第6章

"Bynomeans,"answeredthesoldier;"Iamnowhitsomnolent;I

alwayshearbestwithmyeyesshut。ItisafashionIlearnedwhenIstoodsentinel。"

"AndIdaresay,"saidLordMenteith,asidetoAnderson,"theweightofthehalberdofthesergeantoftheroundsoftenmadehimopenthem。"

Beingapparently,however,inthehumourofstory—telling,theyoungnoblemanwenton,addressinghimselfchieflytohisservants,withoutmindingtheslumberingveteran。

"Everybaroninthecountry,"saidhe,"nowsworerevengeforthisdreadfulcrime。Theytookarmswiththerelationsandbrother—in—lawofthemurderedperson,andtheChildrenoftheMistwerehunteddown,Ibelieve,withaslittlemercyastheyhadthemselvesmanifested。Seventeenheads,thebloodytrophiesoftheirvengeance,weredistributedamongtheallies,andfedthecrowsuponthegatesoftheircastles。Thesurvivorssoughtoutmoredistantwildernesses,towhichtheyretreated。"

"Toyourrighthand,counter—marchandretreattoyourformerground,"saidCaptainDalgetty;themilitaryphrasehavingproducedthecorrespondentwordofcommand;andthenstartingup,professedhehadbeenprofoundlyatttentivetoeverywordthathadbeenspoken。

"Itisthecustominsummer,"saidLordMenteith,withoutattendingtohisapology,"tosendthecowstotheuplandpasturestohavethebenefitofthegrass;andthemaidsofthevillage,andofthefamily,gotheretomilktheminthemorningandevening。Whilethusemployed,thefemalesofthisfamily,totheirgreatterror,perceivedthattheirmotionswerewatchedatadistancebyapale,thin,meagrefigure,bearingastrongresemblancetotheirdeceasedmistress,andpassing,ofcourse,forherapparition。Whensomeoftheboldestresolvedtoapproachthisfadedform,itfledfromthemintothewoodswithawildshriek。Thehusband,informedofthiscircumstance,cameuptotheglenwithsomeattendants,andtookhismeasuressowellastointercepttheretreatoftheunhappyfugitive,andtosecurethepersonofhisunfortunatelady,thoughherintellectprovedtobetotallyderanged。Howshesupportedherselfduringherwanderinginthewoodscouldnotbeknown——somesupposedsheliveduponrootsandwild—berries,withwhichthewoodsatthatseasonabounded;butthegreaterpartofthevulgarweresatisfiedthatshemusthavesubsisteduponthemilkofthewilddoes,orbeennourishedbythefairies,orsupportedinsomemannerequallymarvellous。Herre—appearancewasmoreeasilyaccountedfor。Shehadseenfromthethicketthemilkingofthecows,tosuperintendwhichhadbeenherfavouritedomesticemployment,andthehabithadprevailedeveninherderangedstateofmind。

"Indueseasontheunfortunateladywasdeliveredofaboy,whonotonlyshowednoappearanceofhavingsufferedfromhismother"scalamities,butappearedtobeaninfantofuncommonhealthandstrength。Theunhappymother,afterherconfinement,recoveredherreason——atleastinagreatmeasure,butneverherhealthandspirits。Allanwasheronlyjoy。Herattentiontohimwasunremitting;andunquestionablyshemusthaveimpresseduponhisearlymindmanyofthosesuperstitiousideastowhichhismoodyandenthusiastictempergavesoreadyareception。Shediedwhenhewasabouttenyearsold。Herlastwordswerespokentohiminprivate;butthereislittledoubtthattheyconveyedaninjunctionofvengeanceupontheChildrenoftheMist,withwhichhehassinceamplycomplied。

"Fromthismoment,thehabitsofAllanM"Aulayweretotallychanged。Hehadhithertobeenhismother"sconstantcompanion,listeningtoherdreams,andrepeatinghisown,andfeedinghisimagination,which,probablyfromthecircumstancesprecedinghisbirth,wasconstitutionallyderanged,withallthewildandterriblesuperstitionssocommontothemountaineers,towhichhisunfortunatemotherhadbecomemuchaddictedsinceherbrother"sdeath。Bylivinginthismanner,theboyhadgottenatimid,wild,startledlook,lovedtoseekoutsolitaryplacesinthewoods,andwasneversomuchterrified,asbytheapproachofchildrenofthesameage。Iremember,althoughsomeyearsyounger,beingbroughtupherebymyfatheruponavisit,norcanIforgettheastonishmentwithwhichIsawthisinfant—hermitshuneveryattemptImadetoengagehiminthesportsnaturaltoourage。Icanrememberhisfatherbewailinghisdispositiontomine,andalleging,atthesametime,thatitwasimpossibleforhimtotakefromhiswifethecompanyoftheboy,asheseemedtobetheonlyconsolationthatremainedtoherinthisworld,andastheamusementwhichAllan"ssocietyaffordedherseemedtopreventtherecurrence,atleastinitsfullforce,ofthatfearfulmaladybywhichshehadbeenvisited。But,afterthedeathofhismother,thehabitsandmannersoftheboyseemedatoncetochange。Itistrueheremainedasthoughtfulandseriousasbefore;andlongfitsofsilenceandabstractionshowedplainlythathisdisposition,inthisrespect,wasinnodegreealtered。Butatothertimes,hesoughtouttherendezvousoftheyouthofthec]an,whichhehadhithertoseemedanxioustoavoid。

Hetookshareinalltheirexercises;and,fromhisveryextraordinarypersonalstrength,soonexcelledhisbrotherandotheryouths,whoseageconsiderablyexceededhisown。Theywhohadhithertoheldhimincontempt,nowfeared,iftheydidnotlovehim;and,insteadofAllan"sbeingesteemedadreaming,womanish,andfeeble—mindedboy,thosewhoencounteredhiminsportsormilitaryexercise,nowcomplainedthat,whenheatedbythestrife,hewastooapttoturngameintoearnest,andtoforgetthathewasonlyengagedinafriendlytrialofstrength。

——ButIspeaktoregardlessears,"saidLordMenteith,interruptinghimself,fortheCaptain"snosenowgavethemostindisputablesignsthathewasfastlockedinthearmsofoblivion。

"Ifyoumeantheearsofthatsnortingswine,mylord,"saidAnderson,"theyare,indeed,shuttoanythingthatyoucansay;

nevertheless,thisplacebeingunfitformoreprivateconference,Ihopeyouwillhavethegoodnesstoproceed,forSibbald"sbenefitandformine。Thehistoryofthispooryoungfellowhasadeepandwildinterestinit。"

"Youmustknow,then,"proceededLordMenteith,"thatAllancontinuedtoincreaseinstrengthandactivity,tillhisfifteenthyear,aboutwhichtimeheassumedatotalindependenceofcharacter,andimpatienceofcontrol,whichmuchalarmedhissurvivingparent。Hewasabsentinthewoodsforwholedaysandnights,underpretenceofhunting,thoughhedidnotalwaysbringhomegame。Hisfatherwasthemorealarmed,becauseseveraloftheChildrenoftheMist,encouragedbytheincreasingtroublesofthestate,hadventuredbacktotheiroldhaunts,nordidhethinkitaltogethersafetorenewanyattackuponthem。TheriskofAllan,inhiswanderings,sustaininginjuryfromthesevindictivefreebooters,wasaperpetualsourceofapprehension。

