’No, no; it’s the two gillies that’s with Mr. Hodson on the loch,’ the innkeeper said. ’And do not you know, Miss, that Ronald is not here at ahl now; he is away at the place in Ross-shire.’ ’Oh yes, I know that well enough,’ she said, ’but my father wrote that he was coming over to see us for a day or two; and he was to be here this morning—and his wife as well. But it is of no consequence. I suppose we had better go in and have lunch now.’ Miss Kerfoot was covertly laughing. But there was a young lad there called Johnnie—a shy lad he was, and he was standing apart from the others, and thus it was that he could see along the road leading down to the Mudal bridge. Something in that direction attracted Johnnie’s attention; he came over and said a word or two to Mr. Murray; the innkeeper went to the gable of the house, so that he could get a look up Tongue way, and then he said— ’Oh yes, I think that will be Ronald.’ ’Don’t you hear?’ said Miss Kerfoot, who was following the others into the inn. ’They say that Ronald is coming right now.’ Miss Carry turned at once, and went to where the inn-keeper was standing. Away along there, and just coming over the bridge, was a dog-cart, with two figures in it. She watched it. By and by it was pulled up in front of the Doctor’s cottage; she guessed that that was Meenie who got down from the vehicle and went into the house; no doubt this was Ronald who was now bringing the dog-cart along to the inn. And then the others were summoned; and presently Ronald had arrived and was being introduced to them; and Miss Carry had forgotten all her impatience, for he looked just as handsome and good-natured and modest-eyed as ever; and it was very clear that Miss Kerfoot was much impressed with the frankness and simplicity of his manner; and the editor strove to be particularly civil; and Mrs. Lalor regarded the new-comer with an obviously approving glance. For they all had heard the story; and they were interested in him, and in his young wife; besides, they did not wish to wound the feelings of this poor invalid creature—and they knew what she thought of Ronald. And how was he to answer all at once these hundred questions about the Ross-shire place, and the house that was building for them, and the farm where he and his wife were temporarily staying? ’Come in and have lunch with us, Ronald,’ said Miss Carry, in her usual frank way, ’and then you will tell us all about it. We were just going in; and it’s on the table.’ ’I cannot do that very well, I thank ye,’ said he, ’for I have to go back to the Doctor’s as soon as I have seen the mare looked after— ’Oh, but I thought you were coming down to the loch with us!’ she said, with very evident disappointment. ’Yes, yes, to be sure!’ said he. ’I’ll be back in a quarter of an hour at the furthest; and then I’ll take one of the lads with me and we’ll have the other boat got out as well.’