第7章

"Atleast,letmenotinterruptyourharmony,Annot,"saidLordMenteith,"thoughmyarrivalmaybreeddiscordelsewhere。MycousinAllanneedstheassistanceofyourvoiceandmusic。"

"Mypreserver,"saidAnnotLyle,"hasarighttomypoorexertions;andyou,too,mylord,——you,too,aremypreserver,andwerethemostactivetosavealifethatisworthlessenough,unlessitcanbenefitmyprotectors。"

Sosaying,shesatedownatalittledistanceuponthebenchonwhichAllanM"Aulaywasplaced,andtuningherclairshach,asmallharp,aboutthirtyinchesinheight,sheaccompanieditwithhervoice。TheairwasanancientGaelicmelody,andthewords,whichweresupposedtobeveryold,wereinthesamelanguage;butwesubjoinatranslationofthem,bySecundusMacpherson,Esq。ofGlenforgen,which,althoughsubmittedtothefettersofEnglishrhythm,wetrustwillbefoundnearlyasgenuineastheversionofOssianbyhiscelebratednamesake。

"Birdsofomendarkandfoul,Night—crow,raven,bat,andowl,Leavethesickmantohisdream——

Allnightlongheheardyourscream——

Hastetocaveandruin"dtower,Ivy,tod,ordingledbower,Theretowinkandmope,for,hark！

Inthemidairsingsthelark。

"Hietomoorishgillsandrocks,Prowlingwolfandwilyfox,——

Hieyoufast,norturnyourview,Thoughthelambbleatstotheewe。

Couchyourtrains,andspeedyourflight,Safetypartswithpartingnight;

Andondistantechoborne,Comesthehunter"searlyhorn。

"Themoon"swancrescentscarcelygleams,Ghost—likeshefadesinmorningbeams;

Hiehenceeachpeevishimpandfay,Thatscarethepilgrimonhisway:——

Quench,kelpy！quench,inbogandfen,Thytorchthatcheatsbenightedmen;

Thydanceiso"er,thyreignisdone,ForBenyieglohathseenthesun。

"Wildthoughts,that,sinful,dark,anddeep,O"erpowerthepassivemindinsleep,Passfromtheslumberer"ssoulaway,Likenight—mistsfromthebrowofday:

Foulhag,whoseblastedvisagegrimSmothersthepulse,unnervesthelimb,Spurthydarkpalfrey,andbegone！

Thoudarestnotfacethegodlikesun。"

Asthestrainproceeded,AllanM"Aulaygraduallygavesignsofrecoveringhispresenceofmind,andattentiontotheobjectsaroundhim。Thedeep—knitfurrowsofhisbrowrelaxedandsmoothedthemselves;andtherestofhisfeatures,whichhadseemedcontortedwithinternalagony,relapsedintoamorenaturalstate。Whenheraisedhisheadandsatupright,hiscountenance,thoughstilldeeplymelancholy,wasdivestedofitswildnessandferocity;andinitscomposedstate,althoughbynomeanshandsome,theexpressionofhisfeatureswasstriking,manly,andevennoble。Histhick,browneyebrows,whichhadhithertobeendrawnclosetogether,werenowslightlyseparated,asinthenaturalstate;andhisgreyeyes,whichhadrolledandflashedfromunderthemwithanunnaturalandportentousgleam,nowrecoveredasteadyanddeterminedexpression。

"ThankGod！"hesaid,aftersittingsilentforaboutaminute,untiltheverylastsoundsoftheharphadceasedtovibrate,"mysoulisnolongerdarkened——themisthathpassedfrommyspirit。"

"Youowethanks,cousinAllan,"saidLordMenteith,comingforward,"toAnnotLyle,aswellastoheaven,forthishappychangeinyourmelancholymood。"

"MynoblecousinMenteith,"saidAllan,risingandgreetinghimveryrespectfully,aswellaskindly,"hasknownmyunhappycircumstancessolong,thathisgoodnesswillrequirenoexcuseformybeingthuslateinbiddinghimwelcometothecastle。"

"Wearetoooldacquaintances,Allan,"saidLordMenteith,"andtoogoodfriends,tostandontheceremonialofoutwardgreeting;

buthalftheHighlandswillbehereto—day,andyouknow,withourmountainChiefs,ceremonymustnotbeneglected。WhatwillyougivelittleAnnotformakingyoufitcompanytomeetEvanDhu,andIknownothowmanybonnetsandfeathers？"

