第18章

TheMarquisthenmountedaledhorse,whichwasheldbyoneofhisattendants,androdeontoviewthesceneofhisvictory,whichwasmoredecisivethanevenhisardenthopeshadanticipated。OfArgyle"sgallantarmyofthreethousandmen,fullyone—halffellinthebattle,orintheflight。Theyhadbeenchieflydrivenbackuponthatpartoftheplainwheretheriverformsananglewiththelake,sothattherewasnofreeopeningeitherforretreatorescape。Severalhundredswereforcedintothelakeanddrowned。Ofthesurvivors,aboutone—

halfescapedbyswimmingtheriver,orbyanearlyflightalongtheleftbankofthelake。TheremainderthrewthemselvesintotheoldCastleofInverlochy;butbeingwithouteitherprovisionsorhopesofrelief,theywereobligedtosurrender,onconditionofbeingsufferedtoreturntotheirhomesinpeace。Arms,ammunition,standards,andbaggage,allbecamethepreyoftheconquerors。

ThiswasthegreatestdisasterthateverbefelltheraceofDiarmid,astheCampbellswerecalledintheHighlands;itbeinggenerallyremarkedthattheywereasfortunateintheissueoftheirundertakings,astheyweresagaciousinplanning,andcourageousinexecutingthem。Ofthenumberslain,nearlyfivehundredweredunniwassels,orgentlemenclaimingdescentfromknownandrespectedhouses。And,intheopinionofmanyoftheclan,eventhisheavylosswasexceededbythedisgracearisingfromtheingloriousconductoftheirChief,whosegalleyweighedanchorwhenthedaywaslost,andsaileddownthelakewithallthespeedtowhichsailsandoarscouldimpelher。

CHAPTERXX。

Faintthedinofbattlebray"d,Distantdownthehollowwind;

Warandterrorfledbefore,Woundsanddeathremain"dbehind。PENROSE。

Montrose"ssplendidsuccessoverhispowerfulrivalwasnotattainedwithoutsomeloss,thoughnotamountingtothetenthofwhatheinflicted。TheobstinatevalouroftheCampbellscostthelivesofmanybravemenoftheoppositeparty;andmorewerewounded,theChiefofwhomwasthebraveyoungEarlofMenteith,whohadcommandedthecentre。Hewasbutslightlytouched,however,andmaderatheragracefulthanaterribleappearancewhenhepresentedtohisgeneralthestandardofArgyle,whichhehadtakenfromthestandard—bearerwithhisownhand,andslainhiminsinglecombat。Montrosedearlylovedhisnoblekinsman,inwhomtherewasconspicuousaflashofthegenerous,romantic,disinterestedchivalryoftheoldheroictimes,entirelydifferentfromthesordid,calculating,andselfishcharacter,whichthepracticeofentertainingmercenarytroopshadintroducedintomostpartsofEurope,andofwhichdegeneracyScotland,whichfurnishedsoldiersoffortunefortheserviceofalmosteverynation,hadbeencontaminatedwithamorethanusualshare。Montrose,whosenativespiritwascongenial,althoughexperiencehadtaughthimhowtoavailhimselfofthemotivesofothers,usedtoMenteithneitherthelanguageofpraisenorofpromise,butclaspedhimtohisbosomasheexclaimed,"Mygallantkinsman！"AndbythisburstofheartfeltapplausewasMenteiththrilledwithawarmerglowofdelight,thanifhispraiseshadbeenrecordedinareportoftheactionsentdirectlytothethroneofhissovereign。

"Nothing,"hesaid,"mylord,nowseemstoremaininwhichIcanrenderanyassistance;permitmetolookafteradutyofhumanity——theKnightofArdenvohr,asIamtold,isourprisoner,andseverelywounded。"

"Andwellhedeservestobeso,"saidSirDugaldDalgetty,whocameuptothematthatmomentwithaprodigiousadditionofacquiredimportance,"sinceheshotmygoodhorseatthetimethatIwasofferinghimhonourablequarter,which,Imustneedssay,wasdonemorelikeanignorantHighlandcateran,whohasnotsenseenoughtoerectasconcefortheprotectionofhisoldhurley—houseofacastle,thanlikeasoldierofworthandquality。"

"Arewetocondolewithyouthen,"saidLordMenteith,"uponthelossofthefamedGustavus？"

