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 Contents vii

3.2 The Method of Images 124

3.2.1 The Classic Image Problem 124
3.2.2 Induced Surface Charge 125
3.2.3 Force and Energy 126
3.2.4 Other Image Problems 127
3.3 Separation of Variables 130
3.3.1 Cartesian Coordinates 131
3.3.2 Spherical Coordinates 141
3.4 Multipole Expansion 151
3.4.1 Approximate Potentials at Large Distances 151
3.4.2 The Monopole and Dipole Terms 154
3.4.3 Origin of Coordinates in Multipole Expansions 157
3.4.4 The Electric Field of a Dipole 158

4 Electric Fields in Matter 167

4.1 Polarization 167
4.1.1 Dielectrics 167
4.1.2 Induced Dipoles 167
4.1.3 Alignment of Polar Molecules 170
4.1.4 Polarization 172
4.2 The Field of a Polarized Object 173
4.2.1 Bound Charges 173
4.2.2 Physical Interpretation of Bound Charges 176
4.2.3 The Field Inside a Dielectric 179
4.3 The Electric Displacement 181
4.3.1 Gauss’s Law in the Presence of Dielectrics 181
4.3.2 A Deceptive Parallel 184
4.3.3 Boundary Conditions 185
4.4 Linear Dielectrics 185
4.4.1 Susceptibility, Permittivity, Dielectric Constant 185
4.4.2 Boundary Value Problems with Linear Dielectrics 192
4.4.3 Energy in Dielectric Systems 197
4.4.4 Forces on Dielectrics 202

5 Magnetostatics 210
5.1 The Lorentz Force Law 210
5.1.1 Magnetic Fields 210
5.1.2 Magnetic Forces 212
5.1.3 Currents 216
5.2 The Biot-Savart Law 223
5.2.1 Steady Currents 223
5.2.2 The Magnetic Field of a Steady Current 224
viii Contents

5.3 The Divergence and Curl of B 229

5.3.1 Straight-Line Currents 229
5.3.2 The Divergence and Curl of B 231
5.3.3 Ampère’s Law 233
5.3.4 Comparison of Magnetostatics and Electrostatics 241
5.4 Magnetic Vector Potential 243
5.4.1 The Vector Potential 243
5.4.2 Boundary Conditions 249
5.4.3 Multipole Expansion of the Vector Potential 252

6 Magnetic Fields in Matter 266

6.1 Magnetization 266
6.1.1 Diamagnets, Paramagnets, Ferromagnets 266
6.1.2 Torques and Forces on Magnetic Dipoles 266
6.1.3 Effect of a Magnetic Field on Atomic Orbits 271
6.1.4 Magnetization 273
6.2 The Field of a Magnetized Object 274
6.2.1 Bound Currents 274
6.2.2 Physical Interpretation of Bound Currents 277
6.2.3 The Magnetic Field Inside Matter 279
6.3 The Auxiliary Field H 279
6.3.1 Ampère’s Law in Magnetized Materials 279
6.3.2 A Deceptive Parallel 283
6.3.3 Boundary Conditions 284
6.4 Linear and Nonlinear Media 284
6.4.1 Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability 284
6.4.2 Ferromagnetism 288

7 Electrodynamics 296
7.1 Electromotive Force 296
7.1.1 Ohm’s Law 296
7.1.2 Electromotive Force 303
7.1.3 Motional emf 305
7.2 Electromagnetic Induction 312
7.2.1 Faraday’s Law 312
7.2.2 The Induced Electric Field 317
7.2.3 Inductance 321
7.2.4 Energy in Magnetic Fields 328
7.3 Maxwell’s Equations 332
7.3.1 Electrodynamics Before Maxwell 332
7.3.2 How Maxwell Fixed Ampère’s Law 334
7.3.3 Maxwell’s Equations 337
 Contents ix

7.3.4 Magnetic Charge 338

7.3.5 Maxwell’s Equations in Matter 340
7.3.6 Boundary Conditions 342

8 Conservation Laws 356

8.1 Charge and Energy 356
8.1.1 The Continuity Equation 356
8.1.2 Poynting’s Theorem 357
8.2 Momentum 360
8.2.1 Newton’s Third Law in Electrodynamics 360
8.2.2 Maxwell’s Stress Tensor 362
8.2.3 Conservation of Momentum 366
8.2.4 Angular Momentum 370
8.3 Magnetic Forces Do No Work 373

9 Electromagnetic Waves 382

9.1 Waves in One Dimension 382
9.1.1 The Wave Equation 382
9.1.2 Sinusoidal Waves 385
9.1.3 Boundary Conditions: Reflection and Transmission 388
9.1.4 Polarization 391
9.2 Electromagnetic Waves in Vacuum 393
9.2.1 The Wave Equation for E and B 393
9.2.2 Monochromatic Plane Waves 394
9.2.3 Energy and Momentum in Electromagnetic Waves 398
9.3 Electromagnetic Waves in Matter 401
9.3.1 Propagation in Linear Media 401
9.3.2 Reflection and Transmission at Normal Incidence 403
9.3.3 Reflection and Transmission at Oblique Incidence 405
9.4 Absorption and Dispersion 412
9.4.1 Electromagnetic Waves in Conductors 412
9.4.2 Reflection at a Conducting Surface 416
9.4.3 The Frequency Dependence of Permittivity 417
9.5 Guided Waves 425
9.5.1 Wave Guides 425
9.5.2 TE Waves in a Rectangular Wave Guide 428
9.5.3 The Coaxial Transmission Line 431

10 Potentials and Fields 436

10.1 The Potential Formulation 436
10.1.1 Scalar and Vector Potentials 436
10.1.2 Gauge Transformations 439
x Contents

10.1.3 Coulomb Gauge and Lorenz Gauge 440

10.1.4 Lorentz Force Law in Potential Form 442
10.2 Continuous Distributions 444
10.2.1 Retarded Potentials 444
10.2.2 Jefimenko’s Equations 449
10.3 Point Charges 451
10.3.1 Liénard-Wiechert Potentials 451
10.3.2 The Fields of a Moving Point Charge 456

11 Radiation 466
11.1 Dipole Radiation 466
11.1.1 What is Radiation? 466
11.1.2 Electric Dipole Radiation 467
11.1.3 Magnetic Dipole Radiation 473
11.1.4 Radiation from an Arbitrary Source 477
11.2 Point Charges 482
11.2.1 Power Radiated by a Point Charge 482
11.2.2 Radiation Reaction 488
11.2.3 The Mechanism Responsible for the Radiation
Reaction 492

12 Electrodynamics and Relativity 502

12.1 The Special Theory of Relativity 502
12.1.1 Einstein’s Postulates 502
12.1.2 The Geometry of Relativity 508
12.1.3 The Lorentz Transformations 519
12.1.4 The Structure of Spacetime 525
12.2 Relativistic Mechanics 532
12.2.1 Proper Time and Proper Velocity 532
12.2.2 Relativistic Energy and Momentum 535
12.2.3 Relativistic Kinematics 537
12.2.4 Relativistic Dynamics 542
12.3 Relativistic Electrodynamics 550
12.3.1 Magnetism as a Relativistic Phenomenon 550
12.3.2 How the Fields Transform 553
12.3.3 The Field Tensor 562
12.3.4 Electrodynamics in Tensor Notation 565
12.3.5 Relativistic Potentials 569

A Vector Calculus in Curvilinear Coordinates 575

A.1 Introduction 575
A.2 Notation 575
 Contents xi

A.3 Gradient 576

A.4 Divergence 577
A.5 Curl 579
A.6 Laplacian 581

B The Helmholtz Theorem 582

C Units 585

Index 589
 Preface

This is a textbook on electricity and magnetism, designed for an undergradu-

ate course at the junior or senior level. It can be covered comfortably in two
semesters, maybe even with room to spare for special topics (AC circuits, nu-
merical methods, plasma physics, transmission lines, antenna theory, etc.) A
one-semester course could reasonably stop after Chapter 7. Unlike quantum me-
chanics or thermal physics (for example), there is a fairly general consensus with
respect to the teaching of electrodynamics; the subjects to be included, and even
their order of presentation, are not particularly controversial, and textbooks differ
mainly in style and tone. My approach is perhaps less formal than most; I think
this makes difficult ideas more interesting and accessible.
For this new edition I have made a large number of small changes, in the in-
terests of clarity and grace. In a few places I have corrected serious errors. I have
added some problems and examples (and removed a few that were not effective).
And I have included more references to the accessible literature (particularly the
American Journal of Physics). I realize, of course, that most readers will not have
the time or inclination to consult these resources, but I think it is worthwhile
anyway, if only to emphasize that electrodynamics, notwithstanding its venerable
age, is very much alive, and intriguing new discoveries are being made all the
time. I hope that occasionally a problem will pique your curiosity, and you will
be inspired to look up the reference—some of them are real gems.
I have maintained three items of unorthodox notation:
• The Cartesian unit vectors are written x̂, ŷ, and ẑ (and, in general, all unit
vectors inherit the letter of the corresponding coordinate).

