med, tossing the baby boy up in his arms,
and then on the cry of 'Johnnie too!' 'Me too!' performing the same feat
with the other two, the last so boisterously that Mary screamed that
'the bairnie would be coupit over the crag.'

'What, looking out over the sea?' he cried to his elder sisters. 'That's
the wrang side! Ye should look out on the other, to see Glenuskie coming
with Davie and Malcolm, so we'll have no lack of minstrelsy and tales
to-night, that is if the doited old council will let me alone. Here,
come to the southern tower to watch for them.'

The sisters had worked themselves to the point of eagerness where
propitious moments are disregarded, and both broke out--

'Glenuskie is going to Margaret. We want to go with him!'

'Go! Go to Margaret and leave me!' cried James, the red spot on his face
spreading.

'Oh, Jamie, it is so dull and dreary, and folks are so fierce and rude.'

'That might be when that loon Hepburn had you, but now you have me, who
can take order with them.'

'You cannot do all, Jamie,' persisted Eleanor; 'and we long after that
fair smooth land of peace. Lady Glenuskie would take good care of us
till we came to Margaret.'

'Ay! And 'tis little you heed how it is with me,' exclaimed James, 'when
you are gone to your daffing and singing and dancing--with me that have
saved you from that reiver Hepburn.'

'Jamie, dear, I'll never quit ye,' said little Mary's gentle voice.

He laughed.

'You are a leal faithful little lady, Mary; but you are no good as yet,
when Angus is speiring for my sister for his heir.'

'And do you trow,' said Jean hotly, 'that when one sister is to be a
queen, and the other is next thing to it, we are going to put up with a
raw-boned, red-haired, unmannerly Scots earl?'

'And do you forget who is King of Scotland, ye proud peat?' her brother
cried in return.

'A braw sort of king,' returned Jean, 'who could not hinder his mother
and sisters from being stolen by an outlaw.'

The pride and hot temper of the Beauforts had descended to both brother
and sister, and James lifted his hand with 'Dare to say that again';
and Jean was beginning 'I dare,' when little Annaple opportunely called,
'There's a plump of spears coming over the hill.'

There was an instant rush to watch them, James saying--

'The Drummond banner! Ye shall see how Glenuskie mocks at this same fine
fancy of yours'; and he ran downstairs at no kingly pace, letting the
heavy nail-studded