Part 8 (1/2)

Standing near us was a gentlehty in appearance, for he was s He held a book in his hand, and on his arhter, for both had blue eyes and fair hair

Dugald and I had started to our feet, and for the life ofaard

'I fear,' I sta But--but ood-bye to Coila We will go at once'

'Stay one entle You have been here before?'

'We are the young M'Crimmans of Coila, sir'

I spoke sadly--I trust not fiercely

'Pardonseemed to tell hter It is no fault of ours--at least, ofago'

'But my father _would_ have made friends with the chief of Strathtoul,' I said

'Yes, and hland prejudices But look, yonder comes a thunder-shower You _must_ stay till it is over'

'I feel, sir,' I said, 'that I a

My father, even, does not knoe are here _He_ has prejudices now, too,'

'Well,' said the officer, laughing, 'hty boys You hter, anyhow

Bother old-fashi+oned blood-feuds! Wein the nineteenth century'

I hesitated a irl, and next ether towards the castle

We did stop to dinner, nor did we think twice about leaving that night

The more I saw of these, our hereditary enemies, the more I liked them

Irene was very like Flora in appearance and e of the world and all its ways She was very beautiful Yes, I have said so already, but soain She looked older than she really was, and taller than irls of fourteen

'Well,' I said in course of the evening, 'it _is_ strangehere'

'It is only the fortune of war our both being here,' said M'Rae

'I wonder,' I added, 'hoill all end!'

'If it would only end as I should wish, it would end very pleasantly indeed But it will not You rite filially and tell your good father of your visit He rite cordially, but sohland blood is very red, and Highland pride is very high Well, at all events, Murdoch M'Crimman--if you will let me call you by your naet your visit, shall we, darling?'

I looked towards Miss M'Rae Her ansas a simple 'No'; but I was much surprised to notice that her eyes were full of tears, which she tried in vain to conceal