'Ferry well,' she said, in spite of her Edinburgh birth; and she was evidently vastly proud of her skill in drawing up so brilliant and varied a programme. Maggie continued her reading—but now in some alarm:
Song . . . . 'The Laird o' Cockpen.' . . . . . MR. RONALD STRANG.
Reading . . 'Jeanie Morrison.' . . . . . . . Miss M. DOUGLAS.
Service of Shortbread.
Song . . . . 'Gloomy Winter's now awa'.' . . . MR. RONALD STRANG.
Song . . . . 'Auld Lang Syne.' . . . . . . . . THE COMPANY.
Vote of thanks to the Chairman . . . . . . . . Miss M. DOUGLAS.
Finale.
Pipe-Music, 'Caidil gu lo' (Sleep on till day) MR. RONALD STRANG.
Meenie looked and laughed with pleasure; she was quite proud of her skill of arrangement.
'But, Meenie,' her companion said, 'why have ye not put down a duet between you and Ronald? He can sing so well; and you; and that would be prettier far than anything. Do ye no mind the time we were a' away fishing at Loch Loyal; and we were walking back; and Ronald was telling us of what he saw in a theatre in Edinburgh? And when he told us about the young lady's sweetheart coming in a boat at night, and singing to her below the window, you knew what it was well enough—and you tried it together—oh! that was so fine! Will ye no ask him to sing that with ye?'
Meenie's face flushed somewhat; and she would have evaded the question with a little laugh but that it was repeated. Whereupon she said—
'Why, now, Maggie, you have such a memory! And I have no doubt there was nonsense going on as we were walking back from Loch Loyal—for a beautiful night it was, in the middle of summer, when there is no darkness at all in the skies all the night long. Oh yes, I remember it too; and very well; but it was amongst ourselves; we are not going to have any such nonsense before other people. And if we were to sing "O hush thee, my baby," would not the children be thinking it was a hint for them to go away to bed? And besides, surely I have asked Ronald to do enough for us; do you not think he will be surprised, and perhaps angry, when he sees how often his name comes there?'