the Almighty,
'Remember our lads, and be their help in the day of battle, and give
them the necks of their enemies,' and he might be wrestling for half an
hour, when Ina rose from her knees and said, 'The prayer is answered,
for the tartans have the field, and I see blood on Ronald, but it is
not his own.'"

"And did you ever hear--"

"Wait, my dear, and I will tell you, for the letter came from my
nephew, and this is what he wrote:

"'It wass three to one, and the gloom came on me, for I thought that I
would never see Glenfeshie again, nor the water of the loch, nor the
deer on the side of the hill. Then I wass suddenly strengthened with
all might in the inner man, and it iss five Russians that I hef killed
to my own hands.'

"And so it wass, and a letter came from his captain, who wass of
Cluny's blood, and it will be read in church, and a fery proud woman
wass my sister."

These were the stories that Janet told to her minister in the days
before the Carnegies came home, as well as afterwards, and so she
prepared him to be an easier prey to a soldier's daughter.

CHAPTER IX.

A DAUGHTER OF DEBATE.

They met under the arch of the gate, and Carmichael returned with the
Carnegies, Kate making much of him and insisting that he should stay to
luncheon.

"You are our first visitor, Mr. Carmichael, and the General says that
we need not expect more than six, so we mean to be very kind to them.
Do you live far from here?"

"Quite near--just two miles west. I happened to be passing; in fact, I
'm going down to the next parish, and I . . . I thought that I would
like to call and . . . and bid you welcome;" for Carmichael had not yet
learned the art of conversation, which stands mainly in touching
details lightly and avoiding the letter I.

"It is very cruel of you to be so honest and dispel our flattering
illusions"--Kate marvelled at his mendacity--"we supposed you had come
'anes errand'--I'm picking up Scotch--to call on your new neighbours.
Does the high road pass the Lodge?"

"Oh no; the road is eight miles further; but the Drumtochty people take
the near way through the woods; it's also much prettier. I hope you
will not forbid us, General? two people a week is all the traffic."

"Forbid them--not I," said Carnegie, laughing. "A man is not born and
bred in this parish without learning some sense. It would be a right
of way case, and Drumtochty would follow me from court to court, and
would neve