'I have no wish to be escorted by any of the visitors at Craigmhor; least of all by Captain Colville, the fiancé, as I understand he is, of that intolerable girl, Blanche Galloway.'
'I should think not,' replied Ellinor, laughing at her sister's unusual air of annoyance.
But the sisters had not heard the last of Captain Leslie Colville.
CHAPTER III.
THE INTRODUCTION.
A day or two after the rencontre we have narrated, when the sisters were quietly reading in their little drawing-room, the curtained windows of which opened to the lovely glen, through which May flows, visitors were announced—two strangers and their old friend the parish minister.
The latter entered, hat in hand, with the cheery confidence of one who knew he was welcome, saying,
'My dear girls, allow me to introduce two new friends—Captain Colville and Sir Redmond Sleath—Miss Wellwood—Miss Ellinor Wellwood.'
A few well-bred bows, with the subsequent inevitable remarks about the weather followed, and as all seated themselves, Dr. Wodrow said,
'We have had a long ramble by the Linn, and even as far as the King's Haugh, and have just dropped in to have a cup of afternoon tea, my dears.'