, but"--the consul's mouth suddenly
expanded--"to some fair previous occupant? Or was it really HIS room--he
looked as if he were lying--and"--here the consul's mouth expanded even
more wickedly--"and Mrs. MacSpadden had put the flower there for him."
This implied snub to his vanity was, however, more than compensated by
his wicked anticipation of the pretty perplexity of his fair friend when
HE should appear at dinner with the flower in his own buttonhole. It
would serve her right, the arrant flirt! But here he was interrupted by
the entrance of a tall housemaid with his hot water.

"I am afraid I've dispossessed Mr.--Mr.--Kilcraithie rather
prematurely," said the consul lightly.

To his infinite surprise the girl answered with grim decision, "Nane too
soon."

The consul stared. "I mean," he explained, "that I found him hesitating
here in the passage, looking for his room."

"Ay, he's always hoaverin' and glowerin' in the passages--but it's no'
for his ROOM! And it's a deesgrace to decent Christian folk his carryin'
on wi' married weemen--mebbee they're nae better than he!"

"That will do," said the consul curtly. He had no desire to encourage a
repetition of the railway porter's freedom.

"Ye'll no fash yoursel' aboot HIM," continued the girl, without heeding
the rebuff. "It's no' the meestreess' wish that he's keepit here in the
wing reserved for married folk, and she's no' sorry for the excuse to
pit ye in his place. Ye'll be married yoursel', I'm hearin'. But, I ken
ye's nae mair to be lippened tae for THAT."

This was too much for the consul's gravity. "I'm afraid," he said with
diplomatic gayety, "that although I am married, as I haven't my wife
with me, I've no right to this superior accommodation and comfort. But
you can assure your mistress that I'll try to deserve them."

"Ay," said the girl, but with no great confidence in her voice as she
grimly quitted the room.

"When our foot's upon our native heath, whether our name's Macgregor or
Kilcraithie, it would seem that we must tread warily," mused the consul
as he began to dress. "But I'm glad she didn't see that rose, or MY
reputation would have been ruined." Here another knock at the door
arrested him. He opened it impatiently to a tall gillie, who instantly
strode into the room. There was such another suggestion of Kilcraithie
in the man and his manner that the consul instantly divined that he was
Kilcraithie's servant.

"I'll be takin' some bit