long ago?"

Richards laughed heartily now. "O bother," he cried. "I've let the cat
out of the bag, and I didn't mean to. I meant to give you such a
pleasant surprise. Well, well, well,--

'The best-laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang aft agley.'"

Then Richards told him all he had done.

The tears stood in General Mackenzie's eyes. "Richards," he said, "I
could not have believed such kindness possible. I--I--I can't say
another word."

* * * * *

The meeting between Tom Fairlie and Flora was all that lovers could
desire. Mary positively hugged Jack. He was still her boy. I'm not sure
she did not shower upon him "luv and sweet kisses."

"But, bless me, Jack," she said, "how tall you've got! and really you
makes poor me feel old."

Gerty met Jack with a bonnie blush.

Ah! how he longed to take her in his arms and tell her all, and all she
had been to him throughout the last two long and eventful years. But no,
he would not, dared not. When in a few months' time a ship was once more
at his command, he would go quietly away to sea; but he ne'er would
speak of love.

For his old Highland pride had come to his rescue. She was rich; _he_
was very poor indeed.

No, it never could be. And so he told Tom, and so he told his sister.
The former laughed at his scruples; the latter thought her brother was
right.

* * * * *

Richards and the general were at Grantley Hall and as busy as the
traditional bonnet-maker. They had a little secret between them, for
neither Jack nor Flora had yet been told of the change in the fortunes
of the Grant Mackenzies. It would be such a delightful surprise. And so
the two old friends worked away, as merrily as school-boys building a
rabbit-hutch, and in a few weeks' time the old place was put to rights,
and every nick-nack and every curio and souvenir and picture replaced in
the drawing-room, just as it had been in the dear, reckless days of long
ago.

But near the finish of the arrangements M'Hearty was invited down and
let into the delightful secret, for he it was who should bring Jack and
his sister, with Tom, Gerty, and Mary the maid, down to the old place.

* * * * *

"Do you know," said M'Hearty about a week after this, as he stood with
Jack and his sister on the balcony of the priest's drawing-room at
Torquay, "I'm dying to see old Grantley Hall just once again