with you by Saturday's stage.
Please answer by bearer. Eugene Coristine." The Squire, home a little
sooner than usual, said: "Let me answer that, Honoria," and retired to
his office. When he came out, it was with a written paper in his hand,
which he read for approval. "You and Douglas heartily welcome--will meet
you at station, so do not disappoint." This was accepted by a unanimous
vote; after which the messenger partook of a hasty meal, as did his
horse, and then galloped back to town. "The waggonette will hold six,"
said the Squire; "that's Coristine, Mr. Douglas and me. Who are the
other three? Will you no come, Marjorie? The ride'll dae ye guid, lass."

No, Miss Carmichael declined, and the Squire was inwardly wroth. Mrs.
Carmichael took the place offered to her daughter, and Marjorie Thomas
and Mr. Terry volunteered to make up the required number. It seemed
such a long time till Saturday morning, but Marjorie tried to shorten
it, by running everywhere and telling everybody that Eugene was coming.
The whole house caught the infection. Tryphena and Tryphosa were kept
busy, preparing already for a late six o'clock dinner on the morrow.
There was a putting of rooms in order for the coming guests, during
which Miss Carmichael, conscience stricken, returned the lawyer's verses
to the leaves of Browning. She dreaded meeting the author of them, and
found comfort in the fact that he was not coming alone. If she had not
been, in her own estimation, such a coward, she would have gone on a
visit to Fanny, but she dared not thus offend her uncle and aunt, and
desert her mother and Cecile. What was he coming for? She had not sent
for him. Why did she not want him to come? She did not know, and it was
the right of nobody to question her on the subject. She only knew that
she was very unhappy, and hoped she would not act stupidly before the
stranger from Edinburgh.

That night the Squire received a letter from Coristine, written on
Thursday, saying that Mr. Douglas had arrived, and was a very fine
fellow; and that, as soon as he had made up his mind to go to
Bridesdale, a telegram would be sent. He also requested Mr. Carruthers,
if it was not trespassing too far upon his kindness, to secure the
rooms, which the postmistress had told him she had to let, for Miss
Graves, a young lady in his firm's offices, who needed complete rest and
change of scene, and who would either go up by the stage on Saturday or
accompany Mr. Douglas an