'These are the last trout we shall have for a time--of my own fishing at least, Ellinor,' said Mary, as she relieved herself of the basket and told of the forenoon adventures. 'Why?' 'I have no wish to be escorted by any of the visitors at Craigmhor; least of all by Captain Colville, the _fiancé_, as I understand he is, of that intolerable girl, Blanche Galloway.' 'I should think not,' replied Ellinor, laughing at her sister's unusual air of annoyance. But the sisters had not heard the last of Captain Leslie Colville. CHAPTER III. THE INTRODUCTION. A day or two after the rencontre we have narrated, when the sisters were quietly reading in their little drawing-room, the curtained windows of which opened to the lovely glen, through which May flows, visitors were announced--two strangers and their old friend the parish minister. The latter entered, hat in hand, with the cheery confidence of one who knew he was welcome, saying, 'My dear girls, allow me to introduce two new friends--Captain Colville and Sir Redmond Sleath--Miss Wellwood--Miss Ellinor Wellwood.' A few well-bred bows, with the subsequent inevitable remarks about the weather followed, and as all seated themselves, Dr. Wodrow said, 'We have had a long ramble by the Linn, and even as far as the King's Haugh, and have just dropped in to have a cup of afternoon tea, my dears.' Mary sweetly gave a smile of welcome and assent, as her hand went to the bell. The old minister, who knew that for reasons yet to be explained, Captain Colville was anxious to see once more the fair girl whom he had met and succoured by Mayside, had artfully arranged the proper introduction, which had now come to pass, and the end of which he--good, easy, and unthinking man--could little then foresee. Sir Redmond, as he was introduced to Mary, took his glass out of his right eye, where it had hitherto been, and placed it in his left to focus Ellinor when introduced to her, each time bowing very low, yet with an expression of appreciative scrutiny in his face. The transference of his glass from eye to eye was perhaps a small matter in one way, yet in another it was very indicative of the man's cool _insouciance_ of character and bearing. On the unexpected arrival of these visitors, the first thoughts of the sisters were that their household furniture was decidedly the worse for the wear, that it was all old-fashioned, and that the curtains, carpets, and chairs were all toned down by time; yet everything was scrupulously clean, and in all its details Birkwoodbrae was evidently the home of gentlewomen of taste and refinement. Flowers, artistically sorted, were distributed whereever they might be placed with propriety, with all the pretty trifles and nick-nacks peculiar to the atmosphere of 'the British drawing-room,' while the newest music lay upon the open piano, and Colville's observant eye quickly detected the latest novels and illustrated papers too.