teristics.

Falconer forgot himself for a moment, and made a stride forward.

'Dinna hit him, Robert,' cried Shargar. 'He ance gae me a shillin', an'
it helpit, as ye ken, to haud me alive to face him this day.--No liar,
my lord, but a bastard, thank heaven.' Then, with a laugh, he instantly
added, 'Gin I had been ain brither to you, my lord, God only knows what
a rascal I micht hae been.'

'By God, you shall answer for your damned insolence,' said the marquis,
and, lifting his riding-whip from the table where he had laid it, he
approached his brother.

Mysie rang the bell.

'Haud yer han', Sandy,' cried Shargar. 'I hae faced mair fearsome foes
than you. But I hae some faimily-feelin', though ye hae nane: I wadna
willin'ly strike my brither.'

As he spoke, he retreated a little. The marquis came on with raised
whip. But Falconer stepped between, laid one of his great hands on the
marquis's chest, and flung him to the other end of the room, where he
fell over an ottoman. The same moment the servant entered.

'Ask your mistress to oblige me by coming to the drawing-room,' said
Mysie.

The marquis had risen, but had not recovered his presence of mind when
Lady Janet entered. She looked inquiringly from one to the other.

'Please, Lady Janet, will you ask the Marquis of Boarshead to leave the
house,' said Mysie.

'With all my hert,' answered Lady Janet; 'and the mair that he's a kin'
o' a cousin o' my ain. Gang yer wa's, Sandy. Ye're no fit company for
decent fowk; an' that ye wad ken yersel', gin ye had ony idea left o'
what decency means.'

Without heeding her, the marquis went up to Falconer.

'Your card, sir.'

Lady Janet followed him.

''Deed ye s' get nae cairds here,' she said, pushing him aside. 'So you
allow your friends to insult me in your own house as they please, cousin
Janet?' said the marquis, who probably felt her opposition the most
formidable of all.

''Deed they canna say waur o' ye nor I think. Gang awa', an' repent.
Consider yer gray hairs, man.'

This was the severest blow he had yet received. He left the room,
'swearing at large.'

Falconer followed him; but what came of it nobody ever heard.

Major and Miss Hamilton were married within three months, and went out
to India together, taking Nancy Kennedy with them.

CHAPTER X. A NEOPHYTE.

Before many months had passed, without the slightest approach to any
formal recognition, I found myself one of the church of labour o