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more he desired to marry her； the more satisfied he grew with his
own improvement； the more determined he became that for no poor；
unjust scruples would he forgo his happiness。 There was but one
trifle to be kept from the world； it might know everything else
about him！ and once in possession of the property； who would dispute
the title？ Then again he was not certain that his father had not
merely invented a threat！ Surely if the fact were such； he would；
even in rage diabolic； have kept it to himself！
Impetuous； and accustomed to what he counted success； he soon began
to make plainer advance toward the end on which his self…love and
cupidity at least were set。 But； knowing in a vague manner how he
had carried himself before he went； Arctura； uninfluenced by the
ways of the world； her judgment unwarped； her perception undimmed；
her instincts nice； her personal delicacy exacting； had never
imagined he could approach her on any ground but that of cousinship
and a childhood of shared sports。 She had seen that Donal was far
from pleased with him； and believed Forgue knew that she knew he had
been behaving badly。 Her behaviour to him was indeed largely based
on the fact that he was in disgrace： she was sorry for him。
By and by； however； she perceived that she had been allowing too
much freedom where she was not prepared to allow more； and so one
day declined to go with him。 They had not had a ride for a
fortnight； the weather having been unfavourable； and now when a
morning broke into the season like a smile from an estranged friend；
she would not go！ He was annoyedthen alarmed； fearing adverse
influence。 They were alone in the breakfast…room。
〃Why will you not； Arctura？〃 he asked reproachfully： 〃do you not
feel well？〃
〃I am quite well；〃 she answered。
〃It is such a lovely day！〃 he pleaded。
〃I am not in the mood。 There are other things in the world besides
riding； and I have been wasting my timeriding too much。 I have
learnt next to nothing since Larkie came。〃
〃Oh； bother！ what have you to do with learning！ Health is the first
thing。〃
〃I don't think soand learning is good for the health。 Besides； I
would not be a mere animal for perfect health！〃
〃Let me help you then with your studies。〃
〃Thank you；〃 she answered； laughing a little； 〃but I have a good
master already！ We； that is Davie and I； are reading Greek and
mathematics with Mr。 Grant。〃
Forgue's face flushed。
〃I ought to know as much of both as he does！〃 he said。
〃Ought perhaps！ But you know you do not。〃
〃I know enough to be your tutor。〃
〃Yes； but I know enough not to be your pupil！〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃That you can't teach。〃
〃How do you know that？〃
〃Because you do not love either Greek or mathematics； and no one who
does not love can teach。〃
〃That is nonsense！ If I don't love Greek enough to teach it； I love
you enough to teach you；〃 said Forgue。
〃You are my riding…master；〃 said Arctura； 〃Mr。 Grant is my master in
Greek。〃
Forgue strangled an imprecation on Mr。 Grant； and tried to laugh；
but there was not a laugh inside him。
〃Then you won't ride to…day？〃 he said。
〃I think not；〃 replied Arctura。
She ought to have said she would not。 It is a pity to let doubt
alight on decision。 Her reply re…opened the whole question。
〃I cannot see what should induce you to allow that fellow the honour
of reading with you！〃 said Forgue。 〃He's a long…winded； pedantic；
ill…bred lout！〃
〃Mr。 Grant is my friend！〃 said Arctura； and raising her head looked
him in the eyes。
〃Take my word for it； you are mistaken in him；〃 he said。
〃I neither value nor ask your opinion of him；〃 returned Arctura。 〃I
merely acquaint you with the fact that he is my friend。〃
〃Here's the devil and all to pay！〃 thought Forgue。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said： 〃you do not know him as I do！〃
〃Not？and with so much better opportunity of judging！〃
〃He has never played the dominie with you！〃 said Forgue foolishly。
〃Indeed he has！〃
〃He has！ Confound his insolence！ How？〃
〃He won't let me study as I want。How has he interfered with you？〃
〃We won't quarrel about him；〃 rejoined Forgue； attempting a tone of
gaiety； but instantly growing serious。 〃We who ought to be so much
to each other〃
Something told him he had already gone too far。
〃I do not know what you meanor rather； I am not willing to think I
know what you mean；〃 said Arctura。 〃After what took place〃
In her turn she ceased： he had said nothing！
〃Jealous！〃 concluded Forgue； 〃a good sign！〃
〃I see he has been talking against me！〃 he said。
