The Marquis of Lossie

behind him would soon begin to carry him. He anticipated its difficulties, but never thought of perils: it was seldom anything oppressed him but the doubt o

with the slow strength of his intellect to render somewhat long winded in utterance, there was yet room in Malcolm's bonnet for a bee above the ordinary size, and if it buzzed a little too romantically for the taste of the nineteenth century, about disguises and surprises and bounty and plots and rescues and such like, something must be

d by the return of Blue Peter with his wife. She thre

id her husband, "what

He's gauin' to lea' us a', an' gang hame till 's ain, an' I canna b

ro'd afore that be poassible. I mayna aye be able to du jist what ye wad like; but lippen ye to me: I s' be fair to ye

en I cud be ony use," answered Mrs Mai

s the lave. But gien I dinna du weel, it winna be the fau't o' a

" said Mrs Mair, a lit

e cudna ha'e a better win'. Jist rin ye hame, an' get som

the watter ohn mair han's? I'll n

help. We're gauin' to tak' the markis's cutter. She's a

l Maister C

ence; and thereupon he and Malcolm set out for the Seaton, while Mrs Mair went

o reach the little sloop. Malcolm said he was going to take her to Peterhead, and they asked no questions but such as he contrived to answer with truth, or to leave unanswered. Once afloat, there was very little to be done to her, for she had been laid up in perfect condition, and as soon as Mrs M

tions to such a mad prank as sailing to London at that time of the year, but in vain. Malcolm saw nothing mad in it, and the lawyer had to admit he ought to know best

er Mr Graham, that a large part of this elevation of spirit was owing to an unreasoned sense of being there more immediately in the hands of God. Later in life, he interpreted the mental condition thus -- that of course he was always and in every place equally in God's hands, but that at sea he felt the truth more keenly. Where a

, purchased a few provis

where his sister lived, going to look at the house, and getting into it if he might. Nor could his companion help him with any suggestions, and indeed he could not talk much with him

no charts on board, nor could have made much use of any. But the wind continued favourable, and the wea

en they spoke a fishing boat, took a pilot on board, and were soon in smooth water. More and more they wonde