As neither Isabel nor Christina made any protest, she added: "You may go at once and buy yourselves a couple of suits, one for church, and a white one that will be easily laundered. I suppose hats, gloves, shoes, and some other things will be necessary. You can each of you spend forty pounds. This is a gift, I shall not take it from your allowance." "I cannot see through mother," observed Christina as they were on their shopping expedition. "Can you see through anything, Christina? I cannot." "She had a great fit of the liberalities this morning. What for?" "She was buying us. One way or another, she has us all under her feet." "Poor Theodora!" "Keep your pity for poor Christina. If Theodora has been a schoolmistress she knows fine how to hold her own." "With schoolgirls--perhaps. Mother is different." "The difference is not worth counting. Women, old and young, are very much alike." "Do you believe the paperers and painters begin work to-morrow?" "Mother said so. It is one of her virtues to tell the truth. You know how often she declares she would not lie even to the devil." "Yes--but was that the truth?" "It is not right to criticise and question what your mother says, Christina." In the morning the arrival of a number of men with pails, and brushes, and paint-pots, justified Mrs. Campbell's assertion, and the three women were glad to escape the dirt, noise, and confusion in Traquair House, even for the _Argyle Arms_ in Campbelton. Robert went with them to the boat, and Isabel's pathetic acceptance of what she disliked, and the tears in Christina's eyes made him a little unhappy. He slipped some gold into their hands, as he bid them good-bye, and their silent looks of pleasure at his remembrance, soothed the uncertain sense of some unkindness or unfairness which had troubled him since Christina's rebellious outbreak. He was glad he had gone with them to the boat, and glad that he had given them a parting token of his brotherly care, and he felt that he could now turn cheerfully to his own pressing but delightful affairs. He was singularly happy in them, and really glad to be rid of all advice and interference. Men who had known him for many years, wondered at his boyish joyfulness. He was a different Robert Campbell, but then it was generally known he was in love, and all the world loves a lover. No one was cruel or malicious enough to warn, or advise, or shadow the glory of his expectations by any doubt of their full accomplishment. The initiated gossiped among themselves, and some said: "Campbell is a fool to be making such a fuss about any woman;" and others spoke of Mrs. Traquair Campbell, and "wondered how the English girl would manage her." "The poor lassie will be at her mercy," said one old man. "She will," answered his companion, "for the Traquair Campbells' ways will be dark to a stranger. It takes a Scotchwoman to match a Scotchwoman."