第6章
Shereceivedhimwithanaffectationofpatronage，asifshehadlatelybecomeuneasilyconsciousofbeinginacountrywherethereweredistinctionsofclass。Shewasyoung，pretty，andtastefullydressed；thenationalfeminineadaptabilityhadnot，however，extendedtohervoiceandaccent。BothwerestronglySouthwestern，andasshebegantospeaksheseemedtolosehermomentaryaffectation。
"Itwasmightygoodofyoutocomeandseeme，forthefactis，I
didn"tadmiregoingtoyourconsulate——notonebit。Yousee，I"maSoutherngirl，andneverwas"reconstructed"either。Idon"thankerafteryourGov"ment。Ihaven"trecognizedit，anddon"twantto。IreckonIain"tbeenundertheflagsincethewah。Soyousee，Ihaven"tanypaperstogetauthenticated，noranycertificatestoaskfor，andain"twantinganyadviceorprotection。IthoughtI"dbefairandsquarewithyoufromtheword"go。""
Nothingcouldbemorefascinatingandinfectiousthanthemirthfulingenuousnesswhichaccompaniedandseemedtomitigatethisungraciousspeech，andtheconsulwasgreatlyamused，albeitconsciousthatitwasonlyanattitude，andperhapssomewhatworninsentiment。Heknewthatduringthewaroftherebellion，anddirectlyafterit，GreatBritainwastheresortofcertainAmericansfromtheWestaswellasfromtheSouthwhosoughtsocialdistinctionbytheaffectationofdissatisfactionwiththeirowngovernmentortheostentatioussimulationofenforcedexile；buthewasquiteunpreparedforthissenselessprotractionofdeadandgoneissues。Heventuredtopointoutwithgood-humoredpracticalitythatseveralyearshadelapsedsincethewar，thattheSouthandNorthwerehonorablyreconciled，andthathewaslegallysupposedtorepresentKentuckyaswellasNewYork。"Yourfriends，"headdedsmilingly，"Mr。CusterandMr。McHulish，seemedtoacceptthefactwithoutanyposthumoussentiment。”
"Idon"tgomuchonthat，"shesaidwithalaugh。"I"vebeenlivinginParistillmaw——who"slyingdownupstairs——cameoverandbroughtmeacrosstoEnglandforalookaround。AndIreckonMalcolm"sgottokeeptouchwithyouonaccountofhisproperty。”
Theconsulsmiled。"Ah，then，IhopeyoucantellmesomethingaboutTHAT，forIreallydon"tknowwhetherhehasestablishedhisclaimornot。”
"Why，"returnedthegirlwithnaiveastonishment，"thatwasjustwhatIwasgoingtoaskYOU。Hereckonedyou"dknowallaboutit。”
"Ihaven"theardanythingoftheclaimfortwomonths，"saidtheconsul；"butfromyourreferencetohimas"SirMalcolm，"I
presumedyouconsidereditsettled。Though，ofcourse，eventhenhewouldn"tbe"SirMalcolm，"andyoumighthavemeantsomebodyelse。”
"Well，then，LordMalcolm——Ican"tgetthehangofthosetitlesyet。”
"Neither"Lord"nor"Sir"；youknowtheestatecarriesnotitlewhateverwithit，"saidtheconsulsmilingly。
"Butwouldn"thebethelairdofsomethingorother，youknow？"
"Yes；butthatisonlyaScotchdescription，notatitle。It"snotthesameasLord。”
Theyounggirllookedathimwithundisguisedastonishment。Ahalflaughtwitchedthecornersofhermouth。"Areyousure？"shesaid。
"Perfectly，"returnedtheconsul，alittleimpatiently；"butdoI
understandthatyoureallyknownothingmoreoftheprogressoftheclaim？"
MissKirkby，stillabstractedbysomehumorousastonishment，saidquickly:"Waitaminute。I"lljustrunupandseeifmaw"scomingdown。She"dadmiretoseeyou。”Thenshestopped，hesitated，andassheroseadded，"Thenalaird"swifewouldn"tbeLadyanything，anyway，wouldshe？"
"Shecertainlywouldacquirenotitlemerelythroughhermarriage。”
Theyounggirllaughedagain，nodded，anddisappeared。Theconsul，amusedyetsomewhatperplexedoverthenaivebrusquenessoftheinterview，waitedpatiently。Presentlyshereturned，alittleoutofbreath，butapparentlystillenjoyingsomefacetiousretrospect，andsaid，"Mawwillbedownsoon。”Afterapause，fixingherbrighteyesmischievouslyontheconsul，shecontinued:——
"DidyouseemuchofMalcolm？"
"Isawhimonlyonce。”
"Whatdidyouthinkofhim？"
Theconsulinsobriefaperiodhadbeenunabletojudge。
"Youwouldn"tthinkIwashalfengagedtohim，wouldyou？"
TheconsulwasobligedagaintoprotestthatinsoshortaninterviewhehadbeenunabletoconceiveofMalcolm"sgoodfortune。
"Iknowwhatyoumean，"saidthegirllightly。"Youthinkhe"sacrank。Butit"sallovernow；theengagement"soff。”
"Itrustthatthisdoesnotmeanthatyoudoubthissuccess？"
Theladyshruggedhershouldersdisdainfully。"That"sallrightenough，Ireckon。There"sahundredthousanddollarsinthesyndicate。Mawputintwentythousand，andCuster"sboundtomakeitgo——particularlyasthere"ssometalkofacompromise。ButMalcolm"sacrank，andIreckonifitwasn"tforthecompromisethesyndicatewouldn"thavemuchshow。Why，hedidn"tevenknowthattheMcHulisheshadnotitle。”
