in the -mental alertness of our newer civilisation a capacity for the detection -and recognition of intellectual merit which exists not among the -deadening influences of an older and exhausted civilisation. It has -sometimes been charged against this country that we do not excel in arts -and letters; that we are in a measure careless of them; that political -problems and material interests occupy our mind. The present writer, at -least, is in no hurry to repel that charge, odious as it may seem to -some. We, as Americans, should remember that the Athenian Republic, -with which our western Republic has nothing to fear in the way of -comparison, when it boasted its most lavish display of artistic and -literary culture, was no less conspicuous for its moral degeneracy and -political corruption. It was in the age of Pericles and of Phidias, of -Socrates and Sophocles, of Euripides and Aristophanes and Thucydides, -that Athens showed herself most profligate; private licence was -unbridled; justice was bought and sold; generals incited to war that -they might fill their pockets out of the public purse; and all this -spectacle in striking contrast with the manly virtues of the rude and -unlettered kingdom of Sparta, whose envoys were laughed at because they -had not the trick of Athenian oratory and casuistry. We say, then, that -we are not anxious to repel this charge brought against our great -western Republic, that we assign to arts and letters a secondary place; -on the contrary, we are content that the over-cultivation of these -should fatten on the decaying and effete nations of Europe, as -phosphorus shines in rotten wood.' - -Now she had determined to read every sentence of this article -conscientiously, as something more than a mere intellectual treat; but, -as she went on, joy did not seem to be the result. The reference to -Patrick Milligan and the postmastership in Connecticut she considered to -be distinctly impertinent; but perhaps Jack Huysen had not explained -clearly to the young gentleman all that she had written to Emma Kerfoot? -Anyhow, she thought, when he came to Ronald's little Highland poem, he -would perhaps drop his Athenians, and talk more like a reasonable human -being. - -'That the first strain from the new singer's lyre should be placed at -the services of the readers of the _Citizen_, we owe to the patriotism -of the well-known and charming lady whose name we have given above; nor -could the verses have fallen into better hands. In this case there is -no need that Horace should cry to Tyndaris-- - -_O matre pulchra filia pulchrior,_ -_Quem criminosis cunque voles modum_ - _Pones iambis, sive flamma_ - _Sive mari libet Hadriano._ - -Moreover, we have received a hint that this may not be the last piece of -the kind with which we may be favoured; so that we have again to thank -our fair fellow-townswoman for her kindly attention. But lest our -readers may be growing weary of this _prolegomenon_, we will at once -quote this latest utterance of the Scottish muse which has come to us -under such favourable auspices:' - -Here followed Ronald's poor verses, that perhaps looked insignificant -enough, after this sonorous trumpet-blaring. The writer proceeded: - -'Now certain qualities in this composition are so obvious that we need -hardly specify them; we give the writer credit for simplicity, pathos, -and a hearty sympathy with the victims of the tyrannical greed of the -chase-loving British landlord. But it is with no intent of looking a -gift-horse in the mouth (which would be a poor return for the courtesy -of the lady who has interested herself in the rustic bard) if we proceed -to resolve this piece into its elements, that we may the more accurately -cast the horoscope of this new applicant for the public applause. To -begin with, the sentiment of nostalgia is but a slender backbone for any -work of literary art. In almost every case it is itself a fallacy. -What were the conditions under which these people--arbitrarily and -tyrannically, it may have been--were forced away from their homes? -Either they were bad agriculturists or the land was too poor to support -them; and in either case their transference to a more generous soil -could be nothing but a benefit to them. Their life must have been full -of privations and cares. _Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit_; but -the pleasure ought to lie in thinking of the escape; so that we maintain -that to base any piece of literary work on such a false sentiment as -nostalgia is seen to be, leads us to suspect the _veracity_ of the -writer and calls upon us to be on our guard. Moreover, we maintain that -it is of the essence of pastoral and idyllic poetry to be cheerful and -jocund; and it is to be observed that sadness prevails in poetry only -when a nation has passed its youth and becomes saturated with the regret -of old age. We prefer the stories told - -_Where Corydon and Thyrsis met_ -_Are at their savoury dinner set;_ - -and the lyrist when he sings - -_Dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo,_ - _Dulce loquentem;_ - -and we hold that when the poets of a nation are permeated by a -lackadaisical sentiment--when they have the candour to style themselves -the idle singers of an empty day--when the burden of their song is -regret and weariness and a lamentation over former joys--then it is time -for such poets and the nation they represent to take a back seat in the -lecture halls of literature, and give way to the newer and stronger race -that is bound to dominate the future.' - -She read no farther; and it is a great pity that she did not; for the -writer by and by went on to say some very nice things about these -unlucky verses; and even hinted that here was a man who might be -benefited by coming to stay in Chicago,--'the future capital of the -future empire of the world,'--and by having his eyes opened as to the -rate of progress possible in these modern days; and wound up with a most -elaborate compliment to the intellectual perspicacity and judgment of -Miss Carry herself. She did not read beyond what is quoted above for -the simple reason that she was in a most violent rage, and also -extremely mortified with herself for being so vexed. She tore the -newspaper into shreds, and crushed these together, and flung them into -the bottom of the boat. Her cheeks were quite pale; her eyes burning; -and through all the anger of her disappointment ran the shame of the -consciousness that it was she who had exposed Ronald to this insult. -What though he should never know anything about it? Her friends in -Chicago would know. And it was the man whom she wanted to glorify and -make a hero of who had, through her instrumentality, been subjected to -the pedantic criticism, the pretentious analyses, and, worst of all, the -insulting patronage of this unspeakable ass. Suddenly she regretted the -destruction of the newspaper; she would like to have looked at it again, -to justify her wrath. No matter; she could remember enough; and she -would not forget Jack Huysen's share in this transaction. - -She was very silent and reserved at lunch time; and her father began to -believe that, after all, in spite of her repeated assurances, their -ill-luck with the fishing was weighing on her spirits. - -'You know, Carry,' said he, 'it is not in the nature of things that -weather like this can last in the Highlands of Scotland. It is -notoriously one of the wettest places in the world. There _must_ be -rain coming soon; and then think of all the fish that will be rushing up -in shoals, and what a time we shall have.' - -'I am not disappointed with the fishing at all, pappa,' she said. 'I -think we have done very well.' - -'What is the matter, then?' - -'Oh, nothing.' - -And then she said-- - -'Well, I will tell you, pappa. I asked Jack Huysen to do me a very -particular favour; and he did not do it; and when I next see Jack -Huysen, I think he will find it a very cold day.' - -The words were mysterious; but the tone was enough. - -And all the afternoon she sate in the stern of the coble and brooded, -composing imaginary letters to the editor of the _New York Herald_, to -the editor of the _Nation_, to the editor of the Chicago _Tribune_, to -the editor of _Puck_, and a great many other journals, all of these -phantom epistles beginning 'As an American girl I appeal to you,' and -proceeding to beg of the editor to hold up to merciless scorn a certain -feeble, shallow, and impertinent article (herewith enclosed) which had -appeared in the _Chicago Citizen_. And on the way home, too, in the -evening, she began to question her father as to his personal -acquaintance with editors and journalists, which seemed to be of the -slightest; and she at length admitted that she wanted some one to -reply--and sharply--to an article that had been written about a friend -of hers. - -'You let that alone,' her father said. 'It's not very easy for any one -to meddle in the politics of our country without coming out more or less -tattooed; for they don't mind what they say about you; and you are very -well to be out of it.' - -'It isn't politics at all,' she said. 'And--and--the article is written -about a friend of mine--and--I want to have the writer told what a fool -he is.' - -'But probably he would not believe it,' her father said quietly. - -'He would see that some one else believed it.' - -'I am not sure that that would hurt him much,' was the unsatisfactory -answer. - -When they drew near to Inver-Mudal she found herself quite afraid and -ashamed at the thought of their possibly meeting Ronald. Had she not -betrayed him? He had sought for no recognition; probably he was too -proud or too manly and careless about what any one might write of him; -it was she who had put him into that suppliant attitude, and brought -upon him the insolent encouragement of a microcephalous fool. This was -the return she had made him for all his kindness to her father and to -herself. Why, he had told her to burn the verses! And to think that -she should have been the means of submitting them to the scrutiny and -patronage of this jackanapes--and that Mr. J. C. Huysen should as good -as say 'Well, this is what we think of your prodigy'--all this was near -bringing tears of rage to her eyes. For Miss Carry, it must be -repeated, was 'a real good fellow,' and very loyal to her friends, and -impatient of injustice done them; and perhaps, unconsciously to herself, -she may have felt some of the consternation of the wild animal whose -duty it is to protect her mate with her superior feminine watchfulness, -and who, through neglect or carelessness, allows the destroyer to come -in and slay. In any case, it certainly promised to be 'a very cold day' -for Mr. Jack Huysen when these two should meet in Chicago. - -That night, after dinner, father and daughter went out for a stroll; for -by this time the moon was drawing to its full again; and all the world -lay peaceful and silent in the wan clear light. They had not emerged -from the trees in front of the inn on to the white pathway of the road -when a sound in the distance caught Miss Carry's ears, and instantly she -touched her father's arm and drew him back into the shadow. She wanted -to hear what song this was that Ronald was singing on his homeward way. - -At first she could make out nothing but fragments of the air--clear and -soft and distant-- - -[Illustration: Music fragment] - -but as he drew nearer the words become more distinct: - - And kiss'd her ripe ros-es, and blest her black e'e; - And aye since whene'er we meet, sing, for the sound is sweet, - "I was a-sleep but ye've wak-en'd me.' - -[Illustration: Music fragment] - -So clear and penetrating and careless and joyous was this singing!--her -heart was stirred with pride as she listened; this was not the voice of -a man who would trouble himself with any whipper-snapper -criticism;--nay, she began to wonder that she had wasted so much -indignation on so trivial a thing. Then there was a sudden silence, -except for his footfall; and presently the dark figure appeared out -there on the white road--his shadow a sharp black in front of him, the -little terrier trotting behind him--and in a minute or so the long -swinging stride had carried him past their ambush on his homeward way to -the cottage. - -'What a splendid voice that fellow has got!' her father said, as they -also now went out on to the white highway, and took the opposite -direction. - -'He seems to be very well contented with himself,' she said, rather -absently. - - - - - *CHAPTER VII.* - - *A LAST DAY ON THE LOCH.* - - -Ronald came down to the loch-side the next morning just as she was about -to get into the coble--her father having started a few minutes before. - -'I hear you have not been doing very well with the fishing,' said he, in -that brisk, business-like fashion of his. - -'The salmon appear to have gone away somewhere,' she replied. - -'Oh, but that will never do,' said he cheerfully. 'We must try and make -some alteration.' - -He took the key of the kennels from his pocket. - -'Here, Johnnie lad, ye may go and take the dogs out for a run.' - -Was Ronald, then, coming with her? Her eyes brightened with -anticipation; there was a welcome in the look of her face that ought to -have been sufficient reward for him. Nor had she the courage to -protest--though she knew that his time was drawing short now. As for -the salmon--well, it was not about salmon she was thinking exclusively. - -'They say a change of gillie sometimes brings a change of luck,' said he -good-naturedly; and he began to overhaul the tackle, substituting -smaller minnows for those already on. 'And I think we will try down at -the other end of the loch this time. We will make sure of some trout in -any case.' - -'But it is so far away, Ronald; are you certain you can afford the -time?' she was bound, in common fairness, to ask. - -'Oh yes, I can afford the time,' said he, 'even if this should have to -be my last day on the loch. Besides, if we do not treat you well, maybe -you'll never come back.' - -'And what is the use of our coming back, when you won't be here?' she -was on the point of saying, but she did not say it, fortunately. - -Then they set forth, on this still summer-like day; and they hailed the -other boat in passing, and told them of their intended voyage of -exploration. Indeed their prospects of sport at the setting out were -anything but promising; the long levels of the lake were mostly of a -pale glassy blue and white; and the little puffs of wind that stirred -the surface here and there into a shimmer of silver invariably died down -again, leaving the water to become a mirror once more of rock and tree -and hill. But she was well content. This was an unknown world into -which they were now penetrating; and it was a good deal more beautiful -than the upper end of the lake (where the best fishing ground was) with -which they had grown so familiar. Here were hanging woods coming right -down to the water's edge; and lofty and precipitous crags stretching -away into the pale blue sky; and winding bays and picturesque shores -where the huge boulders, green and white and yellow with lichen, and the -rich velvet moss, and the withered bracken, and the silver-clear stems -of the birch trees were all brilliant in the sun. The only living -creatures that seemed to inhabit this strange silent region were the -birds. A pair of eagles slowly circled round and round, but at so great -a height that they were but a couple of specks which the eye was apt to -lose; black-throated divers and golden-eyed divers, disturbed by these -unusual visitors, rose from the water and went whirring by to the upper -stretches of the lake; a hen-harrier hovered in mid-air, causing a -frantic commotion among the smaller birds beneath; the curlews, now -wheeling about in pairs, uttered their long warning whistle; the peewits -called angrily, flying zig-zag, with audible whuffing of their soft -broad wings; the brilliant little redshanks flew like a flash along the -shore, just skimming the water; and two great wild-geese went by -overhead, with loud, harsh croak. And ever it was Ronald's keen eye -that first caught sight of them; and he would draw her attention to -them; and tell her the names of them all. And at last--as they were -coming out of one of the small glassy bays, and as he was idly regarding -the tall and rocky crags that rose above the birchwoods--he laughed -lightly. - -'Ye glaiket things,' said he, as if he were recognising some old -friends, 'what brings ye in among the sheep?' - -'What is it, Ronald?' she asked--and she followed the direction of his -look towards those lofty crags, but could make out nothing unusual. - -'Dinna ye see the hinds?' he said quietly. - -'Where--where?' she cried, in great excitement; for she had not seen a -single deer all the time of her stay. - -'At the edge of the brown corrie--near the sky-line. There are three of -them--dinna ye see them?' - -'No, I don't!' she said impatiently. - -'Do ye see the two sheep?' - -'I see two white specks--I suppose they're sheep.' - -'Well--just above them.' - -But the boat was slowly moving all this time; and presently the gradual -change in their position brought one of the hinds clear into view on the -sky-line. The beautiful creature, with its graceful neck, small head, -and upraised ears, was evidently watching them, but with no apparent -intention of making off; and presently Miss Carry, whose eyes were -becoming better accustomed to the place, could make out the other two -hinds, one of them lying on the grass, the other contentedly feeding, -and paying no heed whatever to the passing boat. - -'I thought you said the sheep drove them away,' she said to him. - -'It's the men and the dogs mostly,' he answered. 'Sometimes they will -come in among the sheep like that, if the feeding tempts them. My word, -that would be an easy stalk now--if it was the season.' - -Very soon they found that the three hinds were no longer in view; but -there were plenty of other things to claim their attention on this -solitary voyage. What, for example, was this great circular mass of -stones standing on a projecting promontory? These were the remains, he -explained to her, of a Pictish fort. Another, in better preservation, -was on the opposite shore; and, if she cared to visit it, she might make -her way into the hollow passages constructed between the double line of -wall, if she were not afraid of adders, nor yet of some of the -uncemented stones falling upon her. - -'And what are these?' she said, indicating the ruins of certain circles -formed on the hill-plateaux just above the loch. - -'They're down in the Ordnance Survey as "hut-circles,"' he said, 'but -that is all I know about them.' - -'At all events, there must have been plenty of people living here at one -time?' - -'I suppose so.' - -'Well, I don't think I ever saw any place in our country looking quite -so lonely as that,' she said, regarding the voiceless solitudes of wood -and hill and crag. 'Seems as if with us there was always some one -around--camping out, or something--but I dare say in Dacotah or Idaho -you would get lonelier places than this even. Well, now, what do they -call it?' she asked, as an afterthought. - -'What?--the strath here?' - -'Yes.' - -'I suppose they would call it part of Strath-Naver.' - -The mere mention of Strath-Naver struck a chill to her heart. It -recalled to her how she had betrayed him by sending those harmless -verses across the Atlantic, and subjecting them to the insolence of a -nincompoop's patronage. And if Ronald should ever get to know? Might -not some busybody send him a copy of the paper? These Scotch people had -so many relatives and friends all through the States. Or perhaps his -brother in Glasgow might have some correspondent over there? She dared -not look him in the face, she felt so guilty; and once or twice she was -almost on the point of confessing everything, and begging for his -forgiveness, and getting him to promise that he would not read the -article should it ever be sent to him. - -And then it occurred to her as a very strange thing that from the moment -of Ronald's appearance that morning at the loch-side until now she had -never even given a thought to what had caused her so much annoyance the -day before. His very presence seemed to bring with it an atmosphere of -repose and safety and self-confidence. When she had seen him go -stalking by on the previous night, she had instantly said to -herself--'Oh, that is not the kind of man to worry about what is said of -him.' And this morning, when he came down to the boat, she had never -thought of him as a criticised and suffering poet, but as--well, as the -Ronald that all of them knew and were familiar with--self-reliant, -good-natured, masterful in his way, and ever ready with a laugh and a -song and a jest, save when there was any young lady there, to make him a -little more demure and respectful in his manner. Ronald a disappointed -poet?--Ronald suffering agony because a two-for-a-quarter kind of a -creature out there in Chicago did not think well of him? She ventured -to lift her eyes a little. He was not looking her way at all. He was -regarding the shore intently; and there was a quiet and humorous smile -on the hard-set, sun-tanned face. - -'There are six--seven--blackcocks; do ye see them?' - -'Oh yes; what handsome birds they are!' she said, with a curious sense -of relief. - -'Ay,' said he, 'the lads are very friendly amongst themselves just now; -but soon there will be wars and rumours of wars when they begin to set -up house each for himself. There will be many a pitched battle on those -knolls there. Handsome? Ay, they're handsome enough; but handsome is as -handsome does. The blackcock is not nearly as good a fellow as the -grousecock, that stays with his family, and protects them, and gives -them the first warning cry if there's danger. These rascals there -wander off by themselves, and leave their wives and children to get on -as they can. They're handsome--but they're ne'er-do-weels. There's one -thing: the villain has a price put on his head; for a man would rather -bring down one old cock thumping on the grass than fill his bag with -gray hens.' - -A disappointed poet indeed! And she was so glad to find him talking in -his usual half-bantering careless fashion (that he should talk in any -other way was only a wild suggestion of her own conscience, struck with -a qualm on the mention of Strath-Naver) that she made many inquiries -about the habits of black game and similar creatures; and was apparently -much interested; and all the while was vowing within herself that she -would think no more of the mortifying disappointment she had met with, -but would give up this last day on the loch wholly to such fancies and -quiet amusements as she would like to look back upon in after hours. - -And a very pleasant day they spent in this still, silent, beautiful -region, cut off from all of the world, as it were. There were plenty of -trout, and therefore there was plenty of occupation; moreover, one or -two good-sized sea-trout added to the value of the basket. Nor was this -solitary district quite so untenanted as she had supposed. About -mid-day it occurred to her that she was becoming hungry and then the -wild reflection flashed on her that the lunch was in the other -boat--some eight miles away. She confided her perplexity--her -despair--to Ronald. - -'It is my fault,' he said, with vexation very visible in his face. 'I -should have remembered. But--but--' he added timidly--for he was not -accustomed to ministering to the wants of young ladies--'I could get ye -some bread and a drink of milk, if that would do.' - -'What, right here?' - -'Yes.' - -'Why, nothing could be better!' - -They were rowing the boat ashore by this time; and when they had got to -land, he leaped on to the beach, and presently disappeared. In little -more than a quarter of an hour he was back again, bringing with him a -substantial loaf of home-made bread and a large jug of milk. - -'Well done!' she said. 'There's plenty for all of us. Lend me your -knife, Ronald.' - -'Oh no,' said he, 'it's for you.' - -And a hard fight she had of it ere she could get the two men to accept a -fair division; but she had her way in the end; and Ronald, seeing that -she was determined they should share the milk also (she drank first, and -handed the jug to him quite as a matter of course), swiftly and -stealthily pulled off the cup from his whisky-flask, and old Malcolm and -he drank from that, pouring the milk into it from the jug. It was a -frugal picnic; but she was very happy; and she was telling him that when -he came to Chicago, and they were showing him the beauties of Lake -Michigan, they might give him a grander luncheon than this, but none -more comfortable. - -In the afternoon they set out for home, picking up a few more trout by -the way; and when they at length drew near to the upper waters of the -lake they found the other boat still pursuing its unwearied round. -Moreover Mr. Hodson's strict attention to business had been rewarded by -the capture of a handsome fish of sixteen pounds; whereas they had -nothing but a miscellaneous collection of brown and white trout. But, -just as they were thinking of going ashore, for the dusk was now coming -on, a most extraordinary piece of luck befell them. Miss Carry was -scarcely thinking of the rods when the sudden shriek of one of the reels -startled her out of her idle contemplation. - -'Surely that is a salmon, Ronald!' she cried, as she instantly grasped -the rod and got it up. - -He did not stay to answer, for his business was to get in the other line -as fast as possible. But he had just got this second rod into his hand -when lo! there was a tugging and another scream of a reel--there was now -a salmon at each of the lines! It was a position of the direst -danger--for a single cross rush of either of the fish must inevitably -break both off--and how were they to be kept separate, with both rods -confined to one boat? Ronald did not lose his head. - -'Row ashore, Malcolm--row ashore, man!' he shouted--'fast as ever ye -can, man!' - -Nor did he wait until the bow had touched land; he slipped over the edge -of the boat while as yet the water was deep enough to take him up to the -waist; and away he waded, taking the one rod with him, and slowly -increasing the distance between the two fish. By the time he got ashore -there was a hundred yards or so between them, and he did not attempt to -play this salmon at all; he gave it plenty of law; and merely waited to -see the end of Miss Carry's struggle. - -She hardly knew what had happened, except that Ronald's going away had -left her very nervous and excited and helpless. How was she ever to -land a fish unless he was at her shoulder directing her? But by this -time old Malcolm had jammed the bow of the boat on to the beach, had got -in the oars, and now sate patiently waiting, clip in hand. - -The fish was not a very game one, though he was no kelt. - -'Put a good strain on him, Miss,' said old Malcolm--who had been taking -a sly look round. 'Ronald's keeping the other one for ye.' - -'What do you say?' she called to him--rather breathlessly. - -'Ronald will be wanting ye to play the other fish too,' said the old -man. 