• The distance from the z axis in cylindrical coordinates is designated by s, to

avoid confusion with r (the distance from the origin, and the radial coordi-
nate in spherical coordinates).
• The script letter r denotes the vector from a source point r to the field point r
(see Figure). Some authors prefer the more explicit (r − r ). But this makes
many equations distractingly cumbersome, especially when the unit vector
r̂ is involved. I realize that unwary readers are tempted to interpret r as r—it
certainly makes the integrals easier! Please take note: r ≡ (r − r ), which is
not the same as r. I think it’s good notation, but it does have to be handled
with care.1

1 In MS Word, r is “Kaufmann font,” but this is very difficult to install in TeX. TeX users can download

xii a pretty good facsimile from my web site.

Preface xiii

z
Source point

dτ⬘
r Field point

r
r⬘
y

As in previous editions, I distinguish two kinds of problems. Some have a

specific pedagogical purpose, and should be worked immediately after reading
the section to which they pertain; these I have placed at the pertinent point within
the chapter. (In a few cases the solution to a problem is used later in the text;
these are indicated by a bullet (•) in the left margin.) Longer problems, or those
of a more general nature, will be found at the end of each chapter. When I teach
the subject, I assign some of these, and work a few of them in class. Unusually
challenging problems are flagged by an exclamation point (!) in the margin. Many
readers have asked that the answers to problems be provided at the back of the
book; unfortunately, just as many are strenuously opposed. I have compromised,
supplying answers when this seems particularly appropriate. A complete solution
manual is available (to instructors) from the publisher; go to the Pearson web site
to order a copy.
I have benefitted from the comments of many colleagues. I cannot list them
all here, but I would like to thank the following people for especially useful con-
tributions to this edition: Burton Brody (Bard), Catherine Crouch (Swarthmore),
Joel Franklin (Reed), Ted Jacobson (Maryland), Don Koks (Adelaide), Charles
Lane (Berry), Kirk McDonald2 (Princeton), Jim McTavish (Liverpool), Rich
Saenz (Cal Poly), Darrel Schroeter (Reed), Herschel Snodgrass (Lewis and
Clark), and Larry Tankersley (Naval Academy). Practically everything I know
about electrodynamics—certainly about teaching electrodynamics—I owe to
Edward Purcell.

David J. Griffiths

2 Kirk’sweb site, http://www.hep.princeton.edu/∼mcdonald/examples/, is a fantastic resource, with

clever explanations, nifty problems, and useful references.
 Advertisement

WHAT IS ELECTRODYNAMICS, AND HOW DOES IT FIT INTO THE

GENERAL SCHEME OF PHYSICS?

Four Realms of Mechanics

In the diagram below, I have sketched out the four great realms of mechanics:

Classical Mechanics Quantum Mechanics

(Newton) (Bohr, Heisenberg,
Schrödinger, et al.)
Special Relativity Quantum Field Theory
(Einstein) (Dirac, Pauli, Feynman,
Schwinger, et al.)

Newtonian mechanics is adequate for most purposes in “everyday life,” but for
objects moving at high speeds (near the speed of light) it is incorrect, and must
be replaced by special relativity (introduced by Einstein in 1905); for objects that
are extremely small (near the size of atoms) it fails for different reasons, and is
superseded by quantum mechanics (developed by Bohr, Schrödinger, Heisenberg,
and many others, in the 1920’s, mostly). For objects that are both very fast and
very small (as is common in modern particle physics), a mechanics that com-
bines relativity and quantum principles is in order; this relativistic quantum me-
chanics is known as quantum field theory—it was worked out in the thirties and
forties, but even today it cannot claim to be a completely satisfactory system.
In this book, save for the last chapter, we shall work exclusively in the domain
of classical mechanics, although electrodynamics extends with unique simplic-
ity to the other three realms. (In fact, the theory is in most respects automat-
ically consistent with special relativity, for which it was, historically, the main
stimulus.)

Four Kinds of Forces

Mechanics tells us how a system will behave when subjected to a given force.
There are just four basic forces known (presently) to physics: I list them in the
order of decreasing strength:

xiv
Advertisement xv

1. Strong
2. Electromagnetic
3. Weak
4. Gravitational

The brevity of this list may surprise you. Where is friction? Where is the “normal”
force that keeps you from falling through the floor? Where are the chemical forces
that bind molecules together? Where is the force of impact between two colliding
billiard balls? The answer is that all these forces are electromagnetic. Indeed,
it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that we live in an electromagnetic world—
virtually every force we experience in everyday life, with the exception of gravity,
is electromagnetic in origin.
The strong forces, which hold protons and neutrons together in the atomic nu-
cleus, have extremely short range, so we do not “feel” them, in spite of the fact that
they are a hundred times more powerful than electrical forces. The weak forces,
which account for certain kinds of radioactive decay, are also of short range, and
they are far weaker than electromagnetic forces. As for gravity, it is so pitifully
feeble (compared to all of the others) that it is only by virtue of huge mass con-
centrations (like the earth and the sun) that we ever notice it at all. The electrical
repulsion between two electrons is 1042 times as large as their gravitational at-
traction, and if atoms were held together by gravitational (instead of electrical)
forces, a single hydrogen atom would be much larger than the known universe.
Not only are electromagnetic forces overwhelmingly dominant in everyday
life, they are also, at present, the only ones that are completely understood. There
is, of course, a classical theory of gravity (Newton’s law of universal gravitation)
and a relativistic one (Einstein’s general relativity), but no entirely satisfactory
quantum mechanical theory of gravity has been constructed (though many people
are working on it). At the present time there is a very successful (if cumbersome)
theory for the weak interactions, and a strikingly attractive candidate (called chro-
modynamics) for the strong interactions. All these theories draw their inspiration
from electrodynamics; none can claim conclusive experimental verification at this
stage. So electrodynamics, a beautifully complete and successful theory, has be-
come a kind of paradigm for physicists: an ideal model that other theories emulate.
The laws of classical electrodynamics were discovered in bits and pieces by
Franklin, Coulomb, Ampère, Faraday, and others, but the person who completed
the job, and packaged it all in the compact and consistent form it has today, was
James Clerk Maxwell. The theory is now about 150 years old.

The Unification of Physical Theories

In the beginning, electricity and magnetism were entirely separate subjects. The
one dealt with glass rods and cat’s fur, pith balls, batteries, currents, electrolysis,
and lightning; the other with bar magnets, iron filings, compass needles, and the
North Pole. But in 1820 Oersted noticed that an electric current could deflect
xvi Advertisement

a magnetic compass needle. Soon afterward, Ampère correctly postulated that

all magnetic phenomena are due to electric charges in motion. Then, in 1831,
Faraday discovered that a moving magnet generates an electric current. By the
time Maxwell and Lorentz put the finishing touches on the theory, electricity and
magnetism were inextricably intertwined. They could no longer be regarded as
separate subjects, but rather as two aspects of a single subject: electromagnetism.
Faraday speculated that light, too, is electrical in nature. Maxwell’s theory pro-
vided spectacular justification for this hypothesis, and soon optics—the study
of lenses, mirrors, prisms, interference, and diffraction—was incorporated into
electromagnetism. Hertz, who presented the decisive experimental confirmation
for Maxwell’s theory in 1888, put it this way: “The connection between light
and electricity is now established . . . In every flame, in every luminous parti-
cle, we see an electrical process . . . Thus, the domain of electricity extends over
the whole of nature. It even affects ourselves intimately: we perceive that we
possess . . . an electrical organ—the eye.” By 1900, then, three great branches of
physics–electricity, magnetism, and optics–had merged into a single unified the-
ory. (And it was soon apparent that visible light represents only a tiny “window”
in the vast spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, from radio through microwaves,
infrared and ultraviolet, to x-rays and gamma rays.)
Einstein dreamed of a further unification, which would combine gravity and
electrodynamics, in much the same way as electricity and magnetism had been
combined a century earlier. His unified field theory was not particularly success-
ful, but in recent years the same impulse has spawned a hierarchy of increasingly
ambitious (and speculative) unification schemes, beginning in the 1960s with the
electroweak theory of Glashow, Weinberg, and Salam (which joins the weak and
electromagnetic forces), and culminating in the 1980s with the superstring the-
ory (which, according to its proponents, incorporates all four forces in a single
“theory of everything”). At each step in this hierarchy, the mathematical difficul-
ties mount, and the gap between inspired conjecture and experimental test widens;
nevertheless, it is clear that the unification of forces initiated by electrodynamics
has become a major theme in the progress of physics.

