第19章

Thiscomplimentherepeatedtwice;butasAnnotscarceheardhimthefirsttime,anddidnotcomprehendhimthesecond,hewasobligedtoexplain。

"Imean,"hesaid,"MistressAnnotLyle,thathavingbeenthemeansofanhonourableknightreceivingaseverewoundinthisday"sconflict,——hehavingpistolled,somewhatagainstthelawofarms,myhorse,whichwasnamedaftertheimmortalKingofSweden,——Iamdesirousofprocuringhimsuchsolacementasyou,madam,cansupply,youbeingliketheheathengodEsculapius"

（meaningpossiblyApollo）,"skilfulnotonlyinsongandinmusic,butinthemorenobleartofchirurgery—OPIFERQUEPER

ORBEMDICOR。"

"Ifyouwouldhavethegoodnesstoexplain,"saidAnnot,toosickathearttobeamusedbySirDugald"sairsofpedanticgallantry。

"That,madam,"repliedtheKnight,"maynotbesoeasy,asIamoutofthehabitofconstruing——butweshalltry。DICOR,supplyEGO——Iamcalled,——OPIFER？OPIFER？——IrememberSIGNIFERandFURCIFER——butIbelieveOPIFERstandsinthisplaceforM。D。,thatis,DoctorofPhysic。"

"Thisisabusydaywithusall,"saidAnnot;"willyousayatoncewhatyouwantwithme？"

"Merely,"repliedSirDugald,"thatyouwillvisitmybrotherknight,andletyourmaidenbringsomemedicamentsforhiswound,whichthreatenstobewhatthelearnedcallaDAMNUMFATALE。"

AnnotLyleneverlingeredinthecauseofhumanity。Sheinformedherselfhastilyofthenatureoftheinjury,andinterestingherselfforthedignifiedoldChiefwhomshehadseenatDarnlinvarach,andwhosepresencehadsomuchstruckher,shehastenedtolosethesenseofherownsorrowforatime,intheattempttobeusefultoanother。

SirDugaldwithgreatformusheredAnnotLyletothechamberofherpatient,inwhich,tohersurprise,shefoundLordMenteith。

Shecouldnothelpblushingdeeplyatthemeeting,but,tohideherconfusion,proceededinstantlytoexaminethewoundoftheKnightofArdenvohr,andeasilysatisfiedherselfthatitwasbeyondherskilltocureit。AsforSirDugald,hereturnedtoalargeouthouse,onthefloorofwhich,amongotherwoundedmen,wasdepositedthepersonofRanaldoftheMist。

"Mineoldfriend,"saidtheKnight,"asItoldyoubefore,I

wouldwillinglydoanythingtopleasureyou,inreturnforthewoundyouhavereceivedwhileundermysafe—conduct。Ihave,therefore,accordingtoyourearnestrequest,sentMrs。AnnotLyletoattenduponthewoundoftheknightofArdenvohr,thoughwhereinherdoingsoshouldbenefityou,Icannotimagine。——I

thinkyouoncespokeofsomebloodrelationshipbetweenthem;butasoldado,incommandandchargelikeme,hasotherthingstotroublehisheadwiththanHighlandgenealogies。"

Andindeed,todotheworthyMajorjustice,heneverenquiredafter,listenedto,orrecollected,thebusinessofotherpeople,unlessiteitherrelatedtotheartmilitary,orwassomehoworotherconnectedwithhisowninterest,ineitherofwhichcaseshismemorywasverytenacious。

"Andnow,mygoodfriendoftheMist,"saidhe,"canyoutellmewhathasbecomeofyourhopefulgrandson,asIhavenotseenhimsinceheassistedmetodisarmaftertheaction,anegligencewhichdeserveththestrapado？"

"Heisnotfarfromhence,"saidthewoundedoutlaw——"liftnotyourhanduponhim,forheismanenoughtopayayardofleathernscourgewithafootoftemperedsteel。"

"Amostimpropervaunt,"saidSirDugald;"butIoweyousomefavours,Ranald,andthereforeshallletitpass。"