"Doyouthinkhehasbeensufferingunderadelusioninregardtohisrelationship？"
"No；hewasonlyafoolinthewayhewantedtoproveit。Heactuallygottheseboystothinkitcouldbefilibusteredintohispossession。Hadasortofideaof"arisingintheHighlands，"youknow，likethatpoemorpicture——whichisit？Andthosefoolboys，andCusteramongthem，thoughtitwouldbegreatfunandagreatspree。Luckily，mawhadthegumptiontogetWatsontowriteoveraboutittooneofhisfriends，aMr——Mr——MacFen，averyprominentman。”
"PerhapsyoumeanSirJamesMacFen，"suggestedtheconsul。"He"saknight。AndwhatdidHEsay？"headdedeagerly。
"Oh，hewroteamostsensibleletter，"returnedthelady，apparentlymollifiedbythetitleofWatson"sadviser，"sayingthattherewaslittledoubt，ifany，thatiftheAmericanMcHulisheswantedtheoldestatetheycouldgetitbytheexpenditureofalittlecapital。Heofferedtomakethetrial；thatwasthecompromisethey"retalkingabout。Buthedidn"tsayanythingabouttherebeingno"Lord"
McHulish。”
"Perhapshethought，asyouwereAmericans，youdidn"tcareforTHAT，"saidtheconsuldryly。
"That"snoreasonwhyweshouldn"thaveitifitbelongedtous，orwechosetopayforit，"saidtheladypertly。
"ThenyourchangedpersonalrelationswithMr。McHulishisthereasonwhyyouhearsolittleofhisprogressorhisexpectations？"
"Yes；buthedon"tknowthattheyarechanged，forwehaven"tseenhimsincewe"vebeenhere，althoughtheysayhe"shere，andhidingsomewhereabout。”
"Whyshouldhebehiding？"
Theyounggirlliftedherprettybrows。"Maybehethinksit"smysterious。Didn"tItellyouhewasacrank？"Yetshelaughedsonaively，andwithsuchsublimeunconsciousnessofanyreflectiononherself，thattheconsulwasobligedtosmiletoo。
"Youcertainlydonotseemtobebreakingyourheartaswellasyourengagement，"hesaid。
"Notmuch——butherecomesmaw。Lookhere，"shesaid，turningsuddenlyandcoaxinglyuponhim，"ifsheasksyoutocomealongwithusupnorth，you"llcome，won"tyou？Do!Itwillbesuchfun!"
"Upnorth？"repeatedtheconsulinterrogatively。
"Yes；toseetheproperty。Here"smaw。”
Amorelanguidbutequallywell-appointedwomanhadenteredtheroom。Whentheceremonyofintroductionwasover，sheturnedtoherdaughterandsaid，"Runaway，dear，whileItalkbusinesswith——
er——thisgentleman，"and，asthegirlwithdrewlaughingly，shehalfstifledareminiscentyawn，andraisedherheavylidstotheconsul。
"You"vehadatalkwithmyElsie？"
Theconsulconfessedtohavinghadthatpleasure。
"Shespeakshermind，"saidMrs。Kirkbywearily，"butshemeanswell，andforallherflightinessherhead"slevel。Andsinceherfatherdiedsherunsme，"shecontinuedwithaslightlaugh。Afterapause，sheaddedabstractedly，"IsupposeshetoldyouofherengagementtoyoungMcHulish？"
"Yes；butshesaidshehadbrokenit。”
Mrs。Kirkbyliftedhereyebrowswithanexpressionofrelief。"Itwasapieceofgirlandboyfoolishness，anyway，"shesaid。"ElsieandhewerechildrentogetheratMacCorkleville，——secondcousins，infact，——andIreckonhegotherfancyexcitedoverhisnobility，andhisbeingthechiefoftheMcHulishes。OfcourseCusterwillmanagetogetsomethingfortheshareholdersoutofit，——Ineverknewhimtofailinamoneyspeculationyet，——butIthinkthat"saboutall。IhadanideaofgoingupwithElsietotakealookattheproperty，andIthoughtofaskingyoutojoinus。DidElsietellyou？Iknowshe"dlikeit——andsowouldI。”
Forallherindolent，purposelessmanner，therewasenoughlatentsincerityandearnestnessinherrequesttointeresttheconsul。
Besides，hisowncuriosityinregardtothissingularlysupportedclaimwasexcited，andhereseemedtobeanopportunityofsatisfyingit。Hewasnotquitesure，either，thathispreviousantagonismtohisfaircountrywoman"sapparentselfishnessandsnobberywasentirelyjust。HehadbeenabsentfromAmericaalongtime；perhapsitwashehimselfwhohadchanged，andlosttouchwithhiscompatriots。AndyetthedemonstrativeindependenceandrecklessnessofmenlikeCusterwerelessobjectionableto，andlessinconsistentwith，hisAmericanideasthanthesnobbishnessandalmostservileadaptabilityofthewomen。Orwasitpossiblethatitwasonlyaweaknessofthesex，whichnorepublicannativityoreducationcouldeliminate？Neverthelesshelookedupsmilingly。
"Butthepropertyis，Iunderstand，scatteredaboutinvariousplaces，"hesaid。
