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diff --git a/7004.txt b/7004.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..68975b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/7004.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9783 @@ + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Antiquary, Volume 2, by Sir Walter +Scott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost +no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use +it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this +eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Antiquary, Volume 2 + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: August 17, 2004 [EBook #7004] +Last Updated: February 22, 2010 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANTIQUARY, VOLUME 2 *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +Bookcover + +Spines + + +THE ANTIQUARY + +By Sir Walter Scott + + +VOLUME TWO. + + +Titlepage, Second Volume Frontispiece, Second Volume + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER FIRST. + +CHAPTER SECOND. + +CHAPTER THIRD. + +CHAPTER FOURTH. + +CHAPTER FIFTH. + +CHAPTER SIXTH. + +CHAPTER SEVENTH. + +CHAPTER EIGHTH. + +CHAPTER NINTH + +CHAPTER TENTH. + +CHAPTER ELEVENTH + +CHAPTER TWELFTH. + +CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. + +CHAPTER FOURTEENTH + +CHAPTER FIFTEENTH. + +CHAPTER SIXTEENTH. + +CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH. + +CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH. + +CHAPTER NINETEENTH + +CHAPTER TWENTIETH. + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST. + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND. + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD. + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH. + +NOTES TO THE ANTIQUARY. + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Bookcover + +Spines + +Titlepage + +Frontispiece-2 + +The Funeral of the Countess + +Lord Glenallen and Elspeth + +The Antiquary Visits Edie in Prison + +My Good Friends, 'favete Linguis' + +The Antiquary Arming + + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST. + + Wiser Raymondus, in his closet pent, + Laughs at such danger and adventurement + When half his lands are spent in golden smoke, + And now his second hopeful glasse is broke, + But yet, if haply his third furnace hold, + Devoteth all his pots and pans to gold.* + +* The author cannot remember where these lines are to be found: perhaps +in Bishop Hall's Satires. [They occur in Book iv. Satire iii.] + +About a week after the adventures commemorated in our last CHAPTER, Mr. +Oldbuck, descending to his breakfast-parlour, found that his womankind +were not upon duty, his toast not made, and the silver jug, which was +wont to receive his libations of mum, not duly aired for its reception. + +"This confounded hot-brained boy!" he said to himself; "now that he +begins to get out of danger, I can tolerate this life no longer. All +goes to sixes and sevens—an universal saturnalia seems to be proclaimed +in my peaceful and orderly family. I ask for my sister—no answer. I +call, I shout—I invoke my inmates by more names than the Romans gave +to their deities—at length Jenny, whose shrill voice I have heard this +half-hour lilting in the Tartarean regions of the kitchen, condescends +to hear me and reply, but without coming up stairs, so the conversation +must be continued at the top of my lungs. "—Here he again began to +hollow aloud—"Jenny, where's Miss Oldbuck?" + +"Miss Grizzy's in the captain's room." + +"Umph!—I thought so—and where's my niece?" + +"Miss Mary's making the captain's tea." + +"Umph! I supposed as much again—and where's Caxon?" + +"Awa to the town about the captain's fowling-gun, and his setting-dog." + +"And who the devil's to dress my periwig, you silly jade?—when you knew +that Miss Wardour and Sir Arthur were coming here early after breakfast, +how could you let Caxon go on such a Tomfool's errand?" + +"Me! what could I hinder him?—your honour wadna hae us contradict the +captain e'en now, and him maybe deeing?" + +"Dying!" said the alarmed Antiquary,—"eh! what? has he been worse?" + +"Na, he's no nae waur that I ken of."* + +* It is, I believe, a piece of free-masonry, or a point of conscience, +among the Scottish lower orders, never to admit that a patient is doing +better. The closest approach to recovery which they can be brought to +allow, is, that the pairty inquired after is "Nae waur." + +"Then he must be better—and what good is a dog and a gun to do here, but +the one to destroy all my furniture, steal from my larder, and perhaps +worry the cat, and the other to shoot somebody through the head. He +has had gunning and pistolling enough to serve him one while, I should +think." + +Here Miss Oldbuck entered the parlour, at the door of which Oldbuck was +carrying on this conversation, he bellowing downward to Jenny, and she +again screaming upward in reply. + +"Dear brother," said the old lady, "ye'll cry yoursell as hoarse as +a corbie—is that the way to skreigh when there's a sick person in the +house?" + +"Upon my word, the sick person's like to have all the house to himself,— +I have gone without my breakfast, and am like to go without my wig; and +I must not, I suppose, presume to say I feel either hunger or cold, for +fear of disturbing the sick gentleman who lies six rooms off, and who +feels himself well enough to send for his dog and gun, though he knows +I detest such implements ever since our elder brother, poor Williewald, +marched out of the world on a pair of damp feet, caught in the +Kittlefitting-moss. But that signifies nothing; I suppose I shall be +expected by and by to lend a hand to carry Squire Hector out upon his +litter, while he indulges his sportsmanlike propensities by shooting my +pigeons, or my turkeys—I think any of the ferae naturae are safe from +him for one while." + +Miss M'Intyre now entered, and began to her usual morning's task of +arranging her uncle's breakfast, with the alertness of one who is too +late in setting about a task, and is anxious to make up for lost time. +But this did not avail her. "Take care, you silly womankind—that mum's +too near the fire—the bottle will burst; and I suppose you intend to +reduce the toast to a cinder as a burnt-offering for Juno, or what do +you call her—the female dog there, with some such Pantheon kind of +a name, that your wise brother has, in his first moments of mature +reflection, ordered up as a fitting inmate of my house (I thank him), +and meet company to aid the rest of the womankind of my household in +their daily conversation and intercourse with him." + +"Dear uncle, don't be angry about the poor spaniel; she's been tied up +at my brother's lodgings at Fairport, and she's broke her chain twice, +and came running down here to him; and you would not have us beat the +faithful beast away from the door?—it moans as if it had some sense +of poor Hector's misfortune, and will hardly stir from the door of his +room." + +"Why," said his uncle, "they said Caxon had gone to Fairport after his +dog and gun." + +"O dear sir, no," answered Miss M'Intyre, "it was to fetch some +dressings that were wanted, and Hector only wished him to bring out his +gun, as he was going to Fairport at any rate." + +"Well, then, it is not altogether so foolish a business, considering +what a mess of womankind have been about it—Dressings, quotha?—and who +is to dress my wig?—But I suppose Jenny will undertake"—continued the +old bachelor, looking at himself in the glass—"to make it somewhat +decent. And now let us set to breakfast—with what appetite we may. Well +may I say to Hector, as Sir Isaac Newton did to his dog Diamond, when +the animal (I detest dogs) flung down the taper among calculations which +had occupied the philosopher for twenty years, and consumed the whole +mass of materials—Diamond, Diamond, thou little knowest the mischief +thou hast done!" + +"I assure you, sir," replied his niece, "my brother is quite sensible +of the rashness of his own behaviour, and allows that Mr. Lovel behaved +very handsomely." + +"And much good that will do, when he has frightened the lad out of the +country! I tell thee, Mary, Hector's understanding, and far more that +of feminity, is inadequate to comprehend the extent of the loss which he +has occasioned to the present age and to posterity—aureum quidem opus—a +poem on such a subject, with notes illustrative of all that is clear, +and all that is dark, and all that is neither dark nor clear, but hovers +in dusky twilight in the region of Caledonian antiquities. I would have +made the Celtic panegyrists look about them. Fingal, as they conceitedly +term Fin-Mac-Coul, should have disappeared before my search, rolling +himself in his cloud like the spirit of Loda. Such an opportunity can +hardly again occur to an ancient and grey-haired man; and to see it lost +by the madcap spleen of a hot-headed boy! But I submit—Heaven's will be +done!" + +Thus continued the Antiquary to maunder, as his sister expressed it, +during the whole time of breakfast, while, despite of sugar and honey, +and all the comforts of a Scottish morning tea-table, his reflections +rendered the meal bitter to all who heard them. But they knew the +nature of the man. "Monkbarns's bark," said Miss Griselda Oldbuck, in +confidential intercourse with Miss Rebecca Blattergowl, "is muckle waur +than his bite." + +In fact, Mr. Oldbuck had suffered in mind extremely while his nephew was +in actual danger, and now felt himself at liberty, upon his returning +health, to indulge in complaints respecting the trouble he had been +put to, and the interruption of his antiquarian labours. Listened to, +therefore, in respectful silence, by his niece and sister, he unloaded +his discontent in such grumblings as we have rehearsed, venting many +a sarcasm against