ittal, and the assizes coming on within
a month, the ex-butler stood his trial. The evidence was too strong
against him; he had been, as it were, taken red-handed, and, with his
companions, was condemned to cross the seas to a land where there should
be fewer temptations for him. The judge, taking all things into
consideration, seemed to think that Gurdon's crime was more heinous even
than that of his companions, and visited it accordingly; for, while the
other two men were sentenced to transportation for fourteen years, John
Gurdon's sentence was almost equivalent to condemnation for life,
inasmuch as he was to be exiled for twenty years.

"All right, gentlemen--all right," he said, coolly; "but I shall come
back again. And as for you, Sir Murray Gernon, I'll bear you in mind
till my return; for I've not done with you and yours."

"Remove him at once!" said the judge, and a couple of officers seized
the prisoner, and hurried him from the dock.

"And now, don't be too hard on me, lassie," said McCray, the day after
the trial--for he had managed to encounter Jane in one of the
passages--"don't be hard upon me, lassie, for I only did my duty."

"I know--I know," said Jane, sadly; "but please don't talk to me now."

"Weel, weel, I know that your puir heart's sair yet, lassie, and I won't
talk aboot sic things; but talk to ye I must, aboot something."

"You're as bad as a woman, Mr McCray," said Jane, pettishly.

"I only wish I was half as good as one woman I ken," said Sandy,
gallantly. "But hoot, lassie, I'm glad to see the Squire's coming
round. He brought her leddyship with him into the garden yestreen, and
told her he'd make me the head-gairdener, and the puir thing leuked as
bright and happy as could be; and, dye ken, lassie, I think we're going
to hae bright times again at the Castle, and I'm aboot setting things
reet, and I'll be as busy as busy, day after day; but ye'll see me a bit
o' nichts?"

"Did Sir Murray speak kindly to her ladyship?" said Jane anxiously.

"Kind! ay," said Sandy; "and she turned to him directly, and laid her
hand upon his arm, and they strolled off together behind the bushes, and
he passed his arm round her--so, Jenny--and stooped him down, and kissed
her--just as I'm showing of ye--there, just on her bonnie cheek, like
that; for they didna ken I could see."

As Sandy McCray gave his description with illustrations, Jane started
angrily away.

"Nay, lassie, gude save us, she