shabby room, Peter? It po

after the drawing-room door had been shut upon them

Rosmeads had made a hurried journey out to Glenogle for the purpose of making acquaintance with the i

ease and strength, had a strong, fine face, lit by pleasant grey eyes that gave a very fair index to his character. He was a man who, by his own effort

tten. He was a man who could not be in any company

her costume was undoubtedly her veil, which, when worn by a really elegant American woman such as Sadie Rosmead certainly was, becomes a thing of distinc

ly. "This is a house of makeshifts, but it's decent poverty, and I've never seen anything so

d to him indecent that two strangers, such as they were, should have come to view the poverty of the land. Cattanach had told Rosmead

babb

that bit of tapestry on the end wall and at that coat of arms worked on the banner screen. It's jus

r way, and part of the few remaining treasures of Achree. Rosmead was studying them intently, and his sister was examining with inte

adie dropped the cushion with the peacock sewn

ans--don't you know--and everything in this lovely old house appeals to us. You

ur was high in her cheek. Her jacket was thrown back to show the neat flannel shirt belted trimly to her waist, and the black tie held in its p

ing. I was at the other side of the wo

die, but it was at the

out the impression she might be making on them. The only thing that mattere

rity of her manner. Isla's own manner inclined to hauteur. She fought against it, for the person who has goods to sell cannot afford to b

shade of it was lost on Rosmead himself. It did not, however, either irritate or repel him. He had an immense gift of understanding, and he knew what t

you could have been met at the station and co

erhaps, by and by, after we have seen the house. I have heard of your Scotch scones and butter and honey. They have very good i

idiculous, and yet it had a kindly human sound and she preferred to think of him as kindly to thinking of him as dignified at t

s rested what made her life a burden--the whole responsibility of the house of her fathers. Cattanach, a discerning man, had told him just sufficient to arouse his compassionate interest. Though he spo

or would he bring to it strange new ways of life and thought. He l

shed between these two thus so strangely

r, if it is convenient and only what you are willing to show--eh, Peter? We don't wa

uiringly, as she laid her jacket down

e no

stand racket. I'm the untirable, uncrushable, wholly inextin

dulgentl

e inquired. "I have heard from Mr. Cattanac

One of the men is coming back with him. If you don't mind, will you come and see the library before he returns? It is the room he sits in chiefly, and I am

y followed their guide. All the windows in the library were open, and the cool, fresh air met them on the threshold. Again the sa

e in an awe-struck whisper. "There--Peter, su

r-of-fact tone, as if unaware that she talked of treasures which could be exchanged for gold. "You see thi

he dining-room. They also took a quick glance at the servants'

t landing, where the little door opens, just here is the dungeon

w positively wid

an awe-stricken whisper. "And where doe

urteenth century--a passage from it going both ways, one to Killin an

? The fourteenth century! Where w

ead will be

of home-made carpet, and so revealed th

at they could look into the depths beneath. A curious odour met them, and Sadie, her imagin

e middle of one's house and stairs and passages leading all over the country! It's positively creepy, but most fas

was used as a sentinel's or guard's room chiefly in the ol

d. "My sister will accompany you, Miss Mackinnon

an get out by either," said Isla, and they stood just a mom

ef. The old house saddened him. It seemed to be peopled with dead hopes and

was a beautiful, high-stepping chestnut horse, was rapidly driven up to the door. It containe

de to walk round by the gable-end of th

n his thin white hair, leaning heavily on his stick and watching the antics of a little brown dog in front of a rabbit-hole. He

" the old man called with a l

ious of the approach of a stranger, g

ger, took his bonnet from his head. Rosmead ha

I am here owing to corresp

seen my daughter, and has your horse been put up?" he said with all the fine dignity

aiting in the stable-yard. We have to g

e? I was taking my walk in the sun. I am not so strong as I was, and I have to choose my days. That is what we have to come to, sir

y, as if he had dismissed the man an

sla Mackinnon. He walked right round the house, admiring its outline, even the huddled little towers touching his fancy, and he made up his mind on the spot that this sho

it that his life was somehow to be bound up with this old house and its inma

time he found that it now contained four persons--his sis

e face the pink spot of excitement burned again.

n the handsome stranger, Neil was hostile. His face

d. When tea was brought, it was Rosmead who established himself by the table, leaving his sister to chatter to the Drummonds. He did this of a s

soon on account of my mother's health. Do you think you could give me a definit

ow you have seen it, please take it

him, because he knew that her depth of feeli

kindest and most reasonable of women, and I hope that you will permit her to

little faster. "We are going to the lodge

ion seemed t

ite to Mr. Cattanach when

things. We have been so poor that it has not been replenished, as it would have been in different circumstances. That must be taken into consideration in settling the question of the rent to be paid. I will tell Mr. Cattanach so. I

h mentioning. I understand that it is a sacrifice for you to let

and it moved Rosmead profoundly. A very reticent, self-contained, observant man, he was interested and drawn by the tragedy, the unfathomable sadness of thi

him for his reticence and his consideration, but to her he was s

. Cattanach to-night, and ask him to arrange things. Our removal to Creagh is only a matter of two or three days for the gathering together of our few personal belo

sted her attention,

my best to overcome them. That has bee

she asked with an i

er of bridges

ll winter day, came stalking across the room, his step and his manner ind

ay perturbed, dr

t train," he said to his sister, who, deep in gi

to go down and speed the parting guests, she bade them good-bye at the drawing-roo

petuously the moment the door closed. "He's ins

r six months, or perhaps a year," answered Isla quietly

on of dismay, but on Drummond

inkable--it's--it's, I want to say it, only I mustn't. Kitty