“That may be the case,” said Alick, taking the telescope from a bracket on the wall, and looking through it down the loch. “There is no sail in sight like her, but I see a four-oared boat, which has just passed Bunaw Ferry, pulling up the loch. Can Adair by any means have missed the cutter, and be making his way alone to us?”
“Probably she contains a party of tourists on an excursion,” said Stella.
“She is, at all events, steering for Bercaldine,” observed Murray; “if she does not bring Paddy Adair, you will have the opportunity of exhibiting the small Alick to some other visitor. I will go down to the pier to receive him, whoever he is, with due honour.” Saying this, Murray, having bestowed a kiss on his wife’s brow, and given another tickle to his baby’s chin, which produced an additional coo of delight, hurried down to the landing-place, towards which the boat was rapidly approaching. He had his telescope in his hand. He stopped on the way to take another look through it.
“It is not Terence, but—who do you think?—our old friend, Admiral Triton!” he shouted out, as he looked back to his wife; and then hurried on to the landing-place, that he might be there before the admiral could step ashore. In a few minutes he was receiving the old man’s hearty grasp of the hand, as he helped him out of the boat.
“I had long promised to pay a visit to some friends in the Highlands, and I determined to make a trip a few miles farther and take you by surprise, for I knew that I should be welcome at whatever time I might arrive,” said the admiral.
“Indeed you are, my dear sir,” answered Murray; “most sincerely I say it. We are flattered by your visit.”
“Give me your arm, my boy, for I don’t walk up hill as easily as I used to do a few years back,” said the admiral, leaning somewhat heavily on the young commander as he stumped along with his timber toe. “Stay! by the bye, I must dismiss my crew,” he exclaimed, stopping short.
“Let them come up to the house first, admiral,” said Murray; “they would consider otherwise that we were forgetful of Highland hospitality at Bercaldine. You will find your way up to the kitchen, my lads, by yonder path,” he added, turning round to the boatmen. “The cook will have a snack for you before you pull back to Oban.”
The men touched their bonnets, and gratefully grinned their assent to the laird’s proposal, as they tumbled out of the boat; while Murray conducted Admiral Triton by the centre path, which led through the grounds to the house.
Mrs Murray, having deposited the wee Alick in the arms of Polly, stood ready to receive them.