oment--certainly--"

"I have been at Mr Swinton's office to see him or you. You are late
this morning."

"I am on my way there now. Have you time to go back again? That is, if
I can do anything for you!"

"I'll go back with you. It is business I came down about. I am sorry
to hear from Mr Swinton that you are thinking of leaving his
employment. I was hoping that ye might have the overseeing of a job
that the laird has nearly made up his mind to."

"Oh! as to that, the matter is by no means settled yet, though I have
been thinking about it. I may stay on."

"A place in the employ of a man like Swinton, and I may add, after what
I have heard him say,--a place in his confidence also, must make good
stepping-stones to fortune for a young man. Where were you thinking of
going, if one may ask? To America, I suppose, like so many other folk
in these days."

"To America! Oh! no; I have no thought of leaving Scotland at present,
or even of leaving Aberdeen. I intend taking a while at the college. I
began it when I was a lad. But my plans may fall through yet."

"It would take time and it would take money," said Brownrig.

"That's true, but I have plenty of time before me."

"Well, ye may be up our way after all. The laird has ta'en it intil his
head to have a new wing put to the house. It has as muckle need of a
new wing as a Collie dog has o' twa tails," said Brownrig--falling into
Scotch, as some folk have a way of doing when they wish to be
contemptuous or jocose, or indeed are moved in any way. "But if it is
to be done, it is to be done well, and Swinton is the man, with you to
oversee."

"There could be little done this year," said John.

"Plans and preparations could be made. The work must be done in the
summer."

Brownrig seemed to be thinking of something else, for when they came to
the corner of the street, he stood still, looking out toward the sea.
John paused also for a moment, but he grew impatient and moved on. All
this time he had been saying to himself:

"In some way I must keep this man in sight through the day and through
the night as well, as long as he shall stay in the town. If he were to
see her now! If he were to follow her!"

John drew his breath hard at the thought.

There was a long stair to go up before Mr Swinton's rooms could be
reached, and when they came to the foot of it Brownrig paused.

"I am not quite myself this morning," he said. "I'll wait till later