or
such dainty carefulness was not the wont of us chiels of the Covenant,
and I could not think that any of the rough-riders after us would so
have spent their time. An inn yard, a pint stoup, and a well-cockered
doxie were more to their liking, than plaiting the bonny heather into a
puppet's house upon the hillside.

CHAPTER XL.

MARDROCHAT THE SPY.

Then even as upon the hillside I watched and waited, I saw one come out
and go round about the bower. It was a figure in woman's garments. I
knew the form at the first sight. It was Kate McGhie of the Balmaghie. I
had found our lost maids. So I gave a whistle that she knew with my bird
call, such as every lad of the heather carried, from old Sandy Peden to
young James Renwick. At the first sound of it, she started as though she
had been stung. At the second peep and whinny she came a little way on
tiptoe. So I whistled with a curious turn at the end, as Wat, my cousin,
was wont to do. Whereupon she came a little further, and I could see her
eyes looking about eagerly.

Then I stood up and came running down the side of the gairy till she saw
me. She gave a little cry and put her hands to her heart, for I think
she had not expected to see me, but some other--Wat of Lochinvar, as I
guess. But for all that she held out her hands as if she were mightily
glad to see me.

"Ye canna send us back now!" she cried out, before even I came near to
her.

"Ye deserve to get soundly payed for this misdemeanour," I answered.
"Did ye ever think of the sore hearts ye left behind ye?"

"Oh, my father," said Kate lightly, "he would just read his book, bless
King Chairlie, walk the avenue, and say 'Kate, Kate--deil's in the
lassie! The daft hizzie has tane the hill again!'"

"But will not he be angry?"

"Angry, Roger McGhie? Na, na; I bade Mally Lintwhite make him
potted-head, and gie him duck aff the pond to his supper, stuffed with
mushrooms; and atween that and his claret wine he will thrive brawly."

Then Kate McGhie seemed suddenly to remember something, and we went down
the hillside among the stones.

"Bide ye there!" she commanded, halting me with her hand as John Graham
halts a squadron. And I did as I was bidden; for in those days Kate had
most imperious ways with her.

She stole down quietly, stooped her head to raise the flap which made a
curtain door for the bower, and went within. I watched with all my eyes,
for I was eager to see once more Maisie Lennox, my