, without a
smile, "I took over the job of guardian _pro tem_ from Barrie's
grandmother, and I'm sure Mrs. MacDonald would wish her granddaughter to
go to church on Sunday."

Barrie opened her eyes at this speech. Probably she'd never heard any
talk of theology from Somerled, and was puzzled by his sudden interest
in her spiritual decorum. I guessed that he wanted to give her the
brilliant spectacle at St. Giles as a surprise on his last day of
guardianship, but it occurred to me also that there might be other
reasons in his mind for cutting short the tour. He might be tired of me
as a guest thrust upon him. He might be sick of the American boys, and
the soldier, Barrie's latest collected specimen (the Douglas youth also
is travelling _en automobile_), or he might have reflected that it would
be well to find out in advance where Mrs. Bal meant to pass her
Edinburgh week. He must have realized that such a spoiled pet of society
was as likely to visit admiring friends as to put up at a hotel.

We left Melrose a little before eight o'clock, promising Aline and the
Vannecks (who hate getting up early) to engage rooms for them at the
Caledonian Hotel. We had forty-six miles before us, but the Gray Dragon
bolts a mile as a dog bolts an oyster, and as it was too early for many
other dragons of his kind to be on the march, Somerled did a little
discreet scorching through the lovely green and gold and purple
landscape, past Galashiels, Stow, and Heriot. This haste--which didn't
mean less speed--gave us time for a detour of a few miles to Rosslyn
Chapel, which it would have been a shame to miss.

I wish I knew more about architecture! I thought Rosslyn a gem, and
should have described it as a thing of unique perfection; but Somerled,
who knows all about such things, said no, it was far from right
artistically, though beautiful in spite of faults. My description would
briefly be: whole chapel like great carved jewel-casket for a queen;
ornamentation simply dazzling in intricacy and delicate detail;
extraordinary pale rose-flush in shadow on stone pillars, which have the
rich cream tints of carved ivory. No two alike: Spanish spirit visible
here. Reminded me of detail in Burgos Cathedral. Nice story about the
Prentice's Pillar. I looked it up when I found we were going to Rosslyn,
and told it to Barrie before Somerled had a chance to open his mouth.
Showed her the sculptured head of presumptuous man who dared finish the
column a