Yes , he would see Mackinnon and see if he could get anything out of him .sx For Jane's sake he would have to know .sx So that this could be stopped before it was too late- if it was not too late already .sx To his surprise he found himself hoping that there was nothing dreadful to discover .sx For Jane's sake , of course .sx She would be hurt .sx And he did not want her hurt .sx And young Grant- damn it , he had almost liked him the other night .sx And he could not help admiring him , for his guts in tackling the job he was tackling .sx But Alison , who , after all had brought up four daughters , seemed to think it would all fade out .sx And Elizabeth had some plans .sx . " You'll be starting counting days to your holiday soon , Jane , " he said cheerfully .sx Jane smiled but did not answer .sx If she counted days it would be for a reason contrary to what the General thought .sx She gave him half her attention as he went on talking about what Elizabeth had said in her last letter , conjecturing about when they would see Susan again .sx She was thinking of how she would tell Neil what her father had said about his parents , seeing the look of relief which would come into his dark eyes when he knew his aunt's disparaging remarks had had no foundation in fact .sx How glad she was that Neil could now look back to his young parents with affection , untouched by fear .sx How glad she was that they had decided to recreate that flower garden which Angus seemed to think had been created by Neil's mother .sx " Father , I'm going to ask you for a heap of cuttings in the autumn .sx There's a wide strip of land at Dalnadoire which Angus says was once a garden .sx So we- " she coloured and changed it , " so Neil is going to start it again .sx I've said we'd give him lots of plants .sx " " Plants !sx Plenty of those , Jane .sx " Here the General was in his element .sx " Come out when you've finished , and we'll mark what you want .sx Best to do that when they're flowering .sx " He got up stiffly out of his chair .sx " There's that new delphinium I put in last autumn .sx Coming out now .sx Grand colour .sx You'd like it in the background , Jane .sx And it's growing so well that it will split .sx Come out and look at it ?sx " " Yes .sx I'll just get rid of these .sx " She got up from the table , stacking dishes , and smiled to herself as she ran between the dining-room and the kitchen .sx Once they got to know Neil they would be sure to like him .sx She would just need to have patience .sx The next three weeks went by with what seemed to be an astonishing rapidity .sx Jane had had little enthusiasm for her holiday at the beginning , but now she had even less .sx To have to exchange , even for a fortnight , the warm happiness of being with Neil , of sharing with him their growing love , of watching how everything was progressing at the farm she was coming to love as much as he did , for Elizabeth and her lectures , for spells of baby-sitting , and keeping at arm's length the rather callow young men whom Elizabeth seemed to know , was far from pleasing .sx But she could see no way to get out of it .sx Her mother was constantly talking of it , enlarging on the supposed pleasures in store , expecting from her an enthusiasm which Jane could not produce .sx That Lady Rose was thinking more of getting Jane away from Drumlairig than of her having an enjoyable holiday , Jane was well aware .sx General Rose might be starting to think more kindly of Neil , be beginning to take an interest in him and his doings , to see in him something to admire , but her mother was not .sx To her Neil Grant was still someone of so little account that he could be completely ignored .sx It almost seemed that she was completely unaware of her daughter's friendship with him .sx But , despite that , for Jane those weeks were happy ones .sx Neil was still working hard , indeed seemed to be working even harder .sx There was so much to be done and everything had to be done in a manner conforming to the high standard he had set himself .sx Dalnadoire was beginning to look like a well-kept , prosperous farm , the old house was being gradually cleaned and painted .sx Jane watched progress with eager , loving eyes , was there to give praise and encouragement .sx The weather was fine , the days were hot , but one morning Jane , rising early as usual , looked out of her window to see that the trees and the chimneys were almost blotted out by mist .sx There was not a mountain to be seen and there was a stillness over everything .sx Was this the first sign that autumn was coming ?sx Surely it was still too early in the year for that , but everything was early this year .sx But whatever it was it was a disagreeable morning , and she would need to get away quickly for it would take her much longer to walk that mile to the station with visibility a mere ten yards .sx Shrouded in a mackintosh , shivering a little in the damp still air , she hurried down the drive .sx It felt as if she were alone in the world .sx Apart from the never ceasing swishing and pounding of the river , there was not a movement , not a sound .sx And then a dog barked , another joined in excitedly , and two small forms ran eagerly towards her .sx " Why Rory !sx Gill !sx What are you doing here ?sx " she exclaimed and looked beyond them , as a man's figure loomed out of the mist .sx " Morning , Jane , " Neil was greeting her cheerfully .sx " Want a lift ?sx " He put an arm about her shoulders , smiling at her surprised face .sx " Not the sort of morning for a walk .sx Here's the car .sx " " Why , Neil !sx I never expected to see you .sx Are you going to the station ?sx " " Yes .sx " He had