’I see your brother’s position well enough, Mr. Strang,’ said he. ’I can understand his diffidence; and it is but right that he should be anxious not to give the envious and ill-natured a chance of talking. He is willing to let the ceremony take place in his house, because you are his brother. If I were you, I would rather have it take place anywhere else—both as being fairer to him, and as being more likely to ensure secrecy, which you seem to think necessary.’ Ronald’s face burned red: should he have to ask Meenie to come to his humble lodgings, with the wondering, and perhaps discontented and suspicious, landlady, as sole on-looker? ’Well, now,’ the young preacher continued, ’when I come to Glasgow, there are two old maiden aunts of mine who are good enough to put me up. They live in Rose Street, Garnethill; and they’re very kind old people. Now I shouldn’t wonder at all if they took it into their head to befriend the young lady on this occasion—I mean, if you will allow me to mention the circumstances to them; indeed, I am sure they would; probably they would be delighted; indeed I can imagine their experiencing a fearful joy on finding this piece of romance suddenly tumbling into the middle of their prim and methodical lives. The dear old creatures!—I will answer for them. I will talk to them as soon as I get home now. And do you think you could persuade Miss Douglas to call on them?’ Ronald hesitated. ’If they were to send her a message, perhaps——’ ’When are you likely to see her?’ ’To-morrow morning, at eleven,’ he said promptly. ’Very well. I will get one of the old ladies to write a little note to Miss Douglas; and I will post it to you to-night; and to-morrow morning, if she is so inclined, bring her along and introduce yourself and her—will you? I shall be there, so there won’t be any awkwardness; and I would not hurry you, but I’ve to get back to Airdrie to-morrow afternoon. Is it a bargain?’ ’So far as I am concerned—yes; and many thanks to ye,’ Ronald said, as he bade his companion good-bye and went away home to his solitary lodgings. But when, the next morning, in Randolph Terrace—and after he had rapidly told her all that had happened—he suggested that she should there and then go along and call on the Misses Mannering, Meenie started back in a kind of fright, and a flush of embarrassment overspread her face. And why—why—he asked, in wonder. ’Oh, Ronald,’ she said, glancing hurriedly at her costume, ’these—these are the first of your friends you have asked me to go to see, and do you think I could go like _this_?’ ’_This_’ meant that she had on a plain and serviceable ulster, a smart little hat with a ptarmigan’s wing on it, a pair of not over-new gloves, and so forth. Ronald was amazed. He considered that Meenie was always a wonder of neatness and symmetry, no matter how she was attired. And to think that any one might find fault with her!