‘The only thing I am anxious about is the girl,’ he muttered, more to himself than to the lad.  ’But she’ll find friends—­more of them, perhaps, than she’ll want, poor thing, poor thing!’

These words gave Walter something of a shock, and he looked round in quick wonderment.  But the return of Gladys just then prevented him asking the question trembling on his lips.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X.

IN AYRSHIRE.

The old man passed a quiet night, and was so much better in the morning that he insisted on getting up.

‘What kind of a morning is it?’ was the first question he put to Gladys when she entered the kitchen soon after six o’clock.

’A lovely morning, uncle, so balmy and soft.  You can’t think what a difference from yesterday, and there’s a bird singing a spring song in my tree.’

Often yet she said such things.  The grey monotony of her life had not quite destroyed the poetic vein, nor the love of all things beautiful.

‘Warm, is it?  Have you been out?’

’Not yet; but I opened my window and put my head out, and the air was quite mild.  A spring morning, Uncle Abel, the first we have had this year.’

‘Any sun?’

‘Not yet, but he will be up by and by.  How have you slept?’

’Pretty well.  I am better this morning—­quite well, in fact, and directly you have the fire on I’ll get up.’

‘Don’t be rash, uncle, I really think you ought to stay in bed to-day.’

’No; I have something to do.  How soon can you be ready—­finished with your work, I mean?  Have you anything you can leave ready for Wat’s dinner?’

‘Why, Uncle Abel?’ asked Gladys, in surprise.

‘Because I want you to go somewhere with me.’

‘You are not going out of this house one foot to-day,’ she answered quickly.  ‘It would be very dangerous.’

The old man smiled, slightly amused, but not displeased, by the decision with which she spoke.  ’We’ll see, if it keeps fine, and the sun comes out.  I’m going to-day, whatever the consequences, and you with me.  It’s been put off too long.’

Gladys asked no more questions, but made haste to build up the fire and get him a cup of tea before he rose.

’Put on your warm clothes, and make ready for a journey in the train, Gladys,’ he said after breakfast.

She looked at him doubtfully, almost wondering if his mind did not wander a little.

’Uncle Abel, what are you thinking of?  You never go journeys in trains.  It will not be safe for you to go to-day, with such a cold,’ she exclaimed.

’I am going, my dear, as I said, and so are you, whatever the consequences, so get ready as fast as you like, so that we may have the best of the day.’

‘Is it a far journey?’

‘You’ll see when you get there,’ he replied rather shortly; and Gladys, still wondering much, made haste with her work, and began to dress for this unexpected outing.  But she felt uneasy, and, stealing a moment, ran up to Walter, who was busy in the warehouse, and revelling in the unaccustomed luxury of a blazing fire.