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know. Glenmorven is lovely … but it
is
the back of beyond.” She paused then added, “I hope Neil and Clara won’t find it too quiet up here.”
    “Don’t worry about them, Helen. I’m sure they’ll love it,” Margaret Grant stated positively. “They’re real outdoor types.”
    “And are their mum and dad okay about it?”
    “They’re really grateful and have asked me to pass on their thanks. Actually, from what they said, things sound rather serious. The children’s uncle has been admitted to hospital and is due to have an operation at the end of the week. The news doesn’t sound too promising but they’re hoping he’ll pull through.”
    “I hope so, too. In the meantime we’ll do our best to look after Neil and Clara. Lewis told us about them the last time he was here and they sound like nice kids. Shona’s really excited aboutit. It’s brightened her up a lot and she’ll have a great time showing them round the glen. I’ll pick them up tomorrow morning, shall I?”
    “That would be marvellous,” Margaret sighed. “I’m so grateful to you. Bob’s trip has given me the ideal opportunity to see my aunt and I just
can’t
pass it up. She’s pretty old and although her letters are cheerful enough, I get the impression that she’s feeling her age these days …”

    “Are you sure it’s all right?” queried Clara later. “I mean, it’s very good of her …”
    “It was her husband, who suggested it,” Mrs Grant smiled. “He works for the same company as Bob and had heard that your Uncle David was seriously ill. And when they heard of the problem in Texas … well, he knew there was no way Bob could get out of going.”
    “And my great-aunt lives near Houston,” Lewis added, “so he knew that mum would want to go, too.”
    “We feel really bad about it, though,” Neil said, looking doubtfully at Lewis. “Wouldn’t you have liked a trip to the States as well?”
    “No way!” Lewis said. “I’d
much
rather be here. And don’t feel bad about staying with the Fergusons either,” he added. “I bet they’re delighted to have us. Glenmorven’s quite isolated and now that Shona’s getting older they feel guilty at her being on her own during the holidays. There are only a couple of houses there — and the castle, of course.”
    “Lewis spent a long weekend with them last month. He had a great time,” Mrs Grant assuredthem, “and you’ll be able to do a fair bit of hill-walking .”
    “Sounds fabulous,” Neil said and Clara, too, nodded . It had been a great holiday so far. Exploring Aberdeen and going on the cruise to the Shetlands had been fun and now there was the exciting prospect of a remote glen with a castle in it.
    “It’s a magic place,” Lewis grinned, “and you’ll really like Shona. She’s in my class at school.”
    “Isn’t it Shona who has the secret passage in her house?” Neil asked, looking suddenly interested. “You were going to take us to visit her anyway, weren’t you?”
    Lewis nodded. “It’s an amazing house. Her dad told me that it was once an old hunting lodge. The Fergusons think the tunnel was built as an escape route from Morven Castle in the days when all the clans were at war with one another.”
    “Mrs Ferguson says she’ll pick you up this afternoon ,” interrupted his mother. “She’s coming into town with somebody called Clarissa.”
    Lewis grinned. “Clarissa isn’t a person, Mum. She’s a car.”
    “A car?” echoed Mrs Grant. “The way she talked about it, I thought …”
    “I know,” Lewis nodded, “everyone talks about her as though she’s a person.” He turned to Neil. “It’s a fab car,” he said, “an old, red Rolls Royce. The Fergusons say it’s so old that it knows its way everywhere and can take you into Aberdeen without you even having to touch the steering wheel!”
    Mrs Grant smiled indulgently and looked at her watch. “Well, if you’re going to stay with Shonafor a week, then you’d better