that stood by her side on the seat.

She did not turn round when a step approached, till a hand was
laid on her shoulder, when she started, and looked up into the
face of another girl, on a smaller scale, with a complexion of
the lily-and-rose kind, fair hair under her hood, with a hawk
upon her wrist, and blue eyes dancing at the surprise of her
sister.

'Eleanor in a creel, as usual!' she cried.

'I thought it was only one of the bairns,' was the answer.

'They might coup over the walls for aught thou seest,' returned
the new-comer. 'If it were not for little Mary what would
become of the poor weans?'

'What will become of any of us?' said Eleanor. 'I was gazing
out over the sea and wishing we could drift away upon it to some
land of rest.'

'The Glenuskie folk are going to try another land,' said Jean.
'I was in the bailey-court even now playing at ball with Jamie
when in comes a lay-brother, with a letter from Sir Patrick to
say that he is coming the night to crave permission from Jamie
to go with his wife to France. Annis, as you know, is betrothed
to the son of his French friends, Malcolm is to study at the
Paris University, and Davie to be in the Scottish Guards to
learn chivalry like his father. And the Leddy of Glenuskie--our
Cousin Lilian--is going with them.'