called?--a kind of defensive and offensive
alliance. I know Uncle Ju had nearly to fight old Sir Bunny Bunny the
other day. He interviewed the old fellow. He had come to propose his
son, who is such a donkey that the very village urchins bray after him
and pretend to munch thistles!"

"Let us go and see Miss Aline!" said the Princess, and rang the bell.
"Where did you say she was living--at a hotel--why did she not go to
friends? It is so much more _convenable_ for a lady travelling alone!"

"Well," said Patsy, "I think her aunt the countess is away, and I am not
sure whether she would wish to put herself under an obligation. Then
Lord Raincy is coming to town next week or so to place his grandson in
the dragoons, but his house is not opened up yet. Of course, Miss Aline
would have gone there. My father wanted to take her back to Ladykirk--it
is so safe and peaceful. No soldiers or press-gangs or smugglers ever go
there, for Miss Aline is like something sacred--so unable to take care
of herself that everybody must look after her!"

"And particularly Julian?" observed the Princess, with a spark in the
blue eyes.

"As you say, dear lady," retorted Patsy maliciously, "especially Uncle
Julian!"

"Order the carriage!" said the Princess.

CHAPTER XIX

MISS ALINE TAKES COMMAND

"Indeed, mem," said the dainty little lady, as Patsy and the Princess
were ushered into her tiny sitting-room, "but this is more than kind and
far abune my thoughts and deservings. But I wish it had been at Ladykirk
that I had been permitted to receive you, and not in this--this
pig-stye, that has not been cleansed for a hundred year, and as for
dusting--I was just tearing up an auld bit o' body-linen to show the
craiturs how a room should be dusted."

"But your maid?" said the Princess, "I know you have brought one. Why
not let her do a thing like that?"

"Eelen Young--oh, mem, it's little ye ken--and how should ye, being as
they tell me siccan a great leddy, the snares and the traps that lie
waiting for the feet of the young and the unwary here in this michty
'caravansy'! My leddy, there's not a decent lass in the place--only men
to serve ye and make the beds. 'Thank ye kindly,' says I, 'but I, Aline
Minto, shall make my ain.' So after I had let Eelen Young sleep with me
one night, I packed her aff wi' the next coach and paid David Colvill,
the guard, to look after her to Dumfries, where she has a sister in
service."

The Princ