"Whatwillhegiveme？"saidAnnot,smiling;"nothingless,I

hope,thanthebestribbonattheFairofDoune。"

"TheFairofDoune,Annot？"saidAllansadly;"therewillbebloodyworkbeforethatday,andImayneverseeit;butyouhavewellremindedmeofwhatIhavelongintendedtodo。"

Havingsaidthis,helefttheroom。

"Shouldhetalklonginthismanner,"saidLordMenteith,"youmustkeepyourharpintune,mydearAnnot。"

"Ihopenot,"saidAnnot,anxiously;"thisfithasbeenalongone,andprobablywillnotsoonreturn。Itisfearfultoseeamind,naturallygenerousandaffectionate,afflictedbythisconstitutionalmalady。"

Asshespokeinalowandconfidentialtone,LordMenteithnaturallydrewclose,andstoopedforward,thathemightthebettercatchthesenseofwhatshesaid。WhenAllansuddenlyenteredtheapartment,theyasnaturallydrewbackfromeachotherwithamannerexpressiveofconsciousness,asifsurprisedinaconversationwhichtheywishedtokeepsecretfromhim。

ThisdidnotescapeAllan"sobservation;hestoptshortatthedooroftheapartment——hisbrowswerecontracted——hiseyesrolled;butitwasonlytheparoxysmofamoment。Hepassedhisbroadsinewyhandacrosshisbrow,asiftoobliteratethesesignsofemotion,andadvancedtowardsAnnot,holdinginhishandaverysmallboxmadeofoakwood,curiouslyinlaid。"Itakeyoutowitness,"hesaid,"cousinMenteith,thatIgivethisboxanditscontentstoAnnotLyle。Itcontainsafewornamentsthatbelongedtomypoormother——oftriflingvalue,youmayguess,forthewifeofaHighlandlairdhasseldomarichjewel—casket。"

"Buttheseornaments,"saidAnnotLyle,gentlyandtimidlyrefusingthebox,"belongtothefamily——Icannotaccept——"

"Theybelongtomealone,Annot,"saidAllan,interruptingher;

"theyweremymother"sdyingbequest。TheyareallIcancallmyown,exceptmyplaidandmyclaymore。Takethem,therefore——theyaretomevaluelesstrinkets——andkeepthemformysake——shouldI

neverreturnfromthesewars。"

Sosaying,heopenedthecase,andpresentedittoAnnot。"If,"

saidhe,"theyareofanyvalue,disposeofthemforyourownsupport,whenthishousehasbeenconsumedwithhostilefire,andcannolongeraffordyouprotection。ButkeeponeringinmemoryofAllan,whohasdone,torequiteyourkindness,ifnotallhewished,atleastallhecould。"

AnnotLyleendeavouredinvaintorestrainthegatheringtears,whenshesaid,"ONEring,Allan,Iwillacceptfromyouasamemorialofyourgoodnesstoapoororphan,butdonotpressmetotakemore;forIcannot,andwillnot,acceptagiftofsuchdisproportionedvalue。"

"Makeyourchoice,then,"saidAllan;"yourdelicacymaybewellfounded;theotherswillassumeashapeinwhichtheymaybemoreusefultoyou。"

"Thinknotofit,"saidAnnot,choosingfromthecontentsofthecasketaring,apparentlythemosttriflinginvaluewhichitcontained;"keepthemforyourown,oryourbrother"sbride。

——But,goodheavens！"shesaid,interruptingherself,andlookingatthering,"whatisthisthatIhavechosen？"

Allanhastenedtolookuponit,witheyesofgloomyapprehension;

itbore,inenamel,adeath"sheadabovetwocrosseddaggers。

WhenAllanrecognisedthedevice,heutteredasighsodeep,thatshedroppedtheringfromherhand,whichrolleduponthefloor。

LordMenteithpickeditup,andreturnedittotheterrifiedAnnot。

"ItakeGodtowitness,"saidAllan,inasolemntone,"thatyourhand,younglord,andnotmine,hasagaindeliveredtoherthisill—omenedgift。Itwasthemourningringwornbymymotherinmemorialofhermurderedbrother。"

