"My husband had to attend a quarterly parish meeting this afternoon," she said, "or he would be here to welcome you. You must accept my welcome instead." She introduced him to Di, who was rather taken aback by his youthful figure and brisk alertness of his speech and manner. Hector Ross was a good-looking man, with blue eyes and fair hair. His face was tanned and rather weather-beaten. One could see he had had an open-air life for many years. As Rowena looked at him, the determination of his mouth and chin, the resolute look in his eyes, and the quick short way in which he clipped his words, showed her that, whatever else he might be, he was very wide awake. "Couldn't wait to be driven," he said, "so I left my baggage to follow. I'm not a stranger in these parts, you know." Then he turned to Di. "Can you be Hugh's daughter?" Di laughed frankly and freely. "My good man, his daughter is still in the submissive stage. Her years demand it. Can you see me as the General's daughter, Rowena? What high jinks I would lead him! I'm just a stray visitor, Mr. Ross; and your cousin will be more relieved than otherwise when I've gone!" Then she swung herself lightly out of the hammock and, leaning against the tree, took out her silver cigarette case and began to smoke. "Have one?" she said, offering her case to the newcomer. He shook his head with a smile. "I go in for a pipe." He looked at her reflectively, then at Rowena. "I'm taking stock of you both," he said pleasantly. "Mrs. Macdonald is the old order of woman, and you are the new. I've come across plenty of the modern girls, but the old-fashioned ones are rare." "I suppose I am old-fashioned," said Rowena laughing, "but it gives me rather a shock to hear you say it. I used not to be considered so a few years back." "It's good manners does it," said Hector tersely. "Complimentary to me," laughed Di. In a few minutes he was talking to them as if he had known them all his life. Incidentally he touched upon his ranch life. "Why have you given it up?" Di asked. "If you were making your pile, and having a jolly free life out, there, why on earth didn't you keep on a few years longer?" "I sold up when I went over to France—or, rather, when I went over to Canada to train. I went out with the Canadians, and had a stiff two years at the Front. Then I went back, for I'd a few things to settle up; and I came over here three months ago. I meant to look up Hugh when my aunt had had enough of me. I'm going to my people's old place. It came into the market the beginning of this year, and I was able to buy it in the nick of time." "And you're going to settle down as a laird, I suppose?" said Di. "Everybody is a laird over here. I've seen some funny specimens."