"Evenso,mylord,"answeredthesoldier,withadeepsigh,"DIEM

CLAUSITSUPREMUM,aswesaidattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen。Bettersothanbesmotheredlikeacadger"sponyinsomeflow—moss,orsnow—wreath,whichwasliketobehisfateifthiswintercampaignlastedlonger。ButithaspleasedhisExcellency"（makinganinclinationtoMontrose）"tosupplyhisplacebythegiftofanoblesteed,whomIhavetakenthefreedomtoname"LOYALTY"SREWARD,"inmemoryofthiscelebratedoccasion。"

"Ihope,"saidtheMarquis,"you"llfindLoyalty"sReward,sinceyoucallhimso,practisedinallthedutiesofthefield,——butImustjusthinttoyou,thatatthistime,inScotland,loyaltyismorefrequentlyrewardedwithahalterthanwithahorse。"

"Ahem！yourExcellencyispleasedtobefacetious。Loyalty"sRewardisasperfectasGustavusinallhisexercises,andofafarfinerfigure。Marry！hissocialqualitiesarelesscultivated,inrespecthehaskepttillnowinferiorcompany。"

"NotmeaninghisExcellencytheGeneral,Ihope,"saidLordMenteith。"Forshame,SirDugald！"

"Mylord,"answeredtheknightgravely,"Iamincapabletomeananythingsoutterlyunbecoming。WhatIasseverateis,thathisExcellency,havingthesameintercoursewithhishorseduringhisexercise,thathehathwithhissoldierswhentrainingthem,mayformandbreakeithertoeveryfeatofwarwhichhechoosestopractise,andaccordinglythatthisnoblechargerisadmirablymanaged。Butasitistheintercourseofprivatelifethatformeththesocialcharacter,soIdonotapprehendthatofthesinglesoldiertobemuchpolishedbytheconversationofthecorporalorthesergeant,orthatofLoyalty"sRewardtohavebeenmuchdulcified,orameliorated,bythesocietyofhisExcellency"sgrooms,whobestowmoreoaths,andkicks,andthumps,thankindnessorcaresses,upontheanimalsintrustedtotheircharge;wherebymanyagenerousquadruped,renderedasitweremisanthropic,manifestsduringtherestofhislifeagreaterdesiretokickandbitehismaster,thantoloveandtohonourhim。"

"Spokenlikeanoracle,"saidMontrose。"WerethereanacademyfortheeducationofhorsestobeannexedtotheMareschal—

CollegeofAberdeen,SirDugaldDalgettyaloneshouldfillthechair。"

"Because,beinganass,"saidMenteith,asidetotheGeneral,"therewouldbesomedistantrelationbetweentheprofessorandthestudents。"

"Andnow,withyourExcellency"spermission,"saidthenew—madeknight,"Iamgoingtopaymylastvisittotheremainsofmyoldcompanioninarms。"

"Notwiththepurposeofgoingthroughtheceremonialofinterment？"saidtheMarquis,whodidnotknowhowfarSirDugald"senthusiasmmightleadhim;"considerourbravefellowsthemselveswillhavebutahastyburial。"

"YourExcellencywillpardonme,"saidDalgetty;"mypurposeislessromantic。IgotodividepoorGustavus"slegacywiththefowlsofheaven,leavingthefleshtothem,andreservingtomyselfhishide;which,intokenofaffectionateremembrance,I

purposetoformintoacassockandtrowsers,aftertheTartarfashion,tobewornundermyarmour,inrespectmynethergarmentsareatpresentshamefullytheworseofthewear。——Alas！

poorGustavus,whydidstthounotliveatleastonehourmore,tohavebornethehonouredweightofknighthooduponthyloins！"

Hewasnowturningaway,whentheMarquiscalledafterhim,——"Asyouarenotlikelytobeanticipatedinthisactofkindness,SirDugald,toyouroldfriendandcompanion,Itrust,"saidtheMarquis,"youwillfirstassistme,andourprincipalfriends,todiscusssomeofArgyle"sgoodcheer,ofwhichwehavefoundabundanceintheCastle。"

"Mostwillingly,pleaseyourExcellency,"saidSirDugald;"asmeatandmassneverhinderwork。Nor,indeed,amIafraidthatthewolvesoreagleswillbeginanonslaughtonGustavusto—

night,inregardthereissomuchbettercheerlyingallaround。

But,"addedhe,"asIamtomeettwohonourableknightsofEngland,withothersoftheknightlydegreeinyourlordship"sarmy,Iprayitmaybeexplainedtothem,thatnow,andinfuture,Iclaimprecedenceoverthemall,inrespectofmyrankasaBanneret,dubbedinafieldofstrickenbattle。"

