"Let Andrew or Johnnie be ready in a moment to ride to Woodsmuir," said Mrs. Catherine, as Jacky appeared at the door; "and tell your mother to send in refreshments for Mr. Ferguson. Begone, you imp--what are you waiting for?" "If you please," said Jacky, "it's Mr. Foreman himsel in the gig--will I bring him in?" and, without waiting for an answer, the girl disappeared. "Mr. Foreman himself," repeated Mrs. Catherine. "What new trouble is coming now?--they are ever in troops." Mr. Ferguson raised his head uneasily and paused in his writing. The excited curiosity of both suggesting some further aggravation of the great misfortunes they already knew. Mr. Foreman entered the room gravely, and with care in his face--greeted Mrs. Catherine in silence, and starting, when he saw Mr. Ferguson, asked; "It is true, then?" "True?--Ay, beyond doubt or hoping," said Mrs. Catherine, bitterly. "The prodigal has made an end of his house and name. I was right, Mr. Foreman, and you were wrong. The hairy fool had been sent on no less an errand than to see the value of the prey. Grant me patience!--how am I to see daily before me, some evil animal, such as could herd with cattle like you, reigning in the house of the Sutherlands?" "How have you heard, Mr. Foreman?" said the factor, anxiously. "Has Mr. Archibald written to you himself?" "No," said Mr. Foreman, "I have got my information from a most disagreeable source. I received a letter to-day from the solicitors of Lord Gillravidge, touching the conveyance of the property. Have you the intelligence direct from Mr. Sutherland? I came up immediately to let Mrs. Catherine know." "I have a letter," said Mr. Ferguson. "It is indeed all over. He has lost everything except the entailed lands of Loelyin and Lochend, and the farm of Woodsmuir, upon which my own house stands, and it, you know, is mortgaged to its full value. All the rest is gone. Mr. Archibald is ruined." There was a pause again, broken only by the sound of Mrs. Catherine's footsteps, as she walked heavily through the room.--These grave, kind men, Archibald Sutherland's factor and agent, who had known him all his life, were almost as deeply affected with his sin and misfortune as though he had been an erring son. Mr. Foreman broke the silence by asking: "What do you intend to do?" "Mrs. Catherine advises me to start immediately for Paris," said Mr. Ferguson. "We all of us know how bitterly Mr. Archibald will reproach himself, now that all self-reproach is unavailing. I will endeavor to bring him home--to the Tower, I mean; and then--I do not well know what we are to do. But we must try to rouse his mind (it is a vigorous one, if it were but in a purer atmosphere,) to shape out for itself another course. I was about to ride into Portoran to make immediate preparation for my journey."