He turned from her as he said the words, and, without speaking to Joris, passed through the garden-gate to his own home.  His mother and Mrs. Gordon, and several young ladies and gentlemen were sitting on the stoop, arranging for a turtle feast on the East River; and Neil’s advent was hailed with ejaculations of pleasure.  He affected to listen for a few minutes, and then excused himself upon the “assurance of having some very important writing to attend to.”  But, as he passed the parlour door, his father called him.  The elder was casting up some kirk accounts; but, as Neil answered the summons, he carefully put the extinguisher on one candle, and turned his chair from the table in a way which Neil understood as an invitation for his company.

[Illustration:  “Katherine, I am in great earnest”]

A moment’s reflection convinced Neil that it was his wisest plan to accede.  It was of the utmost importance that his father should be kept absolutely ignorant of his quarrel with Hyde; for Neil was certain that, if he suspected their intention to fight, he would invoke the aid of the law to preserve peace, and such a course would infallibly subject him to suspicions which would be worse than death to his proud spirit.

“Weel, Neil, my dear lad, you are early hame.  Where were you the night?”

“I have just left Katherine, sir, having followed your advice in my wooing.  I wish I had done so earlier.”

“Ay, ay; when a man is seventy years auld, he has read the book o’ life, ‘specially the chapter anent women, and he kens a’ about them.  A bonnie lass expects to hae a kind o’ worship; but the service is na unpleasant, quite the contrary.  Did you see Captain Hyde?”

“We met near Broadway, and exchanged civilities.”

“A gude thing to exchange.  When Gordon gets back frae Albany, I’ll hae a talk wi’ him, and I’ll get the captain sent there.  In Albany there are bonnie lasses and rich lasses in plenty for him to try his enchantments on.  There was talk o’ sending him there months syne; it will be done ere long, or my name isna Alexander Semple.”

“I see you are casting up the kirk accounts.  Can I help you, father?”

“I hae everything ready for the consistory.  Neil, what is the gude o’ us speaking o’ this and that, and thinking that we are deceiving each other?  I am vera anxious anent affairs between Captain Hyde and yoursel’; and I’m ’feard you’ll be coming to hot words, maybe to blows, afore I manage to put twa hundred miles atween you.  My lad, my ain dear lad!  You are the Joseph o’ a’ my sons; you are the joy o’ your mother’s life.  For our sake, keep a calm sough, and dinna let a fool provoke you to break our hearts, and maybe send you into God’s presence uncalled and unblessed.

“Father, put yoursel’ in my place.  How would you feel toward Captain Hyde?”

“Weel, I’ll allow that I wouldna feel kindly.  I dinna feel kindly to him, even in my ain place.”