We do not mean to palliate or defend the indecision--change of love and regard--on the part of Roland Lindsay; but Hester had been from his earliest years so much of a younger sister to him, that, though loving, winning, and gentle, this golden-haired girl, with all her _espièglerie_, her bold little speeches, and pretty touches and tricks of manner, came as a new experience to him; and for the present certainly, to all appearance, had enslaved and bewildered him, dazzling his fancy to say the least of it. Despite all her efforts, Hester, if she completely controlled her manner, could not conceal her pain; thus her eyes seemed dull, even sunken, and harsh lines marred the usual sweetness of her lips. If Roland noted these signs, he strove to ignore them. Annot had artfully instilled some petty jealous suspicions of young Skene of Dunnimarle in Roland's mind, and he sought mentally to make these a kind of apology to himself, while seeming indifferent to what the girl might suffer, even when her presence (despite the arrangement for secrecy she had overheard) scarcely at times interfered with the _sotto voce_ babble of their lover-like but inane conversation. To Hester it seemed as if she was in a bad dream, but 'It was no dream, and she was desolate.' CHAPTER IX. THE OLD LOVE AND THE NEW. So Roland Lindsay was engaged to Annot Drummond. Hester could have no doubt about that when she saw the ring upon her mystic finger; and she supposed rightly that till he could ascertain definitely 'how the land lay' at Earlshaugh nothing further was arranged, and at last, to her supreme satisfaction--an emotion she once never thought to feel, so far as Roland was concerned--the day of his departure for Fifeshire came. 'I must turn up at Earlshaugh now,' said he, when the last evening came. 'I have asked Jack Elliot, Skene, and one or two other fellows, over for the covert shooting; and also, I suppose, I shall have to give my attention to Mr. Hawkey Sharpe in the matters of subsoil and drainage, mangold wurzel, and all that sort of thing.' 'I don't think he will trouble you much on these matters,' said Sir Harry dryly. 'Why, uncle?' 'You will find that he deems them his own peculiar province and _interest_ too,' replied Sir Harry, with a lowering expression of eye; and that his once jolly old uncle's manner was now somewhat cool to him Roland was unpleasantly sensible: and when the evening drew on, and, knowing that he would depart betimes in the morning, he had to bid Hester farewell, something of regret--even remorse--came across his mind. He suspected too surely all she had been led to hope of him in the past--the love he could not give her now, at least; and he strove to affect a light bearing to her, and appear his old _insouciant_ self, while thinking over Annot's instilled suspicions.