ended," he remarked, tapping the new wooden post
that had come down from the mill a day or two before.

"I saw to that myself, sir," said my grandfather. "I also painted it."

"Ha, well done--improving the property for your young guests!" said Mr.
Richard, and then quite suddenly he turned moodily away. All at once he
looked at my grandfather again. "You had better know," he said, "that
the girl will have no money. So she ought to be taught dairymaking. I am
partial to dairymaids myself! If she favours the Maitlands, she ought to
make a pretty one."

My grandfather said nothing, for he did not like this sort of talk, and
was utterly careless whether Miss Irma were penniless or the greatest
heiress in the country.

Then the long whitewashed rectangle of the Heathknowes office-houses
loomed above us on their hill. In a minute more we were at the gate. My
grandfather called, and through the door of the kitchen came a long
vertical slab of light that fell in a broad beam across the yard. Then
one of the herd-lads hurried across to open the barred "yett" and let us
in.

"Is all safe?" said my grandfather.

"As ye left him," was the answer. "The mistress and the lads have never
taken their eyes off him for a moment!"

"Take this gentleman's horse, Ben," said my grandfather. But Mr. Richard
preferred to be his own hostler, nor did he offer to go near the house
or speak a word of his business till he had seen his splendid black duly
stalled.

Then my grandmother was summoned, the children brought down, and
immediately stricken, Sir Louis with an intense admiration of the great
strong man in riding boots, and Miss Irma with a dislike quite as
intense. I could see her averting her eyes and trying to hide it. But
over all the other women in the house he established at once a paramount
empire. Even my Aunt Jen followed him with her eyes, so much of the room
did he take up, so large and easy were his gestures, and with such a
matter-of-course simplicity did he take the homage they paid him.

Yet he seemed to care far more about Miss Irma than even my grandmother,
or the fellow of his name whom he had ridden so far to see.

He asked her whether she would rather stay where she was or come to
Dumfries, to be near the theatre and Assembly balls. As for a chaperon,
she could make her choice between Mrs. Hope of the Abbey and the
Provost's lady. Either would be glad to oblige the daughter of a
Maitland of Marnhoul--and perhaps