have my
revenge upon you. You must see the wild beast at his meals another time;
for it just happens that I have a good deal to say to your aunts, and it
is not intended for your ears."

Rose showed no signs of being spoilt, for she only entreated to be
allowed "just to put the tea-things in order," and then, winking very
hard, she said she would go.

"Here, Rose, if you please," said Ermine, clearing the space of table
before her.

"Why, Aunt Ermine, I did not know you could make tea!"

"There are such things as extraordinary occasions, Rose. Now, good
night, my sweet one."

"Good night, my Lady Discretion. We will make up for it one of these
days. Don't stay away, pray, Ailie," as Alison was following the child.
"I have nothing to say till you come back."

"I know it is good news," said Ermine; "but it has cost you something,
Colin."

Instead of answering, he received his cup from her, filled up her
tea-pot, and said--

"How long is it since you poured out tea for me, Ermine?"

"Thirteen years next June, when you and Harry used to come in from the
cricket field, so late and hot that you were ashamed to present yourself
in civilized society at the Great House."

"As if nobody from the Parsonage ever came down to look on at the
cricket."

"Yes; being summoned by all the boys to see that nothing would teach a
Scotchman cricket."

"Ah! you have got the last word, for here comes Ailie."

"Of course," said Alison, coming in; "Ermine has had the pith of the
story, so I had better ask at once what it is."

"That the Beauchamp Eleven beat Her Majesty's --th Foot on Midsummer
Day, 1846, is the pith of what I have as yet heard," said Ermine.

"And that Beauchamp ladies are every whit as full of mischief as they
used to be in those days, is the sum of what I have told," added Colin.

"Yes," said Ermine, "he has most loyally kept his word of reserving all
for you. He has not even said whether Mauleverer is taken."

"My story is grave and sad enough," said Colin, laying aside all his
playfulness, and a serious expression coming over his features; but, at
the same time, the landlady's sandy cat, which, like all other animals,
was very fond of him, and had established herself on his knee as soon as
Rose had left it vacant, was receiving a certain firm, hard, caressing
stroking, which resulted in vehement purrs on her part, and was
evidently an outlet of suppressed exaltation.

"Is he the same?" asked Alison.