'And a wonderful fine thing, if we can get them both--oh yes, -indeed. It is not an ordinary thing to hook two salmon at once and land -them both--I wass neffer seeing that done except once before.' - -'Beast!' she said, between her teeth--for the fish made a desperate rush -away out into the loch, with a magnificent flourish in the air as a -finish. But no harm was done; indeed, it was about his last strong -effort to free himself. Yard after yard of the line was got in again; -his struggles to get away grew less and less vigorous; at last the old -Highlander made an adventurous swoop with the clip, and was successful -in landing the brilliant creature in the bottom of the boat. - -'Now, Miss,' he cried, 'leave him to me--leave him to me. Quick, get -ashore, and try for the other one. And will you take the clip?' - -He was greatly excited by this unusual adventure; and so was she--and -breathless, moreover; but she managed to do as she was bid. She got -rather wet in getting ashore; for Ronald was not there to help her; but -she had no time to mind that; she made her way as rapidly as she could -along the bank, and there was Ronald awaiting her, with a quiet smile on -his face. - -'This is better work,' said he placidly, as he gave her the rod. - -She was anxious no longer; she was triumphant. Ronald was with her; of -course she would get this one also. And who but Ronald would have -brought such a stroke of luck to the boat? - -'I would get in some of the line now,' said he calmly. 'I have been -letting him do as he liked; and he is a long way out. And mind, you'll -have to watch him; he is quite fresh; there has been no fighting at all -yet.' - -'Oh, Ronald,' she said, with the pretty pale face grown quite rosy with -the excitement and the hard work, 'won't it be just too splendid for -anything if we can get them both!' - -'I hope ye may,' he said, 'for it's not likely to happen again in your -lifetime.' - -The fish now began to rebel against the new strain that was being put on -him, and indulged in a variety of audacious cantrips--apparently at a -considerable distance out. By this time the other boat was also ashore, -and Miss Carry's father came along to see how Ronald's pupil could play -a salmon. Just as he drew near, there was a pretty lively scrimmage -going on. - -'Why, you want to have them all,' he complained. 'It is not fair sport -to bag a brace of salmon right and left.' - -She did not answer--in fact, she could not; she had enough to do. For -now the salmon seemed wanting to get right out to the middle of the -lake; and the length of line that lay between her and her enemy dragged -heavily on her arms. And then he altered his tactics--coming rapidly to -the surface and trying to break the suddenly slackened line by furious -lashings of his tail. But all this was in vain; and now, as he seemed -yielding a little, she put a heavier strain on him, and began to reel -up. It was very well done, and without a word of admonition; for Ronald -was proud of his pupil, and wished to show that he could leave her to -herself. - -By and by the fish began to show himself a little more amenable, and -preparations were made for receiving him on shore. Miss Carry stepped -back a few yards; her father got out of the way altogether; Ronald -crouched down, clip in hand. Of course, when the salmon found himself -being guided into the shallows, he was off like a bolt; and again and -again he repeated these sullen rushes; but each time they were growing -weaker; and at last, as the gleam of something white showed in the -water, Ronald made a sudden plunge with the clip--and the salmon was -ashore. - -He laughed. - -'I suppose this will be my last day on the loch, and a very good finish -it is.' - -The men brought along the other fish, and these were all laid out on the -grass side by side, though it was now too dark to see much of them. As -regards the three salmon, Mr. Hodson's, on being accurately weighed, was -found to be sixteen and a half pounds, Miss Carry's two respectively -fourteen pounds and eleven pounds. She was a very happy young woman as -she walked home with her father and Ronald through the now rapidly -gathering dusk. - -His last day on the lake:--well, it would be something pleasant to look -back upon in after times--the summer-like weather, the still water, the -silent and sunlit crags and woods and bays. And perhaps, too, he would -remember something of her bright society, her friendly disposition, and -the frank good-comradeship with which she shared her meal of milk and -bread with two common boatmen. Nay, he could not well help remembering -that--and with a touch of gratitude and kindness, too--even though they -should never meet again through the long years of life. - - - - - *CHAPTER VIII.* - - *THE PARTING.* - - -Now amid all his preparations for departure nothing distressed him so -much as the difficulty he found in trying to write something worthy of -being placed in Meenie's book. It was to be his last gift to her; she -herself had asked for it; surely he ought to do his best? And perhaps -it was this very anxiety that baffled him. Even of such small lyrical -faculty as he possessed, he was in no sense the master. He could write -easily enough at the instigation of some passing fancy; but the fancy -had to come uncalled-for; it was not of his summoning. And now, in this -hour of direst need, no kindly Ariel would come to help him. Walking -across the lonely moors, with the dogs for his sole companions, or lying -on a far hillside, and tearing twigs of heather with his teeth, he -worried his brain for a subject, and all to no purpose. Perhaps, if -praise of Meenie had been permissible--if he could have dared to write -anything about herself in her own book--he might have found the task -more easy; for that was the one direction in which his imagination was -always facile enough. One morning, indeed, when he was coming down the -Clebrig slopes, he saw Miss Carry and Meenie walking together along the -road; and he had not much difficulty in shaping out some such verses as -these--jingling the rhymes together without much concern about the -sense, and then scribbling the result on the back of an envelope to see -how it looked: - -_By Mudal's river she idly strayed,_ - _And drank afresh the morning breeze:_ -_Tell me, you beautiful dark-eyed maid,_ - _That's come across the Atlantic seas--_ - -_See you our winsome Sutherland flower,_ - _Her cheek the tint of the summer rose,_ -_Her gold-brown hair her only dower,_ - _Her soul as white as Ben Clebrig's snows;_ - -_Blue as the ruffled loch her eyes,_ - _Sweet her breath as the blossoming heather:_ -_O do you think the whole world's skies_ - _Can see aught fairer than you together?_ - -_Sisters twain--one slender and dark,_ - _Her cheek faint-tanned by the tropic south;_ -_One northern bred, her voice like a lark,_ - _The joy of the hills in her gladsome youth._ - -_Ben Clebrig shall judge--nay, shall keep the two,_ - _And bind them in chains of love for ever;_ -_Look to it, Clebrig; guard them true:_ - _Sisters twain--and why should they sever?_ - - -But even here there was a false note; and he knew it. Perhaps he was -vaguely jealous of any alien interference: was not Meenie the sole and -only care of the giant mountain? Anyhow, the verses were of no avail -for Meenie's book; and otherwise he did not care for them; so the -envelope was crumpled up and thrown away. - -On the evening before the brother and sister were to leave for the -south, Meenie came along to see them. Ronald had got quite accustomed to -find Miss Douglas in the house of late; for Maggie needed a good deal of -direction and help--the tearful little lass being sorely distraught at -the thought of going away. But on this occasion it was himself she had -come to seek. - -'I have made a little drawing for you, Ronald,' said she--and the -beautiful Highland eyes were downcast a little--'as well as I could, of -the loch and the hills and the river; and I want you to take it to -Glasgow with you, and put it on the mantelpiece of your room, and then -sometimes it will make you think of the old place and of us all.' - -'I'm sure, it will not need a picture to make me do that,' said he, 'but -all the same I am obliged to ye, and it will be the chief treasure in -the house----' - -'Oh no, oh no,' she said, with a rueful smile--and she ventured to raise -her eyes. 'You must not think it a picture at all--but only a few lines -scribbled on a paper-knife to make you remember the place when you -happen to find it lying about. And you must not look at it until I have -gone, because you would feel bound to praise it; and that would be as -awkward for you as for me--for indeed it is nothing at all. And here,' -she added, producing a small slip of paper, 'is my sister's address in -Glasgow; and I have written to her; and she will be very glad if you -will call on them when you have the time.' - -'I don't know how to thank ye,' said he. 'It's when people are going -away that they find out how many friends they are leaving behind.' - -'In your case' said she, very modestly and prettily, 'it is not -difficult to count--you have only to say the whole country-side.' And -then she added: 'I heard of the lads that came all the way from Tongue.' - -'The wild fellows!--they had a long tramp here and back home again.' - -She looked at him rather hesitatingly. - -'There will be a great many coming to see you off to-morrow morning, -Ronald,' she said. - -'I should think not--I should think not,' he said. - -'Oh, but I know there will be. Every one is talking of it. And I was -thinking--if it was not too much trouble--if you were not too busy--I -was wondering if you would come along and say good-bye to my father and -mother this evening--I would rather have that than--than--with a crowd -of people standing by----' - -'Oh yes, certainly,' he said, at once. 'When will I come? Now, if ye -like.' - -'And Maggie too?' - -'Yes, yes, why not?' - -'And about my album, Ronald?' - -'Well,' said he, with not a little embarrassment, 'I have not written -anything in it yet; but I will give it to you in the morning; and--and -if there's nothing in it, then ye must just understand that I could not -get anything good enough, and I will send something from Glasgow----' - -'Indeed no,' said she promptly. 'Why should you trouble about a thing -like that? Write your name in the book, Ronald, and that will be -enough.' - -The three of them now went outside, and the door was shut behind them. -It was a beautiful night; the moon was slowly rising over the solitudes -of Strath-Terry; and the lake was like a sheet of silver. They were -rather silent as they walked along the gray highway; to-morrow was to -make a difference to all of their lives. - -When they reached the Doctor's cottage, and when Ronald and Maggie were -ushered into the parlour, it was clear that the visit had been expected; -for there was cake on the table, and there were plates and knives, and a -decanter of sherry, and a number of wine-glasses. And not only was the -big good-humoured Doctor as friendly as ever, but even the awe-inspiring -little Dresden-china lady condescended, in these unusual circumstances, -to be gracious. Of course the talk was all about Ronald's going away, -and his prospects in Glasgow, and so forth; and Mrs. Douglas took care -to impress him with the fact that, on the occasion of Lord Ailine having -recently spent an evening with them, his lordship had distinctly -approved of the step Ronald had taken, and hoped it might turn out well -in every way. - -'Will there be any office work, Ronald?' the Doctor asked. - -'I suppose so, for a time.' - -'You'll not like that, my lad.' - -'I'll have to take what comes, like other folk,' was the simple answer. - -How pretty Meenie was on this last evening! She did not say much; and -she hardly ever looked at him; but her presence, then as ever, seemed to -bring with it an atmosphere of gentleness and sweetness; and when, by -chance, she did happen to regard him, there was a kind of magic wonder -in her eyes that for the moment rather bedazzled him and made his -answers to these good people's inquiries somewhat inconsecutive. For -they were curious to know about his plans and schemes; and showed much -interest in his welfare; while all the time he sate thinking of how -strange Glasgow would be without the chance of catching a glimpse of -Meenie anywhere; and wondering whether his dream-sweetheart--the -imaginary Meenie whom he courted and wooed and won in these idle verses -of his--would be nearer to him there, or would fade gradually away and -finally disappear. - -'In any case, Ronald,' said Mrs. Douglas--and she thus addressed him for -the first time, 'you have a good friend in his lordship.' - -'I know that.' - -'I suppose I am breaking no confidence,' continued the little dame, in -her grand way, 'in saying that he plainly intimated to us his -willingness, supposing that you were not as successful as we all hope -you may be--I say, his lordship plainly intimated to us that he would -always have a place open for you somewhere.' - -'Yes, I think he would do that,' Ronald said; 'but when a man has once -put his hand to the plough he must not go back.' - -And perhaps, for one feeble moment of indecision, he asked himself what -had ever tempted him to put his hand to the plough, and to go away from -this quiet security and friendliness and peace. But it was only for a -moment. Of course, all that had been argued out before. The step had -been taken; forwards, and not backwards, he must go. Still, to be -sitting in this quiet little room--with the strange consciousness that -Meenie was so near--watching the nimble, small fingers busy with her -knitting--and wondering when she would raise those beautiful, deep, -tender, clear eyes; and to think that on the morrow hour after hour -would be placing a greater and greater distance between him and the -possibility of any such another evening--nay, that it was not only miles -but years, and perhaps a whole lifetime, that he was placing between her -and him--that was no joyful kind of a fancy. If it had been Meenie who -was going away, that would have been easier to bear. - -_'Call her back, Clebrig; Mudal, call;_ -_Ere all of the young springtime be flown'_ - -he would have cried to hill and river and loch and glen, knowing that -sooner or later Love Meenie would come back from Glasgow Town. But his -own going away was very different--and perhaps a final thing. - -By and by he rose, and begged to be excused. Maggie might stay for a -while longer with Miss Douglas, if she liked; as for him, he had some -matters to attend to. And so they bade him good-bye, and wished him -well, and hoped to hear all good things of him. Thus they parted; and -he went out by himself into the clear moonlight night. - -But he did not go home. A strange unrest and longing had seized him; a -desire to be alone with the silence of the night; perhaps some angry -impatience that he could not make out so much as a few trivial verses -for this beautiful girl-friend whom he might never see again. He could -write about his dream-sweetheart easily enough; and was there to be -never a word for Meenie herself? So he walked down to the river; and -wandered along the winding and marshy banks--startling many wildfowl the -while--until he reached the lake. There he launched one of the cobles, -and pulled out to the middle of the still sheet of water; and took the -oars in again. By this time the redshank and curlews and plover had -quieted down once more; there was a deadly stillness all around; and he -had persuaded himself that he had only come to have a last look at the -hills and the loch and the moorland wastes that Meenie had made magical -for him in the years now left behind; and to bid farewell to these; and -carry away in his memory a beautiful picture of them. - -It was a lonely and a silent world. There was not a sound save the -distant murmur of a stream; no breath of wind came down from the Clebrig -slopes to ruffle the broad silver sweeps of moonlight on the water; the -tiny hamlet half hidden among the trees gave no sign of life. The -cottage he had left--the white front of it now palely clear in the -distance--seemed a ghostly thing: a small, solitary, forsaken thing, in -the midst of this vast amphitheatre of hills that stood in awful commune -with the stars. On such a night the wide and vacant spaces can readily -become peopled; phantoms issue from the shadows of the woods and grow -white in the open; an unknown wind may arise, bringing with it strange -singing from the northern seas. And if he forgot the immediate purpose -of the verses that he wanted; if he forgot that he must not mention the -name of Meenie; if he saw only the little cottage, and the moonlit loch, -and the giant bulk of Clebrig that was keeping guard over the sleeping -hamlet, and watching that no sprites or spectres should work their evil -charms within reach of Meenie's half-listening ear--well, it was all a -fire in his blood and his brain, and he could not stay to consider. The -phantom-world was revealed; the silence now was filled as with a cry -from the lone seas of the far north; and, all impatient and eager and -half bewildered, he seemed to press forward to seize those visions and -that weird music ere both should vanish and be mute:-- - -_The moonlight lies on Loch Naver,_ - _And the night is strange and still;_ -_And the stars are twinkling coldly_ - _Above the Clebrig hill._ - -_And there by the side of the water,_ - _O what strange shapes are these!_ -_O these are the wild witch-maidens_ - _Down from the northern seas._ - -_And they stand in a magic circle,_ - _Pale in the moonlight sheen;_ -_And each has over her forehead_ - _A star of golden green._ - -_O what is their song?--of sailors_ - _That never again shall sail;_ -_And the music sounds like the sobbing_ - _And sighing that brings a gale._ - -_But who is she who comes yonder?--_ - _And all in white is she;_ -_And her eyes are open, but nothing_ - _Of the outward world can she see._ - -_O haste you back, Meenie, haste you,_ - _And haste to your bed again;_ -_For these are the wild witch-maidens_ - _Down from the northern main._ - -_They open the magic circle;_ - _They draw her into the ring;_ -_They kneel before her, and slowly_ - _A strange, sad song they sing--_ - -_A strange, sad song--as of sailors_ - _That never again shall sail;_ -_And the music sounds like the sobbing_ - _And sighing that brings a gale._ - -_O haste you back, Meenie, haste you,_ - _And haste to your bed again;_ -_For these are the wild witch-maidens_ - _Down from the northern main._ - -_'O come with us, rose-white Meenie,_ - _To our sea-halls draped with green:_ -_O come with us, rose-white Meenie,_ - _And be our rose-white queen!_ - -_'And you shall have robes of splendour,_ - _With shells and pearls bestrewn;_ -_And a sceptre olden and golden,_ - _And a rose-white coral throne._ - -_'And by day you will hear the music_ - _Of the ocean come nigher and nigher:_ -_And by night you will see your palace_ - _Ablaze with phosphor fire._ - -_'O come with us, rose-white Meenie,_ - _To our sea-halls draped with green;_ -_O come with us, rose-white Meenie,_ - _And be our rose-white queen!'_ - -_But Clebrig heard; and the thunder_ - _Down from his iron hand sped;_ -_And the band of the wild witch-maidens_ - _One swift shriek uttered, and fled._ - -_And Meenie awoke, and terror_ - _And wonder were in her eyes;_ -_And she looked at the moon-white valley,_ - _And she looked to the starlit skies._ - -_O haste you back, Meenie, haste you,_ - _And haste to your bed again;_ -_For these are the wild witch-maidens_ - _Down from the northern main._ - -_O hear you not yet their singing_ - _Come faintly back on the breeze?--_ -_The song of the wild witch-sisters_ - _As they fly to the Iceland seas._ - -_O hark--'tis a sound like the sobbing_ - _And sighing that brings a gale:_ -_A low, sad song--as of sailors_ - _That never again shall sail!_ - - -Slowly he pulled in to the shore again, and fastened up the boat; and -slowly he walked away through the silent and moonlit landscape, -revolving these verses in his mind, but not trying in the least to -estimate their value, supposing them to have any at all. Even when he -had got home, and in the stillness of his own room--for by this time -Maggie had gone to bed--was writing out the lines, with apparent ease -enough, on a large sheet of paper, it was with no kind of critical doubt -or anxiety. He could not have written them otherwise; probably he knew -he was not likely to make them any better by over-refining them. And -the reason why he put them down on the large sheet of paper was that -Meenie's name occurred in them; and she might not like that familiarity -to appear in her album; he would fold the sheet of paper and place it in -the book, and she could let it remain there or burn it as she chose. -And then he went and had his supper, which Maggie had left warm by the -fire, and thereafter lit a pipe--or rather two or three pipes, as it -befel, for this was the last night before his leaving Inver-Mudal, and -there were many dreams and reveries (and even fantastic possibilities) -to be dismissed for ever. - -The next morning, of course, there was no time or room for poetic -fancies. When he had got Maggie to take along the little book to the -Doctor's cottage, he set about making his final preparations, and here -he was assisted by his successor, one Peter Munro. Finally he went to -say good-bye to the dogs. - -'Good-bye, doggies, good-bye,' said he, as they came bounding to the -front of the kennel, pawing at him through the wooden bars, and barking -and whining, and trying to lick his hand. 'Good-bye, Bess! Good-bye, -Lugar--lad, lad, we've had many a day on the hill together.' - -And then he turned sharply to his companion. - -'Ye'll not forget what I told you about that dog, Peter?' - -'I will not,' said the other. - -'If I thought that dog was not to be looked after, I would get out my -rifle this very minute and put a bullet through his head--though it -would cost me L7. Mind what I've told ye now; if he's not fed separate, -he'll starve; he's that gentle and shy that he'll not go near the trough -when the others are feeding. And a single cross word on the hill will -spoil him for the day--mind you tell any strange gentlemen that come up -with his lordship--some o' them keep roaring at dogs as if they were -bull-calves. There's not a better setter in the county of Sutherland -than that old Lugar--but he wants civil treatment.' - -'I'll look after him, never fear, Ronald,' his companion said. 'And now -come away, man. Ye've seen to everything; and the mail-gig will be here -in half an hour.' - -Ronald was still patting the dogs' heads, and talking to them--he seemed -loth to leave them. - -'Come away, man,' his companion urged. 'All the lads are at the inn, -and they want to have a parting glass with you. Your sister and every -one is there, and everything is ready.' - -'Very well,' said he, and he turned away rather moodily. - -But when they were descended from the little plateau into the highway he -saw that Meenie Douglas was coming along the road--and rather quickly; -and for a minute he hesitated, lest she should have some message for -him. - -'Oh, Ronald,' she said, and he hardly noticed that her face was rather -pale and anxious, 'I wanted to thank you--I could not let you go away -without thanking you--it--it is so beautiful----' - -'I should beg your pardon,' said he, with his eyes cast down, 'for -making use of your short name----' - -'But, Ronald,' she said very bravely (though after a moment's -hesitation, as if she had to nerve herself), 'whenever you think of any -of us here, I hope you will think of me by that name always--and now, -good-bye!' - -He lifted his eyes to hers for but a second--for but a second only, and -yet, perhaps, with some sudden and unforeseen and farewell message on -his part, and on hers some swift and not overglad guessing. - -'Good-bye!' - -They shook hands in silence, and then she turned and went away; and he -rejoined his companion and then they went on together. But Meenie did -not re-enter the cottage. She stole away down to the river, and lingered -by the bridge, listening. For there were faint sounds audible in the -still morning air. - -The mail-cart from the north came rattling along, and crossed the -bridge, and went on towards the inn, and again there was silence, but -for these faint sounds. And now she could make out the thin echoes of -the pipes--no doubt one of the young lads was playing--_Lochiel's away -to France_, perhaps, or _A Thousand Blessings_, for surely no one, on -such an occasion, would think of _Macrimmon's Lament_-- - -_'Macrimmon shall no more return_ -_Oh! never, never more return!'_ - - -It would be something joyous they were playing there to speed him on his -way; and the 'drink at the door'--the _Deoch an Dhoruis_--would be going -the round; and many would be the hand-shaking and farewell. And then, -by and by, as she sate there all alone and listening, she heard a faint -sound of cheering--and that was repeated, in a straggling sort of -fashion; and thereafter there was silence. The mail-cart had driven away -for the south. - -Nor even now did she go back to the cottage. She wandered away through -the wild moorland wastes--hour after hour, and aimlessly; and when, by -chance, a shepherd or crofter came along the road, she left the highway -and went aside among the heather, pretending to seek for wild-flowers or -the like: for sometimes, if not always, there was that in the beautiful, -tender Highland eyes which she would have no stranger see. - - - - - *CHAPTER IX.* - - *SOUTHWARDS.* - - -As for him, it was a sufficiently joyous departure; for some of the lads -about were bent on accompanying him on the mail-car as far as Lairg; and -they took with them John Macalpine and his weather-worn pipes to cheer -them by the way; and at Crask they each and all of them had a glass of -whisky; and on the platform at Lairg railway-station the clamour of -farewell was great. And even when he had got quit of that noisy crew, -and was in the third-class compartment, and thundering away to the -south, his thoughts and fancies were eager and ardent and glad enough; -and his brain was busy with pictures; and these were altogether of a -joyful and hopeful kind. Already he saw himself on that wide -estate--somewhere or other in the Highlands he fondly trusted; draining -and planting and enclosing here; there pruning and thinning and felling; -manufacturing charcoal and tar; planning temporary roads and bridges; -stacking bark and faggots; or discussing with the head-keeper as to the -desirability or non-desirability of reintroducing capercailzie. And if -the young American lady and her father should chance to come that way, -would he not have pleasure and pride in showing them over the -place?--nay, his thoughts went farther afield, and he saw before him -Chicago, with its masts and its mighty lake, and himself not without a -friendly grip of welcome on getting there. As for Meenie, where would -she be in those coming and golden and as yet distant days? Far away -from him, no doubt; and what else could he expect?--for now he saw her -among the fine folk assembled at the shooting-lodge in Glengask--and -charming all of them with her sweet and serious beauty and her gentle -ways--and again he pictured her seated on the white deck of Sir -Alexander's yacht, a soft south wind filling the sails, and the happy -gray-blue Highland eyes looking forward contentedly enough to the yellow -line of the Orosay shore. That was to be her future--fair and shining; -for always he had associated Meenie with beautiful things--roses, the -clear tints of the dawn, the singing of a lark in the blue; and who -could doubt that her life would continue so, through these bright and -freshly-coming years? - -Yes, it was a glad enough departure for him; for he was busy and eager, -and only anxious to set to work at once. But by and by, when the first -novelty and excitement of the travelling was beginning to wear off, he -suddenly discovered that the little Maggie, seated in the corner there, -was stealthily crying. - -'What, what, lass?' said he cheerfully. 