The Field Formulation of Electrodynamics

The fundamental problem a theory of electromagnetism hopes to solve is this: I
hold up a bunch of electric charges here (and maybe shake them around); what
happens to some other charge, over there? The classical solution takes the form
of a field theory: We say that the space around an electric charge is permeated
by electric and magnetic fields (the electromagnetic “odor,” as it were, of the
charge). A second charge, in the presence of these fields, experiences a force; the
fields, then, transmit the influence from one charge to the other—they “mediate”
the interaction.
When a charge undergoes acceleration, a portion of the field “detaches” itself,
in a sense, and travels off at the speed of light, carrying with it energy, momen-
tum, and angular momentum. We call this electromagnetic radiation. Its exis-
Advertisement xvii

tence invites (if not compels) us to regard the fields as independent dynamical
entities in their own right, every bit as “real” as atoms or baseballs. Our interest
accordingly shifts from the study of forces between charges to the theory of the
fields themselves. But it takes a charge to produce an electromagnetic field, and it
takes another charge to detect one, so we had best begin by reviewing the essential
properties of electric charge.

Electric Charge
1. Charge comes in two varieties, which we call “plus” and “minus,” because
their effects tend to cancel (if you have +q and −q at the same point, electrically
it is the same as having no charge there at all). This may seem too obvious to
warrant comment, but I encourage you to contemplate other possibilities: what if
there were 8 or 10 different species of charge? (In chromodynamics there are, in
fact, three quantities analogous to electric charge, each of which may be positive
or negative.) Or what if the two kinds did not tend to cancel? The extraordinary
fact is that plus and minus charges occur in exactly equal amounts, to fantastic
precision, in bulk matter, so that their effects are almost completely neutralized.
Were it not for this, we would be subjected to enormous forces: a potato would
explode violently if the cancellation were imperfect by as little as one part in 1010 .

2. Charge is conserved: it cannot be created or destroyed—what there is now has

always been. (A plus charge can “annihilate” an equal minus charge, but a plus
charge cannot simply disappear by itself—something must pick up that electric
charge.) So the total charge of the universe is fixed for all time. This is called
global conservation of charge. Actually, I can say something much stronger:
Global conservation would allow for a charge to disappear in New York and
instantly reappear in San Francisco (that wouldn’t affect the total), and yet we
know this doesn’t happen. If the charge was in New York and it went to San Fran-
cisco, then it must have passed along some continuous path from one to the other.
This is called local conservation of charge. Later on we’ll see how to formulate a
precise mathematical law expressing local conservation of charge—it’s called the
continuity equation.

3. Charge is quantized. Although nothing in classical electrodynamics requires

that it be so, the fact is that electric charge comes only in discrete lumps—integer
multiples of the basic unit of charge. If we call the charge on the proton +e,
then the electron carries charge −e; the neutron charge zero; the pi mesons +e,
0, and −e; the carbon nucleus +6e; and so on (never 7.392e, or even 1/2e).3
This fundamental unit of charge is extremely small, so for practical purposes it
is usually appropriate to ignore quantization altogether. Water, too, “really” con-
sists of discrete lumps (molecules); yet, if we are dealing with reasonably large
3 Actually, protons and neutrons are composed of three quarks, which carry fractional charges (± 23 e
and ± 13 e). However, free quarks do not appear to exist in nature, and in any event, this does not alter
the fact that charge is quantized; it merely reduces the size of the basic unit.
xviii Advertisement

quantities of it we can treat it as a continuous fluid. This is in fact much closer to

Maxwell’s own view; he knew nothing of electrons and protons—he must have
pictured charge as a kind of “jelly” that could be divided up into portions of any
size and smeared out at will.

Units
The subject of electrodynamics is plagued by competing systems of units, which
sometimes render it difficult for physicists to communicate with one another. The
problem is far worse than in mechanics, where Neanderthals still speak of pounds
and feet; in mechanics, at least all equations look the same, regardless of the units
used to measure quantities. Newton’s second law remains F = ma, whether it is
feet-pounds-seconds, kilograms-meters-seconds, or whatever. But this is not so in
electromagnetism, where Coulomb’s law may appear variously as
q1 q2 1 q1 q2 1 q1 q2
F= r̂ (Gaussian), or F = r̂ (SI), or F = r̂ (HL).
r
2 4π 0 r 2 4π r2
Of the systems in common use, the two most popular are Gaussian (cgs) and SI
(mks). Elementary particle theorists favor yet a third system: Heaviside-Lorentz.
Although Gaussian units offer distinct theoretical advantages, most undergradu-
ate instructors seem to prefer SI, I suppose because they incorporate the familiar
household units (volts, amperes, and watts). In this book, therefore, I have used
SI units. Appendix C provides a “dictionary” for converting the main results into
Gaussian units.
CHAPTER

1 Vector Analysis

1.1 VECTOR ALGEBRA

1.1.1 Vector Operations

If you walk 4 miles due north and then 3 miles due east (Fig. 1.1), you will have
gone a total of 7 miles, but you’re not 7 miles from where you set out—you’re
only 5. We need an arithmetic to describe quantities like this, which evidently do
not add in the ordinary way. The reason they don’t, of course, is that displace-
ments (straight line segments going from one point to another) have direction
as well as magnitude (length), and it is essential to take both into account when
you combine them. Such objects are called vectors: velocity, acceleration, force
and momentum are other examples. By contrast, quantities that have magnitude
but no direction are called scalars: examples include mass, charge, density, and
temperature.
I shall use boldface (A, B, and so on) for vectors and ordinary type for scalars.
The magnitude of a vector A is written |A| or, more simply, A. In diagrams, vec-
tors are denoted by arrows: the length of the arrow is proportional to the magni-
tude of the vector, and the arrowhead indicates its direction. Minus A (−A) is a
vector with the same magnitude as A but of opposite direction (Fig. 1.2). Note that
vectors have magnitude and direction but not location: a displacement of 4 miles
due north from Washington is represented by the same vector as a displacement 4
miles north from Baltimore (neglecting, of course, the curvature of the earth). On
a diagram, therefore, you can slide the arrow around at will, as long as you don’t
change its length or direction.
We define four vector operations: addition and three kinds of multiplication.

3 mi

4
mi 5 mi
A −A

FIGURE 1.1 FIGURE 1.2

1
2 Chapter 1 Vector Analysis

B −B

A (A+B) (B+A) A (A−B) A

FIGURE 1.3 FIGURE 1.4

(i) Addition of two vectors. Place the tail of B at the head of A; the sum,
A + B, is the vector from the tail of A to the head of B (Fig. 1.3). (This rule
generalizes the obvious procedure for combining two displacements.) Addition is
commutative:
A + B = B + A;
3 miles east followed by 4 miles north gets you to the same place as 4 miles north
followed by 3 miles east. Addition is also associative:
(A + B) + C = A + (B + C).
To subtract a vector, add its opposite (Fig. 1.4):
A − B = A + (−B).
(ii) Multiplication by a scalar. Multiplication of a vector by a positive scalar
a multiplies the magnitude but leaves the direction unchanged (Fig. 1.5). (If a is
negative, the direction is reversed.) Scalar multiplication is distributive:
a(A + B) = aA + aB.
(iii) Dot product of two vectors. The dot product of two vectors is defined by
A · B ≡ AB cos θ, (1.1)
where θ is the angle they form when placed tail-to-tail (Fig. 1.6). Note that A · B
is itself a scalar (hence the alternative name scalar product). The dot product is
commutative,
A · B = B · A,
and distributive,
A · (B + C) = A · B + A · C. (1.2)
Geometrically, A · B is the product of A times the projection of B along A (or
the product of B times the projection of A along B). If the two vectors are parallel,
then A · B = AB. In particular, for any vector A,
A · A = A2 . (1.3)
If A and B are perpendicular, then A · B = 0.
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of her step; for she was aware of these things as well as he; and
glad enough that she possessed them, for had they not commended
her to him? But as for these other wonderful graces of mind and
disposition with which he had adorned her? She was sadly afraid
that he would find her stupid, ill-instructed, unread, fractious,
unreasonable, incapable of understanding him. Look, for example,
how he could imbue these hills and moors and vales with a kind of
magic, so that they seemed to become his personal friends. To her
they were all dead things (except Mudal Water, at times, on the
summer evenings), but to him they seemed instinct with life. They
spoke to him; and he to them; he understood them; they were his
companions and friends; who but himself could tell of what this very
hill of Clebrig was thinking?—

Ben Clebrig's a blaze of splendour

In the first red flush of the morn,
And his gaze is fixed on the eastward
To greet the day new-born;
And he listens a-still for the bellow
 Of the antlered stag afar,
And he laughs at the royal challenge,
The hoarse, harsh challenge of war.

But Ben Clebrig is gentle and placid

When the sun sinks into the west,
And a mild and a mellow radiance
Shines on his giant crest;
For he's looking down upon Meenie
As she wanders along the road,
And the mountain bestows his blessing
On the fairest child of God.