"Andifyouthinkyouowemeanything,"saidtheoutlaw,"itisinyourpowertorequitemebygrantingmeaboon。"

"FriendRanald,"answeredDalgetty,"Ihavereadoftheseboonsinsillystory—books,wherebysimpleknightsweredrawnintoengagementstotheirgreatprejudice;wherefore,Ranald,themoreprudentknightsofthisdayneverpromiseanythinguntiltheyknowthattheymaykeeptheirwordanentthepremises,withoutanydispleasureorincommodementtothemselves。Itmaybe,youwouldhavemeengagethefemalechirurgeontovisityourwound;

thoughyououghttoconsider,Ranald,thattheuncleannessoftheplacewhereyouaredepositedmaysomewhatsoilthegaietyofhergarments,concerningthepreservationofwhich,youmayhaveobserved,womenareapttobeinordinatelysolicitous。IlostthefavouroftheladyoftheGrandPensionaryofAmsterdam,bytouchingwiththesoleofmybootthetrainofherblackvelvetgown,whichImistookforafoot—cloth,itbeinghalftheroomdistantfromherperson。"

"ItisnottobringAnnotLylehither,"answeredMacEagh,"buttotransportmeintotheroomwheresheisinattendanceupontheKnightofArdenvohr。SomewhatIhavetosayofthelastconsequencetothemboth。"

"Itissomethingoutoftheorderofdueprecedence,"saidDalgetty,"tocarryawoundedoutlawintothepresenceofaknight;knighthoodhavingbeenofyore,andbeing,insomerespects,still,thehighestmilitarygrade,independentalwaysofcommissionedofficers,whorankaccordingtotheirpatents;

nevertheless,asyourboon,asyoucallit,issoslight,Ishallnotdenycompliancewiththesame。"Sosaying,heorderedthreefilesofmentotransportMacEaghontheirshoulderstoSirDuncanCampbell"sapartment,andhehimselfhastenedbeforetoannouncethecauseofhisbeingbroughtthither。Butsuchwastheactivityofthesoldiersemployed,thattheyfollowedhimcloseattheheels,and,enteringwiththeirghastlyburden,laidMacEaghontheflooroftheapartment。Hisfeatures,naturallywild,werenowdistortedbypain;hishandsandscantygarmentsstainedwithhisownblood,andthoseofothers,whichnokindhandhadwipedaway,althoughthewoundinhissidehadbeensecuredbyabandage。

"Areyou,"hesaid,raisinghisheadpainfullytowardsthecouchwherelaystretchedhislateantagonist,"hewhommencalltheKnightofArdenvohr？"

"Thesame,"answeredSirDuncan,——"whatwouldyouwithonewhosehoursarenownumbered？"

"Myhoursarereducedtominutes,"saidtheoutlaw;"themoregrace,ifIbestowthemintheserviceofone,whosehandhaseverbeenagainstme,asminehasbeenraisedhigheragainsthim。"

"Thinehigheragainstme！——Crushedworm！"saidtheKnight,lookingdownonhismiserableadversary。

"Yes,"answeredtheoutlaw,inafirmvoice,"myarmhathbeenhighest。Inthedeadlycontestbetwixtus,thewoundsIhavedealthavebeendeepest,thoughthinehaveneitherbeenidlenorunfelt。——IamRanaldMacEagh——IamRanaldoftheMist——thenightthatIgavethycastletothewindsinonehugeblazeoffire,isnowmatchedwiththedayinwhichyouhavefallenundertheswordofmyfathers。——Remembertheinjuriesthouhastdoneourtribe——neverweresuchinflicted,savebyone,besidethee。HE,theysay,isfatedandsecureagainstourvengeance——ashorttimewillshow。"

"MyLordMenteith,"saidSirDuncan,raisinghimselfoutofhisbed,"thisisaproclaimedvillain,atoncetheenemyofKingandParliament,ofGodandman——oneoftheoutlawedbandittioftheMist;aliketheenemyofyourhouse,oftheM"Aulays,andofmine。Itrustyouwillnotsuffermoments,whichareperhapsmylast,tobeembitteredbyhisbarbaroustriumph。"

