Among the Heather. New edition

Front matter

THE 'PANSY' SERIES. Crown Svo, cloth elegant, Illustrated. DOROTHY'S VOCATION. By Evelyn Everett Green. Crown &vo, cloth elegant, Illustrated. OLIVER LANGTON'S WARD. By Evelyn Everett Green. Crown Svo, cloth elegant, with Frontispiece. CHRISSY'S ENDEAVOUR. By Pansy. Author's Edition. Crown &vo, cloth elegant. Illustrated. A SEVENFOLD TROUBLE. By Pansy and her Friends. Crown %vo, cloth elegant, Illustrated. SCOTTISH SKETCHES. By Amelia E. Barr. Olip^ani, Knd.e.v$on, 4 Peppier. EDINBURGH: 1 LONDON: 30 St Mary Street. 1 24 Old Bah.ey, E.C "DON'T fOU REALLY KNOW WHAT GIVING A PIECE OF WHITE HEATHER MEANS, Miss GRANT?"— Page 92, A HIGHLAND STORY BY A. C. HERTFORD AUTHOR Of LOVE CONQUEKS AM.' AA'ir EDITION EDINBURGH & LONDON OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER By the Author of 'AMONG THE HEATHER.' Small crown Zvo, paper covers, is.; cloth extra, is. 6d. LOWE CONQUERS ALL.

By A. C. Hertford. ' The salient points of character are hit off with a mingled pathos and humour which make delightful reading.' — British Weekly EDINBURGH & LONDON OLIPHANT ANDERSON & FERRIER. MORRISON AND G1BB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. CONTENTS. PAGE Chapter I. . • • • . . , 7 Chaptee II. . . . . . . . .11 Chapter III. ....... 29 Chapter IV. . . . . . , .39 Chapter V. . . . . . . . .54 Chapter ArI. . . ..... 73 Chaptep. VII. ....... 85 Chapter VIII. . . . . . . .105 Chapter IX. ....... 119 Chapter X. . . . . . . . .139 Chapter XI. ....... 153 Chapter XII. . . . . . . .157 Chapter XIII. . . . . . . .167 Chapter XIAr. ....... 176 COaYTEaVTS. PAS.E Chapter XV. ....... 191 Chapter XVI • -201 Chapter XVII. . . . . . . .220 Chapter XVII 1 228 Chapter XIX. ... ... 242 CnArTEii XX. . . . . . . .252 Chapter XXI. . . . . . . .264 Chapter XXII. ....... 27S Chapter XXIII. . . . . . . .289 Chapter XXI A'. . . . . . .292 Chapter XXV. . . . . . . 305 Chapter XXVI. ...... . :.i5 AMONG THE II E A T H E R CHAl'TER I. 'She charmed my heart, and aye sin' syne I couldna think on ony ither ; By sea and sky she shall be mine, The bonnie lass amang the heather.' ■Glover.

HE E top of the long hill was gained, the avenue - gate entered, a short drive, and Norah Grant was safely landed at Robin Lodge, county Ross-shire, country Scotland. So you are introduced to my heroine. But just as you could not, with politeness, scan too closely a lady presented to you in your own drawing-room, so do not stare Miss Grant out of countenance now ; you shall see her and know her better, presently, when her travelling garments and some of the journey's marks have been removed together. No welcome could have been warmer than young Mrs. Ross's, no room could have been more cosy than t that to which she led her guest, no arm-chair could have been more tempting than the one Norah was pushed into ; finally, no cup of tea is ever so refreshing as that blessed cup presented by a friendly hand after a long and tedious journey.

Chapter II

' I said I -would die a bachelor. ' — Shakespeare. ,0 letters till eleven, I suppose,' said Norah, as she entered the dining-room next morning, looking very fresh and trim in her tight-fitting blue serge and pretty ruffles. ' Good-morning, Mr. Ross ; good-morning, Mr. Lindsay. AYhat a glorious day ! Come and kiss me, Ted, or I won't spread you any bread and marmalade.' ' Do you expect letters already, Miss Grant, and only arrived yesterday evening ? What indefatigable writers ladies are, to be sure ! ' laughed Mr. Lindsay. ' No, when I come to consider, I could hardly get one yet ; but, whether I am expecting any or not, the sound of the postman always gives me such a pleasant feeling. That's one of the comforts of living in a town.' ' Discomforts I should call them,' said Mr. Ross ; ' but I suppose you feel like Mr. Micawber, that " something may turn up."

