determined to learn more about them from themselves. “You three are brothers, I find. Which of you is the eldest?” “I am two years older than Fergus,” answered Ronald, “and Archie is twelve, though he looks less.” “And have you any brothers and sisters younger than you, Archie?” enquired the laird. Archie looked in the gentleman’s face for a moment, and then away again. “He speaks to nobody but us,” said Ronald. “He heeds no other voice,—that is, no man’s or woman’s voice. He knows the low of the cattle and the cry of the sea-fowl when a storm is coming. He wants to be down among the rocks now, ye see. We’re going, Archie, we’re going. Stay a minute.—He’s not like us, your honour sees.” “I see, I see. He looks quite lost.” “To a stranger,” said Fergus, “but not to us. We know his ways so well that we can always guide him, except when he is at the highest and lowest, and then it is best to leave him to himself till the fit is over.” “He must require a great deal of watching; is there no one to take care of him but you?” “He takes to no folly, only to sport, Sir; and he is wiser than we about many things, and sees farther. He is always housed before a tempest, or safe in a hole in the rock, like the birds he seems to learn from, while we breast the wind as we may, far from home. When he is dull or low, Ella takes better care of him than we could do. She just puts fresh heather under him and sings, and he sleeps sometimes many days together.” “And who is Ella?” “Our sister, your honour; our elder sister. She is down by the boats, and she will be glad to see your honour, for we have much to say to you or to Mr. Callum. Where will your honour please to see Ella?” “We will walk down to the boats, Ronald; or, if your sister should wish to speak with me more privately, perhaps she will come up here.” Ronald cast a hurried look at the new-made grave, and then said to Fergus, “Run down, Fergus, and ask Ella to come up to the cross yonder. The laird will wait for her there: and let Archie go with you; he is in a hurry for the shore.”