Then Winsome and Ralph proceeded to other and not less extraordinary discoveries.  Sitting on a wind-overturned tree-trunk, looking out from the edge of the fringing woods of the Grannoch bank towards the swells of Cairnsmuir’s green bosom, they entered upon their position with great practicality.  Nature, with an unusual want of foresight, had neglected to provide a back to this sylvan seat, so Ralph attended to the matter himself.  This shows that self-help is a virtue to be encouraged.

Ralph had some disinclination to speak of the terrors of the night which had forever rolled away.  Still, he felt that the matter must be cleared up; so that it was with doubt in his mind that he showed Winsome the written line which had taken him to the bridge instead of to the hill gate.

“That’s Jess Kissock’s writing!” Winsome said at once.  Ralph had the same thought.  So in a few moments they traced the whole plot to its origin.  It was a fit product of the impish brain of Jess Kissock.  Jess had sent the false note of appointment to Ralph by Andra, knowing that he would be so exalted with the contents that he would never doubt its accuracy.  Then she had despatched Jock Gordon with “Winsome’s real letter to Greatorix Castle; in answer to the supposed summons, which was genuine enough, though not meant for him, Agnew Greatorix had come to the hill gate, and Jess had met Ralph by the bridge to play her own cards as best she could for herself.

“How wicked!” said Winsome, “after all.”

“How foolish!” said Ralph, “to think for a moment that any one could separate you and me.”

But Winsome bethought herself how foolishly jealous she had been when she found Jess putting a flower into Ralph’s coat, and Jess’s plot did not look quite so impossible as before.

“I think, dear,” said Ralph, “you must after this make your letters so full of your love, that there can be no mistake whom they are intended for.”

“I mean to,” said Winsome frankly.

There was also some fine scenery at this point.

But there was no hesitation in Ralph Peden’s tone when he settled down steadily to tell her of his hopes.

Winsome sat with her eyes downcast and her head a little to one side, like a bright-eyed bird listening.

“That is all true and delightful,” she said, “but we must not be selfish or forget.”

“We must remember one another!” said Ralph, with the absorption of newly assured love.

“We are in no danger of forgetting one another,” said that wise woman in counsel; “we must not forget others.  There is your father—­you have not forgotten him.”

With a pang Ralph remembered that there was yet something that he could not tell Winsome.  He had not even been frank with her concerning the reason of his leaving the manse and going to Edinburgh.  She only understood that it was connected with his love for her, which was not approved of by the minister of the Marrow kirk.