down, for she always had her meals with them, a fact of which they
were very proud, and they always treated her with intense respect,
though every now and then they were inclined to domineer. Archie,
having seen that the food on the table was worth thanking God for,
asked a blessing in a peremptory sort of manner, as if he thought
Heaven required a deal of pressing to make it attentive. Then they
commenced to eat in silence, for none of the party were very much
given to speech, and no sound was heard save the rattling of the
cups and saucers and the steady ticking of the clock. The window was
open, and a faint breeze came in--cool and fragrant with the scent
of the forest, and perfumed with the peach-like odour of the gorse
blossoms. There was a subdued twilight through all the room, for the
night was coming on, and the gleam of the flickering flames of the
fire danced gaily against the roof and exaggerated all objects to an
immense size. At last Archie pushed back his chair to show that he
had finished, and prepared to talk.

'I dinna see ony new bodies coming,' he said, looking at his
mistress. 'They, feckless things, that left were better than none,
though they should hae been skelped for their idleness.'

'You have written to Slivers?' said Madame, raising her eyes.

'That wudden-legged body,' retorted McIntosh. 'Deed and I have, but
the auld tyke hasna done onything to getting me what I want. Weel,
weel,' in a resigned sort of a manner, 'we micht be waur off than we
are, an' wha kens but what Providence will send us men by-and-bye?'

Selina looked up at this, saw her opportunity, and let slip an
appropriate proverb.