There were all sorts of guesses as to who was coming, and none
of them the right one, for when the door opened at last, in walked Angus
Drummond and Mr Keith.

"Well, you did not expect us, I suppose?" said Angus.

"Certainly not to-night," was Sophy's answer.

"We finished our business sooner than we expected, and now we are ready
to begin our holiday," said he.

Father came in then, and there was a great deal of kissing and
hand-shaking all round; but my Aunt Kezia and Flora were not in the
room. They came in together, nearly half an hour later; but I think I
never saw such a change in any girl's face as in Flora's, when she saw
what had happened. She must be very fond of Angus, I am sure. Her
cheeks grew quite rosy--she is generally pale--and her eyes were like
stars. I did not think Angus seemed nearly so glad to see her.

Essie Langridge was very quiet all the evening; I fancy she was rather
frightened of Cecilia. She said very little.

Father had a long day's hunting yesterday, and Angus Drummond went with
him. Mr Keith would not go, though Father laughed about it, and asked
if he were afraid of the hares eating him up. Neither would he go to
the hunt-supper, afterwards. There were fourteen gentlemen at it, and a
pretty racket they made. My Aunt Kezia does not like these hunt-suppers
a bit; she would be glad if they were anywhere else than here; but
Father being the squire, of course they cannot be. She always packs us
girls out of the way, and will not allow us to show our heads. So we
sat up-stairs, in Sophy's chamber, which is the largest and most out of
the way; and we had some good fun, first in finding seats, for there
were only two chairs in the room, and then in playing hunt the slipper
and all sorts of games. I am afraid we got rather too noisy at last,
for my Aunt Kezia looked in with,--

"Girls, are you daft? I protest you make nigh as much racket as the
gentlemen themselves!"

What Mr Keith did with himself I do not know. I think he went off for
a walk somewhere. I know he tried to persuade Angus to go with him, but
Angus said he wanted his share of the fun. I heard Mr Keith say, in a
low voice,--

"What would your father say, Angus?"

"Oh, my father's a minister, and they are bound to be particular," said
Angus, carelessly. "I can't pretend to make such a fash as he would."

I did not hear what Mr Keith answered, but I believe he went on talking
about it. When I got up-