"Heshallhavethetreatmenthemerits,"saidMenteith;"lethimbeinstantlyremoved。"

SirDugaldhereinterposed,andspokeofRanald"sservicesasaguide,andhisownpledgeforhissafety;butthehighharshtonesoftheoutlawdrownedhisvoice。

"No,"saidhe,"berackandgibbettheword！letmewitherbetweenheavenandearth,andgorgethehawksandeaglesofBen—

Nevis;andsoshallthishaughtyKnight,andthistriumphantThane,neverlearnthesecretIalonecanimpart;asecretwhichwouldmakeArdenvohr"sheartleapwithjoy,wereheinthedeathagony,andwhichtheEarlofMenteithwouldpurchaseatthepriceofhisbroadearldom。——Comehither,AnnotLyle,"hesaid,raisinghimselfwithunexpectedstrength;"fearnotthesightofhimtowhomthouhastclungininfancy。Telltheseproudmen,whodisdaintheeastheissueofmineancientrace,thatthouartnobloodofours,——nodaughteroftheraceoftheMist,butborninhallsaslordly,andcradledoncouchassoft,aseversoothedinfancyintheirproudestpalaces。"

"InthenameofGod,"saidMenteith,tremblingwithemotion,"ifyouknowaughtofthebirthofthislady,dothyconsciencethejusticetodisburdenitofthesecretbeforedepartingfromthisworld！"

"Andblessmyenemieswithmydyingbreath？"saidMacEagh,lookingathimmalignantly。——"Sucharethemaximsyourpriestspreach——butwhen,ortowardswhom,doyoupractisethem？LetmeknowfirsttheworthofmysecretereIpartwithit——Whatwouldyougive,KnightofArdenvohr,toknowthatyoursuperstitiousfastshavebeenvain,andthattherestillremainsadescendantofyourhouse？——Ipauseforananswer——withoutit,Ispeaknotonewordmore。

"Icould,"saidSirDuncan,hisvoicestrugglingbetweentheemotionsofdoubt,hatred,andanxiety——"Icould——butthatIknowthyraceareliketheGreatEnemy,liarsandmurderersfromthebeginning——butcoulditbetruethoutellestme,Icouldalmostforgivetheetheinjuriesthouhastdoneme。"

"Hearit！"saidRanald;"hehathwagereddeeplyforasonofDiarmid——Andyou,gentleThane——thereportofthecampsays,thatyouwouldpurchasewithlifeandlandsthetidingsthatAnnotLylewasnodaughterofproscription,butofaracenobleinyourestimationasyourown——Well——ItisfornoloveItellyou——ThetimehasbeenthatIwouldhaveexchangedthissecretagainstliberty;Iamnowbarteringitforwhatisdearerthanlibertyorlife。——AnnotLyleistheyoungest,thesolesurvivingchildoftheKnightofArdenvohr,whoalonewassavedwhenallinhishallsbesideswasgiventobloodandashes。"

"Canthismanspeaktruth？"saidAnnotLyle,scarceknowingwhatshesaid;"oristhissomestrangedelusion？"

"Maiden,"repliedRanald,"hadstthoudweltlongerwithus,thouwouldsthavebetterlearnttoknowhowtodistinguishtheaccentsoftruth。TothatSaxonlord,andtotheKnightofArdenvohr,I

willyieldsuchproofsofwhatIhavespoken,thatincredulityshallstandconvinced。Meantime,withdraw——Ilovedthineinfancy,Ihatenotthyyouth——noeyehatestheroseinitsblossom,thoughitgrowethuponathorn,andfortheeonlydoI

somethingregretwhatissoontofollow。Buthethatwouldavengehimofhisfoemustnotreckthoughtheguiltlessbeengagedintheruin。"

"Headviseswell,Annot,"saidLordMenteith;"inGod"snameretire！if——iftherebeaughtinthis,yourmeetingwithSirDuncanmusthemorepreparedforbothyoursakes。"

"Iwillnotpartfrommyfather,ifIhavefoundone！"saidAnnot——"Iwillnotpartfromhimundercircumstancessoterrible。"

