Her cheeks were pink and her eyes bright with health and
excitement, and Robert Campbell, looking with pride at his sturdy
son and daughter, said to himself, "It's a sonsie lassie and braw
lad. I wish their mother could see them."
They walked down the river road, where the autumn colors were
beginning to appear, and at the bridge met the Crumpet family all
dressed in their best, also on their way to the castle. Sandy had
scrubbed himself till his face was shining like a glass bottle,
and the sprig of pine waved proudly from his bonnet, too. At
every branch road they were joined by others, and when they
neared the castle gates there was already quite a large group of
people from the village as well. Every one was in a state of
tense excitement, for the fate of all hung in the balance. Since
the tenure of their homes was at the mercy of the new Laird, his
ideas and disposition were of vital importance in their lives,
and they were keen to see him and find out for themselves what
manner of person he might be. Mr. Crumpet was looking very glum.
He took a morose view of life at best, and the present
circumstances certainly warranted apprehension.
"If it's a wee bit of a laddie, as we are led to expect," he said
to the Shepherd, "he'll have no judgment of his own, and be
dependent on them as has him in charge.
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