womankind, soldiers, dogs, and guns, all which +implements of noise, discord, and tumult, as he called them, he +professed to hold in utter abomination. + +This expectoration of spleen was suddenly interrupted by the noise of a +carriage without, when, shaking off all sullenness at the sound, Oldbuck +ran nimbly up stairs and down stairs, for both operations were necessary +ere he could receive Miss Wardour and her father at the door of his +mansion. + +A cordial greeting passed on both sides. And Sir Arthur, referring +to his previous inquiries by letter and message, requested to be +particularly informed of Captain M'Intyre's health. + +"Better than he deserves," was the answer—"better than he deserves, for +disturbing us with his vixen brawls, and breaking God's peace and the +King's." + +"The young gentleman," Sir Arthur said, "had been imprudent; but he +understood they were indebted to him for the detection of a suspicious +character in the young man Lovel." + +"No more suspicious than his own," answered the Antiquary, eager in +his favourites defence;—"the young gentleman was a little foolish and +headstrong, and refused to answer Hector's impertinent interrogatories— +that is all. Lovel, Sir Arthur, knows how to choose his confidants +better—Ay, Miss Wardour, you may look at me—but it is very true;—it +was in my bosom that he deposited the secret cause of his residence +at Fairport; and no stone should have been left unturned on my part to +assist him in the pursuit to which he had dedicated himself." + +On hearing this magnanimous declaration on the part of the old +Antiquary, Miss Wardour changed colour more than once, and could +hardly trust her own ears. For of all confidants to be selected as the +depositary of love affairs,—and such she naturally supposed must have +been the subject of communication,—next to Edie Ochiltree, Oldbuck +seemed the most uncouth and extraordinary; nor could she sufficiently +admire or fret at the extraordinary combination of circumstances which +thus threw a secret of such a delicate nature into the possession of +persons so unfitted to be entrusted with it. She had next to fear the +mode of Oldbuck's entering upon the affair with her father, for such, +she doubted not, was his intention. She well knew that the honest +gentleman, however vehement in his prejudices, had no great sympathy +with those of others, and she had to fear a most unpleasant explosion +upon an e'claircissement taking place between them. It was therefore +with great anxiety that she heard her father request a private +interview, and observed Oldbuck readily arise and show the way to his +library. She remained behind, attempting to converse with the ladies of +Monkbarns, but with the distracted feelings of Macbeth, when compelled +to disguise his evil conscience by listening and replying to the +observations of the attendant thanes upon the storm of the preceding +night, while his whole soul is upon the stretch to listen for the alarm +of murder, which he knows must be instantly raised by those who have +entered the sleeping apartment of Duncan. But the conversation of the +two virtuosi turned on a subject very different from that which Miss +Wardour apprehended. + +"Mr. Oldbuck," said Sir Arthur, when they had, after a due exchange of +ceremonies, fairly seated themselves in the sanctum sanctorum of the +Antiquary,—"you, who know so much of my family matters, may probably be +surprised at the question I am about to put to you." + +"Why, Sir Arthur, if it relates to money, I am very sorry, but"— + +"It does relate to money matters, Mr. Oldbuck." + +"Really, then, Sir Arthur," continued the Antiquary, "in the present +state of the money-market—and stocks being so low"— + +"You mistake my meaning, Mr. Oldbuck," said the Baronet; "I wished to +ask your advice about laying out a large sum of money to advantage." + +"The devil!" exclaimed the Antiquary; and, sensible that his involuntary +ejaculation of wonder was not over and above civil, he proceeded to +qualify it by expressing his joy that Sir Arthur should have a sum of +money to lay out when the commodity was so scarce. "And as for the mode +of employing it," said he, pausing, "the funds are low at present, as I +said before, and there are good bargains of land to be had. But had you +not better begin by clearing off encumbrances, Sir Arthur?—There is the +sum in the personal bond—and the three notes of hand," continued +he, taking out of the right-hand drawer of his cabinet a certain red +memorandum-book, of which Sir Arthur, from the experience of former +frequent appeals to it, abhorred the very sight—"with the interest +thereon, amounting altogether to—let me see"— + +"To about a thousand pounds," said Sir Arthur, hastily; "you told me the +amount the other day." + +"But there's another term's interest due since that, Sir Arthur, and it +amounts (errors excepted) to eleven hundred and thirteen pounds, seven +shillings, five pennies, and three-fourths of a penny sterling—But look +over the summation yourself." + +"I daresay you are quite right, my dear sir," said the Baronet, putting +away the book with his hand, as one rejects the old-fashioned civility +that presses food upon you after you have eaten till you nauseate— +"perfectly right, I dare say; and in the course of three days or less +you shall have the full value—that is, if you choose to accept it in +bullion." + +"Bullion! I suppose you mean lead. What the deuce! have we hit on the +vein then at last? But what could I do with a thousand pounds' worth, +and upwards, of lead? The former abbots of Trotcosey might have roofed +their church and monastery with it indeed—but for me"— + +"By bullion," said the Baronet, "I mean the precious metals,—gold and +silver." + +"Ay! indeed?—and from what Eldorado is this treasure to be imported?" + +"Not far from hence," said Sir Arthur, significantly. "And naow I think +of it, you shall see the whole process, on one small condition." + +"And what is that?" craved the Antiquary. + +"Why, it will be necessary for you to give me your friendly assistance, +by advancing one hundred pounds or thereabouts." + +Mr. Oldbuck, who had already been grasping in idea the sum, principal +and interest, of a debt which he had long regarded as wellnigh +desperate, was so much astounded at the tables being so unexpectedly +turned upon him, that he could only re-echo, in an accent of wo and +surprise, the words, "Advance one hundred pounds!" + +"Yes, my good sir," continued Sir Arthur; "but upon the best possible +security of being repaid in the course of two or three days." + +There was a pause—either Oldbuck's nether jaw had not recovered its +position, so as to enable him to utter a negative, or his curiosity kept +him silent. + +"I would not propose to you," continued Sir Arthur, "to oblige me +thus far, if I did not possess actual proofs of the reality of those +expectations which I now hold out to you. And I assure you, Mr. Oldbuck, +that in entering fully upon this topic, it is my purpose to show +my confidence in you, and my sense of your kindness on many former +occasions." + +Mr. Oldbuck professed his sense of obligation, but carefully avoided +committing himself by any promise of farther assistance. + +"Mr. Dousterswivel," said Sir Arthur, "having discovered"— + +Here Oldbuck broke in, his eyes sparkling with indignation. "Sir Arthur, +I have so often warned you of the knavery of that rascally quack, that I +really wonder you should quote him to me." + +"But listen—listen," interrupted Sir Arthur in his turn, "it will do you +no harm. In short, Dousterswivel persuaded me to witness an experiment +which he had made in the ruins of St. Ruth—and what do you think we +found?" + +"Another spring of water, I suppose, of which the rogue had beforehand +taken care to ascertain the situation and source." + +"No, indeed—a casket of gold and silver coins—here they are." + +With that, Sir Arthur drew from his pocket a large ram's horn, with +a copper cover, containing a considerable quantity of coins, chiefly +silver, but with a few gold pieces intermixed. The Antiquary's eyes +glistened as he eagerly spread them out on the table. + +"Upon my word—Scotch, English, and foreign coins, of the fifteenth and +sixteenth centuries, and some of them rari—et rariores—etiam rarissimi! +Here is the bonnet-piece of James V., the unicorn of James II.,—ay, and +the gold festoon of Queen Mary, with her head and the Dauphin's. And +these were really found in the ruins of St. Ruth?" + +"Most assuredly—my own eyes witnessed it." + +"Well," replied Oldbuck; "but you must tell me the when—the where-the +how." + +"The when," answered Sir Arthur, "was at midnight the last full moon—the +where, as I have told you, in the ruins of St. Ruth's priory—the how, +was by a nocturnal experiment of Dousterswivel, accompanied only by +myself." + +"Indeed!" said Oldbuck; "and what means of discovery did you employ?" + +"Only a simple suffumigation," said the Baronet, "accompanied by +availing ourselves of the suitable planetary hour." + +"Simple suffumigation? simple nonsensification—planetary hour? planetary +fiddlestick! Sapiens dominabitur astris. My dear Sir Arthur, that fellow +has made a gull of you above ground and under ground, and he would have +made a gull of you in the air too, if he had been by when you was +craned up the devil's turnpike yonder at Halket-head—to be sure the +transformation would have been then peculiarly apropos." + +"Well, Mr. Oldbuck, I am obliged to you for your indifferent opinion of +my discernment; but I think you will give me credit for having seen what +I say I saw." + +"Certainly, Sir Arthur," said the Antiquary,—"to this extent at least, +that I know Sir Arthur Wardour will not say he saw anything but what he +thought he saw." + +"Well, then," replied the Baronet, "as there is a heaven