ome to this. There,
you do not understand these things. It is the worst."

"Yes, father. Well, we must meet it, as you say, like men. But it will
be very hard to leave the old place. Poor old Scoody, and Tavish,
and--"

"Don't talk about it, my boy, or you'll drive me mad. There, the horror
has come, and it's over. We shall not be able to leave here yet for a
month, perhaps. The man Blande has sent me a letter. I am not to hurry
away; now he has asserted his rights, he says he wishes to be courteous
to the man who has behaved so well to his son. Hah! where is Max?"

"In his room, I suppose, father."

"Fetch him down, Ken," said The Mackhai cheerfully, "and let me
apologise to the poor boy. I insulted him grossly, for he couldn't have
known why he was sent down here."

"Say that again, father!" cried Kenneth excitedly.

"There is no need, my boy. I am sure he must have been in profound
ignorance of everything. It was a bitter blow when he was sent down
uninvited; but I think we have behaved well to him till now."

"You don't know how glad you have made me feel, father!" cried Kenneth,
flushing. "I couldn't have borne for poor old Max to have turned out a
miserable spy."

"You like this boy, then?"

"Like him, father! Why, he is the best of fellows! When he came down
here first, I laughed at him, and thought him the most silly molly of a
chap I ever met. But he's so good-hearted and patient, and takes
everything so well, and all the time so genuinely plucky as soon as he
makes up his mind to face anything, that you can't help liking him."

"Yes; I like him too," said The Mackhai; "and, as I said, I grossly
insulted the poor boy in my rage. Fetch him down, Ken, and I'll ask him
to forgive me--like a gentleman."

"And he will, father--I know he will!" cried Kenneth eagerly.

"Why, Ken, my boy," said his father sadly, "you are not jealous of the
new prince--the heir to Dunroe?"

"No, father," said Ken, shaking his head sadly. "I think he likes me
too. Some day, perhaps, he may ask me to come down here and stay with
him, and see the old place once more."

"No," said The Mackhai sternly. "You can never enter this place again
except as the master, my boy. Fetch Mr Max Blande down."

Kenneth gazed for a moment sadly at his father, and then slowly left the
room, when the stern look left the unfortunate man's face, and he
dropped his head upon his hands.

"My poor boy!" he groaned. "My po