"Andafatheryoushalleverfindinme,"murmuredSirDuncan。

"Then,"saidMenteith,"IwillhaveMacEaghremovedintoanadjacentapartment,andwillcollecttheevidenceofhistalemyself。SirDugaldDalgettywillgivemehisattendanceandassistance。"

"Withpleasure,mylord,"answeredSirDugald。——"Iwillbeyourconfessor,orassessor——eitherorboth。Noonecanbesofit,forIhadheardthewholestoryamonthagoatInverarycastle——butonslaughtslikethatofArdenvohrconfuseeachotherinmymemory,whichisbesidesoccupiedwithmattersofmoreimportance。"

Uponhearingthisfrankdeclaration,whichwasmadeastheylefttheapartmentwiththewoundedman,LordMenteithdarteduponDalgettyalookofextremeangeranddisdain,towhichtheself—

conceitoftheworthycommanderrenderedhimtotallyinsensible。

CHAPTERXXII。

Iamasfreeasnaturefirstmademan,Erethebaselawsofservitudebegan,Whenwildinwoodsthenoblesavageran。CONQUESTOFGRANADA

TheEarlofMenteith,ashehadundertaken,soheproceededtoinvestigatemorecloselythestorytoldbyRanaldoftheMist,whichwascorroboratedbytheexaminationofhistwofollowers,whohadassistedinthecapacityofguides。ThesedeclarationshecarefullycomparedwithsuchcircumstancesconcerningthedestructionofhiscastleandfamilyasSirDuncanCampbellwasabletosupply;anditmaybesupposedhehadforgottennothingrelatingtoaneventofsuchterrificimportance。Itwasofthelastconsequencetoprovethatthiswasnoinventionoftheoutlaw"s,forthepurposeofpassinganimpostorasthechildandheiressofArdenvohr。

PerhapsMenteith,somuchinterestedinbelievingthetale,wasnotaltogetherthefittestpersontobeintrustedwiththeinvestigationofitstruth;buttheexaminationsoftheChildrenoftheMistweresimple,accurate,andinallrespectsconsistentwitheachother。Apersonalmarkwasreferredto,whichwasknowntohavebeenbornebytheinfantchildofSirDuncan,andwhichappearedupontheleftshoulderofAnnotLyle。Itwasalsowellremembered,thatwhenthemiserablerelicsoftheotherchildrenhadbeencollected,thoseoftheinfanthadnowherebeenfound。Othercircumstancesofevidence,whichitisunnecessarytoquote,broughtthefullestconvictionnotonlytoMenteith,buttotheunprejudicedmindofMontrose,thatinAnnotLyle,anhumbledependant,distinguishedonlybybeautyandtalent,theywereinfuturetorespecttheheiressofArdenvohr。

WhileMenteithhastenedtocommunicatetheresultoftheseenquiriestothepersonsmostinterested,theoutlawdemandedtospeakwithhisgrandchild,whomheusuallycalledhisson。"Hewouldbefound,"hesaid,"intheouterapartment,inwhichhehimselfhadbeenoriginallydeposited。"

Accordingly,theyoungsavage,afteraclosesearch,wasfoundlurkinginacorner,coiledupamongsomerottenstraw,andbroughttohisgrandsire。