I'm afraid you'll have to wait as long AaUONG the heather. 15 for your letters this year as last, for there is no im provement in that respect, and Ted still waits at the gate at eleven, to act postman up to the house. But here's Fanny, so come to breakfast, good people all. I, for one, am hungry, as I've had half an hour's walk already. It's a perfect morning, I only hope not too bright to last.' Mr. Leicester had not as yet made his appearance ; but no one seemed surprised at that, evidently being well accustomed to the young man's unpunctual ways Towards the end of breakfast he came in, marvellously attired in a bright tartan kilt, and looking more like a young Englishman than ever. He made a thousand apologies to Fanny ; as, however, they, as well as his unpunctuality, were everyday affairs, she received them very quietly, only asking if he would take tea or coffee. ' What's the order of the day ? ' asked Mr. Ross, as they finished breakfast. ' Leicester, I see you're got up in shooting costume.

Lindsay, what will you do — shoot, fish, or sketch ? I suspect the ladies won't care to do much to-day, as we must break Miss Grant in by degrees, and not finish her up entirely the first day.' ' Little fear of that,' answered Norah brightly ; ' I never felt stronger or better in my life, and am equal to whatever Fanny likes. Don't put me down as a thorough Cockney, please, Mr. Ross.' ' No, I won't, for you don't deserve such treatment, after the plucky ways of last year, when you certainly climbed more like a Scotch than an English girl' 'Well,' remarked Fanny, 'Norah may soon have a chance of displaying her climbing to a thoroughly English girl, for Kate Tennant arrives on Saturday. She is rather fond of gaiety, I fancy, and has never been in the Highlands before, so I hope she won't find us very dull up here.' ' If she does, she doesn't deserve to come,' laughed Norah. ' Are you going to shoot, Mr. Ross ? ' ' Yes, Leicester and I will see what we can kill to-day, if you are sure you would prefer a turn at the fish, Lindsay.

I'm only afraid it is too bright for them to take well to-day.' ' Never mind ; if they don't, I can finish my sketch. I am not quite such an ardent sportsman as yourself, you know, Ross, and two days like yesterday over the moors are rather more than I care for ; so I wish you every luck, and shall potter about at home to-day, I think. Are you " for out " already, Miss Grant, as the good people here say ? ' as Norah came into the room, after following Teddy upstairs, to put on her hat for the promised expedition with that young torment. ' Yes, Ted and I arranged a walk yesterday evening, and even settled how long my breakfast was to last,' laughed Norah. ' No, Mr. Leicester, I'm afraid our walk was to be a tete-d-lete,' as that gentleman was preparing to offer his company ; ' you know Ted and I are old friends and we've such a round of calls to make together, that you would be quite tired out, and, besides, be late for the shooters.

We're going first to see old Duncan,' she AAfONG THE HEATHER. 17 said, turning to Fanny. ' I really have some compunction in showing myself to him ; for last year, when I wished him good-bye, he said, "Ah, Miss Nory, may ye soon be safe in Abraham's bosom ; " so perhaps he will be disappointed at seeing me still in this vale of tears.' ' I suppose "he meant much the same as the Irish do, when they hope " your bed in heaven may be ai3y," ' remarked Mr. Lindsay. ' He's a fine old man, that Duncan, and I admire Ted's sense in the bestowal of his friendships ; if only he could sometimes give a straight answer, he would be perfect.' ' Don't expect that,' said Norah, ' it's not in his con stitution ; it is a trial, though, particularly if one is in a hurry. Fanny says it comes from their speaking so much Gaelic, where there are no such words as " yes " and " no ; " but I think it is a little peculiarity in their organization which they can't possibly help.' Ted had meanwhile been making frantic signs to Norah from the lawn ; so she followed him now, and disappeared down the path leading to the lake.