There again: what could he see in her (she asked herself) that he
should write of her so? He had declared to her that the magic with
which all this neighbourhood was imbued was due to her presence
there; but how could she, knowing herself as she did, believe that?
And how to show her gratitude to him; and her faith in him; and her
confidence as to the future? Well, she could but give to him her life
and the love that was the life of her life—if these were worth the
taking.
But there was one among these many pieces that she had
pondered over which she returned to again and again, and with a
kind of pride; and that not because it sounded her praises, but
because it assured her hopes. As for Ronald's material success in
life, she was troubled with little doubt about that. It might be a long
time before he could come to claim his wife; but she was content to
wait; in that direction she had no fears whatever. But there was
something beyond that. She looked forward to the day when even
the Stuarts of Glengask and Orosay should know what manner of
man this was whom she had chosen for her husband. Her mother
had called him an uneducated peasant; but she paid no heed to the
taunt; rather she was thinking of the time when Ronald—other
things being settled—might perhaps go to Edinburgh, and get to
know some one holding the position there that Jeffrey used to hold
(her reading was a little old-fashioned) who would introduce him to
the world of letters and open the way to fame. She knew nothing of
Carry Hodson's luckless attempt in this direction; she knew, on the
contrary, that Ronald was strongly averse from having any of these
scraps printed; but she said to herself that the fitting time would
come. And if these unpolished verses are found to belie her
confident and proud prognostications as to the future, let it be
remembered that she was hardly nineteen, that she was exceedingly
warm-hearted, that she was a young wife, and day and night with
little to think about but the perfections of her lover, and his kindness
to her, and his praise of her, and the honour in which he held her.
However, this piece was not about Meenie at all—he had called it
BY ISLAY'S SHORES.

By Islay's shores she sate and sang:

'O winds, come blowing o'er the sea,
And bring me back my love again
That went to fight in Germanie!'

And all the livelong day she sang,

And nursed the bairn upon her knee:
'Balou, balou, my bonnie bairn,
Thy father's far in Germanie,

But ere the summer days are gane,

And winter blackens bush and tree,
Thy father will we welcome hame
Frae the red wars in Germanie.'

O dark the night fell, dark and mirk;

A wraith stood by her icily:
'Dear wife, I'll never more win hame,
For I am slain in Germanie.

On Minden's field I'm lying stark,

And Heaven is now my far countrie,
Farewell, dear wife, farewell, farewell,
I'll ne'er win hame frae Germanie.'

And all the year she came and went,

And wandered wild frae sea to sea;
'O neighbours, is he ne'er come back,
My love that went to Germanie?'

Port Ellen saw her many a time;

Round by Port Askaig wandered she:
'Where is the ship that's sailing in
With my dear love frae Germanie?'
 But when the darkened winter fell:
'It's cold for baith my bairn and me;
Let me lie down and rest awhile:
My love's away frae Germanie.

O far away and away he dwells;

High Heaven is now his fair countrie;
And there he stands—with arms outstretched—
To welcome hame my bairn and me!'

And if Meenie's eyes were filled with tears when she had re-read the
familiar lines, her heart was proud enough; and all her kinsmen of
Glengask and Orosay had no terrors for her; and her mother's taunts
no sting. Of course, all this that she hoped for was far away in the
future; but even as regarded the immediate years before her she
refused to be harassed by any doubt. Perhaps she would not have
asserted in set terms that a knack of stringing verses together
proved that the writer had also the capacity and knowledge and
judgment necessary to drain and fence and plant and stock a
Highland estate; abstract questions of the kind had little interest for
her; what she did know—what formed the first article of her creed,
and the last, and the intervening thirty-seven—was that Ronald
could do anything he put his mind to. And this was a highly useful
and comfortable belief, considering all her circumstances.
And so she sped away down the mountain-side again—glad to
have discovered Ronald's retreat; and so light and swift was her step
that when she at length reached the inn she found herself just
ahead of the mail coming in from the south. Of course she waited
for letters; and when Mrs. Murray had opened the bags, it was found
there were three for the Doctor's cottage. The first was from Ronald;
that Meenie whipped into her pocket. The second was for Mrs.
Douglas, and clearly in Agatha's handwriting. The third, addressed to
Meenie, had an American stamp on it; and this was the one that she
opened and read as she quietly walked homeward.
It was a long letter; and it was from Miss Carry Hodson; who
first of all described the accident that had befallen her, and her
subsequent illness; and plainly intimated that no such thing would
have happened had her Highland friends been in charge of the boat.
Then she went on to say that her father had just sailed for Europe;
that he had business to transact in Scotland; that he wished to see
Ronald; and would Miss Douglas be so very kind as to ask the
innkeeper, or the post-master at Lairg, or any one who knew
Ronald's address in Glasgow, to drop a post-card to her father,
addressed to the Langham Hotel, London, with the information.
Moreover, her father had intimated his intention of taking the Loch
Naver salmon-fishing for the next season, if it was not as yet let;
and in that case the writer would be overjoyed to find herself once
more among her Inver-Mudal friends. Finally, and as a kind of
reminder and keepsake, she had sent by her father a carriage-rug
made mostly of chipmunk skins; and she would ask Miss Douglas's
acceptance of it; and hoped that it would keep her knees snug and
warm and comfortable when the winds were blowing too sharply
along Strath-Terry.
Of course, all this was wonderful news to come to such a quiet
and remote corner of the world; but there was other news as well;
and that by an odd coincidence. Some little time after Mrs. Douglas
had received the letter from Agatha, she came to Meenie.
'Williamina,' said she, 'Agatha writes to me about Mr. Frank
Lauder.'
'Yes?' said Meenie, rather coldly.
'He intends renting the salmon-fishing on the loch for the next
season; and he will be alone at the inn. Agatha hopes that we shall
be particularly civil to him; and I hope—I say, I hope—that every
one in this house will be. It is of the greatest importance,
considering how he stands with regard to Mr. Gemmill. I hope he will
be received in this house with every attention and kindness.'
And then the pompous little dame left. It was almost a
challenge she had thrown down; and Meenie was at first a little
bewildered. What then?—would this young man, for the six weeks or
two months of his stay, be their constant visitor? He would sit in the
little parlour, evening after evening; and how could she keep him
from talking to her, and how could she keep him from looking at
her? And Ronald—her husband—would be far away; and alone,
perhaps; and not allowed a word with her; whereas she would have
to be civil and polite to this young man; and even if she held her
eyes downcast, how could she help his regarding her face?
And then she suddenly bethought her of Miss Hodson's letter.
What?—was Mr. Hodson after the fishing too? And ought not the last
tenant to have the refusal? And should not the Duke's agent know?
And why should she not write him a note—just in case no inquiry
had been made? She had not much time to think about the matter;
but she guessed quickly enough that, if an American millionaire and
the son of a Glasgow merchant are after the same thing, and that
thing purchasable, the American is likely to get it. And why should
Ronald's wife be stared at and talked to by this young man—
however harmless and amiable his intentions?
So she went swiftly to her own room and wrote as follows:—

'DEAR MR. CRAWFORD—I have just heard from Miss Hodson, whose
father was here last spring, that he is on his way to Europe; and that
he hopes to have the fishing again this year. I think I ought to let
you know, just in case you should have any other application for the
loch. I am sure Miss Hodson will be much disappointed if he does
not get it. Yours sincerely,
'MEENIE S. DOUGLAS.'

'There,' said she, and there was a little smile of triumph about her
mouth, 'if that doesn't put a spoke in the wheel of Mr. Frank Lauder,
poor fellow, I don't know what will.'
'Spiteful little cat,' her sister Agatha would have called her, had
she known; but women's judgments of women are not as men's.

CHAPTER XIV.
WANDERINGS IN THE WEST.

