Jean came close to Burnbrae's side, and watched the Doctor without breathing while he placed the stick against a bush, and put on his eye-glasses with deliberation, and opened out a telegram and read aloud: “'Paris. Your letter found me at last; leave London for home Thursday morning; tell Burnbrae to meet me in Muirtown on Friday. Kilspindie.' “My letter went to Egypt and missed him, but better late than never, Burnbrae... that's a wonderful plant you have there, Mrs. Baxter,” and he turned aside to study a hydrangea Jean had set out in the sun; for with all his pompous and autocratic ways, the Doctor was a gentleman of the old school. When he departed and Jean had settled down, Burnbrae thought it wise to moderate her joy lest it should end in bitter disappointment. “The Doctor hes dune his pairt, and it wes kind o' him tae come up himsel ane's errand tae tell us. Ye didna see his face aifter he read the message, but it wes worth seein'. There 's no a soonder hert in the Glen. “A' kent this thing wudna hae happened gin his Lordship hed been at hame, an' a 'm thinkin he wud dae his best tae repair it. “Maybe he'ill gie's the first chance o' a vacant fairm, but a' doot we maun leave Burn-brae; they say 'at it 's as gude as let tae a Netheraird man.” “Dinna say that, John, for it's no anither fairm, it's Burnbrae a' want. A 'll be watchin' the mornin's evening when ye come up the road, an' a 'll see ye turnin' the corner. Ye 'll wave yir airm tae me gin a' be richt, an' Jean-nie's floors 'ill be back in their beds afore ye be hame.” When Burnbrae appeared at Kildrummie station next morning, Drumtochty, who happened to be there in force on their last Muirtown visit before harvest, compassed him with observances, putting him in the corner seat, and emphasising his territorial designation. “That wes michty news aboot the Sergeant, Burnbrae,” began Jamie Soutar; “it spiled a nicht's sleep tae me readin' hoo he stude ower the Colonel and keepit the Afghans at bay till the regiment rallied. Wes 't four or sax he focht single-handed?” “He barely mentioned the maitter in his letters, but his captain wrote tae the gude wife, which wes rael thochtfu'; he made it sax, an' he said the regiment wes prood o' Sandie.” For an instant Burnbrae drew himself up in his corner, and then he added, “But it's no for his father tae be speakin' this wy. Sandie did naethin' but his duty.” “For doonricht leein',” said Jamie meditatively, “a' never kent the marra (equal) o' thae London papers; they made oot that Sandie wes a hero, and we cleaned the Muirtown book-stall lest Friday a week. A' never saw the Kildrummie train in sic speerits; it's awfu' hoo country fouk are deceived.”