“Weel du I un’erstan’ ye, Jeames!” returned the laird with a sigh. “But what wad come o’ yersel’ an’ Aggie wi’oot a place to lay yer heid? We’re no to mak oorsel’s a’ sae ill aff as was the Maister; we maun lea’ that to his wull. Ye wadna hae _her_ luik doon an’ see ye in less comfort nor whan she was wi’ ye!” “Thereanent, sir, I had a word o’ proposal to mak,” rejoined Jeames. “Ye hae nae men noo aboot the place: what for sudna Aggie an’ me come and bide i’ the men’s quarters, and be at han’ to len’ a han’ whan it was wantit? Aggie an’ me wad help to get mair oot o’ the gairden; I wad hae mair time for weyvin’; an’ ye wad get a heap for the bit grun’ frae Lick-my loof. It wadna be an ill muv, I do believe, laird, for aither pairt. Consider o’ ’t, sir.” The laird saw that they might at least be better accommodated at the castle than the cottage. He would consult his son, he said. Cosmo in his turn consulted Aggie, and was satisfied. In the winter the wind blew through the cottage bitterly, she said. As soon as it was settled, Cosmo went to call on his lordship, and was shown into his library. His lordship guessed his errand, for his keen eye had that same morning perceived signs of change about the cottage. He received him with politeness, and begged to know wherein he could serve him. From his changed behaviour Cosmo thought he must be sorry for the way he had spoken to the laird. “My father sent me,” he said, “to inform your lordship that he is now at length in a position to treat with your lordship concerning the proposal to purchase James Gracie’s croft.” “I am greatly obliged to your father,” replied Lord Lick-my-loof, softly wiping one hand with the other, “for his attention, but I have no longer any desire to secure the land. It has been so long denied me, that at length I have grown indifferent to the possession of it. That is a merciful provision of the Creator, that the human mind should have the faculty of accommodating itself to circumstances, even of positive nuisance.” Cosmo rose. “As soon as you have made up your mind,” added his lordship, rising also, “to part with what remains of the property, _including the castle_, I should be glad to have the refusal of that. It would make a picturesque ruin from certain points of view on the estate.” Cosmo bowed, and left his lordship grinning with pleasure. CHAPTER XLIV. ANOTHER HARVEST.