"Kenneth,"saidtheoldoutlaw,"hearthelastwordsofthesireofthyfather。ASaxonsoldier,andAllanoftheRed—hand,leftthiscampwithinthesefewhours,totraveltothecountrytoCaberfae。Pursuethemasthebloodhoundpursuesthehurtdeer——swimthelake—climbthemountain——threadtheforest——tarrynotuntilyoujointhem;"andthenthecountenanceoftheladdarkenedashisgrandfatherspoke,andhelaidhishanduponaknifewhichstuckinthethongofleatherthatconfinedhisscantyplaid。"No！"saidtheoldman;"itisnotbythyhandhemustfall。Theywillaskthenewsfromthecamp——saytothemthatAnnotLyleoftheHarpisdiscoveredtobethedaughterofDuncanofArdenvohr;thattheThaneofMenteithistowedherbeforethepriest;andthatyouaresenttobidgueststothebridal。Tarrynottheiranswer,butvanishlikethelightningwhentheblackcloudswallowsit。——Andnowdepart,belovedsonofmybestbeloved！Ishallnevermoreseethyface,norhearthelightsoundofthyfootstep——yettarryaninstantandhearmylastcharge。Rememberthefateofourrace,andquitnottheancientmannersoftheChildrenoftheMist。Wearenowastragglinghandful,drivenfromeveryvalebytheswordofeveryclan,whoruleinthepossessionswheretheirforefathershewedthewood,anddrewthewaterforours。Butinthethicketofthewilderness,andinthemistofthemountain,Kenneth,sonofEracht,keepthouunsoiledthefreedomwhichIleavetheeasabirthright。Barteritnotneitherfortherichgarment,norforthestone—roof,norforthecoveredboard,norforthecouchofdown——ontherockorinthevalley,inabundanceorinfamine——intheleafysummer,andinthedaysoftheironwinter——SonoftheMist！befreeasthyforefathers。Ownnolord——receivenolaw——takenohire——givenostipend——buildnohut——enclosenopasture——sownograin;——letthedeerofthemountainbethyflocksandherds——ifthesefailthee,preyuponthegoodsofouroppressors——oftheSaxons,andofsuchGaelasareSaxonsintheirsouls,valuingherdsandflocksmorethanhonourandfreedom。Wellforusthattheydoso——itaffordsthebroaderscopeforourrevenge。

Rememberthosewhohavedonekindnesstoourrace,andpaytheirserviceswiththyblood,shouldthehourrequireit。IfaMacIanshallcometotheewiththeheadoftheking"ssoninhishand,shelterhim,thoughtheavengingarmyofthefatherwerebehindhim;forinGlencoeandArdnamurchan,wehavedweltinpeaceintheyearsthathavegoneby。ThesonsofDiarmid——theraceofDarnlinvarach——theridersofMenteith——mycurseonthyhead,ChildoftheMist,ifthouspareoneofthosenames,whenthetimeshallofferforcuttingthemoff！anditwillcomeanon,fortheirownswordsshalldevoureachother,andthosewhoarescatteredshallflytotheMist,andperishbyitsChildren。

Oncemore,begone——shakethedustfromthyfeetagainstthehabitationsofmen,whetherbandedtogetherforpeaceorforwar。

Farewell,beloved！andmaystthoudielikethyforefathers,ereinfirmity,disease,orage,shallbreakthyspirit——Begone！——

begone！——livefree——requitekindness——avengetheinjuriesofthyrace！"

Theyoungsavagestooped,andkissedthebrowofhisdyingparent;butaccustomedfrominfancytosuppresseveryexteriorsignofemotion,hepartedwithouttearoradieu,andwassoonfarbeyondthelimitsofMontrose"scamp。

SirDugaldDalgetty,whowaspresentduringthelatterpartofthisscene,wasverylittleedifiedbytheconductofMacEaghupontheoccasion。"Icannotthink,myfriendRanald,"saidhe,"thatyouareinthebestpossibleroadforadyingman。Storms,onslaughts,massacres,theburningofsuburbs,areindeedasoldier"sdailywork,andarejustifiedbythenecessityofthecase,seeingthattheyaredoneinthecourseofduty;forburningofsuburbs,inparticular,itmaybesaidthattheyaretraitorsandcut—throatstoallfortifiedtowns。Henceitisplain,thatasoldierisaprofessionpeculiarlyfavouredbyHeaven,seeingthatwemayhopeforsalvation,althoughwedailycommitactionsofsogreatviolence。Butthen,Ranald,inallservicesofEurope,itisthecustomofthedyingsoldiernottovaunthimofsuchdoings,ortorecommendthemtohisfellows;

but,onthecontrary,toexpresscontritionforthesame,andtorepeat,orhaverepeatedtohim,somecomfortableprayer;which,ifyouplease,IwillintercedewithhisExcellency"schaplaintopreferonyouraccount。Itisotherwisenopointofmydutytoputyouinmindofthosethings;onlyitmaybefortheeaseofyourconsciencetodepartmorelikeaChristian,andlesslikeaTurk,thanyouseemtobeinafairwayofdoing。"

