"What an innocent you are, sister Anne!" said Lewis, laughing. "Why, she's one of the 'unattached,' as Gordon says. I left her in Paris with Archie. You have no idea what a moody, gloomy fellow Duncombe's grown. I should think he was enough to frighten anybody!" "He was always a bilious-looking man," said Mrs. Ross; "and yet Isabel ran away with him." "Ah! there's no accounting for the taste of young ladies," said Lewis, lightly. "I should think she would be more likely to run away _from_ him, than _with_ him, now. But you should see their _menage_ in Paris! Archie's the man for all that." "How do you mean, Lewis?" said Anne. "You used to like him--eh, Annie?" said Lewis. "Don't break your heart--it's all up with that now. But, I can tell you, he makes the money fly finely." Anne's face flushed deeply--perhaps with the faintest shadow of pain at that intelligence, more than did merely belong to her regret for the folly of an old neighbor and early companion--but certainly with a painful feeling of the levity and carelessness of Lewis. "Well, Lewis," said Mrs. Ross; "I should think Archibald Sutherland could afford it pretty well. The old people must have saved a great deal, they lived so quietly. Strathoran is a good estate. Archie does not need to be so frugal as you." "Frugal!" echoed her son. "I wish you only saw. But, unless you did, with your quiet Scotch notions, you could have no idea of it. If Archie Sutherland is not poorer than we are, I'm mistaken." "Oh!" said Mrs. Ross; "that will be the reason they are thinning the woods. Then why don't they come home and economize?" "Come home!" cried Lewis. "Home to this dull Strathoran after Paris! It's not such an easy thing, I can tell you, mother. But, to be sure, one never knows the true reason. I've heard Archie often wishing for home--perhaps he is afraid of falling in love with Anne." "At all events, Lewis," said Anne, gravely, "whatever Archie Sutherland fears, you are not afraid of giving me pain." "Don't be absurd, Anne," said Mrs. Ross. "The poor boy's first night at home, to begin with these airs of yours!" Lewis saw the painful flush upon Anne's face--the look of deep humiliation with which she turned away her head, and his heart smote him. "I did not think you were so easily hurt. Nonsense, Anne! It was mere thoughtlessness, I assure you. I would not give you pain for anything." Alas! there were many things for which Lewis Ross would have been content to pain any one in the world. But Anne was easily mollified, and he ran on: "I met a little fairy of a girl in the coach, to-day. She was going to the Tower, to visit Mrs. Catherine. Hallo! what's the matter, Anne?" "Nothing," said Anne, forcing a smile on the lip which she had felt quiver a moment before.