Macleod of Dare

nd her husband waiting

id you like

ffhand. He was afraid

length. "I am not used to these things. I

s said. "It is being written for her, That is very p

believe that such nonsense is real. I looked at the others. What did they

acht race on the Thames to-morrow-we did not think of it till this evening any more than we expected t

hank you very much,"

," Colonel Ross said; "so don't let Ogilvie keep you up t

Lady Beauregard's-surely that is proper enough; and I have to get down by the 'cold-meat' t

wer," Mrs. Ross said, lo

e the arch coquette of this land of gaslight and glowing colors? or like the pale, serious, proud girl who was fond of sketching the elm at Prince's Gate? A strange nervousness possessed him as he thought she might suddenly appear. He did not li

d she will be very pleased to meet y

Ogilvie, confidentially, as they all went downstairs; "for if the yachts should get becalm

t all; we shall spend a happy day at Rosherville, or have a look at the pictures at Greenwich. We sha'n't

to their carria

eod's companion,

ve done noth

ansom and drive along

e. I suppose they won'

ically, as poor wretches like you and me must-to drive to a crush in a hansom than in your own carriage. You don't worry about your horses being ke

e recovered from the slight stumble: and

id-or rather roared, for Piccadilly was full of carri

them in time," was t

lashing lights of the broughams, the brilliant windows, the stepping across the pavement of a strangely dressed dignitary from some foreign land-seemed but some other part of that dream from which he ha

eves, preceded them; and he was greatly pleased by the manner in which these young ladies, on meeting in the great hall an elderly lady who was presumably a person of some distinction, dropped a pretty little old-fashioned courtesy as they shook hands with her. He admired much less the more formal obeisance which he noticed a second after. A royal personage was leaving; and as this lady, who was dressed in mourning, and was leaning on the arm of a gentleman w

of murmuring groups. Still meekly following, Macleod plunged into this throng, and presently found himself being introduced to Lad

e ribbon and the diamond sta

he young gentleman replied-only Macleod could nor tell why

t he called you? That man will be the death of me-for he's always

orical knowledge," Macleod answered, gravely.

fine features, and a simple and calm air which rather impressed him. It is true that at first a thrill of compassion went through him; for he thought that some accident had befallen the poor lady's costume, and that it had fallen down a bit unknow

Princess is looking

very pretty-I never sa

he woman was, or where she lived, or whether her husband had any shooting, or

ng," said he. "We came late. We

d to see her eyes light up with some interest. "She is very clever, is

of hers," Macleod s

hink she would give me a morn

Fund that he dared not confess his ignorance. But it was surely some charitable thin

esitation; but at this moment some other claimant came fo

"who is that lady

hess of

she a

wha

ritable Fund

or a new training ship-turning the young ragamuffi

would give a morning pe

!" said Lieutenant Ogilvie. "I thin

lady as

ng of duchesses and marchionessses-a capital advertisement-and it would be all the more distinguished if it

leod observed, "I don't know how you ever

umber of persons to whom he was introduced, and the remarks his friend made about them. What struck him most, perhaps, was the recurrence of old Highland or Scotch family names, borne by persons who were thoroughly English in thei

nd over all the various candelabra, each bearing a cluster of sparkling and golden stars. But there was something wanted. Was it the noble and silver-haired lady of Castle Dare whom he looked for in vain in that brilliant crowd that moved and murmured before him? Or was it the friendly and familiar face of his cousin Janet, whose eyes he knew, would be filled with a constant wonder if she saw such diamonds, and silks and satins? Or was it that ignis fatuus-that treacherous and m

esented itself to his imagination: the proud-souled enthusiast longing for the wild winter nights and the dark Atlantic seas; the pensive maiden, shuddering to hear the fierce story of Maclean of Lochbuy; the spoiled child, teasing her mamma and petting her canary; the wronged and weeping woman

out the real nature of this girl, whose acquaintance he had just made? It has been observed, however, that young gentlemen do not always betray this

ined unsolved. A fire of impatience and restlessness was burning in his heart; a din as of brazen instrum

d. "Oscar, my lad

d silent it was after the hot glare and whirl of that bewildering night! No living thing was visible. A fresh, sweet air stirred the leaves of the tre

in apparition, for this tall young gentleman with the light top-coat thrown over his evening dress was accompanied by a beautiful collie that kept close to his heels. There was a solitary four-wheeled cab at the foot of the Haymarket; but the man had got insid

f only he knew, and were content. And indeed he looked contented enough, as he wandered on, breathing the cool freshness of the air, and with a warmer light from the east now touching from time to time his sun-tanned face. He went up to Covent Garden-for mere curiosity's sake. He walked along Piccadilly, and thought the el

ly indeed he could see himself standing there in the early light, looking out on the shining waters of the river. They say that wh