’But there’s another thing, sweetheart,’ said he, rather hopelessly. ’He spoke about it yesterday. Indeed, he put it plain enough. He asked me fairly whether, supposing somebody was to offer me the management of an estate, I could get guarantees—securities for my honesty, in fact; and he even mentioned the sum that would be needed. Well, well, it’s beyond me, my girl—where could I find two people to stand surety for me at £500 apiece?’ She uttered a little cry, and clung closer to him. ’Ronald—Ronald—surely you will not miss such a chance for that—it is a matter of form, isn’t it?—and some one——’ ’But who do I know that has got £500, and that I could ask?’ said he. ’Ay, and two of them. Maybe Lord Ailine might be one—he was always a good friend to me—but two of them—two of them—well, well, good lass, if it has all got to go, we must wait for some other chance.’ ’Yes,’ said Meenie bitterly, ’and this American—he calls himself a friend of yours too—and he wants guarantees for your honesty!’ ’It’s the usual thing, as he said himself,’ Ronald said. ’But don’t be downhearted, my dear. Hopes and disappointments come to every one, and we must meet them like the rest. The world has always something for us—even these few minutes—with your cheeks grown warm again—and the scent of your hair—ay, and your heart as gentle as ever.’ But she was crying a little. ’Ronald—surely—it is not possible this chance should be so near us—and then to be taken away. And can’t I do something? I know the Glengask people will be angry—but—but I would write to Lady Stuart—or if I could only go to her, that would be better—it would be between woman and woman, and surely she would not refuse when she knew how we were placed—and—and it would be something for me to do—for you know you’ve married a pauper bride, Ronald—and I bring you nothing—when even a farmer’s daughter would have her store of napery and a chest of drawers and all that—but couldn’t I do this, Ronald?—I would go and see Lady Stuart—she could not refuse me!’ He laughed lightly; and his hands were clasped round the soft brown hair. ’No, no, no, sweetheart; things will have come to a pretty pass before I would have you exposed to any humiliation of that sort. And why should you be down-hearted? The world is young for both of us. Oh, don’t you be afraid; a man that can use his ten fingers and is willing to work will tumble into something sooner or later; and what is the use of being lovers if we are not to have our constancy tried? No, no; you keep a brave heart: if this chance has to be given up, we’ll fall in with another; and maybe it will be all the more welcome that we have had to wait a little while for it.’ ’A little while, Ronald?’ said she.