In one or two of his letters, which were never very long, Alec had just mentioned Kate; and now Mrs Forbes had many inquiries to make about her.

Old feelings and thoughts awoke in her mind, and made her wish to see the daughter of her old companion.

The absence of Annie, banished once more at the suggestion of worldly prudence, but for whose quiet lunar smile not even Alec's sunny presence could quite make up, contributed no doubt to this longing after the new maiden.

She wrote to Mr Fraser, asking him to allow his niece to pay her a visit of a few weeks; but she said nothing about it to Alec.

The arrangement happened to be convenient to Mr Fraser, who wished to accept an invitation himself.