‘Madame!’ said Mr. Rollo, waiting upon the last speaker, hat in hand.

‘Let him alone, my dear lady!’ said Mr. Kingsland; ’he’s got to prepare for coffee and pistols with Mr. Falkirk.  And coffee I fancy he’s ready for—­eh, Dane?  Go get your breakfast, and I’ll break matters gently to the guardian.’

‘Will you do that, my dear fellow?’

‘Can you doubt me?’

‘I wish you would, for I am hungry,’ said Dane, drawing his hand over his face.  ’Mr. Falkirk is going off toward the cataract—­just run after him and tell him that his ward is come home;—­has he had breakfast?’

‘Run, I guess I—­won’t’ said Mr. Kingsland.  ’But to be the first bearer of welcome news’—­And Mr. Falkirk roaming among trees and rocks was presently accosted by two gentlemen.

‘Allow me, my dear sir, to congratulate you,’ said the foremost.  ’Miss Kennedy is safe.  Our friend Rollo has with his usual sagacity gone straight to the mark, and without a moment’s thought of his own breakfast or strength has found the young lady and followed her home.’

‘She is at home, then?’ said Mr. Falkirk.

’She is at home, sir; the Mountain House is made radiant by her presence.  And now, permit me—­Dr. Maryland,—­son of your friend at Chickaree.  Only your neighbour upon Christian principles here, sir, but bona fide neighbour at Chickaree, and most anxious to be acquainted with the fair owner thereof.’

Too honest-hearted to feel the inuendo of Mr. Kingsland’s last words, their undeniable truth flushed Dr. Maryland somewhat as he shook hands with Mr. Falkirk.  He was a well looking young man, with a clear blue eye which said the world’s sophistications would find no Parley the porter to admit them; and Mr. Falkirk would certainly have begun to like his young neighbour on the spot, if he had not been on a sudden summoned to the house.

Miss Hazel, speeding up-stairs in the manner before related, reached her room safely; but there proceeding to answer or evade Mrs. Saddler’s questions, also to indulge herself in sundry musings, did not indeed forget to despatch a peremptory order for breakfast; but as that refreshment was somewhat delayed, the young lady in an impatient fit of time-saving began to change her dress, and fainted away charmingly during the process.  At which moment the maid and breakfast entered the room, and the former promptly set down her tray, and ran off to summon the only doctor then at the Mountain House.

Little did Dr. Maryland guess the meaning of those mysterious words—­’a lady wants you!’ Still less, what lady.  And as by the time he reached the room, Miss Hazel opened her eyes for his express benefit, the doctor stopped short in the middle of the room, his ideas more unsettled than ever.  But Mr. Falkirk, who had accompanied the doctor, though not expecting to find their paths all the way identical, pressed forward with a face of great concern.