"I hope so," said Reikie; "but I very much doubt it."
"Ah! well, don't frighten us, anyhow," said Llewellyn.
That bold young Highlander certainly did not look as if anything would frighten him. How handsome and strong he was, and how brave he seemed! I'm not at all sure that Jack did not envy him his superior stature—for he bordered on six feet. Perhaps Jack was boy enough yet to covet that feather bonnet, for he was barely seventeen.
But Llewellyn threw off his Highland bonnet, and ordered his servant to bustle about and get coffee ready.
It is no wonder that the conversation turned upon home. But at this stage of the happy meeting it hardly could be called a conversation; for Llewellyn had so much to say that in telling the news his tongue could scarcely rattle on fast enough. But the gist of what he said can, after all, be given in a few words:—
"Three years and over, Jack, since you were home. Never mind, lad; we've only got to smash the Russians, to raze to earth the battlements of Sebastopol, to annihilate the defenders, to hurl back the Bear to his icy den in the north, and, having covered ourselves with honour and glory, to return, as the good ships' parsons tell us, 'in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land with the fruits of our labours.'"
"Loot, eh?" said Dr. Reikie, quietly smiling; "and we have to thrash the Russians first?"
"Oh yes; that is part of the programme of this grand picnic."
"And mother and sister?" said Jack.
"Both happy and beautiful. And what think you, Jack? I went down to say good-bye, of course, before my regiment left, and Uncle Tom, who has all sorts of kindly messages to you, went with me, and your sister told me that she is coming out, if the war lasts over the autumn, to help to nurse the sick and wounded! A whole lot of ladies are coming, only I don't expect there will be any sick or wounded left to nurse by the time they think of coming out. Well, then, north I went to bonnie Drumglen, where my sister Tottie is at present, you know."