"Ifearnoomens,"saidAnnot,smilingthroughhertears;"andnothingcomingthroughthehandsofmytwopatrons,"soshewaswonttocallLordMenteithandAllan,"canbringbadlucktothepoororphan。"

Sheputtheringonherfinger,and,turningtoherharp,sung,toalivelyair,thefollowingversesofoneofthefashionablesongsoftheperiod,whichhadfounditsway,markedasitwaswiththequainthyperbolicaltasteofKingCharles"stime,fromsomecourtmasquetothewildsofPerthshire:——

"Gazenotuponthestars,fondsage,Inthemnoinfluencelies;

Toreadthefateofyouthorage,LookonmyHelen"seyes。

"Yet,rashastrologer,refrain！

ToodearlywouldbewonTheprescienceofanother"spain,Ifpurchasedbythineown。"

"Sheisright,Allan,"saidLordMenteith;"andthisendofanoldsongisworthallweshallgainbyourattempttolookintofuturity。"

"SheisWRONG,mylord,"saidAllan,sternly,"thoughyou,whotreatwithlightnessthewarningsIhavegivenyou,maynotlivetoseetheeventoftheomen。——laughnotsoscornfully,"headded,interruptinghimself"orratherlaughonasloudandaslongasyouwill;yourtermoflaughterwillfindapauseerelong。"

"Icarenotforyourvisions,Allan,"saidLordMenteith;howevershortmyspanoflife,theeyeofnoHighlandseercanseeitstermination。"

"Forheaven"ssake,"saidAnnotLyle,interruptinghim,"youknowhisnature,andhowlittlehecanendure——"

"Fearmenot,"saidAllan,interruptingher,——"mymindisnowconstantandcalm。——Butforyou,younglord,"saidhe,turningtoLordMenteith,"myeyehassoughtyouthroughfieldsofbattle,whereHighlandersandLowlanderslaystrewedasthickasevertherookssatonthoseancienttrees,"pointingtoarookerywhichwasseenfromthewindow——"myeyesoughtyou,butyourcorpsewasnotthere——myeyesoughtyouamongatrainofunresistinganddisarmedcaptives,drawnupwithintheboundingwallsofanancientandruggedfortress;——flashafterflash——platoonafterplatoon——thehostileshotfellamongstthem,Theydroppedlikethedryleavesinautumn,butyouwerenotamongtheirranks;

——scaffoldswereprepared——blockswerearranged,saw—dustwasspread——thepriestwasreadywithhisbook,theheadsmanwithhisaxe——butthere,too,mineeyefoundyounot。"

"Thegibbet,then,Isuppose,mustbemydoom？"saidLordMenteith。"YetIwishtheyhadsparedmethehalter,wereitbutforthedignityofthepeerage。"

Hespokethisscornfully,yetnotwithoutasortofcuriosity,andawishtoreceiveananswer;forthedesireofpryingintofuturityfrequentlyhassomeinfluenceevenonthemindsofthosewhodisavowallbeliefinthepossibilityofsuchpredictions。

"Yourrank,mylord,willsuffernodishonourinyourperson,orbythemannerofyourdeath。ThreetimeshaveIseenaHighlanderplanthisdirkinyourbosom——andsuchwillbeyourfate。"

"Iwishyouwoulddescribehimtome,"saidLordMenteith,"andI

shallsavehimthetroubleoffulfillingyourprophecy,ifhisplaidbepassibletoswordorpistol。"

"Yourweapons,"saidAllan,"wouldavailyoulittle;norcanI

giveyoutheinformationyoudesire。Thefaceofthevisionhasbeeneveravertedfromme。"

"Sobeitthen,"saidLordMenteith,"andletitrestintheuncertaintyinwhichyourauguryhasplacedit。Ishalldinenotthelessmerrilyamongplaids,anddirks,andkiltsto—day。"

"Itmaybeso,"saidAllan;"and,itmaybe,youdowelltoenjoythesemoments,whichtomearepoisonedbyauguriesoffutureevil。ButI,"hecontinued——"Irepeattoyou,thatthisweapon——thatis,suchaweaponasthis,"touchingthehiltofthedirkwhichhewore,"carriesyourfate。""Inthemeanwhile,"saidLordMenteith,"you,Allan,havefrightenedthebloodfromthecheeksofAnnotLyle——letusleavethisdiscourse,myfriend,andgotoseewhatwebothunderstand,——theprogressofourmilitarypreparations。"