above us, Mr. +Oldbuck, I saw, with my own eyes, these coins dug out of the chancel of +St. Ruth at midnight. And as to Dousterswivel, although the discovery +be owing to his science, yet, to tell the truth, I do not think he would +have had firmness of mind to have gone through with it if I had not been +beside him." + +"Ay! indeed?" said Oldbuck, in the tone used when one wishes to hear the +end of a story before making any comment. + +"Yes truly," continued Sir Arthur—"I assure you I was upon my guard—we +did hear some very uncommon sounds, that is certain, proceeding from +among the ruins." + +"Oh, you did?" said Oldbuck; "an accomplice hid among them, I suppose?" + +"Not a jot," said the Baronet;—"the sounds, though of a hideous and +preternatural character, rather resembled those of a man who sneezes +violently than any other—one deep groan I certainly heard besides; and +Dousterswivel assures me that he beheld the spirit Peolphan, the Great +Hunter of the North—(look for him in your Nicolaus Remigius, or Petrus +Thyracus, Mr. Oldbuck)—who mimicked the motion of snuff-taking and its +effects." + +"These indications, however singular as proceeding from such a +personage, seem to have been apropos to the matter," said the Antiquary; +"for you see the case, which includes these coins, has all the +appearance of being an old-fashioned Scottish snuff-mill. But you +persevered, in spite of the terrors of this sneezing goblin?" + +"Why, I think it probable that a man of inferior sense or consequence +might have given way; but I was jealous of an imposture, conscious +of the duty I owed to my family in maintaining my courage under every +contingency, and therefore I compelled Dousterswivel, by actual and +violent threats, to proceed with what he was about to do;—and, sir, the +proof of his skill and honesty is this parcel of gold and silver pieces, +out of which I beg you to select such coins or medals as will best suit +your collection." + +"Why, Sir Arthur, since you are so good, and on condition you will +permit me to mark the value according to Pinkerton's catalogue and +appreciation, against your account in my red book, I will with pleasure +select"— + +"Nay," said Sir Arthur Wardour, "I do not mean you should consider them +as anything but a gift of friendship and least of all would I stand by +the valuation of your friend Pinkerton, who has impugned the ancient +and trustworthy authorities upon which, as upon venerable and moss-grown +pillars, the credit of Scottish antiquities reposed." + +"Ay, ay," rejoined Oldbuck, "you mean, I suppose, Mair and Boece, the +Jachin and Boaz, not of history but of falsification and forgery. +And notwithstanding all you have told me, I look on your friend +Dousterswivel to be as apocryphal as any of them." + +"Why then, Mr. Oldbuck," said Sir Arthur, "not to awaken old disputes, +I suppose you think, that because I believe in the ancient history of +my country, I have neither eyes nor ears to ascertain what modern events +pass before me?" + +"Pardon me, Sir Arthur," rejoined the Antiquary; "but I consider all the +affectation of terror which this worthy gentleman, your coadjutor, chose +to play off, as being merely one part of his trick or mystery. And with +respect to the gold or silver coins, they are so mixed and mingled in +country and date, that I cannot suppose they could be any genuine +hoard, and rather suppose them to be, like the purses upon the table of +Hudibras's lawyer— + + —Money placed for show, + Like nest-eggs, to make clients lay, + And for his false opinions pay.— + +It is the trick of all professions, my dear Sir Arthur. Pray, may I ask +you how much this discovery cost you?" + +"About ten guineas." + +"And you have gained what is equivalent to twenty in actual bullion, and +what may be perhaps worth as much more to such fools as ourselves, +who are willing to pay for curiosity. This was allowing you a tempting +profit on the first hazard, I must needs admit. And what is the next +venture he proposes?" + +"An hundred and fifty pounds;—I have given him one-third part of the +money, and I thought it likely you might assist me with the balance." + +"I should think that this cannot be meant as a parting blow—is not of +weight and importance sufficient; he will probably let us win this hand +also, as sharpers manage a raw gamester.—Sir Arthur, I hope you believe +I would serve you?" + +"Certainly, Mr. Oldbuck; I think my confidence in you on these occasions +leaves no room to doubt that." + +"Well, then, allow me to speak to Dousterswivel. If the money can +be advanced usefully and advantageously for you, why, for old +neighbourhood's sake, you shall not want it but if, as I think, I can +recover the treasure for you without making such an advance, you will, I +presume, have no objection!" + +"Unquestionably, I can have none whatsoever." + +"Then where is Dousterswivel?" continued the Antiquary. + +"To tell you the truth, he is in my carriage below; but knowing your +prejudice against him"— + +"I thank Heaven, I am not prejudiced against any man, Sir Arthur: it is +systems, not individuals, that incur my reprobation." He rang the bell. +"Jenny, Sir Arthur and I offer our compliments to Mr. Dousterswivel, +the gentleman in Sir Arthur's carriage, and beg to have the pleasure of +speaking with him here." + +Jenny departed and delivered her message. It had been by no means a part +of the project of Dousterswivel to let Mr. Oldbuck into his supposed +mystery. He had relied upon Sir Arthur's obtaining the necessary +accommodation without any discussion as to the nature of the +application, and only waited below for the purpose of possessing himself +of the deposit as soon as possible, for he foresaw that his career was +drawing to a close. But when summoned to the presence of Sir Arthur and +Mr. Oldbuck, he resolved gallantly to put confidence in his powers of +impudence, of which, the reader may have observed, his natural share was +very liberal. + + + + +CHAPTER SECOND. + + —And this Doctor, + Your sooty smoky-bearded compeer, he + Will close you so much gold in a bolt's head, + And, on a turn, convey in the stead another + With sublimed mercury, that shall burst i' the heat, + And all fly out in fumo.— + The Alchemist. + +"How do you do, goot Mr. Oldenbuck? and I do hope your young gentleman, +Captain M'Intyre, is getting better again? Ach! it is a bat business +when young gentlemens will put lead balls into each other's body." + +"Lead adventures of all kinds are very precarious, Mr. Dousterswivel; +but I am happy to learn," continued the Antiquary, "from my friend Sir +Arthur, that you have taken up a better trade, and become a discoverer +of gold." + +"Ach, Mr. Oldenbuck, mine goot and honoured patron should not have told +a word about dat little matter; for, though I have all reliance—yes, +indeed, on goot Mr. Oldenbuck's prudence and discretion, and his great +friendship for Sir Arthur Wardour—yet, my heavens! it is an great +ponderous secret." + +"More ponderous than any of the metal we shall make by it, I fear," +answered Oldbuck. + +"Dat is just as you shall have de faith and de patience for de grand +experiment—If you join wid Sir Arthur, as he is put one hundred and +fifty—see, here is one fifty in your dirty Fairport bank-note—you put +one other hundred and fifty in de dirty notes, and you shall have de +pure gold and silver, I cannot tell how much." + +"Nor any one for you, I believe," said the Antiquary. "But, hark you, +Mr. Dousterswivel: Suppose, without troubling this same sneezing spirit +with any farther fumigations, we should go in a body, and having fair +day-light and our good consciences to befriend us, using no other +conjuring implements than good substantial pick-axes and shovels, fairly +trench the area of the chancel in the ruins of St. Ruth, from one end +to the other, and so ascertain the existence of this supposed treasure, +without putting ourselves to any farther expense—the ruins belong to +Sir Arthur himself, so there can be no objection—do you think we shall +succeed in this way of managing the matter?" + +"Bah!—you will not find one copper thimble—But Sir Arthur will do his +pleasure. I have showed him how it is possible—very possible—to have +de great sum of money for his occasions—I have showed him de real +experiment. If he likes not to believe, goot Mr. Oldenbuck, it is +nothing to Herman Dousterswivel—he only loses de money and de gold and +de silvers—dat is all." + +Sir Arthur Wardour cast an intimidated glance at Oldbuck who, especially +when present, held, notwithstanding their frequent difference of +opinion, no ordinary influence over his sentiments. In truth, the +Baronet felt, what he would not willingly have acknowledged, that his +genius stood rebuked before that of the Antiquary. He respected him as a +shrewd, penetrating, sarcastic character—feared his satire, and had some +confidence in the general soundness of his opinions. He therefore +looked at him as if desiring his leave before indulging his credulity. +Dousterswivel saw he was in danger of losing his dupe, unless he could +make some favourable impression on the adviser. + +"I know, my goot Mr. Oldenbuck, it is one vanity to speak to you about +de spirit and de goblin. But look at this curious horn;—I know, you know +de curiosity of all de countries, and how de great Oldenburgh horn, as +they keep still in the Museum at Copenhagen, was given to de Duke of +Oldenburgh by one female spirit of de wood. Now I could not put one +trick on you if I were willing—you who know all de curiosity so well—and +dere it is de horn full of coins;—if it had been a box or case, I would +have said nothing." + +"Being a horn," said Oldbuck, "does indeed strengthen your argument. It +was an implement of nature's fashioning, and therefore much used +among rude nations, although, it may be, the