"Thedevilconfoundhim！"saidMontrose,speakingaside;"hehascontrivedtosetthekilnonfireasfastasIputitout。

——"Thisisapoint,SirDugald,"saidhe,gravelyaddressinghim,"whichIshallreserveforhisMajesty"sexpressconsideration;

inmycamp,allmustbeuponequality,liketheKnightsoftheRoundTable;andtaketheirplacesassoldiersshould,upontheprincipleof,——firstcome,firstserved。"

"ThenIshalltakecare,"saidMenteith,aparttotheMarquis,"thatDonDugaldisnotfirstinplaceto—day。——SirDugald,"

addedhe,raisinghisvoice,"asyousayyourwardrobeisoutofrepair,hadyounotbettergototheenemy"sbaggageyonder,overwhichthereisaguardplaced？Isawthemtakeoutanexcellentbuffsuit,embroideredinfrontinsilkandsilver。"

"VOTOADIOS！astheSpaniardsays,"exclaimedtheMajor,"andsomebeggarlygillymaygetitwhileIstandpratinghere！"

TheprospectofbootyhavingatoncedrivenoutofhisheadbothGustavusandtheprovant,hesetspurstoLoyalty"sReward,androdeoffthroughthefieldofbattle。

"Theregoesthehound,"saidMenteith,"breakingtheface,andtramplingonthebody,ofmanyabettermanthanhimself;andaseageronhissordidspoilasavulturethatstoopsuponcarrion。

Yetthismantheworldcallsasoldier——andyou,mylord,selecthimasworthyofthehonoursofchivalry,ifsuchtheycanatthisdaybetermed。Youhavemadethecollarofknighthoodthedecorationofamerebloodhound。"

"WhatcouldIdo？"saidMontrose。"Ihadnohalf—pickedbonestogivehim,andbribedinsomemannerhemustbe,——Icannotfollowthechasealone。Besides,thedoghasgoodqualities。"

"Ifnaturehasgivenhimsuch,"saidMenteith,"habithasconvertedthemintofeelingsofintenseselfishness。Hemaybepunctiliousconcerninghisreputation,andbraveintheexecutionofhisduty,butitisonlybecausewithoutthesequalitieshecannotriseintheservice;——nay,hisverybenevolenceisselfish;hemaydefendhiscompanionwhilehecankeephisfeet,buttheinstantheisdown,SirDugaldwillbeasreadytoeasehimofhispurse,asheistoconverttheskinofGustavusintoabuffjerkin。"

"Andyet,ifallthisweretrue,cousin,"answeredMontrose,"thereissomethingconvenientincommandingasoldier,uponwhosemotivesandspringsofactionyoucancalculatetoamathematicalcertainty。Afinespiritlikeyours,mycousin,alivetoathousandsensationstowhichthisman"sisasimperviousashiscorslet,——itisforsuchthatthyfriendmustfeel,whilehegiveshisadvice。"Then,suddenlychanginghistone,heaskedMenteithwhenhehadseenAnnotLyle。

TheyoungEarlcoloureddeeply,andanswered,"Notsincelastevening,——excepting,"headded,withhesitation,"foronemoment,abouthalfanhourbeforethebattlebegan。"

"MydearMenteith,"saidMontrose,verykindly,"wereyouoneofthegaycavaliersofWhitehall,whoare,intheirway,asgreatself—seekersasourfriendDalgetty,shouldIneedtoplagueyouwithenquiringintosuchanamouretteasthis？itwouldbeanintrigueonlytobelaughedat。Butthisisthelandofenchantment,wherenetsstrongassteelarewroughtoutofladies"tresses,andyouareexactlythedestinedknighttobesofettered。Thispoorgirlisexquisitelybeautiful,andhastalentsformedtocaptivateyourromantictemper。Youcannotthinkofinjuringher——youcannotthinkofmarryingher？"

"Mylord,"repliedMenteith,"youhaverepeatedlyurgedthisjest,forsoItrustitismeant,somewhatbeyondbounds。AnnotLyleisofunknownbirth,——acaptive,——thedaughter,probably,ofsomeobscureoutlaw;adependantonthehospitalityoftheM"Aulays。"

"Donotbeangry,Menteith,"saidtheMarquis,interruptinghim;

