"Anne Ross, is that you?--the matter!--why, look here--here is matter enough to make any one angry--_our_ road, that belonged to us and our ancestors before this man's race or name had ever been heard of--look at it, how he has blocked it up--look at this 'notice to trespassers'--'to be prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law'--very well, let them prosecute!" continued Marjory, raising her voice, and sending a flashing, keen glance towards a corner of the adjoining plantation, "let them prosecute by all means--in five minutes more, they shall have some trespassers. These paltry little tyrants--these upstart Englishmen, daring, in a lowland country, and on poor Archibald Sutherland's lands, to do what a highland chief would not venture on, on his own hills!" "It must be some mistake, Marjory," said Anne, "it is impossible any one could do this with the intention of insulting the whole countryside. It must be a mistake." "Mistake, indeed!--throw it into the Oran, George, throw it over the water," cried Miss Falconer, as the groom raised in his arms an immense piece of wood, the last barrier to the passage. "We shall see that by-and-by--come, Anne." Marjory mounted the style, and sprang down in the Strathoran grounds on the other side. "Come, Anne, come." "Had we not better go the other way?" said Anne. "It is but subjecting ourselves to impertinence, Marjory. Nay, do not look contemptuous. I am not afraid of accompanying you, but I do think that Lewis and Ralph might manage this better than we can." Marjory threw back her head with an indignant, impatient motion. "Don't be a fool, Anne. Come, I am going to the Tower. Lewis and Ralph indeed!" "Well," said Anne, "if they could not do it better, it would be at least more suitable. We shall only expose ourselves to impertinence, Marjory. Let us go round the other way." "Very well," said Miss Falconer, turning away; "I will go alone." Anne crossed the stile. It was annoying to be forced into any altercation, such as was almost sure to ensue upon their meeting any of the dependents of Lord Gillravidge; at the same time, she could not suffer Marjory to go alone. George lifted a large, empty basket, and followed them, his hot, merry face shining like a beacon as he passed beneath the bare and rustling boughs.