metaphorical horn is more +frequent in proportion to the progress of civilisation. And this present +horn," he continued, rubbing it upon his sleeve, "is a curious and +venerable relic, and no doubt was intended to prove a cornucopia, or +horn of plenty, to some one or other; but whether to the adept or his +patron, may be justly doubted." + +"Well, Mr. Oldenbuck, I find you still hard of belief—but let me assure +you, de monksh understood de magisterium." + +"Let us leave talking of the magisterium, Mr. Dousterswivel, and think a +little about the magistrate. Are you aware that this occupation of yours +is against the law of Scotland, and that both Sir Arthur and myself are +in the commission of the peace?" + +"Mine heaven! and what is dat to de purpose when I am doing you all de +goot I can?" + +"Why, you must know that when the legislature abolished the cruel laws +against witchcraft, they had no hope of destroying the superstitious +feelings of humanity on which such chimeras had been founded; and to +prevent those feelings from being tampered with by artful and designing +persons, it is enacted by the ninth of George the Second, chap. 5, that +whosoever shall pretend, by his alleged skill in any occult or crafty +science, to discover such goods as are lost, stolen or concealed, he +shall suffer punishment by pillory and imprisonment, as a common cheat +and impostor." + +"And is dat de laws?" asked Dousterswivel, with some agitation. + +"Thyself shall see the act," replied the Antiquary. + +"Den, gentlemens, I shall take my leave of you, dat is all; I do not +like to stand on your what you call pillory—it is very bad way to take +de air, I think; and I do not like your prisons no more, where one +cannot take de air at all." + +"If such be your taste, Mr. Dousterswivel," said the Antiquary, "I +advise you to stay where you are, for I cannot let you go, unless it be +in the society of a constable; and, moreover, I expect you will attend +us just now to the ruins of St. Ruth, and point out the place where you +propose to find this treasure." + +"Mine heaven, Mr. Oldenbuck! what usage is this to your old friend, when +I tell you so plain as I can speak, dat if you go now, you will not get +so much treasure as one poor shabby sixpence?" + +"I will try the experiment, however, and you shall be dealt with +according to its success,—always with Sir Arthur's permission." + +Sir Arthur, during this investigation, had looked extremely embarrassed, +and, to use a vulgar but expressive phrase, chop-fallen. Oldbuck's +obstinate disbelief led him strongly to suspect the imposture of +Dousterswivel, and the adept's mode of keeping his ground was less +resolute than he had expected. Yet he did not entirely give him up. + + "Mr. Oldbuck," said the Baronet, "you do Mr. Dousterswivel less than +justice. He has undertaken to make this discovery by the use of his art, +and by applying characters descriptive of the Intelligences presiding +over the planetary hour in which the experiment is to be made; and you +require him to proceed, under pain of punishment, without allowing him +the use of any of the preliminaries which he considers as the means of +procuring success." + +"I did not say that exactly—I only required him to be present when we +make the search, and not to leave us during the interval. I fear he +may have some intelligence with the Intelligences you talk of, and that +whatever may be now hidden at Saint Ruth may disappear before we get +there." + +"Well, gentlemens," said Dousterswivel, sullenly, "I will make no +objections to go along with you but I tell you beforehand, you shall not +find so much of anything as shall be worth your going twenty yard from +your own gate." + +"We will put that to a fair trial," said the Antiquary; and the +Baronet's equipage being ordered, Miss Wardour received an intimation +from her father, that she was to remain at Monkbarns until his return +from an airing. The young lady was somewhat at a loss to reconcile this +direction with the communication which she supposed must have passed +between Sir Arthur and the Antiquary; but she was compelled, for the +present, to remain in a most unpleasant state of suspense. + +The journey of the treasure-seekers was melancholy enough. Dousterswivel +maintained a sulky silence, brooding at once over disappointed +expectation and the risk of punishment; Sir Arthur, whose golden dreams +had been gradually fading away, surveyed, in gloomy prospect, the +impending difficulties of his situation; and Oldbuck, who perceived that +his having so far interfered in his neighbours affairs gave the Baronet +a right to expect some actual and efficient assistance, sadly pondered +to what extent it would be necessary to draw open the strings of his +purse. Thus each being wrapped in his own unpleasant ruminations, there +was hardly a word said on either side, until they reached the Four +Horse-shoes, by which sign the little inn was distinguished. They +procured at this place the necessary assistance and implements for +digging, and, while they were busy about these preparations, were +suddenly joined by the old beggar, Edie Ochiltree. + +"The Lord bless your honour," began the Blue-Gown, with the genuine +mendicant whine, "and long life to you!—weel pleased am I to hear that +young Captain M'Intyre is like to be on his legs again sune—Think on +your poor bedesman the day." + +"Aha, old true-penny!" replied the Antiquary. "Why, thou hast never come +to Monkbarns since thy perils by rock and flood—here's something for +thee to buy snuff,"—and, fumbling for his purse, he pulled out at the +same time the horn which enclosed the coins. + +"Ay, and there's something to pit it in," said the mendicant, eyeing the +ram's horn—"that loom's an auld acquaintance o' mine. I could take my +aith to that sneeshing-mull amang a thousand—I carried it for mony a +year, till I niffered it for this tin ane wi' auld George Glen, the +dammer and sinker, when he took a fancy till't doun at Glen-Withershins +yonder." + +"Ay! indeed?" said Oldbuck;—"so you exchanged it with a miner? but +I presume you never saw it so well filled before"—and opening it, he +showed the coins. + +"Troth, ye may swear that, Monkbarns: when it was mine it neer had abune +the like o' saxpenny worth o' black rappee in't at ance. But I reckon +ye'll be gaun to mak an antic o't, as ye hae dune wi' mony an orra thing +besides. Od, I wish anybody wad mak an antic o' me; but mony ane will +find worth in rousted bits o' capper and horn and airn, that care unco +little about an auld carle o' their ain country and kind." + +"You may now guess," said Oldbuck, turning to Sir Arthur, "to whose good +offices you were indebted the other night. To trace this cornucopia of +yours to a miner, is bringing it pretty near a friend of ours—I hope we +shall be as successful this morning, without paying for it." + +"And whare is your honours gaun the day," said the mendicant, "wi' a' +your picks and shules?—Od, this will be some o' your tricks, Monkbarns: +ye'll be for whirling some o' the auld monks down by yonder out o' their +graves afore they hear the last call—but, wi' your leave, I'se follow ye +at ony rate, and see what ye mak o't." + +The party soon arrived at the ruins of the priory, and, having gained +the chancel, stood still to consider what course they were to pursue +next. The Antiquary, meantime, addressed the adept. + +"Pray, Mr. Dousterswivel, what is your advice in this matter? Shall we +have most likelihood of success if we dig from east to west, or from +west to east?—or will you assist us with your triangular vial of +May-dew, or with your divining-rod of witches-hazel?—or will you have +the goodness to supply us with a few thumping blustering terms of art, +which, if they fail in our present service, may at least be useful +to those who have not the happiness to be bachelors, to still their +brawling children withal?" + +"Mr. Oldenbuck," said Dousterswivel, doggedly, "I have told you already +that you will make no good work at all, and I will find some way of mine +own to thank you for your civilities to me—yes, indeed." + +"If your honours are thinking of tirling the floor," said old Edie, "and +wad but take a puir body's advice, I would begin below that muckle stane +that has the man there streekit out upon his back in the midst o't." + +"I have some reason for thinking favourably of that plan myself," said +the Baronet. + +"And I have nothing to say against it," said Oldbuck: "it was not +unusual to hide treasure in the tombs of the deceased—many instances +might be quoted of that from Bartholinus and others." + +The tombstone, the same beneath which the coins had been found by Sir +Arthur and the German, was once more forced aside, and the earth gave +easy way to the spade. + +"It's travell'd earth that," said Edie, "it howks gae eithly—I ken it +weel, for ance I wrought a simmer wi' auld Will Winnet, the bedral, and +howkit mair graves than ane in my day; but I left him in winter, for +it was unco cald wark; and then it cam a green Yule, and the folk died +thick and fast—for ye ken a green Yule makes a fat kirkyard; and I never +dowed to bide a hard turn o' wark in my life—sae aff I gaed, and left +Will to delve his last dwellings by himsell for Edie." + +The diggers were now so far advanced in their labours as to discover +that the sides of the grave which they were clearing out had been +originally secured by four walls of freestone, forming a parallelogram, +for the reception, probably, of the coffin. + +"It is worth while proceeding in our labours," said the Antiquary to Sir +Arthur, "were it but for curiosity's sake. I wonder on whose sepulchre +they have bestowed such uncommon pains." + +"The arms on the shield," said Sir Arthur, and sighed as he spoke it, +"are the same with those on Misticot's tower, supposed to have been +built by Malcolm the usurper. No man knew where he was buried, and there +is an old prophecy in our family, that bodes us no good when his grave +shall be discovered." + +"I wot," said the beggar, "I have often heard that when I was a bairn— + + If Malcolm the Misticot's grave were fun', + The lands of Knockwinnock were lost and won." + +Oldbuck, with his spectacles on his nose, had already knelt down on the +monument, and was tracing, partly with his eye, partly with his finger, +the mouldered devices upon the effigy of the deceased warrior. "It is +the Knockwinnock arms, sure enough," he exclaimed, "quarterly with the +coat of Wardour." + +"Richard, called the red-handed Wardour, married Sybil Knockwinnock, +the heiress of the Saxon family, and by that alliance," said Sir Arthur, +"brought the castle and estate into the name of Wardour, in the year of +God 1150." + +"Very true, Sir Arthur; and here is the baton-sinister, the mark of +illegitimacy, extended diagonally through both coats upon the shield. +Where can our eyes have been, that they did not see this curious +monument before?" + +"Na, whare was the through-stane, that it didna come before our een till +e'enow?" said Ochiltree; "for I hae ken'd this auld kirk, man and bairn, +for saxty lang years, and I neer noticed it afore; and it's nae sic mote +neither, but what ane might see it in their parritch." + +All were now induced to tax their memory as to the former state of the +ruins in that corner of the chancel, and all agreed in recollecting a +considerable pile of rubbish which must have been removed and spread +abroad in order to make the tomb visible. Sir Arthur might, indeed, have +remembered seeing the monument on the former occasion, but his mind was +too much agitated to attend to the circumstance as a novelty. + +While the assistants were engaged in these recollections and +discussions, the workmen proceeded with their labour. They had already +dug to the depth of nearly five feet, and as the flinging out the soil +became more and more difficult, they began at length to tire of the job. + +"We're down to the till now," said one of them, "and the neer a coffin +or onything else is here—some cunninger chiel's been afore us, I +reckon;"— and the labourer scrambled out of the grave. + +"Hout, lad," said Edie, getting down in his room—"let me try my hand for +an auld bedral;—ye're gude seekers, but ill finders." + +So soon as he got into the grave, he struck his pike-staff forcibly +down; it encountered resistance in its descent, and the beggar +exclaimed, like a Scotch schoolboy when he finds anything, "Nae halvers +and quarters— hale o' mine ain and 'nane o' my neighbour's." + +Everybody, from the dejected Baronet to the sullen adept, now caught the +spirit of curiosity, crowded round the grave, and would have jumped into +it, could its space have contained them. The labourers, who had begun to +flag in their monotonous and apparently hopeless task, now resumed their +tools, and plied them with all the ardour of expectation. Their shovels +soon grated upon a hard wooden surface, which, as the earth was cleared +away, assumed the distinct form of a chest, but greatly smaller than +that of a coffin. Now all hands were at work to heave it out of the +grave, and all voices, as it was raised, proclaimed its weight and +augured its value. They were not mistaken. + +When the chest or box was placed on the surface, and the lid forced up +by a pickaxe, there was displayed first a coarse canvas cover, then +a quantity of oakum, and beneath that a number of ingots of silver. A +general exclamation hailed a discovery so surprising and unexpected. The +Baronet threw his hands and eyes up to heaven, with the silent rapture +of one who is delivered from inexpressible distress of mind. Oldbuck, +almost unable to credit his eyes, lifted one piece of silver after +another. There was neither inscription nor stamp upon them, excepting +one, which seemed to be Spanish. He could have no doubt of the purity +and great value of the treasure before him. Still, however, removing +piece by piece, he examined row by row, expecting to discover that the +lower layers were of inferior value; but he could perceive no difference +in this respect, and found himself compelled to admit, that Sir Arthur +had possessed himself of bullion to the value, perhaps of a thousand +pounds sterling. Sir Arthur now promised the assistants a handsome +recompense for their trouble, and began to busy himself about the mode +of conveying this rich windfall to the Castle of Knockwinnock, when the +adept, recovering from his surprise, which had equalled that exhibited +by any other individual of the party, twitched his sleeve, and having +offered his humble congratulations, turned next to Oldbuck with an air +of triumph. + +"I did tell you, my goot friend, Mr. Oldenbuck, dat I was to seek +opportunity to thank you for your civility; now do you not think I have +found out vary goot way to return thank?" + +"Why, Mr. Dousterswivel, do you pretend to have had any hand in our good +success?—you forget you refused us all aid of your science, man; and you +are here without your weapons that should have fought the battle which +you pretend to have gained in our behalf: you have used neither charm, +lamen, sigil, talisman, spell, crystal, pentacle, magic mirror, nor +geomantic figure. Where be your periapts, and your abracadabras man? +your Mayfern, your vervain, + + Your toad, your crow, your dragon, and your panther, + Your sun, your moon, your firmament, your adrop, + Your Lato, Azoch, Zernich, Chibrit, Heautarit, + With all your broths, your menstrues, your materials, + Would burst a man to name?— + +Ah! rare Ben Jonson! long peace to thy ashes for a scourge of the quacks +of thy day!—who expected to see them revive in our own?" + +The answer of the adept to the Antiquary's tirade we must defer to our +next CHAPTER. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRD. + + Clause.—You now shall know the king o' the beggars' treasure:— + Yes—ere to-morrow you shall find your harbour + Here,—fail me not, for if I live I'll fit you. + The Beggar's Bush. + +The German, determined, it would seem, to assert the vantage-ground +on which the discovery had placed him, replied with great pomp and +stateliness to the attack of the Antiquary. + +"Maister Oldenbuck, all dis may be very witty and comedy, but I have +nothing to say—nothing at all—to people dat will not believe deir own +eye-sights. It is vary true dat I ave not any of de things of de art, +and it makes de more wonder what I has done dis day. But I would ask of +you, mine honoured and goot and generous patron, to put your hand into +your right-hand waistcoat pocket, and show me what you shall find dere." + +Sir Arthur obeyed his direction, and pulled out the small plate of +silver which he had used under the adept's auspices upon the former +occasion. "It is very true," said Sir Arthur, looking gravely at the +Antiquary; "this is the graduated and calculated sigil by which Mr. +Dousterswivel and I regulated our first discovery." + +"Pshaw! pshaw! my dear friend," said Oldbuck, "you are too wise to +believe in the influence of a trumpery crown-piece, beat out thin, and +a parcel of scratches upon it. I tell thee, Sir Arthur, that if +Dousterswivel had known where to get this treasure himself, you would +not have been lord of the least share of it." + +"In troth, please your honour," said Edie, who put in his word on all +occasions, "I think, since Mr. Dunkerswivel has had sae muckle merit +in discovering a' the gear, the least ye can do is to gie him that o't +that's left behind for his labour; for doubtless he that kend where to +find sae muckle will hae nae difficulty to find mair." + +Dousterswivel's brow grew very dark at this proposal of leaving him to +his "ain purchase," as Ochiltree expressed it; but the beggar, drawing +him aside, whispered a word or two in his ear, to which he seemed to +give serious attention, + +Meanwhile Sir Arthur, his heart warm with his good fortune, said aloud, +"Never mind our friend Monkbarns, Mr. Dousterswivel, but come to the +Castle to-morrow, and I'll convince you that I am not ungrateful for the +hints you have given me about this matter—and the fifty Fairport dirty +notes, as you call them, are heartily at your service. Come, my lads, +get the cover of this precious chest fastened up again." + +But the cover had in the confusion fallen aside among the rubbish, or +the loose earth which had been removed from the grave—in short, it was +not to be seen. + +"Never mind, my good lads, tie the tarpaulin over it, and get it away to +the carriage.—Monkbarns, will you walk? I must go back your way to take +up Miss Wardour." + +"And, I hope, to take up your dinner also, Sir Arthur, and drink a glass +of wine for joy of our happy adventure. Besides, you should write about +the business to the Exchequer, in case of any interference on the part +of the Crown. As you are lord of the manor, it will be easy to get +a deed of gift, should they make any claim. We must talk about it, +though." + +"And I particularly recommend silence to all who are present," said Sir +Arthur, looking round. All bowed and professed themselves dumb. + +"Why, as to that," said Monkbarns, "recommending secrecy where a dozen +of people are acquainted with the circumstance to be concealed, is only +putting the truth in masquerade, for the story will be circulated under +twenty different shapes. But never mind—we will state the true one to +the Barons, and that is all that is necessary." + +"I incline to send off an express to-night," said the Baronet. + +"I can recommend your honour to a sure hand," said Ochiltree; "little +Davie Mailsetter, and the butcher's reisting powny." + +"We will talk over the matter as we go to Monkbarns," said Sir Arthur. +"My lads" (to the work-people), "come with me to the Four Horse-shoes, +that I may take down all your names.