〃If you mean Mr。 Grant； you mistake。 He never； so far as I remember；
once mentioned you to me。〃
〃I know better！〃
〃You are rude。 He never spoke of it； but I have seen enough with my
own eyes〃
〃If you mean that silly fancywhy； Arctura！you know it was but a
boyish folly！〃
〃And since then you have grown a man！How many months has it
taken？〃
〃I assure you； on the word of a gentleman； there is nothing in it
now。 It is all over； and I am heartily ashamed of it。〃
A pause of a few seconds followed： it seemed as many minutes； and
unbearable。
〃You will come out with me？〃 said Forgue： she might be relenting；
though she did not look like it！
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I will not。〃
〃Well；〃 he returned； with simulated coolness； 〃this is rather
cavalier treatment； I must say！To throw a man over who has loved
you so longand for the sake of a lesson in Greek！〃
〃How long； pray； have you loved me？〃 said Arctura； growing angry。 〃I
was willing to be friendly with you； so much so that I am sorry it
is no longer possible！〃
〃You punish me pretty sharply； my lady； for a trifle of which I told
you I was ashamed！〃 said Forgue； biting his lip。 〃It was the
merest〃
〃I do not wish to hear anything about it！〃 said Arctura sternly。
Then； afraid she had been unkind； she added in altered tone： 〃You
had better go and have a gallop。 You may have Larkie if you like。〃
He turned and left the room。 She only meant to pique him； he said to
himself。 She had been cherishing her displeasure； and now she had
had her revenge would feel better and be sorry next！ It was a very
good morning's work after all！ It was absurd to think she preferred
a Greek lesson from a clown to a ride with lord Forgue！ Was not she
too a Graeme！
Partly to make reconciliation the easier； partly because the horse
was superior to his own； he would ride Larkie！
But his reasoning was not so satisfactory to him as to put him in a
good temper； and poor Larkie had to suffer for his ill…humour。 His
least movement that displeased him put him in a rage； and he rode
him so foolishly as well as tyrannically that he brought him home
quite lame； thus putting an end for a time to all hope of riding
again with Arctura。
Instead of going and telling her what he had done； he sent for the
farrier； and gave orders that the mishap should not be mentioned。
A week passed； and then another； and as he could say nothing about
riding； he was in a measure self…banished from Arctura's company。 A
furious jealousy began to master him。 He scorned to give place to it
because of the insult to himself if he allowed a true ground for it。
But it gradually gained power。 This country bumpkin； this cow…herd；
this man of spelling…books and grammars； to come between his cousin
and him！ Of course he was not so silly as imagine for a moment she
cared for him！that she would disgrace herself by falling in love
with a fellow just loosed from the plough…tail！ She was a Graeme；
and could never be a traitor to her blood！ If only he had not been
such an infernal fool！ A vulgar little thing without an idea in her
head！ So unpleasantso disgusting at last with her love…making！
Nothing pleased her but hugging and kissing！That was how he spoke
to himself of the girl he had been in love with！
Damn that schoolmaster！ She would never fall in love with him； but
he might prevent her from falling in love with another！ No
attractions could make way against certain prepossessions！ The girl
had a fancy for being a saint； and the lout burned incense to her！
So much he gathered from Davie。 His father must get rid of the
fellow！ If he thought he was doing so well with Davie； why not send
the two away together till things were settled？
But the earl thought it would be better to win Donal。 He counselled
him that every Grant was lord Seafield's cousin； and every
highlander an implacable enemy where his pride was hurt。 His
lordship did not reflect that； if what he said were true of Donal；
he must have left the castle long ago。 There was but one thing would
have made it impossible for Donal to remaininterference； namely；
between him and his pupil。
Forgue did not argue with his father。 He had given that up。 At the
same time； if he had told all that had passed between him and Donal；
the earl would have confessed he had advised an impossibility。
Forgue took a step in a very different direction： he began to draw
to himself the good graces of Miss Carmichael： he did not know how
little she could serve him。 Without being consciously insincere； she
flattered him； and speedily gained his confidence。 Well descended on
the mother…side； she had grown