"But I told you; I learn lessons with the schoolmaster."
"Oh, so you do; I had forgotten. Well, I hope you and your father will have a happy meeting."
With a little wistfulness in her eyes, Mysie went down on her knees beside Rowena's couch. Putting her arms round her neck she whispered:
"Do you think it could happen that he might love me?"
"I think it more than likely," said Rowena, kissing her as she spoke.
And then Mysie sprang up and danced out into the sunshine.
"I have ridden over to tell you, and now I am going back to Nan; for I am going to help her get his house ready."
Rowena lay on her bed looking out on the still blue and trying to recall the Hugh Macdonald she had once seen at her brother's table. It was long ago before he had married, and he was then a thin eager-faced youth, with stern features and a very decided will of his own. He had been abroad for a good many years since then. And his marriage had altered him, people said. She had a dim recollection of a walk round the loch after dinner; but she was quite a young girl at the time. He had not impressed her, except perhaps that he had been too old in his ideas her then.
"If he doesn't own that child, he ought to be ashamed of himself!" she muttered, and then a sudden restless fit took possession of her.
"I am like a mummy. I cannot stay indoors longer. It is breathless to-day. I will write to Noddy and demand release."