—Dousterswivel, I won't ask you to +go down to Monkbarns, as the laird and you differ so widely in opinion; +but do not fail to come to see me to-morrow." + +Dousterswivel growled out an answer, in which the words, "duty,"—"mine +honoured patron,"—and "wait upon Sir Arthurs,"—were alone +distinguishable; and after the Baronet and his friend had left the +ruins, followed by the servants and workmen, who, in hope of reward and +whisky, joyfully attended their leader, the adept remained in a brown +study by the side of the open grave. + +"Who was it as could have thought this?" he ejaculated unconsciously. +"Mine heiligkeit! I have heard of such things, and often spoken of such +things—but, sapperment! I never, thought to see them! And if I had gone +but two or dree feet deeper down in the earth—mein himmel! it had been +all mine own—so much more as I have been muddling about to get from this +fool's man." + +Here the German ceased his soliloquy, for, raising his eyes, he +encountered those of Edie Ochiltree, who had not followed the rest +of the company, but, resting as usual on his pike-staff, had planted +himself on the other side of the grave. The features of the old man, +naturally shrewd and expressive almost to an appearance of knavery, +seemed in this instance so keenly knowing, that even the assurance +of Dousterswivel, though a professed adventurer, sunk beneath their +glances. But he saw the necessity of an e'claircissement, and, rallying +his spirits, instantly began to sound the mendicant on the occurrences +of the day. "Goot Maister Edies Ochiltrees"— + +"Edie Ochiltree, nae maister—your puir bedesman and the king's," +answered the Blue-Gown. + +"Awell den, goot Edie, what do you think of all dis?" + +"I was just thinking it was very kind (for I darena say very simple) o' +your honour to gie thae twa rich gentles, wha hae lands and lairdships, +and siller without end, this grand pose o' silver and treasure (three +times tried in the fire, as the Scripture expresses it), that might hae +made yoursell and ony twa or three honest bodies beside, as happy and +content as the day was lang." + +"Indeed, Edie, mine honest friends, dat is very true; only I did not +know, dat is, I was not sure, where to find the gelt myself." + +"What! was it not by your honours advice and counsel that Monkbarns and +the Knight of Knockwinnock came here then?" + +"Aha—yes; but it was by another circumstance. I did not know dat dey +would have found de treasure, mine friend; though I did guess, by such a +tintamarre, and cough, and sneeze, and groan, among de spirit one other +night here, dat there might be treasure and bullion hereabout. Ach, mein +himmel! the spirit will hone and groan over his gelt, as if he were +a Dutch Burgomaster counting his dollars after a great dinner at the +Stadthaus." + +"And do you really believe the like o' that, Mr. Dusterdeevil!—a +skeelfu' man like you—hout fie!" + +"Mein friend," answered the adept, foreed by circumstances to speak +something nearer the truth than he generally used to do, "I believed it +no more than you and no man at all, till I did hear them hone and moan +and groan myself on de oder night, and till I did this day see de cause, +which was an great chest all full of de pure silver from Mexico—and what +would you ave nae think den?" + +"And what wad ye gie to ony ane," said Edie, "that wad help ye to sic +another kistfu' o' silver!" + +"Give?—mein himmel!—one great big quarter of it." + +"Now if the secret were mine," said the mendicant, "I wad stand out for +a half; for you see, though I am but a puir ragged body, and couldna +carry silver or gowd to sell for fear o' being taen up, yet I could find +mony folk would pass it awa for me at unco muckle easier profit than +ye're thinking on." + +"Ach, himmel!—Mein goot friend, what was it I said?—I did mean to say +you should have de tree quarter for your half, and de one quarter to be +my fair half." + +"No, no, Mr. Dusterdeevil, we will divide equally what we find, like +brother and brother. Now, look at this board that I just flung into the +dark aisle out o' the way, while Monkbarns was glowering ower a' the +silver yonder. He's a sharp chiel Monkbarns—I was glad to keep the like +o' this out o' his sight. Ye'll maybe can read the character better than +me—I am nae that book learned, at least I'm no that muckle in practice." + +With this modest declaration of ignorance, Ochiltree brought forth from +behind a pillar the cover of the box or chest of treasure, which, when +forced from its hinges, had been carelessly flung aside during the +ardour of curiosity to ascertain the contents which it concealed, and +had been afterwards, as it seems, secreted by the mendicant. There was a +word and a number upon the plank, and the beggar made them more distinct +by spitting upon his ragged blue handkerchief, and rubbing off the clay +by which the inscription was obscured. It was in the ordinary black +letter. + +"Can ye mak ought o't?" said Edie to the adept. + +"S," said the philosopher, like a child getting his lesson in the +primer—"S, T, A, R, C, H,—Starch!—dat is what de woman-washers put into +de neckerchers, and de shirt collar." + +"Search!" echoed Ochiltree; "na, na, Mr. Dusterdeevil, ye are mair of a +conjuror than a clerk—it's search, man, search—See, there's the Ye clear +and distinct." + +"Aha! I see it now—it is search—number one. Mein himmel! then there must +be a number two, mein goot friend: for search is what you call to seek +and dig, and this is but number one! Mine wort, there is one great big +prize in de wheel for us, goot Maister Ochiltree." + +"Aweel, it may be sae; but we canna howk fort enow—we hae nae shules, +for they hae taen them a' awa—and it's like some o' them will be sent +back to fling the earth into the hole, and mak a' things trig again. But +an ye'll sit down wi' me a while in the wood, I'se satisfy your honour +that ye hae just lighted on the only man in the country that could hae +tauld about Malcolm Misticot and his hidden treasure—But first we'll rub +out the letters on this board, for fear it tell tales." + +And, by the assistance of his knife, the beggar erased and defaced the +characters so as to make them quite unintelligible, and then daubed the +board with clay so as to obliterate all traces of the erasure. + +Dousterswivel stared at him in ambiguous silence. There was an +intelligence and alacrity about all the old man's movements, which +indicated a person that could not be easily overreached, and yet (for +even rogues acknowledge in some degree the spirit of precedence) our +adept felt the disgrace of playing a secondary part, and dividing +winnings with so mean an associate. His appetite for gain, however, was +sufficiently sharp to overpower his offended pride, and though far more +an impostor than a dupe, he was not without a certain degree of personal +faith even in the gross superstitions by means of which he imposed upon +others. Still, being accustomed to act as a leader on such occasions, +he felt humiliated at feeling himself in the situation of a vulture +marshalled to his prey by a carrion-crow.—"Let me, however, hear this +story to an end," thought Dousterswivel, "and it will be hard if I do +not make mine account in it better as Maister Edie Ochiltrees makes +proposes." + +The adept, thus transformed into a pupil from a teacher of the mystic +art, followed Ochiltree in passive acquiescence to the Prior's Oak—a +spot, as the reader may remember, at a short distance from the +ruins, where the German sat down, and silence waited the old man's +communication. + +"Maister Dustandsnivel," said the narrator, "it's an unco while since +I heard this business treated anent;—for the lairds of Knockwinnock, +neither Sir Arthur, nor his father, nor his grandfather—and I mind a wee +bit about them a'—liked to hear it spoken about; nor they dinna like +it yet—But nae matter; ye may be sure it was clattered about in the +kitchen, like onything else in a great house, though it were forbidden +in the ha'—and sae I hae heard the circumstance rehearsed by auld +servants in the family; and in thir present days, when things o' that +auld-warld sort arena keepit in mind round winter fire-sides as they +used to be, I question if there's onybody in the country can tell the +tale but mysell— aye out-taken the laird though, for there's a parchment +book about it, as I have heard, in the charter-room at Knockwinnock +Castle." + +"Well, all dat is vary well—but get you on with your stories, mine goot +friend," said Dousterswivel. + +"Aweel, ye see," continued the mendicant, "this was a job in the auld +times o' rugging and riving through the hale country, when it was ilka +ane for himsell, and God for us a'—when nae man wanted property if he +had strength to take it, or had it langer than he had power to keep it. +It was just he ower her, and she ower him, whichever could win upmost, +a' through the east country here, and nae doubt through the rest o' +Scotland in the self and same manner. + +"Sae in these days Sir Richard Wardour came into the land, and that was +the first o' the name ever was in this country. There's been mony o' +them sin' syne; and the maist, like him they ca'd Hell-in-Harness, and +the rest o' them, are sleeping down in yon ruins. They were a proud +dour set o' men, but unco brave, and aye stood up for the weel o' the +country, God sain them a'—there's no muckle popery in that wish. They +ca'd them the Norman Wardours, though they cam frae the south to this +country. So this Sir Richard, that they ca'd Red-hand, drew up wi' the +auld Knockwinnock o' that day—for then they were Knockwinnocks of that +Ilk—and wad fain marry his only daughter, that was to have the castle +and the land. Laith, laith was the lass—(Sybil