16
and Frank,Hamilton and Pentland, tried to remain slightly withdrawn from both
conversations. On the one side old age and low voices; on the other youth,
and laughter, and the invitation in Pentland’s eye. ohe smiled, then she
laughed and moved her chair a degree towards Pentland. Jie decided that she
had never seen such an elegant good-natured young man before.
The meal was almost finished when the storm broke in the lough, The farm
house quivered under the first impact and the windows chattered in their frames.
Then there was a momentary relief in gushing rain. Unable to see through the
streaming panes, Andrew went to the door. Beyond the ken of the island
everything was blotted out, and the rolling knowes and farm loomed and
disappeared in the driven fog. The hiss and whine of the rain filled the air,
but when the wind lifted its bow the roaring of the lough in its thousand
holes and rock3 came to the old man's ears.
'Is it wild, Andra?" asked Mrs Pentland as he came in.
"There's a bit av a blow on, but that's no newance in these parts, ’ he
answered. ,
"Ye may bide a while then," said the old lady.
"we'll bide till it clears a bit, but we'll have to be on the move afore
dark. Could the ram be got ready?" Andrew adressed himself to Mrs Pentland
as if reluctant to speak to her grandson.
"Fergus, will ye fetch the ram and halter him. Ye can get Geordie bee
lead him down tae your uncle's boat."
"Peh!" cried Andrew. "Aren't there three of us in each other's road
already, to fetch a bit o' a ram across!"
Out when the rain and wind offered a moment of escape, it was found that
the ram, a powerful and thick-coated Border Leicester, had been so enraged
by the tethering that he hung back on the rope as intractable as a donkey, and
had to be dragged u the close. Now as he slithered and danced angrily outside
