’It will make a great change about here,’ said she, with her eyes averted, ’your going away.’
’There’s no one missed for long,’ he answered, in his downright fashion. ’Where people go, people come; the places get filled up.’
’Yes, but sometimes they are not quite the same,’ said she rather gently. She was thinking of the newcomer. Would he be the universal favourite that Ronald was—always good-natured and laughing, but managing everybody and everything; lending a hand at the sheep-shearing or playing the pipes at a wedding—anything to keep life moving along briskly; and always ready to give her father a day’s hare-shooting or a turn at the pools of Mudal-Water when the spates began to clear? She knew quite well—for often had she heard it spoken of—that no one could get on as well as Ronald with the shepherds at the time of the heather-burning: when on the other moors the shepherds and keepers were growling and quarrelling like rival leashes of collies, on Lord Ailine’s ground everything was peace and quietness and good humour. And then she had a vague impression that the next keeper would be merely a keeper; whereas Ronald was—Ronald.
’I’m sure I was half ashamed,’ said he, ’when I got his lordship’s letter. It was as fair an offer as one man could make to another; or rather, half a dozen offers; for he said he would raise my wage, if that was what was wrong; or he would let me have another lad to help me in the kennels; or, if I was tired of the Highlands he would get me a place at his shooting in the south. Well, I was sweirt to trouble his lordship with my small affairs; but after that I couldna but sit down and write to him the real reason of my leaving——’
’And I’m certain,’ said she quickly, ’that he will write back and offer you any help in his power.’
’No, no,’ said he, with a kind of laugh, ’the one letter is enough—if it ever comes to be a question of a written character. But it’s just real friendly and civil of him; and if I could win up here for a week or a fortnight in August, I would like well to lend them a hand and set them going; for it will be a good year for the grouse, I’m thinking——’
’Oh, will you be coming to see us in August?’ she said, with her eyes suddenly and rather wistfully lighting up.