They were seated on the bench, upon the little platform, at the top of the ascent which looked down upon the castle. The sound of Mrs. Forrester's voice was quite audible behind in the house, pouring forth a gentle stream. The sun was setting in a sky full of gorgeous purple and golden clouds; the keen air of the hills blowing about them. But Julia was warmly dressed, and only shivered a little out of a sense of what was becoming: and Oona was wrapped in the famous fur cloak. "It is so strange to come upon a place one has heard so much of," Julia resumed. "No doubt you know Lord Erradeen?" The name startled Oona in spite of herself. She was not prepared for any allusion to him. She coloured involuntarily, and gave her companion a look of surprise. "Do you know him?" she asked. "Oh, so well! I have known him almost all my life. People said indeed----" said Julia, breaking off suddenly with a laugh. "But that was nonsense. You know how people talk. Oh, yes, we have been like brother and sister--or if not quite that--at least--Oh yes, I know Walter, and his mother, and everything about him. He has been a little strange since he came here; though indeed I have no reason to say so, for he is always very nice to me. When he came home last year I saw a great deal of him; but I don't think he was very communicative about--what do you call it?--Kinloch----" "He was not here long," Oona said. "No? He did not give himself time to find out how many nice people there are. He did not seem very happy about it when he came back. You see all his habits were formed--it was something so new for him. And though the people are extremely nice, and so hospitable and kind, they were different--from those he had been used to." Oona smiled a little. She did not see her new acquaintance from the best side, and there came into her mind a slightly bitter and astonished reflection that Walter, perhaps, preferred people like _this_ to other--people. It was an altogether incoherent thought. "Does he know that you are here?" she said. "Oh, I don't think he does--but he will soon find me out," said Julia, with an answering smile. "He always tells me everything. We are such old friends, and perhaps something--more. To be sure that is not a thing to talk of; but there is something in your face which is so sweet, which invites confidence. With a little encouragement I believe I should tell you everything I ever did." She leant over Oona as if she would have kissed her: but compliments so broad and easy disconcerted the Highland girl. She withdrew a little from this close contact. "The wind is getting cold," she said. "Perhaps we ought to go in. My mother always blames me for keeping strangers, who are not used to it, in this chilly air." "Ah, you do not encourage me," Julia said. And then after a pause added, with the look of one preoccupied by her subject--"Is he there now?"