“Yes, madam.  It is bad for the vassals and tenants of a noble —­ even though a newly made one, and on an estate of moderate dimensions —­ when their lord is absent, and there is none to look after them save an intendant, whose duty it is to collect as much rent as he is able.  Such is the position of my tenants.  I am a soldier, and must perforce be absent.  What I need greatly is someone who will fill my place in this respect.  I have an old friend who is captain of the garrison, and sees to all things in the household; I have an intendant, I believe a worthy young man, who collects my rents and looks to the feeding and needs of the servants and garrison; but I need someone who would interest herself actively in the condition of my tenants, who would be a friend to them in sickness, would give aid from my purse to those who really need it, would send food to the starving, and aid my intendant by advising him as to who are worthy of relief and who are suffering from their own idleness or thriftlessness —­ who will, in short, act as I would have my wife act had I one.

“Now, madame la baronne if you will honour me by making my home yours so long as I am away at the wars, which may last, for aught I know, for years yet, you will be conferring a great favour upon me.  You will have your own suite of apartments, where your meals will be served to you.  You will have horses to ride.  You will relieve my intendant of the necessity of seeing that the servants perform their duties, and give him more time to devote himself to the business of the estate, and will in fact act as chatelaine, save only in matters connected with the garrison in the defence of the castle.”

“Your offer is kind in the extreme, Colonel Campbell, but I could not accept it,” she said.  “You are only inventing such an office in order to give a home to me and Norah.”

“I can assure you, madam, that the thought is not a new one to me —­ I have often wished that there was a lady in the castle.  One who would see after the wives and families of the vassals; and I should feel myself under a real obligation to you if you would fill the place.  You see, madam, it would cost me nothing, for food and drink there is in abundance.  I have two splendid horses, given me by the Duc d’Enghien, standing idle in their stalls.  I shall be happy in knowing that my tenants would be well looked after, and shall be glad indeed that you and your daughter, my countrywomen, should, for the present at any rate, have a home.”

The tears were streaming down the lady’s face.

“Accept, mother,” the girl said, putting her hand on her shoulder.  “Surely God sent this gentleman to our rescue when we were very near death.  Why should we not accept this fresh kindness at his hands?”

Her mother looked up.  “My daughter has chosen for me, Colonel Campbell.  I accept your offer with the deepest thankfulness.  Were I to refuse now, the time might come when I should be reduced to such straits that for my daughter’s sake I should bitterly regret that I had refused your generous offer; therefore I accept it, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.”