debarred from coming about our place--almost the only home he had ever
known. Henry, too, would be lost with no one to argue with. If you
want to manage a Scotsman properly see that he gets plenty of argument,
and he'll rarely develop any other vice. No, the pair must not be
separated.

'There is another adage, William, which says, "Absence makes the heart
grow fonder,"' I said, 'so I think, after all, you--I mean he, had
better stay.'

William looked relieved. 'You think that I--er--I mean one--ought to
face it?'

'I am sure one should,' I acquiesced.

William pressed my hand gratefully, and I sighed as I examined his
physiognomy in the hope of finding one attractive feature. I sighed
again as I finished my inspection. What a pity, I thought, that he had
not just a little dash about him, even the merest _soupçon_ of
fascination, in order to make the situation interesting. He was still
holding my hand as the door opened and Elizabeth shot into view with
the declaration, 'Dinner's in.'

We have a massive and imposing looking gong erected in the hall for the
sole purpose of announcing when meals are ready, but nothing will
induce Elizabeth to make use of it. If we are upstairs she hails us
from below with such expressions as 'Come on, now, it's getting cold,'
or, 'I won't bring it in till you're all 'ere, so mind you 'urry.'

If William had appeared strange, it struck me that Marion--who was also