'What is it now?' - -She did not answer; and so he had to set to work to comfort her; making -light of the change; painting in glowing colours all that lay before -them; and promising that she should write to Miss Douglas a complete -account of all her adventures in the great city. He was not very -successful, for the little lass was sorely grieved over the parting from -the few friends she had in the world; but at least it was an occupation; -and perhaps in convincing her he was likewise convincing himself that -all was for the best, and proving that people should be well content to -leave the monotony and dulness of a Highland village for the wide -opportunities of Glasgow. - -But even he, with all his eager hopes and ambitions, was chilled to the -heart when at last they drew near to the giant town. They had spent the -night in Inverness, for he had some business to transact there on behalf -of Lord Ailine; and now it was afternoon--an afternoon dull and dismal, -with an east wind blowing that made even the outlying landscape they had -come through dreary and hopeless. Then, as they got nearer to the city, -such suggestions of the country as still remained grew more and more -grim; there were patches of sour-looking grass surrounded by damp stone -walls; gaunt buildings soot-begrimed and gloomy; and an ever-increasing -blue-gray mist pierced by tall chimneys that were almost spectral in the -dulled light. He had been to Glasgow before, but chiefly on one or two -swift errands connected with guns and game and fishing-rods; and he did -not remember having found it so very melancholy-looking a place as this -was. He was rather silent as he got ready for leaving the train. - -He found his brother Andrew awaiting them; and he had engaged a cab, for -a slight drizzle had begun. Moreover, he said he had secured for Ronald -a lodging right opposite the station; and thither the younger brother -forthwith transferred his things; then he came down the -hollow-resounding stone stair again, and got into the cab, and set out -for the Reverend Andrew's house, which was on the south side of the -city. - -And what a fierce and roaring Maelstrom was this into which they now -were plunged! The dusky crowds of people, the melancholy masses of -dark-hued buildings, the grimy flagstones, all seemed more or less -phantasmal through the gray veil of mist and smoke; but always there -arose the harsh and strident rattle of the tram-cars and the waggons and -carts--a confused, commingled, unending din that seemed to fill the -brain somehow and bewilder one. It appeared a terrible place this, with -its cold gray streets and hazy skies, and its drizzle of rain; when, in -course of time, they crossed a wide bridge, and caught a glimpse of the -river and the masts and funnels of some ships and steamers, these were -all ghost-like in the thin, ubiquitous fog. Ronald did not talk much, -for the unceasing turmoil perplexed and confused him; and so the stout, -phlegmatic minister, whose bilious-hued face and gray eyes were far from -being unkindly in their expression, addressed himself mostly to the -little Maggie, and said that Rosina and Alexandra and Esther and their -brother James were all highly pleased that she was coming to stay with -them, and also assured her that Glasgow did not always look so dull and -miserable as it did then. - -At length they stopped in front of a house in a long, unlovely, -neutral-tinted street; and presently two rather weedy-looking girls, who -turned out to be Rosina and Alexandra, were at the door, ready to -receive the new-comers. Of course it was Maggie who claimed their first -attention; and she was carried off to her own quarters to remove the -stains of travel (and of tears) from her face; as for Ronald, he was -ushered at once into the parlour, where his sister-in-law--a tall, thin -woman, with a lachrymose face, but with sufficiently watchful -eyes--greeted him in a melancholy way, and sighed, and introduced him to -the company. That consisted of a Mr. M'Lachlan--a large, -pompous-looking person, with a gray face and short-cropped white hair, -whose cool stare of observation and lofty smile of patronage instantly -made Ronald say to himself, 'My good friend, we shall have to put you -into your proper place;' Mrs. M'Lachlan, an insignificant woman, dowdily -dressed; and finally, Mr. Weems, a little, old, withered man, with a -timid and appealing look coming from under bushy black eyebrows--though -the rest of his hair was gray. This Mr. Weems, as Ronald knew, was in a -kind of fashion to become his coach. The poor old man had been -half-killed in a railway-accident; had thus been driven from active -duty; and now, with a shattered constitution and a nervous system all -gone to bits, managed to live somehow on the interest of the -compensation-sum awarded him by the railway-company. He did not look -much of a hardy forester; but if his knowledge of land and timber -measuring and surveying, and of book-keeping and accounts, was such as -to enable him to give this stalwart pupil a few practical lessons, so -far well; and even the moderate recompense would doubtless be a welcome -addition to his income. - -And now this high occasion was to be celebrated by a 'meat-tea,' for the -Reverend Andrew was no stingy person, though his wife had sighed and -sighed again over the bringing into the house of a new mouth to feed. -Maggie came downstairs, accompanied by the other members of the family; -Mr. M'Lachlan was invited to sit at his hostess's right hand; the others -of them took their seats in due course; and the minister pronounced a -long and formal blessing, which was not without a reference or two to -the special circumstances of their being thus brought together. And if -the good man spoke apparently under the assumption that the Deity had a -particular interest in this tea-meeting in Abbotsford Place, it was -assuredly without a thought of irreverence; to himself the occasion was -one of importance; and the way of his life led him to have -continual--and even familiar--communion with the unseen Powers. - -But it was not Ronald's affairs that were to be the staple of -conversation at this somewhat melancholy banquet. It very soon appeared -that Mr. M'Lachlan was an elder--and a ruling elder, unmistakably--of -Andrew Strang's church, and he had come prepared with a notable proposal -for wiping off the debt of the same. - -'Ah'm not wan that'll gang back from his word,' he said, in his pompous -and raucous voice, and he leaned back in his chair, and crossed his -hands over his capacious black satin waistcoat, and gazed loftily on his -audience. 'Wan hundred pounds--there it is, as sure as if it was in my -pocket this meenit--and there it'll be when ye get fower ither members -o' the congregation to pit doon their fifty pounds apiece. Not but that -there's several in the church abler than me to pit doon as much; but ye -ken how it is, Mr. Strang, the man makes the money and the woman spends -it; and there's mair than one family we ken o' that should come forrit -on an occasion like this, but that the money rins through the fingers o' -a feckless wife. What think ye, noo, o' Mrs. Nicol setting up her -powny-carriage, and it's no nine years since Geordie had to make a -composition? And they tell me that Mrs. Paton's lasses, when they gang -doon the waiter--and not for one month in the year will they let that -house o' theirs at Dunoon--they tell me that the pairties and dances -they have is jist extraordinar' and the wastry beyond a' things. Ay, -it's them that save and scrimp and deny themselves that's expected to do -everything in a case like this--notwithstanding it's a public -debt--mind, it's a public debt, binding on the whole congregation; but -what ah say ah'll stand to--there's wan hundred pounds ready, when -there's fower ithers wi' fifty pounds apiece--that's three hundred -pounds--and wi' such an example before them, surely the rest o' the -members will make up the remaining two hundred and fifty--surely, -surely.' - -'It's lending to the Lord,' said the minister's wife sadly, as she -passed the marmalade to the children. - -The conversation now took the form of a discussion as to which of the -members might reasonably be expected to come forward at such a juncture; -and as Ronald had no part or interest in this matter he made bold to -turn to Mr. Weems, who sate beside him, and engage him in talk on their -own account. Indeed, he had rather taken a liking for this timorous -little man, and wished to know more about him and his belongings and -occupations; and when Mr. Weems revealed to him the great trouble of his -life--the existence of a shrill-voiced chanticleer in the backyard of -the cottage adjoining his own, out somewhere in the Pollokshaws -direction--Ronald was glad to come to his help at once. - -'Oh, that's all right,' said he. 'I'll shoot him for you.' - -But this calm proposal was like to drive the poor little man daft with -terror. His nervous system suffered cruelly from the skirling of the -abominable fowl; but even that was to be dreaded less than a summons and -a prosecution and a deadly feud with his neighbour, who was a drunken, -quarrelsome, cantankerous shoemaker. - -'But, God bless me,' Ronald said, 'it's not to be thought of that any -human being should be tortured like that by a brute beast. Well, -there's another way o' settling the hash o' that screeching thing. You -just go and buy a pea-shooter--or if one of the laddies will lend you a -tin whistle, that will do; then go and buy twopence-worth of antibilious -pills--indeed, I suppose any kind would serve; and then fire half a -dozen over into the back-yard; my word, when the bantam gentleman has -picked up these bonny looking peas, and swallowed them, he'll no be for -flapping his wings and crowing, I'm thinking; he'll rather be for -singing the tune of "Annie Laurie." But maybe you're not a good shot -with a pea-shooter? Well, I'll come over and do it for you early some -morning, when the beast's hungry.' - -But it was difficult for any one to talk, even in the most subdued and -modest way, with that harsh and strident voice laying down the law at -the head of the table. And now the large-waistcoated elder was on the -subject of the temperance movement; arraigning the government for not -suppressing the liquor-traffic altogether; denouncing the callous -selfishness of those who were inclined to temporise with the devil, and -laying at their door all the misery caused by the drunkenness of their -fellow-creatures; and proudly putting in evidence his own position in -the city of Glasgow--his authority in the church--the regard paid to his -advice--and the solid, substantial slice of the world's gear that he -possessed--as entirely due to the fact that he had never, not even as a -young man, imbibed one drop of alcohol. Now Ronald Strang was -ordinarily a most abstemious person--and no credit to him, nor to any -one in the like case; for his firm physique and his way of living -hitherto had equally rendered him independent of any such artificial aid -(though a glass of whisky on a wet day on the hillside did not come -amiss to him, and his hard head could steer him safely through a fair -amount of jollification when those wild lads came down from Tongue). -But he was irritated by that loud and raucous voice; he resented the -man's arrogance and his domineering over the placid and phlegmatic -Andrew, who scarcely opened his mouth; and here and there he began to -put in a sharp saying or two that betokened discontent and also a coming -storm. 'They used to say that cleanliness was next to godliness; but -nowadays ye would put total abstinence half a mile ahead of it,' he -would say, or something of the kind; and in due course these two were -engaged in a battle-royal of discussion. It shall not be put down here; -for who was ever convinced--in morals, or art, or literature, or -anything else--by an argument? it needs only be said that the elder, -being rather hard pressed, took refuge in Scriptural authority. But -alas! this was not of much avail; for the whole family of the East -Lothian farmer (not merely the student one of them) had been brought up -with exceeding care, and taught to give chapter and verse for -everything; so that when Mr. M'Lachlan sought to crush his antagonist -with the bludgeon of quotation he found it was only a battledore he had -got hold of. - -'"Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived -thereby is not wise,"' he would say severely. - -'"Wine which cheereth God and man,"' the other would retort. '"Wine -that maketh glad the heart of man." What make ye of these?' - -'"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath babbling?--they that tarry -long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." What better -authority can we have?' - -'Ay, man, the wise king said that; but it wasna his last word. "Give -strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that -be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember -his misery no more."' - -'The devil quoting Scripture for his own ends,' the Reverend Andrew -interposed, with a mild facetiousness. - -'It's a dreadful thing to hear in a minister's house,' said the -minister's wife, appealing to her neighbour, Mrs. M'Lachlan. - -'What is? A verse from the Proverbs of Solomon?' Ronald said, turning -to her quite good-naturedly. - -But instantly he saw that she was distressed, and even more lachrymose -than ever; and he knew that nothing would convince her that he was not a -child of wrath and of the devil; and he reproached himself for having -entered into any discussion of any kind whatever in this house, where -Maggie was to live--he hoped in perfect accord and amity. As for -himself, he wished only to be out of it. He was not in his right -element. The vulgar complacency of the rich elder irritated him; the -melancholy unreason of his sister-in-law depressed him. He foresaw that -not here was any abiding-place for him while he sojourned in the great -city. - -But how was he to get away? They lingered and dawdled over their -tea-drinking in a most astonishing fashion; his brother being the most -intemperate of all of them, and obviously accounting thereby for his -pallid and bilious cheeks. Moreover, they had returned to that fruitful -topic of talk--the capability of this or the other member of the -congregation to subscribe to the fund for paying off the debt on the -church; and as this involved a discussion of everybody's ways and means, -and of his expenditure, and the manner of living of himself, his wife, -his sons, and daughters and servants, the very air seemed thick with -trivial and envious tittle-tattle, the women-folk, of course, being more -loquacious than any. - -'Lord help us,' said Ronald to himself, as he sate there in silence, -'this house would be a perfect paradise for an Income-tax Commissioner.' - -However, the fourth or fifth tea-pot was exhausted at last; the minister -offered up a prolonged thanksgiving; and Ronald thought that now he -might get away--and out into the freer air. But that was not to be as -yet. His brother observed that it was getting late; that all the -members of the household were gathered together; and they might -appropriately have family worship now. So the two servant-girls were -summoned in to clear the table, and that done, they remained; the -minister brought the family Bible over from the sideboard; and all sate -still and attentive, their books in their hand, while he sought out the -chapter he wanted. It was the Eighth of the Epistle to the Romans; and -he read it slowly and elaborately, but without any word of comment or -expounding. Then he said that they would sing to the praise of the Lord -the XCIII. Psalm--himself leading off with the fine old tune of -_Martyrdom_; and this the young people sang very well indeed, though -they were a little interfered with by the uncertain treble of the -married women and the bovine baritone of the elder. Thereafter the -minister offered up a prayer, in which very pointed reference was made -to the brother and sister who had come from the far mountains to dwell -within the gates of the city; and then all of them rose, and the -maidservants withdrew, and those remaining who had to go began to get -ready for their departure. - -'Come over and see us soon again,' the minister said to him, as they -followed him into the lobby; but the minister's wife did not repeat that -friendly invitation. - -'Ronald,' the little Maggie whispered--and her lips were rather -tremulous, 'if you hear from Meenie, will you let me know?' - -'But I am not likely to hear from her, lass,' said he, with his hand -upon her shoulder. 'You must write to her yourself, and she will -answer, and send ye the news.' - -'Mind ye pass the public-houses on the way gaun hame,' said the elder, -by way of finishing up the evening with a joke: Ronald took no notice, -but bade the others good-bye, and opened the door and went out. - -When he got into the street his first startled impression was that the -world was on fire--all the heavens, but especially the southern heavens, -were one blaze of soft and smoky blood-red, into which the roofs and -chimney-stacks of the dusky buildings rose solemn and dark. A pulsating -crimson it was, now dying away slightly, again gleaming up with a sudden -fervour; and always it looked the more strange and bewildering because -of the heavy gloom of the buildings and the ineffectual lemon-yellow -points of the gas-lamps. Of course he remembered instantly what this -must be--the glow of the ironworks over there in the south; and -presently he had turned his back on that sullen radiance, and was making -away for the north side of the city. - -But when he emerged from the comparative quiet of the southern -thoroughfares into the glare and roar of Jamaica Street and Argyll -Street, all around him there seemed even more of bewilderment than in -the daytime. The unceasing din of tramway-cars and vans and carts still -filled the air; but now there was everywhere a fierce yellow blaze of -gaslight--glowing in the great stocked windows, streaming out across the -crowded pavements, and shining on the huge gilded letters and sprawling -advertisements of the shops. Then the people--a continuous surge, as of -a river; the men begrimed for the most part, here and there two or three -drunk and bawling, the women with cleaner faces, but most of them -bareheaded, with Highland shawls wrapped round their shoulders. The -suffused crimson glow of the skies was scarcely visible now; this -horizontal blaze of gas-light killed it; and through the yellow glare -passed the dusky phantasmagoria of a city's life--the cars and horses, -the grimy crowds. Buchanan Street, it is true, was less noisy; and he -walked quickly, glad to get out of that terrible din; and by and by, -when he got away up to Port Dundas Road, where his lodging was, he found -the world grown quite quiet again, and gloomy and dark, save for the -solitary gas-lamps and the faint dull crimson glow sent across from the -southern skies. - -He went up the stone stair, was admitted to the house, and shown into -the apartment that his brother had secured for him. It had formerly -been used as a sitting-room, with a bedroom attached; but now these were -separated, and a bed was placed at one end of the little parlour, which -was plainly and not untidily furnished. When his landlady left he -proceeded to unpack his things, getting out first his books, which he -placed on the mantel-shelf to be ready for use in the morning; then he -made some further disposition of his belongings; and then--then somehow -he fell away from this industrious mood, and became more and more -absent, and at last went idly to the window, and stood looking out -there. There was not much to be seen--a few lights about the Caledonian -Railway Station, some dusky sheds, and that faint red glow in the sky. - -But--Inver-Mudal? Well, if only he had reflected, Inver-Mudal must at -this moment have been just about as dark as was this railway station and -the neighbourhood surrounding it--unless, indeed, it happened to be a -clear starlit night away up there in the north, with the heavens shining -beautiful and benignant over Clebrig, and the loch, and the little -hamlet among the trees. However, that was not the Inver-Mudal he was -thinking of; it was the Inver-Mudal of a clear spring day, with sweet -winds blowing across the moors, and the sunlight yellow on Clebrig's -slopes, and Loch Naver's waters all a rippling and dazzling blue. And -Mr. Murray standing at the door of the inn, and smoking his pipe, and -joking with any one that passed; the saucy Nelly casting glances among -the lads; Harry with dark suspicions of rats wherever he could find a -hole in the wall of the barn; Maggie, under instruction of Duncan the -ploughman, driving the two horses hauling a harrow over the rough red -land; everywhere the birds singing; the young corn showing green; and -then--just as the chance might be--Meenie coming along the road, her -golden-brown hair blown by the wind, her eyes about as blue as Loch -Naver's shining waters, and herself calling, with laughter and scolding, -to Maggie to desist from that tomboy work. And where was it all gone -now? He seemed to have shut his eyes upon that beautiful clear, joyous -world; and to have plunged into a hideous and ghastly dream. The roar -and yellow glare--the black houses--the lurid crimson in the sky--the -terrible loneliness and silence of this very room--well, he could not -quite understand it yet. But perhaps it would not always seem so -bewildering; perhaps one might grow accustomed in time?--and teach one's -self to forget? And then again he had resolved that he would not read -over any more the verses he had written in the olden days about Meenie, -and the hills and the streams and the straths that knew her and loved -her--for these idle rhymes made him dream dreams; that is to say, he had -almost resolved--he had very nearly resolved--that he would not read -over any more the verses he had written about Meenie. - - - - - *CHAPTER X.* - - *GRAY DAYS.* - - -But, after all, that first plunge into city-life had had something of -the excitement of novelty; it was the settling down thereafter to the -dull monotonous round of labour, in this lonely lodging, with the -melancholy gray world of mist surrounding him and shutting him in, that -was to test the strength of his resolve. The first day was not so bad; -for now and again he would relieve the slow tedium of the hours by doing -a little carpentering about the room; and the sharp sound of hammer and -nail served to break in upon that hushed, slumberous murmur of the great -city without that seemed a mournful, distant, oppressive thing. But the -next day of this solitary life (for it was not until the end of the week -he was to see Mr. Weems) was dreadful. The dull, silent gray hours would -not go by. Wrestling with Ewart's _Agricultural Assistant_, or -Balfour's _Elements of Botany_, or with distressing problems in -land-surveying or timber-measuring, he would think the time had passed; -and then, going to the window for a moment's relief to eye and brain, he -would see by the clock of the railway station that barely half an hour -had elapsed since last he had looked at the obdurate hands. How he -envied the porters, the cab-drivers, the men who were loading and -unloading the waggons; they seemed all so busy and contented; they were -getting through with their work; they had something to show for their -labour; they had companions to talk to and joke with; sometimes he -thought he could hear them laughing. And ah, how much more he envied -the traveller who drove up and got leisurely out of the cab, and had his -luggage carried into the station, himself following and disappearing -from view! Whither was he going, then, away from this great, melancholy -city, with its slow hours, and wan skies, and dull, continuous, -stupefying murmur? Whither, indeed!--away by the silver links of Forth, -perhaps, with the castled rock of Stirling rising into the windy blue -and white; away by the wooded banks of Allan Water and the bonny Braes -of Doune; by Strathyre, and Glenogle, and Glenorchy; and past the -towering peaks of Ben Cruachan, and out to the far-glancing waters of -the western seas. Indeed it is a sore pity that Miss Carry Hodson, in a -fit of temper, had crushed together and thrust into the bottom of the -boat the newspaper containing an estimate of Ronald's little Highland -poem; if only she had handed it on to him, he would have learned that -the sentiment of nostalgia is too slender and fallacious a thing for any -sensible person to bother his head about; and, instead of wasting his -time in gazing at the front of a railway station, he would have gone -resolutely back to Strachan's _Agricultural Tables_ and the measuring -and mapping of surface areas. - -On the third day he grew desperate. - -'In God's name let us see if there's not a bit of blue sky anywhere!' he -said to himself; and he flung his books aside, and put on his Glengarry -cap, and took a stick in his hand, and went out. - -Alas! that there were no light pattering steps following him down the -stone stair; the faithful Harry had had to be left behind, under charge -of Mr. Murray of the inn. And indeed Ronald found it so strange to be -going out without some companion of the kind that when he passed into -the wide, dull thoroughfare, he looked up and down everywhere to see if -he could not find some homeless wandering cur that he could induce to go -with him. But there was no sign of dog-life visible; for the matter of -that there was little sign of any other kind of life; there was nothing -before him but the wide, empty, dull-hued street, apparently terminating -in a great wilderness of india-rubber works and oil-works and the like, -all of them busily engaged in pouring volumes of smoke through tall -chimneys into the already sufficiently murky sky. - -But when he got farther north, he found that there were lanes and alleys -permeating this mass of public works; and eventually he reached a canal, -and crossed that, deeming that if he kept straight on he must reach the -open country somewhere. As yet he could make out no distance; blocks of -melancholy soot-begrimed houses, timber-yards, and blank stone walls -shut in the view on every hand; moreover there was a brisk north wind -blowing that was sharply pungent with chemical fumes and also gritty -with dust; so that he pushed on quickly, anxious to get some clean air -into his lungs, and anxious, if that were possible, to get a glimpse of -green fields and blue skies. For, of course, he could not always be at -his books; and this, as he judged, must be the nearest way out into the -country; and he could not do better than gain some knowledge of his -surroundings, and perchance discover some more or less secluded sylvan -retreat, where, in idle time, he might pass an hour or so with his -pencil and his verses and his memories of the moors and hills. - -But the farther out he got the more desolate and desolating became the -scene around him. Here was neither town nor country; or rather, both -were there; and both were dead. He came upon a bit of hawthorn-hedge; -the stems were coal-black, the leaves begrimed out of all semblance to -natural foliage. There were long straight roads, sometimes fronted by a -stone wall and sometimes by a block of buildings--dwelling-houses, -apparently, but of the most squalid and dingy description; the windows -opaque with dirt; the 'closes' foul; the pavements in front unspeakable. -But the most curious thing was the lifeless aspect of this dreary -neighbourhood. Where were the people? Here or there two or three -ragged children would be playing in the gutter; or perhaps, in a dismal -little shop, an old woman might be seen, with some half-withered apples -and potatoes on the counter. But where were the people who at one time -or other must have inhabited these great, gaunt, gloomy tenements? He -came to a dreadful place called Saracen Cross--a very picture of -desolation and misery; the tall blue-black buildings showing hardly any -sign of life in their upper flats; the shops below being for the most -part tenantless, the windows rudely boarded over. It seemed as if some -blight had fallen over the land, first obliterating the fields, and then -laying its withering hand on the houses that had been built on them. And -yet these melancholy-looking buildings were not wholly uninhabited; here -or there a face was visible--but always of women or children; and -perhaps the men-folk were away at work somewhere in a factory. Anyhow, -under this dull gray sky, with a dull gray mist in the air, and with a -strange silence everywhere around, the place seemed a City of the Dead; -he could not understand how human beings could live in it at all. - -At last, however, he came to some open spaces that still bore some -half-decipherable marks of the country, and his spirits rose a little. -He even tried to sing 'O say, will you marry me, Nelly Munro?'