On a singularly clear and brilliant morning in February a large and

heavy screw-steamer slowly crept out of the land-locked little
harbour of Portree, and steadily made away for the north. For her
the squally Ben Inivaig at the mouth of the channel had no terrors;
indeed, what could any vessel fear on such a morning as this? When
they got well out into Raasay Sound, it seemed as if the whole world
had been changed into a pantomime-scene. The sky was calm and
cloudless; the sea was as glass and of the most dazzling blue; and
those masses of white that appeared on that perfect mirror were the
reflections of the snow-powdered islands—Raasay, and Fladda, and
South Rona—that gleamed and shone and sparkled there in the sun.
Not often are the wide waters of the Minch so fair and calm in mid-
winter; the more usual thing is northerly gales, with black seas
thundering by into Loch Staffin and Kilmaluag Bay, or breaking into
sheets and spouts of foam along the headlands of Aird Point and Ru
Hunish. This was as a holiday trip, but for the sharp cold. The
islands were white as a solan's wing—save along the shores; the sea
was of a sapphire blue; and when they got up by Rona light behold
the distant snow-crowned hills of Ross and Cromarty rose faint and
spectral and wonderful into the pale and summer-like sky. The men
sung 'Fhir a Bhata' as they scoured the brass and scrubbed the
decks; the passengers marched up and down, clapping their hands
to keep them warm; and ever as the heavy steamer forged on its
way, the world of blue sea and sky and snow-white hills opened out
before them, until some declared at last that in the far north they
could make out the Shiant Isles.
Now under shelter of the companion-way leading down into the
saloon three men were standing, and two of them were engaged in
an animated conversation. The third, who was Mr. Hodson, merely
looked on and listened, a little amused, apparently. One of the
others—a tall, heavy-bearded, north-Highland-looking man—was Mr.
Carmichael, a famous estate-agent in London, who had run two or
three commissions together as an excuse for this midwinter trip. The
third member of the group was Ronald, who was hammering away
in his usual dogmatic fashion.
'Pedigree? The pride of having ancestors?' he was saying. 'Why,
there's not a man alive whose ancestry does not stretch as far back
as any other man's ancestry. Take it any way ye like: if Adam was
our grandfather, then we're all his grandchildren; or if we are
descended from a jellyfish or a monkey, the line is of the same
length for all of us—for dukes, and kings, and herd-laddies. The only
difference is this, that some know the names of their forefathers,
and some don't; and the presumption is that the man whose people
have left no story behind them is come of a more moral, useful,
sober, hard-working race than the man whose forbears were famous
cut-throats in the middle ages, or dishonest lawyers, or king's
favourites. It's plain John Smith that has made up the wealth of this
country; and that has built her ships for her, and defended her, and
put her where she is; and John Smith had his ancestors at Cressy
and Agincourt as well as the rest—ay, and they had the bulk of the
fighting to do, I'll be bound; but I think none the worse of him
because he cannot tell you their names or plaster his walls with
coats of arms. However, it's idle talking about a matter of sentiment,
and that's the fact; and so, if you'll excuse me, I'll just go down into
the cabin, and write a couple o' letters.'
A minute or so after he had disappeared, Mr. Hodson (who
looked miserably cold, to tell the truth, though he was wrapped from
head to heel in voluminous furs) motioned his companion to come a
few yards aside, so that they could talk without fear of being
overheard.
 'Now,' said he, in his slow and distinct way, 'now we are alone, I
want you to tell me what you think of that young man.'
'I don't like his politics,' was the prompt and blunt answer.
'No more do I,' said Mr. Hodson coolly. 'But for another reason.
You call him a Radical, I call him a Tory. But no matter—I don't mean
about politics. Politics?—who but a fool bothers his head about
politics—unless he can make money out of them? No, I mean
something more practical than that. Here have you and he been
together these three days, talking about the one subject nearly all
the time—I mean the management of these Highland estates, and
the nature of the ground, and what should be done, and all that.
Well, now, you are a man of great experience; and I want you to tell
me what you think of this young fellow. I want you to tell me
honestly; and it will be in strict confidence, I assure you. Now, has
he got a good solid grip of the thing? Does he know? Does he catch
on? Is he safe? Is he to be trusted?——'
'Oh, there, there, there!' said the big estate-agent, interrupting
through mere good-nature. 'That's quite another thing—quite
another thing. I've not a word to say against him there—no, quite
the other way—a shrewd-headed, capable fellow he is, with a
groundwork of practical knowledge that no man ever yet got out of
books. As sharp-eyed a fellow as I have come across for many a day
—didn't you see how he guessed at the weak points of that Mull
place before ever he set foot ashore? Quick at figures, too—oh yes,
yes, a capable fellow I call him; he has been posting himself up, I
can see; but it's where his practical knowledge comes in that he's of
value. When it's a question of vineries, or something like that, then
he goes by the book—that's useless.'
 Mr. Hodson listened in silence; and his manner showed nothing.
'I have been thinking he would be a valuable man for me,' the
agent said presently.
'In your office?' said Mr. Hodson, raising his eyes.
'Yes. And for this reason. You see, if he would only keep away
from those d—d politics of his, he is a very good-natured fellow, and
he has got an off-hand way with him that makes shepherds, and
keepers, and people of that kind friendly; the result is that he gets
all the information that he wants—and that isn't always an easy
thing to get. Now if I had a man like that in my office, whom I could
send with a client thinking of purchasing an estate—to advise him—
to get at the truth—and to be an intelligent and agreeable travelling-
companion at the same time—that would be a useful thing.'
'Say, now,' continued Mr. Hodson (who was attending mostly to
his own meditations), 'do you think, from what you've seen of this
young man, that he has the knowledge and business-capacity to be
overseer—factor, you call it, don't you?—of an estate—not a large
estate, but perhaps about the size of the one we saw yesterday or
this one we are going to now? Would he go the right way about it?
Would he understand what had to be done—I mean, in improving
the land, and getting the most out of it——'
Mr. Carmichael laughed.
'It's not a fair question,' said he. 'Your friend Strang and I are
too much of one opinion—ay, on every point we're agreed—for
many's the long talk we've had over the matter.'
'I know—I know,' Mr. Hodson said. 'Though I was only half-
listening; for when you got to feu-duties and public burdens and
things of that kind I lost my reckoning. But you say that you and
Strang are agreed as to the proper way of managing a Highland
estate: very well: assuming your theories to be correct, is he capable
of carrying them out?'
'I think so—I should say undoubtedly—I don't think I would
myself hesitate about trusting him with such a place—that is, when I
had made sufficient inquiries about his character, and got some
money guarantee about his stewardship. But then, you see, Mr.
Hodson, I'm afraid, if you were to let Strang go his own way in
working up an estate, so as to get the most marketable value into it,
you and he would have different opinions at the outset. I mean with
such an estate as you would find over there,' he added, indicating
with his finger the long stretch of wild and mountainous country
they were approaching. 'On rough and hilly land like that, in nine
cases out of ten, you may depend on it, it's foresting that pays.'
'But that's settled,' Mr. Hodson retorted rather sharply. 'I have
already told you, and Strang too, that if I buy a place up here I will
not have a stag or a hind from end to end of it.'
'Faith, they're things easy to get rid of,' the other said good-
naturedly. 'They'll not elbow you into the ditch if you meet them on
the road.'
'No; I have heard too much. Why, you yourself said that the
very name of American stank in the nostrils of the Highlanders.'
'Can you wonder?' said Mr. Carmichael quietly: they had been
talking the night before of certain notorious doings, on the part of an
American lessee, which were provoking much newspaper comment
at the time.
'Well, what I say is this—if I buy a place in the Highlands—and
no one can compel me to buy it—it is merely a fancy I have had for
two or three years back, and I can give it up if I choose—but what I
say is, if I do buy a place in the Highlands, I will hold it on such
conditions that I shall be able to bring my family to live on it, and
that I shall be able to leave it to my boy without shame. I will not
associate myself with a system that has wrought such cruelty and
tyranny. No; I will not allow a single acre to be forested.'
'There's such a quantity of the land good for nothing but deer,'
Mr. Carmichael said, almost plaintively. 'If you only saw it!—you're
going now by what the newspaper writers say—people who never
were near a deer-forest in their lives.'
'Good for nothing but deer? But what about the black cattle that
Ronald—that Strang—is always talking about?' was the retort—and
Mr. Hodson showed a very unusual vehemence, or, at least,
impatience. 'Well, I don't care. That has got nothing to do with me.
But it has got to do with my factor, or overseer, or whatever he is.
And between him and me this is how it will lie: "If you can't work my
estate, big or small as it may be, without putting the main part of it
under deer, and beginning to filch grazings here and there, and
driving the crofters down to the sea-shore, and preventing a
harmless traveller from having a Sunday walk over the hills, then out
you go. You may be fit for some other place: not for mine." Then he
went on in a milder strain. 'And Strang knows that very well. No
doubt, if I were to put him in a position of trust like that, he might
be ambitious to give a good account of his stewardship; I think, very
likely he would be, for he's a young man; but if I buy a place in the
Highlands, it will have to be managed as I wish it to be managed.
When I said that I wanted the most made out of the land, I did not
mean the most money. No. I should be glad to have four per cent
