The summer brought some changes.

Christine went to the seaside for a few weeks, and Donald went away in Lord Neville's yacht with a party of gay young men; James and David passed the evenings generally together.

If it was wet, they remained in the shop or parlor; if fine, they rambled to the "Green," and sitting down by the riverside talked of business, of Christine, and of Donald.

In one of these confidential rambles James first tried to arouse in David's mind a suspicion as to his nephew's real character.

David himself introduced the subject by speaking of a letter he had received from Donald.
"He's wi' the great Earl o' Egremont at present," said David proudly, for he had all a Scotsman's respect for good birth; "and there is wi' them young Argyle, and Lord Lovat, and ithers o' the same quality.