rned away in silence and went into the long
shrubbery, with a heart full of anger and despair. It was dark under the
trees, and I walked before me and forgot what business I was come upon,
till I nearly broke my shin on the portmanteaus. Then it was that I
remarked a strange particular; for whereas I had before carried both and
scarce observed it, it was now as much as I could do to manage one. And
this, as it forced me to make two journeys, kept me the longer from the
hall.

When I got there, the business of welcome was over long ago; the company
was already at supper; and, by an oversight that cut me to the quick, my
place had been forgotten. I had seen one side of the Master's return;
now I was to see the other. It was he who first remarked my coming in
and standing back (as I did) in some annoyance. He jumped from his seat.

"And if I have not got the good Mackellar's place!" cries he. "John, lay
another for Mr. Bally; I protest he will disturb no one, and your table
is big enough for all."

I could scarce credit my ears, nor yet my senses, when he took me by the
shoulders and thrust me, laughing, into my own place--such an
affectionate playfulness was in his voice. And while John laid the fresh
place for him (a thing on which he still insisted), he went and leaned
on his father's chair and looked down upon him, and the old man turned
about and looked upwards on his son, with such a pleasant mutual
tenderness that I could have carried my hand to my head in mere
amazement.

Yet all was of a piece. Never a harsh word fell from him, never a sneer
showed upon his lip. He had laid aside even his cutting English accent,
and spoke with the kindly Scots tongue, that set a value on affectionate
words; and though his manners had a graceful elegance mighty foreign to
our ways in Durrisdeer, it was still a homely courtliness, that did not
shame but flattered us. All that he did throughout the meal, indeed,
drinking wine with me with a notable respect, turning about for a
pleasant word with John, fondling his father's hand, breaking into
little merry tales of his adventures, calling up the past with happy
reference--all he did was so becoming, and himself so handsome, that I
could scarce wonder if my lord and Mrs. Henry sat about the board with
radiant faces, or if John waited behind with dropping tears.

As soon as supper was over, Mrs. Henry rose to withdraw.

"This was never your way, Alison," said he.

"It is my way