And by this time he was walking up and down the room; and he continued— ’No; I shall go round to-morrow afternoon, when we come back from the fishing. And look here, Ronald; this is what I want you to do; you must get the other boat down to the lake—and you will go in that one—and get another lad or two—I will pay them anything they want. I can’t have my overseer acting as gillie, don’t you see—if I am going to talk with his mother-in-law; you must get out the other boat; and if you catch a salmon or two, just you send them along to the Doctor, with your compliments—do you hear, your compliments, not mine. Now——’ ’And I have not a word of thanks!’ Ronald exclaimed. ’My head is just bewildered——’ ’Say, now,’ the American continued quietly—in fact, he seemed to be considering his finger-nails more than anything else, as he walked up and down the room—’say, now, what do you think the Doctor’s income amounts to in the year? Not much? Two hundred pounds with all expenses paid?’ ’I really don’t know,’ Ronald said—not understanding the drift of this question. ’Not three hundred, anyway?’ ’I’m sure I don’t know.’ ’Ah. Well, now, I’ve got to talk to that old lady to-morrow about the prospects of her son-in-law—though she don’t know she has got one,’ Mr. Hodson was saying—half to himself, as it were. ’I suppose she’ll jump on me when I begin. But there’s one thing. If I can’t convince her with four hundred a year, I’ll try her with five—and Carry shall kiss me the difference.’ *CHAPTER XVI.* *THE FACTOR OF BALNAVRAIN.*