d in its outer entirety,
its arched ceils proof against the malevolent fire. Yet its windows
gaped black and empty. The tide was in close on the breast-wall behind,
and the sound of it came up and moaned in the close like the sough of a
sea-shell held against the ear.

We stood in the close, the three of us (the bairn clinging in wonder to
the girl's gown), with never a word for a space, and that sough of the
sea was almost a coronach.

CHAPTER XV.--CONFESSIONS OF A MARQUIS.

In a few hours, as it were, the news that the enemy had left the country
was put about the shire, and people returned to pick up the loose ends
of the threads of family and affairs. Next day my lord the Marquis came
round Lochlong and Glencroe in a huge chariot with four wheels, the
first we had ever seen in these parts, a manner of travel incumbent upon
him because of a raxed shoulder he had met with at Dunbarton. He came
back to a poor reception: the vestiges of his country's most bitter
extremity were on every hand, and, what was bound to be embarrassing to
any nobleman of spirit, there was that in the looks and comportment of
his clansmen that must have given MacCailein some unpleasant thought.

Behind his lordship came eleven hundred Lowland levies that had been
with Baillie in England, and to command them came his cousin, Sir Duncan
Campbell of Auchinbreac, luckily new over from Ireland, and in the
spirit for campaigning. A fiery cross was sent round the clan, that in
better times should easily have mustered five thousand of the prettiest
lads ever trod heather, but it brought only a remnant of a thousand, and
the very best that would have been welcome under the galley flag
were too far afield for the summons to reach them in time. But every
well-affected branch of Clan Campbell sent its gentlemen to officer our
brigade.

A parley of war held in the castle determined on immediate pursuit
of Montrose to Lochaber, keeping within easy distance, but without
attacking till he was checked in front by troops that had gone up to
flank him by way of Stirling. I was at the council, but had little to do
with its decision, though the word of M'Iver and myself (as was due to
cavaliers of experience) was invited with respect.

We were to march in two days; and as I had neither house nor ha' to
shelter me, seeing the old place up the glen was even more of a ruin
than in Donald Gorm's troubles, when the very roof-tree was thrown
in Dhuloch, I sh