’Ah, but we neglected him, pappa, we neglected him; and I worst of any,’ she went on, in that panting, breathless way. ’It was always the same—always thinking of doing something for him, and never doing it. I meant to have written to the innkeeper for his address in Glasgow; but no—that was forgotten too. And then the spliced rod, that George was to have got for me—I wanted Ronald to have the best salmon-rod that America could make—but it was all talking—all talking. Ah, it was never talking with him when he could do us a service—and the other boatmen getting money, of course—and he scarcely a "thank you" when we came away. Why didn’t George get the fishing-rod?——’ ’It’s all right, Carry, darling,’ her father said, whispering to her, ’you lie quiet now, and get well, and you’ll see what a splendid salmon-rod we’ll get for Ronald. Not that it would be of much use to him, you see, when he’s in Glasgow with his books and studies; but it will show him we have not forgotten him. Don’t you trouble about it, now; I will see it is all right; and you will give it to him yourself, if we go over there next spring, to try the salmon-fishing again.’ ’Then you will take George with you, pappa,’ she said, regarding him with her burning eyes. ’Oh yes; and you——’ ’Not me, not me,’ she said, shaking her head. ’I am going away. The Doctor doesn’t know; I know. They have been very kind; but—but—ask them, pappa, not to bother me to take things now—I want to be let alone, now you are here—it will only be for a little while——’ ’Why, what nonsense you talk!’ he said—but his heart was struck with a sudden fear, for these few straggling sentences she had uttered without any appearance of delirium. ’I tell you, you must hasten to get well and strong; for when George and you and I go to Scotland, there will be a great deal of travelling to do. You know we’ve got to fix on that piece of land, and see how it is all to be arranged and managed, so that George will have a comfortable little estate of his own when he comes of age; or maybe, if it is a pretty place, we may be selfish and keep it in our own hands—eh, Carry?—and then, you see, we shall have to have Ronald travel about with us, to give us his advice; and the weather may be bad, you know, you’ll have to brace yourself up. There, now, I’m not going to talk to you any more just now. Lie still and quiet; and mind you do everything the Doctor bids you—why, you to talk like that!—you! I never thought you would give in, Carry: why, even as a schoolgirl you had the pluck of a dozen! Don’t you give in; and you’ll see if we haven’t those two cobles out on Loch Naver before many months are over.’ She shook her head languidly; her eyes were closed now. And he was for slipping out of the room but that she clung to his hand for a moment.