'We'll stand up for old Neil, no matter what happens,' was the upshot of their deliberations; and Elspeth, coming in and out, dried her tears furtively with the corner of her apron. Later in the evening a dog-cart drove up; and Dr. and Mrs. MacGregor alighted. Marjorie ran down into the hall, while the others all clustered about the banisters and looked down. 'Mother,' said Marjorie, with a set face, 'we know about Neil; tell us how things have gone for him to-day.' 'The case is against him, so far,' replied Mrs. MacGregor. A groan burst from upstairs, and Marjorie set her lips tightly. 'What will be done to him?' inquired Tricksy piteously. 'Nothing yet, dear; the case is not finished. He has to go to Edinburgh to be tried; and we hope that something else may be found out before that time.' 'Shall we see him before he goes?' 'No, he will not come back before then.' 'Where is he?' demanded Allan. 'At present he is in the--in the County Jail,' faltered Mrs. MacGregor. 'Poor Neil,' burst from the children. 'He will be kindly treated,' interposed the doctor; 'and it is only until the case comes up in Edinburgh.' The tears rolled over Tricksy's cheeks; and Marjorie turned away and looked out of the window. 'And now,' said the doctor cheerily, 'you must not take the matter tragically yet. We must hope for the best. Neil must stand his trial like a man, and it isn't often that a miscarriage of justice takes place. He will have the very best advice, your father and I will see to that; and you may depend upon it that some fresh evidence will turn up before then, which will show matters in an altogether different light. In the meanwhile you must not go about looking doleful, as though you had made up your minds already that Neil would not be able to show a good case for himself.' It was hard to be cheerful; and the young folk clustered about in melancholy groups until the dog-cart arrived, when the Stewarts unwillingly took their leave, with many promises on both sides to communicate whatever might come to light in the meanwhile. 'Now, Duncan,' said Allan, after the dog-cart had started; 'tell us what has happened?' 'Indeed, Master Allan; it iss ahl ferry unlucky indeed; and it iss ferry sorry I will be for puir Neil and for Mrs. Macdonnell. You will be knowing the night before the robbery wass committed Neil will have been spending the evening with the MacAlisters. He wass expecting a letter; and it will be a stormy evening and the mail steamer will not be coming in till ferry late so that the letters wass not sent away that night, but Neil wass allowed to look among them for his own. There wass a registered letter for the laird; and it come out in the evidence that Neil would see it, and that no one else but only Mr. and Mrs. MacAlister and Neil himself could have peen knowing that it wass there.' 'But what could make them think that Neil would break into the post-office and steal a letter? Neil, of all people!'