"Iwasmyselfuponavisittothecastlewhenthismatterwasbroughttoacrisis。Allanhadbeenabsentsinceday—breakinthewoods,whereIhadsoughtforhiminvain;itwasadarkstormynight,andhedidnotreturn。Hisfatherexpressedtheutmostanxiety,andspokeofdetachingapartyatthedawnofmorninginquestofhim;when,asweweresittingatthesupper—

table,thedoorsuddenlyopened,andAllanenteredtheroomwithaproud,firm,andconfidentair。Hisintractabilityoftemper,aswellastheunsettledstateofhismind,hadsuchaninfluenceoverhisfather,thathesuppressedallothertokensofdispleasure,exceptingtheobservationthatIhadkilledafatbuck,andhadreturnedbeforesunset,whilehesupposedAllan,whohadbeenonthehilltillmidnight,hadreturnedwithemptyhands。"Areyousureofthat？"saidAllan,fiercely;"hereissomethingwilltellyouanothertale。"

"Wenowobservedhishandswerebloody,andthattherewerespotsofbloodonhisface,andwaitedtheissuewithimpatience;whensuddenly,undoingthecomerofhisplaid,herolleddownonthetableahumanhead,bloodyandnewsevered,sayingatthesametime,"Liethouwheretheheadofabettermanlaybeforeye。"

Fromthehaggardfeatures,andmattedredhairandbeard,partlygrizzledwithage,hisfatherandotherspresentrecognisedtheheadofHectoroftheMist,awell—knownleaderamongtheoutlaws,redoubtedforstrengthandferocity,whohadbeenactiveinthemurderoftheunfortunateForester,uncletoAllan,andhadescapedbyadesperatedefenceandextraordinaryagility,whensomanyofhiscompanionsweredestroyed。Wewereall,itmaybebelieved,struckwithsurprise,butAllanrefusedtogratifyourcuriosity;andweonlyconjecturedthathemusthaveovercometheoutlawafteradesperatestruggle,becausewediscoveredthathehadsustainedseveralwoundsfromthecontest。

Allmeasureswerenowtakentoensurehimagainstthevengeanceofthefreebooters;butneitherhiswounds,northepositivecommandofhisfather,noreventhelockingofthegatesofthecastleandthedoorsofhisapartment,wereprecautionsadequatetopreventAllanfromseekingouttheverypersonstowhomhewaspeculiarlyobnoxious。Hemadehisescapebynightfromthewindowoftheapartment,andlaughingathisfather"svaincare,producedononeoccasiontheheadofone,anduponanotherthoseoftwo,oftheChildrenoftheMist。Atlengththesemen,fierceastheywere,becameappalledbytheinveterateanimosityandaudacitywithwhichAllansoughtouttheirrecesses。Asheneverhesitatedtoencounteranyodds,theyconcludedthathemustbearacharmedlife,orfightundertheguardianshipofsomesupernaturalinfluence。Neithergun,dirk,nordourlach[DOURLACH——quiver;literally,satchel——ofarrows。],theysaid,availedaughtagainsthim。Theyimputedthistotheremarkablecircumstancesunderwhichhewasborn;andatlengthfiveorsixofthestoutestcateransoftheHighlandswouldhavefledatAllan"shalloo,ortheblastofhishorn。

"Inthemeanwhile,however,theChildrenoftheMistcarriedontheiroldtrade,anddidtheM"Aulays,aswellastheirkinsmenandallies,asmuchmischiefastheycould。Thisprovokedanotherexpeditionagainstthetribe,inwhichIhadmyshare;wesurprisedthemeffectually,bybesettingatoncetheupperandunderpassesofthecountry,andmadesuchcleanworkasisusualontheseoccasions,burningandslayingrightbeforeus。Inthisterriblespeciesofwar,eventhefemalesandthehelplessdonotalwaysescape。Onelittlemaidenalone,whosmileduponAllan"sdrawndirk,escapedhisvengeanceuponmyearnestentreaty。Shewasbroughttothecastle,andherebredupunderthenameofAnnotLyle,themostbeautifullittlefairycertainlythateverdanceduponaheathbymoonlight。ItwaslongereAllancouldendurethepresenceofthechild,untilitoccurredtohisimagination,fromherfeaturesperhaps,thatshedidnotbelongtothehatedbloodofhisenemies,buthadbecometheircaptiveinsomeoftheirincursions;acircumstancenotinitselfimpossible,butinwhichhebelievesasfirmlyasinholywrit。

