Part 10 (1/2)

”And grandfather, do thou keep out of the way of the widows of Orkney or thou wilt find thyself inside of a marriage ring.”

”Not while thou remains unmarried. Few women would care to look after thy welfare. I am used to it, long before thou had been short-coated, I had to walk thee to sleep in my arms.”

”Yes,” laughed Sunna, ”I remember that. I felt myself safest with thee.”

”Thou remembers nothing of the kind. At six months old, thou could neither compare nor remember.”

”But thou art mistaken. I was born with perfect senses. Ere I was twenty-four hours old, I had selected thee as the most suitable person to walk me to sleep. I think that was a proof of my perfect intelligence. One thing more, and then I will let thee read. I am going to marry Boris Ragnor, and then the widow Brodie would--take charge of thee.” She shut the door to these words and Adam heard her laughing all the way to her own room. Then he rubbed his hand slowly over and over his mouth and said to himself--”She shall have her say-so; Boris is the only man on the Islands who can manage her.”

After the departure of the Vedders, Rahal and her sister Brodie went upstairs, taking Thora with them. She went cheerfully though a little reluctantly. She liked to hear Ian talk. She had thought of asking him to sing; but she was satisfied with the one straight, long look which flashed between them, as Ian bid her ”good night”; for--

He looked at her as a lover can; She looked at him as one who awakes, The past was a sleep and her life began.

Then she went to her room, and thought of Ian until she fell asleep and dreamed of him.

For nearly two hours Ian remained with Conall Ragnor. The Railway Mania was then at its height in England, and the older man was delighted with Ian's daring stories of its mad excitement. Ian had seen and talked with Hudson, the draper's clerk, who had just purchased a fine ducal residence and estate from the results of his reckless speculations. Ian knew all the Scotch lines, he had even full faith in the _Caledonian_ when it was first proposed and could hardly win any attention. ”Every one said a railway between England and Scotland would not pay, Mr. Ragnor,” said Ian.

”I would have said very different,” replied Conall. ”It would be certain to pay. Why not?”

”Because there would be _no returns_,” laughed Ian, and then Conall laughed also, and wished that Boris had been there to learn whatever Ian might teach him.

”Hast thou speculated in railway stock yet,” he asked.

”No, sir. I have not had the money to do so.”

”How would thou buy if thou had?”

”I would buy when no one else was buying, and when everyone else was buying, I would keep cool, and sell. A very old and clever speculator gave me that advice as a steady rule, saying it was 'his only guide.'”

This was the tenor of the men's conversation until near midnight, and then Ragnor went with Ian to the door of his room and bid him a frank and friendly good night. And as he stood a moment handfast with the youth, his conscience troubled him a little and he said: ”Ian, Ian, thou art a wise lad about this world's business, but thou must not be forgetting that there is another world after this.”

”I do not forget that, sir.”

”Bishop Hedley is a greater and wiser man than all the railway nabobs thou hast spoken of.”

”I think so, sir! I do indeed!” and the mutual smile and nod that followed required no further ”good night.”

It was a lovely, silent night. The very houses looked as if they were asleep; and there was not a sound either in the town on the brown pier or the moonlit sea. It was a night full of the tranquillity of G.o.d.

Men and women looked into its peace, and carried its charm into their dreams. For most fine spirits that dwell by the sea have an elemental sympathy with strange oracles and dreams and old Night. In the morning, Conall Ragnor was the first to awaken. He went at once to fling open his window. Then he cried out in amazement and wonder, and awakened his wife:--

”Rahal! Rahal!” he shouted. ”Come here! Come quick! Look at the town!

It is hung with flags. The s.h.i.+ps in the harbour--flying are their flags also! And there is a s.h.i.+p just entering the harbour and her colours are flying! And there are the guns! They are saluting her from the garrison! It must be a man-of-war! I wonder if the Queen is coming to see us at last! If thou art ready, call Thora and Barbara.

Something is up! Thou may hear the town now, all tip-on-top with excitement!”

”Why did not thou call us sooner, Coll?”

”I slept late and long.”