for the
stricken friends at Monksburn, and for my Uncle Drummond, who loved him
like another son,--and--yes, let me confess it, for Cary Courtenay, who
had just then so much to mourn over, and must not mourn for it except
with the outside pretence of something else.

"Did you care so much for him, Cary?"

What meant that intense pain in Ephraim's voice? Did he fancy--And what
did it matter to him, if he did? I tried to wipe away my tears and
speak.

"Did you care so little?" I said, as well as I could utter. "Think of
Annas, and his parents, and--And, Ephraim, we led him to his death--you
and I!"

"Nay, not so," he answered. "You must not look at it in that light,
Cary. We did but our duty. It is never well to measure duties by
consequences. Yes, of course I think of his parents and sister, poor
souls! It will be hard for them to bear. Yet I almost think I would
change with them rather than with Angus, when he comes to know. Cary,
somebody must write to Miss Keith: and it ought to be either Miss
Drummond or you."

I felt puzzled. Would he not break it best to her himself? If all were
settled betwixt them, and it looked as if it were, was he not the proper
person to write?

"You have not written to her?" I said.

"Why, no," he answered. "I scarce like to intrude myself on her. She
has not seen much of me, you know. Besides, I think a woman would know
far better how to break such news. Men are apt to touch a wound
roughly, even when they wish to act as gently as possible. No, Cary--I
am unwilling to place such a burden on you, but I think it must be one
of you."

Could he speak of Annas thus, if--I felt bewildered.

"Unless," he said, thoughtfully, looking out of the window, where the
moon was riding like a queen through the somewhat troubled sky, "unless
you think--for you, as a girl, can judge better than I--that Raymond
would be the best breaker. Perhaps you do not know that Raymond is not
at home? My Lady Inverness writ the news to him, and said she had not
spoken either to Mrs Raymond or Miss Keith. She plainly shrank from
doing it. Perhaps he would help her to bear it best."

"How should he be the best?" I said. "Mrs Raymond might--"

"Why, Cary, is it possible you do not know that Raymond and Miss Keith
are troth-plight?"

"Troth-plight! Mr Raymond! Annas!"

I started up in my astonishment. Here was a turning upside down of all
my notions!

"So that is news to you?" s