The old laird's liking for Mrs.Alison was strongly the young laird's.

Glenfernie, in the months since his father's death, had ridden often enough to Black Hill.

Now as he journeyed, together with the summer and melody of his thoughts Elspeth-toward, he was holding with himself a cogitation upon the subject of Ian and Ian's last letter.

He rode easily a powerful steed, needing to be strong for so strongly built a horseman.

His riding-dress was blue; he wore his own hair, unpowdered and gathered in a ribbon beneath a three-cornered hat.