--to force -himself into a kind of liveliness, as it were, and to prove to himself -that things were not quite so bad after all. But the words stuck in his -throat. His voice sounded strangely in this silent and sickly solitude. -And at last he stood stock-still, to have a look round about him, and to -make out what kind of a place this was that he had entered into. - -Well, it was a very strange kind of place. It seemed to have been -forgotten by somebody, when all the other land near was being ploughed -through by railway-lines and heaped up into embankments. Undoubtedly -there were traces of the country still remaining--and even of -agriculture; here and there a line of trees, stunted and nipped by the -poisonous air; a straggling hedge or two, withered and black; a patch of -corn, of a pallid and hopeless colour; and a meadow with cattle feeding -in it. But the road that led through these bucolic solitudes was quite -new and made of cinders; in the distance it seemed to lose itself in a -network of railway embankments; while the background of this strange -simulacrum of a landscape--so far as that could be seen through the pall -of mist and smoke--seemed to consist of further houses, ironworks, and -tall chimney-stacks. Anything more depressing and disconsolate he had -never witnessed; nay, he had had no idea that any such God-forsaken -neighbourhood existed anywhere in the world; and he thought he would -much rather be back at his books than wandering through this dead and -spectral land. Moreover it was beginning to rain--a thin, pertinacious -drizzle that seemed to hang in the thick and clammy air; and so he -struck away to the right, in the direction of some houses, guessing that -there he would find some way of getting back to the city other than that -ghastly one he had come by. - -By the time he had reached these houses--a suburb or village this seemed -to be that led in a straggling fashion up to the crest of a small -hill--it was raining heavily. Now ordinarily a gamekeeper in the -Highlands is not only indifferent to rain, but apparently incapable of -perceiving the existence of it. When was wet weather at Inver-Mudal -ever known to interfere with the pursuits or occupations of anybody? -Why, the lads there would as soon have thought of taking shelter from -the rain as a terrier would. But it is one thing to be walking over wet -heather in knickerbocker-stockings and shoes, the water quite clean, and -the exercise keeping legs and feet warm enough, and it is entirely -another thing to be walking through mud made of black cinders, with -clammy trousers flapping coldly round one's ankles. Nay, so miserable -was all this business that he took refuge in an entry leading into one -of those 'lands' of houses; and there he stood, in the cold stone -passage, with a chill wind blowing through it, looking out on the -swimming pavements, and the black and muddy road, and the dull stone -walls, and the mournful skies. - -At length, the rain moderating somewhat, he issued out from this -shelter, and set forth for the town. A tramway-car passed him, but he -had no mind to be jammed in amongst a lot of elderly women, all damp and -with dripping umbrellas. Nay, he was trying to convince himself that -the very discomfort of this dreary march homeward--through mud and -drizzle and fog--was a wholesome thing. After that glimpse of the kind -of country that lay outside the town--in this direction at least--there -would be less temptation for him to throw down his books and go off for -idle strolls. He assured himself that he ought to be glad that he found -no verdant meadows and purling brooks; that, on the contrary, the aspect -of this suburban territory was sufficiently appalling to drive him back -to his lodgings. All the same, when he did arrive there, he was somewhat -disheartened and depressed; and he went up the stone staircase slowly; -and when he entered that solitary, dull little room, and sate down, he -felt limp and damp and tired--tired, after a few miles' walk! And then -he took to his books again, with his mouth set hard. - -Late that night he was sitting as usual alone, and rather absently -turning over his papers; and already it had come to this that now, when -he chanced to read any of these writings of his of former days, they -seemed to have been written by some one else. Who was this man, then, -that seemed to go through the world with a laugh and a song, as it were; -rating this one, praising that; having it all his own way; and with -never a thought of the morrow? But there was one piece in particular -that struck home. It was a description of the little terrier; he had -pencilled it on the back of an envelope one warm summer day when he was -lying at full length on the heather, with Harry not half a dozen yards -off, his nose between his paws. Harry did not know that his picture was -being taken. - -_Auld, gray, and grizzled; yellow een;_ - _A nose as brown's a berry;_ -_A wit as sharp as ony preen--_ - _That's my wee chieftain Harry._ - -_Lord sakes!--the courage of the man!_ - _The biggest barn-yard ratten,_ -_He'll snip him by the neck, o'er-han',_ - _As he the deil had gatten._ - -_And when his master's work on hand,_ - _There's none maun come anear him;_ -_The biggest Duke in all Scotland,_ - _My Harry's teeth would fear him._ - -_But ordinar' wise like fowl or freen,_ - _He's harmless as a kitten;_ -_As soon he'd think o' worryin'_ - _A hennie when she's sittin'._ - -_But Harry, lad, ye're growin' auld;_ - _Your days are gettin' fewer;_ -_And maybe Heaven has made a fauld_ - _For such wee things as you are._ - -_And what strange kintra will that be?_ - _And will they fill your coggies?_ -_And whatna strange folk there will see_ - _There's water for the doggies?_ - -_Ae thing I brawly ken; it's this--_ - _Ye may hae work or play there;_ -_But if your master once ye miss,_ - _I'm bound ye winna stay there._ - -It was the last verse that struck home. It was through no failure of -devotion on the part of the faithful Harry that he was now at -Inver-Mudal; it was his master that had played him false, and severed -the old companionship. And he kept thinking about the little terrier; -and wondering whether he missed his master as much as his master missed -him; and wondering whether Meenie had ever a word for him as she went -by--for she and Harry had always been great friends. Nay, perhaps -Meenie might not take it ill if Maggie wrote to her for news of the -little dog; and then Meenie would answer; and might not her letter take -a wider scope, and say something about the people there, and about -herself? Surely she would do that; and some fine morning the answer--in -Meenie's handwriting--would be delivered in Abbotsford Place; and he -knew that Maggie would not be long in apprising him of the same. -Perhaps, indeed, he might himself become possessed of that precious -missive; and bring it away with him; and from time to time have a glance -at this or that sentence of it--in Meenie's own actual handwriting--when -the long dull work of the day was over, and his fancy free to fly away -to the north again, to Strath-Terry and Clebrig and Loch Naver, and the -neat small cottage with the red blinds in the windows. It seemed to him -a long time now since he had left all of these; he felt as though -Glasgow had engulfed him: while the day of his rescue--the day of the -fulfilment of his ambitious designs--was now growing more and more -distant and vague and uncertain, leaving him only the slow drudgery of -these weary hours. But Meenie's letter would be a kind of talisman; to -see her handwriting would be like hearing her speak; and surely this -dull little lodging was quiet enough, so that in the hushed silence of -the evening, he, reading those cheerful phrases, might persuade himself -that it was Meenie's voice he was listening to, with the quiet, clear, -soft laugh that so well he remembered. - -And so these first days went by; and he hoped in time to get more -accustomed to this melancholy life; and doggedly he stuck to the task he -had set before him. As for the outcome of it all--well, that did not -seem quite so facile nor so fine a thing as it had appeared before he -came away from the north; but he left that for the future to decide; and -in the meantime he was above all anxious not to perplex himself by the -dreaming of idle dreams. He had come to Glasgow to work; not to build -impossible castles in the air. - - - - - *CHAPTER XI.* - - *KATE.* - - -And yet it was a desperately hard ordeal; for this man was by nature -essentially joyous, and sociable, and fitted to be the king of all good -company; and the whole of his life had been spent in the open, in brisk -and active exercise; and sunlight and fresh air were to him as the very -breath of his nostrils. But here he was, day after day, week after -week, chained to these dismal tasks; in solitude; with the far white -dream of ambition becoming more and more distant and obscured; and with -a terrible consciousness ever growing upon him that in coming away from -even the mere neighbourhood of Meenie, from the briefest companionship -with her, he had sacrificed the one beautiful thing, the one precious -possession, that his life had ever held for him or would hold. What -though the impalpable barrier of Glengask and Orosay rose between him -and her? He was no sentimental Claude Melnotte; he had common sense; he -accepted facts. Of course Meenie would go away in due time. Of course -she was destined for higher things. But what then? What of the -meanwhile? Could anything happen to him quite so wonderful, or worth -the striving for, as Meenie's smile to him as she met him in the road? -What for the time being made the skies full of brightness, and made the -pulses of the blood flow gladly, and the day become charged with a kind -of buoyancy of life? And as for these vague ambitions for the sake of -which he had bartered away his freedom and sold himself into -slavery--towards what did they tend? For whom? The excited atmosphere -the Americans had brought with them had departed now: alas! this other -atmosphere into which he had plunged was dull and sad enough, in all -conscience; and the leaden days weighed down upon him; and the slow and -solitary hours would not go by. - -One evening he was coming in to the town by way of the Pollokshaws road; -he had spent the afternoon hard at work with Mr. Weems, and was making -home again to the silent little lodging in the north. He had now been a -month and more in Glasgow; and had formed no kind of society or -companionship whatever. Once or twice he had looked in at his -brother's; but that was chiefly to see how the little Maggie was going -on; his sister-in-law gave him no over-friendly welcome; and, indeed, -the social atmosphere of the Reverend Andrew's house was far from being -congenial to him. As for the letter of introduction that Meenie had -given him to her married sister, of course he had not had the -presumption to deliver that; he had accepted the letter, and thanked -Meenie for it--for it was but another act of her always thoughtful -kindness; but Mrs. Gemmill was the wife of a partner in a large -warehouse; and they lived in Queen's Crescent; and altogether Ronald had -no thought of calling on them--although to be sure he had heard that -Mrs. Gemmill had been making sufficiently minute and even curious -inquiries with regard to him of a member of his brother's congregation -whom she happened to know. No; he lived his life alone; wrestling with -the weariness of it as best he might; and not quite knowing, perhaps, -how deeply it was eating into his heart. - -Well, he was walking absently home on this dull gray evening, watching -the lamp-lighter adding point after point to the long string of golden -stars, when there went by a smartly appointed dog-cart. He did not -particularly remark the occupants of the vehicle, though he knew they -were two women, and that one of them was driving; his glance fell rather -on the well-groomed cob, and he thought the varnished oak dog-cart -looked neat and business-like. The next second it was pulled up; there -was a pause, during which time he was of course drawing nearer; and then -a woman's voice called to him-- - -'Bless me, is that you, Ronald?' - -He looked up in amazement. And who was this, then, who had turned her -head round and was now regarding him with her laughing, handsome, bold -black eyes? She was a woman apparently of five-and-thirty or so, but -exceedingly well preserved and comely; of pleasant features and fresh -complexion; and of rather a manly build and carriage--an appearance that -was not lessened by her wearing a narrow-brimmed little billycock hat. -And then, even in this gathering dusk, he recognised her; and -unconsciously he repeated her own words-- - -'Bless me, is that you, Mrs.--Mrs.--Menzies--' for in truth he had -almost forgotten her name. - -'Mrs. This or Mrs. That!' the other cried. 'I thought my name was -Kate--it used to be anyway. Well, I declare! Come, give us a shake of -your hand--auntie, this is my cousin Ronald!--and who would hae thought -of meeting you in Glasgow, now!' - -'I have been here a month and more,' Ronald said, taking the proffered -hand. - -'And never to look near me once--there's friendliness! Eh, and what a -man you've grown to--ye were just a bit laddie when I saw ye last--but -aye after the lasses, though--oh aye--bless me, what changes there hae -been since then!' - -'Well, Katie, it's not you that have changed much anyway,' said he, for -he was making out again the old familiar girlish expression in the -firmer features of the mature woman. - -'And what's brought ye to Glasgow?' said she--but then she corrected -herself: 'No, no; I'll have no long story wi' you standing on the -pavement like that. Jump up behind, Ronald, lad, and come home wi' us, -and we'll have a crack thegither----' - -'Katie, dear,' said her companion, who was a little, white-faced, -cringing and fawning old woman, 'let me get down and get up behind. -Your cousin must sit beside ye----' - -But already Ronald had swung himself on to the after seat of the -vehicle; and Mrs. Menzies had touched the cob with her whip; and soon -they were rattling away into the town. - -'I suppose ye heard that my man was dead?' said she presently, and -partly turning round. - -'I think I did,' he answered rather vaguely. - -'He was a good man to me, like Auld Robin Gray,' said this strapping -widow, who certainly had a very matter-of-fact way in talking about her -deceased husband. 'But he was never the best of managers, poor man. -I've been doing better ever since. We've a better business, and not a -penny of mortgage left on the tavern.' - -'Weel ye may say that, Katie,' whined the old woman. 'There never was -such a manager as you--never. Ay, and the splendid furniture--it was -never thought o' in his time--bless 'm! A good man he was, and a kind -man; but no the manager you are, Katie; there's no such another tavern -in a' Glesca.' - -Now although the cousinship with Ronald claimed by Mrs. Menzies did not -exist in actual fact,--there was some kind of remote relationship, -however,--still, it must be confessed that it was very ungrateful and -inconstant of him to have let the fate and fortunes of the pretty Kate -Burnside (as she was in former days) so entirely vanish from his mind -and memory. Kate Burnside was the daughter of a small farmer in the -Lammermuir district; and the Strangs and Burnsides were neighbours as -well as remotely related by blood. But that was not the only reason why -Ronald ought to have remembered a little more about the stalwart, -black-eyed, fresh-cheeked country wench who, though she was some seven -or eight years or more his senior, he had boldly chosen for his -sweetheart in his juvenile days. Nay, had she not been the first -inspirer of his muse; and had he not sung this ox-eyed goddess in many a -laboured verse, carefully constructed after the manner of Tannahill or -Motherwell or Allan Cunningham? The 'lass of Lammer Law' he called her -in these artless strains; and Kate was far from resenting this frank -devotion; nay, she even treasured up the verses in which her radiant -beauties were enumerated; for why should not a comely East Lothian wench -take pleasure in being told that her cheeks outshone the rose, and that -the 'darts o' her bonnie black een' had slain their thousands, and that -her faithful lover would come to see her, ay, though the Himalayas -barred his way? But then, alas!--as happens in the world--the faithful -lover was sent off into far neighbourhoods to learn the art and mystery -of training pointers and setters; and Kate's father died, and the family -dispersed from the farm; Kate went into service in Glasgow, and there -she managed to capture the affections of an obese and elderly publican -whom--she being a prudent and sensible kind of a creature--she forthwith -married; by and by, through partaking too freely of his own wares, he -considerately died, leaving her in sole possession of the tavern (he had -called it a public-house, but she soon changed all that, and the place -too, when she was established as its mistress); and now she was a -handsome, buxom, firm-nerved woman, who could and did look well after -her own affairs; who had a flourishing business, a comfortable bank -account, and a sufficiency of friends of her own way of thinking; and -whose raven-black hair did not as yet show a single streak of gray. It -was all this latter part of Kate Burnside's--or rather, Mrs. -Menzies's--career of which Ronald was so shamefully ignorant; but she -speedily gave him enough information about herself as they drove through -the gas-lit streets, for she was a voluble, high-spirited woman, who -could make herself heard when she chose. - -'Ay,' said she, at length, 'and where have ye left the good wife, -Ronald?' - -'What goodwife?' said he. - -'Ye dinna tell me that you're no married yet?' - -'Not that I know of,' said he. - -'What have ye been about, man? Ye were aye daft about the lasses; and -ye no married yet? What have ye been about, man, to let them a' escape -ye?' - -'Some folk have other things to think of,' said he evasively. - -'Dinna tell me,' she retorted. 'I ken weel what's upper-most in the -mind o' a handsome lad like you. Weel, if ye're no married, ye're the -next door to it, I'll be bound. What's she like?' - -'I'll tell ye when I find her,' said he drily. - -'Ye're a dark one; but I'll find ye out, my man.' - -She could not continue the conversation, for they were about to cross -the bridge over the Clyde, and the congested traffic made her careful. -And then again Jamaica Street was crowded and difficult to steer -through; but presently she left that for a quieter thoroughfare leading -off to the right; and in a few moments she had pulled up in front of a -large tavern, close by a spacious archway. - -'Auntie, gang you and fetch Alec to take the cob round, will ye?' said -she; and then Ronald, surmising that she had now reached home, leapt to -the ground, and went to the horse's head. Presently the groom appeared, -and Kate Menzies descended from her chariot. - -Now in Glasgow, for an establishment of this kind to be popular, it must -have a side entrance--the more the merrier, indeed--by which people can -get into the tavern without being seen; but besides this it soon -appeared that Mrs. Menzies had a private right of way of her own. She -bade Ronald follow her; she went through the archway; produced a key and -opened a door; and then, passing along a short lobby, he found himself -in what might be regarded as the back parlour of the public-house, but -was in reality a private room reserved by Mrs. Menzies for herself and -her intimate friends. And a very brilliant little apartment it was; -handsomely furnished and shining with stained wood, plate glass, and -velvet; the gas-jets all aglow in the clear globes; the table in the -middle laid with a white cloth for supper, all sparkling with crystal -and polished electro-plate. Moreover (for business is business) this -luxurious little den commanded at will complete views of the front -premises; and there was also a door leading thither; but the door was -shut, and the red blinds were drawn over the two windows, so that the -room looked quite like one in a private dwelling. - -'And now, my good woman,' said Mrs. Menzies, as she threw her hat and -cloak and dog-skin gloves into a corner, 'just you mak' them hurry up -wi' supper; for we're just home in time; and we'll want another place at -the table. And tell Jeannie there's a great friend o' mine come in, if -she can get anything special--Lord's sake, Ronald, if I had kent I was -going to fall in with you I would have looked after it mysel'.' - -'Ye need not bother about me,' said he, 'for supper is not much in my -way--not since I came to the town. Without the country air, I think one -would as lief not sit down to a table at all.' - -'Oh, I can cure ye o' that complaint,' she said confidently; and she -rang the bell. - -Instantly the door was opened, and he caught a glimpse of a vast -palatial-looking place, with more stained wood and plate glass and -velvet, and with several smartly-dressed young ladies standing or moving -behind the long mahogany counters; moreover, one of these--a tall and -serious-eyed maiden--now stood at the partly opened door. - -'Gin and bitters, Mary,' said Mrs. Menzies briskly--she was at this -moment standing in front of one of the mirrors, complacently smoothing -her hair with her hands, and setting to rights her mannish little -necktie. - -The serious-eyed handmaiden presently reappeared, bringing a small -salver, on which was a glass filled with some kind of a fluid, which she -presented to him. - -'What's this?' said he, appealing to his hostess. - -'Drink it and find out,' said she; 'it'll make ye jump wi' hunger, as -the Hielanman said.' - -He did as he was bid; and loudly she laughed at the wry face that he -made. - -'What's the matter?' - -'It's a devil of a kind of thing, that,' said he; for it was a first -experience. - -'Ay, but wait till ye find how hungry it will make ye,' she answered; -and then she returned from the mirror. 'And I'm sure ye'll no mind my -hair being a wee thing camstrairy, Ronald; there's no need for ceremony -between auld freens, as the saying is----' - -'But, look here, Katie, my lass,' said he--for perhaps he was a little -emboldened by that fiery fluid, 'I'm thinking that maybe I'm making -myself just a little too much at home. Now, some other time, when ye've -no company, I'll come in and see ye----' - -But she cut him short at once, and with some pride. - -'Indeed, I'll tell ye this, that the day that Ronald Strang comes into -my house--and into my own house too--that's no the day that he's gaun -out o't without eating and drinking. Ma certes, no! And as for company, -why there's none but auld mother Paterson--I ca' her auntie; but she's -no more my auntie than you are--ye see, my man, Ronald, a poor, -unprotected helpless widow woman maun look after appearances--for the -world's unco given to leein', as Shakespeare says. There, Ronald, that's -another thing,' she added suddenly--'ye'll take me to the theatre!--my -word, we'll have a box!' - -But these gay visions were interrupted by the reappearance of Mrs. -Paterson, who was followed by a maidservant bearing a dish on which was -a large sole, smoking hot. Indeed, it soon became apparent that this was -to be a very elaborate banquet, such as Ronald was not at all familiar -with; and all the care and flattering attention his hostess could pay -him she paid him, laughing and joking with him, and insisting on his -having the very best of everything, and eager to hand things to -him--even if she rather ostentatiously displayed her abundant rings in -doing so. And when mother Paterson said-- - -'What will ye drink, Katie dear? Some ale--or some porter?' - -The other stormily answered-- - -'Get out, ye daft auld wife! Ale or porter the first day that my cousin -Ronald comes into my own house? Champagne's the word, woman; and the -best! What will ye have, Ronald--what brand do ye like?--Moett and -Shandon?' - -Ronald laughed. - -'What do I know about such things?' said he. 'And besides, there's no -reason for such extravagance. There's been no stag killed the day.' - -'There's been no stag killed the day,' she retorted, 'but Ronald -Strang's come into my house, and he'll have the best that's in it, or my -name's no Kate Burnside--or Kate Menzies, I should say, God forgie me! -Ring the bell, auntie.' - -This time the grave-eyed barmaid appeared. - -'A bottle of Moett and Shandon, Mary.' - -'A pint bottle, m'm?' - -'A pint bottle--ye stupid idiot?' she said (but quite good-naturedly). -'A quart bottle, of course!' - -And then when the bottle was brought and the glasses filled, she said-- - -'Here's your health, Ronald; and right glad am I to see you looking so -weel--ye were aye a bonnie laddie, and ye've kept the promise o't--ay, -indeed, the whole o' you Strangs were a handsome family--except your -brother Andrew, maybe----' - -'Do ye ever see Andrew?' Ronald said; for a modest man does not like to -have his looks discussed, even in the most flattering way. - -Then loudly laughed Kate Menzies. - -'Me? Me gang and see the Reverend Andrew Strang? No fears! He's no one -o' my kind. He'd drive me out o' the house wi' bell, book, and candle. -I hae my ain friends, thank ye--and I'm going to number you amongst them -so long as ye stop in this town. Auntie, pass the bottle to Ronald!' - -And so the banquet proceeded--a roast fowl and bacon, an apple-tart, -cheese and biscuits and what not following in due succession; and all -the time she was learning more and more of the life that Ronald had led -since he had left the Lothians, and freely she gave him of her -confidences in return. On one point she was curiously inquisitive, and -that was as to whether he had not been in some entanglement with one or -other of the Highland lasses up there in Sutherlandshire; and there was -a considerable amount of joking on that subject, which Ronald bore -good-naturedly enough; finding it on the whole the easier way to let her -surmises have free course. - -'But ye're a dark one!' she said at length. 