"Please give your father my most dutiful love, and tell him that I will answer his kind note in a day or two."
The writing of this letter, together with a few grateful lines to Lady Munro, occupied all Mona's spare time before dinner; and as soon as the unbeautiful meal was over, she set off at last to the Colonel's wood.
"If the scale has turned against me, Matilda Cookson will not go to Castle Maclean," she reflected. "If it has turned in my favour, it will do her no harm to look for me in vain."
She had to walk in to Kirkstoun, and then strike up country for two or three miles; but before she had proceeded far on her way, she met Mr Brown.
"So you have got back," he said, looking very shy and uncomfortable.
"Yes, I have been back for some days."
"How is Miss Simpson?"
"She is very well, thank you."
"Were you going anywhere in particular?"
"I am going to Barntoun Wood, but don't let me take you out of your way," she said.