Margaret McGurtrie was tall and large - boned , with a face of unusual beauty , had it been allied to a slender body she would have been able to hold her own with anyone tut she was too big , and all her movements were clumsy One was apt to overlook eyes of a violety - blue fringed by thick dark lashes , black hair with bluish lights in it , a wide and generous mouth and a pale honey - tinted skin , wher one was confronted with big feet , ugly hands , and a stride like a grenadier's , combined with a gruff mannish voice Margaret dressed in tweeds and heavy brogues which made her feet look even bigger ; her thick knitted stockings did not help , and she favoured fawns and greys which were the worst possible colours for her . "
Sorry , I couldn't come across to the mainland to meet you , ' she said to Joan . ' But Phoebe , my mare , is foaling and I had to be in the stables ; we are afraid we are going to lose her . ' Isn't the foal born yet ? ' asked Sir Archibe . ' No , fath
Lucy murmured something , and sat down on the chair Sir Archibe pulled out for her ; she had rarely felt so cold , and it was quite an effort to prevent herself from shivering , but she managed to control her nerves , and endeavoured to look a little intelligent . She hoped to make a good impression on her relatives , not let them think that she was gauche and did not know how to behave . But she was very thankful that Maurice Tredego was staying at the castle ; if he had been going away and leaving her with these strangers she would not have been able to stand it . She would have begged him to take her with him , or failing that , have run away ; she certainly would not have remained where she could sense she was not wanted . And yet , her uncle had been kind and her cousin Margaret perfectly polite . An old man with white hair , dressed in a shabby velveteen coat and a kilt , brought in the tea ; Sir Archibe explained that he was Angus , the piper , father of Fergus .
mine ramily nest , not as a poor relation , but as the arbiter of their fate . " Ah , here is Donald ! ' said Sir Archibald with satisfaction Joan half turned and looked at the young man who had just entered the room ; he was of middle height and his head poked forward a little , no doubt with stooping over experiments and books . He was slight and his features bore little resemblance to his father's , he was clean - shaven , yet he had a very determined jaw and his mouth was rather thin - lipped , in contrast to the dreamy blue eyes behind tortoiseshell - rimmed glasses . He looked quiet and studious , and yet there was a ' something about him which seemed in keeping with this old castle . He wore a conventional lounge suit of dark grey ; his tie , socks and handkerchief matched , and his reddish hair was brushed until it shone . ' I beg your pardon , ' he said , coming straight across to Joan . ' I mistook the time , being engrossed in a very delicate experiment . I know I should
You see , I had Mr Tredego to look after me , she added . Margaret started to pour out the tea , Donald fetched Lucy a cup , and handed her a plate of anaemic - looking cakes then he sat beside her and began to talk about the storm which had raged for three days last week , completely cutting off the island and making it impossible for any boat to put out or come in . Does that often happen ? ' she asked . Too often to be pleasant , he replied . ' Fortunately we are well provisioned , but it would be a bit awkward if anyone were very ill and required medical attention immediately . ' Is there no doctor on the island ? ' she cried . No , and the man at Oncar is one of the old - fashioned family type he certainly basn't moved with the times . Fortunately both my father and I have a certain medical knowledge , so don't think you'd die here for want of attention . Lucy sipped her tea and tried to visualize her future life in such surroundings , but she could not ; her th
you're doing splendidly . You have nothing to worry about ? - and her heart steadied down and she was able to answer the questions her uncle and cousins put to her with some degree of rationality . And now I think Margaret had better take you up to your room , ' said Sir Archibe. Lucy was glad to go , though she felt a little nervous in Margaret's company . The latter took her across the hall and up the broad ornamental staircase ; at the top she turned to the right and along a passage , then to the right again . It seemed bewildering to Joan , who tried to mem orize the turnings ' I am sure I shall never be able to find my way about , she cried . ' It will come in time , ' said Margaret . ' Of course , you have been used to a little house , haven't you ? ' It had never occurred to Lucy to regard Aunt Lilian's house as little ; she had thought it a big rambling place , especially when she had to do all the work of it , but she realized that compared with Kilrossan stan
Across the intervening heaving restless water to the mainland . She could just make out the little jetty on which she had stood , waiting for the boat to come and take her to the island . The mist was clearing a little , and she could glimpse the sky reddening as the sun went down . " I hope the noise of the sea won't disturb you , Margaret was saying . ' It beats against the rocks and some people don't like it , but I suppose after the Sevila traffic it won't worry you . " Lucy felt a terrible nostalgia grip her . She would have given anything just then to hear the familiar hoot of a bus ; the honking of taxis ; the voices of newsboys crying the latest news ; the tramping of feet on wet pavements - all the old familiar things . To her disgust she felt tears welling into her eyes and a lump forming in her throat , but she would not give way to this emotion of self - pity . Resolutely she turned to Margaret . I shan't mind the noise , ' she said . ' In fact , I think
Margaret swung round from the large wardrobe which she had been opening . I hope you will , she said . ' Or else what is the object in coming here ? But according to the terms of our uncle's will , both your brothers are eligible as - as a husband for me , ' Lucy pointed out Margaret shrugged . " No one knows where Jerry is . ' " But Mr Tredego said that he will find him . " Perhaps he will , but if I were you I'd not reckon on Jerry . He always has been a trial to us . Much better make up your mind to settle with Donald , who will make a very good husband . You can't be sure that he wants to settle down with me , Lucy protested Margaret gave a faint superior smile , as she replied . ' Donald has a strong sense of family responsibility ; he has always been a dutiful son . You can be quite sure that he will do what he considers best for the McGurtries . ' Lucy drew a hard indignant breath , was about to retort and then thought better of it . What on earth made Peter McGurtrie
Now you are a great heiress ; you are about to marry into one of the oldest families in Scotland ; you have a beautiful home , and you are not tied here for good ; you can go where you like for the other six months of the year . Any woman would be glad to marry Donald , even if there was not a fortune involved . I think you are lucky . Yes , reflected Lucy , she supposed she was . And she ought to feel thrilled at the prospect of marriage with her cousin and being mistress of this old castle . Donald had been kind and had tried his best to put her at her ease ; he had shown that he would be a considerate husband , but for all that he had entirely failed to make an impression on her . He had seemed nebulous , characterless . She supposed that she was suffering from anti - climax ; that she needed a good rest . Tomorrow or the next day she would be better able to judge both her surroundings and her new relations , and until then she would reserve her opinion .
Early the next morning Margaret McGurtrie slipped ou of the castle and made her way across the rocks to the other side of the little island . On a fertile spot where clumps of pine trees grew , at the head of a tiny creek she met Maurice Tredego , who was standing idly throwing stones into the water and watching the widening circles they caused ' I thought you were never coming ! he exclaimed as she ran towards him . ' I overslept , ' she excused herself . ' I lay awake for hours and didn't get off till about two o'clock this morning Maurice , I feel utterly wretched ! She clung to him and raised her face to his , and after a moment's hesitation glancing round to make sure that they were quite unob served , he caught her close , and his mouth fastened down on hers . She hung limp in his grasp , utterly oblivious of everything and everyone save the man who was kissing her , as she had dreamed for weeks of being kissed . Then as the tension between them relaxed she opened her