The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

388
The Highland Monthly.
" Not if, as I understand is the case, they have lost every-
thing but what they wear upon their backs !"
" They don't wear their bank deposit, there, I bet,"^
drawled Richard, with a laugh.
" Which reminds me, sir," answered the laird with a
frown, "that your private expenditure will have to be
restricted within due bounds in future. To renew these
buildings, clear the land, and repair other damages done to
the property will not, I have been calculating, cost me a
penny less than ;!r2000, besides the loss of two years'"
rent."
"With pleasure, father ;
horses should not he held too tight."
but always recollect that young
" Now gentlemen," broke in Flora with ostentatiously
assumed dignity, " please have the extreme goodness not
to discuss those money affairs at the breakfast table before
ladies. We are all very sorry, papa (her privileged style
of address), but the losses and sufferings of others have
been very much greater."
" How do you know that, lassie?"
" Because I met the Inverness mail coach this morning
with a letter, and the guard told me that at the mouth of
the Findhcrn, and on the Spey lives had been lost and
hundreds of people rendered homeless."
" Those guards have always some terrible gossip to tell
— I don't believe its half so bad," Richard remarked.
" Anyhow, Ric, we'll see what has been done by the
flood in our own valley. It will be quite interesting, and I
would like to call upon those poor tenants. You
promised, you know, to ride out with me to-day," she
added, as a look of annoyance showed itself in Richard's
face.
" Really, Flo, put off till to-morrow—do like a dear.
Met Christie this morning and promised to ride in to
Inverness and hear the news. If things are so bad down
Ihe \va\-, I will call at the Courier Office and bring quite a
huduet of news home."