the door of the car opened .sx " In you get .sx " She got in , the puppies scrambled in after her and she let them jump eagerly on to her lap as Neil went round to the driver's seat .sx " Have you something to collect , Neil ?sx " He shook his head as he started the engine and they moved off .sx " I want to see you get safely there , " he said quietly .sx " You mean- you've come especially to take me ?sx " He smiled .sx " You don't think I was going to have you walking that lonely road on a morning like this ?sx " " Oh , Neil !sx " she murmured and felt wonderful .sx And when in a few minutes they reached the station , she leaned over , put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the mouth , not caring at all that a smiling Willie MacIntyre was an interested spectator .sx There were many other small incidents to show Jane what she was to Neil , to make her feel warm and rich and essential .sx On the Tuesdays when she met him in Inverness for lunch , they usually managed to have a little time left after their meal was over .sx At first they had walked along the river to the islands , or climbed the hill to the castle , looking at the statue of Flora MacDonald , at the view westward at which she gazed .sx But latterly they had spent their time among the shops .sx Window shopping , Jane said .sx Nor did they restrict their window gazing to the books which delighted them both .sx It was the week before Jane was due to go on holiday that they saw the chest of drawers .sx It was small , in a beautifully veined walnut , and its bow front gave it an elegance which pleased them both .sx They agreed that it was the sort of thing they liked , they looked at it from all angles , discovered its price and then Neil said quietly , " Shall we buy it , Jane ?sx " " Buy it ?sx " She looked at him quickly , her colour heightened .sx He was not looking at her and there was some colour too in his tanned face .sx " I mean , when we see it- Dalnadoire needs a lot of furniture and- later we might not see one we like as well as this one .sx " Jane smiled .sx " Could we , Neil ?sx " she asked .sx " Yes .sx " " Let's buy it then , " she said in a matter-of-fact tone .sx " I can just see it against that short wall beyond the window , in what will be the lounge .sx " He turned to her , smiling now .sx " Have you time , Jane ?sx " " Oh yes , " Jane said happily .sx So on the Sunday Jane found a new task .sx With a soft duster she had to carefully polish the lovely walnut chest .sx Neil watched her young , earnest face lovingly , but with the shadow in his dark eyes which was often there when his face was in repose and when he was watching Jane .sx Later he took her off for a walk on to the moors .sx The day was hot and in the early morning there had been a suspicion of thunder , but the clouds had passed , although there was still a heaviness in the air .sx When they reached the second stile , Jane perched on the top of it , and they looked back down the slope .sx " A storm , if it isn't too wild , wouldn't do any harm , " Neil commented .sx " The river is running much slower than usual .sx " " Yes .sx Did you bathe in that pool above the falls when you were a boy , Neil ?sx " she asked .sx He grinned as he turned to look at her , leaning against her knees .sx " I did .sx Every morning before anyone else was astir I'd run out and have ten glorious , splashing minutes , before I dashed back again , pretending I'd never left the house .sx " " Did Mrs. Cummings object to you bathing ?sx " " I don't know about the bathing , but she didn't want her house messed up .sx Though one morning she did catch me , and I was the usual lazy ingrate and so on and so on .sx I decided then , Jane , " there was a twinkle in his eyes as he went on , " that my family- for some unknown reason I seemed to think I was going to have several children and that we'd be living at Dalnadoire- would be allowed to play in that pool whenever they liked .sx " There was an answering twinkle in her blue eyes .sx " Are you still of the same opinion , Neil ?sx " His smile widened .sx " I am .sx But their mother would have to approve .sx She mightn't think it a good idea .sx " " I'm sure , " Jane said carefully , " that any girl you'd made the mother of your children , would be quite sensible about that sort of thing .sx She'd want them to have fun .sx " Neil laid his cheek against the back of her hand , which she had resting lightly on his shoulder , for a moment .sx " I think Dalnadoire is a house which needs a family of children , " he said quietly .sx " It does , " Jane agreed .sx " It should be filled with fun and laughter .sx Neil , " she went on seriously , " you never told me what made you run away just at that time , after all those miserable years .sx Was it because you were unhappy , a sort of cumulative unhappiness ?sx " " Well , " he answered slowly , " I didn't run- I walked .sx All the way from here to Aberdeen .sx Unhappy ?sx I suppose that came into it .sx But the main , the overwhelming reason , was pride .sx " " Pride ?sx " Jane repeated in surprise .sx " Pride , " he said again .sx " To be told , day after day for all those years , that you were living on charity , that there was no reason why they should have to work their fingers to the bone to keep an ungrateful cur like you were- I was determined that as soon as I could I was going to go somewhere where she hadn't to keep me .sx And what was more I was going to repay her all she'd had to spend on me .sx " " But , Neil , " Jane was red with indignation , " you weren't living on charity .sx It was yours .sx " " I didn't know .sx And she said I was .sx I planned it carefully , Jane .sx