It was only one visitor—­Lewis Elliot.

“Cousin Lewis!” cried Jean.  “Where in the world have you been?  Three whole months since you went away and never a word from you.  You didn’t even write to Mrs. Hope.”

“No,” said Lewis; “I was rather busy.”  He greeted Pamela and sat down.

“Were you so very busy that you couldn’t write so much as a post card?  And I don’t believe you know that I’m an heiress?”

“Yes; I heard that, but only the other day.  It was a most unexpected windfall.  I was delighted to hear about it.”  Jean looked at him and wondered if he were well.  His long holiday did not seem to have improved his spirits; he was more absent-minded than usual and disappointingly uninterested.

“I didn’t know you were back in Priorsford,” he said, addressing Pamela, “till I met your brother in London.  I called on you just now, and Miss Bathgate sent me over here.”

“Is Biddy amusing himself well?” Pamela asked.

“I should think excellently well.  I dined with him one night and he seemed in great spirits.  He seemed to be very much in request.  He wanted to take me about a bit, but I’ve got out of London ways.  I don’t seem to know what to talk about to this new generation and I yawn.  I’m better at home at Laverlaw among the sheep.”

Mrs. M’Cosh came in to lay the tea, and Jean said:  “You’ll have tea here, Cousin Lewis, though this isn’t my visit, and then you can go over to Hillview with Pamela and pay your visit to her.  You mustn’t miss the opportunity of killing two birds with one stone.  Besides, Pamela’s time in Priorsford is so short now, you mayn’t have another chance of paying a visit of ceremony.”

“Well, if I may—­”

“Yes, do come.  I expect Jean has had enough of me for one day.  I’ve been lecturing her....  By the way, where are the boys to-day?  Mhor was swinging on the gate as I came in.  He told me he was going somewhere, but his speech was obstructed by a large piece of toffee, and I couldn’t make out what he said.”

“He was waiting for Jock,” said Jean.  “Did you notice that he was very clean, and that his hair was sleeked down with brilliantine?  They are invited to bring Peter to tea at the Miss Watsons’, and are in great spirits about it.  They generally hate going out to tea, but Jock discovered recently that the Watsons had a father who was a sea captain.  That fact has thrown such a halo round the two ladies that he can’t keep away from them.  They have allowed him to go to the attic and rummage in the big sea-chests which, he says, are chockful of treasures like ostrich eggs and lumps of coral and Chinese idols.  It seems the Miss Watsons won’t have these treasures downstairs as they don’t look genteel among the ‘new art’ ornaments admired in Balmoral.  All the treasures are to be on view to-day (Jock has great hopes of persuading the dear ladies to give him one to bring home, what he calls a ’Chinese scratcher’—­it certainly sounds far from genteel) and a gorgeous spread as well—­Jock confided to me that he thought there might even be sandwiches; and Peter being invited has filled Mhor’s cup of happiness to the brim.  So few people welcome that marauder.”