The discovery in himself of an interest in architecture was an instance; but for his visit to the Continent he might never have been led to think of the subject.

Then there was his fondness for the moors and mountains, the lochs and islands, of the north.

On the whole, he preferred to travel in Scotland by himself; the scenery appealed to a poetry that was in him, if only he could have brought it into consciousness.

Already he had planned for the present August a tour among the Hebrides, and had made it out with his maps and guidebooks, not without careful consideration of expense.

Why did he linger beyond the day on which he had decided to set forth?
For several days it had been noticed at the mill that he lacked something of his wonted attention in matters of business.