and look and a Shetland tongue, and I believe
that you have a Shetland heart also, Morton. `The prince shall hae his
ain again, his ain again!' That's a curious old Scotch song; it's
always running in my head. `The prince shall hae his ain again!' Well,
but, you know, Morton, he didn't get his ain again; so I've heard nurse
Bertha say. She's a wise woman, your mother-in-law, and my good cousin,
too. Well, well; there are ups and downs in this life. All don't get
their ain, that's poz; if they did, another'd be sitting on George's
throne; but that's treason, ye ken; and another'd be ruling in
Wardhill's room, but that's treason, too; so I'd better be holding my
tongue, or all the cats I've got in my bag will be jumping out and
playing more pranks than either you or I, or Sir Marcus Wardhill to
boot, will be able to stay."

Rolf Morton was too well aware of poor Lawrence's state of mind to
listen with much attention to what he said; but his curiosity was
sufficiently awakened by some of the remarks he let fall to make him
resolve to learn more about the matter from Bertha Eswick as soon as he
could meet her.

CHAPTER FOUR.

HILDA'S FIRST MEETING WITH DON HERNAN--HILDA ON BOARD THE CORVETTE--ROLF
MORTON PILOTS THE SHIP--CRUISE IN THE "SAINT CECILIA."--HILDA ACCEPTS
DON HERNAN.

The heiress of Lunnasting was high-minded, unconscious of evil,
confident of her own strength and resolution, and utterly ignorant of
the world and of its deceits and wickedness. She had for long lived in
one of her own creation, which she fancied was like the real world of
other mortals. She met Don Hernan Escalante, and at once clothed him
with all the attributes and perfections with which a romantic girl could
endow the object of her fancy. He, too, at the moment he entered the
hall, and found her seated in courtly style to receive him, was struck
by her rare and exquisite beauty. He had never seen any being so
lovely, and, man of the world as he thought himself, he at once yielded
to the influence of that beauty. She herself was scarcely aware of the
power she might have exerted over him, but gave herself up to the full
enjoyment of the new sensations she experienced.

Hilda occasionally heard from her father and sister, but not very
frequently, and their letters contained little more than an outline of
their progress, the names of the places they had visited, and the length
of their stay at each. Sir Marcus now and then a