Theonlyanswerofthedyingman——（forassuchRanaldMacEaghmightnowbeconsidered）——wasarequesttoberaisedtosuchapositionthathemightobtainaviewfromthewindowoftheCastle。Thedeepfrostmist,whichhadlongsettleduponthetopofthemountains,wasnowrollingdowneachruggedglenandgully,wherethecraggyridgesshowedtheirblackandirregularoutline,likedesertislandsrisingabovetheoceanofvapour。

"SpiritoftheMist！"saidRanaldMacEagh,"calledbyourraceourfather,andourpreserver——receiveintothytabernacleofclouds,whenthispangisover,himwhominlifethouhastsooftensheltered。"Sosaying,hesunkbackintothearmsofthosewhoupheldhim,spokenofurtherword,butturnedhisfacetothewallforashortspace。

"Ibelieve,"saidDalgetty,"myfriendRanaldwillbefoundinhishearttobelittlebetterthanaheathen。"AndherenewedhisproposaltoprocurehimtheassistanceofDr。Wisheart,Montrose"smilitarychaplain;"aman,"saidSirDugald,"verycleverinhisexercise,andwhowilldoexecutiononyoursinsinlesstimethanIcouldsmokeapipeoftobacco。"

"Saxon,"saidthedyingman,"speaktomenomoreofthypriest——

Idiecontented。Hadstthoueveranenemyagainstwhomweaponswereofnoavail——whomtheballmissed,andagainstwhomthearrowshivered,andwhosebareskinwasasimpenetrabletoswordanddirkasthysteelgarment——Heardstthoueverofsuchafoe？"

"Veryfrequently,whenIservedinGermany,"repliedSirDugald。

"TherewassuchafellowatIngolstadt;hewasproofbothagainstleadandsteel。Thesoldierskilledhimwiththebutsoftheirmuskets。"

"Thisimpassiblefoe,"saidRanald,withoutregardingtheMajor"sinterruption,"whohastheblooddearesttomeuponhishands——tothismanIhavenowbequeathedagonyofmind,jealousy,despair,andsuddendeath,——oralifemoremiserablethandeathitself。

SuchshallbethelotofAllanoftheRed—hand,whenhelearnsthatAnnotwedsMenteithandIasknomorethanthecertaintythatitisso,tosweetenmyownbloodyendbyhishand。"

"Ifthatbethecase,"saidtheMajor,"there"snomoretobesaid;butIshalltakecareasfewpeopleseeyouaspossible,forIcannotthinkyourmodeofdeparturecanbeatallcreditableorexemplarytoaChristianarmy。"Sosaying,helefttheapartment,andtheSonoftheMistsoonafterbreathedhislast。

Menteith,inthemeanwhile,leavingthenew—foundrelationstotheirmutualfeelingsofmingledemotion,waseagerlydiscussingwithMontrosetheconsequencesofthisdiscovery。"Ishouldnowsee,"saidtheMarquis,"evenhadInotbeforeobservedit,thatyourinterestinthisdiscovery,mydearMenteith,hasnosmallreferencetoyourownhappiness。Youlovethisnew—foundlady,——

youraffectionisreturned。Inpointofbirth,noexceptionscanbemade;ineveryotherrespect,heradvantagesareequaltothosewhichyouyourselfpossess——think,however,amoment。SirDuncanisafanatic——Presbyterian,atleast——inarmsagainsttheKing;heisonlywithusinthequalityofaprisoner,andweare,Ifear,butatthecommencementofalongcivilwar。Isthisatime,thinkyou,Menteith,foryoutomakeproposalsforhisheiress？Orwhatchanceistherethathewillnowlistentoit？"

Passion,aningenious,aswellasaneloquentadvocate,suppliedtheyoungnoblemanwithathousandanswerstotheseobjections。