TheyjoinedAngusM"AulayandhisEnglishguests,and,inthemilitarydiscussionswhichimmediatelytookplace,Allanshowedaclearnessofmind,strengthofjudgment,andprecisionofthought,totallyinconsistentwiththemysticallightinwhichhischaracterhasbeenhithertoexhibited。

CHAPTERVII。

WhenAlbinherclaymoreindignantlydraws,Whenherbonnetedchieftainsaroundhershallcrowd,Clan—Ranaldthedauntless,andMoraytheproud,Allplaidedandplumedintheirtartanarray——

LOCHEIL"SWARNING。

Whoeversawthatmorning,theCastleofDarnlinvarach,beheldabusyandagallantsight。

ThevariousChiefs,arrivingwiththeirdifferentretinues,which,notwithstandingtheirnumbers,formednomorethantheirusualequipageandbody—guarduponoccasionsofsolemnity,salutedthelordofthecastleandeachotherwithoverflowingkindness,orwithhaughtyanddistantpoliteness,accordingtothecircumstancesoffriendshiporhostilityinwhichtheirclanshadrecentlystoodtoeachother。EachChief,howeversmallhiscomparativeimportance,showedthefulldispositiontoexactfromtherestthedeferenceduetoaseparateandindependentprince;

whilethestrongerandmorepowerful,dividedamongthemselvesbyrecentcontentionsorancientfeuds,wereconstrainedinpolicytousegreatdeferencetothefeelingsoftheirlesspowerfulbrethren,inorder,incaseofneed,toattachasmanywell—

wishersasmightbetotheirowninterestandstandard。ThusthemeetingofChiefsresemblednotalittlethoseancientDietsoftheEmpire,wherethesmallestFREY—GRAF,whopossessedacastlepercheduponabarrencrag,withafewhundredacresaroundit,claimedthestateandhonoursofasovereignprince,andaseataccordingtohisrankamongthedignitariesoftheEmpire。

Thefollowersofthedifferentleaderswereseparatelyarrangedandaccommodated,asroomandcircumstancesbestpermitted,eachretaininghoweverhishenchman,whowaited,closeastheshadow,uponhisperson,toexecutewhatevermightberequiredbyhispatron。

Theexteriorofthecastleaffordedasingularscene。TheHighlanders,fromdifferentislands,glens,andstraths,eyedeachotheratadistancewithlooksofemulation,inquisitivecuriosity,orhostilemalevolence;butthemostastoundingpartoftheassembly,atleasttoaLowlandear,wastherivalperformanceofthebagpipers。Thesewarlikeminstrels,whohadthehighestopinion,each,ofthesuperiorityofhisowntribe,joinedtothemostoverweeningideaoftheimportanceconnectedwithhisprofession,atfirst,performedtheirvariouspibrochsinfronteachofhisownclan。Atlength,however,astheblack—

cockstowardstheendoftheseason,when,insportsman"slanguage,theyaresaidtoflockorcrowd,attractedtogetherbythesoundofeachothers"triumphantcrow,evensodidthepipers,swellingtheirplaidsandtartansinthesametriumphantmannerinwhichthebirdsruffleuptheirfeathers,begintoapproacheachotherwithinsuchdistanceasmightgivetotheirbrethrenasampleoftheirskill。Walkingwithinashortinterval,andeyeingeachotherwithlooksinwhichself—

importanceanddefiancemightbetraced,theystrutted,puffed,andpliedtheirscreaminginstruments,eachplayinghisownfavouritetunewithsuchadin,thatifanItalianmusicianhadlainburiedwithintenmilesofthem,hemusthaverisenfromthedeadtorunoutofhearing。

