“Effie!” cried Margaret, completely roused, so great was her surprise. “Oh! but it was always--it was never--Effie--” Here she made a pause, bewildered, and caught Mr. St. John’s eye. “Oh, I beg your pardon,” she cried, with a sudden blush; “I--don’t know about architecture. I have not had--very much education,” she answered, looking piteously at her sisters for aid. “Oh, dearest Jean! I think I must really go and tell Mr. St. John--” “Hold your tongue!” said Mrs. Bellingham, holding her sister fast by her dress; “let the child make it out for herself. Do you think they mind about her education? Who cares for education? Men always like a girl to know nothing. Just keep out of the way and stop meddling.” This aside was inaudible to the group round the fire; though Mr. St. John’s admirable enunciation made all he said quite distinct to them, and Mrs. Bellingham’s sharp ears were very conscious of Aubrey’s whispering--which was ill-bred, but of no effect--on the other side of Margaret’s chair. Mr. St. John gave a little laugh of respectful derision and flattery. “In the present age of learned ladies it is quite a relief to hear such a statement,” he said, “though I should not like to trust in your want of education. But this country is very rich architecturally, and I should be delighted to offer my humble services as cicerone. I should like to convert you to the pure English Elizabethan--” “It must have been Miss Effie,” said Aubrey; “who else? for Aunt Grace, though charming-- And it stands to reason that a man who says he has gone to a certain place for fishing, yet never touches a rod, must have ulterior motives. And Aunt Jean is of opinion that these two would make a very pretty pair.” Why Aubrey said this it would be hard to tell; whether from malice, as meaning to prick her into annoyance, or whether out of simple mischief, anyhow it roused Margaret. “Oh, I do not know if Jean would care-- I am sure you are--very kind,” she said, vacantly, to Mr. St. John; then more rapidly to the other hand: “I am almost sure you are mistaken. Neither Jean nor Effie knew Randal--that is, to call knowing; he was--quite a stranger. I don’t think he knew Effie at all.” “These are just the most favorable circumstances for a flirtation,” said Aubrey; “but look, they are all on the alert, and Aunt Jean is making signs to me. It is evident they mean you to talk to _him_, not me. When he goes away, let us return to Miss Effie and the man at Killin.” “Oh, I don’t want to talk about them!” cried Margaret--here at least there was nothing to make her shrink from Jean’s inspection; she said this quite out loud, so that all the company heard. Because she had one thing to conceal, was it not natural that she should take particular pains to show that there was nothing to conceal? She did not want any one to whisper to her. And there was besides, there could be no doubt, a certain tone of pique and provoked annoyance in Margaret’s voice.