"Annot, my dear, come sit by me," said the sweet young lady, for she knew that Malcolm dearly loved his little niece. Baby was devoted in her attentions to the child, but it all seemed lost upon Malcolm, who was busily engaged in talking to Sir Peter about the cattle and the sheep during the late snow storm. "I lost ten o' my best sheep, Mr. Graham," remarked the old man. "I did na lose ane, Sir Peter," was the answer, and Malcolm dropped many hints which might have been useful, if the old man had not been too indolent to profit by them. The politeness of the household was much taxed by their efforts to entertain their guests; for there were just four subjects of conversation for the four ladies. Lady Catherine discussed household economy; Miss Juliana, her visit to Edinburgh, twenty years ago, an unfailing subject; Miss Winnie, her pet lap-dog, with all his wonderful tricks; and Baby, "The Children of the Abbey," and the "Sorrows of Werter." It was in vain that Mrs. Lindsay tried to divert the channel of conversation to better things; back to the old worn-out sayings and doings of their little world they would come. All the ladies employed themselves in knitting while they talked. Lady Catherine knit stockings for the winter; Miss Juliana mitts innumerable; Miss Winnie, tippets of all sizes; and Baby tidies and mats for parlor and chamber. Knit! knit! knit! talk! talk! talk! Truly a visit from Kennicott Castle was a trial to Christian patience! And then, the darling pets! Miss Juliana's pet cat fought with the master's noble dog; Miss Winnie's lap-dog tried to tear out the eyes of Annot's little kitten; and Baby's parrot screamed night and day, "Polly wants Baby! Polly wants Baby!" Then Miss Juliana's cat must have sweet milk three times a day, and the most delicate pieces of meat cut up very fine; Miss Winnie's lap-dog must be fed upon cream; and Baby's parrot could open her cage-door, and help herself to whatever she liked upon the table. This was great fun to Baby, but disgusting to others, who could not bear a dirty parrot walking over the dinner-plates. Miss Juliana played two old marches, Miss Winnie two old pieces, and Baby three songs exactly. They all attended punctually upon the family devotions, and then Malcolm could pray that all who knelt around that altar should set their affections upon things above, and not on the vain and fleeting things of earth; their frivolity pained him, and the good master tried many ways to do them good. He talked to the ladies about schools for the poor children, and about comforts for their parents. "Dear me!" said Miss Juliana, "Mr. Graham you would na' expect us to stoop to these wild Highlanders; why! they are na' mair than savages!" "And sae they will continue, my dear Madam," ("Madam!" Miss Juliana did not like that,) "if you will na' step forward to their help; and in sic a lonesome place, I should think it would be pleasant wark."