as she kept her room that evening; but you make me very anxious, my Lord, I beg of you to explain yourself more fully."
Pardon me, Mr. McKay, I must tax your patience a little longer; and now oblige me by telling, whether the young couple told you that they saw me at the bridge of Linn one morning when I first arrived here, or whether you observed anything particular about your daughter at that time."
"Never, my Lord, she has not mentioned a word about seeing you, but I remember one morning about that time, her having walked alone as far as the bridge, and that she mentioned having met young Stuart there, after coming home from the hills where he had been shooting, and gave her a brace of ptarmigan; and I must also confess that something unusual in her manner and dress attracted my attention."
"Poor innocent child, I thought so. I knew that she was too modest to mention such a delicate affair, or to involve her misguided young neighbour. You need not look so alarmed, Mr. McKay, nothing serious has taken place as yet, but you must promise me that you will never mention, or hint to either, by word or look, what I am going to tell, and on this condition I will make you acquainted with the affair."
Mr. McKay made the promise, and his Lordship proceeded to tell him that he (his Lordship) and the Captain, the morning, after their arrival, went to fish on the river Linn, above the bridge, that the Captain went upstream, while he himself went towards the bridge, when he was attracted by the screams of a female; that when he approached the spot he beheld Charlie Stuart endeavouring to take improper liberties with Bella, both of whom he recognised at the bonfire. That, on making his appearance, the young man desisted, but followed her a little distance towards her home, likely to make up for his delinquencies; and that his Lordship, taking them for some humble people, never troubled himself about them, and had almost forgotten the affair, until the other day when he saw them riding as he was out shooting; they dismounted,
D
