ay
it. We are flattered by your visit."

"Give me your arm, my boy, for I don't walk up hill as easily as I used
to do a few years back," said the admiral, leaning somewhat heavily on
the young commander as he stumped along with his timber toe. "Stay! by
the bye, I must dismiss my crew," he exclaimed, stopping short.

"Let them come up to the house first, admiral," said Murray; "they would
consider otherwise that we were forgetful of Highland hospitality at
Bercaldine. You will find your way up to the kitchen, my lads, by
yonder path," he added, turning round to the boatmen. "The cook will
have a snack for you before you pull back to Oban."

The men touched their bonnets, and gratefully grinned their assent to
the laird's proposal, as they tumbled out of the boat; while Murray
conducted Admiral Triton by the centre path, which led through the
grounds to the house.

Mrs Murray, having deposited the wee Alick in the arms of Polly, stood
ready to receive them.

"I am delighted to see you looking so bright and blooming, my dear Mrs
Murray!" exclaimed the old admiral, shaking her warmly by the hand; "it
shows that the Highland air agrees with you, notwithstanding your long
sojourn in the West Indies."

"Except in being more bracing, the climate differs but little from that
to which I was accustomed in the north of Ireland till I grew up; and I
was scarcely long enough in the West Indies to become acclimatised,"
answered Stella, and a shade passed over her countenance as she
recollected the trying scenes she had gone through during the time to
which the admiral referred.

He observed it, and changed the subject. "And so you are expecting to
see our old shipmate, Terence Adair?" he remarked, as he sat himself
down in a chair which Murray placed for him. "I shall be heartily glad
to shake him by the hand again, and to talk over old times. I haven't
forgot his making me carry his portmanteau for him, the rogue!" and the
admiral chuckled and laughed, and told Stella the story while he rubbed
his hands. "I made him pay, though. He thought he was going to do me
out of that, but I was too sharp for him. Ha! ha! ha!" and he laughed
till the tears ran down his cheeks. He was becoming more garrulous than
before--another sign of advancing age, which Murray was sorry to
observe. He told many of his old anecdotes, laughing as heartily at
them as ever. He was interrupted by the appearance of Polly, who had
been watchi