“In America.”

“In America! What, so far? Perhaps you would like to hear ‘Mona’s Waters?’”

“Yes,” said Ernest.

The song was very winningly sung.

“Now perhaps you would like to hear ‘When first I came to merry Carlisle’?”

Ernest smiled.

“It doesn’t mean you at all. It was a girl who lost her lover in one of the Border Wars.

“‘When first I came to merry Carlisle,
Ne’er was a town sae sweetly seeming:
The white rose flaunted o’er the wall,
The thistled banners far were streaming.

“‘When next I came to merry Carlisle,
Oh sad, sad, seemed the town, an’ eerie!
The auld, auld men came out and wept,
O maiden! come ye to seek yere dearie?’”

“Thank you for that song,” said Ernest. “I have heard ‘Highland Mary’ sung at Ayr, and shall always remember it. And I shall also be pleased to recollect,—