look so angry. I fear you. My fault it is; all my fault, Neil. Only to please me he wears it." "You have more St. Nicholas ribbons?" "That is so." "Go and get me one. Get a bow, Katherine, and give it to me. I will wait here for it." "No, that I will not do. How false, how wicked I would be, if two lovers my colours wore!" "Katherine, I am in great earnest. A bow of that ribbon I must have. Get one for me." "My hands I would cut off first." "Well, then, I will cut _my bow_ from Hyde's breast. I will, though I cut his heart out with it." He turned from her as he said the words, and, without speaking to Joris, passed through the garden-gate to his own home. His mother and Mrs. Gordon, and several young ladies and gentlemen were sitting on the stoop, arranging for a turtle feast on the East River; and Neil's advent was hailed with ejaculations of pleasure. He affected to listen for a few minutes, and then excused himself upon the "assurance of having some very important writing to attend to." But, as he passed the parlour door, his father called him. The elder was casting up some kirk accounts; but, as Neil answered the summons, he carefully put the extinguisher on one candle, and turned his chair from the table in a way which Neil understood as an invitation for his company. [Illustration: "Katherine, I am in great earnest"] A moment's reflection convinced Neil that it was his wisest plan to accede. It was of the utmost importance that his father should be kept absolutely ignorant of his quarrel with Hyde; for Neil was certain that, if he suspected their intention to fight, he would invoke the aid of the law to preserve peace, and such a course would infallibly subject him to suspicions which would be worse than death to his proud spirit. "Weel, Neil, my dear lad, you are early hame. Where were you the night?" "I have just left Katherine, sir, having followed your advice in my wooing. I wish I had done so earlier." "Ay, ay; when a man is seventy years auld, he has read the book o' life, 'specially the chapter anent women, and he kens a' about them. A bonnie lass expects to hae a kind o' worship; but the service is na unpleasant, quite the contrary. Did you see Captain Hyde?"