The hero of the ballad, who had not seen his true love for seven long years, could not have been more amazed at the change in her than was Ronald Macdonald at the sight of the flushed, excited, almost tearful king's daughter on the staircase; Lady Ardmore's diamonds flashing from her crimson satin gown, Lady Ardmore's rubies glowing on her white arms and throat; not Miss Dalziel, as had been arranged, but Francesca, rebellious, reluctant, embarrassed, angrily beautiful and beautifully angry! In the next scene Hynde Horn has drained the cup and dropped the ring into it. "'Oh, found you that ring by sea or on land, Or got you that ring off a dead man's hand?' 'Oh, I found not that ring by sea or on land, But I got that ring from a fair lady's hand. "'As a pledge of true love she gave it to me, Full seven years ago as I sail'd o'er the sea; But now that the diamonds are chang'd in their hue, I know that my love has to me proved untrue.'" I never saw a prettier picture of sweet, tremulous womanhood, a more enchanting breathing image of fidelity, than Francesca looked as Mr. Beresford read:-- "'Oh, I will cast off my gay costly gown, And follow thee on from town unto town, And I will take the gold kaims from my hair And follow my true love for ever mair.'" Whereupon Hynde Horn lets his beggar weeds fall, and shines there the foremost and noblest of all the king's companie as he says:-- "'You need not cast off your gay costly gown, To follow me on from town unto town; You need not take the gold kaims from your hair, For Hynde Horn has gold enough and to spare.' "Then the bridegrooms were chang'd, and the lady re-wed To Hynde Horn thus come back, like one from the dead." There is no doubt that this tableau gained the success of the evening, and the participants in it should have modestly and gratefully received the choruses of congratulation that were ready to be offered during the supper and dance that followed. Instead of that, what happened? Francesca drove home with Miss Dalziel before the quadrille d'honneur, and when Willie bade me good-night at the gate in the loaning he said, "I shall not be early to-morrow, dear. I am going to see Macdonald off." "Off!" I exclaimed. "Where is he going?" "Only to Edinburgh and London, to stay till the last of next week." "But we may have left Pettybaw by that time." "Of course; that is probably what he has in mind. But let me tell you this, Penelope: Macdonald is fathoms deep in love with Francesca, and if she trifles with him she shall know what I think of her!" "And let me tell you this, sir: Francesca is fathoms deep in love with Ronald Macdonald, little as you suspect it, and if he trifles with her he shall know what I think of him!" XXIV "He set her on a coal-black steed, Himsel lap on behind her, An' he's awa' to the Hieland hills Whare her frien's they canna find her."