in Scotland, rented
by an old friend, over which he had shot year after year for many years
back.

On hearing of this sudden change of plans Robin expressed a polite
regretfulness, but the General looked at him with twinkling eyes--he and
Robin had come to be on the best of terms of late--and bade him be off
to Dublin without any confounded hypocrisy about it.

"You've been wishing me anywhere, my lad, this last week or two except
aboard the _Seagull_," he said. "Not but what you've borne with me--oh,
yes, you've borne with me; a lad of my own couldn't have done more: and
now you've earned your reward."

So the General went off northward for what was left of the grouse
season. Later, he was to go into Sussex for the partridge and pheasant
shooting, not so far from where Nelly was living in a state of blissful
peace, with excellent reports of Langrishe's recovery coming by every
mail.

And be sure, the _Seagull_ spread her white wings and flew, as fast as
wind and wave could carry her, across the Irish Sea.

Sir Robin presented himself unannounced at the little house in Wistaria
Terrace, where the youngest but two of the Miss Grays opened the door
half-way to him, and was visibly alarmed at the sound of his title.

The little house smelt of cookery, perhaps of washing, although doors
and windows were open. But little Robin Drummond cared for that. Beyond
the demure child who had admitted him he caught sight of Mary sitting on
the shabby little grass-plot, in a wicker-chair, with a Japanese
umbrella over her head. And roses could not have been sweeter than the
atmosphere.

The simplicity which belonged to his character came out in his dealings
with Mary's family. Walter Gray came home to find his daughter's grand
lover stretching his long figure on the grass at her feet, while the
smaller Grays, their shyness quite departed, rolled and tumbled over him
as confident as puppies. To be sure Walter Gray, with his disbelief in
distinctions of rank as otherwise than accidental, was not unduly elated
by the fine company in which he found himself. He looked hard and long
at Robin Drummond as hand met hand. Then a bright look of reassurance
came over his face. He could trust even Mary to the owner of those eyes.

They discovered a deal in common later on as they walked, with Mary for
a third, in the long twilight and early moonlight. Walter Gray imparted
his secret thoughts as to a spiritual brother. His dreams, his
aspi