'And ye would hae me -believe that a strapping fellow like you hasna had the lasses rinnin' -after him? I'm no sae daft.' - -'I'll tell ye what it is, Katie,' he retorted, 'the lasses in the -Highlands have their work to look after; they dinna live a' in clover, -like the Glasgow dames.' - -'Dinna tell me--dinna tell me,' she said. - -And now, as supper was over and the table cleared, she went to a small -mahogany cabinet and opened it. - -'I keep some cigars here for my particular friends,' said Mrs. Menzies, -'but I'm sure I dinna ken which is the best. Come and pick for yourself, -Ronald lad; if you're no certain the best plan is to take the biggest.' - -'This is surely living on the fat of the land, Katie,' he protested. - -'And what for no?' said she boldly. 'Let them enjoy themselves that's -earned the right to it.' - -'But that's not me,' he said. - -'Well, it's me,' she answered. 'And when my cousin Ronald comes into my -house, it's the best that's in it that's at his service--and no great -wonder either!' - -Well, her hospitality was certainly a little stormy; but the handsome -widow meant kindly and well; and it is scarcely to be marvelled at -if--under the soothing influences of the fragrant tobacco--he was rather -inclined to substitute for this brisk and business-like Kate Menzies of -these present days the gentler figure of the Kate Burnside of earlier -years, more especially as she had taken to talking of those times, and -of all the escapades the young lads and lasses used to enjoy on -Hallowe'en night or during the first-footing at Hogmanay. - -'And now I mind me, Ronald,' she said, 'ye used to be a fine singer when -ye were a lad. Do ye keep it up still?' - -'I sometimes try,' he answered. 'But there's no been much occasion -since I came to this town. It's a lonely kind o' place, for a' the -number o' folk in it.' - -'Well, now ye're among friends, give us something!' - -'Oh, that I will, if ye like,' said he readily; and he laid aside his -cigar. - -And then he sang--moderating his voice somewhat, so that he should not -be heard in the front premises--a verse or two of an old favourite-- - -_'The sun rase sae rosy, the gray hills adorning,_ -_Light sprang the laverock, and mounted sae high,'_ - -and if his voice was quiet, still the clear, penetrating quality of it -was there; and when he had finished Kate Menzies said to him--after a -second of irresolution-- - -'Ye couldna sing like that when ye were a lad, Ronald. It's maist like -to gar a body greet.' - -But he would not sing any more that night; he guessed that she must have -her business affairs to attend to; and he was resolved upon going, in -spite of all her importunacy. However, as a condition, she got him to -promise to come and see her on the following evening. It was Saturday -night; several of her friends were in the habit of dropping in on that -night; finally, she pressed her entreaty so that he could not well -refuse; and, having promised, he left. - -And no doubt as he went home through the great, noisy, lonely city, he -felt warmed and cheered by this measure of human companionship that had -befallen him. As for Kate Menzies, it would have been a poor return for -her excessive kindness if he had stopped to ask himself whether her -robust _camaraderie_ did not annoy him a little. He had had plenty of -opportunities of becoming acquainted with the manners and speech and -ways of refined and educated women; indeed, there are few gamekeepers in -the Highlands who have not at one time or another enjoyed that -privilege. Noble and gracious ladies who, in the south, would as soon -think of talking to a door-mat as of entering into any kind of general -conversation with their butler or coachman, will fall quite naturally -into the habit--when they are living away in the seclusion of a Highland -glen with the shooting-party at the lodge--of stopping to have a chat -with Duncan or Hector the gamekeeper when they chance to meet, him -coming along the road with his dogs; and, what is more, they find him -worth the talking to. Then, again, had not Ronald been an almost daily -spectator of Miss Douglas's sweet and winning manners--and that -continued through years; and had not the young American lady, during the -briefer period she was in the north, made quite a companion of him in -her frank and brave fashion? He had almost to confess to himself that -there was just a little too much of Mrs. Menzies's tempestuous good -nature; and then again he refused to confess anything of the kind; and -quarrelled with himself for being so ungrateful. Why, the first bit of -real, heartfelt friendliness that had been shown him since he came to -this great city; and he was to examine it; and be doubtful; and wish -that the keeper of a tavern should be a little more refined! - -'Ronald lad,' he was saying to himself when he reached his lodging in -the dusky Port Dundas Road, 'it's over-fed stomachs that wax proud. -You'll be better minded if you keep to your books and plainer living.' - - - - - *CHAPTER XII.* - - *A SOCIAL EVENING.* - - -Looking forward to this further festivity he worked hard at his studies -all day, and it was not until nearly nine o'clock in the evening that he -went away down through the roaring streets to keep his engagement with -Kate Menzies. And very snug and comfortable indeed did the little -parlour look, with its clear glass globes and warmly-cushioned seats and -brilliant mirrors and polished wood. Kate herself (who was quite -resplendent in purple velvet and silver necklace and bangles) was -reading a sporting newspaper; old mother Paterson was sewing; there were -cigar-boxes on the table. - -'And what d'ye mean,' cried the handsome widow gaily, when he made his -appearance, 'by coming at this hour? Did not I tell ye we would expect -ye to supper?' - -'Would ye have me eat you out o' house and home, woman?' he said. -'Besides, I had some work to get through.' - -'Well, sit down and make yerself happy; better late than never; there's -the cigars-- - -'I would as lief smoke a pipe, Katie, if ye don't object--only that I'm -shamed to smoke in a fine place like this----' - -'What is't for, man? Do ye think I got it up for an exhibition--to be -put in a glass case! And what'll ye drink now, Ronald--some Moett and -Shandon?' - -'Indeed no,' said he. 'If I may light my pipe I want nothing else.' - -'But I canna bear an empty table,' said she. 'Here, auntie, get your -flounces and falderals out o' the road--bless us, woman, ye make the -place look like a milliner's shop! And bring out the punch-bowl frae -the chiffonnier--I want ye to see it, Ronald, for it was gien to my -gudeman by an auld freend o' his in Ayr, that got it from the last of -the lairds o' Garthlie. And if ane or twa o' them happen to come in -to-night we'll try a brew--for there's naething so wholesome, after a', -as the wine o' the country, and I can gie ye some o' the real stuff. -Will ye no try a drop the noo?' - -'No thank ye, no thank ye,' said he, for he had lit his pipe, and was -well content. - -'Well, well, we'll have one o' the lasses in to set the tumblers and the -glasses, for I canna thole to see a bare table; and in the meantime, -Ronald, you and me can hae a crack be oursels, and ye can tell me what -ye mean to do when ye get your certificate----' - -'If I get it, ye mean, lass.' - -'No fears,' she said confidently; 'ye were aye one o' the clever ones; -I'll warrant ye there's na skim-milk in your head where the brains -should be. But I want to ken what ye're ettling at after you've got the -certificate, and what's your plans, and the like; for I've been thinking -about it; and if there was any kind o' a starting needed--the loan of a -bit something in the way of a nest-egg, ye see--weel, I ken a place -where ye might get that, and ye wouldna have to whistle long at the yett -either.' - -Now there was no mistaking the generosity of this offer, however darkly -it might be veiled by Kate Menzies's figurative manner of speech; and it -was with none the less gratitude that he answered her and explained that -a head-forester traded with the capital of his employer, though, to be -sure, he might on entering a new situation have to find sureties for -him. - -'Is it caution-money ye mean, Ronald?' she said frankly. - -'Well, if a man had no one to speak for him--no one whose word they -would take,' he said to her (though all this was guess-work on his -part), 'they might ask him for security. There would be no payment of -money, of course, unless he robbed his employer; and then the sureties -would have to make that good as far as they had undertaken. But it's a -long way off yet, Katie, and hardly worth speaking about. I daresay -Lord Ailine would say a word for me.' - -'And is that a'?' she said, with a laugh. 'Is that a' the money's -wanted for--to guarantee the honesty o' one o' the Strangs o' -Whittermains? Weel, I'm no a rich woman, Ronald--for my money's maistly -sunk in the tavern--and doing weel enough there too--but if it's a -surety ye want, for three hunder pounds, ay, or five hunder pounds, just -you come to me, and the deil's in't if we canna manage it somehow.' - -'I thank ye for the offer anyway; I'm sure you mean it,' said he. - -'That lawyer o' mine,' she continued, 'is a dour chiel; he'll no let me -do this; and he's grumbling at that; and a poor widow woman is supposed -to hae nae soul o' her ain. I'm sure the fuss that he makes about that -cob, and only fifty-five guineas, and come o' the best Clydesdale -stock----' - -'But it was no the expense, it was no the expense, Katie dear,' whined -the old woman, 'it was the risk to your life frae sae high-mettled a -beast. Just think o't, at your time o' life, wi' a grand business, and -yoursel' the manager o' it, and wi' sae mony freends, think what it -would be if ye broke your neck----' - -'Broke your grandmother's fiddlestrings!' said she. 'The beast's as -quiet's a lamb. But that auld man, Peter Gunn. I suppose he's a good -lawyer--indeed, every one says that--but he's as pernickety as an auld -woman; and he'd mak' ye think the world was made o' silk paper, and ye -daurna stir a step for fear o' fa'in through. But you just give me the -word, Ronald, when the security's wanted; and we'll see if auld Peter -can hinder me frae doing what I ought to do for one o' my own kith and -kin.' - -They were thus talking when there came a knock at the outer door; then -there was a clamour of voices in the little lobby; and presently there -were ushered into the room three visitors, who were forthwith introduced -to Ronald, with a few words of facetious playfulness from the widow. -There was first a Mr. Jaap, a little old man with Jewish features, bald -on the top of his head, but with long, flowing gray hair behind; a -mild-looking old man, but with merry eyes nevertheless--and indeed all -of them seemed to have been joking as they came in. Then there was a -Mr. Laidlaw, a younger man, of middle height, and of a horsey type; -stupid-looking, rather, but not ill-natured. The third was Captain -M'Taggart, a large heavy man, with a vast, radiant, Bardolphian face, -whose small, shrewd, twinkling blue eyes had the expression rather of a -Clyde skipper given to rough jesting and steady rum-drinking (and he was -all that) than of the high-souled, child-hearted sailor of romance. - -'Sit ye down, sit ye down,' their hostess said gaily. 'Here, captain, is -a job for ye; here's the punch-bowl that we only have on great days, ye -ken; and your brew is famous--whether wi' old Jamaica or Long John. Set -to work now--here's the sugar and the lemons ready for ye--for ye maun -a' drink the health o' my cousin here that's come frae Sutherland.' - -'Frae Sutherland, say ye, Mistress?' the big skipper said, as he reached -over for the lemons. 'Ye should ca' him your kissin frae the Hielans -then. Do ye ken that story, Laidlaw? D'ye ken that yin about the -Hielan kissins, Jaap? Man, that's a gude yin! have ye no heard it? -Have ye no heard it, Mistress?' - -'Tell us what it is first, and we'll tell you afterwards,' said she -saucily. - -'Weel, then,' said he--and he desisted from his preparations for the -punch-making, for he was famous along the Broomielaw as a story-teller, -and liked to keep up his reputation, 'it was twa young lasses, twa -cousins they were, frae the west side o' Skye--and if there's ony place -mair Hielan than that, it's no me that ever heard o't--and they were -ta'en into service in an inn up about the Gairloch or Loch Inver, or one -o' they lochs. Both o' them were good-looking lasses, mind ye; but one -o' them just unusual handsome. Well, then, there happened to come to -the inn an English tourist--a most respectable old gentleman he was; and -it was one o' they two lasses--and no the brawest o' them either--that -had to wait on him: but he was a freendly auld man; and on the mornin' -o' his gaun awa he had to ring for something or other, and when she -brought it to him, he said to her, jist by way o' compliment, ye ken, -"You are a very good-looking girl, do you know, Flora?" And of course -the lass was very well pleased; but she was a modest lassie too; and she -said, "Oh no, sir; but I hef heard them say my kissin was peautiful!" -"Your what?" said he. "My kissin, sir--" "Get away, you bold hussy! -Off with you at once, or I'll ring for your master--you brazen -baggage!"--and to this very day, they tell me, the poor lass do'esna ken -what on earth it was that made the auld man into a madman; for what harm -had she done in telling him that her cousin was better-looking than -herself?' - -This recondite joke was received with much laughter by the company; and -even Ronald had to admit that the Clyde skipper's imitation of the -Highland accent was very fairly well done. But joke-making is dull work -with empty glasses; and so Captain M'Taggart set himself seriously to -the business of brewing that bowl of punch, while Kate Menzies polished -the silver ladle to an even higher extreme of brilliancy. - -Now these three old cronies of the widow's had betrayed a little -surprise on finding a stranger installed in their favourite howf; and -perhaps they might have been inclined to resent the intrusion had not -Kate Menzies very speedily intimated her views upon the subject in -unmistakable language. Her 'cousin Ronald' was all her cry; it was -Ronald this and Ronald that; and whatever Ronald said, that was enough, -and decisive. For, of course, after a glass or so of punch, the -newcomers had got to talking politics--or what they took to be politics; -and Ronald, when he was invited to express his opinion, proved to be on -the unpopular side; nor did he improve his position by talking with open -scorn of a great public agitation then going on--indeed, he so far -forgot himself as to define stump-oratory as only another form of -foot-and-mouth disease. But at least he had one strenuous backer, and -neither Mr. Laidlaw nor Mr. Jaap nor the big skipper was anxious to -quarrel with a controversialist who had such abundant stores of -hospitality at her command. Moreover, Kate Menzies was in the habit of -speaking her mind; was it not better, for the sake of peace and -quietness, to yield a little? This cousin of hers from the Highlands -could parade some book-learning it is true; and he had plenty of -cut-and-dried theories that sounded plausible enough; and his apparent -knowledge of the working of American institutions was sufficiently good -for an argument--so long as one could not get at the real facts; but -they knew, of course, that, with time to get at these facts and to -furnish forth replies to his specious reasonings, they could easily -prove their own case. In the meantime they would be magnanimous. For -the sake of good fellowship--and to oblige a lady--they shifted the -subject. - -Or rather she did. - -'I suppose you'll be going to the Harmony Club to-night?' she said. - -'For a while, at least,' replied the captain. 'Mr. Jaap's new song is -to be sung the nicht; and we maun get him an encore for't. Not that it -needs us; "Caledonia's hills and dales" will be a' ower Glasgow before a -fortnight's out; and it's young Tam Dalswinton that's to sing it. -Tam'll do his best, no fear.' - -'It's little ye think,' observed Mrs. Menzies, with a kind of superior -air, 'that there's somebody not a hundred miles frae here that can sing -better than a' your members and a' your professionals put thegither. -The Harmony Club! If the Harmony Club heard _him_, they might tak tent -and learn a lesson.' - -'Ay, and wha's he when he's at hame, Mistress?' Captain M'Taggart said. - -'He's not fifty miles away frae here anyway,' she said. 'And if I was to -tell ye that he's sitting not three yards away frae ye at this meenit?' - -'Katie, woman, are ye daft?' Ronald said, and he laughed, but his -forehead grew red all the same. - -'No, I'm no,' she answered confidently. 'I ken what I'm saying as weel -as most folk. Oh, I've heard some o' the best o' them--no at the -Harmony Club, for they're too high and mighty to let women bodies -in--but at the City Hall concerts and in the theatres; and I've got a -good enough ear, too; I ken what's what; and I ken if my cousin Ronald -were to stand up at the Saturday Evening Concerts, and sing the song he -sung in this very room last night, I tell ye he would take the shine out -o' some o' them!' - -'He micht gie us a screed now,' Mr. Laidlaw suggested--his somewhat -lack-lustre eyes going from his hostess to Ronald. - -'Faith, no!' Ronald said, laughing, 'there's been ower great a flourish -beforehand. The fact is, Mrs. Menzies here----' - -'I thought I telled ye my name was Kate?' she said sharply. - -'Kate, Cat, or Kitten, then, as ye like, woman, what I mean to say is -that ower long a grace makes the porridge cold. Some other time--some -other time, lass.' - -'Ay, and look here, Mr. Jaap,' continued the widow, who was determined -that her cousin's superior qualifications should not be hidden, 'ye are -aye complaining that ye canna get anything but trash to set your tunes -to. Well, here's my cousin; I dinna ken if he still keeps at the trade, -but as a laddie he could just write ye anything ye liked right aff the -reel, and as good as Burns, or better. There's your chance now. -Everybody says your music's jist splendid--and the choruses taken up in -a meenit--but you just ask Ronald there to gie ye something worth while -making a song o'.' - -Now not only did the old man express his curiosity to see some of -Ronald's work in this way, and also the gratification it would give him -to set one of his songs to music, but Ronald was likewise well pleased -with the proposal. His own efforts in adapting tunes to his verses he -knew were very amateurish; and would it not be a new sensation--a little -pride commingled with the satisfaction perhaps--to have one of his songs -presented with an original air all to itself, and perhaps put to the -test of being sung before some more or less skilled audience? He knew -he had dozens to choose from; some of them patriotic, others convivial, -others humorous in a kind of way: from any of these the musician was -welcome to select as he liked. The love songs about Meenie were a class -apart. - -And now that they had got away from the thrashed-out straw of politics -to more congenial themes, these three curiously assorted boon-companions -proved to be extremely pleasant and good-natured fellows; and when, at -length, they said it was time for them to be off to the musical club, -they cordially invited Ronald to accompany them. He was nothing loth, -for he was curious to see the place; and if Mrs. Menzies grumbled a -little at being left alone she consoled herself by hinting that her -_protege_ could teach them a lesson if he chose to do so. - -'When ye've listened for a while to their squalling, Ronald, my man, -jist you get up and show them how an East Lothian lad can do the trick.' - -'What's that, Mistress? I thought ye said your cousin was frae the -Hielans,' the skipper broke in. - -'Frae the Hielans? Frae East Lothian, I tell ye; where I come frae -mysel'; and where ye'll find the brawest lads and lasses in the breadth -o' Scotland,' she added saucily. - -'And they dinna stay a' at hame either,' remarked the big skipper, with -much gallantry, as the visitors prepared to leave. - -They went away through the noisy, crowded, glaring streets, and at -length entered a spacious dark courtyard, at the head of which was a -small and narrow entrance. The skipper led the way; but as they passed -up the staircase they became aware of a noise of music overhead; and -when they reached the landing, they had to pause there, so as not to -interrupt the proceedings within. It was abundantly clear what these -were. A man's voice was singing 'Green grow the rashes, O' to a smart -and lively accompaniment on the piano; while at the end of each verse -joined in a sufficiently enthusiastic chorus: - -_'Green grow the rashes, O,_ -_Green grow the rashes, O,_ -_The sweetest hours that e'er I spent,_ -_Were spent among the lasses, O.'_ - -and that was repeated: - -_'Green grow the rashes, O,_ -_Green grow the rashes, O,_ -_The sweetest hours that e'er I spen',_ -_Were spent among the lasses, O.'_ - -Then there was silence. The skipper now opened the door; and, as they -entered, Ronald found himself near the head of a long and -loftily-ceilinged apartment, the atmosphere of which was of a pale blue -cast, through the presence of much tobacco smoke. All down this long -room were twin rows of small tables, at which little groups of friends -or acquaintances sate--respectable looking men they seemed, many of them -young fellows, more of them of middle age, and nearly all of them -furnished with drinks and pipes or cigars. At the head of the room was -a platform, not raised more than a foot from the floor, with a piano at -one end of it; and in front of the platform was a special semicircular -table, presided over by a bland rubicund gentleman, to whom Ronald was -forthwith introduced. Indeed, the newcomers were fortunate enough to -find seats at this semicircular table; and when beverages were called -for and pipes lit, they waited for the further continuance of the -proceedings. - -These were of an entirely simple and ingenuous character, and had no -taint whatsoever of the ghastly make-believe of wit, the mean swagger, -and facetious innuendo of the London music hall. Now a member of the -Club, when loudly called upon by the general voice, would step up to the -platform and sing some familiar Scotch ballad; and again one of the -professional singers in attendance (they did not appear in swallow-tail -and white tie, by the way, but in soberer attire) would 'oblige' with -something more ambitious; but throughout there was a prevailing tendency -towards compositions with a chorus; and the chorus grew more universal -and more enthusiastic as the evening proceeded. Then occasionally -between the performances there occurred a considerable interval, during -which the members of the Club would make brief visits to the other -tables; and in this way Ronald made the acquaintance of a good number of -those moderately convivial souls. For, if there was a tolerable amount -of treating and its corresponding challenges, there was no drunkenness -apparent anywhere; there was some loud talking; and Captain M'Taggart -was unduly anxious that everybody should come and sit at the President's -table; but the greatest hilarity did not exceed bounds. It was to be -observed, however, that, as the evening drew on, it was the extremely -sentimental songs that were the chief favourites--those that mourned the -bygone days of boyhood and youth, or told of the premature decease of -some beloved Annie or Mary. - -Ronald was once or twice pressed to sing; but he good-naturedly refused. - -'Some other time, if I may have the chance, I will try to screw up my -courage,' he said. 'And by that time ye'll have forgotten what Mrs. -Menzies said: the East Lothian folk are wonderful for praising their own -kith and kin.' - -As to letting old Mr. Jaap have a song or two to set to music, that was -another and simpler matter; and he promised to hunt out one or two of -them. In truth, it would not be difficult, as he himself perceived, to -find something a little better than the 'Caledonia's hills and dales' -which was sung that night, and which was of a very familiar pattern -indeed. And Ronald looked forward with not a little natural -satisfaction to the possibility of one of his songs being sung in that -resounding hall; a poet must have his audience somewhere; and this, at -least, was more extensive than a handful of farm lads and lasses -collected together in the barn at Inver-Mudal. - -At about half-past eleven the entire company broke up and dispersed; and -Ronald, after thanking his three companions very heartily for their -hospitality during the evening, set off for his lodgings in the north of -the city. He was quite enlivened and inspirited by this unusual whirl -of gaiety; it had come into his sombre and lonely life as a startling -surprise. The rattle of the piano--the resounding choruses--the eager -talk of these boon-companions--all this was of an exciting nature; and -as he walked away through the now darkened thoroughfares, he began to -wonder whether he could not write some lilting verses in the old -haphazard way. He had not even tried such a thing since he came to -Glasgow; the measurement of surface areas and the classification of -Dicotyledons did not lead him in that direction. But on such a -gala-night as this, surely he might string some lines together--about -Glasgow lads and lasses, and good-fellowship, and the delights of a -roaring town? It would be an experiment, in any case. - -Well, when he had got home and lit the gas, and sate down to the -jingling task, it was not so difficult, after all. But there was an -undernote running through these verses that he had not contemplated when -he set out. When the first glow of getting them together was over, he -looked down the page, and then he put it away; in no circumstances could -this kind of song find its way into the Harmony Club; and yet he was not -altogether disappointed that it was so. - -_O Glasgow lasses are fair enough,_ - _And Glasgow lads are merry;_ -_But I would be with my own dear maid,_ - _A-wandering down Strath-Terry._ - -_And she would be singing her morning song,_ - _The song that the larks have taught her;_ -_A song of the northern seas and hills,_ - _And a song of Mudal-Water._ - -_The bands go thundering through the streets,_ - _The fifes and drums together;_ -_Far rather I'd hear the grouse-cock crow_ - _Among the purple heather;_ - -_And I would be on Ben Clebrig's brow,_ - _To watch the red-deer stealing_ -_In single file adown the glen_ - _And past the summer sheiling._ - -_O Glasgow lasses are fair enough,_ - _And Glasgow lads are merry;_ -_But ah, for the voice of my own dear maid,_ - _A-singing adown Strath-Terry!_ - - - - - *CHAPTER XIII.* - - *INDUCEMENTS.