Part 23 (1/2)

'The best-laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft agley.'”

Then Richards told him all he had done.

The tears stood in General Mackenzie's eyes. ”Richards,” he said, ”I could not have believed such kindness possible. I--I--I can't say another word.”

The meeting between Tom Fairlie and Flora was all that lovers could desire. Mary positively hugged Jack. He was still her boy. I'm not sure she did not shower upon him ”luv and sweet kisses.”

”But, bless me, Jack,” she said, ”how tall you've got! and really you makes poor me feel old.”

Gerty met Jack with a bonnie blush.

Ah! how he longed to take her in his arms and tell her all, and all she had been to him throughout the last two long and eventful years. But no, he would not, dared not. When in a few months' time a s.h.i.+p was once more at his command, he would go quietly away to sea; but he ne'er would speak of love.

For his old Highland pride had come to his rescue. She was rich; _he_ was very poor indeed.

No, it never could be. And so he told Tom, and so he told his sister.

The former laughed at his scruples; the latter thought her brother was right.

Richards and the general were at Grantley Hall and as busy as the traditional bonnet-maker. They had a little secret between them, for neither Jack nor Flora had yet been told of the change in the fortunes of the Grant Mackenzies. It would be such a delightful surprise. And so the two old friends worked away, as merrily as school-boys building a rabbit-hutch, and in a few weeks' time the old place was put to rights, and every nick-nack and every curio and souvenir and picture replaced in the drawing-room, just as it had been in the dear, reckless days of long ago.

But near the finish of the arrangements M'Hearty was invited down and let into the delightful secret, for he it was who should bring Jack and his sister, with Tom, Gerty, and Mary the maid, down to the old place.

”Do you know,” said M'Hearty about a week after this, as he stood with Jack and his sister on the balcony of the priest's drawing-room at Torquay, ”I'm dying to see old Grantley Hall just once again.”

”And I too would like to see it,” sighed Jack, ”if--if I thought Flora could stand it.”

”Oh I think I could.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”_The old dial-stone._”

Page 212.]

”Well, the weather is delightful; why shouldn't we sail round?”

”Agreed,” said Jack; ”we shall.”

They hired a yacht, not a very fast one. There were no _Thistles_ in those days. But she was most clean and comfortable, and the party had favouring winds all the way round, and in due time arrived safely in Lowestoft harbour.