He does shoot sometimes, I believe, when Lord Glentower is there."

"That's a poor kind of fun, waiting to be asked for a day," said
the Honourable Septimus, who rarely waited for anything till he was
asked. "Does he get any fishing?"

"He catches a few trout sometimes in the tarns above. But I fancy
that Stubbs isn't much devoted to shooting and fishing."

"Then what the d---- does he do with himself in such a country as
this?" Hamel shrugged his shoulders, not caring to say that what with
walking, what with reading and writing, his friend could be as happy
as the day was long in such a place as Drumcaller.

"Is he a Liberal?"

"A what?" asked Hamel. "Oh, a Liberal? Upon my word I don't know what
he is. He is chiefly given to poetry, tobacco, and military matters."
Then the Honourable Septimus turned up his nose in disgust, and
ceased his cross-examination as to the character and pursuits of
Colonel Jonathan Stubbs.

"Sir Thomas, I am very much obliged to you for your kindness," said
Hamel, getting up suddenly. "As it is a long way over to Drumcaller I
think I will make a start. I know my way down the Glen and should be
sure to miss it by any other route. Perhaps you'll let me go back as
I came." Sir Thomas offered him the loan of a horse, but this was
refused, and Hamel started on his return journey across the lake.

When he had gone a few steps from the portal he turned to look at
the house which contained one whom he now regarded as belonging
exclusively to himself; perhaps he thought that he might catch some
final view of Lucy; or, not quite thinking it, fancied that some
such chance might at least be possible; but he saw nothing but the
uninteresting facade of the grand mansion. Lucy was employed quite
otherwise. She was listening to a lecture in which her aunt was
describing to her how very badly Mr. Hamel had behaved in obtruding
himself on the shades of Glenbogie. The lecture was somewhat long, as
Aunt Emmeline found it necessary to repeat all the arguments which
she had before used as to the miscreant's birth, as to his want of
adequate means, and as to the general iniquities of the miscreant's
father. All this she repeated more than once with an energy that was
quite unusual to her. The flood of her eloquence was so great that
Lucy found no moment for an interposing word till all these evils
had been denunciated twice and thrice. But then she spoke. "Aunt
Emmeline," she said, "I am engaged to Mr. Hame