Heisparticularlydelightedbyherskillinmusic,whichissoexquisite,thatshefarexceedsthebestperformersinthiscountryinplayingontheclairshach,orharp。ItwasdiscoveredthatthisproduceduponthedisturbedspiritsofAllan,inhisgloomiestmoods,beneficialeffects,similartothoseexperiencedbytheJewishmonarchofold;andsoengagingisthetemperofAnnotLyle,sofascinatingtheinnocenceandgaietyofherdisposition,thatsheisconsideredandtreatedinthecastleratherasthesisteroftheproprietor,thanasadependentuponhischarity。Indeed,itisimpossibleforanyonetoseeherwithoutbeingdeeplyinterestedbytheingenuity,liveliness,andsweetnessofherdisposition。"

"Takecare,mylord,"saidAnderson,smiling;"thereisdangerinsuchviolentcommendations。AllanM"Aulay,asyourlordshipdescribeshim,wouldprovenoverysaferival。"

"Pooh！pooh！"saidLordMenteith,laughing,yetblushingatthesametime;"Allanisnotaccessibletothepassionoflove;andformyself,"saidhe,moregravely;"Annot"sunknownbirthisasufficientreasonagainstseriousdesigns,andherunprotectedstateprecludeseveryother。"

"Itisspokenlikeyourself,mylord,"saidAnderson。——"ButI

trustyouwillproceedwithyourinterestingstory。"

"Itiswellnighfinished,"saidLordMenteith;"Ihaveonlytoadd,thatfromthegreatstrengthandcourageofAllanM"Aulay,fromhisenergeticanduncontrollabledisposition,andfromanopiniongenerallyentertainedandencouragedbyhimselfthatheholdscommunionwithsupernaturalbeings,andcanpredictfutureevents,theclanpayamuchgreaterdegreeofdeferencetohimthaneventohisbrother,whoisabold—heartedrattlingHighlander,butwithnothingwhichcanpossiblyrivaltheextraordinarycharacterofhisyoungerbrother。"

"Suchacharacter,"saidAnderson,"cannotbuthavethedeepesteffectonthemindsofaHighlandhost。WemustsecureAllan,mylord,atallevents。Whatbetweenhisbraveryandhissecondsight——"

"Hush！"saidLordMenteith,"thatowlisawaking。"

"Doyoutalkofthesecondsight,orDEUTERO—SCOPIA？"saidthesoldier;"IremembermemorableMajorMunrotellingmehowMurdochMackenzie,borninAssint,aprivategentlemaninacompany,andaprettysoldier,foretoldthedeathofDonaldTough,aLochaberman,andcertainotherpersons,aswellasthehurtofthemajorhimselfatasuddenonfallatthesiegeofTrailsund。"

"Ihaveoftenheardofthisfaculty,"observedAnderson,"butI

havealwaysthoughtthosepretendingtoitwereeitherenthusiastsorimpostors。"

"Ishouldbeloath,"saidLordMenteith,"toapplyeithercharactertomykinsman,AllanM"Aulay。Hehasshownonmanyoccasionstoomuchacutenessandsense,ofwhichyouthisnighthadaninstance,forthecharacterofanenthusiast;andhishighsenseofhonour,andmanlinessofdisposition,freehimfromthechargeofimposture。"

"Yourlordship,then,"saidAnderson,"isabelieverinhissupernaturalattributes？"

"Bynomeans,"saidtheyoungnobleman;"Ithinkthathepersuadeshimselfthatthepredictionswhichare,inreality,theresultofjudgmentandreflection,aresupernaturalimpressionsonhismind,justasfanaticsconceivetheworkingsoftheirownimaginationtobedivineinspiration——atleast,ifthiswillnotserveyou,Anderson,Ihavenobetterexplanationtogive;anditistimewewereallasleepafterthetoilsomejourneyoftheday。"

