"Will you come into the library, sir, for a moment?"
He obediently followed her; and she shut the door.
"Are we to start without Angus Sutherland?" she asked, without circumlocution.
"I beg your pardon, ma'am," said the wily Laird.
Then she was forced to explain, which she did in a somewhat nervous manner.
"Mary has told me, sir, of your very, very great generosity to her. I hope you will let me thank you too."
"There is not another word to be said about it," he said simply. "I found a small matter wrong in the world that I thought I could put right; and I did it; and now we start fresh and straight again. That is all."
"But about Angus Sutherland," said she still more timidly. "You were quite right in your conjectures—at least, I imagine so—indeed, I am sure of it. And now, don't you think we should send for him?"
"The other day, ma'am," said he slowly, "I informed ye that when I considered my part done I would leave the matter in your hands entirely. I had to ask some questions of the lass, no doubt, to make sure of my ground; though I felt it was not a business fit for an old bachelor like me to intermeddle wi'. I am now of opinion that it would be better, as I say, to leave the matter in your hands entirely."
The woman looked rather bewildered.