spise. But perhaps you've never heard that story?

Now, both the father and daughter are sweet to 'their dear
cousin,' and very kind to me--to please him, of course. Next to
being with you, I'd rather go to Dhrum than do anything else in the
world. Perhaps it will seem to you just the right thing, because I
know how difficult it is to plan what to do with me for the rest of
my life, unless I marry Basil. And maybe you wouldn't so much mind
my not marrying him, if I had a proper place to stay for ever so
many weeks, while you looked round?

Mr. and Mrs. Vanneck haven't gone yet, but they will be starting
to-morrow morning for Dundee, and from there they will go to the
Round House. I am sorry to say I shan't miss them, as I did Mrs.
James. Cousin Duncan and Cousin Margaret (they have told me to call
them 'Cousin') don't seem Scottish at all, and so they are rather
disappointing. They live in London and don't care for Dhrum, but
they appear not to dislike the idea of visiting Mr. Somerled there.
I believe they have often in old times visited the people to whom
they let Dunelin Castle, but only when there was a very good _chef_
and a gay house-party. Cousin Margaret has a large, high nose, and
thin hair and a thin face and body. All her personality is thin and
cold, as if she couldn't care much about anything. But she does
care about women getting votes, and insists on talking politics in
the midst of lovely scenery. She looks so like her father, it is
quite funny, and their voices are exactly alike, slow and correct
and exaggeratedly English; and Scottish history bores them. They
are proud of the ancestor who ratted from Prince Charlie and fought
with Butcher Cumberland, so we have nothing in common. But any port
in a storm!

I suppose I mustn't go away in the Gray Dragon till I hear from
you? Yet surely you will say 'Yes,' as it will save you trouble,
without my being obliged to marry Basil. I am sorry for him, but he
will soon get over it, for he loves his writing better than
anything else in the world, and presently he will go back to it and
forget me. I think he likes me because I would make a new kind of
heroine for one of his novels, and I'm quite willing he should have
me for that.

I suppose if I go with Mr. Somerled Mrs. West will joi