As for Gladys, she felt restless and unhappy, she did not know why; only she knew that never had her thoughts reverted with such lingering persistence to the past, never had its memories seemed more fraught with sweetness and with pain.  She was an enigma, she could not understand herself.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXVI.

UNDER DISCUSSION.

Teen took quite a long walk along the bleak country road, and on her way back dropped in at the lodge.

Mrs. Macintyre and the redoubtable ’Tammy’—­a very round and chubby urchin, as unlike a denizen of the slums as could well be imagined—­were sitting at tea by the cosy hearth, and there was a warm welcome and a cup for the visitor at once.

‘Come awa’, my wummin; I saw ye gang by,’ said the good soul cheerily.  ‘My, but ye hae a fine colour; jist gang ben an’ look at yersel’ in the room gless.  Ye’re no’ like the same lassie.’

Teen smiled rather incredulously, and did not go ‘ben’ to verify the compliment.

‘It’s a fine place this,’ she said, as she dropped into a chair.  ’A body’s never tired.  I wonder onybody bides in the toon when there’s sae much room in the country.’

The wideness of the landscape, its solitary freedom, and its quiet, impressed the city girl in no ordinary way.  After the crush and struggle of the overcrowded streets, which she had not until now left behind, it was natural she should be so impressed.

‘I walkit as far as frae the Trongate to the Briggate, an’ I saw naething but twa-three sheep an’ a robin red-breist sittin’ in the hedge,’ she said musingly.  ’It’s breist was as red as it had been pented.  I didna ken ye could see them leevin’?’

‘Oh, there’s thoosan’s o’ them,’ quoth Tammy enthusiastically.  ’In the spring that hedge up the road will be thick wi’ nests, filled wi’ eggs o’ a’ kinds.’

‘Which ye’ll leave alane, my man, or I’ll warm ye,’ said his aunt, with a warning glance.  ’Ay, my wummin, this is a hantle better nor the Trongate or the Briggate o’ Glesca.  An’ what’s the young leddy aboot this efternune?’

‘Writin’ letters, I think.  Has she said onything to you, Mrs. Macintyre, aboot makin’ a Club for lassies in the toon?’

‘Tammy,’ said Mrs. Macintyre, ‘tak’ the wee jug an’ rin up to the dairy, an’ ask Mrs. Grieve if she’ll gie ye a hap’nyworth o’ mair cream.’

She did not urgently require the cream, but it was necessary at the moment to get rid of Tammy, who was a remarkably shrewd boy, with very long ears and a wonderful understanding.

Just as Tammy departed, rather unwillingly it must be told, the carriage from the house came bowling down the avenue, and Mrs. Macintyre ran out to open the gate.  From her seat by the fire Teen could see over the low white window-blind that George Fordyce sat in it alone.

‘There’s something up,’ said Mrs. Macintyre.  ‘D’ye see that?’