"Oh，butwemeantogoonlytoKelpieIsland，wherethereistheruinofanoldcastle。Elsiemustseethat。”
Theconsulthoughtitmightbeamusing。"Byallmeansletusseethat。Ishallbedelightedtogowithyou。”
Hisreadyandunqualifiedassentappearedtorelieveanddissipatethelady"sabstraction。Shebecamemorenaturalandconfiding；
spokefreelyofMalcolm"smania，whichsheseemedtoacceptasahallucinationoraconvictionwithequalcheerfulness，and，inbrief，convincedtheconsulthatherconnectionwiththeschemewasonlythecapriceofinexperiencedandunaccustomedidleness。Helefther，promisingtoreturnthenextdayandarrangefortheirearlydeparture。
HiswayhomelaythroughoneofthepublicsquaresofSt。
Kentigern，atanhouroftheafternoonwhenitwascrossedbyworkingmenandwomenreturningtotheirquartersfromthedocksandfactories。Neverinanylightapicturesqueorevencheeryprocession，thereweredayswhenitsunwholesome，monotonouspovertyanddullhopelessnessofprospectimpressedhimmoreforcibly。HerememberedhowatfirstthespectacleofbarefootedgirlsandwomenslippingthroughfogandmistacrossthegreasypavementhadoffendedhisfreshNewWorldconceptionofamoretenderlynurturedsex，untilhissusceptibilitiesseemedtohavegrownascallousandhardenedasthefleshhelookedupon，andhehadbeguntoregardthemfromtheeasylocalstandpointofadistinctanddifferentlyequippedclass。
Itchanced，also，thatthisafternoonsomeofthemaleworkershadaddedtotheirusualsolidityasingulartrance-likeintoxication。
IthadoftenstruckhimbeforeasaformofdrunkennesspeculiartotheSt。Kentigernlaborers。Menpassedhimsinglyandsilently，asiffollowingsomevaguealcoholicdream，ormovingthroughsomeScotchmistofwhiskeyandwater。Othersclungunsteadilybutassilentlytogether，withnotraceofconvivialfellowshiporhilarityintheirdullfixedfeaturesandmechanicallymovinglimbs。Therewassomethingweirdinthismirthlesscompanionship，andtheappallinglonelinessofthosefixedorabstractedeyes。
Suddenlyhewasawareoftwomenwhowerereelingtowardhimundertheinfluenceofthisdrug-likeintoxication，andhewasstartledbyalikenesswhichoneofthemboretosomeonehehadseen；butwhere，andunderwhatcircumstances，hecouldnotdetermine。Thefatuouseye，thefeaturesofcomplacentvanityandself-satisfiedreveriewerethere，eitherintensifiedbydrink，orperhapssuggestingitthroughsomeotherequallyhopelessformofhallucination。Heturnedandfollowedtheman，tryingtoidentifyhimthroughhiscompanion，whoappearedtobeapettytradesmanofashrewder，morematerialtype。Butinvain，andasthepairturnedintoasidestreettheconsulslowlyretracedhissteps。
Buthehadnotproceededfarbeforetherecollectionthathadescapedhimreturned，andheknewthatthelikenesssuggestedbythefacehehadseenwasthatofMalcolmMcHulish。
III。
AjourneytoKelpieIslandconsistedofaseriesofconsecutiveepisodesbyrail，bycoach，andbysteamboat。Theconsulwasalreadyfamiliarwiththem，asindeedweremostofthecivilizedworld，foritseemedthatallroadsatcertainseasonsledoutofandreturnedtoSt。Kentigernasapointinavastcirclewhereintravelersweresuretomeetoneanotheragain，comingorgoing，atcertaindepotsandcaravansarieswithmoreorlesssuperiorityorenvy。TouristsontheroadtothehistoriccragsofWateffacamesharplyuponothertouristsreturningfromthem，andglaredsuspiciouslyatthem，asiftowrestthedreadsecretfromtheirsouls——ascrutinywhichtheothersreturnedwithhalf-humorouspityorsuperiorcalm。
Theconsulknew，also，thattheservicebyboatandrailwasadmirableandskillful；forwerenottherighteousSt。
KentigernersofthetribeofTubal-cain，greatartificersinsteelandiron，andamightyraceofengineersbeforetheLord，whohadcarriedtheircallingandaccentbeyondtheseas？Heknew，too，thatthelandofthesedelightfulcaravansariesoverflowedwithmarmaladeandhoney，andthatthemannaofdelicioussconesandcakesfellevenupondesertedwatersofcragandheather。Heknewthattheirwaywouldliethroughmuchscenerywhoserudebarrenness，andgrimeconomyofvegetation，hadbeenusuallyacceptedbycockneytouristsforsublimityandgrandeur；butheknew，also，thatitsseveritywasmitigatedbylowlandglimpsesofsylvanluxurianceandtangleddelicacyutterlyunlikethecomplacentsnugnessofanEnglishpastorallandscape，withwhichitwasoftenconfoundedandmisunderstood，asbeingtameandcivilized。
ItrainedthedaytheyleftSt。Kentigern，andthenext，andthedayafterthat，spasmodically，asregardedlocaleffort，sporadically，asseenthroughthefilmedwindowsofrailwaycarriagesorfromtheshiningdecksofsteamboats。Therewasalwaysashowerbeingsownsomewherealongthevalley，orreluctantlytearingitselffromamountain-top，orbeingpulledintolongthreadsfromtheleadenbosomofalake；thecoachsweptinandoutofthemtothefoldingandunfoldingofumbrellasandmackintoshes，accompaniedbyflyingbeamsofsunlightthatracedwiththevehicleonlonghillsides，andvanishedattheturnoftheroad。Therewerehat-liftingscurriesofwinddownthemountain-
side，smalltumultsinlittlelakesbelow，hystericebullitionsonmild，melancholyinlandseas，boisterouspassagesofnearlyhalfanhourwithlandingsontempestuousminiaturequays。Allthisseenthroughwonderfulaqueousvapor，againstabackgroundofskydarkenedattimestothedepthsofanIndiainkwashedsketch，butmoreusuallyblurredandconfusedonthesurfacelikethegraysilhouetteofachild"sslate-pencildrawing，halfrubbedfromtheslatebysoftpalms。Occasionallyarareglintingofrealsunshineonadistantfringeofdrippinglarchesmadesomefrowningcrestappeartosmileasthroughwetlashes。
MissElsietuckedherlittlefeetunderthemackintosh。"Iknow，"
shesaidsadly，"Ishouldgetweb-footedifIstayedherelong，Why，it"slikecomingdownfromAraratjustafterthedelugeclearedup。”
Mrs。Kirkbysuggestedthatifthesunwouldonlyshinesquarelyanddecently，likeaChristian，forafewmoments，theycouldseetheprospectbetter。
TheconsulherepointedoutthattheadmirersofScotchscenerythoughtthatthiswasitsgreatestcharm。Itwasthismistyeffectwhichmadeitsosuperiortowhattheycalledthevulgarchromosandsun-picturesoflessfavoredlands。
"Youmeanbecauseitpreventsfolksfromseeinghowpoortheviewreallyis。”
Theconsulremarkedthatperhapsdistancewaslacking。AstothesunshininginaChristianway，thismightdependuponthelocalideaofChristianity。
"Well，Idon"tcallthescenerygiddyorfrivolous，certainly。AndIreckonIbegintounderstandthekindofsermonsMalcolm"sfolksbroughtovertoMacCorkleville。Iguesstheydidn"tknowmuchoftheheaventheyonlysawonceayear。Why，eventhehighesthills——
whichtheycallmountainshere——ain"tbigenoughtogetabovethefogsoftheirowncreating。”
Femininewitisnotapttobeabstract。ItstrucktheconsulthatinMissElsie"ssprightlinesstherewastheusualulteriorandpersonalobject，andheglancedaroundathisfellow-passengers。
Theobjectevidentlywassittingattheendoftheoppositeseat，anamusedbutwell-behavedlistener。Fortherest，hewasstillyoungandreserved，butinface，figure，anddressutterlyunlikehiscompanions，——anEnglishmanofapronouncedanddistincttype，themanofsocietyandclubs。Whiletherewasmoreorlesshintingoflocalinfluenceintheappareloftheothers，——therewasakilt，andbare，unweather-beatenkneesfromBirmingham，andeventheAmericanElsieworeabewitchingtam-o"-shanter，——thestrangercarriedeasydistinction，fromhistweedtraveling-captohiswell-
madeshoesandgaiters，asanunmistakableSoutherner。Hisdeepandpleasantlylevelvoicehadbeenheardonlyonceortwice，andthenonlyinansweringquestions，andhisquiet，composedeyesalonehadrespondedtotheyounggirl"sprovocation。
Theywerepassingabrownglen，inthecheerlessdepthsofwhichabrownwatercourse，ashadelighter，wasrunning，andoccasionallyfoaminglikebrownbeer。Beyonditheavedanaridbulkofhillside，thescantvegetationofwhich，scatteredlikepatchesofhair，madeitlooklikethedecayinghideofsomehugeantediluvianruminant。Onthedreariestpartofthedrearysloperosetheruinsofatower，andcrumblingwallsandbattlements。
"Whateverpossessedfolkstobuildthere？"saidMissElsie。"Iftheywerepoor，itmightbesomeexcuse；butthatthoseoldswells，orchiefs，shouldputupacastleinsuchaGod-forsakenplacegetsME。”
"Butdon"tyouknow，theyWEREpoor，accordingtoourmodernideas，andIfancytheybuiltthesethingsmorefordefensethanshow，andreallymoretogatherincattle——likeoneofyourTexanranches——
afteraraid。Thatis，Ihaveheardso；Iratherfancythatwastheidea，wasn"tit？"ItwastheEnglishmanwhohadspoken，andwasnowlookingaroundattheotherpassengersasifineasydeferencetolocalopinion。
"Whatraid？"saidMissElsie，animatedly。"Oh，yes；Isee——oneoftheiroldborderraids——moss-troopers。Iusedtoliketoreadaboutthem。”
"Ifancy，don"tyouknow，"saidtheEnglishmanslowly，"thatitwasn"texactlyTHATsortofthing，youknow，forit"sagoodwayfromtheborder；butitwasoneoftheirraidsupontheirneighbors，tolifttheircattle——steal"em，infact。That"sthewaythosechapshad。Butofcourseyou"vereadallaboutthat。
YouAmericans，don"tyouknow，areallupinthesehistoricalmatters。”
"Eh，buttheywereoftenreprisals，"saidaScotchpassenger。
"Idon"tsupposetheytookmuchtroubletoinquireifthebeastsbelongedtoanenemy，"saidtheEnglishman。
ButhereMissElsiespokeofcastlesgenerally，andaverredthatthedearestwishofherlifewastoseeMacbeth"scastleatGlamis，whereDuncanwasmurdered。AtwhichtheEnglishman，stilldeferentially，mistrustedthefactthatthemurderhadbeencommittedthere，andthoughtthatthecastletowhichShakespeareprobablyreferred，ifhehadn"tinventedthemurder，too，wasfarthernorth，atCawdor。"Youknow，"headdedplayfully，"overthereinAmericayou"vediscoveredthatShakespearehimselfwasaninvention。”
Thisledtosomeretaliatingbrilliancyfromtheyounglady，andwhenthecoachstoppedatthenextstationtheirconversationhadpresumablybecomeinterestingenoughtojustifyhiminsecuringaseatnearertoher。Thetalkreturningtoruins，MissElsieinformedhimthattheyweregoingtoseesomeonKelpieIsland。
Theconsul，fromsomeinstinctiveimpulse，——perhapsarecollectionofCuster"speculiarmethods，gaveherasignofwarning。ButtheEnglishmanonlyliftedhiseyebrowsinakindofhalf-humorousconcern。
"Idon"tthinkyou"dlikeit，youknow。It"sabeastlyplace，——
rocksandsea，——worsethanthis，andhalfthetimeyoucan"tseethemainland，onlyamileaway。Really，youknow，theyoughtn"ttohaveinducedyoutotaketicketsthere——thoseexcursion-ticketchaps。They"rejollyfrauds。It"snoplaceforastrangertogoto。”
"Buttherearetheruinsofanoldcastle，theoldseatof"——
begantheastonishedMissElsie；butshewasagainstoppedbyasignificantglancefromtheconsul。
"Ibelievetherewassomethingofthekindthereonce——somethinglikeyourfriendsthecattle-stealers"castleoveronthathillside，"returnedtheEnglishman；"butthestonesweretakenbythefishermenfortheircabins，andthewallswerequitepulleddown。”
"Howdaredtheydothat？"saidtheyoungladyindignantly。"Icallitnotonlysacrilege，butstealing。”
"Itwasdefraudingtheowneroftheproperty；theymightaswelltakehismoney，"saidMrs。Kirkby，inlanguidprotest。
ThesmilewhichthisoutburstofproprietorialindignationbroughttothefaceoftheconsullingeredwiththeEnglishman"sreply。
"Butitwasonlyrobbingtheoldrobbers，don"tyouknow，andtheyputtheirspoilstobetterusethantheiroldmastersdid；
certainlytomorepracticalusethantheownersdonow，fortheruinsaregoodfornothing。”
"Butthehallowedassociations——thepicturesqueness!"continuedMrs。Kirkby，withlanguidinterest。
"Theassociationswouldn"tbeanythingexcepttothefamily，youknow；andIshouldfancytheywouldn"tbeeitherhallowedorpleasant。Asforpicturesqueness，theruinsarebeastlyugly；
weather-beateninsteadofbeingmellowedbytime，youknow，andbarewheretheyoughttobehiddenbyvinesandmoss。Ican"tmakeoutwhyanybodysentyouthere，foryouAmericansareratherparticularaboutyoursightseeing。”
"Weheardofthemthroughafriend，"saidtheconsul，withassumedcarelessness。"Perhapsit"sasgoodanexcuseasanyforapleasantjourney。”
"Andverylikelyyourfriendmistookitforsomethingelse，orwashimselfimposedupon，"saidtheEnglishmanpolitely。"Butyoumightnotthinkitso，and，afterall，"headdedthoughtfully，"it"syearssinceI"veseenit。IonlymeantthatIcouldshowyousomethingbetterafewmilesfrommyplaceinGloucestershire，andnotquitesofarfromarailwayasthis。If，"headdedwithapleasantdeliberationwhichwastherealcourtesyofhisconventionallywordedspeech，"youeverhappenedatanytimetobeanywherenearAudreyEdge，andwouldlookmeup，Ishouldbegladtoshowittoyouandyourfriends。”Anhourlater，whenheleftthematarailwaystationwheretheirpathsdiverged，MissElsierecoveredafluencythatshehadlatelychecked。"Well，Ilikethat!Henevertoldushisname，orofferedacard。Iwonderiftheycallthataninvitationoverhere。Doeshesupposeanybody"sgoingtolookuphisoldAudreyEdge——perhapsit"snamedafterhiswife——tofindoutwhoHEis？Hemighthavebeencivilenoughtohavelefthisname，ifhe——meantanything。”
"ButIassureyouhewasperfectlysincere，andmeantaninvitation，"returnedtheconsulsmilingly。"AudreyEdgeisevidentlyawell-knownplace，andheamanofsomeposition。Thatiswhyhedidn"tspecifyeither。”
"Well，youwon"tcatchmegoingthere，"saidMissElsie。
"Youwouldbequiterightineithergoingorstayingaway，"saidtheconsulsimply。
MissElsietossedherheadslightly。Nevertheless，beforetheyleftthestation，sheinformedhimthatshehadbeentoldthatthestation-masterhadaddressedthestrangeras"mylord，"andthatanotherpassengerhadsaidhewas"LordDuncaster。”
"Andthatproves"——
"ThatI"mright，"saidtheyoungladydecisively，"andthathisinvitationwasamereform。”
Itwasaftersundownwhentheyreachedthepicturesqueandwell-
appointedhotelthatlifteditselfabovethelittlefishing-villagewhichfrontedKelpieIsland。Thehotelwasinasstrongcontrasttothenarrow，curvingstreetofdull，comfortless-lookingstonecottagesbelowit，aswerethesmarttouristswhohadjustlandedfromthesteamertothehard-visaged，roughlycladvillagerswhowatchedthemwithacertainminglingofcriticalindependenceandsuperiorself-righteousness。Asthenewarrivalswalkeddownthemainstreet，halfbeach，halfthoroughfare，theirbaggagefollowingtheminlowtrolleysdrawnbyportersattheirheels，likeadecorousfuneral，thejoylessfacesofthelookers-onaddedtotheresemblance。Beyondthem，intheprolongednortherntwilight，thewatersofthebaytookonapeculiarpewterybrightness，butwiththeusualmourning-edgedborderofScotchseacoastscenery。Lowbanksofcloudlayonthechillsea；theoutlinesofKelpieIslandwerehidden。
Buttheinteriorofthehotel，brightwiththelatestfastidiousnessinmoderndecorationandart-furniture，andgaywithpicturedcanvasesandcolor，seemedtomockthesullenlandscape，andthesterilecragsamidwhichthebuildingwasset。Anattempttomakeapleasanceinthisbarrenwastehadresultedonlyinemptyvases，bleakstatuary，andironsettees，ascoldandslipperytothetouchasthesidesoftheirsteamer。
"It"llbeafinemorningto-morra，andther"llbeaboatgoingawaytoKelpieforapeekneekintheruins，"saidtheporter，astheconsulandhisfaircompanionslookeddoubtfullyfromthewindowsofthecheerfulhall。
ApicnicinthesacredruinsofKelpie!Theconsulsawtheladiesstiffeningwithindignationatthistrespassupontheirpossiblerightsandprobableprivileges，andglancedatthemwarningly。
"Doyoumeantosaythatitiscommonproperty，andANYBODYcangothere？"demandedMissElsiescornfully。
"No；it"sonlythehotelthatownstheboatandgivesthetickets——
ahalf-crownthepassage。”
"Anddotheowners，theMcHulishes，permitthis？"
Theporterlookedatthemwithapuzzled，half-pityingpoliteness。
Hewasahandsome，tall，broad-shoulderedyoungfellow，withacertainnaiveandgentlecourtesyofmannerthatrelievedhisstrongaccent，"Oh，ay，"hesaid，withareassuringsmile；"ye"llnobetroubledbyTHEM。I"lljustgangawaynoo，andseeifIcansecuretheteekets。”
Anelderlyguest，whowasexaminingatime-tableonthewall，turnedtothemastheporterdisappeared。
"Ye"llbestrangersnoo，andnotknowingthatTonalttheporterisaMcHulishhissel"？"hesaiddeliberately。
"Awhat？"saidtheastonishedMissElsie。
"AMcHulish。Ay，oneofthefamily。TheMcHulishesofKelpiewerehisownforebears。Eh，buthe"safinelad，anddoin"wellforthehotel。”
MissElsieextinguishedasuddensmilewithherhandkerchiefashermotheranxiouslyinquired，"Andarethefamilyaspoorasthat？"
"ButIamnotsayinghe"sPOOR，ma"am，no，"repliedthestranger，withnativecaution。"Whatwi"tipsandgratooitiesandpercentagesontheteekets，it"sabitofmoneyhe"llbehavinginthebanknoo。”
TheprophecyofDonaldMcHulishastotheweathercametrue。Thenextmorningwasbrightandsunny，andtheboattoKelpieIsland——
alargeyawl——dulyreceiveditscomplementofpassengersandprovisionhampers。Theladieshadapparentlybecomemoretolerantoftheirfellowpleasure-seekers，anditappearedthatMissElsiehadevenovercomeherhilarityatthediscoveryofwhat"mighthavebeen"arelativeinthepersonoftheporterDonald。"Ihadalongtalkwithhimbeforebreakfastthismorning，"shesaidgayly，"andIknowallabouthim。Itappearsthattherearehundredsofhim——
allMcHulishes——allalongthecoastandelsewhere——onlynoneofthemeverlivedONtheisland，anddon"twantto。Buthelooksmorelikea"laird"andachiefthanMalcolm，andifitcomestochoosingaheadofthefamily，remember，maw，Ishallvotesolidforhim。”
"Howcanyougoonso，Elsie？"saidMrs。Kirkby，withlanguidprotest。"OnlyItrustyoudidn"tsayanythingtohimofthesyndicate。And，thankHeaven!thepropertyisn"there。”
"No；thewaitertellsmeallthelovelythingswehadforbreakfastcamefrommilesaway。Andtheydon"tseemtohaveeverraisedanythingontheisland，fromitslooks。Thinkofhavingtorowthreemilesforthemorning"smilk!"
Therewascertainlyverylittleappearanceofvegetationonthesterilecragsthatsoonbegantoliftthemselvesabovethesteelywavesahead。Afewscraggytreesandbushes，whichtwistedandwrithedlikevinesaroundthesquaretowerandcrumblingwallsofanirregularbutangularbuilding，lookedintheirbrownshadowslikepartofthedebris。
"It"sjustlikeaburnt-downbone-boilingfactory，"saidMissElsiecritically；"andIshouldn"twonderifthatreallywasoldMcHulish"sbusiness。Theycouldn"thaveitonthemainlandforitsbeinganuisance。”
Nevertheless，shewasoneofthefirsttoleapashorewhentheyawl"sbowgratedinapebblycove，andcarriedherprettybutincongruouslittleslippersthroughtheseaweed，wetsand，andslimycobbleswithaheroismthatredeemedhervanity。A
scramblingascentofafewmomentsbroughtthemtoawallwithagapinit，whichgaveeasyingresstotheinterioroftheruins。
Thiswasmerelyalittlecurvinghollowfromwhichtheoutlinesoftheplanhadlongsincefaded。Itwaskeptgreenbythebrownwalls，which，likethecragsofthemainlandvalleys，sheltereditfromtheincessantstrifeoftheAtlanticgales。Afewpaleflowersthatmighthavegrowninadampcellarshiveredagainstthestones。Scrapsofnewspapers，soda-waterandbeerbottles，highlydecoratedoldprovisiontins，andspentcartridgecases，——theremainsofchillypicnicsanddampshootingluncheons，——hadatfirstsightlentcolortotheforegroundbymerecontrast，butthecorrosionoftimeandweatherhadblackenedratherthanmellowedthewallsinawaywhichforciblyremindedtheconsulofMissElsie"ssimileofthe"burnt-downfactory。”Theviewfromthesquaretower——amereroostforuncleansea-fowl，fromthesidesofwhichragsofpeelingmossandvinehungliketatteredclothing——
wasequallydepressing。Thefewfishermen"shutsalongtheshorewerebuiltofstonestakenfromtheruin，androofedinwithsoddenbeamsandtimbersinthelaststagesofdeliquescence。Thethicksmokeofsmoulderingpeat-firescamefromthelowchimneys，anddriftedacrosstheruinswiththeodorsofdryingfish。
"I"vejustseenasortofground-planofthecastle，"saidMissElsiecheerfully。"Itneverhadaroominitasbigasourbedroominthehotel，andthereweren"twindowsenoughtogoround。Aslitinthewall，abouttwoincheswidebytwofeetlong，wasconsidereddazzlingextravagancetoMalcolm"sancestors。Idon"twondersomeof"embrokeoutandswamovertoAmerica。Thatremindsme。Whodoyousupposeishere——cameoverfromthehotelinaboatofhisown，justtoseemaw!"
