"I was away with my gun all yesterday, and heard nothing of it." "Why, it seems Miss Jane's invited 'em to make her a visit." "But not yet, Don! Not so soon." "Na'theless, they're here." "How many, Don ?" "Two, lad.

A bonny young thing came on the morning train, an' a nice, wide-awake one by the two o'clock." "Girls ?" with an accent of horror.
"Young females, anyhow," said Donald, polishing a buckle briskly.
The boy glared at him fixedly.
"Will they be running about the place, Don ?" "Most likely, 'Twould be a shame to shut them up with the poor missus this glad weather.

But why not?
They'll be company for ye, Kenneth lad." "How long will they stay ?" "Mabbe for aye.

Oscar forbys one or the ither o' 'em will own the place when Miss Jane gi'es up the ghost." The boy sat silent a moment, thinking upon this speech.

Then, with a cry that was almost a scream, he dashed the box upon the floor and flew out the door as if crazed, and Donald paused to listen to his footsteps clattering down the stairs.
Then the old man groaned dismally, shaking his side-whiskers with a negative expression that might have conveyed worlds of meaning to one able to interpret it.