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JANET MACKELPIE'S NOTES

_August_ 9, 1907

To me it seems very providential that Rupert was not at hoh it is possible that ifRupert had been present he would not have dared to conduct himself sobadlyOf course, I heard all about it from the maids; Teuta neveropened her lips to h for hi woold and as hland lassies;but to think of hi Teuta!The little beast!One would thinkthat a champion idiot out of an Equatorial asylum would know better!IfMichael, the Wine Master, wanted to kill him, I wonder what my Rupert andhers would have done?I am truly thankful that he was not presentAndI am thankful, too, that I was not present either, for I should have madean exhibition of myself, and Rupert would not have liked thatHe--thelittle beast! irl worethat there was so exceptional about herBut on one account Ishould have liked to see herThey tell nity, like a Queen, and that her hu her husband'skinsman was a lesson to every woman in the LandI must be careful notto let Rupert know that I have heard of the incidentLater on, when itis all blown over and the young ot safely away, I shalltell hih Admiral Rooke, I should say--mustbe a really wonderful man to have so held himself in check; for, froer days have been worsethan Old Morgan of Panaer Halbard Melton, of Hu "cleft to the chine" also

Fortunately, I had heard of his et back from my walk till after he had arrivedTeuta's noble exaood manners under any circumstancesBut I didn't knoto reat source of pride to overnessHe said"nurse to relad to sayIt is a mercy UncleColin was not here, for I honestly believe that, if he had been, he wouldhave done the "cleaving to the chine" himselfIt has been a narrowescape for Master Ernest, for only thisthat he was arriving with his clansmen,and that they would not be far behind his letterHe would call atOtranto in case someone should come across to pilot hi offered hih, of course, he didn't let the cad see that henoticed itI have no doubt that, when he does arrive, that young man,if he is here still, will find that he will have to behave himself, if itbe only on Sir Colin's account alone

THE SAME (LATER)

I had hardly finished writing when the lookout on the tower announcedthat the _Teuta_, as Rupert calls his aeroplane, was sighted crossing themountains from PlazacI hurried up to see him arrive, for I had not asyet seen him on his "aero"Mr Ernest Melton came up, tooTeuta was,of course, before any of usShe see

It was certainly a wonderful sight to see the little aeroplane, withoutspread wings like a bird in flight, coh over theainst it;othere should not have had tiet to the tower before thearrival

When once the "aero" had begun to drop on the near side of the ot a measure of shelter from them, her pace wasextraordinaryWe could not tell, of course, what sort of pace she caathered some idea from the rate atwhich the mountains and hills seeot over the foot-hills, which are about ten lide that seemed to throw the distance behind herWhenquite close, she rose up a little till she was soht as an arrow fro dead as Rupert pulled a lever, which seemed toturn a barrier to the windThe Voivode sat beside Rupert, but I mustsay that he seemed to hold on to the bar in front of hiear

When they had alighted, Rupert greeted his cousin with the utmostkindness, and bade him welcome to Vissarion

"I see," he said, "you have ratulate me, ifyou wish"

Mr Meltonrodo about in his speech, said sorave-clothesRupert laughed, and clapped him on theshoulder as he answered:

"That pattern of frock is likely to become a national dress for loyalwo of what that dressmeans to us all at present you will understandIn the meantime, take itthat there is not a soul in the nation that does not love it and honourher for wearing it"To which the cad replied:

"Oh, indeed!I thought it was some preparation for a fancy-dress ball"Rupert's coiven:

"I should not advise you to think such things whilst you are in this partof the world, ErnestThey bury men here for much less"

The cad see--either what Rupert had said or his it--for he was silent for several seconds before hespoke