Well, these were not very bitter or tragic thoughts; and yet—and yet—there was something wrong. He scarcely knew what it was, but only that the little hamlet—as he returned to it after a long and solitary wandering—did not seem to be the simple and natural and happy place that it used to be. But one thing he was glad of. The second gillie had now arrived from Tongue. Consequently his services would no longer be needed in the coble; he would return to his own ways; and be his own master. And as for companions?—well, Clebrig and he had long been friends. *CHAPTER VI.* *A PROGRAMME.* That same evening little Maggie, having made herself as smart and neat as possible, went along the dark road to the doctor’s house, was admitted, and forthwith passed upstairs to Miss Douglas’s own room. It was an exceedingly small apartment; but on this cold winter night it looked remarkably warm and snug and bright, what with the red peats in the fireplace, and the brilliant little lamp on the table; and it was prettily decorated too, with evidences of feminine care and industry everywhere about. And Meenie herself was there—in her gown of plain blue serge; and apparently she had been busy, for the table was littered with patterns and designs and knitting-needles and what not, while a large mass of blue worsted was round the back of a chair, waiting for the winding. ’Help me to clear the table, Maggie,’ she said good-naturedly, when her visitor entered, ’and then we will get tea over: I declare I have so many things to think of that I am just driven daft.’ And then she said—with some touch of anger— ’Do you know that I saw your brother—on a cold, wet day like this—and he was walking along the road, with his jacket open, and paying no heed at all to the weather? Maggie, why do you not make him take some care of himself? In January—and he goes about as if it were June! How would you like it if he were to catch a bad cold and have to take to his bed? Why do you not make him take care of himself?’ ’He would only laugh at me,’ the little Maggie said ruefully. ’He doesna mind anything. I do my best to get his clothes dried when he comes in wet; but he doesna like to be bothered—especially if he’s writing or reading; he says that a pipe keeps the harm away. I’m sure if you would speak to him, Meenie, he would take a great deal more care.’ ’What, me!’ the girl said—and there was a touch of colour in the pretty refined face; and then she added, with a good-humoured smile, ’No, he would not mind what I said, I know. But it is little matter; for with such a wilful man you can do nothing except by cunning. Do you see the wool there, Maggie?’ She laughed; but the little, red-haired, freckled girl looked rather frightened. ’Oh no, Meenie, I dare not take it,’ she said. ’He would know I had not the money to buy all that wool; and then he would ask; and I should be scolded—