The Wrong Man 149 



a hope that he was careful with his candle ; for this lady 

 seemed full of apprehension of danger from all quarters. 

 However, the house was not set on fire. Hugh fell 

 asleep trying to contrast an evening at Glenlochrie with 

 an evening at Corriecuisk, and awoke to find a beautiful 

 morning. To breakfast by himself was not an affliction. 

 He did not linger long over the meal, and set off 

 happily enough — over the hills there to the right was 

 Glenlochrie, and very soon he should be in the most 

 delightful quarters he could imagine, a pleasant house, 

 with the prettiest and nicest girl in the United Kingdom, 

 and therefore in the world, for a companion — to the spot 

 where he was to meet Donald. There he was, waiting. 

 Where had Hugh put that letter which Mr. Higgs had 

 given him the night before to give to the stalker ? Ah, 

 there it was ; he had put it in his pocket overnight lest he 

 should forget it, and the epistle, sealed, by the way— why 

 should anybody seal such a letter in these days of 

 adhesive envelopes ? — he handed to the man. 



' You're Donald, I suppose ? Good morning ! This 

 letter is for you,' Hugh said. 



The man took it and turned it over, and looked at 

 it, but somehow or other did not handle it as men usu- 

 ally handle letters. It was evidently an unfamihar object. 



'No, indeed, sir, I was not Donald. Donald have 

 sprain his ankle and canna' come, so he have send me 

 for him. I was Alister,' was the explanation. 



' All right, Alister, I'm sorry for Donald but glad to 

 see you, and the letter will do for you as well as for him, 

 no doubt ! ' Hugh said, cheerily. 



Still AHster hesitated, and turned the letter over in 

 his hand. 



' Indeed, sir, I was not able to read. If you would 



