On the return of the troops from Afghanistan the 10th B.L.C. was stationed at Meerut, and thither, after the Maharajpore engagement it returned.   Before long however, the regiment was transferred successively to Nowgong, Jhansi, Mhow, and finally to Kartarpur where it remained for five years,(and where Mary Macdonell died on 9th September 1852)

In 1853 Captain Macdonell, having obtained a year's furlough, sailed for England, and almost immediately afterwards was gazetted a Major (27.11.53).   For this step he had to pay, on his return from leave, £140.

Twenty-seven years had passed since he left England, a boy of seventeen, and now, a man of forty-four, he returned to it with mingled feelings, for keen as he was to revisit the scenes of his youth, and eagerly as he looked forward to seeing the great improvements that had taken place in the old country since he left it, chief of which were of course the wonderful "railway trains" that were fast superceding the mail coaches, yet the thought of Glengarry's death, which had occurred in 1828, naturally saddened him, his father being almost the only relation he had in the world.   His uncle, General Sir James Macdonell  of Waterloo fame, was, however, still alive, and gave him a kindly welcome home. (He died in 1857).   Cordially too did his late wife's relations receive him, and so the Major was not without friends in the old country.

By the time he had reached England the Crimean War had broken out, and he lost no time in applying for some post at the front.   But when the answer to his application came, it was a disappointment, - there was to be no chance for our friend of distinguishing himself at the Crimea - the writer having the honour to inform him that government had already a sufficient number of field officers.   This communication seemed to be final, so Macdonell settled down to enjoy his well-earned leave.  He went for a trip to Ireland, and thence up to Elgin in the north of Scotland to visit a brother-in-law, where he had some shooting on the neighbouring moors;  and on his new mount "Shamrock", the handsome Irish hunter he had lately purchased, he enjoyed many a good ride after the hounds.

Elgin was a sociable little town in those days, and the widowed Major was considered "quite an acquisition" at its festivities.   At one of these functions he was greatly struck with the appearance of a young lady present, to whom. at his request, he was introduced, and - "happy's the wooing that's not long a-doing", - before long they were engaged, and three months later, married.

The bride was the eldest daughter of a certain John Barclay, who had been trained for the law, but disliking the profession, gave it up, and took a farm (Calcots) instead.   "He was a learned man, more given to books than to farming", so he engaged a grieve, or bailiff, to manage the farm, while he turned thefarmhouse into an Academy for boys, which establishment he carried on successfully for 22 years.   "He was of a singularly amiable character, and was much loved by those who knew him".

Eleanor Barclay much resembled her father in disposition, and somewhat also in appearance.   She was a tall, handsome girl, with very large grey eyes, dark wavy hair, a high intellectual forehead, a clear complexion, and a sweet face.   She would certainly have done credit to her learned father if he had seen fit to impart his learning to her as well as to his schoolboys;  but the higher education of girls was unthought of at that time, so Eleanor and her sisters had to be content, - or try to be content, - with what knowledge they could acquire from a succession of governesses.

During her girlhood she had spent a season in Edinburgh with her relatives, Colonel and Mrs. Barclay, who introduced her to society, and gave her generally an enjoyable time.   At their house she once or twice met at dinner the great Thackeray, and frequently the two brothers, Princes Sobieski-Stuart, who gave themselves out as grandsons of Prince Charlie, and as such were hospitably entertained by Jacobite Edinburgh.

On the 18th of May 1854, Eleanor Barclay and Ranald Macdonell were married, and in spite of the unlucky month ("Marry in May and rue the day"), the marriage proved to be one of the happiest imaginable.