rles had ever heard of such a thing!"

"Well, of that, to be sure, why trouble my brother over such a trifle,
when 'twas so obviously proper?" argued Lady Catharine, bravely. "And
certainly, if we come to knights and the like, good chivalry has ever
demanded succor for those in distress; and if, forsooth, it was two
damsels in a comfortable coach, who rescued two knights from underneath
a hedge-row, why, such is but the way of these modern days, when knights
go seeking no more for adventures and ladies fair; as you very well
know."

"As I do not know, Lady Catharine," replied Mary Connynge. "To the
contrary, 'twould not surprise me to learn that he would not shrink
from any adventure which might offer."

"You mean--that is--you mean the tall one, him who said he was Mr. Law
of Lauriston?"

"Well, perhaps. Though I must say," replied Mary Connynge, with
indirection, "that I fancy the other far more, he being not so forward,
nor so full of pure conceit. I like not a man so confident." This with
an eye cast down, as much as though there were present in the room some
man subject to her coquetry.

"Why, I had not found him offering such an air," replied Lady Catharine,
judicially. "I had but thought him frank enough, and truly most
courteous."

"Why, truly," replied Mary Connynge. "But saw you naught in his eye?"

"Why, but that it was blue, or gray," replied Lady Catharine.

"Oh, ho! then my lady did look a bit, after all! And so this is why the
knight flourisheth so bravely in silks to-day--Fie! but a mere
adventurer, Lady Kitty. He says he is Law of Lauriston; but what proof
doth he offer? And did he find such proof, it is proof of what? For my
part, I did never hear of Lauriston nor its owner."

"Ah, but that I have, to the contrary," said Lady Catharine. "John
Law's father was a goldsmith, and it was he who bought the properties of
Lauriston and Randleston. And so far from John Law being ill-born, why,
his mother was Jean Campbell, kinswoman of the Campbell, Duke of Argyll;
and a mighty important man is the Duke of Argyll these days, I may tell
you, as the king's army hath discovered before this. You see, I have not
talked with my brother about these things for naught."

"So you make excuse for this Mr. Law of Lauriston," said Mary Connynge.
"Well, I like better a knight who comes on his own horse, or in his own
chariot, and who rescues me when I am in trouble, rather than asks me to
give him aid. But, as to