I believed Lady Leighton bold enough for anything, and said so, telling Mrs. Deborah what I had heard in my walk. I did not add what I thought—that Sir Julius had gone away on purpose to leave matters in the hands of his wife. One hesitates before telling a sister that her only brother, the head of her house, is a base coward, even though one may be convinced that she knows as much already. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIV. "AN EARLY SNOW SAVES MUCKLE WOE." IT was two or three days before we heard a word from the Hall. Even my clothes were not sent to me, and I began to think I was to be deprived of them. Meantime a visitor arrived in the shape of Alick Graham, old Elsie's nephew, and Lady Thornyhaugh's servant. He brought Mrs. Deborah a present of moor game, cheeses, and fine wool for her knitting, of his mistress' own spinning, and for Amabel and me each a large soft plaid or mantle, such as were then worn by all classes in Scotland. He would fain have gone at once to the Hall to see his sweet-heart, saying that he had but little time to stay, and, in the language of the old ballad— "He could not come ilka day to woo." But Elsie persuaded him to "bide a wee," as she said, seeing it was not likely that Mary would see him unless she had notice beforehand of his coming, which she (Elsie) would try to send her. They were still arguing the point, when who should appear but Mary herself, with my bundles and some of her own, escorted and assisted by Harry, who, I fancy, would gladly have cut out the handsome young borderer, had it been in his power. I left the two glaring at each other like two dogs, whom prudence or politeness restrains from fighting in the house, and took Mary in to Mrs. Deborah to learn her news. "My lady has sent me away, miss!" sobbed Mary, bursting into tears. "And without a bit of a character, and she called me a thief to my face, me that never touched so much as a pin that did not belong to me, and though Mrs. Wilson herself said she wished every one in the house was as honest as I was." I soothed and comforted Mary as well as I could, and Mrs. Deborah told her she would give her the best of characters, which seemed to afford her a little consolation. "And what of Miss Leighton?" I asked, when Mary had recovered her composure. "How is she?" "Well enough in health, miss, but sad enough in her spirits, as well she may be. My lady taunts and sneers at her from morning till night, and then, there is Lord Bulmer hanging round, and giving orders in the house—who but he?—as though he were its master and more. It's my belief as they mean to compel my poor young lady into a marriage whether or no." "But how can they?" I asked. "Mr. Lethbridge would never lend himself to such business."