for my investment; if I can't have that, I should be content with
three; but it is not as a commercial speculation that I shall go into
the affair, if I go into it at all. My wants are simple enough. As I tell
you, I admire the beautiful, wild country; I like the people—what
little I have seen of them; and if I can get a picturesque bit of
territory somewhere along this western coast, I should like to give
my family a kind of foothold in Europe, and I dare say my boy might
be glad to spend his autumns here, and have a turn at the grouse.
But for the most part of the time the place would be under control of
the factor; and I want a factor who will work the estate under
certain specified conditions. First, no foresting. Then I would have
the crofts revalued—as fairly as might be; no crofter to be liable to
removal who paid his rent. The sheep-farms would go by their
market value, though I would not willingly disturb any tenant;
however, in that case, I should be inclined to try Strang's plan of
having those black cattle on my own account. I would have the
cottars taken away from the crofts (allowing for the rent paid to the
crofter, for that would be but fair, when the value of the crofts was
settled), and I would build for them a model village, which you
might look upon as a philanthropic fad of my own, to be paid for
separately. No gratuitous grazing anywhere to crofter or cottar; that
is but the parent of subsequent squabbles. Then I would have all the
draining and planting and improving of the estate done by the local
hands, so far as that was practicable. And then I should want four
per cent return on the purchase-money; and I should not be much
disappointed with three; and perhaps (though I would not admit this
to anybody) if I saw the little community thriving and satisfied—and
reckoning also the honour and glory of my being a king on my own
small domain—I might even be content with two per cent. Now, Mr.
Carmichael, is this practicable? And is this young fellow the man to
undertake it? I would make it worth his while. I should not like to
say anything about payment by results or percentage on profits; that
might tempt him to screw it out of the poorer people when he was
left master—though he does not talk like that kind of a fellow. I
wrote to Lord Ailine about him; and got the best of characters. I
went and saw the old man who is coaching him for that forestry
examination; he is quite confident about the result—not that I care
much about that myself. What do you say now? You ought to be
able to judge.'
Mr. Carmichael hesitated.
'If you got the estate at a fair price,' he said at length, 'it might
be practicable, though these improvement schemes suck in money
as a sponge sucks in water. And as for this young fellow—well, I
should think he would be just the man for the place—active,
energetic, shrewd-headed, and a pretty good hand at managing folk,
as I should guess. But, you know, before giving any one an
important post like that—and especially with your going back to
America for the best part of every year—I think you ought to have
some sort of money guarantee as a kind of safeguard. It's usual.
God forbid I should suggest anything against the lad—he's as honest
looking as my own two boys, and I can say no more than that—still,
business is business. A couple of sureties, now, of £500 apiece,
might be sufficient.'
'It's usual?' repeated Mr. Hodson absently. 'Yes, I suppose it is.
Pretty hard on a young fellow, though, if he can't find the sureties. A
thousand pounds is a big figure for one in his position. He has told
me about his father and his brother: they're not in it, anyhow—both
of them with hardly a sixpence to spare. However, it's no use talking
about it until we see whether this place here is satisfactory; and
even then don't say a word about it to him; for if some such post
were to be offered to him—and if the securities were all right and so
forth—it has got to be given to him as a little present from an
American young lady, if you can call it a present when you merely
propose to pay a man a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. And I
am less hopeful now; the three places we have looked at were
clearly out of the question; and my Highland mansion may prove to
be a castle in Spain after all.'
Late that night they reached their destination; and early next
morning at the door of the hotel—which looked strangely deserted
amid the wintry landscape—a waggonette was waiting for them, and
also the agent for the estate they were going to inspect. They
started almost directly; and a long and desperately cold drive it
proved to be; Mr. Hodson, for one, was glad enough when they
dismounted at the keeper's cottage where their tramp over the
ground was to begin—he did not care how rough the country might
be, so long as he could keep moving briskly.
Now it had been very clear during these past few days that
Ronald had not the slightest suspicion that Mr. Hodson, in
contemplating the purchase of a Highland estate (which was an old
project of his), had also in his eye some scheme for Ronald's own
advancement. All the way through he had been endeavouring to spy
out the nakedness of the land, and to demonstrate its shortcomings.
He considered that was his business. Mr. Hodson had engaged him—
at what he considered the munificent terms of a guinea a day and all
expenses paid—to come and give his advice; and he deemed it his
duty to find out everything, especially whatever was detrimental,
about such places as they visited, so that there should be no
swindling bargain. And so on this Ross-shire estate of Balnavrain, he
was proving himself a hard critic. This was hopelessly bleak; that
was worthless bog-land;—why was there no fencing along those
cliffs?—where were the roads for the peats?—who had had control
over the burning of the heather?—wasn't it strange that all along
these tops they had not put up more than a couple of coveys of
grouse, a hare or two, and a single ptarmigan? But all at once, when
they had toiled across this unpromising and hilly wilderness, they
came upon a scene of the most startling beauty—for now they were
looking down and out on the western sea, that was a motionless
mirror of blue and white; and near them was a wall of picturesquely
wooded cliffs; and below that again, and sloping to the shore, a
series of natural plateaus and carefully planted enclosures; while
stretching away inland was a fertile valley, with smart farmhouses,
and snug clumps of trees, and a meandering river that had salmon
obviously written on every square foot of its partially frozen surface.
'What a situation for a house!' was Ronald's involuntary
exclamation—as he looked down on the sheltered semicircle below
him, guarded on the east and north by the cliffs, and facing the
shining west.
'I thought ye would say that,' the agent said, with a quiet smile.
'It's many's the time I've heard Sir James say he would give £20,000
if he could bring the Castle there; and he was aye minded to build
there—ay, even to the day of his death, poor man; but then the
Colonel, when the place came to him, said no; he would rather sell
Balnavrain; and maist likely the purchaser would be for building a
house to his ain mind.'
'And a most sensible notion too,' Mr. Hodson said. 'But look
here, my friend: you've brought us up to a kind of Pisgah; I would
rather go down into that land of Gilead, and see what the
farmhouses are like.'
'Ay, but I brought ye here because it's about the best place for
giving ye an idea of the marches,' said the man imperturbably, for he
knew his own business better than the stranger. 'Do ye see the burn
away over there beyond the farmhouse?'
'Yes, yes.'
'Well, that's the Balnavrain march right up to the top; and then
the Duchess runs all along the sky-line yonder—to the black scaur.'
'You don't say!' observed Mr. Hodson. 'I never heard of a
Duchess doing anything so extraordinary.'
'But we march with the Duchess,' said the other, a little
bewildered.
'That's a little more decorous, anyway. Well now, I suppose we
can make all that out on the Ordnance Survey map when we get
back to the hotel. I'm for getting down into the valley—to have a
look around; I take it that if I lived here I shouldn't spend all the
time on a mountain-top.'
Well, the long and the short of it was that, after having had two
or three hours of laborious and diligent tramping and inspection and
questioning and explanation, and after having been entertained with
a comfortable meal of oat-cake and hot broth and boiled beef at a
hospitable farmhouse, they set out again on their cold drive back to
the hotel, where a long business conversation went on all the
evening, during dinner and after dinner. It was very curious how
each of these three brought this or that objection to the place—as if
bound to do so; and how the fascination of the mere site of it had so
clearly captivated them none the less. Of course, nothing conclusive
was said or done that night; but, despite these deprecatory pleas,
there was a kind of tacit and general admission that Balnavrain, with
proper supervision and attention to the possibilities offered by its
different altitudes, might be made into a very admirable little estate,
with a dwelling-house on it second in point of situation to none on
the whole western sea-board of the Highlands.
'Ronald,' said Mr. Hodson that evening, when Mr. Carmichael
had gone off to bed (he was making for the south early in the
morning), 'we have had some hard days' work; why should we let
Loch Naver lie idle? I suppose we could drive from here somehow?
Let us start off to-morrow; and we'll have a week's salmon-fishing.'
'To Inver-Mudal?' he said—and he turned quite pale.
'Yes, yes, why not?' Mr. Hodson answered. But he had noticed
that strange look that had come across the younger man's face; and
he attributed it to a wrong cause. 'Oh, it will not take up so much of
your time,' he continued. 'Mr. Weems declares you must have your
certificate as a matter of course. And as for expenses—the present
arrangement must go on, naturally, until you get back to Glasgow.
What is a week, man? Indeed, I will take no denial.'
And Ronald could not answer. To Inver-Mudal?—to meet the girl
whom he dared not acknowledge to be his wife?—and with his
future as hopelessly uncertain as ever. Once or twice he was almost
driven to make a confession to this stranger, who seemed so frankly
interested in him and his affairs; but no; he could not do that; and
he went to bed wondering with what strange look in her eyes
Meenie would find him in Inver-Mudal—if he found it impossible to
resist the temptation of being once more within sight of her, and
within hearing of the sound of her voice.

