eemed to us to be doing evil that good
might come. But I won't say we may not live to be thankful that we lost
our cause.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

It has been a warm afternoon, and I sat with the window open in the
parlour, singing and sewing; Ephraim was out in the parish. I was
turning down a hem when a voice in the garden spoke to me,--

"An't like you, Madam, to give a drink of whey to a poor soldier?"

There was a slight Scots accent with the words.

"Whence come you?" I said.

"I fought at Prestonpans," he answered. He looked a youngish man, but
very ragged and bemired.

"On which side?" I said, as I rose up. Of course I was not going to
refuse him food and drink, however that might be, but I dare say I
should have made it a little more dainty for one of Prince Charlie's
troops than for a Hanoverian, and I felt pretty sure he was the former
from his accent.

I fancied I saw a twinkle in his eyes.

"The side you are on, Madam," said he.

"How can you know which side I am on?" said I. "Come round to the
back-door, friend, and I will find you a drink of whey."

"I suppose," said my beggar, looking down at himself, "I don't look
quite good enough for the front door. But I am an officer for all that,
Madam."

"Sir, I beg your pardon," I made answer. "I will let you in at the
front,"--for when he spoke more, I heard the accent of a gentleman.

"Pray don't give yourself that trouble, Cousin Cary."

And to my utter amazement, the beggar jumped in at the window, which was
low and easily scaled.

"Angus!" I almost screamed.

"At your service, Madam."

"When did you leave France? Where are you come from? Have you been to
Abbotscliff? Are--"

"Halt! Can't fight more than three men at once. And I won't answer a
question till I have had something to eat. Forgive me, Cary, but I am
very nearly starving."

I rushed into the kitchen, and astonished Caitlin by laying violent
hands on a pan of broth which she was going to serve for supper. I
don't know what I said to her. I hastily poured the broth into a basin,
and seizing a loaf of bread and a knife, dashed back to Angus.

"Eat that now, Angus. You shall have something better by-and-by."

He ate like a man who was nearly starving, as he had said. When he had
finished, he said,--

"Now! I left France a fortnight since. I have not been to Abbotscliff.
I know nothing but the facts tha