HeremindedMontrosethattheKnightofArdenvohrwasneitherabigotinpoliticsnorreligion。Heurgedhisownknownandprovedzealfortheroyalcause,andhintedthatitsinfluencemightbeextendedandstrengthenedbyhisweddingtheheiressofArdenvohr。HepleadedthedangerousstateofSirDuncan"swound,theriskwhichmustberunbysufferingtheyoungladytobecarriedintothecountryoftheCampbells,where,incaseofherfather"sdeath,orcontinuedindisposition,shemustnecessarilybeplacedundertheguardianshipofArgyle,aneventfataltohis（Menteith"s）hopes,unlesshecouldstooptopurchasehisfavourbyabandoningtheKing"sparty。

Montroseallowedtheforceofthesearguments,andowned,althoughthematterwasattendedwithdifficulty,yetitseemedconsistentwiththeKing"sservicethatitshouldbeconcludedasspeedilyaspossible。

"Icouldwish,"saidhe,"thatitwereallsettledinonewayoranother,andthatthisfairBriseiswereremovedfromourcampbeforethereturnofourHighlandAchilles,AllanM"Aulay。——I

fearsomefatalfeudinthatquarter,Menteith——andIbelieveitwouldbebestthatSirDuncanbedismissedonhisparole,andthatyouaccompanyhimandhisdaughterashisescort。Thejourneycanbemadechieflybywater,sowillnotgreatlyincommodehiswound——andyourown,myfriend,willbeanhonourableexcusefortheabsenceofsometimefrommycamp。"

"Never！"saidMenteith。"WereItoforfeittheveryhopethathassolatelydawneduponme,neverwillIleaveyourExcellency"scampwhiletheroyalstandardisdisplayed。I

shoulddeservethatthistriflingscratchshouldgangreneandconsumemysword—arm,wereIcapableofholdingitasanexcuseforabsenceatthiscrisisoftheKing"saffairs。"

"Onthis,then,youaredetermined？"saidMontrose。

"AsfixedasBen—Nevis,"saidtheyoungnobleman。

"Youmust,then,"saidMontrose,"losenotimeinseekinganexplanationwiththeKnightofArdenvohr。Ifthisprovefavourable,IwilltalkmyselfwiththeelderM"Aulay,andwewilldevisemeanstoemployhisbrotheratadistancefromthearmyuntilheshallbereconciledtohispresentdisappointment。

WouldtoGodsomevisionwoulddescenduponhisimaginationfairenoughtoobliteratealltracesofAnnotLyle！Thatperhapsyouthinkimpossible,Menteith？——Well,eachtohisservice;youtothatofCupid,andItothatofMars。"

Theyparted,andinpursuanceoftheschemearranged,Menteith,earlyontheensuingmorning,soughtaprivateinterviewwiththewoundedKnightofArdenvohr,andcommunicatedtohimhissuitforthehandofhisdaughter。OftheirmutualattachmentSirDuncanwasaware,buthewasnotpreparedforsoearlyadeclarationonthepartofMenteith。Hesaid,atfirst,thathehadalready,perhaps,indulgedtoomuchinfeelingsofpersonalhappiness,atatimewhenhisclanhadsustainedsogreatalossandhumiliation,andthathewasunwilling,therefore,farthertoconsidertheadvancementofhisownhouseataperiodsocalamitous。Onthemoreurgentsuitofthenoblelover,herequestedafewhourstodeliberateandconsultwithhisdaughter,uponaquestionsohighlyimportant。

TheresultofthisinterviewanddeliberationwasfavourabletoMenteith。SirDuncanCampbellbecamefullysensiblethatthehappinessofhisnew—founddaughterdependeduponaunionwithherlover;andunlesssuchwerenowformed,hesawthatArgylewouldthrowathousandobstaclesinthewayofamatchineveryrespectacceptabletohimself。Menteith"sprivatecharacterwassoexcellent,andsuchwastherankandconsiderationduetohisfortuneandfamily,thattheyoutbalanced,inSirDuncan"sopinion,thedifferenceintheirpoliticalopinions。Norcouldhehaveresolved,perhaps,hadhisownopinionofthematchbeenlessfavourable,todeclineanopportunityofindulgingthenew—