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The day arrived when the family were to go to Scotland. Captain Vallery accompanied them to London, and saw them off by the train. Fanny had never made so long a journey before, as she had only been up and down occasionally with her granny to town.
She then carried him into the drawing-room; Fanny followed her without a thought of vindicating herself, but wished to try and calm her young brother and to assure him that Trusty was only in play. His mamma sat down with him on her knee. Mrs Leslie inquired whether he had hurt himself. "He has been frightened by the dog, and says that Fanny set the animal at him," answered Mrs Vallery.
"I find, Vallery, that your son owes his life to this little fellow, for had it not been for his judgment and courage, he would have been carried into the loch, before Alec Morrison could have come up to save him," he exclaimed. Captain and Mrs Vallery expressed their gratitude, and as may be supposed, everybody praised little Robby's bravery.
As none of the Glen Tulloch party could longer enjoy the picnic, a servant was sent on to get their carriages ready, while Captain Vallery carrying Norman, and old Alec his little grandson, they proceeded down the glen that they might get home as soon as possible.
"I won't eat anything that woman gives me," growled Norman, looking up from the roll and pat of fresh butter which his mamma had given him; "she is a nasty old thing; and if she tries to put on my stockings and wash my hands again, I will beat her as I did my ayah, and will soon show her who is master." "I thought you dressed your brother this morning, Fanny," observed Mrs Vallery.
Norman, who heard his ring at the door, ran down to meet him, and was much disappointed to find that he had not brought a new football. "I thought, papa, that you would have remembered that my football is spoilt," he exclaimed, "and would have brought another." "But who spoilt it, let me ask?" said Captain Vallery.
Vallery, and, hearing that she wanted to get to England, and would dispense much largess to secure a passage, he thought he could make something by secreting her on board, and then passing her off to his captain as a dumb boy. To this plan Zillah readily agreed, for her imagination was at all times far stronger than her reason.
At that moment, Trusty was seen coming along one of the walks, dragging something brown, and tossing it playfully about. On he came till he reached the lawn. "Why, Norman, I believe the dog has got your football, though he has managed to let the wind out of it," exclaimed Captain Vallery. "Oh, the thief, beat him, papa!" cried Norman.
At length, the gong sounding, Captain Vallery went in to dress for dinner, and Norman was left to play by himself, for, Fanny finding she was not wanted, had entered the house, and, after exhibiting her doll to Susan, had gone to her room to introduce Miss Lucy to Nancy and to her future abode. Norman soon grew weary of being by himself, and with his big ball in his arms, wandered into the house.
All the time Mrs Leslie was reading the sound of his biting the crisp crust was heard, while he sat casting a look of defiance at Susan, whose eye he saw was resting on him. When they were seated at the table, Mrs Vallery apologised to his grandmamma for his conduct, observing that he was very hungry, as he was accustomed to have his breakfast as soon as he was up.
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