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t streams and granite pinnacles； with the gloom of pines and the freshness of the birch blended like a May and December marriage； all appearance； at least； of disquietude had passed away。
Yet the Count kept an anxious eye upon him。 He was becoming decidedly restless。 At one moment he would rave about the glorious scenery； the next； plunge into a brown study of the Tulliwuddle rent… roll； and then in an instant start humming an air and smoking so fast that both their cases were empty while they were yet half an hour from Torrydhulish Station。 Now the Baron took to biting his nails； looking at his watch； and answering questions at randoma very different spectacle from the enthusiastic traveller of yesterday。
〃Only ten minutes more；〃 observed Bunker in his most cheering manner。
The Baron made no reply。
They were now running along the brink of a glimmering loch； the piled mountains on the farther shore perfectly mirrored； a tern or two lazily fishing； a delicate summer sky smiling above。 All at once Count Bunker started
〃That must be Hechnahoul！〃 said he。
The Baron looked and beheld； upon an eminence across the loch； the towers and turrets of an imposing mansion overtopping a green grove。
〃And here is the station；〃 added the Count。
The Baron's face assumed a piteous expression。
〃Bonker；〃 he stammered； 〃II am afraid！ You be ze TollyvoddleI cannot do him！〃
〃My dear Baron！〃
〃Oh； I cannot！〃
〃Be bravefor the honor of the fatherland。 Play the bold Blitzenberg！〃
〃Ach； ja； but not bold Tollyvoddle。 Zat picture you vere rightit vas omen！〃
Never did the genius of Bunker rise more audaciously to an occasion。
〃My dear Baron；〃 said he； assuming on the instant a confidence…inspiring smile； 〃that print was a hoax； it wasn't old Tulliwuddle at all。 I faked it myself。〃
〃So？〃 gasped the Baron。 〃You assure me truly？〃
Muttering （the historian sincerely hopes） a petition for forgiveness； Bunker firmly answered
〃I do assure you！〃
The train had stopped； and as they were the only first…class passengers on board； a peculiarly magnificent footman already had his hand upon the door。 Before turning the handle； he touched his hat。
〃Lord Tulliwuddle？〃 he respectfully inquired。
〃Jazat is； yes； I am；〃 replied the Baron。
CHAPTER VIII
From the platform down to the pier was only some fifty yards； and before them the travellers perceived an exceedingly smart steam… launch； and a stout middle…aged gentleman； in a blue serge suit and yachting cap； advancing from it to greet them。 They had only time to observe that he had a sanguine complexion； iron…gray whiskers； and a wide…open eye； before he raised the cap and； in a decidedly North British accent； thus addressed them
〃My lordahem！your lordship； I should say I presume I've the pleasure of seeing Lord Tulliwuddle？〃
The Count gently pushed his more distinguished friend in front。 With an embarrassment equal to their host's； his lordship bowed and gave his hand。
〃I am ze Tollyvoddlevary pleasedMistair Gosh； I soppose？〃
〃Gallosh； my lord。 Very honored to welcome you。〃
In the round eyes of Mr。 Gallosh； Count Bunker perceived an unmistakable stare of astonishment at the sound of his lordship's accented voice。 The Baron； on his part； was evidently still suffering from his attack of stage fright； but again the Count's gifts smoothed the creases from the situation。
〃You have not introduced me to our host； Tulliwuddle；〃 he said； with a gay； infectious confidence。
〃Ah； so！ Zis is my friend Count Bunkergom all ze vay from Austria；〃 responded the Baron； with no glimmer of his customary aplomb。
Making a mental resolution to warn his ally never to say one word more about his fictitious past than was wrung by cross…examination； the distinguished… looking Austrian shook his host's hand warmly。
〃From Austria via London；〃 he explained in his pleasantest manner。 〃I object altogether to be considered a foreigner； Mr。 Gallosh； and； in fact； I often tell Tulliwuddle that people will think me more English than himself。 The German fashions so much in vogue at Court are transforming the very speech of your nobility。 Don't you sometimes notice it？〃
Thus directly appealed to； Mr。 Gallosh became manifestly perplexed。
〃Yesyes； you're right in a way；〃 he pronounced cautiously。 〃I suppose they do that。 But will ye not take a seat？ This is my launch。 Hi！ Robert； give his lordship a hand on board！〃
Two mariners and a second tall footman assisted the guests to embark； and presently they were cutting the waters of the loch at a merry pace。
