care of ye till London town.
The Lord grant I win hame safe mysel' at after!"

"Is the country so disturbed, Sam?" said Flora.

"The country's nae disturbed, Miss Flora. I was meanin' temptations and
sic-like. Leastwise, ay--the country is a bit up and down, as ye may
say; but no sae mickle. We'll win safe eneuch to London, me and Miss
Cary, if the Lord pleases. It's the comin' haim I'm feared for."

"And is--" I hardly knew how to ask what I wanted to know. Flora helped
me. I think she saw I needed it.

"Was the wedding very grand, Sam?"

"Whose wedding, Miss Flora? There's been nae weddings at Brocklebank,
but Ben Dykes and auld Bet Donnerthwaite, and I wish Ben joy on't. I am
fain he's no me."

"Nay, you are fain you are no he," laughed Angus.

"I'm fain baith ways, Maister Angus. The Laird 'd hae his table ill
served gin Ben tried his haun."

"But what do you mean, Sam?" cried I. "Has not--"

I stopped again, but Sam helped me out himself.

"Na, Miss Cary, there's nae been siccan a thing, the Lord be thanked!
She took pepper in the nose, and went affa gude week afore it suld ha'e
been; and a gude riddance o' ill rubbish, say I. Mrs Kezia and Miss
Sophy, they are at hame, a' richt: and Miss Hatty comes back in a
twa-three days, without thae young leddies suld gang till London toun,
and gin they do she'll gang wi' 'em."

"Father is not married?" I exclaimed.

"He's better aff," said Sam, determinedly. "I make na count o' thae
hizzies."

How glad I felt! Though Father might be sorry at first, I felt so sure
he would be thankful afterwards. As for the girl who had jilted him, I
thought I could have made her into mincemeat. But I was so glad of his
escape.

"The Laird wad ha'e had ye come wi' yon lanky loon wi' the glass of his
e'e," went on Sam: "he was bound frae Carlisle to London this neist
month. But Mrs Kezia, she wan him o'er to send me for ye. An' I was
for to say that gin the minister wad like Miss Flora to gang wi' ye, I
micht care ye baith, or onie ither young damsel wha's freens wad like to
ha'e her sent soothwards."

"O Flora," I cried at once--"Annas!"

"Yes, we will send word to Monksburn," answered Flora: and Angus jumped
up and said he would walk over.

"As for me," said Flora, turning to Sam, "I must hear my father's
bidding. I do not think I shall go--not if I may stay with him. But
the Laird of Monksburn wishes Miss Keith to go south, and I think he
would be