"Well, Jack's come. Had terrible fighting. I hurried over to tell you." "But not for that alone?" "Nay, friend. Now sit down, or catch hold of something. I'm going to startle you. Your old uncle is dead." "What, the man that disinherited me?" "The same; only--you are heir to Glen Pollok. It is all yours--a cool £10,000 a year." The general could not speak for a moment; then he grasped the kindly old solicitor's hand once more, and with tears in his eyes. "God in heaven bless you, Richards," he exclaimed, "and his name be praised. Poor Jack and dear Flo, they will not now be beggars!" "And, Richards," he added, "Flora shall be wedded with all the pomp and glory due to a daughter of the proud house of Grant Mackenzie." "Ah!" laughed Richards, "there is the old reckless Celtic blood asserting itself again. Don't forget, my friend, that even £10,000 a year can be spent, and that right easily too." "I won't, I won't; you shall be my guide." "And then, you see," continued Richards, "there is the mortgage to pay off on Grantley Hall." "Grantley Hall! why, isn't that sold long ago?" Richards laughed heartily now. "O bother," he cried. "I've let the cat out of the bag, and I didn't mean to. I meant to give you such a pleasant surprise. Well, well, well,-- 'The best-laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft agley.'" Then Richards told him all he had done. The tears stood in General Mackenzie's eyes. "Richards," he said, "I could not have believed such kindness possible. I--I--I can't say another word." * * * * * The meeting between Tom Fairlie and Flora was all that lovers could desire. Mary positively hugged Jack. He was still her boy. I'm not sure she did not shower upon him "luv and sweet kisses." "But, bless me, Jack," she said, "how tall you've got! and really you makes poor me feel old." Gerty met Jack with a bonnie blush. Ah! how he longed to take her in his arms and tell her all, and all she had been to him throughout the last two long and eventful years. But no, he would not, dared not. When in a few months' time a ship was once more at his command, he would go quietly away to sea; but he ne'er would speak of love. For his old Highland pride had come to his rescue. She was rich; _he_ was very poor indeed. No, it never could be. And so he told Tom, and so he told his sister. The former laughed at his scruples; the latter thought her brother was right. * * * * *