pale and
thoughtful. She had a basket in her hand, and, evidently bent upon some
expedition, she made her way through the ring fence, and away across the
park, neither looking to the right nor left.

"Siller and titles are nice things," mused McCray; "but they don't seem
to make yon puir creature happy."

McCray swept as he thought, and thought as he swept. Jane did not again
appear at the window, and if she had done so, the opening of one in the
lower range would have kept him from speaking to her, while, as he swept
on and on, hunting out errant leaves from the hiding-places where they
were waiting for a bit of fun with the wind, he became conscious of the
dark, lowering face of Sir Murray, apparently watching the progress of
his lady from the side of the house where he now was.

"He's a puir, miserable sort of chiel," muttered the gardener; "he seems
to want a rousing up. It's my belief that a few hours' trenching a day
wi' a good broad spade wad do him a world of good. He eats too much,
and he drinks too much; but I'm sorry for him, puir lad--I'm sorry for
him!"

That night Alexander McCray sat in his little room, thoroughly enjoying
himself, for he was so elated with the glance Jane had that morning
bestowed upon him, that he had treated himself to a pipe and a small
tumbler of whisky and water, over which he sat smiling and happy, for it
struck him that he had at last got in the thin edge of the wedge, and
that the future would all be plain sailing.

"And she's as good a woman as ever the sun shone on," said Sandy at
last, as, after draining the last drop from his tumbler of whisky and
water, and trying in vain to ignite the ashes at the bottom of his pipe,
he tapped the bowl upon the bar, and then stood up to think.

Should he?--shouldn't he? The night was dark and gusty, and he had sat
thinking till it was long past twelve. There was nothing to go for, and
the lassie's light might be out, and she fast asleep in bed long enough
before; but then he would have the satisfaction of knowing that all was
right, and for months past now he had not missed a night. He did not
think he would go, though, for it was evident now that Jane was
beginning to think a little of his words, and no doubt matters would
soon brighten up and be settled. No, he would not go to-night--there
was no need; and upon the strength of that resolution he took off his
coat, and methodically hung it behind the door. Then out came his