Mr. Leicester watched her depart, and then muttered to him self, ' Confound that shooting ! I never meant to go out at all to-day ; and if the simple fact of wearing a kilt makes them think I mean to shoot, I declare I'll wear black clothes all the rest of my visit;' and he went rather disconsolately to prepare for his expedition. ' Isn't that a dear nice girl ? ' said Mrs. Ross to Geoffrey as they stood in the window, after Norah had disappeared from view. u ' She seems so indeed, and it is certainly a rarity now adays to find a pretty girl seemingly so unspoilt.' ' And really so,' said Fanny eagerly, for her love for Norah was very true and warm, and she was never tired of singing her friend's praises ; besides, to tell the truth, just at present she had an object in doing so. ' You can't think, Mr. Lindsay,' she continued, ' what that girl is at home ; and that's the place to try character.

Ever since her husband's death, Mrs. Grant has had very poor health, and almost all the housekeeping now devolves on Norah (a more difficult task indeed than if she had entire management). They are not very rich, though comfortably off; and yet I am sure that Norah, with her small allowance, does more good than many girls with double the amount. She is never idle, and finds time with all her other duties to help her little sister with her lessons ; in fact,' added Fanny, ' I can't say more than that she is really good — below the surface, I mean — and, as you see, with no prudery.' '"A maid who can be merry, And yet devout at prayer, quoted Geoffrey half-shyly — ' perhaps that's the secret, Mrs. Ross.' Fanny looked up surprised ; as a rule, Geoffrey Lindsay was so quiet and self-contained, she hardly expected such words from him, though she liked him all the better for them. ' Yes, I think that is just it, Mr. Lindsay ; and I speak from experience, for I have known Norah Grant many years now.

She has, of course, like the rest of us, her own faults, but they lie much on the surface ; and I think, among all my friends, I know no girl who would make a better wife to a good husband, some day, than Norah. But when I get on this subject I never know when to stop ; so I will run away and order my household, or you will get no dinner to-night, and what would you all say then ? ' and Mrs. Ross hurried away, well pleased with their little conversation. Geoffrey stood where she had left him, enjoying the glorious view and delicious air, frosty, as the early mornings so often are by the beginning of September in the Highlands ; rather smiling to himself the while, for he thought he understood his kind little hostess's wishes for himself, and this friend she had been praising up to the skies for the last ten minutes, at her busiest time in the morning.

But the little woman was so evidently only anxious that those she loved should be as happy as herself (though perhaps these things are better left to arrange themselves), that no one could possibly be offended with her. But Geoffrey was amused ; it was still such very early days to think of such a thing. Why, he had been in the house with this Miss Grant barely one day, and though all he had seen of her certainly attracted him, he felt no inclination to fall in love with her ; besides, he was a sworn bachelor, and would in all pro bability die one ; he was getting too old to settle down into married life ; and he walked off whistling a verse of a song, the words of which, could Fanny have heard them, would have cast her hopes to the ground. Geoffrey got his fishing apparatus together, saw the shooters off, and then strolled down towards the lake, on the look-out for Duncan.

The Lodge stood on high ground, commanding a lovely view ; from the lawn in front a gate led into a thick fir-wood, and walking on through this brought you to the lake. Into this wood Geoffrey sauntered, thinking that he would come some morning early and take a sketch, for the sun was shining through the branches in a way that delighted his artist eye. As he came out of the wood and in sight of the lake he looked about, expecting to see Duncan at his usual occupation of mending the trout-nets ; but he was not in sight, and Geoffrey descended to the shore to look for him. As he did so he heard Teddy's clear voice, and, turning round, espied him at a little distance, perched on the keel of a boat Duncan was mending, and Norah leaning against it, chatting to the old man, who looked perfectly happy and pleased.

They had their backs to him, and as he came up he overheard Duncan's answer to Norah's last remark. ' Weel, Miss Nory ' (he never could be induced to call her by her proper name), — ' Weel, Miss Nory, ye're just aboot richt, an' it's no' vary freaquent I mak a meestak aboot the waither, far you see, mem, I've bin born an' bred i' the place whatever, an' am maybe pretty flu'nt wi' the ailiments ; though it's no' for the like o' me to be prood o' that, the Lord be thankit. Still I do think, Miss Nory, ye needna be feared for the waither the day ; far if it doesna' turn shoory, it's pratty shure to be faire.' ' A truly Highland speech,' thought Geoffrey, as he came round to the trio. ' How are you to-day, Duncan ?

