His face was long, and thin, and dark, with a straight nose, and large mouth, and high cheek-bones; but he had fine black eyes, though they were fierce, and had a look in them that suggested the woods and the wild things that live there.

But Ranald, though his attendance was spasmodic, and dependent upon the suitability or otherwise of the weather for hunting, was the best speller in the school.
For that reason Margaret would have chosen him, and for another which she would not for worlds have confessed, even to herself.

And do you think she would have called Ranald Macdonald to come and stand up beside her before all these boys?
Not for the glory of winning the match and carrying the medal for a week.

But how gladly would she have given up glory and medal for the joy of it, if she had dared.
At length the choosing was over, and the school ranged in two opposing lines, with Margaret and Thomas at the head of their respective forces, and little Jessie MacRae and Johnnie Aird, with a single big curl on the top of his head, at the foot.

It was a point of honor that no blood should be drawn at the first round.