CHAPTER XV.
A PLEDGE REDEEMED.

Mr. Hodson could by no means get to understand the half-expressed

reluctance, the trepidation almost, with which Ronald seemed to
regard this visit to Inver-Mudal. It was not a matter of time; for his
studies for the examination were practically over. It was not a matter
of expense; for he was being paid a guinea a day. It was not debt;
on that point Mr. Hodson had satisfied himself by a few plain
questions; and he knew to a sovereign what sum Ronald had still in
the bank. Nor could he believe, after the quite unusual terms in
which Lord Ailine had written about the young man's conduct and
character, that Ronald was likely to have done anything to cause him
to fear a meeting with his former friends. And so, having some little
experience of the world, he guessed that there was probably a girl in
the case; and discreetly held his peace.
But little indeed was he prepared for the revelation that was
soon to be made. On the afternoon of one of these cold February
days they were driving northward along Strath-Terry. A sprinkling of
snow had fallen in the morning; the horses' hoofs and the wheels of
the waggonette made scarcely any sound in this prevailing silence.
They had come in sight of Loch Naver; and the long sheet of water
looked quite black amid the white undulations of the woods and the
moorland and the low-lying hills. Now at this point the road leading
down to the village makes a sudden turn; and they were just cutting
round the corner when Ronald, who had been anxiously looking
forward, caught sight of that that most he longed and that most he
feared to see. It was Meenie herself—she was walking by the side of
the way, carrying some little parcel in her hand; and they had come
upon her quite unexpectedly, and noiselessly besides; and what
might she not betray in this moment of sudden alarm? He gripped
the driver's arm, thinking he might stop the horses; but it was now
too late for that. They were close to her; she heard the patter of
horses' hoofs; she looked up, startled; and the next moment—when
she saw Ronald there—she had uttered a quick, sharp cry, and had
staggered back a step or so, until in her fright she caught at the wire
fence behind her. She did not fall; but her face was as white as the
snow around her; and when he leapt from the waggonette, and
seized her by both wrists, so as to hold her there, she could only
say, 'Ronald, Ronald,' and could seek for no explanation of this
strange arrival. But he held her tight and firm; and with a wave of
his hand he bade the driver drive on and leave them. And Mr.
Hodson lowered his eyes, thinking that he had seen enough; but he
formally raised his hat, all the same; and as he was being driven on
to the inn, he returned to his surmise that there was a girl in the
case—only who could have imagined that it was the Doctor's
daughter?
Nor was there a single word said about this tell-tale meeting
when Ronald came along to the inn, some few minutes thereafter.
He seemed a little preoccupied, that was all. He rather avoided the
stormy welcome that greeted him everywhere; and appeared to be
wholly bent on getting the preparations pushed forward for the
fishing of the next day. Of course everything had to be arranged; for
they had had no thought of coming to Inver-Mudal when they sailed
from Glasgow; there was not even a boat on the loch, nor a single
gillie engaged.
But later on that evening, when the short winter day had
departed, and the blackness of night lay over the land, Ronald stole
away from the inn, and went stealthily down through the fields till he
found himself by the side of the river. Of course, there was nothing
visible; had he not known every foot of the ground, he dared not
have come this way; but onward he went like a ghost through the
dark until he finally gained the bridge, and there he paused and
listened. 'Meenie!' he said, in a kind of whisper; but there was no
reply. And so he groped his way to the stone dyke by the side of the
road, and sate down there, and waited.
This was not how he had looked forward to meeting Meenie
again. Many a time he had pictured that to himself—his getting back
to Inver-Mudal after the long separation—the secret summons—and
Meenie coming silently out from the little cottage to join him. But
always the night was a moonlight night; and the wide heavens calm
and clear; and Loch Naver rippling in silver under the dusky shadows
of Ben Clebrig. Why, he had already written out that summons; and
he had sent it to Meenie; and no doubt she had read it over to
herself more than once; and wondered when the happy time was to
be. The night that he had looked forward to was more like a night
for a lovers' meeting: this was the message he had sent her—
O white's the moon upon the loch,
And black the bushes on the brae,
And red the light in your window-pane:
When will ye come away,
Meenie,
When will ye come away?

I'll wrap ye round and keep ye warm,

For mony a secret we've to tell,
And ne'er a sound will hinder us
Down in yon hidden dell,
Meenie,
Down in yon hidden dell.

O see the moon is sailing on

Through fleecy clouds across the skies,
But fairer far the light that I know,
The love-light in your eyes,
Meenie,
The love-light in your eyes.

O haste and haste; the night is sweet,

But sweeter far what I would hear;
And I have a secret to tell to you,
A whisper in your ear,
Meenie,
A whisper in your ear.
But here was a bitter cold winter night; and Meenie would have to
come through the snow; and dark as pitch it was—he would have to
guess at the love-light in her eyes, so cruelly dense was this
blackness all around.
Then his quick ear detected a faint sound in the distance—a
hushed footfall on the snow; and that came nearer and nearer; he
went out to the middle of the road.
'Is that you, Meenie?'
The answer was a whisper—
'Ronald!'
And like a ghost she came to him through the dark; but indeed
this was no ghost at all that he caught to him and that clung to him,
for if her cheeks were cold her breath was warm about his face, and
her lips were warm, and her ungloved hands that were round his
neck were warm, and all the furry wrappings that she wore could
not quite conceal the joyful beating of her heart.
'Oh, Ronald—Ronald—you nearly killed me with the fright—I
thought something dreadful had happened—that you had come back
without any warning—and now you say instead that it's good news—
oh, let it be good news, Ronald—let it be good news—if you only
knew how I have been thinking and thinking—and crying sometimes
—through the long days and the long nights—let it be good news
that you have brought with you, Ronald!'
'Well, lass' (but this was said after some little time; for he had
other things to say to her with which we have no concern here), 'it
may be good news; but it's pretty much guess-work; and maybe I'm
building up something on my own conceit, that will have a sudden
fall, and serve me right. And then even at the best I hardly see——'
 'But, Ronald, you said it was good news!' And then she altered
her tone. 'Ah, but I don't care! I don't care at all when you are here.
It is only when you are away that my heart is like lead all the long
day; and at night I lie and think that everything is against us—and
such a long time to wait—and perhaps my people finding out—but
what is it, Ronald, you had to tell me?'
'Well, now, Meenie,' said he.
'But that is not my name—to you,' said she; for indeed she
scarce knew what she said, and was all trembling, and excited, and
clinging to him—there, in the dark, mid the wild waste of the snow.
'Love-Meenie and Rose-Meenie, all in one,' said he, 'listen, and
I'll tell you now what maybe lies before us. Maybe, it is, and that
only; I think this unexpected coming to see you may have put me off
my head a bit; but if it's all a mistake—well, we are no worse off
than we were before. And this is what it is now: do you remember
my telling you that Mr. Hodson had often been talking of buying an
estate in the Highlands?—well, he has just been looking at one—it's
over there on the Ross-shire coast—and it's that has brought us to
the Highlands just now, for he would have me come and look at it
along with him. And what would you think if he made me the factor
of it? Well, maybe I'm daft to think of such a thing; but he has been
talking and talking in a way I cannot understand unless some plan of
that kind is in his head; ay, and he has been making inquiries about
me, as I hear; and not making much of the forestry certificate, as to
whether I get it or no; but rather, as I should guess, thinking about
putting me on this Balnavrain place as soon as it becomes his own.
Ay, ay, sweetheart; that would be a fine thing for me, to be in a
position just like that of Mr. Crawford—though on a small scale; and
who could prevent my coming to claim my good wife then, and
declaring her as mine before all the world?'
'Yes, yes, Ronald,' she said eagerly, 'but why do you talk like
that? Why do you speak as if there was trouble? Surely he will make
you factor! It was he that asked you to go away to Glasgow; he
always was your friend; if he buys the estate, who else could he get
to manage it as well?'
'But there's another thing, sweetheart,' said he, rather
hopelessly. 'He spoke about it yesterday. Indeed, he put it plain
enough. He asked me fairly whether, supposing somebody was to
offer me the management of an estate, I could get guarantees—
securities for my honesty, in fact; and he even mentioned the sum
that would be needed. Well, well, it's beyond me, my girl—where
could I find two people to stand surety for me at £500 apiece?'
She uttered a little cry, and clung closer to him.
'Ronald—Ronald—surely you will not miss such a chance for that
—it is a matter of form, isn't it?—and some one——'
'But who do I know that has got £500, and that I could ask?'
said he. 'Ay, and two of them. Maybe Lord Ailine might be one—he
was always a good friend to me—but two of them—two of them—
well, well, good lass, if it has all got to go, we must wait for some
other chance.'
'Yes,' said Meenie bitterly, 'and this American—he calls himself a
friend of yours too—and he wants guarantees for your honesty!'
'It's the usual thing, as he said himself,' Ronald said. 'But don't
be downhearted, my dear. Hopes and disappointments come to
every one, and we must meet them like the rest. The world has
always something for us—even these few minutes—with your cheeks
grown warm again—and the scent of your hair—ay, and your heart
as gentle as ever.'
But she was crying a little.
'Ronald—surely—it is not possible this chance should be so near
us—and then to be taken away. And can't I do something? I know
the Glengask people will be angry—but—but I would write to Lady
Stuart—or if I could only go to her, that would be better—it would be
between woman and woman, and surely she would not refuse when
she knew how we were placed—and—and it would be something for
me to do—for you know you've married a pauper bride, Ronald—and
I bring you nothing—when even a farmer's daughter would have her
store of napery and a chest of drawers and all that—but couldn't I
do this, Ronald?—I would go and see Lady Stuart—she could not
refuse me!'
He laughed lightly; and his hands were clasped round the soft
brown hair.
'No, no, no, sweetheart; things will have come to a pretty pass
before I would have you exposed to any humiliation of that sort. And
why should you be down-hearted? The world is young for both of
us. Oh, don't you be afraid; a man that can use his ten fingers and is
willing to work will tumble into something sooner or later; and what
is the use of being lovers if we are not to have our constancy tried?
No, no; you keep a brave heart: if this chance has to be given up,
we'll fall in with another; and maybe it will be all the more welcome
that we have had to wait a little while for it.'
'A little while, Ronald?' said she.
He strove to cheer her and reassure her still further; although,
indeed, there was not much time for that; for he had been
commanded to dine with Mr. Hodson at half-past seven; and he
knew better than to keep the man who might possibly be his master
waiting for dinner. And presently Meenie and he were going quietly
along the snow-hushed road; and he bade her good-bye—many and
many times repeated—near the little garden-gate; and then made
his way back to the inn. He had just time to brush his hair and
smarten himself up a bit when the pretty Nelly—who seemed to be a
little more friendly and indulgent towards him than in former days—
came to say that she had taken the soup into the parlour, and that
the gentleman was waiting.
Now Mr. Hodson was an astute person; and he suspected
something, and was anxious to know more; but he was not so ill-
advised as to begin with direct questions. For one thing, there was
still a great deal to be talked over about the Balnavrain estate—
which he had almost decided on purchasing; and, amongst other
matters, Ronald was asked whether the overseer of such a place
would consider £400 a year a sufficient salary, if a plainly and
comfortably built house were thrown in; and also whether, in
ordinary circumstances, there would be any difficulty about a young
fellow obtaining two sureties to be responsible for him. From that it
was a long way round to the Doctor's daughter; but Mr. Hodson
arrived there in time; for he had brought for her a present from his
own daughter; and he seemed inclined to talk in a friendly way
about the young lady. And at last he got the whole story. Once
started, Ronald spoke frankly enough. He confessed to his day-
dreams about one so far superior to him in station; he described his
going away to Glasgow; his loneliness and despair there; his falling
among evil companions and his drinking; the message of the white
heather; his pulling himself up; and Meenie's sudden resolve and
heroic self-surrender. The private marriage, too—yes, he heard the
whole story from beginning to end; and the more he heard the more
his mind was busy; though he was a quiet kind of person, and the
recital did not seem to move him in any way whatever.
And yet it may be doubted whether, in all the county of
Sutherland, or in all the realm of England, there was any happier
man that night than Mr. Josiah Hodson. For here was something
entirely after his own heart. His pet hobby was playing the part of a
small beneficent Providence; and he had already befriended Ronald,
and was greatly interested in him; moreover, had he not promised
his daughter, when she lay apparently very near to death, that
Ronald should be looked after? But surely he had never looked
forward to any such opportunity as this! And then the girl was so
pretty—that, also, was something. His heart warmed to the
occasion; dinner being over, they drew their chairs towards the big
fireplace where the peats were blazing cheerfully; Ronald was
bidden to light his pipe; and then; the American—in a quiet,
indifferent, sententious way, as if he were talking of some quite
abstract and unimportant matter—made his proposal.
'Well, now, Ronald,' said he, as he stirred up some of the peats
with his foot, 'you seemed to think that £400 a year and a house
thrown in was good enough for the overseer of that Balnavrain
place. I don't know what your intentions are; but if you like to take
that situation, it's yours.'
Ronald looked startled—but only for a moment.
'I thank ye, sir; I thank ye,' he said, with rather a downcast
face. 'I will not say I had no suspicion ye were thinking of some such
kindness; and I thank ye—most heartily I thank ye. But it's beyond
me. I could not get the securities.'
'Well, now, as to that,' the American said, after a moment's
consideration, 'I am willing to take one security—I mean for the
whole amount; and I want to name the person myself. If Miss
Douglas will go bail for you—or Mrs. Strang, I suppose I should call
her—then there is no more to be said. Ronald, my good fellow, if the
place is worth your while, take it; it's yours.'
A kind of flash of joy and gratitude leapt to the younger man's
eyes; but all he could manage to say was—
'If I could only tell her!'
'Well, now, as to that again,' said Mr. Hodson, rising slowly, and
standing with his back to the fire, 'I have got to take along that
present from my daughter—to-morrow morning would be best; and
I could give her the information, if you wished. But I'll tell you what
would be still better, my friend: you just let me settle this little affair
with the old people—with the mamma, as I understand. I'm not
much of a talkist; but if you give me permission I'll have a try; I
think we might come to some kind of a reasonable understanding, if
she doesn't flatten me with her swell relations. Why, yes, I think I
can talk sense to her. I don't want to see the girl kept in that
position; your Scotch ways—well, we haven't got any old ballads in
my country, and we like to have our marriages fair and square and
aboveboard: now let me tell the old lady the whole story, and try to
make it up with her. She can't scold my head off.'
And by this time he was walking up and down the room; and he
continued—
 'No; I shall go round to-morrow afternoon, when we come back
from the fishing. And look here, Ronald; this is what I want you to
do; you must get the other boat down to the lake—and you will go
in that one—and get another lad or two—I will pay them anything
they want. I can't have my overseer acting as gillie, don't you see—if
I am going to talk with his mother-in-law; you must get out the
other boat; and if you catch a salmon or two, just you send them
along to the Doctor, with your compliments—do you hear, your
compliments, not mine. Now——'
'And I have not a word of thanks!' Ronald exclaimed. 'My head
is just bewildered——'
'Say, now,' the American continued quietly—in fact, he seemed
to be considering his finger-nails more than anything else, as he
walked up and down the room—'say, now, what do you think the
Doctor's income amounts to in the year? Not much? Two hundred
pounds with all expenses paid?'
'I really don't know,' Ronald said—not understanding the drift of
this question.
'Not three hundred, anyway?'
'I'm sure I don't know.'
'Ah. Well, now, I've got to talk to that old lady to-morrow about
the prospects of her son-in-law—though she don't know she has got
one,' Mr. Hodson was saying—half to himself, as it were. 'I suppose
she'll jump on me when I begin. But there's one thing. If I can't
convince her with four hundred a year, I'll try her with five—and
Carry shall kiss me the difference.'
 CHAPTER XVI.
THE FACTOR OF BALNAVRAIN.

Well, now, some couple of months or so thereafter, this same Miss

Carry was one of a party of four—all Americans—who set out from
Lairg station to drive to Inver-Mudal; and very comfortable and
content with each other they seemed to be when they were
ensconced in the big waggonette. For a convalescent, indeed, Miss
Hodson appeared to be in excellent spirits; but there may have been
reasons for that; for she had recently become engaged; and her
betrothed, to mark that joyful circumstance, had left for Europe with
her; and it was his first trip to English shores; and more especially it
was his first trip to the Highlands of Scotland; and very proud was
she of her self-imposed office of chaperon and expounder and guide.
Truth to tell, the long and lank editor found that in many respects he
had fallen upon troublous times; for not only was he expected to be
profoundly interested in historical matters about which he did not
care a red cent, and to accept any and every inconvenience and
discomfort as if it were a special blessing from on high, and to be
ready at all moments to admire mountains and glens and lakes when
he would much rather have been talking of something more personal
to Miss Carry and himself, but also—and this was the cruellest wrong
of all—he had to listen to continued praises of Ronald Strang that
now and again sounded suspiciously like taunts. And on such
occasions he was puzzled by the very audacity of her eyes. She
regarded him boldly—as if to challenge him to say that she did not
mean every word she uttered; and he dared not quarrel with her, or
dispute; though sometimes he had his own opinion as to whether
those pretty soft dark eyes were quite so innocent and simple and
straightforward as they pretended to be.
'Ah,' said she, as they were now driving away from the village
into the wide, wild moorland, 'ah, when you see Ronald, you will see
a man.'
She had her eyes fixed on him.
'I suppose they don't grow that kind of a thing in our country,'
he answered meekly.
'I mean,' she said, with a touch of pride, 'I mean a man who is
not ashamed to be courteous to women—a man who knows how to
show proper respect to women.'
'Why, yes, I'll allow you won't find that quality in an American,'
he said, with a subtle sarcasm that escaped her, for she was too
obviously bent on mischief.
'And about the apology, now?'
'What apology?'
'For your having published an insulting article about Ronald, to
be sure. Of course you will have to apologise to him, before this very
day is over.'
'I will do anything else you like,' the long editor said, with much
complaisance. 'I will fall in love with the young bride, if you like. Or
I'll tell lies about the weight of the salmon when I get back home.
But an apology? Seems to me a man making an apology looks about
as foolish as a woman throwing a stone: I don't see my way to that.
Besides, where does the need of it come in, anyhow? You never
read the article. It was very complimentary, as I think; yes, it was
so; a whole column and more about a Scotch gamekeeper——'
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