“There should be plenty of birds,” Kilwhillie put in modestly. “Of course Knocknacolly is not Clacknaclock and it’s not Drumcockie, but you should have some good sport.”

“Ah, but I want to get him after a good stag at the back of Ben Goosey,” said the Chieftain. “I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to initiating you into the king of sports, what?”

“I’m looking forward to it myself,” said the young financier.

“I don’t want you to go away with the idea that harrying hikers is the only sport we can offer you in the Highlands.”

“My dear Ben Nevis, I wouldn’t want to spend a more thoroughly enjoyable time than I spent this afternoon hustling those hoodlums out of Glenbogle. It was great.”

“You haven’t seen Knocknacolly yet, Myrtle,” said her host, a genial glow warming his eagle’s beak. “I tell you what. Murdoch shall drive you in his car to-morrow.”

“Oh, that’ll be very exciting,” said Myrtle. “But I don’t think I ought to monopolize Murdoch. I know Carrie would like to drive in the two-seater.”

“But I’m not going to-morrow,” said Carrie quickly.

“Carrie!” her sister-in-law exclaimed.

“Well, I’ve a whole heap of letters to write.”

“So have I,” said Myrtle. “I believe I ought to stay home too.”

“Oh, Myrtle, you haven’t seen Knocknacolly yet.”

“But I’d like to see it with you. I want to hear your plans for it.”

“But I’d like to hear your ideas after you’ve seen the lodge. Then we can see if your ideas are the same as mine. I think it would be a pity for you not to go to-morrow just because I have a whole heap of letters to write. Besides, I want to work at my Gaelic.”

“Oh, you do?”

“Yes, I really do, Myrtle. When I start something I always like to stick to it.”

“Yes, I know how very persevering you are.”

“Well, now we’ve bought Knocknacolly I do feel I ought to be able to speak Gaelic. Don’t you think I’m right to persevere with my Gaelic, Ben Nevis?”

“I do indeed. Only wish I could speak it as well now as I could when I was a four-year-old,” said the Chieftain. “I used to rattle it off to my nurse in those days. I’ve always regretted I didn’t keep it up.”

“And I want Chester to learn too,” Carrie went on. “He’s very good at languages.”

“That’s right. You mastered Red Indian, didn’t you, Royde?” Ben Nevis asked. “You ought to be able to tackle Gaelic.”

“I picked up a bit of the Carroway language,” Chester admitted modestly.

“Rather like my Gaelic, I suppose. You don’t speak it, but you understand it.”

“I understand a word here and there.”