And then he turned sharply to his companion. ’Ye’ll not forget what I told you about that dog, Peter?’ ’I will not,’ said the other. ’If I thought that dog was not to be looked after, I would get out my rifle this very minute and put a bullet through his head—though it would cost me £7. Mind what I’ve told ye now; if he’s not fed separate, he’ll starve; he’s that gentle and shy that he’ll not go near the trough when the others are feeding. And a single cross word on the hill will spoil him for the day—mind you tell any strange gentlemen that come up with his lordship—some o’ them keep roaring at dogs as if they were bull-calves. There’s not a better setter in the county of Sutherland than that old Lugar—but he wants civil treatment.’ ’I’ll look after him, never fear, Ronald,’ his companion said. ’And now come away, man. Ye’ve seen to everything; and the mail-gig will be here in half an hour.’ Ronald was still patting the dogs’ heads, and talking to them—he seemed loth to leave them. ’Come away, man,’ his companion urged. ’All the lads are at the inn, and they want to have a parting glass with you. Your sister and every one is there, and everything is ready.’ ’Very well,’ said he, and he turned away rather moodily. But when they were descended from the little plateau into the highway he saw that Meenie Douglas was coming along the road—and rather quickly; and for a minute he hesitated, lest she should have some message for him. ’Oh, Ronald,’ she said, and he hardly noticed that her face was rather pale and anxious, ’I wanted to thank you—I could not let you go away without thanking you—it—it is so beautiful——’ ’I should beg your pardon,’ said he, with his eyes cast down, ’for making use of your short name——’ ’But, Ronald,’ she said very bravely (though after a moment’s hesitation, as if she had to nerve herself), ’whenever you think of any of us here, I hope you will think of me by that name always—and now, good-bye!’ He lifted his eyes to hers for but a second—for but a second only, and yet, perhaps, with some sudden and unforeseen and farewell message on his part, and on hers some swift and not overglad guessing. ’Good-bye!’ They shook hands in silence, and then she turned and went away; and he rejoined his companion and then they went on together. But Meenie did not re-enter the cottage. She stole away down to the river, and lingered by the bridge, listening. For there were faint sounds audible in the still morning air. The mail-cart from the north came rattling along, and crossed the bridge, and went on towards the inn, and again there was silence, but for these faint sounds. And now she could make out the thin echoes of the pipes—no doubt one of the young lads was playing—_Lochiel’s away to France_, perhaps, or _A Thousand Blessings_, for surely no one, on such an occasion, would think of _Macrimmon’s Lament_— _’Macrimmon shall no more return_ _Oh! never, never more return!’_