By and by they went back into the coble again, and resumed their patient pursuit; and there is little doubt that by this time Ronald had come to the conclusion that this stranger who had come amongst them was a singularly odd and whimsical person. It was remarkable enough that he should have undertaken this long and solitary journey in order to fish for salmon, and then show himself quite indifferent as to whether he got any or not; and it was scarcely human for any one to betray no disappointment whatever when the first fish caught proved to be a kelt; but it was still stranger that a man rich enough to talk about renting a deer-forest should busy himself with the petty affairs of the very poorest people around. Why, he wanted to know how much Nelly the housemaid could possibly save on her year’s wages; whether she was supposed to lay by something as against her wedding-day; or whether any of the lads about would marry her for her pretty face alone. And when he discovered that Mr. Murray, the innkeeper, was about to give a New Year supper and dance to the lads and lasses of the neighbourhood, he made no scruple about hinting plainly that he would be glad of an invitation to join that festive party. ’Not if I’m going to be anything of a wet blanket,’ he said candidly. ’My dancing days are over, and I’m not much in the way of singing; but I’ll tell them an American story; or I’ll present them with a barrel of whisky—if that will keep the fun going.’ ’I’m sure they’ll be very glad, sir,’ Ronald said, ’if ye just come and look on. When there’s gentlemen at the Lodge, they generally come down to hear the pipes, and the young gentlemen have a dance too.’ ’What night did you say?’ ’Monday next, sir.’