Miss Grant, I didn't expect to find you here yet, but I suppose Ted brought you to see his friend Duncan first thing.' ' Course,' said Ted from his perch ; ' Miss Grant wanted to ask about the weather, Mr. Geoff' ' And have got a very satisfactory answer,' said Norah, looking up with a laugh in her eye. ' I daresay you may have overheard it as you came up, Mr. Lindsay ; it has quite set my mind at rest for this day at least ; ' then raising her voice, for Duncan was very deaf, she said, ' We've been coaxing Duncan to give us a row this after noon ; it's just a day for the water, so still and lovely ; and I have not had a row since this time last year, so I long for one.' ' Ay, ay, mem ; ye shall have yer row, an' the young gen'leman too ; an' Donal', he'll just help me clane oot the boat, an' mak it worthy o' ye.' Norah begged he would not take any trouble about it ; and calling rather in haste to Teddy, who she saw was meditating the experiment of a paddle with his boots and stockings on, she told him if they did not go at once they would never be at the gate by eleven. ' You don't know what a lot we have to do this morning, Mr. Lindsay,' she said, turning to him, laughing ; ' we've already called on Carlo, but he was out, and we only left cards ; and on the large Hen family, who were nearly all at home, but at breakfast, so it would not have been good manners to stay long and watch them.

Now our call on Duncan is finished, and we have still a visit to pay to Mrs. Macintosh, and after that to some pet puppies of Ted's in the stable ; so you see we must not waste our time here. Good-bye for the present ; come, Teddy' Geoffrey watched her retreating figure, thinking to himself what a graceful one it was. It had wisely been left much to Nature to form, and she had been very kind to it, as she usually is when she gets a chance. Norah consequently had a handsome, easy figure and a free, unconscious carriage — great charms ; and so thought Geoffrey, as he turned to arrange about his fishing expedition with old Duncan. They met again at lunch, when Geoffrey came in rather disappointed at his bad sport ; for it was far too bright for the knowing little fish to take. However, he said he would take a turn at his sketch in the afternoon and make use of the fine weather while it lasted. ' When does your row come off, Miss Grant ?

Is it to be a Ute-a-tete again with your friend Teddy, or may I be allowed a seat too ? ' ' You had better ask him,' she answered, with a smile, ' as it is his entertainment ; but Milly is coming, and, Fanny, you are going to favour us too, are you not ? so I should think you might get permission. Duncan said we might come about four.' ' Then I shall finish my sketch, and join you on the shore at that time, when I shall have earned a row.' Norah retired to her room after lunch, and wrote diligently for some time. It was not an employment she much cared about — receiving news was more to her taste ; but she knew what a treat letters were to those at home, and how eagerly Madge would look for one from her, and it would not have been like Norah to disappoint her. So she did her duty bravely, and at the appointed time seated herself in the boat, with a clear conscience and light heart.

Duncan's services were dis pensed with, as Geoffrey would row, and they went lazily up and down, enjoying the delicious evening and glorious view. Norah was rather quiet ; beautiful scenery, like beauti ful music, made her disinclined to talk ; and as she sat idly letting her hand dip into the water at each move ment of the boat, with her pretty grey eyes dreamily fixed on the changing scene, she looked very sweet and simple. As I have said, a great charm about Norah was the entire absence of self-consciousness ; and as Geoffrey sat opposite her, lazily pulling them along, he enjoyed his view quite as much as she did hers. The children kept up a little chatter between themselves, and Fanny was fully occupied in guarding their movements. Geof frey felt quite inclined to be quiet too just then, and they drifted along peacefully for some minutes.

