Colville sat for a time silent, and Mary thought his question a very strange one, unless he had a deeper interest in them both than she thought he could possibly have; and, still pursuing a personal theme, he said, 'I have heard from Dr. Wodrow that his son Robert was your sister's admirer, and that they have quarrelled. Is not this to be regretted?' 'Regretted indeed!' 'You always seemed interested in him.' 'As Ellinor's lover--yes.' 'I always thought he was _yours_.' 'Mine--who said so?' 'Miss Galloway, repeatedly.' 'She had no authority for any such statement,' said Mary, upon whom a kind of light was beginning to break, and Colville drew a little nearer, as he seemed very much disposed to take up the thread of the 'old story' where he had left it off on the afternoon when he carved their initials on the tree, carried off the bunch of berries, and gave her in exchange the bouquet of Blanche Galloway, before he went to Alyth. 'Is it not strange, Captain Colville,' said Mary, 'that day after day passes, and yet we hear nothing more of this new heir--this usurper of our poor little home--or of any special notice to quit Birkwoodbrae?' 'Amid the world he lives in, he may forget.' 'He and his father before forgot us always. But still, there is one patrimony of which he cannot deprive us--one near the churchyard wall!' said Mary, bitterly. 'However, things are at the worst with us now, and they will be sure to mend.' He was observing the rare delicacy of her hand, as she caressed the head of Jack resting on her knee. 'How you must loathe that cousin!' said he. 'Oh, no! Heaven forbid! He has never done us any active harm; yet we Wellwoods are very unforgiving in our feuds.' 'So it would seem.' 'I must never, never see him, and am most anxious to get away before he comes here, if he cares at all to visit so poor a place.' 'He might fall in love with you--nay, would be sure to do so,' said Colville, stooping nearer her, and lowering his voice. 'Love, with cousinship, soon develops, and he might marry you.' 'I would not marry him if there was not another man in the world!' exclaimed Mary, reddening in positive anger, with a choking and half smothered sob in her throat; and Colville laughed excessively at her increased but momentary annoyance at his suggestion, which indeed was far from being an unnatural one. 'If he saw you, he would certainly leave you in undisturbed possession of Birkwoodbrae.' 'A speech meant to be gallant; but he shall not see me if I can help it.' He laughed again, and Mary felt piqued. 'From what I hear of all the matter,' he began, 'from what I know of you----' 'Of me, Captain Colville--what can you know of _me_?' asked Mary, almost petulantly. 'Shall I say, then, from what I know of your cousin Wellwood----' 'Well--quick; from what you know of him?'