Knockwinnock they ca'd +her that tauld me the tale)—laith, laith was she to gie into the match, +for she had fa'en a wee ower thick wi' a cousin o' her ain that her +father had some ill-will to; and sae it was, that after she had been +married to Sir Richard jimp four months—for marry him she maun, it's +like—ye'll no hinder her gieing them a present o' a bonny knave bairn. +Then there was siccan a ca'-thro', as the like was never seen; and she's +be burnt, and he's be slain, was the best words o' their mouths. But it +was a' sowdered up again some gait, and the bairn was sent awa, and bred +up near the Highlands, and grew up to be a fine wanle fallow, like mony +ane that comes o' the wrang side o' the blanket; and Sir Richard wi' the +Red-hand, he had a fair offspring o'his ain, and a was lound and +quiet till his head was laid in the ground. But then down came Malcolm +Misticot—(Sir Arthur says it should be Misbegot, but they aye ca'd +him Misticot that spoke o't lang syne)—down cam this Malcolm, the +love-begot, frae Glen-isla, wi' a string o' lang-legged Highlanders at +his heels, that's aye ready for onybody's mischief, and he threeps the +castle and lands are his ain as his mother's eldest son, and turns +a' the Wardours out to the hill. There was a sort of fighting and +blude-spilling about it, for the gentles took different sides; but +Malcolm had the uppermost for a lang time, and keepit the Castle of +Knockwinnock, and strengthened it, and built that muckle tower that they +ca' Misticot's tower to this day." + +"Mine goot friend, old Mr. Edie Ochiltree." interrupted the German, +"this is all as one like de long histories of a baron of sixteen +quarters in mine countries; but I would as rather hear of de silver and +gold." + +"Why, ye see," continued the mendicant, "this Malcolm was weel helped +by an uncle, a brother o' his father's, that was Prior o' St. Ruth here; +and muckle treasure they gathered between them, to secure the succession +of their house in the lands of Knockwinnock. Folk said that the monks in +thae days had the art of multiplying metals—at ony rate, they were +very rich. At last it came to this, that the young Wardour, that was +Red-hand's son, challenged Misticot to fight with him in the lists +as they ca'd them—that's no lists or tailor's runds and selvedges +o' claith, but a palin'-thing they set up for them to fight in like +game-cocks. Aweel, Misticot was beaten, and at his brother's mercy—but +he wadna touch his life, for the blood of Knockwinnock that was in baith +their veins: so Malcolm was compelled to turn a monk, and he died soon +after in the priory, of pure despite and vexation. Naebody ever kenn'd +whare his uncle the prior earded him, or what he did wi' his gowd and +silver, for he stood on the right o' halie kirk, and wad gie nae account +to onybody. But the prophecy gat abroad in the country, that whenever +Misticot's grave was fund out, the estate of Knockwinnock should be lost +and won." + +"Ach! mine goot old friend, Maister Edie, and dat is not so very +unlikely, if Sir Arthurs will quarrel wit his goot friends to please Mr. +Oldenbuck.—And so you do tink dat dis golds and silvers belonged to goot +Mr. Malcolm Mishdigoat?" + +"Troth do I, Mr. Dousterdeevil." + +"And you do believe dat dere is more of dat sorts behind?" + +"By my certie do I—How can it be otherwise?—Search—No. I—that is as +muckle as to say, search and ye'll find number twa. Besides, yon kist +is only silver, and I aye heard that' Misticot's pose had muckle yellow +gowd in't." + +"Den, mine goot friends," said the adept, jumping up hastily, "why do we +not set about our little job directly?" + +"For twa gude reasons," answered the beggar, who quietly kept his +sitting posture;—"first, because, as I said before, we have naething +to dig wi', for they hae taen awa the picks and shules; and, secondly, +because there will be a wheen idle gowks coming to glower at the hole as +lang as it is daylight, and maybe the laird may send somebody to fill it +up—and ony way we wad be catched. But if you will meet me on this place +at twal o'clock wi' a dark lantern, I'll hae tools ready, and we'll gang +quietly about our job our twa sells, and naebody the wiser for't." + +"Be—be—but, mine goot friend," said Dousterswivel, from whose +recollection his former nocturnal adventure was not to be altogether +erased, even by the splendid hopes which Edie's narrative held forth, +"it is not so goot or so safe, to be about goot Maister Mishdigoat's +grabe at dat time of night—you have forgot how I told you de spirits did +hone and mone dere. I do assure you, dere is disturbance dere." + +"If ye're afraid of ghaists," answered the mendicant, coolly, "I'll do +the job mysell, and bring your share o' the siller to ony place you like +to appoint." + +"No—no—mine excellent old Mr. Edie,—too much trouble for you—I will not +have dat—I will come myself—and it will be bettermost; for, mine old +friend, it was I, Herman Dousterswivel, discovered Maister Mishdigoat's +grave when I was looking for a place as to put away some little trumpery +coins, just to play one little trick on my dear friend Sir Arthur, for a +little sport and pleasures. Yes, I did take some what you call rubbish, +and did discover Maister Mishdigoat's own monumentsh— It's like dat he +meant I should be his heirs—so it would not be civility in me not to +come mineself for mine inheritance." + +"At twal o'clock, then," said the mendicant, "we meet under this tree. +I'll watch for a while, and see that naebody meddles wi' the grave—it's +only saying the laird's forbade it—then get my bit supper frae Ringan +the poinder up by, and leave to sleep in his barn; and I'll slip out at +night, and neer be mist." + +"Do so, mine goot Maister Edie, and I will meet you here on this very +place, though all de spirits should moan and sneeze deir very brains +out." + +So saying he shook hands with the old man, and with this mutual pledge +of fidelity to their appointment, they separated for the present. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTH. + + —See thou shake the bags + Of hoarding abbots; angels imprisoned + Set thou at liberty— + Bell, book, and candle, shall not drive me back, + If gold and silver beckon to come on. + King John. + +The night set in stormy, with wind and occasional showers of rain. "Eh, +sirs," said the old mendicant, as he took his place on the sheltered +side of the large oak-tree to wait for his associate—"Eh, sirs, but +human nature's a wilful and wilyard thing!—Is it not an unco lucre o' +gain wad bring this Dousterdivel out in a blast o' wind like this, at +twal o'clock at night, to thir wild gousty wa's?—and amna I a bigger +fule than himsell to bide here waiting for him?" + +Having made these sage reflections, he wrapped himself close in his +cloak, and fixed his eye on the moon as she waded amid the stormy and +dusky clouds, which the wind from time to time drove across her surface. +The melancholy and uncertain gleams that she shot from between the +passing shadows fell full upon the rifted arches and shafted windows of +the old building, which were thus for an instant made distinctly visible +in their ruinous state, and anon became again a dark, undistinguished, +and shadowy mass. The little lake had its share of these transient beams +of light, and showed its waters broken, whitened, and agitated under +the passing storm, which, when the clouds swept over the moon, were only +distinguished by their sullen and murmuring plash against the beach. The +wooded glen repeated, to every successive gust that hurried through its +narrow trough, the deep and various groan with which the trees replied +to the whirlwind, and the sound sunk again, as the blast passed away, +into a faint and passing murmur, resembling the sighs of an exhausted +criminal after the first pangs of his torture are over. In these sounds, +superstition might have found ample gratification for that State of +excited terror which she fears and yet loves. But such feeling is made +no part of Ochiltree's composition. His mind wandered back to the scenes +of his youth. + +"I have kept guard on the outposts baith in Germany and America," he +said to himself, "in mony a waur night than this, and when I ken'd there +was maybe a dozen o' their riflemen in the thicket before me. But I was +aye gleg at my duty—naebody ever catched Edie sleeping." + +As he muttered thus to himself, he instinctively shouldered his trusty +pike-staff, assumed the port of a sentinel on duty, and, as a step +advanced towards the tree, called, with a tone assorting better with his +military reminiscences than his present state—"Stand! who goes there?" + +"De devil, goot Edie," answered Dousterswivel, "why does you speak +so loud as a baarenhauter, or what you call a factionary—I mean a +sentinel?" + +"Just because I thought I was a sentinel at that moment," answered the +mendicant. "Here's an awsome night! Hae ye brought the lantern and a +pock for the siller?" + +"Ay-ay, mine goot friend," said the German, "here it is—my pair of what +you call saddlebag; one side will be for you, one side for me;—I will +put dem on my horse to save you de trouble, as you are old man." + +"Have you a horse here, then?" asked Edie Ochiltree. + +"O yes, mine friend—tied yonder by de stile," responded the adept. + +"Weel, I hae just ae word to the bargain—there sall nane o' my gear gang +on your beast's back." + +"What was it as you would be afraid of?" said the foreigner. + +"Only of losing sight of horse, man, and money," again replied the +gaberlunzie. + +"Does you know dat you make one gentlemans out to be one great rogue?" + +"Mony gentlemen," replied Ochiltree, "can make that out for themselves— +But what's the sense of quarrelling?