In the prow； like youth； the Baron insisted upon sitting with folded arms and a gloomy aspect； and as his nerve was so patently disturbed； the Count decidedly approved of an arrangement which left his host and himself alone together in the stern。 In his present state of mind the Baron was capable of any indiscretion were he compelled to talk； while； silent and brooding in isolated majesty； he looked to perfection the part of returning exile。 So； evidently； thought Mr。 Gallosh。
〃His lordship is looking verra well；〃 he confided to the Count in a respectfully lowered voice。
〃The improvement has been remarkable ever since his foot touched his native heath。〃
〃You don't say so；〃 said Mr。 Gallosh； with even greater interest。 〃Was he delicate before？〃
〃A London life； Mr。 Gallosh。〃
〃Truetrue； he'll have been busy seeing his friends； it'll have been verra wearing。〃
〃The anxiety； the business of being invested； and so on； has upset him a trifle。 You must put down any littlewell； peculiarity to that； Mr。 Gallosh。〃
〃I understandaye； umh'm； quite so。 He'll like to be left to himself； perhaps？〃
〃That depends on his condition；〃 said the Count diplomatically。
〃It's a great responsibility for a young man； yon's a big property to look after；〃 observed Mr。 Gallosh in a moment。
〃You have touched the spot！〃 said the Count warmly。 〃That is； in fact； the chief cause of Tulliwuddle's curious moodiness ever since he succeeded to the title。 He feels his responsibilities a little too acutely。〃
Again Mr。 Gallosh ruminated； while his guest from the corner of his eye surveyed him shrewdly。
〃My forecast was wonderfully accurate；〃 he said to himself。
The silence was first broken by Mr。 Gallosh。 As if thinking aloud； he remarked
〃I was awful surprised to hear him speak！ It's the Court fashion； you say？〃
〃Partly that； partly a prolonged residence on the Continent in his youth。 He acquired his accent then； he has retained it for fashion's sake；〃 explained the Count； who thought it as well to bolster up the weakest part of his case a little more securely。
With this prudent purpose； he added； with a flattering air of taking his host into his aristocratic confidence
〃You will perhaps be good enough to explain this to the friends and dependants Lord Tulliwuddle is about to meet？ A breath of unsympathetic criticism would grieve him greatly if it came to his ears。〃
〃Quite； quite；〃 said Mr。 Gallosh eagerly。 〃I'll make it all right。 I understand the sentiment pairfectly。 It's verra naturalverra natural indeed。〃
At that moment the Baron started from his reverie with an affrighted air。
〃Vat is zat strange sound！〃 he exclaimed。
The others listened。
〃That's just the pipes； my lord；〃 said Mr。 Gallosh。 〃They're tuning up to welcome you。〃
His lordship stared at the shore ahead of them。
〃Zere are many peoples on ze coast！〃 he cried。 〃Vat makes it for？〃
〃They've come to receive you；〃 his host explained。 〃It's just a little spontaneous demonstration； my lord。〃
His lordship's composure in no way increased。
〃It was Mrs。 Gallosh organized a wee bit entertainment on his lordship's landing；〃 their host explained confidentially to the Count。 〃It's just informal； ye understand。 She's been instructing some of the tenants and ma own girls will be therebut； oh； it's nothing to speak of。 If he says a few words in reply； that'll be all they'll be expecting。〃
The strains of 〃Tulliwuddle wha hae〃 grew ever louder and； to an untrained ear； more terrific。 In a moment they were mingled with a clapping of hands and a Highland cheer； the launch glided alongside the pier； and； supported on his faithful friend's arm； the panic…stricken Tulliwuddle staggered ashore。 Before his dazed eyes there seemed to be arrayed the vastest and most barbaric concourse his worst nightmare had ever imagined。 Six pipers played within ten paces of him； each of them arrayed in the full panoply of the clan； at least a dozen dogs yelped their exultation； and from the surrounding throng two ancient men in tartan and four visions in snowy white stepped forth to greet the distinguished visitors。
The first hitch in the proceedings occurred at this point。 According to the unofficial but carefully considered programme； the pipers ought to have ceased their melody； but； whether inspired by ecstatic loyalty or because the Tulliwuddle pibroch took longer to perform than had been anticipated； they continued to skirl with such vigor that expostulations passed entirely unheard。 Under the circumstances there was nothing for it but shouting； and in a stentorian yell Mr。 Gallosh introduced his wife