The Last of Their Race

xt morning things looked brighter. The sun shone out glor

lock. She sprang up, threw her window open to the sun, and leaned over it for a moment to inhale the delicious breath of the morning. She ha

ogle. Also from that high coign of vantage there was a fascinating view of Ben Voirlich, on whose peak still rested the c

twice to the door, now a

looked terrible tired last night. The General is stil

d of that--an

iarmid and me," answered Margaret proudly. "Now he is askin

. I'll be as quick a

oom she found Malcolm in a tweed knicker-bocker suit, discussing the Loch tr

yway, giving us all points," he said gaily. "I've been up for two hours a

waking up afte

come down to

is taking i

im figure with its slender, well-belted waist, the poise of her head,

t Aunt Jean's in the evening was an unbecoming rag, if you'll excuse me for saying it. You could wear vivid colour

ughed o

rag has been my only evening frock since you went away, a

t pretty clothes! Now, if I were you I'd have

into the habit of paying for my clothes before I

h walking of late, you bet, and see whether Miss Macdougall can fix me up. It's quite obvious that Creagh isn't livable in unless one is provided wi

ostman gets here. I generally walk

way," he said. "What are you to be about? I suppose you h

s gleams of comprehension and of most disconcerting clearness of vision. Dr. Blair says it is most imperative that he should not have a shock of any kind, however small, and in the last y

een us, we have to keep him in the dark

to see it, but it d

"Well, I'll go, and don't keep my luncheon for me. If I want anything I'll drop in at the hotel. It's possible that I

colm, even if you see things you don't like a

here i

at Callander,

lm wh

-handed, isn

n sign cheques, of course, but I banked Mr. Rosme

t me take over the busine

nd took out his cigarette

he was placed, but past experience had shown her the folly of trusting Malcolm in money matter

r, it is all the money that we have to live on

y of them

r at Little Shuan. But these are crofts, t

te, Malcolm proceeded

"I'm stonybroke, Isla. Have I to come to you for the few pence that I shall n

ned where it had

t we have lived on next to nothing at Achree. We haven't bought any butcher's meat hardly, but have had rabbits and fowls and g

ican has paid you shou

he said quite quietly, and he had no idea what fires blazed beneath that calm exterior. "Y

said gloomily. "I must write to Cattanach and tell h

thing about land or est

ll fat billets. Meanwhile, I simply must have a fiver, Isla. I s

vereigns from the little cash-box in the secret drawer. He

m rather building on this American chap. If he's a millionaire I must try and coax him to disburse a little in this direction

of the Americans. She would keep strictly to the letter of their bargain and leave them at Achree in peace. But if her observation was to any purp

ever, while contemplating possible interviews between Malcolm

edside, making himself so charming that the old man was

sheep-track in the district with which he had not been familiar since his boyhood. He came out just below Achree, deciding that he would go on to meet the post first and

and he presented a sharp contrast to his trig and sonsy wife. Indeed, many had wondered how Elspeth had ever come

the world using you?"

d to answer. "I heard ye gae by last nicht--at

for that--eh, Donald? Where are yo

he little hill," ans

reduced rents and what not, there's little left for the poor landlord. You needn't shake your head, my man. We'll th

results. He was neither convinced nor deceived by Malcolm's small hints. He knew him of yore; also Elspeth, having the most

wo ladies, walking together, with shepherds' crooks

. Wherever there was a petticoat Malcolm Mackinnon was inter

e but neatly built, and both wore most workman-like coun

soft and clear, the colour so pale and delicate, without giving the smallest suggestion of ill-health, that he had never seen anything like it. The abundant dark ha

He wondered who they were and whether he dared make any remark as they pas

to detain them. He waited only until they were over the brow of the next little hill, and then he deliberately entered Donald Maclure's pa

te the while, he had the satisfaction of seeing them turn in at the Lodge. Then did an immense content steal over Malcolm Mackinno

d gradually crept up the side of the Loch, and which was about to culminate in a big viaduct over the burn at the lower end of Glenogle. He had not a very keen sense of beauty, but, s

eetings with David, while the letters were handed over. He glanced at them with a sort of careless keenness, an

he bar, hearing all the gossip of the Glen and, incidentally, a

s Macdougall. Have they

t know the story rightly, but that's what they say. She is very quiet and seems sad-like. The other speaks most of the time and is very lively. The old

hether Mr. Rosmead himse

went by with him for the nine o'cl

call at the place as I go up. I have a good eno

f information did not deter Malcolm fr

the thought uppermost in his mind as he approached the door was that, having once caught the millionaire, he might find it worth while to keep him. He determined to make himself, somehow, master of the law of entail in order to discover whether there was any loophole of escape from the disability to sell it. Not in

m that Mr. Rosmead was not at home. Malcolm's sharp eyes noted in the hall beyond

kind as to tell him that Mr. Malcolm Mackinnon from Cre

r," said

r. It was Sadie, who, having heard the name, advanced wit

g her dazzling teeth in her smile. "Won't you come in and have a bit of lunch

be presuming on a very slight acquainta

ust want to have a look at the old place after having been away so long. I've no doubt you are hating us for being

er quarters, she was even more beautiful than he had thought. The still repose of her manner contraste

y sorry to have missed you. He has gone to the Forth Bridge to-day to meet the contractors there and have a talk with them. It seems it is the

s glib compliment to another woman, but there was something about Vivien Rosmead which repelled any attempt at even the slightest familiarity. She held herself aloof, and her mouth, made for

dmiration. He noticed how little she ate and that her eyes had in them a far-away look which seemed to detach her from the common things of life.

en warm flash of interest when Sadie left a moment's breathing spa

e will be only too pleased, I'm

in a hurry that we can never forget it. And

en's eyes grew large and pitiful, mor

e irrepressible. "Everywhere you hear nothing but her praises. Don't you find it a little hard

ful!" said Vivien softly.

als, Mr. Mackinnon, for I'm just like that with my sister. She's so frightfully good that she

eer little bow in the direction of Vivien w

about India. Your British rule in India is so splendid! It stands, just like a great rock, immune from the assaul

w about British rule in India--as lit

you know?--a small--very small spoke in the big wheel. My part was to make forced marches in

with colour and romance, and in Malcolm Mackinnon she pictured to herself a heroic fi

that the son of Achree occupied a lower moral plane than the daughter. Her instinct was very swift a

guest's life in India that he gave her a very highly coloured version of the same, playing up to her for all h

tachment which was almost critical, a servant entered the room with a message which she delivered to Sadie. Since Vivien's return to her mother's h

like very much to see Mr. Mackinnon befo

any excuse, but Sadie jumped up immediatel

ith the beautiful, white-haired old lady who had Vivien's eyes, Sa

dear. Her troubles have quite taken the life out of her. You'll come again, won

amed on him that Malcolm would not have be

urmured certain words which somewhat heightened Sad

y, I think, and all the things they say about

xperience had made wis