res before he
opened his lips. Men and women taking shelter with him, for instance,
from the rain, found the temptation to talk with Captain Bennydeck
irresistible; and, when the weather cleared, they mostly carried away
with them the same favorable impression: "One would like to meet with
that gentleman again."

Randal's first words of welcome relieved the Captain of certain modest
doubts of his reception, which appeared to trouble him when he entered
the room. "I am glad to find you remember me as kindly as I remember
you." Those were his first words when he and Randal shook hands.

"You might have felt sure of that," Randal said.

The Captain's modesty still doubted.

"You see, the circumstances were a little against me. We met at a
dull dinner, among wearisome worldly men, full of boastful talk
about themselves. It was all 'I did this,' and 'I said that'--and the
gentlemen who were present had always been right; and the gentlemen
who were absent had always been wrong. And, oh, dear, when they came to
politics, how they bragged about what they would have done if they had
only been at the head of the Government; and how cruelly hard to please
they were in the matter of wine! Do you remember recommending me to
spend my next holiday in Scotland?"

"Perfectly. My advice was selfish--it really meant that I wanted to see
you again."

"And you have your wish, at your brother's house! The guide book did it.
First, I saw your family name. Then, I read on and discovered that there
were pictures at Mount Morven and that strangers were allowed to see
them. I like pictures. And here I am."

This allusion to the house naturally reminded Randal of the master.
"I wish I could introduce you to my brother and his wife," he said.
"Unhappily their only child is ill--"

Captain Bennydeck started to his feet. "I am ashamed of having intruded
on you," he began. His new friend pressed him back into his chair
without ceremony. "On the contrary, you have arrived at the best of all
possible times--the time when our suspense is at an end. The doctor
has just told us that his poor little patient is out of danger. You may
imagine how happy we are."

"And how grateful to God!" The Captain said those words in tones that
trembled--speaking to himself.

Randal was conscious of feeling a momentary embarrassment. The character
of his visitor had presented itself in a new light. Captain Bennydeck
looked at him--understood him--and returned