d a desire to find Mrs. Carruthers,
that he might thank her for her kind hospitality.

"Here, gudewife, and as ye four Marjories, and Miss Cecile," cried
Carruthers, lustily, "come ye as here, and garr thae twa wanderin' Jews
bide."

Then there was a commotion, as the ladies flocked with the children into
the hall, with many exclamations of astonishment and reproach,
surrounding the recreant young men. Mr. Errol, the Captain, the veteran,
and even Mr. Perrowne, came to learn what was the matter. When they
heard the intentions of the pair, Mr. Thomas and the parson were
prepared to make the most abject apologies to the dominie, who insisted
that there was no necessity; on the contrary, he alone was to blame, but
all that was past. Mrs. Carruthers would not hear of their going just as
they were becoming so pleasantly acquainted, assured them that
Bridesdale had ample accommodation, and commanded the veteran to form a
company of his grandchildren and arrest the would-be deserters. Marjorie
clung to her Eugene's right leg. Mr. Errol accused him of stealing away
with his gloves, and finally the lawyer confided to Mrs. and Miss
Carmichael that he didn't want to go a bit, was never happier in his
life. Miss Du Plessis put a hand on the dominie's arm, a hand that
tingled away in to his very heart, and said her uncle would be so
disappointed when he arrived to find that his friends of Collingwood had
not deemed him worth waiting for. Finally, the Squire took them both
aside, and, speaking seriously, said he had no right selfishly to detain
them, but the time was critical, poor Nash was away on a dangerous
errand, and their services, already great and highly appreciated, might
yet be of the greatest importance. Besides, after the fatigue and
excitement of the past night, they were not fit to travel. The dominie
confessed that, with all the excitement and possible danger, he had
enjoyed himself amazingly, that his only motive for leaving was the fear
of trespassing upon the kindness of Mrs. Carruthers, and that, if his
humble services were of any value, he trusted the Squire would draw
upon them to the utmost. The lawyer, hearing his companion's decision,
wanted to give a wild Irish hurroo, but, checking himself, ground the
Squire's right hand with his own kid-gloved afflicted member, as if he
had been a long lost brother. When they next reached the hall, Miss
Halbert was there taking in the situation with the other young ladies.