There was an inquiring glance.
"If your Royal Highness would ask some one to see that each of the children has an orange, and a tart, and a shilling, it would be some compensation to them for being kept up so late."
"I think that might be done," said the Prince, as he turned to leave. "And I am glad to have made your acquaintance, although in—"
"In the character of a dancing-master," said Macleod, gravely.
After having once more visited Oscar, in the company of Phiobaire bhig, Macleod went up again to the brilliantly lit hall; and here he found that a further number of his friends had arrived. Among them was young Ogilvie, in the tartan of the Ninety-third Highlanders; and very smart indeed the boy-officer looked in his uniform. Mrs. Ross was here too and she was busy in assisting to get up the Highland quadrille. When she asked Macleod if he would join in it, he answered by asking her to be his partner, as he would be ashamed to display his ignorance before an absolute stranger. Mrs. Ross most kindly undertook to pilot him through the not elaborate intricacies of the dance; and they were fortunate in having the set made up entirely of their own friends.
Then the procession of the children took place; and the fantastically dressed crowd formed a lane to let the homely-clad lads and lasses pass along, with the six small pipers proudly playing a march at their head.
He stopped the last of the children for a second.
"Have you got a tart, and an orange, and a shilling?"
"No, sir."
"I have got the word of a prince for it," he said to himself, as he went out of the room; "and they shall not go home with empty pockets."