"How’s Kitty? We haven’t seen her for a long time," she said as they began to pace to and fro on the platform--objects of much interest of a significant kind to those who knew them. "Kitty’s alone, but when are you coming to Garrion? Aunt Betty is always asking why you don’t come." "That’s easily answered. It’s five miles to Garrion, and I haven’t either a horse or a bicycle; but tell Lady Betty I’ll walk over one of these days." "You needn’t do that, Isla--and very well you know it. All you have to do is to say the word, and the best bit of horse-flesh in Garrion stables is at your command." "I haven’t much time," she said rather quickly. "Father seems to need me more of late, and----" She hesitated, and then came to a stop, deciding that she would not just yet mention a word about Malcolm’s coming home. It was not that she could not trust Neil Drummond, but the shame of that home-coming held her back from speaking of it even to a friend of such long standing. "It is very unusual for you to go to Glasgow, isn’t it?" said Neil, looking down with a slightly rueful expression at the bonnie, winsome face by his side. "It is very unusual. Last night father had a letter from Mr. Cattanach, which we found rather difficult to answer, so I came to the conclusion that it might save further complications if I went up and had a talk with him about it." "Well, if that’s all, you can come and lunch with me, can’t you? St. Enoch’s Hotel, one sharp. I’m only after a horse. It won’t take me more than an hour." Isla hesitated, but finally promised. "I must get the two-ten train, and if anything happens to prevent me from keeping the appointment, don’t wait. I’ll be there at one if I’m coming." "All right," said Drummond joyfully. "This is a red-letter day--and no mistake. Shows that a fellow never knows when his next bit of good luck is going to turn up." He looked so young and boyish at the moment that Isla suddenly smiled upon him. "What a boy you are, Neil! I don’t believe anything will ever make you grow up. Even being Laird of Garrion hasn’t had the smallest effect. Here’s the train. Now I warn you I won’t speak to you on the journey, because I have heaps and heaps of things to arrange in my mind. Remember, I’m going to a lawyer’s office, and nobody goes there unprepared." "All right. So long as I am sitting next to you, and preventing anybody else from speaking to you, I shan’t grumble," said Neil calmly as he helped her into a corner of the third-class carriage. He had a first-class ticket himself, which he carefully hid from her. Had he dared he would have paid the difference for the privilege of having a compartment to themselves, but Isla would not have permitted that.