I think of Christine's white
soul and the stained love I have to offer it. But women forgive! Oh,
what mothers and wives and sisters there are in this world!"

"Well, don't try Christine too far, Donald. She is of an old
Covenanting stock; her conscience feels sin afar off. I do not believe
she would marry a bad, worldly man, though it broke her heart to say
'No.' I have known her far longer than you have."

"Tut, man, I love her! I know her better in an hour than you could do
in a lifetime;" and Donald looked rather contemptuously on the plain
man who was watching him with eyes that might have warned any one more
suspicious or less confident and self-satisfied.

CHAPTER III.

The summer brought some changes. Christine went to the seaside for a
few weeks, and Donald went away in Lord Neville's yacht with a party
of gay young men; James and David passed the evenings generally
together. If it was wet, they remained in the shop or parlor; if fine,
they rambled to the "Green," and sitting down by the riverside talked
of business, of Christine, and of Donald. In one of these confidential
rambles James first tried to arouse in David's mind a suspicion as to
his nephew's real character. David himself introduced the subject by
speaking of a letter he had received from Donald.

"He's wi' the great Earl o' Egremont at present," said David proudly,
for he had all a Scotsman's respect for good birth; "and there is wi'
them young Argyle, and Lord Lovat, and ithers o' the same quality. But
our Donald can cock his bonnet wi' ony o' them; there is na better
blood in Scotland than the McFarlanes'. It taks money though to
foregather wi' nobeelity, and Donald is wanting some. So, James, I'll
gie ye the siller to-night, and ye'll send it through your bank as
early as may be in the morn."

"Donald wanting money is an old want, Mr. Cameron."

David glanced quickly at James, and answered almost haughtily, "It's a
common want likewise, James Blackie. But if Donald McFarlane wants
money, he's got kin that can accommodate him, James; wanters arena
always that fortunate."

"He has got friends likewise, Mr. Cameron; and I am sure I was proud
enough to do him a kindness, and he knows it well."

"And how much may Donald be owing you, I wonder?"

"Only a little matter of L20. You see he had got into--"

"Dinna fash yoursel' wi' explanations, James. Dootless Donald has his
faults; but I may weel wink at his small faults, when I hae