TheChieftainsmeanwhilehadassembledincloseconclaveinthegreathallofthecastle。AmongthemwerethepersonsofthegreatestconsequenceintheHighlands,someofthemattractedbyzealfortheroyalcause,andmanybyaversiontothatsevereandgeneraldominationwhichtheMarquisofArgyle,sincehisrisingtosuchinfluenceinthestate,hadexercisedoverhisHighlandneighbours。Thatstatesman,indeed,thoughpossessedofconsiderableabilities,andgreatpower,hadfailings,whichrenderedhimunpopularamongtheHighlandchiefs。Thedevotionwhichheprofessedwasofamoroseandfanaticalcharacter;hisambitionappearedtobeinsatiable,andinferiorchiefscomplainedofhiswantofbountyandliberality。Addtothis,thatalthoughaHighlander,andofafamilydistinguishedforvalourbeforeandsince,GillespieGrumach[GRUMACH——ill—

favored。]（which,fromanobliquityinhiseyes,wasthepersonaldistinctionheboreintheHighlands,wheretitlesofrankareunknown）wassuspectedofbeingabettermaninthecabinetthaninthefield。HeandhistribewereparticularlyobnoxioustotheM"DonaldsandtheM"Leans,twonumeroussepts,who,thoughdisunitedbyancientfeuds,agreedinanintensedisliketotheCampbells,or,astheywerecalled,theChildrenofDiarmid。

ForsometimetheassembledChiefsremainedsilent,untilsomeoneshouldopenthebusinessofthemeeting。Atlengthoneofthemostpowerfulofthemcommencedthedietbysaying,——"Wehavebeensummonedhither,M"Aulay,toconsultofweightymattersconcerningtheKing"saffairs,andthoseofthestate;andwecravetoknowbywhomtheyaretobeexplainedtous？"

M"Aulay,whosestrengthdidnotlieinoratory,intimatedhiswishthatLordMenteithshouldopenthebusinessofthecouncil。

Withgreatmodesty,andatthesametimewithspirit,thatyounglordsaid,"hewishedwhathewasabouttoproposehadcomefromsomepersonofbetterknownandmoreestablishedcharacter。

Since,however,itlaywithhimtobespokesman,hehadtostatetotheChiefsassembled,thatthosewhowishedtothrowoffthebaseyokewhichfanaticismhadendeavouredtowreathroundtheirnecks,hadnotamomenttolose。"TheCovenanters,"hesaid,"afterhavingtwicemadewarupontheirsovereign,andhavingextortedfromhimeveryrequest,reasonableorunreasonable,whichtheythoughtpropertodemand——aftertheirChiefshadbeenloadedwithdignitiesandfavours——afterhavingpubliclydeclared,whenhisMajesty,afteragraciousvisittothelandofhisnativity,wasuponhisreturntoEngland,thathereturnedacontentedkingfromacontentedpeople,——afterallthis,andwithouteventhepretextforanationalgrievance,thesamemenhave,upondoubtsandsuspicions,equallydishonourabletotheKing,andgroundlessinthemselves,detachedastrongarmytoassisthisrebelsinEngland,inaquarrelwithwhichScotlandhadnomoretodothanshehaswiththewarsinGermany。Itwaswell,"hesaid,"thattheeagernesswithwhichthistreasonablepurposewaspursued,hadblindedthejuntawhonowusurpedthegovernmentofScotlandtotheriskwhichtheywereabouttoincur。ThearmywhichtheyhaddispatchedtoEnglandunderoldLevencomprehendedtheirveteransoldiers,thestrengthofthosearmieswhichhadbeenleviedinScotlandduringthetwoformerwars——"

HereCaptainDalgettyendeavouredtorise,forthepurposeofexplaininghowmanyveteranofficers,trainedintheGermanwars,were,tohiscertainknowledge,inthearmyoftheEarlofLeven。

ButAllanM"Aulayholdinghimdowninhisseatwithonehand,pressedthefore—fingeroftheotheruponhisownlips,and,thoughwithsomedifficulty,preventedhisinterference。CaptainDalgettylookeduponhimwithaveryscornfulandindignantair,bywhichtheother"sgravitywasinnowaymoved,andLordMenteithproceededwithoutfartherinterruption。