"youlovetheclassics,thoughnoteducatedatMareschal—College;

andyoumayrememberhowmanygallantheartscaptivebeautyhassubdued:——

MovitAjacem,Telamonenatum,FormacaptivaedominumTecmessae。

Inaword,Iamseriouslyanxiousaboutthis——Ishouldnothavetime,perhaps,"headdedverygravely,"totroubleyouwithmylecturesonthesubject,wereyourfeelings,andthoseofAnnot,aloneinterested;butyouhaveadangerousrivalinAllanM"Aulay;andthereisnoknowingtowhatextenthemaycarryhisresentment。ItismydutytotellyouthattheKing"sservicemaybemuchprejudicedbydissensionsbetwixtyou。"

"Mylord,"saidMenteith,"Iknowwhatyoumeaniskindandfriendly;IhopeyouwillbesatisfiedwhenIassureyou,thatAllanM"AulayandIhavediscussedthiscircumstance;andthatI

haveexplainedtohim,thatitisutterlyremotefrommycharactertoentertaindishonourableviewsconcerningthisunprotectedfemale;so,ontheotherhand,theobscurityofherbirthpreventsmythinkingofheruponotherterms。Iwillnotdisguisefromyourlordship,whatIhavenotdisguisedfromM"Aulay,——thatifAnnotLylewerebornalady,sheshouldsharemynameandrank;asmattersstand,itisimpossible。Thisexplanation,Itrust,willsatisfyyourlordship,asithassatisfiedalessreasonableperson。"

Montroseshruggedhisshoulders。"And,liketruechampionsinromance,"hesaid,"youhaveagreed,thatyouarebothtoworshipthesamemistress,asidolatersdothesameimage,andthatneithershallextendhispretensionsfarther？"

"Ididnotgosofar,mylord,"answeredMenteith——"Ionlysaidinthepresentcircumstances——andthereisnoprospectoftheirbeingchanged,——Icould,indutytomyselfandfamily,standinnorelationtoAnnotLyle,butasthatoffriendorbrother——Butyourlordshipmustexcuseme;Ihave,"saidhe,lookingathisarm,roundwhichhehadtiedhishandkerchief,"aslighthurttoattendto。"

"Awound？"saidMontrose,anxiously;"letmeseeit。——Alas！"hesaid,"Ishouldhaveheardnothingofthis,hadInotventuredtotentandsoundanothermoresecretandmoreranklingone,Menteith;Iamsorryforyou——Itoohaveknown——Butwhatavailsittoawakesorrowswhichhavelongslumbered！"

Sosaying,heshookhandswithhisnoblekinsman,andwalkedintothecastle。

AnnotLyle,aswasnotunusualforfemalesintheHighlands,waspossessedofaslightdegreeofmedicalandevensurgicalskill。

Itmayreadilybebelieved,thattheprofessionofsurgery,ormedicine,asaseparateart,wasunknown;andthefewruderuleswhichtheyobservedwereintrustedtowomen,ortotheaged,whomconstantcasualtiesaffordedtoomuchopportunityofacquiringexperience。Thecareandattention,accordingly,ofAnnotLyle,herattendants,andothersactingunderherdirection,hadmadeherservicesextremelyusefulduringthiswildcampaign。Andmostreadilyhadtheseservicesbeenrenderedtofriendandfoe,wherevertheycouldbemostuseful。Shewasnowinanapartmentofthecastle,anxiouslysuperintendingthepreparationofvulneraryherbs,tobeappliedtothewounded;receivingreportsfromdifferentfemalesrespectingthoseundertheirseparatecharge,anddistributingwhatmeansshehadfortheirrelief,whenAllanM"Aulaysuddenlyenteredtheapartment。Shestarted,forshehadheardthathehadleftthecampuponadistantmission;and,howeveraccustomedshewastothegloomofhiscountenance,itseemedatpresenttohaveevenadarkershadethanusual。Hestoodbeforeherperfectlysilent,andshefeltthenecessityofbeingthefirsttospeak。

"Ithought,"shesaid,withsomeeffort,"youhadalreadysetout。"

"Mycompanionawaitsme,"saidAllan;"Igoinstantly。"

Yetstillhestoodbeforeher,andheldherbythearm,withapressurewhich,thoughinsufficienttogiveherpain,madehersensibleofhisgreatpersonalstrength,hishandclosingonherlikethegripeofamanacle。

"ShallItaketheharp？"shesaid,inatimidvoice;"is——istheshadowfallinguponyou？"

