house is
our own,' and I asked him what he meant, and he said, 'When Forgue
marries Arctura, then the castle will be Forgue's. That is how it ought
to be, you know! Property and title ought never to be parted.'"

The hot blood rose to Arctura's temples: was she a mere wrappage to her
property--the paper of the parcel! But she called to mind how strange
her uncle was: but for that could he have been so imprudent as to talk
in such a way to a boy whose simplicity rendered the confidence
dangerous?

"You would not like having to give away your castle--would you, Arkie?"
he went on.

"Not to any one I did not love."

"If I were you, I would not marry, but keep my castle to myself. I
don't see why Forgue should have your castle!"

"You think I should make my castle my husband?"

"He would be a good big husband anyhow, and a strong--one to defend you
from your enemies, and not talk to you when you wanted to be quiet."

"That is all true; but one might get weary of a stupid husband, however
big and strong he was."

"There's another thing, though!--he wouldn't be a cruel husband! I've
heard papa often speak about some cruel husband! I fancied sometimes he
meant himself; but that could not be, you know."

Arctura made no reply. All but vanished memories of things she had
heard, hints and signs here and there that all was not right between
her uncle and aunt, vaguely returned: could it be that he now repented
of harshness to his wife, that the thought of it was preying upon him,
that it drove him to his drugs for forgetfulness?--But in the presence
of the boy she could not go on thinking in such a direction about his
father. She felt relieved by the return of Donal.

He had found it rather difficult to get the ladder round the sharp
curves of the stair; but at last they saw him with it on his shoulder
coming over a distant roof.

"Now we shall see!" he said, as he leaned it up against the chimney,
and stood panting.

"You have tired yourself!" said lady Arctura.

"Where's the harm, my lady? A man must get tired a few times before he
lies down!" rejoined Donald lightly.

Said Davie,

"Must a woman, Mr. Grant, marry a man she does not love?"

"No, certainly, Davie."

"Mr. Grant," said Arctura, in dread of what Davie might say next, "what
do you take to be the duty of one inheriting a property? Ought a woman
to get rid of it, or attend to it herself?"

Donal thought a little.

"We must first settle the main