helped to introduce it into the Western Highlands was
doing a very good work indeed. And there was nothing but personal
inspection could decide on the various merits of latest improvements.

This was what he said before his wife one night at dinner. But when the
ladies had left the room, the little stout major suddenly put up both
his hands, snapped his thumb and middle finger, and very cleverly
executed one or two reel steps.

"By George! my boy," said he, with a ferocious grin on his face, "I
think we will have a little frolic--a little frolic!--a little frolic!
You were never shut up in a house for six months with a woman like my
wife, were you, Macleod? You were never reminded of your coffin every
morning, were you? Macleod, my boy, I am just mad to get after those
drying-machines!"

And indeed Macleod could not have had a merrier companion to go South
with him than this rubicund major just escaped from the thraldom of his
wife. But it was with no such high spirits that Macleod set out. Perhaps
it was only the want of sleep that had rendered him nerveless and
morbid; but he felt, as he left Castle Dare, that there was a lie in his
actions, if not in his words. And as for the future that lay before him,
it was a region only of doubt, and vague regrets, and unknown fears;
and he was entering upon it without any glimpse of light, and without
the guidance of any friendly hand.

CHAPTER XX.

OTTER-SKINS.

"AH, pappy," said Miss Gertrude White to her father and she pretended to
sigh as she spoke--"this is a change indeed!"

They were driving up to the gate of the small cottage in South Bank. It
was the end of October. In the gardens they passed the trees were almost
bare; though such leaves as hung sparsely on the branches of the
chestnuts and maples were ablaze with russet and gold in the misty
sunshine.

"In another week," she continued, "there will not be a leaf left. I dare
say there is not a single geranium in the garden. All hands on deck to
pipe a farewell:

'Ihr Matten, lebt wohl,
Ihr sonnigen Weiden
Der Senne muss scheiden,
Der Sommer ist hin.'

Farewell to the blue mountains of Newcastle, and the sunlit valleys of
Liverpool, and the silver waterfalls of Leeds; the summer is indeed
over; and a very nice and pleasant summer we have had of it."

The flavor of sarcasm running through this affected sadness vexed Mr.
White, and he answered, sharply,

"I think you have litt