would not approve. Now that I am satisfied she would approve, I
accept. Whatever may result or happen, I shall go on following the
course that he has set for me. So help me, God!" Sir Colin stood
up, and I must say a more martial figure I never saw. He was in full
uniform, for he was going on to the King's levee after our business.
He drew his sword from the scabbard and laid it naked on the table
before Rupert, and said:

"You are going, sir, into a strange and danger country--I have been
reading about it since we met--and you will be largely alone amongst
fierce mountaineers who resent the very presence of a stranger, and
to whom you are, and must be, one. If you should ever be in any
trouble and want a man to stand back to back with you, I hope you
will give me the honour!" As he said this pointed to his sword.
Rupert and I were also standing now--one cannot sit down in the
presence of such an act as that. "You are, I am proud to say, allied
with my family: and I only wish to God it was closer to myself."
Rupert took him by the hand and bent his head before him as answered:

"The honour is mine, Sir Colin; and no greater can come to any man
than that which you have just done me. The best way I can show how I
value it will be to call on you if I am ever in such a tight place.
By Jove, sir, this is history repeating itself. Aunt Janet used to
tell me when I was a youngster how MacKelpie of Croom laid his sword
before Prince Charlie. I hope I may tell her of this; it would make
her so proud and happy. Don't imagine, sir, that I am thinking
myself a Charles Edward. It is only that Aunt Janet is so good to me
that I might well think I was."

Sir Colin bowed grandly: