Chapter 26

Lucy murmured something , and sat down on the chair Sir Archibe pulled out for her ; she had rarely felt so cold , and it was quite an effort to prevent herself from shivering , but she managed to control her nerves , and endeavoured to look a little intelligent . She hoped to make a good impression on her relatives , not let them think that she was gauche and did not know how to behave .

But she was very thankful that Maurice Tredego was staying at the castle ; if he had been going away and leaving her with these strangers she would not have been able to stand it . She would have begged him to take her with him , or failing that , have run away ; she certainly would not have remained where she could sense she was not wanted . And yet , her uncle had been kind and her cousin Margaret perfectly polite . An old man with white hair , dressed in a shabby velveteen coat and a kilt , brought in the tea ; Sir Archibe explained that he was Angus , the piper , father of Fergus .