mother at any price, would you?"

"I'd rather do that than be a trouble to you," said Barrie. "Only, I
don't think she'd take me back. But I could try----"

"Certainly Mrs. Ballantree MacDonald won't hear of your going back to
live in Carlisle, I'm sure," said Somerled, looking somehow formidable
to reckon with as his eyes met Mrs. Bal's. Then, to the girl's mother:
"I am connected with her father's family in a way, you know, and I took
advantage of the connection to make Mrs. MacDonald's acquaintance at
Hillard House, after I'd met--her granddaughter. The arrangement between
us was that I should play guardian _pro tem_. So if you want any advice
about--Miss MacDonald's future, perhaps you'll be good enough to let me
help you."

"Thanks, oh, thanks! I accept gratefully," replied Mrs. Bal, who had no
doubt already heard downstairs some few words explaining Barrie's
presence with our party in Scotland. "And you'll tell everybody she's my
sister, won't you?"

"I'll not say anything to the contrary," he promised grimly.

"And you, Mr. Norman? You, dear Mrs. James?"

"I'll protect the secret with my life," said I, laughing. If I were a
woman, I should have been hysterical by this time.

"I'll keep my mouth shut," replied Mrs. James, with pitying eyes that
said to the girl, "If _I_ were your mother, dear child, young as I like
to look, I'd be _proud_ to own you!"

"What about your American victims?" I inquired of Barrie.

Mrs. Bal pricked up her ears. "What victims?" she asked before her
daughter had time to speak.

"Four young men who have prostrated themselves under Miss MacDonald's
chariot," I explained. "All who see her do this." In adding the little
tribute I meant well; but I saw in an instant that I'd been tactless.
Mrs. Bal regarded the girl reflectively; and that uncomfortable faculty
I have for reading people's thoughts told me she was repeating to
herself, "Ah, so all the men who see this child fall in love with her,
do they? H'm!"

"They--I never talked to them about--about having a--mother," Barrie
stammered.

"And this Mr. Douglas?" Mrs. Bal asked. "Is he too a 'victim?'"

"He appears to be something of the sort," I was obliged to answer, as
she appealed to me. "The Douglas Heart, you know! And he has a cousin
with whom he's staying----"

"Oh, do, dear Mr. Norman, like an angel of mercy 'square' them for me,
will you, and all the others who know?" Mrs. Bal implored,
ostentatiously ignoring Some