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.  But our Donald can cock his bonnet wi’ ony o’ them; there is na better blood in Scotland than the McFarlanes’.  It taks money though to foregather wi’ nobeelity, and Donald is wanting some.  So, James, I’ll gie ye the siller to-night, and ye’ll send it through your bank as early as may be in the morn.”

“Donald wanting money is an old want, Mr. Cameron.”

David glanced quickly at James, and answered almost haughtily, “It’s a common want likewise, James Blackie.  But if Donald McFarlane wants money, he’s got kin that can accommodate him, James; wanters arena always that fortunate.”

“He has got friends likewise, Mr. Cameron; and I am sure I was proud enough to do him a kindness, and he knows it well.”

“And how much may Donald be owing you, I wonder?”

“Only a little matter of L20.  You see he had got into—­”

“Dinna fash yoursel’ wi’ explanations, James.  Dootless Donald has his faults; but I may weel wink at his small faults, when I hae sae mony great faults o’ my ain.”

And David’s personal accusation sounded so much like a reproof, that
James did not feel it safe to pursue the subject.

That very night David wrote thus to his nephew: 

“Donald, my dear lad, if thou owest James Blackie L20, pay it immediate.  Lying is the second vice, owing money is the first.  I enclose draft for L70 instead o’ L50, as per request.”

That L70 was a large sum in the eyes of the careful Glasgow trader; in the young Highlander’s eyes it seemed but a small sum.  He could not form any conception of the amount of love it represented, nor of the struggle it had cost David to “gie awa for nae consideration” the savings of many days, perhaps weeks, of toil and thought.

In September Christine came back, and towards the end of October, Donald.  He was greatly improved externally by his trip and his associations—­more manly and more handsome—­while his manners had acquired a slight touch of hauteur that both amused and pleased his uncle.  It had been decided that he should remain in Glasgow another winter, and then select his future profession.  But at present Donald troubled himself little about the future.  He had returned to Christine more in love with the peace and purity of her character than ever; and besides, his pecuniary embarrassments in Glasgow were such as to require his personal presence until they were arranged.