‘I am willing to believe that, Janet,’ said Lady Car. And there the incident ended, but not the effects of it. Nothing more followed indeed till Tom had gone, but the next day after that, Janet, going to her cousin’s at Dalrulzian, where she was allowed to ride alone upon the old pony, suddenly came upon Charlie Blackmore walking along the road. She recognised him with a leap of her heart. Oh, would he stop and talk? Oh, what would he say to her and she to him? It was with terror, yet with a thrill of pleasure as well, that Janet saw him start, as if he had suddenly seen her, and stand still until she came up. He meant to keep up the acquaintance it was clear. ‘Miss Torrance, I scarcely hoped I would have had this chance. It seemed ower good to be true.’ ‘Oh, yes, it is me,’ said Janet, embarrassed. ‘You need not tell me that; I saw it was you as far off as een could carry,’ said Charlie, forgetting his dramatic start. ‘I hope you are quite well; but I need not ask, for you’re blooming like any rose.’ Janet felt herself grow red in reply to this compliment. She knew that she was usually pale, and did not bloom like the rose, but it was kind of him to say so. She had a consciousness that in books girls had generally things like this said to them, and she was not ill pleased. ‘I hope,’ said Charlie, ‘all passed off well, Miss Janet, yon night.’ ‘Oh, yes,’ said Janet, ‘quite well.’ ‘Mr. Tom never came back to bid us good-bye; and ’deed it was better not, for there’s always a rabble of loose fellows about a stable-yard, and he was just as well away. Young lads at his age are better to keep out of mischief--as long as they can.’ ‘Tom has gone back to school,’ said Janet demurely. ‘Dod,’ cried Charlie, ‘it’s a droll thing to hear of a lad going back to school that’s man-grown like Mr. Tom. I had the care of all the beasts on my hands at his age; but he’ll be going in for Parliament and that kind o’ thing, and much learning, no doubt.’ ‘Oh, no,’ said Janet; ‘he says it’s too much sap. He would like to be with the horses best.’ ‘And are you fond of horses too, Miss Janet?’ said Blackmore with an ingratiating tone. ‘We’ve got a bonnie wee beast yonder that would just do for you. If Mr. Tom were the master himsel’ I would ask his leave to send it over to let you try it. It’s a bonnie little thing just fit for your riding. But I daur not take such a liberty,’ said Charlie, ‘while the auld folk are there.’ ‘My mother is not old,’ said Janet with some indignation. ‘Na; not her ladyship; but there’s more than her. I would like to let you see that little beastie, Miss Janet. Some day if I should be this way with her--would you mount and try? You’re too good a rider for an old brute like that.’ ‘Oh, mother would not be pleased,’ cried Janet alarmed. ‘It would do her ladyship no harm, for she need never know.--I’ll take my chance; if you will but say ye would like to see her.’