* - - -Ronald's friendship with the hospitable widow and his acquaintanceship -with those three boon-companions of hers grew apace; and many a merry -evening they all of them had together in the brilliant little parlour, -Ronald singing his own or any other songs without stint, the big skipper -telling elaborately facetious Highland stories, the widow bountiful with -her cigars and her whisky-toddy. And yet he was ill, ill at ease. He -would not admit to himself, of course, that he rather despised these new -acquaintances--for were they not most generous and kind towards -him?--nor yet that the loud hilarity he joined in was on his part at -times a trifle forced. Indeed, he could not very well have defined the -cause of this disquietude and restlessness and almost despair that was -present to his consciousness even when the laugh was at its loudest and -the glasses going round most merrily. But the truth was he had begun to -lose heart in his work. The first glow of determination that had -enabled him to withstand the depression of the dull days and the -monotonous labour had subsided now. The brilliant future the Americans -had painted for him did not seem so attractive. Meenie was away; -perhaps never to be met with more; and the old glad days that were -filled with the light of her presence were all gone now and growing ever -more and more distant. And in the solitude of the little room up there -in the Port Dundas Road--with the gray atmosphere ever present at the -windows, and the dull rumble of the carts and waggons without--he was -now getting into a habit of pushing aside his books for a while, and -letting his fancies go far afield; insomuch that his heart seemed to -grow more and more sick within him, and more and more he grew to think -that somehow life had gone all wrong with him. - -There is in Glasgow a thoroughfare familiarly known as Balmanno Brae. -It is in one of the poorer neighbourhoods of the town; and is in truth -rather a squalid and uninteresting place; but it has the one striking -peculiarity of being extraordinarily steep, having been built on the -side of a considerable hill. Now one must have a powerful imagination -to see in this long, abrupt, blue-gray thoroughfare--with its grimy -pavements and house-fronts, and its gutters running with dirty -water--any resemblance to the wide slopes of Ben Clebrig and the -carolling rills that flow down to Loch Naver; but all the same Ronald -had a curious fancy for mounting this long incline, and that at the -hardest pace he could go. For sometimes, in that little room, he felt -almost like a caged animal dying for a wider air, a more active work; -and here at least was a height that enabled him to feel the power of his -knees; while the mere upward progress was a kind of inspiriting thing, -one always having a vague fancy that one is going to see farther in -getting higher. Alas! there was but the one inevitable termination to -these repeated climbings; and that not the wide panorama embracing Loch -Loyal and Ben Hope and the far Kyle of Tongue, but a wretched little -lane called Rotten Row--a double line of gloomy houses, with here and -there an older-fashioned cottage with a thatched roof, and with -everywhere pervading the close atmosphere an odour of boiled herrings. -And then again, looking back, there was no yellow and wide-shining -Strath-Terry, with its knolls of purple heather and its devious rippling -burns, but only the great, dark, grim, mysterious city, weltering in its -smoke, and dully groaning, as it were, under the grinding burden of its -monotonous toil. - -As the Twelfth of August drew near he became more and more restless. He -had written to Lord Ailine to say that, if he could be of any use, he -would take a run up to Inver-Mudal for a week or so, just to see things -started for the season; but Lord Ailine had considerately refused the -offer, saying that everything seemed going on well enough, except, -indeed, that Lugar the Gordon setter was in a fair way of being spoilt, -for that, owing to Ronald's parting injunctions, there was not a man or -boy about the place would subject the dog to any kind of chastisement or -discipline whatever. And it sounded strange to Ronald to hear that he -was still remembered away up there in the remote little hamlet. - -On the morning of the day before the Twelfth his books did not get much -attention. He kept going to the window to watch the arrivals at the -railway station opposite, wondering whether this one or that was off and -away to the wide moors and the hills. Then, about mid-day, he saw a -young lad bring up four dogs--a brace of setters, a small spaniel, and a -big brown retriever--and give them over in charge to a porter. Well, -human nature could not stand this any longer. His books were no longer -thought of; on went his Glengarry cap; and in a couple of minutes he was -across the road and into the station, where the porter was hauling the -dogs along the platform. - -'Here, my man, I'll manage the doggies for ye,' he said, getting hold of -the chains and straps; and of course the dogs at once recognised in him -a natural ally and were less alarmed. A shambling, bow-legged porter -hauling at them they could not understand at all; but in the straight -figure and sun-tanned cheek and clear eye of the newcomer they -recognised features familiar to them; and then he spoke to them as if he -knew them. - -'Ay, and what's your name, then?--Bruce, or Wallace, or Soldier?--but -there'll no be much work for you for a while yet. It's you, you two -bonnie lassies, that'll be amongst the heather the morn; and well I can -see ye'll work together, and back each other, and just set an example to -human folk. And if ye show yourselves just a wee bit eager at the -beginning o' the day--well, well, well, we all have our faults, and that -one soon wears off. And what's your names, then?--Lufra, or Nell, or -Bess, or Fan? And you, you wise auld chiel--I'm thinking ye could get a -grip o' a mallard that would make him imagine he had got back into his -mother's nest--you're a wise one--the Free Kirk elder o' the lot'--for, -indeed, the rest of them were all pawing at him, and licking his hands, -and whimpering their friendship. The porter had to point out to him -that he, the porter, could not stand there the whole day with 'a wheen -dogs;' whereupon Ronald led these new companions of his along to the -dog-box that had been provided for them, and there, when they had been -properly secured, the porter left him. Ronald could still talk to them -however, and ask them questions; and they seemed to understand well -enough: indeed, he had not spent so pleasant a half-hour for many and -many a day. - -There chanced to come along the platform a little, wiry, elderly man, -with a wholesome-looking weather-tanned face, who was carrying a bundle -of fishing-rods over his shoulder; and seeing how Ronald was engaged he -spoke to him in passing and began to talk about the dogs. - -'Perhaps they're your dogs?' Ronald said. - -'No, no, our folk are a' fishing folk,' said the little old man, who was -probably a gardener or something of the kind, and who seemed to take -readily to this new acquaintance. 'I've just been in to Glasgow to get a -rod mended, and to bring out a new one that the laird has bought for -himself.' - -He grinned in a curious sarcastic way. - -'He's rather a wee man; and this rod--Lord sakes, ye never saw such a -thing! it would break the back o' a Samson--bless ye, the butt o't's -like a weaver's beam; and for our gudeman to buy a thing like -that--well, rich folk hae queer ways o' spending their money.' - -He was a friendly old man; and this joke of his master having bought so -tremendous an engine seemed to afford him so much enjoyment that when -Ronald asked to be allowed to see this formidable weapon he said at -once-- - -'Just you come along outside there, and we'll put it thegither, and -ye'll see what kind o' salmon-rod an old man o' five foot five thinks he -can cast wi'----' - -'If it's no taking up too much of your time,' Ronald suggested, but -eager enough he was to get a salmon-rod into his fingers again. - -'I've three quarters of an hour to wait,' was the reply, 'for I canna -make out they train books ava.' - -They went out beyond the platform to an open space, and very speedily -the big rod was put together. It was indeed an enormous thing; but a -very fine rod, for all that; and so beautifully balanced and so -beautifully pliant that Ronald, after having made one or two passes -through the air with it, could not help saying to the old man, and -rather wistfully too-- - -'I suppose ye dinna happen to have a reel about ye?' - -'That I have,' was the instant answer, 'and a brand new hundred-yard -line on it too. Would ye like to try a cast? I'm thinking ye ken -something about it.' - -It was an odd kind of place to try the casting-power of a salmon-rod, -this dismal no-man's-land of empty trucks and rusted railway-points and -black ashes; but no sooner had Ronald begun to send out a good -line--taking care to recover it so that it should not fray itself along -the gritty ground--than the old man perceived he had to deal with no -amateur. - -'Man, ye're a dab, and no mistake! As clean a line as ever I saw cast! -It's no the first time _you've_ handled a salmon-rod, I'll be bound!' - -'It's the best rod I've ever had in my hand,' Ronald said, as he began -to reel in the line again. 'I'm much obliged to ye for letting me try a -cast--it's many a day now since I threw a line.' - -They took the rod down and put it in its case. - -'I'm much obliged to ye,' Ronald repeated (for the mere handling of this -rod had fired his veins with a strange kind of excitement). 'Will ye -come and take a dram?' - -'No, thank ye, I'm a teetotaller,' said the other; and then he glanced -at Ronald curiously. 'But ye seem to ken plenty about dogs and about -fishing and so on--what are ye doing in Glasgow and the morn the -Twelfth? Ye are not a town lad?' - -'No, I'm not; but I have to live in the town at present,' was the -answer. 'Well, good-day to ye; and many thanks for the trial o' the -rod.' - -'Good-day, my lad; I wish I had your years and the strength o' your -shouthers.' - -In passing Ronald said good-bye again to the handsome setters and the -spaniel and the old retriever; and then he went on and out of the -station, but it was not to return to his books. The seeing of so many -people going away to the north, the talking with the dogs, the trial of -the big salmon-rod, had set his brain a little wild. What if he were to -go back and beg of the withered old man to take him with him--ay, even -as the humblest of gillies, to watch, gaff in hand, by the side of the -broad silver-rippling stream, or to work in a boat on a blue-ruffled -loch! To jump into a third-class carriage and know that the firm -inevitable grip of the engine was dragging him away into the clearer -light, the wider skies, the glad free air! No wonder they said that -fisher folk were merry folk; the very jolting of the engine would in -such a case have a kind of music in it; how easily could one make a song -that would match with the swing of the train! It was in his head now, -as he rapidly and blindly walked away along the Cowcaddens, and along -the New City Road, and along the Western Road--random rhymes, random -verses, that the jolly company could sing together as the engine -thundered along-- - -_Out of the station we rattle away,_ - _Wi' a clangour of axle and wheel;_ -_There's a merrier sound that we knew in the north--_ - _The merry, merry shriek of the reel!_ - -_O you that shouther the heavy iron gun,_ - _And have steep, steep braes to speel--_ -_We envy you not; enough is for us_ - _The merry, merry shriek of the reel!_ - -_When the twenty-four pounder leaps in the air,_ - _And the line flies out with a squeal--_ -_O that is the blessedest sound upon earth,_ - _The merry, merry shriek of the reel!_ - -_So here's to good fellows!--for them that are not,_ - _Let them gang and sup kail wi' the deil!_ -_We've other work here--so look out, my lads,_ - _For the first, sharp shriek of the reel!_ - - -He did not care to put the rough-jolting verses down on paper, for the -farther and the more rapidly he walked away out of the town the more was -his brain busy with pictures and visions of all that they would be doing -at this very moment at Inver-Mudal. - -'God bless me,' he said to himself, 'I could almost swear I hear the -dogs whimpering in the kennels.' - -There would be the young lads looking after the panniers and the ponies; -and the head-keeper up at the lodge discussing with Lord Ailine the best -way of taking the hill in the morning, supposing the wind to remain in -the same direction; and Mr. Murray at the door of the inn, smoking his -pipe as usual; and the pretty Nelly indoors waiting upon the shooting -party just arrived from the south and listening to all their wants. And -Harry would be wondering, amid all this new bustle and turmoil, why his -master did not put in an appearance; perhaps scanning each succeeding -dog-cart or waggonette that came along the road; and then, not so -blithe-spirited, making his way to the Doctor's house. Comfort awaited -him there, at all events; for Ronald had heard that Meenie had taken -pity on the little terrier, and that it was a good deal oftener with her -than at the inn. Only all this seemed now so strange; the great dusk -city lay behind him like a nightmare from which he had but partially -escaped, and that with tightened breath; and he seemed to be straining -his ears to catch those soft and friendly voices so far away. And then -later on, as the darkness fell, what would be happening there? The lads -would be coming along to the inn; lamps lit, and chairs drawn in to the -table; Mr. Murray looking in at times with his jokes, and perhaps with a -bit of a treat on so great an occasion. And surely--surely--as they -begin to talk of this year and of last year and of the changes--surely -some one will say--perhaps Nelly, as she brings in the ale--but surely -some one will say--as a mere word of friendly remembrance--'Well, I wish -Ronald was here now with his pipes, to play us _The Barren Rocks of -Aden_? Only a single friendly word of remembrance--it was all that he -craved. - -He struck away south through Dowanhill and Partick, and crossed the -Clyde at Govan Ferry; then he made his way back to the town and Jamaica -Street bridge; and finally, it being now dusk, looked in to see whether -Mrs. Menzies was at leisure for the evening. - -'What's the matter, Ronald?' she said instantly, as he entered, for she -noticed that his look was careworn and strange. - -'Well, Katie, lass, I don't quite know what's the matter wi' me, but I -feel as if I just couldna go back to that room of mine and sit there by -myself--at least not yet; I think I've been put a bit daft wi' seeing -the people going away for the Twelfth; and if ye wouldna mind my sitting -here for a while with ye, for the sake o' company----' - -'Mind!' she said. 'Mind! What I do mind is that you should be ganging -to that lodging-house at a', when there's a room--and a comfortable -room, though I say it that shouldn't--in this very house at your -disposal, whenever ye like to bring your trunk till it. There it is--an -empty room, used by nobody--and who more welcome to it than my ain -cousin? I'll tell ye what, Ronald, my lad, ye're wearing yoursel' away -on a gowk's errand. Your certificate! How do ye ken ye'll get your -certificate? How do ye ken ye will do such great things with it when ye -get it? You're a young man; you'll no be a young man twice; what I say -is, take your fling when ye can get it! Look at Jimmy Laidlaw--he's off -the first thing in the morning to the Mearns--L15 for his share of the -shooting--do ye think he can shoot like you?--and why should ye no have -had your share too?' - -'Well, it was very kind of you, Katie, woman, to make the offer; -but--but--there's a time for everything.' - -'Man, I could have driven ye out every morning in the dog-cart! and -welcome. I'm no for having young folk waste the best years of their -life, and find out how little use the rest o't's to them--no that I -consider mysel' one o' the auld folk yet----' - -'You, Katie dear!' whined old mother Paterson from her millinery corner. -'You--just in the prime o' youth, one micht say! you one o' the auld -folk?--ay, in thirty years' time maybe!' - -'Take my advice, Ronald, my lad,' said the widow boldly. 'Dinna slave -away for naething--because folk have put fancy notions into your head. -Have a better opinion o' yoursel'! Take your chance o' life when ye can -get it--books and books, what's the use o' books?' - -'Too late now--I've made my bed and maun lie on it,' he said gloomily; -but then he seemed to try to shake off this depression. 'Well, well, -lass, Rome was not built in a day. And if I were to throw aside my -books, what then? How would that serve? Think ye that that would make -it any the easier for me to get a three-weeks' shooting wi' Jimmy -Laidlaw?' - -'And indeed ye might have had that in any case, and welcome,' said Kate -Menzies, with a toss of her head. 'Who is Jimmy Laidlaw, I wonder! But -it's no use arguin' wi' ye, Ronald, lad; he that will to Cupar maun to -Cupar;' only I dinna like to see ye looking just ill.' - -'Enough said, lass; I didna come here to torment ye with my wretched -affairs,' he answered; and at this moment the maidservant entered to lay -the cloth for supper, while Mrs. Menzies withdrew to make herself -gorgeous for the occasion. - -He was left with old mother Paterson. - -'There's none so blind as them that winna see,' she began, in her -whining voice. - -'What is't?' - -'Ay, ay,' she continued, in a sort of maundering soliloquy, 'a braw -woman like that--and free-handed as the day--she could have plenty -offers if she liked; But there's none so blind as them that winna see. -There's Mr. Laidlaw there, a good-looking man, and wan wi' a good penny -at the bank; and wouldna he just jump at the chance, if she had a nod or -a wink for him? But Katie was aye like that--headstrong; she would aye -have her ain way--and there she is, a single woman, a braw, handsome, -young woman--and weel provided for--weel provided for--only it's no -every one that takes her fancy. A prize like that, to be had for the -asking! Dear me--but there's nane so blind as them that winna see.' - -It was not by any means the first time that mother Paterson had managed -to drop a few dark hints--and much to his embarrassment, moreover, for -he could not pretend to ignore their purport. Nay, there was something -more than that. Kate Menzies's rough-and-ready friendliness for her -cousin had of late become more and more pronounced--almost obtrusive, -indeed. She wanted to have the mastery of his actions altogether. She -would have him pitch his books aside and come for a drive with her -whether he was in the humour or no. She offered him the occupancy of a -room which, if it was not actually within the tavern, communicated with -it. She seemed unable to understand why he should object to her paying -L15 to obtain for him a share in a small bit of conjoint shooting out at -the Mearns. And so forth in many ways. Well, these things, taken by -themselves, he might have attributed to a somewhat tempestuous -good-nature; but here was this old woman, whenever a chance occurred, -whining about the folly of people who did not see that Katie dear was so -handsome and generous and so marvellous a matrimonial prize. Nor could -he very well tell her to mind her own business, for that would be -admitting that he understood her hints. - -However, on this occasion he had not to listen long; for presently Mrs. -Menzies returned, smiling, good-natured, radiant in further finery; and -then they all had supper together; and she did her best to console her -cousin for being cooped up in the great city on the eve of the Twelfth. -And Ronald was very grateful to her; and perhaps, in his eager desire to -keep up this flow of high spirits, and to forget what was happening at -Inver-Mudal and about to happen, he may have drunk a little too much; at -all events, when Laidlaw and Jaap and the skipper came in they found him -in a very merry mood, and Kate Menzies equally hilarious and happy. -Songs?--he was going to no Harmony Club that night, he declared--he -would sing them as many songs as ever they liked--but he was not going -to forsake his cousin. Nor were the others the least unwilling to -remain where they were; for here they were in privacy, and the singing -was better, and the liquor unexceptionable. The blue smoke rose quietly -in the air; the fumes of Long John warmed blood and brain; and then from -time to time they heard of the brave, or beautiful, or heart-broken -maidens of Scotch song--Maggie Lauder, or Nelly Munro, or Barbara Allan, -as the chance might be--and music and good fellowship and whisky all -combined to throw a romantic halo round these simple heroines. - -'But sing us one o' your own, Ronald, my lad--there's none better, and -that's what I say!' cried the widow; and as she happened to be passing -his chair at the time--going to the sideboard for some more lemons, she -slapped him on the shoulder by way of encouragement. - -'One o' my own?' said he. 'But which--which--lass? Oh, well, here's -one.' - -He lay back in his chair, and quite at haphazard and carelessly and -jovially began to sing--in that clearly penetrating voice that neither -tobacco smoke nor whisky seemed to affect-- - -_Roses white, roses red,_ - _Roses in the lane,_ -_Tell me, roses red and white,_ - _Where is----_ - -And then suddenly something seemed to grip his heart. But the stumble -was only for the fiftieth part of a second. He continued: - -_Where is Jeannie gane?_ - -And so he finished the careless little verses. Nevertheless, Kate -Menzies, returning to her seat, had noticed that quick, instinctive -pulling of himself up. - -'And who's Jeannie when she's at home?' she asked saucily. - -'Jeannie?' he said, with apparent indifference. 'Jeannie? There's -plenty o' that name about.' - -'Ay; and how many o' them are at Inver-Mudal?' she asked, regarding him -shrewdly, and with an air which he resented. - -But the little incident passed. There was more singing, drinking, -smoking, talking of nonsense and laughing. And at last the time came for -the merry companions to separate; and he went away home through the dark -streets alone. He had drunk too much, it must be admitted; but he had a -hard head; and he had kept his wits about him; and even now as he -ascended the stone stairs to his lodgings he remembered with a kind of -shiver, and also with not a little heartfelt satisfaction, how he had -just managed to save himself from bringing Meenie's name before that -crew. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIV.* - - *ENTANGLEMENTS.* - - -And then came along the great evening on which the first of Ronald's -songs that Mr. Jaap had set to music was to be sung at the Harmony Club. -Ronald had unluckily got into the way of going a good deal to that club. -It was a relief from weary days and vain regrets; it was a way of escape -from the too profuse favours that Kate Menzies wished to shower upon -him. Moreover, he had become very popular there. His laugh was hearty; -his jokes and sarcasms were always good-natured; he could drink with the -best without getting quarrelsome. His acquaintanceship rapidly -extended; his society was eagerly bid for, in the rough-and-ready -fashion that prevails towards midnight; and long after the club was -closed certain of these boon-companions would 'keep it up' in this or -the other bachelor's lodgings, while through the open window there rang -out into the empty street the oft-repeated chorus-- - -_'We are na fou', we're nae that fou',_ - _But just a drappie in our e'e;_ -_The cock may craw, the day may daw,_ - _And aye we'll taste the barky bree!'_ - -The night-time seemed to go by so easily; the daytime was so slow. He -still did his best, it is true, to get on with this work that had so -completely lost all its fascination for him; and he tried hard to banish -dreams. For one thing, he had gathered together all the fragments of -verse he had written about Meenie, and had added thereto the little -sketch of Inver-Mudal she had given him; and that parcel he had -resolutely locked away, so that he should no longer be tempted to waste -the hours in idle musings, and in useless catechising of himself as to -how he came to be in Glasgow at all. He had forborne to ask from Maggie -the answer that Meenie had sent to her letter. In truth, there were -many such; for there was almost a constant correspondence between these -two; and as the chief subject of Maggie's writings was always and ever -Ronald, there were no doubt references to him in the replies that came -from Inver-Mudal. But he only heard vaguely of these; he did not call -often at his brother's house; and he grew to imagine that the next -definite news he would hear about Meenie would be to the effect that she -had been sent to live with the Stuarts of Glengask, with a view to her -possible marriage with some person in their rank of life. - -There was a goodly to-do at the Harmony Club on the evening of the -production of the new song; for Ronald, as has been said, was much of a -favourite; and his friends declared that if Jaap's music was at all up -to the mark, then the new piece would be placed on the standard and -permanent list. Mr. Jaap's little circle, on the other hand, who had -heard the air, were convinced that the refrain would be caught at once; -and as the success of the song seemed thus secure, Mrs. Menzies had -resolved to celebrate the occasion by a supper after the performance, -and Jimmy Laidlaw had presented her, for that purpose, with some game -which he declared was of his own shooting. - -'What's the use o' making such a fuss about nothing?' Ronald grumbled. - -'What?' retorted the big skipper facetiously. 'Naething? Is bringing -out a new poet naething?' - -Now this drinking song, as it turned out, was a very curious kind of -drinking song. Observe that it was written by a young fellow of -eight-and-twenty; of splendid physique, and of as yet untouched nerve, -who could not possibly have had wide experience of the vanities and -disappointments of human life. What iron had entered into his soul, -then, that a gay and joyous drinking song should have been written in -this fashion?-- - -_Good friends and neighbours, life is short,_ - _And man, they say, is made to mourn;_ -_Dame Fortune makes us all her sport,_ - _And laughs our very best to scorn:_ - _Well, well; we'll have, if that be so,_ - _A merry glass before we go._ - -_The blue-eyed lass will change her mind,_ - _And give her kisses otherwhere;_ -_And she'll be cruel that was kind,_ - _And pass you by with but a stare:_ - _Well, well; we'll have, if that be so,_ - _A merry glass before we go._ - -_The silly laddie sits and fills_ - _Wi' dreams and schemes the first o' life;_ -_And then comes heap on heap o' ills,_ - _And squalling bairns and scolding wife:_ - _Well, well; we'll have, if that be so,_ - _A merry glass before we go._ - -_Come stir the fire and make us warm;_ - _The night without is dark and wet;_ -_An hour or twa 'twill do nae harm_ - _The dints o' fortune to forget:_ - _So now will have, come weal or woe,_ - _Another glass before we go._ - -_To bonny lasses, honest blades,_ - _We'll up and give a hearty cheer;_ -_Contention is the worst of trades--_ - _We drink their health, both far and near:_ - _And so we'll have, come weal or woe,_ - _Another glass before we go._ - -_And here's ourselves!--no much to boast;_ - _For man's a wean that lives and learns;_ -_And some win hame, and some are lost;_ - _But still--we're all John Thomson's bairns!