ieve me, Alick. May I not love the fine old man that has been
so kind to me?"

"I hope you do," said Alick, slowly.

"And you can't believe it? Not with Lady Temple before you and hers was
really an old man."

"Do not talk of her or Sir Stephen either. No, Bessie," he added more
calmly after a time, "I may be doing great injustice to you both, but I
must speak what it is my duty to say. Lord Keith is a hard, self-seeking
man, who has been harsh and grasping towards his family, and I verily
believe came here bent on marriage, only because his brother was no
longer under his tyranny. He may not be harsh to you, because he is past
his vigour, and if he really loves you, you have a power of governing;
but from what I know of you, I cannot believe in your loving him enough
to make such management much better than selfish manoeuvring. Therefore
I cannot think this marriage for your real welfare, or be other than
bitterly grieved at it. Do not answer, Bessie, but think this over, and
if at any time this evening you feel the least doubt of your happiness
in this matter, telegraph to me, and I will stop him."

"Indeed, Alick," she answered, without anger, "I believe you are very
anxious for my good."

It will readily be believed that Captain Keith received no telegram.

Nevertheless, as soon as his time was his own the next morning, he rode
to Avonmouth and sought out the Colonel, not perhaps with very defined
hopes of making any change in his sister's intentions, but feeling that
some attempt on his own part must be made, if only to free himself
from acquiescence, and thinking that Colin, as late guardian to the one
party, and brother to the other, was the most proper medium.

Colonel Keith was taken by surprise at the manner in which his cordial
greeting was met. He himself had been far from displeased at his
brother's communication; it was a great relief to him personally,
as well as on Lady Temple's account, and he had been much charmed at
Bessie's good sense and engaging graces. As to disparity of years, Lord
Keith had really made himself much younger of late, and there was much
to excite a girl's romance in the courtesy of an elderly man, the chief
of her clan; moreover, the perfect affection and happiness Colin had
been used to witness in his general's family disposed him to make light
of that objection; and he perceived that his brother was sufficiently
bewitched to be likely to be kind and indulgent to his bride.