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 along as well as I could. Are we anywhere near Carlisle?" Her face fell as she saw the shake of his head:

"Eh ma leddie but ye're mony a mile frae Carlisle. 'Tis over fifty miles be the line. Ye maun hae lost yer way sair. Ye're in Kirkcudbright-shire the noo." Her heart sank:

"Oh I must send a telegram at once."

"Ye canna telegraph the nicht ma leddie! The office is closed till eight the morn's morn."

"My God! What shall I do. My father arrived from London to-night and he does not know where I am. I came out for a drive and thought to be back in good time to meet him. He will be in despair. Is there no way in which I can send word? It is not a matter of expenses; I shall pay anything if it can be done!" She looked at him in an agony of apprehension. The man was stirred by the depth of emotion and by her youth and beauty; and his clever Scotch brain began to work. His mouth set fast in a hard line and his rough heavy brows began to wrinkle. After a pause he said:

"A'll do what A can, ma leddie; though A can't be sure if 'twill wark. The telegraphs are closed. Even if we could find an operator it wouldn't be possible to get the wires. Our own lines are closed, for we'll hae no traffic till morn." Here an idea struck Joy and she interrupted him:

"Could I not get a special train? I am willing to pay anything?"

"Lord love ye, ma leddy, they don't have specials on bit lines like this. Ye couldn't get one nigher than Glasgie. an' not there at this time o' day. Let alone they'd no send in such a fog anyhow. But I'm thinkin' that A can telephone to Dumfries. The operator o' oor line there is a freend o' mine, an' if he's on dooty he'll telephone on to Carlisle wheer there's sure to be some one at the place. An' mayhap the latter'll telephone on till Ambleside. So, if there