laughter had subsided, Alan said, with
a boyish grin, "It's too bad he couldn't stay to supper. And now
come up, everybody, and meet my mother."

It was then that the Shepherd of Glen Easig astonished himself and
every one else by shouting at the top of his lungs, "Three cheers for
the young Laird!" and when they had been given with such energy that
the hills rang with the echoes, he called for three more for her
ladyship, and Alan waved his cap in acknowledgment for them both.

Then the people, surprised out of their usual Scotch reserve by
laughter and by the joy of good news, came swarming up the steps
and were introduced to Alan's mother by Alan himself when he knew
them, and by the minister when he did not.

The Shepherd, with the bashful Clan in his wake, came last of
all, and the Twins heard him say to her ladyship, "God bless the
laddie! It was a rare day for the Glen when he fell into the burn
and came to dry himself by our fireside."

"It was a rare day for me, too, Cousin Campbell," said Alan, and
then; catching sight of Sandy and the Twins hanging back behind
their father, what did he do but pucker up his lips and whistle
the pewit call? The Clan was too overcome then even to attempt a
pucker, and Alan, springing forward, tried to grasp three hands
at once and introduced them to his mother as his Rob Roy Clan.

The Twins and Sandy were not a bit like the bold buccaneers of
the cave when the great lady of Glen Cairn smiled on them kindly.

"I told you I'd wear the sprig of evergreen pine and whistle the call
of the Clan the next time you saw me," cried Alan, as they fell in
behind the others, who were now entering the banquet-hall. "Why didn't
you answer?"

"Oh, but," said Jean, a little sadly and blushing like a poppy,
"we never thought you'd be coming back so grand like. You'll
never be playing with the Clan any more in Glen Easig, surely,
now that you 're a great Laird!"

"And why not, I'd like to know?" cried the great Laird, looking
hurt. "I'm still Alan McRae, Chief of the Clan, the same as
before, and as true to my friends as Rob Roy himself was before
me. We'll have many a good day in the woods yet before snow
flies; and listen, I've a plan in my head!"

"There speaks the Chief," cried Jock, forgetting to be afraid of
him. "He was ever having plans in his head. Out with it, man."

"It's this," said Alan, "I'm going to have a tutor here at the
castle, and you're all to have your lessons he