"Don’t make a fool of yourself, Gillie Ciotach!" said Ross, with a quick frown; and then he went on calmly: "It is Miss Stanley’s express wish that there should be no formalities whatever, otherwise I should have proposed a vote of thanks to her for her very great kindness and thoughtfulness. However, that is not to be; and the best way you can show what you think of her munificent gift is by making a good use of it and taking every care of it." He turned to the Baintighearna. "I suppose that is about all I have to say, Miss Stanley?" "Yes, I think so: thank you so much!" she said, in rather a low voice—for she was a trifle self-conscious before all those people. Then she rose. He stepped down from the platform, and led the way along the hall. There was some covert clapping of hands and stamping of feet; but the Gillie Ciotach had been snubbed into silence; and, indeed, the majority of those sad and weather-worn countenances remained stolidly indifferent, as if they hardly knew what was happening around them. Ross opened the door for his two companions, and followed them out into the golden-clear afternoon; the villagers were left to overhaul at their leisure this new possession, and to become familiar with its opportunities. But no sooner were those three out in the open, and by themselves, than Mary Stanley’s manner underwent a complete change. She had thrown off that platform constraint; she was profuse in her expressions of gratitude; her eyes were shining with pleasure. "How can I ever sufficiently thank you?" said she. "I could never have got through it by myself—never! And of course they will remember everything you said: any word of yours is all-important with them. I am a stranger. I am suspected. But when you are on my side all goes well. And now that this serious business has been got over, I feel as if we had earned a holiday for the rest of the day," she continued, in a very radiant and light-hearted fashion. "What shall we do, Käthchen? Can’t you devise something? Can’t you devise some wild escapade—something terrible—something unheard of?" "The Lady Superior of Lochgarra," said Donald Ross, "is much too distinguished a person to indulge in wild escapades." "At least," said she, turning to him—and they were now on their way to Lochgarra House—"it would be very hard if we three, having so successfully got through the solemn duties and labours of the day, were to separate now. Don’t you think we are entitled to a little relaxation? Now, tell me, Mr. Ross, where you are going at this moment. Back to the _Sirène_, are you not? And you will be dining alone? And after that a book and a pipe in the solitary saloon—isn’t that about how you will pass the evening?" "You have guessed pretty near the truth, Miss Stanley," said he, with a smile.