_ - _So here, your hand!--come weal or woe,_ - _Another glass before we go!_ - - -'_And some win hame, and some are lost_'--this was a curious note to -strike in a bacchanalian song; but of course in that atmosphere of -tobacco and whisky and loud-voiced merriment such minor touches were -altogether unnoticed. - -'Gentlemen,' called out the rubicund chairman, rapping on the table, -'silence, if you please. Mr. Aikman is about to favour us with a new -song written by our recently-elected member, Mr. Ronald Strang, the -music by our old friend Mr. Jaap. Silence--silence, if you please.' - -Mr. Aikman, who was a melancholy-looking youth, with a white face, -straw-coloured hair, and almost colourless eyes, stepped on to the -platform, and after the accompanist had played a few bars of prelude, -began the song. Feeble as the young man looked, he had, -notwithstanding, a powerful baritone voice; and the air was simple, with -a well-marked swing in it; so that the refrain--at first rather -uncertain and experimental--became after the first verse more and more -general, until it may be said that the whole room formed the chorus. -And from the very beginning it was clear that the new song was going to -be a great success. Any undercurrent of reflection--or even of -sadness--there might be in it was not perceived at all by this roaring -assemblage; the refrain was the practical and actual thing; and when -once they had fairly grasped the air, they sang the chorus with a will. -Nay, amid the loud burst of applause that followed the last verse came -numerous cries for an encore; and these increased until the whole room -was clamorous; and then the pale-faced youth had to step back on to the -platform and get through all of the verses again. - -_'So here, your hand!--come weal or woe,_ -_Another glass before we go!'_ - -roared the big skipper and Jimmy Laidlaw with the best of them; and then -in the renewed thunder of cheering that followed-- - -'Man, I wish Kate Menzies was here,' said the one; and-- - -'Your health, Ronald, lad; ye've done the trick this time,' said the -other. - -'Gentlemen,' said the chairman, again calling them to silence, 'I -propose that the thanks of the club be given to these two members whom I -have named, and who have kindly allowed us to place this capital song on -our permanent list.' - -'I second that, Mr. Chairman,' said a little, round, fat man, with a -beaming countenance and a bald head; 'and I propose that we sing that -song every night just afore we leave.' - -But this last suggestion was drowned amidst laughter and cries of -dissent. 'What?--instead of "Auld Lang Syne"?' 'Ye're daft, John -Campbell.' 'Would ye hae the ghost o' Robbie Burns turning up?' -Indeed, the chairman had to interpose and suavely say that while the -song they had just heard would bring any such pleasant evenings as they -spent together to an appropriate close, still, they would not disturb -established precedent; there would be many occasions, he hoped, for them -to hear this production of two of their most talented members. - -In the interval of noise and talk and laughter that followed, it seemed -to Ronald that half the people in the hall wanted him to drink with -them. Fame came to him in the shape of unlimited proffers of glasses of -whisky; and he experienced so much of the delight of having become a -public character as consisted in absolute strangers assuming the right -to make his acquaintance off-hand. Of course they were all members of -the same club; and in no case was very strict etiquette observed within -these four walls; nevertheless Ronald found that he had immediately and -indefinitely enlarged the circle of his acquaintance; and that this -meant drink. - -'Another glass?' he said, to one of those strangers who had thus -casually strolled up to the table where he sate. 'My good friend, there -was nothing said in that wretched song about a caskful. I've had too -many other ones already.' - -However, relief came; the chairman hammered on the table; the business -of the evening was resumed; and the skipper, Jaap, Laidlaw, and Ronald -were left to themselves. - -Now there is no doubt that this little circle of friends was highly -elated over the success of the new song; and Ronald had been pleased -enough to hear the words he had written so quickly caught up and echoed -by that, to him, big assemblage. Probably, too, they had all of them, -in the enthusiasm of the moment, been somewhat liberal in their cups; at -all events, a little later on in the evening, when Jimmy Laidlaw -stormily demanded that Ronald should sing a song from the platform--to -show them what East Lothian could do, as Kate Menzies had said--Ronald -did not at once, as usual, shrink from the thought of facing so large an -audience. It was the question of the accompaniment, he said. He had -had no practice in singing to a piano. He would put the man out. Why -should he not sing here--if sing he must--at the table where they were -sitting? That was what he was used to; he had no skill in keeping -correct time; he would only bother the accompanist, and bewilder -himself. - -'No, I'll tell ye what it is, Ronald, my lad,' his friend Jaap said to -him. 'I'll play the accompaniment for ye, if ye pick out something I'm -familiar wi'; and don't you heed me; you look after yourself. Even if -ye change the key--and that's not likely--I'll look after ye. Is't a -bargain?' - -Well, he was not afraid--on this occasion. It was announced from the -chair that Mr. Ronald Strang, to whom they were already indebted, would -favour the company with 'The MacGregors' Gathering,' accompanied by Mr. -Jaap; and in the rattle of applause that followed this announcement, -Ronald made his way across the floor and went up the couple of steps -leading to the platform. Why he had consented he hardly knew, nor did -he stay to ask. It was enough that he had to face this long hall, and -its groups of faces seen through the pale haze of the tobacco smoke; and -then the first notes of the piano startled him into the necessity of -getting into the same key. He began--a little bewildered, perhaps, and -hearing his own voice too consciously-- - -_'The moon's on the lake, and the mist's on the brae,_ - _And the clan has a name that is nameless by day.'_ - -'Louder, man, louder!' the accompanist muttered, under his breath. - -Whether it was this admonition, or whether it was that he gained -confidence from feeling himself in harmony with the firm-struck notes of -the accompaniment, his voice rose in clearness and courage, and he got -through the first verse with very fair success. Nay, when he came to -the second, and the music went into a pathetic minor, the sensitiveness -of his ear still carried him through bravely-- - -_'Glenorchy's proud mountains, Colchurn and her towers,_ -_Glenstrae and Glen Lyon no longer are ours--_ - _We're landless, landless, landless, Gregalach.'_ - -All this was very well done; for he began to forget his audience a -little, and to put into his singing something of the expression that had -come naturally enough to him when he was away on the Clebrig slopes or -wandering along Strath-Terry. As for the audience--when he had finished -and stepped back to his seat--they seemed quite electrified. Not often -had such a clear-ringing voice penetrated that murky atmosphere. But -nothing would induce Ronald to repeat the performance. - -'What made me do it?' he kept asking himself. 'What made me do it? -Bless me, surely I'm no fou'?' - -'Ye've got a most extraordinarily fine voice, Mr. Strang,' the chairman -said, in his most complaisant manner, 'I hope it's not the last time -ye'll favour us.' - -Ronald did not answer this. He seemed at once moody and restless. -Presently he said-- - -'Come away, lads, come away. In God's name let's get a breath o' fresh -air--the smoke o' this place is like the bottomless pit.' - -'Then let's gang down and have a chat wi' Kate Menzies,' said Jimmy -Laidlaw at once. - -'Ye're after that supper, Jimmy!' the big skipper said facetiously. - -'What for no? Would ye disappoint the woman; and her sae anxious to -hear what happened to Strang's poetry? Come on, Ronald--she'll be as -proud as Punch. And we'll tell her about "The MacGregors' -Gathering"'--she said East Lothian would show them something.' - -'Very well, then--very well; anything to get out o' here,' Ronald said; -and away they all went down to the tavern. - -The widow received them most graciously; and very sumptuous indeed was -the entertainment she had provided for them. She knew that the drinking -song would be successful--if the folk had common sense and ears. And he -had sung 'The MacGregors' Gathering' too?--well, had they ever heard -singing like that before? - -'But they have been worrying you?' she said, glancing shrewdly at him. -'Or, what's the matter--ye look down in the mouth--indeed, Ronald, ye've -never looked yoursel' since the night ye came in here just before the -grouse-shooting began. Here, man, drink a glass o' champagne; that'll -rouse ye up.' - -Old mother Paterson was at this moment opening a bottle. - -'Not one other drop of anything, Katie, lass, will I drink this night,' -Ronald said. - -'What? A lively supper we're likely to have, then!' the widow cried. -'Where's your spunk, man? I think ye're broken-hearted about some -lassie--that's what it is! Here, now.' - -She brought him the foaming glass of champagne; but he would not look at -it. - -'And if I drink to your health out o' the same glass?' - -She touched the glass with her lips.' - -'There, now, if you're a man, ye'll no refuse noo.' - -Nor could he. And then the supper came along; and there was eating and -talking and laughing and further drinking, until a kind of galvanised -hilarity sprang up once more amongst them. And she would have Ronald -declare to them which of the lasses in Sutherlandshire it was who had -broken his heart for him; and, in order to get her away from that -subject, he was very amenable in her hands, and would do anything she -bade him, singing first one song and then another, and not refusing the -drinking of successive toasts. As for the others, they very prudently -declined having anything to do with champagne. But Ronald was her pet, -her favourite; and she had got a special box of cigars for him--all -wrapped up in silverfoil and labelled; and she would have them tell her -over and over again how Ronald's voice sounded in the long hall when he -sang-- - -_'Glenstrae and Glen Lyon no longer are ours?_ - -and she would have them tell her again of the thunders of cheering that -followed-- - -_'Well, well; we'll have, if that be so,_ -_Another glass before we go.'_ - -Nay, she would have them try a verse or two of it there and then--led by -Mr. Jaap; and she herself joined in the chorus; and they clinked their -glasses together, and were proud of their vocalisation and their good -comradeship. Indeed, they prolonged this jovial evening as late as the -law allowed them; and then the widow said gaily-- - -'There's that poor man thinks I'm gaun to allow him to gang away to that -wretched hole o' a lodging o' his, where he's just eating his heart out -wi' solitariness and a wheen useless books. But I'm not. I ken better -than that, Ronald, my lad. Whilst ye've a' been singing and roaring, -I've had a room got ready for ye; and there ye'll sleep this night, my -man--for I'm not going to hae ye march away through the lonely streets, -and maybe cut your throat ere daybreak; and ye can lock yourself in, if -ye're feared that any warlock or bogle is likely to come and snatch ye; -and in the morning ye'll come down and have your breakfast wi' auntie -Paterson and me--and then--what then? What do ye think? When the -dog-cart's at the door, and me gaun to drive ye oot to Campsie Glen? -There, laddie, that's the programme; and wet or dry is my motto. If -it's wet we'll sing "Come under my plaidie"; and we'll take a drop o' -something comfortable wi' us to keep out the rain.' - -'I wish I was gaun wi' ye, Mistress,' the big skipper said. - -'Two's company and three's none,' said Kate Menzies, with a frank laugh. -'Is't a bargain, Ronald?' - -'It's a bargain, lass; and there's my hand on't,' he said. 'Now, where's -this room--for I don't know whether it has been the smoke, or the -singing, or the whisky, or all o' them together, but my head's like a -ship sailing before the wind, without any helm to steer her.' - -'Your head!' she said proudly. 'Your head's like iron, man; there's -nothing the matter wi' ye. And here's Alec--he'll show you where your -room is; and in the morning ring for whatever ye want; mind ye, a glass -o' champagne and angostura bitters is just first-rate; and we'll have -breakfast at whatever hour ye please--and then we'll be off to Campsie -Glen.' - -The little party now broke up, each going his several way; and Ronald, -having bade them all good-night, followed the ostler-lad Alec along one -or two gloomy corridors until he found the room that had been prepared -for him. As he got to bed he was rather sick and sorry about the whole -night's proceedings, he scarcely knew why; and his thinking faculty was -in a nebulous condition; and he only vaguely knew that he would rather -not have pledged himself to go to Campsie Glen on the following morning. -No matter--'_another glass before we go_,' that was the last of the song -they had all shouted: he had forgotten that other line--'_and some win -hame, and some are lost_.' - - - - - *CHAPTER XV.* - - *CAMPSIE GLEN.* - - -The next morning, between nine and ten o'clock, there was a rapping at -his door, and then a further rapping, and then he awoke--confused, -uncertain as to his whereabouts, and with his head going like a -threshing machine. Again there came the loud rapping. - -'Come in, then,' he called aloud. - -The door was opened, and there was the young widow, smiling and jocund -as the morn, and very smartly attired; and alongside of her was a -servant-lass bearing a small tray, on which were a tumbler, a pint -bottle of champagne, and some angostura bitters. - -'Bless me, woman,' he said, 'I was wondering where I was. And what's -this now?--do ye want to make a drunkard o' me?' - -'Not I,' said Kate Menzies blithely, 'I want to make a man o' ye. Ye'll -just take a glass o' this, Ronald, my lad; and then ye'll get up and -come down to breakfast; for we're going to have a splendid drive. The -weather's as bright and clear as a new shilling; and I've been up since -seven o'clock, and I'm free for the day now. Here ye are, lad; this'll -put some life into ye.' - -She shook a few drops of bitters into the tumbler, and then poured out a -foaming measure of the amber-coloured wine, and offered it to him. He -refused to take it. - -'I canna look at it, lass. There was too much o' that going last -night.' - -'And the very reason you should take a glass now!' she said. 'Well, -I'll leave it on the mantelpiece, and ye can take it when ye get up. -Make haste, Ronald, lad; it's a pity to lose so fine a morning.' - -When they had left, he dressed as rapidly as possible, and went down. -Breakfast was awaiting him--though it did not tempt him much. And then, -by and by, the smart dog-cart was at the door; and a hamper was put in; -and Kate Menzies got up and took the reins. There was no -sick-and-sorriness about her at all events. She was radiant and -laughing and saucy; she wore a driving-coat fastened at the neck by a -horse-shoe brooch of brilliants, and a white straw hat with a -wide-sweeping jet-black ostrich feather. It was clear that the tavern -was a paying concern. - -'And why will ye aye sit behind, Mr. Strang?' old mother Paterson -whined, as she made herself comfortable in front. 'I am sure Katie -would rather have ye here than an auld wife like me. Ye could talk to -her ever so much better.' - -'That would be a way to go driving through Glasgow town,' he said, as he -swung himself up on the back seat; 'a man in front and a woman behind! -Never you fear; there can be plenty of talking done as it is.' - -But as they drove away through the city--and even Glasgow looked quite -bright and cheerful on this sunny morning, and there was a stirring of -cool air that was grateful enough to his throbbing temples--it appeared -that the buxom widow wanted to have most of the talking to herself. She -was very merry; and laughed at his penitential scorn of himself; and was -for spurring him on to further poetical efforts. - -'East Lothian for ever!' she was saying, as they got away out by the -north of the town. 'Didna I tell them? Ay, and ye've got to do -something better yet, Ronald, my lad, than the "other glass before we -go." You're no at that time o' life yet to talk as if everything had -gone wrong; and the blue-eyed lass--what blue-eyed lass was it, I -wonder, that passed ye by with but a stare? Let her, and welcome, the -hussy; there's plenty others. But no, my lad, what I want ye to write -is a song about Scotland, and the East Lothian part o't especially. -Ye've no lived long enough in the Hielans to forget your ain country, -have ye? and where's there a song about Scotland nowadays? "Caledonia's -hills and dales"?--stuff!--I wonder Jaap would hae bothered his head -about rubbish like that. No, no; we'll show them whether East Lothian -canna do the trick!--and it's no the Harmony Club but the City Hall o' -Glasgow that ye'll hear that song sung in--that's better like! Ye mind -what Robbie says, Ronald, my lad?-- - -_'E'en then a wish, I mind its power--_ -_A wish that to my latest hour_ - _Shall strongly heave my breast--_ -_That I for poor auld Scotland's sake,_ -_Some usefu' plan or book could make,_ - _Or sing a sang at least.'_ - -That's what ye've got to do yet, my man.' - -And so they bowled along the wide whinstone road, out into this open -landscape that seemed to lie behind a thin veil of pale-blue smoke. It -was the country, no doubt; but a kind of sophisticated country; there -were occasional grimy villages and railway-embankments and canals and -what not; and the pathway that ran alongside the wide highway was of -black ashes--not much like a Sutherlandshire road. However, as they got -still farther away from the town matters improved. There were hedges -and woods--getting a touch of the golden autumn on their foliage now; -the landscape grew brighter; those hills far ahead of them rose into a -fairly clear blue sky. And then the brisk motion and the fresher air -seemed to drive away from him the dismal recollections of the previous -night; he ceased to upbraid himself for having been induced to sing -before all those people; he would atone for the recklessness of his -potations by taking greater care in the future. So that when in due -course of time they reached the inn at the foot of Campsie Glen, and had -the horse and trap put up, and set out to explore the beauties of that -not too savage solitude, he was in a sufficiently cheerful frame of -mind, and Kate Menzies had no reason to complain of her companion. - -They had brought a luncheon basket with them; and as he had refused the -proffered aid of a stable-lad, he had to carry this himself, and Kate -Menzies was a liberal provider. Accordingly, as they began to make their -way up the steep and slippery ascent--for rain had recently fallen, and -the narrow path was sloppy enough--he had to leave the two women to look -after themselves; and a fine haphazard scramble and hauling and -pushing--with screams of fright and bursts of laughter--ensued. This -was hardly the proper mood in which to seek out Nature in her sylvan -retreats; but the truth is that the glen itself did not wear a very -romantic aspect. No doubt there were massive boulders in the bed of the -stream; and they had to clamber past precipitous rocks; and overhead was -a wilderness of foliage. But everything was dull-hued somehow, and -damp-looking, and dismal; the green-mossed boulders, the stems of the -trees, the dark red earth were all of a sombre hue; while here and there -the eye caught sight of a bit of newspaper, or of an empty soda-water -bottle, or perchance of the non-idyllic figure of a Glasgow youth seated -astride a fallen bough, a pot-hat on his head and a Manilla cheroot in -his mouth. But still, it was more of the country than the Broomielaw; -and when Kate and her companion had to pause in their panting struggle -up the slippery path, and after she had recovered her breath -sufficiently to demand a halt, she would turn to pick ferns from the -dripping rocks, or to ask Ronald if there were any more picturesque -place than this in Sutherlandshire. Now Ronald was not in the least -afflicted by the common curse of travellers--the desire for comparison; -he was well content to say that it was a 'pretty bit glen'; for one -thing his attention was chiefly devoted to keeping his footing, for the -heavy basket was a sore encumbrance. - -However, after some further climbing, they reached certain drier -altitudes; and there the hamper was deposited, while they looked out for -such trunks or big stones as would make convenient seats. The old woman -was speechless from exhaustion; Kate was laughing at her own -breathlessness, or miscalling the place for having dirtied her boots and -her skirts; while Ronald was bringing things together for their comfort, -so that they could have their luncheon in peace. This was not quite the -same kind of a luncheon party as that he had attended on the shores of -the far northern loch--with Miss Carry complacently regarding the -silver-clear salmon lying on the smooth, dry greensward; and the -American talking in his friendly fashion of the splendid future that lay -before a capable and energetic young fellow in the great country beyond -the seas; while all around them the sweet air was blowing, and the clear -light shining, and the white clouds sailing high over the Clebrig -slopes. Things were changed with him since then--he did not himself -know how much they had changed. But in all circumstances he was -abundantly good-natured and grateful for any kindness shown him; and as -Kate Menzies had projected this trip mainly on his account, he did his -best to promote good-fellowship, and was serviceable and handy, and took -her raillery in excellent part. - -'Katie dear,' whimpered old mother Paterson, as Ronald took out the -things from the hamper, 'ye jist spoil every one that comes near ye. -Such extravagance--such waste--many's the time I wish ye would get -married, and have a man to look after ye----' - -'Stop your havering--who would marry an auld woman like me?' said Mrs. -Menzies with a laugh. 'Ay, and what's the extravagance, noo, that has -driven ye oot o' your mind?' - -'Champagne again!' the old woman said, shaking her head. 'Champagne -again! Dear me, it's like a Duke's house----' - -'What, ye daft auld craytur? Would ye have me take my cousin Ronald for -his first trip to Campsie Glen, and bring out a gill o' whisky in a -soda-water bottle?' - -'Indeed, Katie, lass, ye needna have brought one thing or the other for -me,' he said. 'It's a drop o' water, and nothing else, that will serve -my turn.' - -'We'll see about that,' she said confidently. - -Her provisioning was certainly of a sumptuous nature--far more -sumptuous, indeed, than the luncheons the rich Americans used to have -carried down for them to the lochside, and a perfect banquet as compared -with the frugal bit of cold beef and bread that Lord Ailine and his -friends allowed themselves on the hill. Then, as regards the champagne, -she would take no refusal--he had to submit. She was in the gayest of -moods; she laughed and joked; nay, at one point, she raised her glass -aloft, and waved it round her head, and sang-- - -_'O send Lewie Gordon hame,_ -_And the lad I daurna name;_ -_Though his back be at the wa',_ -_Here's to him that's far awa'!'_ - - -'What, what, lass?' Ronald cried grimly. 'Are ye thinking ye're in a -Highland glen? Do ye think it was frae places like this that the lads -were called out to follow Prince Charlie?' - -'I carena--I carena!' she said; for what had trivial details of history -to do with a jovial picnic in Campsie Glen? 'Come, Ronald, lad, tune -up! Hang the Harmony Club!--give us a song in the open air!' - -'Here goes, then-- - -_'It was about the Martinmas time,_ - _And a gay time it was then, O,_ -_That our guidwife had puddins to mak',_ - _And she boiled them in the fan, O'--_ - -and then rang out the chorus, even the old mother Paterson joining in -with a feeble treble-- - -_'O the barrin' o' our door, weel, weel, weel,_ -_And the barrin' o' our door, weel!'_ - - -'Your health and song, Ronald!' she cried, when he had finished--or -rather when they all had finished. 'Man, if there was just a laddie -here wi' a fiddle or a penny whistle I'd get up and dance a Highland -Schottische wi' ye--auld as I am!' - -After luncheon, they set out for further explorations (having deposited -the basket in a secret place) and always Kate Menzies's laugh was the -loudest, her jokes the merriest. - -'Auld, say ye?' mother Paterson complained. 'A lassie--a very lassie! -Ye can skip about like a twa-year-auld colt.' - -By and by they made their devious and difficult way down the glen again; -and they had tea at the inn; and then they set out to drive back to -Glasgow--and there was much singing the while. That is, up to a certain -point; for this easy homeward drive, as it turned out, was destined to -be suddenly and sharply stopped short, and that in a way that might have -produced serious consequences. They were bowling merrily along, taking -very little heed of anything on either side of them, when, as it -chanced, a small boy who had gone into a field to recover a kite that -had dropped there, came up unobserved behind the hedge, and threw the -kite over, preparatory to his struggling through himself. The sudden -appearance of this white thing startled the cob; it swerved to the other -side of the road, hesitated, and was like to rear, and then getting an -incautious cut from Kate's whip, away it tore along the highway, getting -completely the mastery of her. Ronald got up behind. - -'Give me the reins, lass,' he called to her. - -'I'll manage him--the stupid beast!' she said; with her teeth shut firm. - -But all her pulling seemed to make no impression on the animal--nay, the -trap was now swaying and jolting about in a most ominous manner. - -'If ye meet anything, we're done for, Kate--run the wheel into the -hedge.' - -It was excellent advice, if it could have been properly followed; but -unluckily, just at the very moment when, with all her might and main, -she twisted the head of the cob to the side of the road, there happened -to be a deep ditch there. Over the whole thing went--Ronald and Mrs. -Menzies being pitched clean into the hedge; mother Paterson, not hanging -on so well, being actually deposited on the other side, but in a gradual -fashion. Oddly enough, the cob, with one or two pawings of his -forefeet, got on to the road again, and the trap righted itself; while a -farm-lad who had been coming along ran to the beast's head and held him. -As it turned out, there was no harm done at all. - -But that, at first, was apparently not Kate Menzies's impression. - -'Ronald, Ronald,' she cried, and she clung to him frantically, 'I'm -dying--I'm dying--kiss me!' - -He had got a grip of her, and was getting her on to her feet again. - -'There's nothing the matter wi' ye, woman,' he said, with unnecessary -roughness. - -'Ronald, Ronald--I'm hurt--I'm dying--kiss me!' she cried, and she would -have fallen away from him, but that he gathered her up, and set her -upright on the road. - -'There's nothing the matter wi' ye--what? tumbling into a hawthorn -hedge?