"Themoment,"hesaid,"wasmostfavourableforalltrue—heartedandloyalScotchmentoshow,thatthereproachtheircountryhadlatelyundergonearosefromtheselfishambitionofafewturbulentandseditiousmen,joinedtotheabsurdfanaticismwhich,disseminatedfromfivehundredpulpits,hadspreadlikealand—floodovertheLowlandsofScotland。HehadlettersfromtheMarquisofHuntlyinthenorth,whichheshouldshowtotheChiefsseparately。Thatnobleman,equallyloyalandpowerfulwasdeterminedtoexerthisutmostenergyinthecommoncause,andthepowerfulEarlofSeaforthwaspreparedtojointhesamestandard。FromtheEarlofAirly,andtheOgilviesinAngusshire,hehadhadcommunicationsequallydecided;andtherewasnodoubtthatthese,who,withtheHays,Leiths,Burnets,andotherloyalgentlemen,wouldbesoononhorseback,wouldformabodyfarmorethansufficienttooverawethenorthernCovenanters,whohadalreadyexperiencedtheirvalourinthewell—knownroutwhichwaspopularlytermedtheTrotofTuriff。

SouthofForthandTay,"hesaid,"theKinghadmanyfriends,who,oppressedbyenforcedoaths,compulsatorylevies,heavytaxes,unjustlyimposedandunequallylevied,bythetyrannyoftheCommitteeofEstates,andtheinquisitorialinsolenceofthePresbyteriandivines,waitedbutthewavingoftheroyalbannertotakeuparms。Douglas,Traquair,Roxburgh,Hume,allfriendlytotheroyalcause,wouldcounterbalance,"hesaid,"thecovenantinginterestinthesouth;andtwogentlemen,ofnameandquality,herepresent,fromthenorthofEngland,wouldanswerforthezealofCumberland,Westmoreland,andNorthumberland。

AgainstsomanygallantgentlementhesouthernCovenanterscouldbutarmrawlevies;theWhigamoresofthewesternshires,andtheploughmenandmechanicsoftheLow—country。FortheWestHighlands,heknewnointerestwhichtheCovenanterspossessedthere,exceptthatofoneindividual,aswellknownashewasodious。Butwasthereasingleman,who,oncastinghiseyeroundthishall,andrecognisingthepower,thegallantry,andthedignityofthechiefsassembled,couldentertainamoment"sdoubtoftheirsuccessagainsttheutmostforcewhichGillespieGrumachcouldcollectagainstthem？Hehadonlyfarthertoadd,thatconsiderablefunds,bothofmoneyandammunition,hadbeenprovidedforthearmy"——（HereDalgettyprickeduphisears）——

"thatofficersofabilityandexperienceintheforeignwars,oneofwhomwasnowpresent,"（theCaptaindrewhimselfup,andlookedround,）"hadengagedtotrainsuchleviesasmightrequiretobedisciplined;——andthatanumerousbodyofauxiliaryforcesfromIreland,havingbeendetachedfromtheEarlofAntrim,fromUlster,hadsuccessfullyaccomplishedtheirdescentuponthemainland,and,withtheassistanceofClanranald"speople,havingtakenandfortifiedtheCastleofMingarry,inspiteofArgyle"sattemptstointerceptthem,wereinfullmarchtothisplaceofrendezvous。Itonlyremained,"hesaid,"thatthenobleChiefsassembled,layingasideeverylesserconsideration,shouldunite,heartandhand,inthecommoncause;sendthefierycrossthroughtheirclans,inordertocollecttheirutmostforce,andformtheirjunctionwithsuchcelerityastoleavetheenemynotime,eitherforpreparation,orrecoveryfromthepanicwhichwouldspreadatthefirstsoundoftheirpibroch。Hehimself,"hesaid,"thoughneitheramongtherichestnorthemostpowerfuloftheScottishnobility,feltthathehadtosupportthedignityofanancientandhonourablehouse,theindependenceofanancientandhonourablenation,andtothatcausehewasdeterminedtodevotebothlifeandfortune。Ifthosewhoweremorepowerfulwereequallyprompt,hetrustedtheywoulddeservethethanksoftheirKing,andthegratitudeofposterity。"

LoudapplausefollowedthisspeechofLordMenteith,andtestifiedthegeneralacquiescenceofallpresentinthesentimentswhichhehadexpressed;butwhentheshouthaddiedaway,theassembledChiefscontinuedtogazeuponeachotherasifsomethingyetremainedtobesettled。Aftersomewhispersamongthemselves,anagedman,whomhisgreyhairsrenderedrespectable,althoughhewasnotofthehighestorderofChiefs,repliedtowhathadbeensaid。