They were together at
meal times, together o' nights when the hour had come for whisky-toddy;
but it might have been noticed (had there been any one to pay heed) that
they were rarely so much together by day. Archie had Hermiston to
attend to, multifarious activities in the hills, in which he did not
require, and had even refused, Frank's escort. He would be off
sometimes in the morning and leave only a note on the breakfast table to
announce the fact; and sometimes, with no notice at all, he would not
return for dinner until the hour was long past. Innes groaned under
these desertions; it required all his philosophy to sit down to a
solitary breakfast with composure, and all his unaffected good-nature to
be able to greet Archie with friendliness on the more rare occasions
when he came home late for dinner.
"I wonder what on earth he finds to do, Mrs. Elliott?" said he one
morning, after he had just read the hasty billet and sat down to table.
"I suppose it will be business, sir," replied the housekeeper drily,
measuring his distance off to him by an indicated curtsy.
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