CHAPTERVI。

Comingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore。CAMPBELL。

Atanearlyhourinthemorningtheguestsofthecastlesprungfromtheirrepose;and,afteramoment"sprivateconversationwithhisattendants,LordMenteithaddressedthesoldier,whowasseatedinacornerburnishinghiscorsletwithrot—stoneandchamois—leather,whilehehummedtheoldsonginhonourofthevictoriousGustavusAdolphus:——

Whencannonsareroaring,andbulletsareflying,Theladthatwouldhavehonour,boys,mustneverfeardying。

"CaptainDalgetty,"saidLordMenteith,"thetimeiscomethatwemustpart,orbecomecomradesinservice。"

"Notbeforebreakfast,Ihope？"saidCaptainDalgetty。

"Ishouldhavethought,"repliedhislordship,"thatyourgarrisonwasvictualledforthreedaysatleast。"

"Ihavestillsomestowageleftforbeefandbannocks,"saidtheCaptain;"andInevermissafavourableopportunityofrenewingmysupplies。"

"But,"saidLordMenteith,"nojudiciouscommanderallowseitherflagsoftruceorneutralstoremaininhiscamplongerthanisprudent;andthereforewemustknowyourmindexactly,accordingtowhichyoushalleitherhaveasafe—conducttodepartinpeace,orbewelcometoremainwithus。"

"Truly,"saidtheCaptain,"thatbeingthecase,Iwillnotattempttoprotractthecapitulationbyacounterfeitedparley,（athingexcellentlypractisedbySirJamesRamsayatthesiegeofHannau,intheyearofGod1636,）butIwillfranklyown,thatifIlikeyourpayaswellasyourprovantandyourcompany,I

carenothowsoonItaketheoathtoyourcolours。"

"Ourpay,"saidLordMenteith,"mustatpresentbesmall,sinceitispaidoutofthecommonstockraisedbythefewamongstuswhocancommandsomefunds——Asmajorandadjutant,IdarenotpromiseCaptainDalgettymorethanhalfadollara—day。"

"Thedeviltakeallhalvesandquarters！"saidtheCaptain;

"wereitinmyoption,Icouldnomoreconsenttothehalvingofthatdollar,thanthewomanintheJudgmentofSolomontothedissevermentofthechildofherbowels。"

"Theparallelwillscarcehold,CaptainDalgetty,forIthinkyouwouldratherconsenttothedividingofthedollar,thangiveitupentiretoyourcompetitor。However,inthewayofarrears,I

maypromiseyoutheotherhalf—dollarattheendofthecampaign。"

"Ah！thesearrearages！"saidCaptainDalgetty,"thatarealwayspromised,andalwaysgofornothing！Spain,Austria,andSweden,allsingonesong。Oh！longlifetotheHoganmogans！iftheywerenoofficersofsoldiers,theyweregoodpaymasters。——Andyet,mylord,ifIcouldbutbemadecertioratethatmynaturalhereditamentofDrumthwackethadfallenintopossessionofanyoftheseloonsofCovenanters,whocouldbe,intheeventofoursuccess,convenientlymadeatraitorof,Ihavesomuchvalueforthatfertileandpleasantspot,thatIwoulde"entakeonwithyouforthecampaign。"

"IcanresolveCaptainDalgetty"squestion,"saidSibbald,LordMenteith"ssecondattendant;"forifhisestateofDrumthwacketbe,asIconceive,thelongwastemoorsocalled,thatliesfivemilessouthofAberdeen,IcantellhimitwaslatelypurchasedbyEliasStrachan,asrankarebelaseversworetheCovenant"

