'Roland he is, my dear girl, and now welcome to Merlwood—welcome for your mother's sake and your own!' exclaimed Sir Harry, as he turned to give some orders about the luggage, and Annot, accompanied by Hester, who towered above her by a head, tripped indoors, with a nod and a smile to the old housekeeper and other servants, all of whom she knew. She seemed, indeed, a bright, fairy and airy-like little creature, in the most becoming of travelling costumes and most piquant of hats.
'She seems quite a child yet, by Jove!' said Sir Harry, looking after the petite creature, as she hurried to her room to change her dress, and imbibe the inevitable cup of tea brought by the motherly old housekeeper.
'What do you think of our Annot?' asked Hester, returning for a moment.
'That she has a wonderfully fair skin,' replied Roland slowly.
'All the Drummond women have that—it runs in the clan. But her eyes—are they not beautiful?'
'I cannot say.'
'Did you not see them?'
'No, Hester.'
'Why?'
'She scarcely looked at me.'