ked something finer and more golden than often came that way. Young
Gilian at the churn stood with parted lips, the long dasher still in
her hands. This was as good as stories of elves, pixies, fays, men of
peace and all! Elspeth let the milk-pans be and sat beside them on the
long bench, and, with hands folded in her lap, looked with brown eyes
many a league away. Neither Elspeth nor Gilian was without book
learning. Behind them and before them were long visits to scholar
kindred in a city in the north and fit schooling there. London and
Paris and Rome.... Foreign lands and the great world. And this was a
glittering young eagle that had sailed and seen!

Alexander gazed with delight upon Ian spreading triumphant wings. This
was his friend. There was nothing finer than continuously to come upon
praiseworthiness in your friend!

"And a beautiful lady came by who was the king's favorite--"

"Gude guide us! The limmer!"

"And she was walking on rose-colored velvet and her slippers had
diamonds worked in them. Snow was on the ground outside and poor folk
were freezing, but she carried over each arm a garland of roses as
though it were June--"

Jenny Barrow raised her hands. "She'll sit yet in the cauld blast, in
the sinner's shift!"

"And after a time there walked in the king, and the courtiers behind
him like the tail of a peacock--"

They had a happy hour in the White Farm dairy. At last Jenny and the
girls set for the two cold meat and bannocks and ale. And still at
table Ian was the shining one. The sun was at noon and so was his
mood.

"You're fey!" said Alexander, at last.

"Na, na!" spoke Jenny. "But, oh, he's the bonny lad!"

The dinner was eaten. It was time to be going.

"Shut your book of stories!" said Alexander. "We're for the Kelpie's
Pool, and that's not just a step from here!"

Elspeth raised her brown eyes. "Why will you go to the Kelpie's Pool?
That's a drear water!"

"I want to show it to him. He's never seen it."

"It's drear!" said Elspeth. "A drear, wanrestfu' place!"

But Ian and Alexander must go. The aunt and nieces accompanied them to
the door, stood and watched them forth, down the bank and into the
path that ran to the glen. Looking back, the youths saw them
there--Elspeth and Gilian and their aunt Jenny. Then the aspens came
between and hid them and the white house and all.

"They're bonny lasses!" said Ian.

"Aye. They're so."

"But, oh, man! you should see Miss Delafiel