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—