He was astir, all the same, at six in the morning. And back came the joy to his heart like a great warm sea wave.
He attended to his horses and to the kennel, singing all the time; then went quietly in to make his brose.
Some quiet, sly glances and smiles passed between the betrothed—Scotch fashion again—but that was all. Sandie ate his brose in silence, then took his departure.
One morning a letter arrived from Edinburgh from a friend of Craig Nicol.
Craig was sitting at the table having breakfast when the servant brought it in and laid it before him. His face clouded as he read it.
The friend’s name was Reginald Grahame, and he was a medical student in his fourth year. He had been very kind to Craig in Edinburgh, taking him about and showing him all the sights in this, the most romantic city on earth—
“Edina, Scotia’s darling seat.”
Nevertheless, Craig’s appetite failed, and he said “Bother!” only more so, as he pitched the letter down on the table.