"Well and bonnie. She will be glad to see you. She has been glad always to
see a letter with the Edinburgh postmark. James Sinclair is waiting for
advices, so 'good-bye' until we meet at Meriton. Just tell MacRoy to let
us have a bottle of the 'comet' [Footnote: _Comet wine_, that of
1811, the year of the comet, and the best vintage on record; famed for its
delicate aroma.] Madeira tonight. The occasion will excuse it." Allan felt
grateful, for he knew what the order really meant--it was the wine of
homecoming, and rejoicing, and gratitude. And afterall, he had been
something of a prodigal, and his father's greeting, so full of regard, so
destitute of reproach, had touched him very much. How beautiful was Clyde
side! How homelike the heathery hills, the dimpling bays, the luxuriant
stretches of wood, the stately dwellings crowning the smooth green,
sloping lawns! The bold rocks of Fife, the bellowing waves, the plaintive
cries of the fishermen, the salt and sparkle of the great sea, the
rocking, bounding boat upon it, all these things slipped from his memory
in the charm of the present picture.

He was impatient to reach his home, and glad to see the coachman and a
phaeton waiting, when the steamer touched the little jetty. The man raised
his hat with a pleasure there was no mistaking. "I came my ways doon on a
'may be,' sir," he said proudly, "I jist had a feeling o' being wanted
here. Whiles, thae feelings are as gude as a positive order. You'll be
come to stay, Mr. Allan, surely, sir. There'll be a sight o' birds in the
heather this year."

"My stay depends on this and that, Archibald. Is there any change round
Meriton?"

"Nane worth the praising, sir. We hae a new minister. I dinna think much