The arrival of the steamer is always a great event at Lochgarra; there were several well-known faces on the quay. Here were the Gillie Ciotach, and Big Archie, and the Minister, and Peter Grant, the innkeeper; and here also was Anna Clannach. The poor lass was in sad distress; she was crying and wringing her hands.
"What is the matter, Anna?" said Donald Ross, in Gaelic, as he stepped from the gangway on to the pier.
"I am wishing to go out to Heimra," said the Irish-looking girl with the dishevelled hair and streaming eyes.
"Why so?" he asked.
"It is to find my mother," she made answer, with many sobs. "When I was sleeping my mother came to me, and said I was to come out to Heimra for her, and bring her back, but when I offer the money to the men they laugh at me——"
"Anna," said he, gently, "you must not think of going out to Heimra. If you were not to find your mother there, that would be great sorrow for you. If she is coming for you, you must wait patiently——"
"But I am going out in the steamer?" said the girl, beginning to cry afresh.
"The steamer?" he said. "The steamer does not call at Heimra, not at any time."
"But it is Mr. Ross has the mastery,"[#] she pleaded. "It is every one that must obey Mr. Ross; and the steamer will take me out to Heimra if he tells the captain."
[#] Tighearnas—lordship, or dominion.