Catriona

ell known to me already by the report of Mr Campbell. Alas! and I might just as well have been at Essendean, and sitting under Mr. Campbel

n in the churches, like what I imagined of a theatre or (in my then disposition) of an assize of trial; above all

there was never a sign of them. But I was no sooner shown into the cabinet or antechamber where I had spent so wearyful a time upon the Saturday, than I was aware of the tall figure of James More in a corner. He seemed a prey to a painful uneasiness, reaching forth his feet and ha

ood-morning,

rning to you,

with Prestongr

ess with that gentleman be more a

will be brief, for I suppose

"It was not always so, sir, but times change. It was not so when the sword was in

d snuffle out of the man tha

he main thing for a soldier is to be silent, a

ot use myself. Well, there is a publicity-I have shown my face and told my name too often in

I, "nor yet anybody else; but the name I am

that use it. And now that I call to mind, there was a young gentleman,

r to Balfour of Baith," said I, f

e I have been fellow-soldier with your kins

enderly, beaming on me the while

days since your cousin and I hea

said I, drily, "and I ought to tell you

not think you were out yourself, sir-I have no clear mind

Macgregor, I was getting skelpe

tears. I have lived in my own country like a king; my sword, my mountains, and the faith of my friends and kinsmen sufficed for me. Now I lie in a stinking dungeon; and do you know, Mr. Balfour," he went on, taking my arm and beginning to lead me about, "do you know, sir, that I lack mere necessaries? The malice of my foes has quite sequestered my resour

or my own sake or Catriona's-whether it was because I thought him no fit father for his daughter, or because I resented that grossness of immediate falsity that clung about the man himself-the thing was clean beyond me. And I was still being wheedled and preached to, an

anded I am going to present you to my three braw daughters, of whom perhaps

y sat at a frame of embroidery, and the three handsomest yo

and will be very pleased if she can help you. And here," says he, turning to the three younger ladies, "here are my three braw dauchters. A fair ques

ed with the verses he referred to) brought shame into my own check. It seemed to me a citation unpardonabl

. The aunt indeed sat close at her embroidery, only looking now and again and smiling; but the misses, and especially the eldest, who was besides the most handsome, paid me a score of attentions which I was very ill able to repay. It was all in vain to tell myself I was a young follow of some worth as well

sed mistress, and entertained me for a while with playing and singing, both in the Scots and in the Italian manners; this put me more at my ease, a

it," said she. "Whistle it all through. And n

instantly enriched the same with well-sounding chords, and sang

ot just the

he tune that

do the poetry too, only it

rant, sib to

ve, are Dauv

ch astonished I w

call the name o

l name," said I. "I ju

r namesake of Israel played to Saul I would never wonder that the king got little good by it, for it's but melancholy m

nce that gave my heart a jog.

get hanged, I will set your last dying spee

peech (which besides she had followed up immediately with a very noisy piece of music) was to put an end to the present conversation. I stood beside her, affecting to listen and admire, but truly whirled away by my own thoughts. I have always found this young lady to be a lover of the mysterious; and certainly this first interview made a mystery that was beyond my p

to come quick, for there was "Grey eyes again." The whole family trooped there at once, and crowded one another for a lo

autiful creature! She hangs round the close-head these last days,

ceit of myself and much less awe of the young ladies. They were beautiful, that was beyond question, but Catriona was beautiful too, and had a kind of brightness in her like a coal of fire. As much as the others cast me down, she lifted me up. I remembered I had talked easily with her. If I could make no hand of it with these fine maids, it

the same kind, happy-li

gain; but I hope you have been able to persuade him to

little farthing complim

oor a figure I had made, and that the girls would be yawning their jaws off as soon as my stiff back was turned. I felt I had shown how little

, for the scene to which he was condu