..."
A youth of about his own age came up the path from the vale.
Alexander, lying amid the heath, caught at some distance the whole
figure, but as he approached lost him. Then, near at hand, the head
rose above the brow of the ridge. It was a handsome head, with a cap
and feather, with gold-brown hair lightly clustering, and a
countenance of spirit and daring with something subtle rubbed in.
Head, shoulders, a supple figure, not so tall nor so largely made as
was Glenfernie's heir, all came upon the purple hilltop.
CHAPTER IV
Alexander raised himself from his couch in the heather.
"Good day!" said the new-comer.
"Good day!"
The youth stood beside him. "I am Ian Rullock."
"I am Alexander Jardine."
"Of Glenfernie?"
"Aye, you've got it."
"Then we're the neighbors that are to be friends."
"If we are to be we are to be.... I want a friend.... I don't know if
you're the one that is to answer."
The other dropped beside him upon the heath. "I saw you walking along
the hilltop. So when you did not come on I thought I'd climb and meet
you. This is a lonely, miserable country!"
Alexander was moved to defend. "There are more miserable! It's got its
points."
"I don't see them. I want London!"
"That's Babylon.--It's your own country. You're evening it with
England!"
"No, I'm not.
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