"I suppose so," said Ralph, smiling pleasantly; "how is he getting on?"
"Vera weel, I thank ye, sir! He's brocht a prize buik wi' him this time;" and the good woman's face beamed with triumph. To the great pride of his family, the gatekeeper's son was studying "to be a meenister."
Mrs Hamilton came out to the door to meet her nephew, and a pang shot through Ralph's heart as he saw how frail she looked.
"Why, I declare," he said, putting his arm round her affectionately, "my old lady has been missing her scapegrace."
"Conceited as ever," she said, returning his caress, but the rare tears stole into her eyes as she spoke.
"You dear old thing! why didn't you send for me? And Burns, too, promised to let me know."
"Nonsense, laddie! There's nothing wrong. I have never been ill. I am getting to be an old woman, that's all; and I'm not so fond of east winds as I once was. Run up-stairs while Dobson infuses the tea, and then come and tell me all about the examination."
The breakfast parlour was bright with flowers, and the table was laden with good things. The window stood open, and the bees hummed in and out in a flood of sunshine.
"Grouse already!" exclaimed Ralph.
"Yes; Lord Kirkhope and Sir Roderick have each sent a brace."