He rose, the handsome young fellow, and took his broad, blue bonnet with
the badge of juniper.

"Good-by, cousin Janet," said he, lightly. "Good-by, mother. You are not
going to send me away in this sad fashion? What am I to bring you
back--a satin gown from Paris? or a young bride to cheer up the old
house?"

She took no heed of the passing jest. He kissed her, and bade her
good-by once more. The clear stars were shining over Castle Dare, and
over the black shadows of the mountains, and the smoothly swelling
waters of the Atlantic. There was a dull booming of the waves along the
rocks.

He had thrown his plaid round him, and he was wondering to himself as he
descended the steep path to the shore. He could not believe that the two
women were really saddened by his going to the south for awhile; he was
not given to forebodings. And he had nearly reached the shore, when he
was overtaken by some one running, with a light step behind him. He
turned quickly, and found his cousin before him, a shawl thrown round
her head and shoulders.

"Oh, Keith," said she, in a bright and matter-of-fact way, "I have a
message for you--from myself--and I did not want aunt to hear, for she
is very proud, you know, and I hope you won't be. You know we are all
very poor, Keith; and yet you must not want money in London, if only for
the sake of the family; and you know I have a little, Keith, and I want
you to take it. You won't mind my being frank with you. I have written a
letter."