"Thecrop—earedhound！"saidCaptainDalgetty,inarage;"Whatthedevilgavehimtheassurancetopurchasetheinheritanceofafamilyoffourhundredyearsstanding？——CYNTHIUSAUREMVELLET,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College;thatistosay,Iwillpullhimoutofmyfather"shousebytheears。Andso,myLordMenteith,Iamyours,handandsword,bodyandsoul,tilldeathdouspart,ortotheendofthenextcampaign,whichevereventshallfirstcometopass。"

"AndI,"saidtheyoungnobleman,"rivetthebargainwithamonth"spayinadvance。"

"Thatismorethannecessary,"saidDalgetty,pocketingthemoneyhowever。"ButnowImustgodown,lookaftermywar—saddleandabuilziements,andseethatGustavushashismorning,andtellhimwehavetakennewservice。"

Theregoesyourpreciousrecruit,"saidLordMenteithtoAnderson,astheCaptainlefttheroom;"Ifearweshallhavelittlecreditofhim。"

"Heisamanofthetimes,however,"saidAnderson;"andwithoutsuchweshouldhardlybeabletocarryonourenterprise。"

"Letusgodown,"answeredLordMenteith,"andseehowourmusterislikelytothrive,forIhearagooddealofbustleinthecastle。"

Whentheyenteredthehall,thedomesticskeepingmodestlyinthebackground,morninggreetingspassedbetweenLordMenteith,AngusM"Aulay,andhisEnglishguests,whileAllan,occupyingthesamesettlewhichhehadfilledtheprecedingevening,paidnoattentionwhatevertoanyone。OldDonaldhastilyrushedintotheapartment。"AmessagefromVichAlisterMore;[ThepatronymicofMacDonellofGlengarry。]heiscomingupintheevening。"

"Withhowmanyattendants？"saidM"Aulay。

"Somefive—and—twentyorthirty,"saidDonald,"hisordinaryretinue。"

"Shakedownplentyofstrawinthegreatbarn,"saidtheLaird。

Anotherservantherestumbledhastilyin,announcingtheexpectedapproachofSirHectorM"Lean,"whoisarrivingwithalargefollowing。"

"Puttheminthemalt—kiln,"saidM"Aulay;"andkeepthebreadthofthemiddensteadbetweenthemandtheM"Donalds;theyarebutunfriendstoeachother。"

Donaldnowre—entered,hisvisageconsiderablylengthened——"Thetell"si"thefolk,"hesaid;"thehaillHielandsareasteer,I

think。EvanDhu,ofLochiel,willbehereinanhour,withLordkenshowmanygillies。"

"IntothegreatbarnwiththembesidetheM"Donalds,"saidtheLaird。

Moreandmorechiefswereannounced,theleastofwhomwouldhaveaccounteditderogatorytohisdignitytostirwithoutaretinueofsixorsevenpersons。Toeverynewannunciation,AngusM"Aulayansweredbynamingsomeplaceofaccommodation,——thestables,theloft,thecow—house,thesheds,everydomesticoffice,weredestinedforthenighttosomehospitablepurposeorother。AtlengththearrivalofM"DougalofLorn,afterallhismeansofaccommodationwereexhausted,reducedhimtosomeperplexity。"Whatthedevilistobedone,Donald？"saidhe;

"thegreatbarnwouldholdfiftymore,iftheywouldlieheadsandthraws;buttherewouldbedrawndirksamangthemwhichshouldlieupper—most,andsoweshouldhavebloodypuddingsbeforemorning！"

"Whatneedsallthis？"saidAllan,startingup,andcomingforwardwiththesternabruptnessofhisusualmanner;"aretheGaelto—dayofsofterfleshorwhiterbloodthantheirfatherswere？Knocktheheadoutofacaskofusquebae;letthatbetheirnight—gear——theirplaidstheirbed—clothes——theblueskytheircanopy,andtheheathertheircouch。——Comeathousandmore,andtheywouldnotquarrelonthebroadheathforwantofroom！"