Insteadofreplying,heledhertothewindowoftheapartment,whichcommandedaviewofthefieldoftheslain,withallitshorrors。Itwasthickspreadwithdeadandwounded,andthespoilerswerebusytearingtheclothesfromthevictimsofwarandfeudalambition,withasmuchindifferenceasiftheyhadnotbeenofthesamespecies,andthemselvesexposed,perhapsto—

morrow,tothesamefate。

"Doesthesightpleaseyou？"saidM"Aulay。

"Itishideous！"saidAnnot,coveringhereyeswithherhands;

"howcanyoubidmelookuponit？"

"Youmustbeinuredtoit,"saidhe,"ifyouremainwiththisdestinedhost——youwillsoonhavetosearchsuchafieldformybrother"scorpse——forMenteith"s——formine———butthatwillbeamoreindifferenttask——Youdonotloveme！"

"Thisisthefirsttimeyouhavetaxedmewithunkindness,"saidAnnot,weeping。"Youaremybrother——mypreserver——myprotector——andcanIthenBUTloveyou？——Butyourhourofdarknessisapproaching,letmefetchmyharp——"

"Remain,"saidAllan,stillholdingherfast;"bemyvisionsfromheavenorhell,orfromthemiddlesphereofdisembodiedspirits——orbethey,astheSaxonshold,butthedelusionsofanover—

heatedfancy,theydonotnowinfluenceme;Ispeakthelanguageofthenatural,ofthevisibleworld。——Youlovenotme,Annot——

youloveMenteith——byhimyouarebelovedagain,andAllanisnomoretoyouthanoneofthecorpseswhichencumberyonderheath。"

Itcannotbesupposedthatthisstrangespeechconveyedanynewinformationtoherwhowasthusaddressed。Nowomaneverlivedwhocouldnot,inthesamecircumstances,havediscernedlongsincethestateofherlover"smind。Butbythussuddenlytearingofftheveil,thinasitwas,Allanpreparedhertoexpectconsequencesviolentinproportiontotheenthusiasmofhischaracter。Shemadeanefforttorepelthechargehehadstated。

"Youforget,"shesaid,"yourownworthandnoblenesswhenyouinsultsoveryhelplessabeing,andonewhomfatehasthrownsototallyintoyourpower。YouknowwhoandwhatIam,andhowimpossibleitisthatMenteithoryoucanuselanguageofaffectiontome,beyondthatoffriendship。YouknowfromwhatunhappyraceIhavetooprobablyderivedmyexistence。"

"Iwillnotbelieveit,"saidAllan,impetuously;"neverflowedcrystaldropfromapollutedspring。"

"Yettheverydoubt,"pleadedAnnot,"shouldmakeyouforbeartousethislanguagetome。"

"Iknow,"saidM"Aulay,"itplacesabarbetweenus——butIknowalsothatitdividesyounotsoinseparablyfromMenteith。——Hearme,mybelovedAnnot！——leavethissceneofterrorsanddanger——gowithmetoKintail——IwillplaceyouinthehouseofthenobleLadyofSeaforth——oryoushallberemovedinsafetytoIcolmkill,wheresomewomenyetdevotethemselvestotheworshipofGod,afterthecustomofourancestors。"

"Youconsidernotwhatyouaskofme,"repliedAnnot;"toundertakesuchajourneyunderyoursoleguardianship,weretoshowmelessscrupulousthanmaidenought。Iwillremainhere,Allan——hereundertheprotectionofthenobleMontrose;andwhenhismotionsnextapproachtheLowlands,Iwillcontrivesomepropermeanstorelieveyouofone,whohas,sheknowsnothow,becomeanobjectofdisliketoyou。"

Allanstoodasifuncertainwhethertogivewaytosympathywithherdistress,ortoangeratherresistance。

"Annot,"hesaid,"youknowtoowellhowlittleyourwordsapplytomyfeelingstowardsyou——butyouavailyourselfofyourpower,andyourejoiceinmydeparture,asremovingaspyuponyourintercoursewithMenteith。Butbewarebothofyou,"headded,inasterntone;"forwhenwasiteverheardthataninjurywasofferedtoAllanM"Aulay,forwhichheexactednottenfoldvengeance？"

Sosaying,hepressedherarmforcibly,pulledthebonnetoverhisbrows,andstrodeoutoftheapartment。

