But now the horses were entering the stream, and the old man’s loquacity ceased.  The animals, however, seemed quite accustomed to this performance; without any hesitation they adventured into the rapid current, and splashed their way forward, getting such footing as was possible among the big, loose stones and shingle.  Indeed, the passage was effected with very little trouble, if with a good deal of jolting and bumping; and thereafter there was a pleasant trot along some sufficiently smooth greensward up to the door of the lodge.

Yes, here were the three tall and handsome sisters, looking very picturesque in their simple Northern attire? and here was Miss Georgie Lestrange conspicuous in a Tam o’ Shanter of bright blue; and no sooner had the young man descended from the wagonette than they surrounded him, laughing and questioning, and giving him the heartiest of welcomes.  How could he answer them all at once?  When the poor man was taken into the dining-room, and set down to his solitary luncheon, they were all for waiting on him and talking to him at the same time.

“It is so awfully kind of you to come,” Lady Adela said, with one of her most gracious smiles.  “Now we shall hear about something else than dogs and guns and grouse.”

“Oh, Mr. Moore,” cried Lady Rosamund (who was the youngest, and had a bit of a temper, and was allowed to interfere when she liked), “do you know a masque called ‘Alfred’?  You do? how delightful!  Well, then, you remember the visions of the future kings and queens that pass before Alfred when he is in the Isle of Athelney? how can I get that done in the open air?  What kind of gauze do you use in the theatre?  Could you get me a bit?  And would painted shades do instead of living persons?—­you see we have so few people to come and go on up here.”

“And, Mr. Moore,” cried Lady Sybil, “how are we to manage about an accompaniment?  A single violin is no use out in the open.  Would it be too dreadful if we had a harmonium concealed somewhere?  We could get one from Inverness; and you know a harmonium would do very well for the music that introduces the visions.”

“Mr. Moore,” put in Miss Georgie Lestrange, with a complaining air, “fancy their having given me another of Kitty Clive’s characters; isn’t it too bad?  Why, I’ll go on and on until I identify myself with her altogether; and then, you know, Kitty Clive wasn’t—­I’m afraid she wasn’t quite—­”

“Oh, Mrs. Clive was all right; she was a great friend of Dr. Johnson,” Lionel made answer, to reassure the young lady.

“But I wish you girls would leave off chattering, and let Mr. Moore get something to eat,” the young matron said, impatiently; and she herself was so kind as to go and fetch the claret jug from the glide-table and fill his glass.

However, there was peace in store for him.  When he had finished with this late lunch, Lady Adela begged him to excuse them if they left him to shift for himself; they were busy dressmaking, she said.  Would she send for one of the keepers, who would show him one or two of the nearest pools, so that he might try for a salmon?  The gentlemen had all gone down the strath, to test some new rifle, she thought; this was out of consideration for her, for she could not bear shooting close to the house; would he walk in that direction, and see what they were doing?