"Allanisright,"saidhisbrother;"itisveryoddhowAllan,who,betweenourselves,"saidhetoMusgrave,"isalittlewowf,[WOWF,i。e。crazed。]seemsattimestohavemoresensethanusallputtogether。Observehimnow。"

"Yes"continuedAllan,fixinghiseyeswithaghastlystareupontheoppositesideofthehall,"theymaywellbeginastheyaretoend;manyamanwillsleepthisnightupontheheath,thatwhentheMartinmaswindshaltblowshalllietherestarkenough,andrecklittleofcoldorlackofcovering。"

"Donotforespeakus,brother,"saidAngus;"thatisnotlucky。"

"Andwhatluckisitthenthatyouexpect？"saidAllan;andstraininghiseyesuntiltheyalmoststartedfromtheirsockets,hefellwithaconvulsiveshudderintothearmsofDonaldandhisbrother,who,knowingthenatureofhisfits,hadcomeneartopreventhisfall。Theyseatedhimuponabench,andsupportedhimuntilhecametohimself,andwasabouttospeak。

ForGod"ssake,Allan,"saidhisbrother,whoknewtheimpressionhismysticalwordswerelikelytomakeonmanyoftheguests,"saynothingtodiscourageus。"

"AmIhewhodiscouragesyou？"saidAllan;"leteverymanfacehisweirdasIshallfacemine。Thatwhichmustcome,willcome;

andweshallstridegallantlyovermanyafieldofvictory,erewereachyonfatalslaughter—place,ortreadyonsablescaffolds。"

"Whatslaughter—place？whatscaffolds？"exclaimedseveralvoices;forAllan"srenownasaseerwasgenerallyestablishedintheHighlands。

"Youwillknowthatbuttoosoon,"answeredAllan。"Speaktomenomore,Iamwearyofyourquestions。"Hethenpressedhishandagainsthisbrow,restedhiselbowuponhisknee,andsunkintoadeepreverie。

SendforAnnotLyle,andtheharp,"saidAngus,inawhisper,tohisservant;"andletthosegentlemenfollowmewhodonotfearaHighlandbreakfast。"

AllaccompaniedtheirhospitablelandlordexceptingonlyLordMenteith,wholingeredinoneofthedeepembrasuresformedbythewindowsofthehall。AnnotLyleshortlyafterglidedintotheroom,notilldescribedbyLordMenteithasbeingthelightestandmostfairyfigurethatevertrodetheturfbymoonlight。Herstature,considerablylessthantheordinarysizeofwomen,gavehertheappearanceofextremeyouth,insomuch,thatalthoughshewasneareighteen,shemighthavepassedforfouryearsyounger。Herfigure,hands,andfeet,wereformeduponamodelofexquisitesymmetrywiththesizeandlightnessofherperson,sothatTitaniaherselfcouldscarcehavefoundamorefittingrepresentative。Herhairwasadarkshadeofthecolourusuallytermedflaxen,whoseclusteringringletssuitedadmirablywithherfaircomplexion,andwiththeplayful,yetsimple,expressionofherfeatures。Whenweaddtothesecharms,thatAnnot,inherorphanstate,seemedthegayestandhappiestofmaidens,thereadermustallowustoclaimforhertheinterestofalmostallwholookedonher。Infact,itwasimpossibletofindamoreuniversalfavourite,andsheoftencameamongtherudeinhabitantsofthecastle,asAllanhimself,inapoeticalmood,expressedit,"likeasunbeamonasullensea,"

communicatingtoallothersthecheerfulnessthatfilledherownmind。

Annot,suchaswehavedescribedher,smiledandblushed,when,onenteringtheapartment,LordMenteithcamefromhisplaceofretirement,andkindlywishedhergood—morning。

"Andgood—morningtoyou,mylord,"returnedshe,extendingherhandtoherfriend;"wehaveseldomseenyouoflateatthecastle,andnowIfearitiswithnopeacefulpurpose。"