CHAPTERXXI。

——Afteryou"regone,Igrewacquaintedwithmyheart,andsearch"d,Whatstirr"ditso。——Alas！Ifounditlove。

Yetfarfromlust,forcouldIbuthavelivedInpresenceofyou,Ihadhadmyend。PHILASTER。

AnnotLylehadnowtocontemplatetheterriblegulfwhichAllanM"Aulay"sdeclarationofloveandjealousyhadmadetoopenaroundher。Itseemedasifshewastotteringontheverybrinkofdestruction,andwasatoncedeprivedofeveryrefuge,andofallhumanassistance。ShehadlongbeenconsciousthatshelovedMenteithdearerthanabrother;indeed,howcoulditbeotherwise,consideringtheirearlyintimacy,thepersonalmeritoftheyoungnobleman,hisassiduousattentions,——andhisinfinitesuperiorityingentlenessofdisposition,andgraceofmanners,overtheraceofrudewarriorswithwhomshelived？Butheraffectionwasofthatquiet,timid,meditativecharacter,whichsoughtratherareflectedshareinthehappinessofthebelovedobject,thanformedmorepresumptuousordaringhopes。A

littleGaelicsong,inwhichsheexpressedherfeelings,hasbeentranslatedbytheingeniousandunhappyAndrewM"Donald;andwewillinglytranscribethelines:——

Wertthou,likeme,inlife"slowvale,Withtheehowblest,thatlotI"dshare;

WiththeeI"dflywherevergaleCouldwaft,orboundinggalleybear。

Butpartedbyseveredecree,Fardifferentmustourfortunesprove;

Maythinebejoy——enoughformeToweepandprayforhimIlove。

Thepangsthisfoolishheartmustfeel,Whenhopeshallbeforeverflown,Nosullenmurmurshallreveal,Noselfishmurmurseverown。

NorwillIthroughlife"swearyyears,Likeapaledroopingmournermove,WhileIcanthinkmysecrettearsMaywoundtheheartofhimIlove。

ThefuriousdeclarationofAllanhaddestroyedtheromanticplanwhichshehadformed,ofnursinginsecretherpensivetenderness,withoutseekinganyotherrequital。Longbeforethis,shehaddreadedAllan,asmuchasgratitude,andasensethathesoftenedtowardsheratempersohaughtyandsoviolent,couldpermithertodo;butnowsheregardedhimwithunalloyedterror,whichaperfectknowledgeofhisdisposition,andofhisprecedinghistory,toowellauthorisedhertoentertain。

Whateverwasinotherrespectsthenoblenessofhisdisposition,hehadneverbeenknowntoresistthewilfulnessofpassion,——hewalkedinthehouse,andinthecountryofhisfathers,likeatamedlion,whomnoonedaredtocontradict,lesttheyshouldawakenhisnaturalvehemenceofpassion。Somanyyearshadelapsedsincehehadexperiencedcontradiction,orevenexpostulation,thatprobablynothingbutthestronggoodsense,which,onallpoints,hismysticismexcepted,formedthegroundofhischaracter,preventedhisprovinganannoyanceandterrortothewholeneighbourhood。ButAnnothadnotimetodwelluponherfears,beinginterruptedbytheentranceofSirDugaldDalgetty。

Itmaywellbesupposed,thatthescenesinwhichthispersonhadpassedhisformerlife,hadnotmuchqualifiedhimtoshineinfemalesociety。Hehimselffeltasortofconsciousnessthatthelanguageofthebarrack,guard—room,andparade,wasnotpropertoentertainladies。TheonlypeacefulpartofhislifehadbeenspentatMareschal—College,Aberdeen;andhehadforgotthelittlehehadlearnedthere,excepttheartsofdarninghisownhose,anddispatchinghiscommonswithunusualcelerity,bothwhichhadsincebeenkeptingoodexercisebythenecessityoffrequentpractice。Stillitwasfromanimperfectrecollectionofwhathehadacquiredduringthispacificperiod,thathedrewhissourcesofconversationwhenincompanywithwomen;inotherwords,hislanguagebecamepedanticwhenitceasedtobemilitary。

"MistressAnnotLyle,"saidhe,uponthepresentoccasion,"Iamjustnowlikethehalf—pike,orspontoonofAchilles,oneendofwhichcouldwoundandtheothercure——apropertybelongingneithertoSpanishpike,brown—bill,partizan,halberd,Lochaber—

axe,orindeedanyothermodernstaff—weaponwhatever。"