“They seemed to worry him a whole lot. But what are Scottish Nationalists, anyway?” asked Myrtle, who looked as small and merry as Puck in that great mahogany four-poster.

“They believe in the independence of Scotland.”

“Good for them. Give me independence every time. But I don’t see why you’re worrying, Carrie.”

“You know I’m crazy about Scotland.”

“And how! But what of it? I’m crazy about Scotland myself. So’s Chester. That’s why he’s going to get himself a kilt.”

“Chester’s going to get himself a kilt?” Carrie repeated in amazement.

“Oh, don’t tell Chester I told you. He wants it to be a surprise for you.”

“It’ll be a surprise all right whether I know beforehand or not,” said Carrie, with conviction.

“I don’t know. I think Chester’ll look kind of cute in a kilt. He’s pretty serious about it because when I said ‘kilts’ instead of ‘kilt’ he eyed me as if I was eating peas with a knife. But promise you won’t let him know I told you. And don’t try to discourage him. After all, it’s a compliment to you.”

“I’ll wait and see what he does look like in it before I agree to that theory. And oh, Myrtle, before I forget don’t wink at me again across the table like that. I’m sure Iain MacDonald noticed it.”

“Don’t worry, my dear. Iain wouldn’t notice it if I dropped an eye in the soup. Dumb? Why, there’s only one thing dumber than Iain, and that’s his brother the Lieutenant.”

“Ben Nevis isn’t dumb.”

“You’re telling me. Why, Carrie, I think Ben Nevis is the brightest sixty-year-old I’ve met in all my young life. If Hector’s only half as bright as the Monarch of the Glen I’m going to make the Monarch of the Glen my father-in-law. I sure am. I guess I’d make a pretty good chieftainess. You didn’t see Ben Nevis with those hikers, Carrie. He kept picking them up by the collar one after another and shaking them. You missed that. Well, if he’s taken a dislike to Scottish Nationalists it’s going to be just too bad for the Scottish Nationalists.”

“You surely don’t agree with letting your prejudices run away with you, Myrtle?”

“I don’t know. I think I’d kind of admire any prejudice that could run away with Ben Nevis.”

“Yes, but if you knew a very nice—two very nice Scottish Nationalists—you wouldn’t want Ben Nevis to treat them like these hikers?”

“They’d have to be mighty nice before I got between them and Ben Nevis.”

“But you wouldn’t take Iain MacDonald’s opinion? And it was Iain who was being so high hat about those Scottish Nationalists he saw. As a matter of fact I know them.”