Norah roused herself presently, and said, laughing, — ' This would soon turn into a Quakers' meeting were it not for the children. Mr. Lindsay, may I take an oar ? I tried once or twice last year, and should like to see how much I remember.' They changed places, and rowed home in a more sociable manner. On reaching home they found Mr. Ross seated at the tea-table, doing its honours in truly masculine style to himself and Percival Leicester, who was, as usual, reclin ing in an arm-chair, listlessly reading some letters which had arrived during his absence. ' Well, I do call this nice treatment,' remarked Mr. Ross, as the boating-party came in. ' Here are Leicester and I quite done up, expecting a cheerful welcome on our return home, and we find the house perfectly de serted, even the children out, and I am reduced to pouring out the tea — very untidy, disagreeable work it is too.' ' So you seem to have found, Mr. Ross,' said Norah, laughing, and pointing to the tea-cloth. ' I think that poor cloth has got quite as much tea as the cups.

Fanny, you are tired. Let me pour out the tea; please do; I like it.' ' If you will be so good, dear, I shall be much obliged, and luxuriate in this arm-chair a little. Ned, if you wanted to find us at home, pray why did you return so early ? It's barely six yet. Had you poor sport ? ' ' No ; pretty good on the whole. But I don't fancy Leicester felt much inclined for it to-day, eh, Leicester ? ' ' Well, no ; I can't say I did exactly. I fancy I was nervous, or something, and found myself constantly wondering what was going on at home,' answered Per cival, with a languishing look towards Norah, which, however, she did not see, her attention being wholly given to the tea. Geoffrey came forward to hand the cups, which Percival perceiving, up he jumped, with many apologies for his tardiness ; but he was too late, and only received a cool ' thanks ' from Norah, and advice to rest after his long day's work, and then she went on with something she was saying to Geoffrey.

Percival glanced at the two for a moment, with anything but a pleased expression of countenance, and, saying he had some letters to answer, quitted the room. ' What on earth is the matter with that boy ? ' asked Mr. Ross, when he was gone. ' He has been about as amiable as two sticks all day. Not brought down one bird, and only brightened up when I proposed returning home ; a thing which I was very loth to do, for the birds were splendid — less wild than they have been for days. But I began to be afraid the boy was ill' ' Oh, I don't think there is much the matter in that way,' said Fanny. ' He seemed well enough this morning, although I did not think he was very anxious to shoot.' ' Perhaps the kilt does not quite agree with him. I noticed the colours were very bright, and perhaps the green was arsenic,' proposed Norah demurely. ' Miss Grant, don't be so satirical.

Why should not this descendant of the Leicesters dress as lie chooses ? ' said Mr. Ross. ' Oh, by all means,' answered Norah. ' Only it's a pity some " fay " could not " the giftie gie him, to see himself as others see him ; " and I hold to my opinion that none but a Highlander has the right to wear a kilt, and if others do so, why, they deserve to look ill and be laughed at. However, let this particular kilt rest in peace, by all means, and Mr. Leicester may shoot in his dress-suit to-morrow, studs and all, without my remarking on the subject.' ' He won't get the chance, I fear,' said Mr. Ross ; ' for Macintosh thinks the birds require a rest. So we must amuse ourselves at home, and take a drive — to Dingwall, perhaps, if you feel inclined, or some such thing.' ' Nothing nicer,' answered Norah. ' Fanny, I am going to improve my mind with a book till it is time to dress for dinner ; ' and, departing with Guy Mannering, she enjoyed half an hour's comfortable reading before beginning to adorn herself for that meal.

She appeared at dinner-time in a pale-blue cashmere, with a lace handkerchief round her pretty shoulders, a dress that became her perfectly. Afraid she had been rather rude to Percival at tea-time, she exerted herself to be polite and pleasant to him now, stupid as she found his conversation. Percival brightened wonderfully under the process, coming out with one or two more than usually brilliant remarks, and attaching himself to her so closely in the drawing-room afterwards that Norah began to repent of her kind-heartedness. Of course Mr. Leicester sang ; he did a little of everything, and excelled in nothing. Moreover, his songs invariably were about ' The Stormy Billows of the Deep,' ' The Roar of the Winds,' or something equally stormy in character ; and it used always to try Norah's gravity to the utmost to hear him warble these songs with his in significant little tenor.

