The Wizard's Son

where there was nobody who was very rich—and the solid, tall Edinburgh houses were imposing to him. There was no light but that which came from a blazing fire, and which threw an irregular ruddy

ir of white, attenuated hands. “You are very welcome, Lord Erradeen,” she said, in a sweet, feeble voice. “Will you excuse my rising—for I’m a great invalid—and come and sit down here beside me? I have been looking for you this half-hour past.” The hand which she held out to him was so thin that he scarcely felt its light pressure. “If you have no objection,” said Miss Milnathort, “we will do with the firelight for a little longer. It is my favourite light. My brother sent me word I was to expect you, and after your cold walk you will be glad of a cup of tea.” She did no

ean—Edinb

n the drama that is opening upon you, and here am I just another tableau. I ca

scenery all turns upon the plot so far: which

e? I don’t see any particular significance in Holyrood. It is where all

Lord Methven’s Lodging, as I hear it is

foozle. And so you saw the lodging of Methven? I have never seen it myself. Did it not make your heart sick to see all the poverty and misery in that awf

moment it took from him all power of reply. “That would be hard upon antiquity,” he sai

then she added, “Ah, it is very well to talk about art; but there was great sense in

ghed, but the invalid did not echo his laugh. And this brought a little chill and check to his satisfaction. The sense that one has suddenly struck a jarring

. “I cannot, to tell the truth, see any argument against them, except

f the subject equally new t

e nothing to be a ghost till you cannot account for it in any other way. There are many things that are far more surprising,” she said; then, shaking off the subject once more with that little movement of her head, “You are not taking y

member the old coach jou

m so fond of the firelight,” she said with a laugh; “for I’m really very young though I was born long ago. Robert and me, we remember all our games and plays in a way that people that have had children of their own never do. We are just boy and girl still, and I’ve known us, after a long talk, forget ourselves altogether,

a moment. “You were not in the secret that it was you who were the

my father,” said

l perhaps be you, if you have the courage, that will put a stop to—many things. There are old rhymes upon that subject, but you will put little faith in old rhymes; I none at all. I believe they are just made u

u said you di

y years? and what else could I give my attention to, considering all things? Well, I do not believe in that. Oh, it’s far too pat! When a thing is true it i

red glow in place of the leaping and blazing of the flames. He scarcely saw his entertainer at all. There were two spots of brightness which moved occasionally, and which represented her face and the hands which she had clasped together (when they were not flickering about in incessant gesture) in her lap. But there was something altogether quaint and strange in the situation.

in her voice. It was nothing but a tall shadow

lison? and how are you and he getting o

ts less agreeable were at once introduced, and that his pride wa

you are late, and it will soon be time for dinner. I would advise you to show our young gentleman to his room, an

is a good deal we must go over th

tural enemies. He rose willingly, yet with unconscious offence, and followed his host to his room, inwardly indignant with himself for having thus impaired his own liberty by forsa

s body-servant. The late Lord Erradeen gave him a very warm recomme

I have a man coming. I am afraid the

saddled with a sort of governor in the shape of the late lord’s servant was more t

he man was not apparently in the least daunted by Walter’s irritation. He went on mechanically, lightly brushing out a crease, and unfolding the coat with that affecti

is a pity to give you so much trouble when,

een many years about my late lord. And however ye may remind yourself that you are but a ser

touched, “you never saw me in your life before. I

icted by the twinkle of a pair of humorous, deep-set eyes. He gave a glan

e, so to speak, just identified myself with the Erradeens. It’s not common in England, so far as I can hear, but it’s just our old Scots way.

