"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。"