To-night, after she had played for some time and left the piano, he was requested to sing by the kind-hearted Fanny, who knew he would be disappointed were he not asked, as he had a great idea of his own powers in that line. So he looked through his collection, being evidently particular in his selection to-night, and bringing two songs to Norah, asked if she would be so kind as to accompany him. Hardly glancing at the songs, she answered, ' So sorry, Mr. Leicester, but you know I don't read music at first sight.' ' Oh, but really, Miss Grant,' remonstrated poor Percival, much hurt, ' I sang these songs ever so often last year to your accompaniment — these very same songs. I picked them out on purpose.' Of course Norah could say no more ; and, much to Geoffrey's amusement, who was seated near and had heard the whole affair, she rose and went to the piano, where Percival warbled away and felt happy.

Later on in the evening Mr. Ross said, ' I say, Geoff, you lazy fellow, you've not sung once since you came. Come, bring out your music and fire away. Perhaps Miss Grant will kindly accompany you.' But, alas ! if Norah ' could not read at first sight ' one hour ago, she certainly could not pretend to have acquired the talent in so short a space of time; and so now, though she knew she could easily have complied with the request, she was obliged, on the same grounds as before, to refuse ; and to her secret annoyance Fanny took her place, volunteering to try what she could do. Norah and Geoffrey had been very pleasant and friendly all day, and she was really sorry to refuse. As Fanny saw her visitor to her room that night, and they were warming their feet over Norah's fire, she said, Well, dear, what do you think of our visitors this year, now that you have had a day's experience ? ' ' Oh, as to Mr. Leicester, you know my feelings of last year concerning him, and they have not altered one jot.

Mr. Lindsay seems nice ; but I don't know him well enough to venture an opinion ; ' with which cautious answer Mrs. Ross had to be content, as her friend then changed the subject.

Chapter III

'She spake such good thoughts natural.' — Browning. ISS TENNANT arrived late the next after noon. She was a girl of about five-and twenty, small, and very dark. A nice girl on the whole, but very strongly imbued with the idea that everything English was right and everything Scotch — well, not wrong, but very far behind the rest of the world. Fanny had known her many years, but this was her first visit to Eobin Lodge, and, indeed, to Scotland. Arriving late, she was too much fatigued with her journey to appear at dinner, so her first introduction to the guests in the house was at breakfast on Sunday morning. The weather seemed to be at ' set fair ' just now ; for it was another glorious day, as Norah observed with pleasure on rising that morning ; a wet Sunday in the Highlands, many miles from a church, is rather a wearisome thing.

Miss Tennant proved a very chatty young lady, much surprised at her first day in the Highlands being a fine one ; in fact, she seemed to have prepared herself, from her remarks, to be surprised at everything she saw. They generally had little home-made rolls for break fast at Robin Lodge, very much the same as one might get in any country house in England ; but Miss Tennant expressed herself much astonished at sight of them, greet ing them rather as old friends in a land of strangers. ' Now, really,' said she ; ' now, Mr. Eoss, do you really get these things in Scotland ? I never imagined you could.' ' Perhaps you thought our usual breakfast consisted of barley-broth and oat-cake, Miss Tennant ? ' he answered, much amused. ' No, I assure you we are quite civilised up here, and make a rule of not having singed sheep's head for dinner more than four or five times a week.' ' No, really, Mr. Ross, do you, though ?

Well, I daresay it is very nice when you get accustomed to it. I am sure I am quite anxious to try it. Miss Grant, how do you get on up here with your English tastes ? To-day, for instance, Sunday, I suppose you read the service at home, as I hear there is no English church near, or do you attend the service at the Scotch meeting-house ? ' Norah saw her host's colour rise, for he was a Scotch man to the core, and she hastened to say, — ' Oh, you know, Miss Tennant, both Mr. and Mrs. Ross belong to the Established Church of the country ; there is no such thing as a meeting-house here, and I have always gone with them.' 'But do just as you like, dear,' added Mrs. Ross kindly. ' I am truly sorry we have no English church near, as I know you will miss it. / did very much when first I came here, but have got quite reconciled to the change now.' ' Quite a case of " love me, love my church," you see, Miss Tennant,' laughed her husband ; ' but we don't victimize our visitors unless they choose, and you will find lots of improving literature in the library if you prefer to stay at home.' ' Oh dear, no, Mr. Ross, by no means ; I shall im mensely enjoy going, everything will be so new to me ; ' and Miss Tennant was evidently prepared to be very much astonished indeed.