"Ah, you are making game of me! I do not like to be made game of,"
said Davie, and turned away.

"No indeed," replied Donal. "I never make game of anybody.--But now
I will go and find the letter."

"I would go with you," said the boy, "but my father will not let me
beyond the grounds. I don't know why."

Donal hastened home, and found himself eagerly expected, for the
letter young Eppy had brought was from the earl. It informed Donal
that it would give his lordship pleasure to see him, if he would
favour him with a call.

In a few minutes he was again on the road to the castle.




CHAPTER XI.

THE EARL.

He met no one on his way from the gate up through the wood. He
ascended the hill with its dark ascending firs, to its crown of
silvery birches, above which, as often as the slowly circling road
brought him to the other side, he saw rise like a helmet the gray
mass of the fortress. Turret and tower, pinnacle and battlement,
appeared and disappeared as he climbed. Not until at last he stood