standing close to the window as she turned from him; her
glance once more ranged over the ocean. Again she stopped and gazed;
Lawrence watched the direction of her eyes.

"Ha, ha, cousin! you have discovered the other craft, have you? Who
comes in her, think you? Guests are expected at the castle, I
understand, and some at the cottage, if so you choose to designate my
friend Rolf Morton's abode; sages learned in the law coming to
investigate a knotty subject, to unravel a long-continued mystery."

"I understand you not," answered Hilda, still continuing to watch the
two vessels. The latter-mentioned one was a cutter or smack, such as
was employed in the summer months to keep up the communication between
the islands and the ports of Aberdeen and Leith. She had come
apparently from Lerwick, and was now observed to be steering directly
for Lunnasting, while the corvette kept in the offing, and was, as far
as could be seen, about to enter Eastling Sound from the east, or to
pass it by altogether. The smack had got a favourable slant of wind,
and rapidly approached.

Hilda stood watching her with trembling anxiety. Lawrence was also
watching her narrowly, and taking apparently a strange pleasure in so
doing. At length an idea seemed to strike him.

"I'll be off, and tell Sir Marcus of his coming guests," he exclaimed,
shuffling out of the room. "He little wots how near at hand they are,
and what strange tidings some of them may chance to bring. Ho, ho, ho!
you shall reap as you sow; there's truth in that saying. Ho, ho, ho!
`The prince will hae his ain again!'"

With these words on his lips he approached the door of Sir Marcus's
chamber. The old man was seated in a large armchair, propped up with
cushions, before a blazing fire. His long white hair drawn back, and
fastened in a queue behind, exposed his high thin forehead, while his
lustreless eyes and fallen jaw showed that the hand of time was pressing
heavily on him, and summoning him to conclude his career on earth.

"They're coming, cousin! they're coming!" exclaimed Lawrence.

"Who--who?" asked the old man, rousing up, but trembling violently.
"Who do you mean, Lawrence?"

"Colonel Armytage and his wife and daughter, whom you sent for, and some
gentlemen learned in the law, whom you didn't send for, I ween.
There'll be strange doings at Lunnasting before long, Sir Marcus. Ho,
ho, ho! `The prince will hae his ain again, his ain again!'" And
Lawr