Archie had Hermiston to attend to, multifarious activities in the hills, in which he did not require, and had even refused, Frank's escort.

He would be off sometimes in the morning and leave only a note on the breakfast table to announce the fact; and sometimes, with no notice at all, he would not return for dinner until the hour was long past.

Innes groaned under these desertions; it required all his philosophy to sit down to a solitary breakfast with composure, and all his unaffected good-nature to be able to greet Archie with friendliness on the more rare occasions when he came home late for dinner.
"I wonder what on earth he finds to do, Mrs.Elliott ?" said he one morning, after he had just read the hasty billet and sat down to table.
"I suppose it will be business, sir," replied the housekeeper drily, measuring his distance off to him by an indicated curtsy.
"But I can't imagine what business!" he reiterated.
"I suppose it will be _his_ business," retorted the austere Kirstie.
He turned to her with that happy brightness that made the charm of his disposition, and broke into a peal of healthy and natural laughter.
"Well played, Mrs.Elliott!" he cried; and the housekeeper's face relaxed into the shadow of an iron smile.

"Well played indeed!" said he.

"But you must not be making a stranger of me like that.