She perceived he was in earnest, and
happily was able to know a deep pond from a shallow one, but her
best thought concerning him was--what a strange new specimen of
humanity was here!
The appearance of her brother coming down the walk, put a stop to
the conversation.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A TRADITION OF THE CASTLE.
"Well," he said as he drew near, "I am glad to see you two getting
on so well!"
"How do you know we are?" asked his sister, with something of the
antagonistic tone which both in jest and earnest is too common
between near relations.
"Because you have been talking incessantly ever since you met."
"We have been only contradicting each other."
"I could tell that too by the sound of your voices; but I took it
for a good sign."
"I fear you heard mine almost only!" said Donal. "I talk too much,
and I fear I have gathered the fault in a way that makes it
difficult to cure."
"How was it?" asked Mr. Graeme.
"By having nobody to talk to. I learned it on the hill-side with
the sheep, and in the meadows with the cattle. At college I thought
I was nearly cured of it; but now, in my comparative solitude at the
castle, it seems to have returned."
"Come here," said Mr. Graeme, "when you find it getting too much for
you: my sister is quite equal to the task of re-curing you."
"She has not begun to use her power yet!" remarked Donal, as Miss
Graeme, in hoydenish yet not ungraceful fashion, made an attempt to
box the ear of her slanderous brother--a proceeding he had
anticipated, and so was able to frustrate.
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