y events of
interest occurring in the neighbourhood of Lunnasting; the time was
drawing on when it would be necessary for Rolf Morton to go south to
look out for a ship, unless he would altogether give up his profession
and chance of promotion; but he was naturally unwilling to leave home
till his wife had made him a father, which she expected in a very short
time to do. It was also generally understood that the unhappy Hilda
would shortly become a mother, and already a very general feeling of
compassion was expressed for the poor little fatherless babe which was
about to be born. How would the poor lady get through her trials? Was
she likely to live? If the child lived, would it be the heir of
Lunnasting? Or should its father have been heir to estates, and a title
in Spain, as it had been said he was, would it succeed instead of him?

These and numerous other questions of a similar character were asked
over and over again, but were never satisfactorily answered. Letters
had been received from Sir Marcus, but he fixed no time for his return
home, and it was very evident from the tenor of his remarks that he
believed everything was going on in his castle as he had left it. He
might possibly have been rather astonished had he heard what had
occurred. The truth was, that neither had his factor Sandy Redland, nor
any one else, ventured to write to him, and very naturally Hilda had not
done so; Sandy was a man who liked to live a peaceable life, and to have
matters his own way, and he knew very well that, should Sir Marcus be
hurried back, not only would all peace and quiet be banished from
Lunnasting, but he would most certainly for the future have nothing
whatever his own way. It is possible that Sir Marcus was not the only
head of a family who might have cause to be astonished at the doings of
his household during his absence. At length a packet of letters arrived
from Spain. It contained some for Don Hernan, as well as for other
deceased officers of the "Saint Cecilia;" one was for Pedro Alvarez, and
several were addressed to Father Mendez, who likewise took possession of
all the rest. The lieutenant read his despatch with a great deal of
interest.

"And so our poor captain would have been a marquis," he exclaimed to
himself, "the Marquis de Medea, and owner of those magnificent estates.
Well, truly he had something to live for, and yet he was cut off--while
I who have not a peco beyond my pay, and little en