--pull yourself together, woman! It's old mother Paterson that may -have been hurt.' - -He left her unceremoniously to get over to the other side of the hedge, -and as he went off she darted a look of anger--of violent rage, -even--towards him, which happily he did not see. Moreover, she had to -calm herself; the farm lad was looking on. And when at length mother -Paterson--who was merely terrified, and was quite uninjured--was hoisted -over or through the hedge, and they all prepared to resume their seats -in the trap, Kate Menzies was apparently quite collected and mistress of -herself, though her face was somewhat pale, and her manner was -distinctly reserved and cold. She gave the lad a couple of shillings; -got up and took the reins; waited until the others were seated, and then -drove away without a word. Mother Paterson was loud in her thankfulness -over such a providential escape; she had only had her wrists scratched -slightly. - -Ronald was sensible of her silence, though he could not well guess the -cause of it. Perhaps the fright had sobered down her high spirits; at -all events, she was now more circumspect with her driving; and, as her -attention was so much devoted to the cob, it was not for him to -interfere. As they drew near Glasgow, however, she relaxed the cold -severity of her manner, and made a few observations; and when they came -in sight of St. Rollox, she even condescended to ask him whether he -would not go on with them to the tavern and have some supper with them -as usual. - -'I ought to go back to my work,' said he, 'and that's the truth. But it -would be a glum ending for such an unusual holiday as this.' - -'Your prospects are not so very certain,' said Kate, who could talk -excellent English when she chose, and kept her broad Scotch for familiar -or affectionate intercourse. 'An hour or two one way or the other is -not likely to make much difference.' - -'I am beginning to think that myself,' he said, rather gloomily. - -And then, with a touch of remorse for the depressing speech she had -made, she tried to cheer him a little; and, in fact, insisted on his -going on with them. She even quoted a couplet from his own song to -him-- - -_'An hour or twa 'twill do nae harm,_ -_The dints a' fortune to forget';_ - -and she said that, after the long drive, he ought to have a famous -appetite for supper, and that there would be a good story to tell about -their being shot into a hawthorn hedge, supposing that the skipper and -Laidlaw and Jaap came in in the evening. - -Nevertheless, all during the evening there was a certain restraint in -her manner. Altogether gone was her profuse friendship and her pride in -East Lothian, although she remained as hospitable as ever. Sometimes -she regarded him sharply, as if trying to make out something. On his -part, he thought she was probably a little tired after the fatigues of -the day; perhaps, also, he preferred her quieter manner. - -Then again, when the 'drei Gesellen' came in, there was a little less -hilarity than usual; and, contrary to her wont, she did not press them -to stay when they proposed to adjourn to the club. Ronald, who had been -vaguely resolving not to go near that haunt for some time to come, found -that that was the alternative to his returning to his solitary lodging -and his books at a comparatively early hour of the evening. Doubtless -he should have conquered his repugnance to this later course; but the -temptation--after a long day of pleasure-making--to finish up the last -hour or so in the society of these good fellows was great. He went to -the Harmony Club, and was made more welcome than ever; and somehow, in -the excitement of the moment, he was induced to sing another song, and -there were more people than ever claiming his acquaintance, and -challenging him to have 'another one.' - - - - - *CHAPTER XVI.* - - *THE DOWNWARD WAY.* - - -With a fatal certainty he was going from bad to worse; and there was no -one to warn him; and if any one had warned him, probably he would not -have cared. Life had come to be for him a hopeless and useless thing. -His own instinct had answered true, when the American was urging him to -go and cast himself into the eager strife of the world, and press -forward to the universal goal of wealth and ease and independence. 'I'd -rather be "where the dun deer lie,"' he had said. Kingsley's poem had -taken firm root in his mind, simply because it found natural soil there. - -_'Nor I wadna be a clerk, mither, to bide aye ben,_ -_Scrabbling ower the sheets o' parchment with a weary, weary pen:_ -_Looking through the lang stane windows at a narrow strip o' sky,_ -_Like a laverock in a withy cage, until I pine away and die._ - -_Ye'll bury me 'twixt the brae and the burn, in a glen far away,_ -_Where I may hear the heathcock craw and the great harts bray;_ -_And gin my ghaist can walk, mither, I'll go glowering at the sky,_ -_The livelong night on the black hillsides where the dun deer lie.'_ - -His way of existence up there on the far hillsides--unlike that of the -luckless outlaw--had been a perfectly happy and contented one. His -sound common sense had put away from him that craving for fame which has -rendered so miserable the lives of many rustic verse writers; he was -proud of his occupation, grateful to the good friends around him, and -always in excellent health and spirits. Another thing has to be -said--to pacify the worthy folk who imagine that ambition must -necessarily fill the mind of youth: had he come away from that sphere of -careless content with a sufficient aim to strive for, perhaps affairs -might have gone differently. If it could have been said to him: 'Fight -your way to the worldly success that the Americans have so liberally -prophesied for you; and then come back, and you will find Meenie Douglas -awaiting you; and you shall win her and wear her, as the rose and crown -of your life, in spite of all the Stuarts of Glengask'--then the little -room in Port Dundas Road would no longer have been so gray; and all the -future would have been filled with light and hope; and the struggle, -however arduous and long, would have been glad enough. But with no such -hope; with increasing doubts as to his ultimate success; and with a more -dangerously increasing indifference as to whether he should ever reach -that success, the temptations of the passing hour became irresistibly -strong. And he became feebler to resist them. He did not care. After -all, these gay evenings at the Harmony Club were something to look -forward to during the long dull days; with a full glass and a good-going -pipe and a roaring chorus the hours passed; and then from time to time -there was the honour and glory of hearing one of his own songs sung. He -was a great figure at these gatherings now; that kind of fame at least -had come to him, and come to him unsought; and there were not wanting a -sufficiency of rather muddle-headed creatures who declared that he was -fit to rank with very distinguished names indeed in the noble roll-call -of Scotland's poets; and who, unfortunately, were only too eager to -prove the faith that was in them by asking him to drink at their -expense. - -In this rhyming direction there was one very curious point: when he -began to turn over the various pieces that might be made available for -Mr. Jaap, he was himself astonished to find how little melody there was -in them. Whatever little musical faculty he had seemed to be all locked -up in the love-verses he had written about Meenie. Many of the fragments -had other qualities--homely common sense; patriotism; a great affection -for dumb animals; here and there sometimes a touch of humour or pathos; -but somehow they did not _sing_. It is true that the following piece-- - - _SHOUTHER TO SHOUTHER._ - -_From Hudson's Bay to the Rio Grand',_ - _The Scot is ever a rover;_ -_In New South Wales and in Newfoundland,_ - _And all the wide world over;_ - -_Chorus: But it's shouther to shouther, my bonnie lads,_ - _And let every Scot be a brither;_ - _And we'll work as we can, and we'll win if we can,_ - _For the sake of our auld Scotch mither._ - -_She's a puir auld wife, wi' little to give;_ - _And she's rather stint o' caressing;_ -_But she's shown us how honest lives we may live,_ - _And she's sent us out wi' her blessing._ - -_Chorus: And it's shouther to shouther, etc._ - -_Her land's no rick; and her crops are slim;_ - _And I winna say much for the weather;_ -_But she's given us legs that can gaily clim'_ - _Up the slopes o' the blossoming heather._ - -_Chorus: And it's shouther to shouther, etc._ - -_And she's given us hearts that, whatever they say_ - _(And I trow that we might be better)_ -_There's one sair fault they never will hae--_ - _Our mither, we'll never forget her!_ - -_Chorus: And it's shouther to shouther, my bonnie lads,_ - _And let every Scot be a brither;_ - _And we'll work as we can, and we'll win if we can,_ - _For the sake of our auld Scotch mither!_ - -had attained a great success at the Harmony Club; but that was merely -because Mr. Jaap had managed to write for it an effective air, that -could be easily caught up and sung in chorus; in itself there was no -simple, natural 'lilt' whatever. And then, again, in his epistolary -rhymes to friends and acquaintances (alas! that was all over now) there -were many obvious qualities, but certainly not the lyrical one. Here, -for example, are some verses he had sent in former days to a certain -Johnnie Pringle, living at Tongue, who had had his eye on a young lass -down Loch Loyal way: - -_O Johnnie, leave the lass alane;_ -_Her mother has but that one wean;_ -_For a' the others have been ta'en,_ - _As weel ye ken, Johnnie._ - -_'Tis true her bonnie e'en would rive_ -_The heart o' any man alive;_ -_And in the husry[#] she would thrive--_ - _I grant ye that, Johnnie._ - -[#] 'Husry,' housewifery. - -_But wad ye tak' awa the lass,_ -_I tell ye what would come to pass,_ -_The mother soon would hae the grass_ - _Boon her auld head, Johnnie._ - -_They've got some gear, and bit o' land_ -_That well would bear another hand;_ -_Come down frae Tongue, and take your stand_ - _By Loyal's side, Johnnie!_ - -_Ye'd herd a bit, and work the farm,_ -_And keep the widow-wife frae harm:_ -_And wha would keep ye snug and warm_ - _In winter-time, Johnnie?--_ - -_The lass hersel'--that I'll be sworn!_ -_And bonnier creature ne'er was born:_ -_Come down the strath the morrow's morn,_ - _Your best foot first, Johnnie!_ - -Well, there may be wise and friendly counsel in verses such as these; -but they do not lend themselves readily to the musician who would adapt -them for concert purposes. No; all such lyrical faculty as he possessed -had been given in one direction. And yet not for one moment was he -tempted to show Mr. Jaap any of those little love-lyrics that he had -written about Meenie--those careless verses that seemed to sing -themselves, as it were, and that were all about summer mornings, and red -and white roses, and the carolling of birds, and the whispering of -Clebrig's streams. Meenie's praises to be sung at the Harmony Club!--he -could as soon have imagined herself singing there. - -One wet and miserable afternoon old Peter Jaap was passing through St. -Enoch Square when, much to his satisfaction, he ran against the big -skipper, who had just come out of the railway station. - -'Hallo, Captain,' said the little old man, 'back already?' - -'Just up frae Greenock; and precious glad to be ashore again, I can tell -ye,' said Captain M'Taggart. 'That _Mary Jane_ 'll be my grave, mark my -words; I never get as far south as the Mull o' Galloway without -wondering whether I'll ever see Ailsa Craig or the Tail o' the Bank -again. Well, here I am this time; and I was gaun doon to hae a glass on -the strength o't--to the widow's----' - -'We'll gang in some other place,' Mr. Jaap said. 'I want to hae a word -wi' ye about that young fellow Strang.' - -They easily discovered another howf; and soon they were left by -themselves in a little compartment, two big tumblers of ale before them. - -'Ay, and what's the matter wi' him?' said the skipper. - -'I dinna rightly ken,' the little old musician said, 'but something is. -Ye see, I'm feared the lad has no' muckle siller----' - -'It's a common complaint, Peter!' the skipper said, with a laugh. - -'Ay; but ye see, the maist o' us hae some way o' leevin. That's no the -case wi' Ronald. He came to Glasgow, as I understand it, wi' a sma' bit -nest-egg; and he's been leevin on that ever since--every penny coming -out o' his capital, and never a penny being added. That's enough to -make a young fellow anxious.' - -'Ay?' - -'But there's mair than that. He's a proud kind o' chiel. It's just -wonderfu' the way that Mrs. Menzies humours him, and pretends this and -that so he'll no be at any expense; and when they gang out driving she -takes things wi' her--and a lot o' that kind o' way o' working; but a' -the same there's sma' expenses that canna be avoided, and deil a -bit--she says--will he let her pay. And the sma' things maun be great -things to him, if he's eating into his nest-egg in that way.' - -'It's easy getting out o' that difficulty,' said the big skipper, who -was of a less sympathetic nature than the old musician. 'What for does -he no stay at hame? He doesna need to gang driving wi' her unless he -likes.' - -'It's no easy getting away frae Mrs. Menzies,' the old man said -shrewdly, 'if she has a mind to take ye wi' her. And she hersel' sees -that he canna afford to spend money even on little things; and yet she's -feared to say anything to him. Man, dinna ye mind when she wanted him -to take a room in the house?--what was that but that she meant him to -have his board free? But no--the deevil has got some o' the Hielan -pride in him; she was just feared to say anything mair about it. And at -the club, too, it's no every one he'll drink wi' though there's plenty -ready to stand Sam, now that Ronald is kent as a writer o' poetry. Not -that but wi' ithers he's ower free--ay, confound him, he's getting the -reputation o' a harum-scarum deil--if he takes a liking to a man, he'll -gang off wi' him and his neighbours for the time being, and goodness -knows when or where they'll stop. A bottle o' whisky in their pocket, -and off they'll make; I heard the other week o' him and some o' them -finding themselves at daybreak in Helensburgh--naught would do the -rascal the night before but that he maun hae a sniff o' the saut -sea-air; and off they set, him and them, the lang night through, until -the daylight found them staring across to Roseneath and Kempoch Point. -He's no in the best o' hands, that's the fact. If he would but marry -the widow----' - -'What would Jimmy Laidlaw say to that?' the skipper said, with a loud -laugh. - -'Jimmy Laidlaw? He hasna the ghost o' a chance so long as this young -fellow's about. Kate's just daft about him; but he's no inclined that -way, I can see--unless hunger should tame him. Weel, M'Taggart, I dinna -like to see the lad being led away to the mischief. He's got into ill -hands. If it's the want o' a settled way o' leevin that's worrying him, -and driving him to gang wild and reckless at times, something should be -done. I'm an auld man now; I've seen ower many young fellows like that -gang to auld Harry; and I like this lad--I'm no going to stand by and -look on without a word.' - -'Ay, and what would ye hiv me dae, Peter? Take him as a hand on board -the _Mary Jane_?' - -'Na, na. The lad maun gang on wi' his surveying and that kind o' -thing--though he seems less and less to think there'll be any solid -outcome frae it. But what think ye o' this? There's Mr. Jackson paying -they professionals from week to week; and here's a fellow wi' a finer -natural voice than any o' them--if it had but a little training. Well, -now, why shouldna Jackson pay the lad for his singing?' - -'Not if he can get it for nothing, Peter!' - -'But he canna--that's just the thing, man,' retorted the other. 'It's -only when Ronald has had a glass and is in the humour that he'll sing -anything. Why shouldna he be engaged like the others? It would be a -stand-by. It would take up none o' his time. And it might make him a -wee thing steadier if he kent he had to sing every night.' - -'Very well, then, ask Tom Jackson about it,' the big skipper said. 'Ye -may say it would please the members--I'll back ye up wi' that. Confound -him, I didna ken the deevil had got his leg ower the trace.' - -The old man answered with a cautious smile: - -'Ye're rough and ready, M'Taggart; but that'll no do. Ronald's a -camstrairy chiel. There's Hielan blood in his veins; and ye never ken -when his pride is gaun to bleeze oot and be up the lum wi'm in a fluff.' - -'Beggars canna be choosers, my good freen----' - -'Beggars? They Hielan folk are never beggars; they'll rob and plunder -ye, and fling ye ower a hedge, and rifle your pockets, but deil a bit o' -them 'll beg. Na, na; we'll have to contrive some roundabout way to see -how he'll take it. But I'll speak to Jackson; and we'll contrive -something, I doubtna. Sae finish up your beer, Captain; and if ye're -gaun doon to see Mrs. Menzies, I'll gang as far wi' ye; I havena been -there this nicht or twa.' - -Now that was an amiable and benevolent, but, as it turned out, most -unfortunate design. That same night Ronald did show up at the Harmony -Club; and there was a little more than usual of hilarity and good -fellowship over the return of the skipper from the perils of the deep. -Laidlaw was there too; and he also had been acquainted with the way in -which they meant to approach Ronald, to see whether he could not be -induced to sing regularly at these musical meetings for a stipulated -payment. - -Their first difficulty was to get him to sing at all; and for a long -time he was good-humouredly obdurate, and they let him alone. But later -on in the evening one of his own songs was sung--'The fisher lads are -bound for hame'--and was received with immense applause, which naturally -pleased him; and then there was a good deal of talking and laughing and -conviviality; in the midst of which the skipper called to him-- - -'Now, Ronald, lad, tune up; I havena heard a song frae ye this three -weeks and mair; man, if I had a voice like yours wouldna I give them-- - -_'"The boat rocks at the pier o' Leith,_ - _Fu' loud the wind blaws frae the ferry;_ -_The ship rides by the Berwick Law,_ - _And I maun leave my bonnie mary!"'_ - -And indeed he did, in this loud and general hum, sing these lines, in -tones resembling the sharpening of a rusty saw. - -'Very well, then,' Ronald said. 'But I'll sing it where I am--once -there's quietness. I'm not going up on that platform.' - -Of course, the chairman was glad enough to make the announcement, for -Ronald's singing was highly appreciated by the members; moreover there -was a little experiment to be tried. So peace was restored; the -accompanist struck a few notes; and Ronald, with a little indecision at -first, but afterwards with a clear-ringing courage, sang that gayest of -all parting songs. In the hubbub of applause that followed none but the -conspirators saw what now took place. The chairman called a waiter, and -spoke a few words to him in an undertone; the waiter went over to the -table where Ronald was sitting and handed him a small package; and then -Ronald, naturally thinking that this was merely a written message or -something of the kind, opened the folded piece of white paper. - -There was a message, it is true,--'with T. Jackson's compliments,'--and -there was also a sovereign and a shilling. For an instant Ronald -regarded this thing with a kind of bewilderment; and then his eyes -blazed; the money was dashed on to the ground; and, without a word or a -look to any one in the place, he had clapped on his hat and stalked to -the door, his mouth firm shut, his lips pale. This glass door was a -private door leading to an outer passage formerly described; the handle -seemed stiff or awkward; so by main force he drove it before him, and -the door swinging back into the lobby, smashed its glass panels against -the wall. The 'breenge'--for there is no other word--caused by this -violent departure was tremendous; and the three conspirators could only -sit and look at each other. - -'The fat's in the fire now,' said the skipper. - -'I wonder if the guinea 'll pay for the broken glass,' said Jimmy -Laidlaw. - -But it was the little old musician, whose scheme this had been, who was -most concerned. - -'We'll have to get hold o' the lad and pacify him,' said he. 'The -Hielan deevil! But if he doesna come back here, he'll get among a worse -lot than we are--we'll have to get hold o' him, Captain, and bring him -to his senses.' - -Well, in the end--after a day or two--Ronald was pacified; and he did go -back to the club, and resumed his relations with the friends and -acquaintances he had formed there. And that was how it came about that -Meenie's married sister--who happened to know certain members of the -Rev. Andrew Strang's congregation, and who was very curious to discover -why it was that Meenie betrayed such a singular interest in this mere -gamekeeper, and was repeatedly referring to him in her -correspondence--added this postscript to a letter which she was sending -to Inver-Mudal: - -'I don't know whether it may interest you to hear that Ronald Strang, -Mr. Strang's brother, whom you have several times asked about, is -_drinking himself to death_, and that in the lowest of low company.' - - - - - END OF VOL. II. - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHITE HEATHER (VOLUME II OF 3) -*** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43445 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may -use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative -works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and -printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public -domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, -especially commercial redistribution. - - - -The Full Project Gutenberg License - - -_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ - -To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or -any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works - - -*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the -terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all -copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If -you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things -that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even -without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph -1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of -Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works -in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you -from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating -derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project -Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the -Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic -works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with -the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name -associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this -agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full -Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with -others. - - -*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with - almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away - or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License - included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org - -*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating -that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can -be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying -any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a -work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on -the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs -1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and -distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and -any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted -with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of -this work. - -*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a -part of this work or any other work associated with Project -Gutenberg(tm). - -*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) License. - -*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site -(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or -expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a -means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include -the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works -provided that - - - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - - - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) - works. - - - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - - - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. - - -*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. - -*1.F.* - -*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. -Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the -medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but -not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription -errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a -defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer -codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. - -*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. -YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, -BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN -PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND -ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR -ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES -EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. - -*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain -freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and -permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To -learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and -how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the -Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state -of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue -Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is -64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the -Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the -full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. -S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page -at http://www.pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where -we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any -statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside -the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways -including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, -please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. - - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless -a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks -in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook -number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, -compressed (zipped), HTML and others. - -Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over -the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. -_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving -new filenames and etext numbers. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |