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。
