defeats; no waking to hear of our friends arrested, and our private
letters in the hands of a Police Prefect. No horrid memories of the
night before, and that run of ill-luck that has left us almost beggars.
I wonder how long the charm of this tranquillity would endure; or is it
like all other anodynes, which lose their calming power by habit? I 'd
certainly like to try."

"Well, there is no reason why you shouldn't," said a voice from the back
of the summer-house, which he knew to be Mrs. Trafford's.

He jumped up to overtake her, but she was gone.

CHAPTER XII. MAITLAND'S VISIT

"What was it you were saying about flowers, Jeanie? I was not minding,"
said Mrs. Butler, as she sat at her window watching the long heaving
roll of the sea, as it broke along the jagged and rugged shore, her
thoughts the while far beyond it.

"I was saying, ma'am, that the same man that came with the books t'
other day brought these roses, and asked very kindly how you were."

"You mean the same gentleman, lassie, who left his card here!" said
the old lady, correcting that very Northern habit of Ignoring all
differences of condition.

"Well, I mind he was; for he had very white hands, and a big bright ring
on one of his fingers."

"You told him how sorry I was not to be able to see him,--that these bad
headaches have left me unable to receive any one?"

"Na; I did n't say that," said she, half doggedly.

"Well, and what did you say?"

"I just said, she's thinking too much about her son, who is away from
home, to find any pleasure in a strange face. He laughed a little quiet
laugh, and said, 'There is good sense in that, Jeanie, and I 'll wait
for a better moment.'"

"You should have given my message as I spoke it to you," said the
mistress, severely.

"I 'm no sae blind that I canna see the differ between an aching head
and a heavy heart Ye 're just frettin', and there 's naething else the
matter wi' you. There he goes now, the same man,--the same gentleman,
I mean," said she, with a faint scoff. "He aye goes back by the strand,
and climbs the white rocks opposite the Skerries."

"Go and say that I 'll be happy to have a visit from him to-morrow,
Jeanie; and mind, put nothing of your own in it, lassie, but give my
words as I speak them."

With a toss of her head Jeanie left the room, and soon after was seen
skipping lightly from rock to rock towards the beach beneath. To the old
lady's great surprise, however, Jeanie, i