"NotMalcolm，surely。”
"Notmuch，"repliedMissElsie，settinghersmalllipstogether。
"It"sMr。Custer。He"stalkingbusinesswithhernowdownonthebeach。They"llbeherewhenlunchisready。”
TheconsulrememberedtheromanticplanwhichtheenthusiasticCusterhadimpartedtohiminthefoggyconsulateatSt。Kentigern，andthenthoughtofthematteroffacttourists，thefewstolidfishermen，andtheprosaicruinsaroundthem，andsmiled。Helookedup，andsawthatMissElsiewaswatchinghim。
"YouknowMr。Custer，don"tyou？"
"WeareoldCalifornianfriends。”
"Ithoughtso；butIthinkhelookedalittleupsetwhenheheardyouwerehere，too。”
Hecertainlywasalittleawkward，asifstrugglingwithsomehalf-
humorousembarrassment，ashecameforwardafewmomentslaterwithMrs。Kirkby。Butthestimulationofthekeenseaairtriumphedovertheinfelicitiesofthesituationandsurroundings，andthelittlepartywerepresentlyenjoyingtheirwell-selectedluncheonwiththewholesomeappetiteoftravelandchange。Thechilldampmadelimpthenapkinsandtable-cloth，andinvadedthevictuals；
thewind，whichwasrising，whistledroundthewalls，andmademiniaturecyclonesofthetornpaperanddriedtwigsaroundthem:
buttheyate，drank，andweremerry。Attheendoftherepastthetwogentlemenrosetolighttheircigarsintheleeofthewall。
"IsupposeyouknowallaboutMalcolm？"saidCuster，afteranawkwardpause。
"Mydearfellow，"saidtheconsul，somewhatimpatiently，"Iknownothingabouthim，andyououghttoknowthatbythistime。”
"IthoughtYOURFRIEND，SirJames，mighthavetoldyou，"continuedCuster，withsignificantemphasis。
"IhavenotseenSirJamesfortwomonths。”
"Well，Malcolm"sacrank——alwayswasone，Ireckon，andisreg"larlyoffhisheadnow。Yes，sir；ScotchwhiskeyandyourfriendSirJamesfinishedhim。AfterthatdinneratMacFen"shewasdonefor——wentwild。Dancedasword-dance，orastrathspey，orsomeotherblamedthing，onthetable，andyelledlouderthanthepipes。Sotheyalldid。Jack，I"vepaintedthetownredoncemyself；IthoughtIknewwhatafirst-classjamboreewas:buttheywereprayer-meetingstothatshow。Everybodywasblinddrunk——buttheyallgotoveritexceptHIM。THEYwereadifferentlotofmenthenextday，ascoolandcautiousasyouplease，butHEwasshutupforaweek，andcameoutcrazy。”
"Butwhat"sthattodowithhisclaim？"
"Well，thereain"tmuchuse"whoopinguptheboys"whenonlythewhoopergetswild。”
"Still，thatdoesnotaffectanyrighthemayhaveintheproperty。”
"Butitaffectsthesyndicate，"saidCustergloomily；"andwhenwefoundthathewaswhoopingupsomeshopkeepersandfactoryhandswhoclaimedtobelongtotheclan，——andyoucan"theaveastoneatadogaroundherewithouthittingaMcHulish，——weconcludedwehadn"tmuchuseforhimornamentally。Soweshippedhimhomelaststeamer。”
"Andtheproperty？"
"Oh，that"sallright，"saidCuster，stillgloomily。"We"veeffectedanamicablecompromise，asSirJamescallsit。Thatmeanswe"vetakenalotoflandsomewherenorth，thatyoucanshootover——
thatis，youneedn"tbeafraidofhittingahouse，oratree，oramananywhere；andwe"vegotastripmoreofthesamesortontheseashoresomewhereoffhere，occupiedonlybysomegaygalootscalledcrofters，andyoucanraisealawsuitandanimprecationoneveryacre。Thenthere"sthissoul-subduing，sequesteredspot，andwhat"sleftoftheoldbone-boilingestablishment，andtherightsoffishingandpeat-burning，andotherwisecreatinganuisanceoffthemainland。Itcostthesyndicateonlyahundredthousanddollars，halfcashandhalfinTexanandKentuckygrasslands。Butwe"vecarriedthethingthrough。”
"Icongratulateyou，"saidtheconsul。
"Thanks。”Custerpuffedathiscigarforafewmoments。"ThatSirJamesMacFenisafineman。”
"Heis。”
"Alarge，broad，all-roundman。Knowseverythingandeverybody，don"the？"
"Ithinkso。”
"Bigmaninthechurch，Ishouldsay？Noslouchatapartycanvass，orwardpolitics，eh？Asaboarddirector，orpresident，justtakesthecake，don"the？"
"Ibelieveso。”
"NothingmeanaboutJimmyasanadvocateoranarbitrator，either，isthere？Ringsthebelleverytime，don"the？Financierstakeabackseatwhenhe"saround？OwnshalfofScotlandbythistime，I
reckon。”
TheconsulbelievedthatSirJameshadthereputationofbeingexceedinglysagaciousinfinancialandmercantilematters，andthathewasamanofsomewealth。
"Naturally。Iwonderwhathe"dtaketocomeovertoAmerica，andgivetheboyspoints，"continuedCuster，inmeditativeadmiration。
"ThereweretwoorthreemenonScott"sRiver，andoneChinaman，thatweusedtothinksmart，buttheyweredodderingijutstoHIM。
Andasforme——Isay，Jack，youdidn"tseeanyhayseedinmyhairthatdayIwalkedinteryourconsulate，didyou？"
Theconsulsmilinglyadmittedthathehadnotnoticedthesesignsofrusticinnocenceinhisfriend。
"Noranyflies？Well，forallthat，whenIgethomeI"mgoingtoresign。NomoreforeigninvestmentsforME。WhenanybodycallsattheconsulateandasksforH。J。Custer，sayyoudon"tknowme。
Andyoudon"t。AndIsay，Jack，trytosmooththingsoverformewithHER。”
"WithMissElsie？"
Custercastaglanceofprofoundpityupontheconsul。"NowithMrs。Kirkby，ofcourse。See？"
Theconsulthoughthedidsee，andthathehadatlastfoundacluetoCuster"sextraordinaryspeculation。But，likemosttheoristswhoarguefromasinglefact，afewmonthslaterhemighthavedoubtedhisdeduction。