e I always thought you a superior woman. But now--I
wish I could persuade you to see your duty better, Mrs Fleming."

"As my duty appears to me, sir, it is to save people's lives without
regard to who they are, and what their business is."

"If the Pretender should come--"

"He would go as he came," said Annie, quietly. "He would get nothing
here that could hurt the king, while the men of the island are gone to
Inverness."

"Well, to be sure, if you would succour and comfort pirates, there is
nobody whom you would not help."

"That is true, sir."

"But it is very dangerous, Mrs Fleming. Do you know the consequences
of aiding the enemy?"

"I know the consequences of there being no light above the harbour,"
said Annie, in a low voice.

The steward knew it was useless to say more. He thought it better to
put into her hand some newspapers which contained a startling account of
the progress of the rebels, embellished with many terrifying fictions of
their barbarity, such as were greedily received by the alarmists of the
time.

"Here," said he. "You can look these over while I go to speak to
Macdonald about removing the lady to some remoter place while we have
only women on the island. Pray look over these papers, and then you
will see what sort of people you may chance to bring upon your
neighbours, if you persist in burning your lamp. But Sir Alexander must
put forth his authority--even use force, if necessary. What do you say
to that?"

"Some old words," said Annie, smiling, "given to those who are brought
before governors. It shall be given me in that same hour what I shall
speak."

"I will look in for the papers as I return," said the steward. "You are
as wilful on your own points as your neighbour. But you must give way,
as you preach that she ought--"

"I do not preach that, sir, I assure you. I wish, for her own peace,
that she would yield herself to God's disposal; but I would have her, in
the strength of law and justice, resist the oppression of man."

The steward smiled, nodded, and left Annie to read the newspapers.

The time was short. Lady Carse was asleep; but Annie woke her, and left
one paper with her while she went home to read the other. She was
absorbed in the narrative of the march of the rebels southwards, and
their intention of proceeding to London, eating children, as the
newspaper said, after the manner of Highlanders, all the way as they
went, when Lady Carse burst in