But what must have been the Laird’s surprise when he found that it was his own health that was being proposed! And that not in the manner of the formal oratory that the Laird admired, but in a very simple and straightforward speech, that had just a touch of personal and earnest feeling in it. For the young Doctor spoke of the long days and nights we had spent together, far away from human ken; and how intimately associated people became on board ship; and how thoroughly one could learn to know and love a particular character through being brought into such close relationship. And he said that friendships thus formed in a week or a month might last for a lifetime. And he could not say much, before the very face of the Laird, about all those qualities which had gained for him something more than our esteem—qualities especially valuable on board ship—good humour, patience, courtesy, light-heartedness—— "Bless me," cried the Laird, interrupting the speaker in defiance of all the laws that govern public oratory, "I maun stop this—I maun stop this! Are ye all come together to make fun of me—eh? Have a care—have a care!" He looked round threateningly; and his eye lighted with a darker warning on Mary Avon. "That lass, too," said he; "and I thought her a friend of mine; and she has come to make a fool of me like the rest! And so ye want to make me the Homesh o’ this boat? Well, I may be a foolish old man; but my eyes are open. I know what is going on. Come here, my lass, until I tell ye something." Mary Avon went and took the seat next him; and he put his hand gently on her shoulder. "Young people will have their laugh and their joke," said he. "It was no joke at all!" said she warmly. "Whisht, now. I say young people will have their laugh and their joke at a foolish old man; and who is to prevent them? Not me. But I’ll tell ye what: ye may have your sport of me, on one condition." He patted her once or twice on the shoulder, just as if she was a child. "And the condition is this, my lass—that ye have the wedding at Denny-mains." *CHAPTER XIV.* *THE EQUINOCTIALS AT LAST.*