As his heart had foretold him, there sat the youth whom he had determined to hate, but his imagination had greatly deceived him with regard to his appearance.  He had thought of Donald only as a “fair, false Highlander” in tartan, kilt, and philibeg.  He found him a tall, dark youth, richly dressed in the prevailing Southern fashion, and retaining no badge of his country’s costume but the little Glengary cap with its chieftain’s token of an eagle’s feather.  His manners were not rude and haughty, as James had decided they would be; they were singularly frank and pleasant.  Gracious and graceful, exceedingly handsome and light-hearted, he was likely to prove a far more dangerous rival than even James’ jealous heart had anticipated.

He rose at Christine’s introduction, and offered his hand with a pleasant smile to James.  The latter received the courtesy with such marked aversion that Donald slightly raised his eyebrows ere he resumed his interrupted conversation with Christine.  And now that James sat down with a determination to look for offences he found plenty.  Christine was sewing, and Donald sat beside her winding and unwinding her threads, playing with her housewife, or teasingly hiding her scissors.  Christine, half pleased and half annoyed, gradually fell into Donald’s mood, and her still face dimpled into smiles.  James very quickly decided that Donald presumed in a very offensive manner on his relationship to Christine.

A little after nine o’clock David, having closed his shop, joined them in the parlor.  He immediately began to question James about the loss of the “Bonnie Bess,” and from that subject they drifted easily into others of a local business interest.  It was very natural that Donald, being a stranger both to the city and its business, should take no part in this discourse, and that he should, in consequence, devote himself to Christine.  But James felt it an offence, and rose much earlier than was his wont to depart.  David stayed him, almost authoritatively: 

“Ye maun stop, baith o’ ye lads, and join in my meat and worship.  They are ill visitors that canna sit at ane board and kneel at ane altar.”

For David had seen, through all their drifting talk of ships and cargoes, the tumult in James’ heart, and he did not wish him to go away in an ungenerous and unjust temper.  So both Donald and James partook of the homely supper of pease brose and butter, oatmeal cakes and fresh milk, and then read aloud with David and Christine the verses of the evening Psalm that came to each in turn.  James was much softened by the exercise; so much so that when Donald asked permission to walk with him as far as their way lay together, he very pleasantly acceded to the request.  And Donald was so bright and unpretentious it was almost impossible to resist the infectious good temper which seemed to be his characteristic.