parts of the world. And now the lily-fingered and gentle-natured
Ogilvie was at Aldershot; while he--what else was he than a mere
deer-stalker and salmon-killer?

"Ogilvie has been very kind to me, mother," he said, laughing. "He has
sent me a list of places in London where I am to get my clothes, and
boots, and a hat; and by the time I have done that, he will be up from
Aldershot, and will lead me about--with a string round my neck, I
suppose, lest I should bite somebody."

"You could not go better to London than in your own tartan," said the
proud mother; "and it is not for an Ogilvie to say how a Macleod should
be dressed. But it is no matter, one after the other has gone; the house
is left empty at last. And they all went away like you, with a laugh on
their face. It was but a trip, a holiday, they said: they would soon be
back to Dare. And where are they this night?"

Old Hamish came in.

"It will be time for the boat now, Sir Keith, and the men are down at
the shore."

He rose, the handsome young fellow, and took his broad, blue bonnet with
the badge of juniper.

"Good-by, cousin Janet," said he, lightly. "Good-by, mother. You are not
going to send me away in this sad fashion? What am I to bring you
back--a satin gown from Paris? or a young bride to cheer up the old
house?"

She took no heed of the passing jest. He kissed her, and bade her
good-by once more. The clear stars were shining over Castle Dare, and
over the black shadows of the mountains, and the smoothly swelling
waters of the Atlantic. There was a dull booming of the waves along the
rocks.

He had thrown his plaid round him, and he was wondering to himself as he
descended the steep path to the shore. He could not believe that the two
women were really saddened by his going to the south for awhile; he was
not given to forebodings. And he had nearly reached the shore, when he
was overtaken by some one running, with a light step behind him. He
turned quickly, and found his cousin before him, a shawl thrown round
her head and shoulders.

"Oh, Keith," said she, in a bright and matter-of-fact way, "I have a
message for you--from myself--and I did not want aunt to hear, for she
is very proud, you know, and I hope you won't be. You know we are all
very poor, Keith; and yet you must not want money in London, if only for
the sake of the family; and you know I have a little, Keith, and I want
you to take it. You won't mind my being frank with you. I