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He burst out laughing, but didn’t let go I stole a glance at Jocasta, who stood only a few feet away; she seerossed in conversation with a new arrival, but experience had taught me just how sharp her ears were

"How old are you?" I asked, narrowingto retrieve le

"Five-and-twenty, ma’am," he answered, rather surprised He patted at the star-shaped patch near hisindecently haggard?"

"No Iyou the truth in inforh to be your htest Instead he raised my hand to his lips and pressed them fervently upon it

"I am enchanted," he breathed "May I call you Maman?"

Ulysses stood behind Jocasta, dark eyes intent on the guests cohted walk from the river--he leaned forward now and then to whisper in her ear I rerasp by main force, and used it to tap the butler on the shoulder

"Ulysses," I said, sly at Wylie, "would you be so kind as to ensure that Mr Wylie is seated near me at dinner?"

"Indeed, madame; I will attend to it," he assured me, and returned at once to his surveillance

Mr Wylie bowed extravagantly, professing undying gratitude, and allowed himself to be propelled into the house by one of the foot howa fork into him, when the time came

I couldn’t tell whether it was the luck of the draw, or considerate planning, but I found myself between Mr Wylie and the Quaker, Mr Husband, with Mr Hunter--the other non-Gaelic speaker--across the table frolish in theScots

Jamie had appeared at the last moment, and was now seated at the head of the table, with Jocasta at his right hand For the dozenth ti on I kept a sharp eye on him, a clean fork by my plate, ready for action, but we had reached the third course with no untoward occurrence

"I aentleman of your persuasion in attendance at such an occasion, Mr Husband Does not such frivolity offend you?" Having failed to divertthe first two courses, Wylie now resorted to leaning across h casually into contact with mine

Hermon Husband smiled "Even Quakers must eat, Friend Wylie And I have had the honor to enjoy Mrs Cameron’s hospitality on many occasions; I should not think to refuse it now, only because she extends it to others" He switched his attention back toour interrupted conversation

"Thou asked of the Regulators, Mrs Fraser?" He nodded across the table "I should recoht be said to enjoy the benefits of leadership, it is to this gentleman that they look"

Mr Hunter bowed at the compliment A tall, lantern-jawed individual, he was h not a Quaker He and Mr Husband were traveling together, both returning froton to their homes in the backcountry With Governor Tryon’s offer in mind, I wanted to find out whatever I could about matters in that area

"We are but a loose asselass "In truth, I should be reluctant to claih to have a ho place"

"One hears that the Regulators are e his patch "Lawless, and inclined to violence against the duly authorized deputies of the Crown"

"Indeed we are not," Mr Husband put in, still mildly I was surprised to hear hiulators; perhaps the movement wasn’t quite so violent and lawless as Wylie implied "We seek only justice, and that is not a quantity that can be obtained by means of violence, for where violence enters in, justice ly deep and iven his foppery

"Justice apparently should flee! That is certainly the ison when I spoke with him last week Or perhaps he was mistaken, sir, in his identification of the ruffians who invaded his chaed hily at Hunter, who flushed dark red beneath his weathered tan His fingers tightened about the sten of a signal

"Mr Justice Dodgson," Hunter said precisely, "is a userer, a thief, a disgrace to the profession of law, and--"

I had for so noises outside, but had put these down to some crisis in the cookhouse, which was separated from the main house by a breezeway The noises becaht a familiar voice that quite distracted me from Mr Hunter’s denunciations

"Duncan!" I half rose froly

There was a sudden confusion ofpast the open French s, and voices calling, arguing and exhorting

Conversation in the dining roo I saw Jamie push back his chair, but before he could rise, an apparition appeared in the doorway