hora?"

"He has promised to wash and dress. I got all I asked for."

"Will he change his suit?"

"He has a fine new suit. It was hid away in Aunt's room."

"What made him do such a childish thing?"

"To please thee, it was done. It was to be a surprise, I think."

"I will go to him."

"No, no, Mother! Let father have the pleasure he planned. To thee he
will come, as soon as he is dressed."

"Am I right? From top to toe?"

"From top to toe just as thou should be. The white roses in thy cap
look lovely with the violet silk gown. Very pretty art thou, dear
Mother."

"I can still wear roses, but they are white roses now. I used to wear
pink, Thora."

"Pink and crimson and yellow roses thou may wear yet. Because white
roses go best with violet I put that colour in thy cap for tonight.
Think of what my aunt said when thou complained to her of growing old,
'Rahal, the mother of twelve sons and daughters is always young.' Now
I will run away, for my father does everything quickly."

In about ten or fifteen minutes, Rahal Ragnor heard him coming. Then
she stood up and watched the swift throwing open of the door, and the
entrance of her husband. With a cry of pleasure she clapped her hands
and said joyfully:

"Oh, Coll! Oh, my dear Coll!" and the next moment Coll kissed her.

"Thou hast made thyself so handsome--just to please me!"

"Yes, for thee! Who else is there? Do I please thee now?"

"Always thou pleases me! But tonight, I have fallen in love with thee
over again!"

"And yet Thora wanted me to wear my kirk suit," and he walked to the
glass and looked with great satisfaction at himself. "I think this
suit is more becoming."

"My dear Coll, thou art right. A good blue flannel suit is a man's
natural garment. To everyone, rich and poor, it is becoming. If thou
always dressed as thou art now dressed, I should never have the heart
or spirit to contradict thee. Thou could have thy own way, year in and
year out."

"Is that the truth, my dear Rahal? Or is it a compliment?"

"It is the very truth, dear one!"

"From this hour, then, I will dress to thy wish and pleasure."

She stepped quickly to his side and whispered: "In that case, there
will not be in all Scotland a more distinguished and proper man than
Conall Ragnor!"

And in a large degree Conall Ragnor was worthy of all the fine things
his wife said to him. The new clothes fell gracefully over his grand
figure; he stepped out freely in the light