f the bridge, after everybody else was in bed. She had been
miserable till she could warn him. He thanked her heartily, and said he
would be on his guard: he would neither eat nor drink in the house. She
crept softly away. He secured his door, lay down, and, trying to think,
fell asleep.

When he woke his brain was clear. The very next day, whether Lenorme came
or not, he would declare himself. That night he would go fishing with Lady
Clementina, but not one day longer would he allow those people to be about
his sister. Who could tell what might not be brewing, or into what abyss,
with the help of her _friends_, the woman Catanach might not plunge
Florimel?

He rose, took Kelpie out, and had a good gallop. On his way back he saw in
the distance Florimel riding with Liftore. The earl was on his father's
bay mare. He could not endure the sight, and dashed home at full speed.

Learning from Rose that Lady Clementina was in the flower-garden, he found
her at the swan-basin feeding the gold and silver fishes. An
under-gardener, who had been about the place for thirty years, was at work
not far off. The light splash of the falling column which the marble swan
spouted from its upturned beak prevented her from hearing his approach
until he was close behind her. She turned, and her fair face took the
flush of a white rose.

"My lady," he said, "I have got everything arranged for to-night."

"And when shall we go?" she asked eagerly.

"At the turn of the tide, about half-past seven. But seven is your
dinner-hour."

"It is of no consequence. But could you not make it half an hour later,
and then I should not seem rude?"

"Make it any hour you please, my lady, so long as the tide is falling."

"Let it be eight then, and dinner will be almost over. They will not miss
me after that. Mr. Cairns is going to dine with them. I think, except
Liftore, I never disliked a man so much. Shall I tell them where I am
going?"

"Yes, my lady. It will be better. They will look amazed, for all their
breeding."

"Whose boat is it, that I may be able to tell them if they should ask me?"

"Joseph Mair's. He and his wife will come and fetch you. Annie Mair will
go with us--if I may say _us_: will you allow me to go in your boat, my
lady?"

"I couldn't go without you, Malcolm."

"Thank you, my lady. Indeed, I don't know how I could let you go without
me. Not that there is anything to fear, or that I could make it the least
safer; but so