’Ronald wants you to start off salmon-fishing to-morrow, in a boat all to yourself— ’Alone?’ ’Why, no! He says he will go with you, and one of the lads; and you will have all the best advice and experience—I don’t think it’s fair, myself—but it’s very good-natured anyhow——’ ’And do you think there’s a chance of my catching a salmon?’ she said eagerly, and she turned her eloquent black eyes, all lit up with pleasure, full upon him. ’Oh yes, indeed,’ said he, looking down, ’and many and many a one, I am sure, if we could only get a little wet weather.’ ’My!’ she exclaimed. ’If I caught a salmon, I’d have it stuffed right away——’ ’With sage and onions, I suppose,’ her father said severely. ’And we begin to-morrow? Why, it’s just too delightful—I was looking forward to days and days indoors, with nothing but books. And I shall really have a chance?——’ ’I think you might as well thank Ronald for his offer,’ her father said. ’I should never have thought of it.’ Well, she hesitated; for it is a difficult thing to make a formal little speech when it is asked for by a third person; but the young keeper quickly laughed away her embarrassment. ’No, no, sir; we’ll wait for that till we see how our luck turns out. And we’ll have the Duke’s boat, mind, that Duncan says is the lucky one; you’ll have to look sharp, sir, or we’ll have the biggest show on the grass at the end of the day.’ Mr. Hodson now rose to take his leave, for he wanted his daughter to walk down to the shores of the loch where they were next day to begin their labours. And thus it was that Miss Carry—who had looked forward at the most to sitting in the boat with her father and looking on—found herself pledged to a course of salmon-fishing, under the immediate guidance and instruction of the young keeper; and she had noticed that he had already talked of the occupants of the Duke’s boat as ’we’—assuming that he and she were in a sort of partnership, and pitted against the others. Well, it would be amusing, she thought. She also considered that he was very good-looking; and that it would be pleasanter to have a companion of that kind than a surly old boatman. She imagined they might easily become excellent friends—at least, she was willing enough; and he seemed civil and good-humoured and modest; and altogether the arrangement promised to work very well. *CHAPTER XIV.* *’ABOUT ILLINOIS.’* There was a good deal of bustle in the inn next morning; Ronald busy with the fishing-tackle for the second boat; luncheon being got ready for six; and the gillies fighting as to which party should have the landing-net and which the clip. In the midst of all this Miss Carry—looking very smart in her Highland costume, Tam o’ Shanter and all—came placidly in to breakfast, and as she sate down she said— ’Pappa dear, I met such a pretty girl.’ ’Have you been out?’ he asked.