lever, and very
perplexing young woman. An hour later Carmichael was on the moor, full
of an unquenchable pity for Chatelard, who had loved the sun and
perished in his rays. The cold wind on the hill braced his soul, and
he returned in a heroic mood. He only was the soldier of the Cross,
who denied himself to earthly love and hid a broken heart. And now he
read A Kempis and the _Christian Year_. Several passages in the latter
he marked in pencil with a cross, and when his wife asked him the
reason only last week, he smiled, but would give no answer. Having
registered anew his vow of celibacy, he spent an hour in dressing, an
operation, he boasted, which could be performed in six minutes, and
which, on this occasion, his housekeeper determined to review.

With all the women in the Glen, old and young, she liked the lad, for a
way that he had and the kindness of his heart, and was determined that
he should be well dressed for once in his life. It was Sarah, indeed,
that kept Carmichael late, for she not only laid out his things for him
with much care and judgment, but on sight of the wisp of white round
his neck she persuaded him to accept her services, and at last she was
satisfied. He also lost a little time as he came near the manse, for
he grew concerned lest his tie was not straight, and it takes time to
examine yourself in the back of your watch, when the light is dimming
and it is necessary to retire behind a hedge lest some keen Drumtochty
eye should detect the roadside toilet.

John had brought in the lamp before Carmichael entered, and his
confusion was pardonable, for he had come in from the twilight, and
none could have expected such a sight.

"Glad to see you, Carmichael"--the Doctor hastened to cover his
embarrassment. "It is very good of you to honour my little party by
your presence. You know the General, I think, and Miss Carnegie, whose
first birthday in Drumtochty we celebrate to-night.

"No wonder you are astonished," for Carmichael was blushing furiously;
"and I must make our defence, eh, Carnegie? else it will be understood
in Free Kirk circles that the manse is mad. We seem, in fact, a pair
of old fools, and you can have your jest at us; but there is an excuse
even for our madness.

"It is long since we have had a young lady in our Glen, and now that
she has come to live among us--why, sir, we must just do her bidding.

"Our Queen has but a little court, but her courtiers are leal a