But he had a strong spirit of duty on him; and plodded on instead over the braes till he came near the House of Cairngorm.

There, in a hollow place by the burnside that was shaded by some birks, he was aware of a barefoot boy, perhaps a matter of three years older than himself.

The two approached with the precautions of a pair of strange dogs, looking at each other queerly.
'It's ill weather on the hills,' said the stranger, giving the watchword.
'For a season,' said Francie, 'but the Lord will appear.' 'Richt,' said the barefoot boy; 'wha're ye frae ?' 'The Leddy Montroymont,' says Francie.
'Ha'e, then!' says the stranger, and handed him a folded paper, and they stood and looked at each other again.

'It's unco het,' said the boy.
'Dooms het,' says Francie.
'What do they ca' ye ?' says the other.
'Francie,' says he.

'I'm young Montroymont.