is old impatience, tempered by a sense of the humour of the situation. It seemed that he was never to have any control over himself. He had barely escaped from the tutelage of home when he fell into this oth

abundant for the solitary pair who sat alone at a corner of the l

at down at table since she had her acc

born, this would no doubt have seemed to him natural enough; but as it was he could not keep himself from the idea either that he was being laughed at, or that some design was hidden beneath this constant reference. The

us words of advice and recommendation. He was very genial and expansive at this most generous moment of the day. Fond of good fare himself he liked to communicate and recommend it, and Walter’s appetite was excellent, if perhap

affairs changed a little. Mr. Milnathort cleare

t deal of business to get through. But you have had a f

I assure you,” Walte

till to-morrow. But there’s just a thing or two—. Lord save us!” he cried suddenly, “you’re not the kind of person for this. There is many a one I know that would have liked it all the better—till they knew—for

imate of himself. It showed, he felt, more perception than he had looked for, and he answered,

father’s son, they would not have been new to you, and you would have been prepared. In that way it is hard upon you. There was one of your ancestors that laid certain conditions, as I was saying, upon every heir. He was one that had, as you may say, a

Bannatyne was discoursing to me,” said Wal

the world: but I never thought he would take that upon him. So you see, as I was saying, there are certain formalities to go through. It is understood that once a year, wherever

l?” he cried, with a voice of relief. Then he laughed. “I was winding myself up to something heroic, but if it is

that,” said the old

nce; but there is nothing very appall

is your own concern, and that I have never pried into for my part. And

at these peremptory words. “This sounds a little arbitrary,” he s

. It is the first thing to be done. Before you come into enjoyment of anything, or take your place in the country, there

tand the sudden tempest of resistance, of anger, of alarm that got up within him. “The

aid, was that all? And now you chang

go now is irritating and unpleasant. I suppose it’s simple enough, a piece of tyranny such as people seem to think they

I think we might join my sister up-stairs; and, as she knows just as much as I do, or, maybe, more, you can speak as freely as you please before her—oh, quite freely. But, my dear young lord, call no names!” cried Mr. Milnathort. He got up hurriedly, leav

ashmere or some other woollen material, solid and warm, but with lace at the neck, and pretty ribbons breaking the monotony of the tint. She looked like a girl dressed for some simple party, who had lain there waiting for the little festivity to begin, for no one could imagine how many years. Her hands were soft and round and young like her face. The wind had not been allowed to visit her cheek too roughly for a lifetime. What had happened before the event which she and her brother had both referred to as her “accident” belonged to a period which had evidently nothing to do with the present. Walter saw at a glance that every possible convenience which could be invented for an invalid surrounded her. She had a set of bookshelves at one side with vacant spaces where she could place the book she was reading. Tables that wheeled towards her at a touch, with nee

about: except that I am to go away directly, w

back, you will co

surprised to see how much effect was produced upon his companions by this very simple utterance. Miss Milnathort put her hands together, a

to the next heir,” he said; “besides, perhaps—other penalt

lous conditions of this kind that can mean nothing could really be upheld by the

had so much trouble about, and that was a charity. How much more, as

ty that we owe to the dead as well as the living. But there has always been a license allowed in respect to charities. So far as they are intended to be for the good of the poor, we have a right to see that the testator’s meanin

ur side, Lord Erradeen. I would just let them try their worst, and see what would co

osing a substantial advantage, as Mr. Milnathort says? And then, perhaps, a new man like myself, coming into an antiquated routine, there would b

n listening with an air so eager and full of vivacity, anxious to speak, that the young

ou have me to do?” with an involuntary

is to his interruption by the sound of his chair drawn forward, a sound which she pro

if not prejudiced, yet biased, on the other. You must act on your own instinct, which, as far as I can judge, is a just one. It would be a grea

al. It sounded like a term of reproach, and as he did not choose to say a

he fantastic old feudal tenures if a new heir, a new

nd a pleasure in fulfilling

ke of Marlborough should say, ‘What rubbish! Why should I send that o

of her pretty hands. “Suppose young Glenearn should refuse wh

Walter, with a laugh of pr

l height; he pushed back his c

hing that cannot be, at least till the end of all things is at hand. I will ring for prayers, Alison. My Lor

ld do to restrain an irreverent laugh. The position was so comic, that his original sense of angry resistance disappeared before it. He was going off against his will to pass through a mysterious ordeal in an old ruined house, under charge of a servant whom he did not want, and in obedience to a st