Meanwhile, the news of the approaching arrival had a very great effect in Sauchiehall Road, whither Mr. Rowland had written directing that Marion and Archie should proceed to Rosmore on Tuesday, to be there when he arrived with his wife. “You can go down in the morning,” he wrote, “and tell the housekeeper we shall be at home for dinner. Nothing more than this will be needed, she will know what to do. You can occupy the rooms you preferred when you were at Rosmore with me, but with this reservation, that Mrs. Rowland may make other arrangements when she comes.” This perhaps was not a very judicious way of presenting his wife to his children, but few men are judicious in this particular. He intended that they should understand at once that Evelyn was sovereign mistress of the house. “Mrs. Rowland,” said Aunty Jane, “and the housekeeper!” her voice sank below her breath in apparent awe, but this was only the cloak of other emotions. “Oh, the ingratitude,” she cried, “of men--though many and many a time has he thankit me for being so good to you bairns, that have been like my ain. And now he has gotten a housekeeper, and never even offered me the place: there is nae gratitude in men.” “You the place--of the housekeeper? She’s just a servant,” said Marion. “And what am I but just a servant? I’ve been ane, ye needna deny’t, to you: it’s been aye your pleasure that has been followed, no mine: and I was a servant lass before I was married, and thought no shame. No: I have nane of your silly pride about words. A housekeeper with a good wage and a good house behind her, and the command of all the orders, is a very responsible person. He might at least have given me the offer, and I would have thought it no discredit. It would have been a grand provision for me at my age.” “I would never have consented,” said Archie, for once taking the first word. “A servant in my father’s house!” “Nor me,” said Marion, “it’s just out of the question. I would never have spoken to him if he had dared to offer that to you.” “I would have thought it nae discredit,” said Mrs. Brown. “And ye’ll maybe, with all your pride, tell me what’s to become of me now? It’s little, very little, I have laid away. My heart was aye set on to do ye full justice. A’ my young days ye have had the best of them. I’ve seen many a good place go past me, and even a good man, but I would never gie up my trust; and now ye are going away without a tear in your e’e, or a word in your mouth for your auld aunty--that was just too faithful to you. And I’ll have to take a place somegate for my living. He might have given me the offer at the least.” “If you think my father will leave you without a provision,” said Archie----