"Well, Jacky, what is it?" Jacky held up the card--"Mr. James Aytoun." "If ye please, Miss Anne, I think it'll be Miss Alice's brother." Anne hastened forward to tell Mrs. Catherine, somewhat disturbed by the information. She feared for Lewis. Lewis was not so confident in the truth of these letters as she, and might, betray his doubt to Alice Aytoun's brother, a lawyer, skilled in discerning those signs of truth in the telling of a story, which Lewis would lack in his narrative. Jacky stole back to the library: the fire was getting low, she persuaded herself, and while she improved it, she could steal long glances at the stranger, and decide that he was "like Miss Alice, only no half so bonnie." When the mending of the fire was complete, she slid into a corner, and began to restore various misplaced books. James watched her for a minute or two with some amusement. Alice had spoken of this dark, singular, elfin girl. She lingered so long that he forgot her. At last a voice alarmed him, close at his ear. "If ye please--" He looked up--Jacky was emboldened. "If ye please--Miss Alice--" "What about Miss Alice?" asked James, kindly. "Just, is she quite well, Sir?" said Jacky, abashed. "Quite well, I am much obliged to you," said James. Jacky hovered still. Somewhat startled James Aytoun would have been, had he divined the eager question hanging upon her very lips: "Oh, if ye please, will they no let her be married on Mr. Lewis?" but Jacky restrained her interest in Alice Aytoun's fortunes, sufficiently to say: "Mrs. Catherine is coming, Sir!" and to glide out of the room. "James Aytoun!" exclaimed Mrs. Catherine, as Anne interrupted the indignant declamation of Marjory Falconer, to inform her of the stranger's arrival. "Ay! that is like a man; I am pleased with that. The lad must have, both sense and spirit.--Send down to Merkland for Lewis without delay, child, and come in with me to the library; the lad's business is with you, more than me. I like the spirit of him; there has been no milk-and-water drither, or lingering here. Come away." They entered the house. "Marjory Falconer," said Mrs. Catherine, "go up the stair, and wait till we come to you. Say nothing of yon to Archie; but, be you sure, I will stand no such thing from the hands of the evil pack of them--hounds!" Marjory obeyed; and Mrs. Catherine and Anne entered the library. The young man and the old lady exchanged looks of mutual respect. James Aytoun's prompt attention to this important matter, brought the full sunshine of Mrs. Catherine's favor upon him. She received him after her kindest fashion. "You are welcome to my house, James Aytoun; and it pleases me, that I can call a lad who give such prompt heed to the honor of this house kinsman. Are you wearied with your journey? or would you rather speak of the matter that brought you here at once?"