There was a long silence--for many motives deterred Anne from attempting, what at any time she would have done with reluctance, to offer counsel to the clear and mature judgment of Mrs. Catherine; and she rightly judged that her ancient friend had all the strength of secretly-formed resolution to combat the scruples which Anne could not help sympathizing with, though in her also, so many kindly feelings pleaded for Archibald Sutherland--a prodigal, indeed, but still the frank and joyous comrade of her childish days, the "young Strathoran" of her native district. At last, Mrs. Catherine rose. "It must be done," she exclaimed. "Bear me witness, Anne, that I do it against my judgment. I take the siller to feed the false wants of the waster, that should help the honorable man in his travail. I do it, knowing it is ill, but I cannot see the lad a ruined man. Let us away. I will blind myself with no more false reasonings; the thing is wrong, but we must do it--come!" Anne followed without speaking. Mrs. Catherine locked the door, and, leaning on her heavily, led her up stairs. Alice Aytoun was in the drawing-room; Mrs. Catherine sent Anne thither, and went herself to seek for something in her own room. She had intended offering substantial help to James Aytoun, and now, when the warmth of her feelings for Archibald Sutherland baulked her benevolent intent, she turned with an involuntary impulse to make some atonement to Alice. It had been a very dull morning for Alice--Mrs. Catherine was unusually grave at breakfast, and since breakfast Alice had been alone--then she saw Lewis and Anne walking arm-in-arm up Oranside to the Tower, and for a long half-hour had waited and wondered in tantalising loneliness, vainly expecting that they would join her, or she be summoned to them. But they did not come, and Alice, wearied and disappointed, was venting some girlish impatience on the piano, and indulging in a sort of fretful wish for home--quiet, affectionate home, where such slight neglects and forgetfulness never could take place--but, while the thought was being formed, Anne stood beside her. "Oh! Miss Ross," exclaimed Alice, "I thought you were never coming," and through the fair curls the slightest side-glance was thrown to the closed door, which testified that Anne now came alone. "I saw you coming up by the water, and I have waited so long." "Mrs. Catherine had some business with me," said Anne: "and Lewis, I think, is detained below with other visitors. And what do you think of our Strathoran now, Miss Aytoun?" "Oh! a great deal," said Alice; "only I have not seen Strathoran itself--Mr. Sutherland's house--yet. I am to go to Falcon's Craig, Mrs. Catherine says, after to-morrow. Miss Falconer was here yesterday--riding." "And you liked her, did you not?" said Anne, smiling. Alice looked dubious. "Yes, very well. But is she not more like a gentleman than a lady, Miss Ross?"