"Please don't have the smallest scruple about accepting the money. When I told you I was 'on the rocks,' I did not mean it in the sense in which a young man about town would use the expression. My debts did not amount to more than twenty or thirty pounds. All things in life are relative, you see. I spent nothing in Norway, and my cousin will not hear of my paying for my board here. She is kind enough to say that, even pecuniarily, she is richer since I came. Of course I do not want any more gowns; I go nowhere, and see no one. Doris tells me she is studying medicine--by proxy. I am glad to think that I shall be shining in society this winter--also by proxy. I hope I may have the good fortune to see you in your new _rôle_ of mermaid before the run is over. I am sure it will be a very successful one. "Please give your father my most dutiful love, and tell him that I will answer his kind note in a day or two." The writing of this letter, together with a few grateful lines to Lady Munro, occupied all Mona's spare time before dinner; and as soon as the unbeautiful meal was over, she set off at last to the Colonel's wood. "If the scale has turned against me, Matilda Cookson will not go to Castle Maclean," she reflected. "If it has turned in my favour, it will do her no harm to look for me in vain." She had to walk in to Kirkstoun, and then strike up country for two or three miles; but before she had proceeded far on her way, she met Mr Brown. "So you have got back," he said, looking very shy and uncomfortable. "Yes, I have been back for some days." "How is Miss Simpson?" "She is very well, thank you." "Were you going anywhere in particular?" "I am going to Barntoun Wood, but don't let me take you out of your way," she said. He did not answer, but walked by her side into town. "Do you take ill with the smell of tobacco?" he asked, taking his pipe from his pocket. "Not in the least." "Have you been doing any more botanising?" "I have not had time. Thank you so much for sending me that box of treasures. Some of them interested me greatly." "I thought you would like them. Will you be able to come again some day, and hunt for yourself?" "Is not it getting too late in the year?" "Not for the mosses and lichens and sea-weeds. Have you gone into them at all?" "Not a bit. They must be extremely interesting, but very difficult." "Oh, you get hold of the thread in time, especially with the mosses. The Algæ and Fungi are a tremendous subject of course. One can only work a bit on the borders of it. But if you care to come for a few more rambles, I could soon show you the commonest things we have, and a few of the rarer ones." "I should like it immensely. Could your sister come with us?" "Oh yes; she was not really tired that day. It was just that her boot was too tight. I had a laugh at her when we got home." "Well, I suppose we part company here. I am going out to Colonel Lawrence's."