—If ye want to gang on, gang on—if +no—I'll gae back to the gude ait-straw in Ringan Aikwood's barn that I +left wi' right ill-will e'now, and I'll pit back the pick and shule whar +I got them." + +Dousterswivel deliberated a moment, whether, by suffering Edie to +depart, he might not secure the whole of the expected wealth for his +own exclusive use. But the want of digging implements, the uncertainty +whether, if he had them, he could clear out the grave to a sufficient +depth without assistance, and, above all, the reluctance which he felt, +owing to the experience of the former night, to venture alone on +the terrors of Misticot's grave, satisfied him the attempt would be +hazardous. Endeavouring, therefore, to assume his usual cajoling tone, +though internally incensed, he begged "his goot friend Maister Edie +Ochiltrees would lead the way, and assured him of his acquiescence in +all such an excellent friend could propose." + +"Aweel, aweel, then," said Edie, "tak gude care o' your feet amang the +lang grass and the loose stones. I wish we may get the light keepit +in neist, wi' this fearsome wind—but there's a blink o' moonlight at +times." + +Thus saying, old Edie, closely accompanied by the adept, led the way +towards the ruins, but presently made a full halt in front of them. + +"Ye're a learned man, Mr. Dousterdeevil, and ken muckle o' the +marvellous works o' nature—Now, will ye tell me ae thing?—D'ye believe +in ghaists and spirits that walk the earth?—d'ye believe in them, ay or +no?" + +"Now, goot Mr. Edie," whispered Dousterswivel, in an expostulatory tone +of voice, "is this a times or a places for such a questions?" + +"Indeed is it, baith the tane and the t'other, Mr. Dustanshovel; for I +maun fairly tell ye, there's reports that auld Misticot walks. Now this +wad be an uncanny night to meet him in, and wha kens if he wad be ower +weel pleased wi' our purpose of visiting his pose?" + +"Alle guten Geister"—muttered the adept, the rest of the conjuration +being lost in a tremulous warble of his voice,—"I do desires you not to +speak so, Mr. Edie; for, from all I heard dat one other night, I do much +believes"— + +"Now I," said Ochiltree, entering the chancel, and flinging abroad his +arm with an air of defiance, "I wadna gie the crack o' my thumb for him +were he to appear at this moment: he's but a disembodied spirit, as we +are embodied anes." + +"For the lofe of heavens," said Dousterswivel, "say nothing at all +neither about somebodies or nobodies!" + +"Aweel," said the beggar (expanding the shade of the lantern), "here's +the stane, and, spirit or no spirit, I'se be a wee bit deeper in the +grave;" and he jumped into the place from which the precious chest had +that morning been removed. After striking a few strokes, he tired, or +affected to tire, and said to his companion, "I'm auld and failed now, +and canna keep at it—time about's fair play, neighbour; ye maun get in +and tak the shule a bit, and shule out the loose earth, and then I'll +tak turn about wi' you." + +Dousterswivel accordingly took the place which the beggar had evacuated, +and toiled with all the zeal that awakened avarice, mingled with the +anxious wish to finish the undertaking and leave the place as soon +as possible, could inspire in a mind at once greedy, suspicious, and +timorous. + +Edie, standing much at his ease by the side of the hole, contented +himself with exhorting his associate to labour hard. "My certie! few +ever wrought for siccan a day's wage; an it be but—say the tenth part o' +the size o' the kist, No. I., it will double its value, being filled wi' +gowd instead of silver. Od, ye work as if ye had been bred to pick and +shule— ye could win your round half-crown ilka day. Tak care o' your +taes wi' that stane!" giving a kick to a large one which the adept had +heaved out with difficulty, and which Edie pushed back again to the +great annoyance of his associate's shins. + +Thus exhorted by the mendicant, Dousterswivel struggled and laboured +among the stones and stiff clay, toiling like a horse, and internally +blaspheming in German. When such an unhallowed syllable escaped his +lips, Edie changed his battery upon him. + +"O dinna swear! dinna swear! Wha kens whals listening!—Eh! gude guide +us, what's yon!—Hout, it's just a branch of ivy flightering awa frae the +wa'; when the moon was in, it lookit unco like a dead man's arm wi' a +taper in't—I thought it was Misticot himsell. But never mind, work you +away—fling the earth weel up by out o' the gate—Od, if ye're no as clean +a worker at a grave as Win Winnet himsell! What gars ye stop now?— ye're +just at the very bit for a chance." + +"Stop!" said the German, in a tone of anger and disappointment, "why, +I am down at de rocks dat de cursed ruins (God forgife me!) is founded +upon." + +"Weel," said the beggar, "that's the likeliest bit of ony. It will be +but a muckle through-stane laid doun to kiver the gowd—tak the pick +till't, and pit mair strength, man—ae gude down-right devvel will split +it, I'se warrant ye—Ay, that will do Od, he comes on wi' Wallace's +straiks!" + +In fact, the adept, moved by Edie's exhortations, fetched two or three +desperate blows, and succeeded in breaking, not indeed that against +which he struck, which, as he had already conjectured, was the solid +rock, but the implement which he wielded, jarring at the same time his +arms up to the shoulder-blades. + +"Hurra, boys!—there goes Ringan's pick-axe!" cried Edie "it's a shame o' +the Fairport folk to sell siccan frail gear. Try the shule—at it again, +Mr. Dusterdeevil." + +The adept, without reply, scrambled out of the pit, which was now about +six feet deep, and addressed his associate in a voice that trembled with +anger. "Does you know, Mr. Edies Ochiltrees, who it is you put off your +gibes and your jests upon?" + +"Brawly, Mr. Dusterdeevil—brawly do I ken ye, and has done mony a day; +but there's nae jesting in the case, for I am wearying to see ae our +treasures; we should hae had baith ends o' the pockmanky filled by this +time—I hope it's bowk eneugh to haud a' the gear?" + +"Look you, you base old person," said the incensed philosopher, "if you +do put another jest upon me, I will cleave your skull-piece with this +shovels!" + +"And whare wad my hands and my pike-staff be a' the time?" replied +Edie, in a tone that indicated no apprehension. "Hout, tout, Maister +Dusterdeevil, I haena lived sae lang in the warld neither, to be shuled +out o't that gate. What ails ye to be cankered, man, wi' your friends? +I'll wager I'll find out the treasure in a minute;" and he jumped into +the pit, and took up the spade. + +"I do swear to you," said the adept, whose suspicions were now fully +awake, "that if you have played me one big trick, I will give you one +big beating, Mr. Edies." + +"Hear till him now!" said Ochiltree, "he kens how to gar folk find out +the gear—Od, I'm thinking he's been drilled that way himsell some day." + +At this insinuation, which alluded obviously to the former scene betwixt +himself and Sir Arthur, the philosopher lost the slender remnant of +patience he had left, and being of violent passions, heaved up the +truncheon of the broken mattock to discharge it upon the old man's head. +The blow would in all probability have been fatal, had not he at whom it +was aimed exclaimed in a stern and firm voice, "Shame to ye, man!—do ye +think Heaven or earth will suffer ye to murder an auld man that might be +your father?—Look behind ye, man!" + +Dousterswivel turned instinctively, and beheld, to his utter +astonishment, a tall dark figure standing close behind him. The +apparition gave him no time to proceed by exorcism or otherwise, but +having instantly recourse to the voie de fait, took measure of the +adept's shoulders three or four times with blows so substantial, that he +fell under the weight of them, and remained senseless for some minutes +between fear and stupefaction. When he came to himself, he was alone in +the ruined chancel, lying upon the soft and damp earth which had been +thrown out of Misticot's grave. He raised himself with a confused +sensation of anger, pain, and terror, and it was not until he had sat +upright for some minutes, that he could arrange his ideas sufficiently +to recollect how he came there, or with what purpose. As his +recollection returned, he could have little doubt that the bait held out +to him by Ochiltree, to bring him to that solitary spot, the sarcasms by +which he had provoked him into a quarrel, and the ready assistance which +he had at hand for terminating it in the manner in which it had ended, +were all parts of a concerted plan to bring disgrace and damage on +Herman Dousterswivel. He could hardly suppose that he was indebted for +the fatigue, anxiety, and beating which he had undergone, purely to the +malice of Edie Ochiltree singly, but concluded that the mendicant had +acted a part assigned to him by some person of greater importance. His +suspicions hesitated between Oldbuck and Sir Arthur Wardour. The former +had been at no pains to conceal a marked dislike of him—but the latter +he had deeply injured; and although he judged that Sir Arthur did not +know the extent of his wrongs towards him, yet it was easy to suppose +he had gathered enough of the truth to make him desirous of revenge. +Ochiltree had alluded to at least one circumstance which the adept had +every reason to suppose was private between Sir Arthur and himself, +and therefore must have been learned from the former. The language of +Oldbuck also intimated a conviction of his knavery, which Sir Arthur +heard without making any animated defence. Lastly, the way in which +Dousterswivel supposed the Baronet to have exercised his revenge, was +not inconsistent with the practice of other countries with which the +adept was better acquainted than with those of North Britain. With him, +as with many bad men, to suspect an injury, and to nourish the purpose +of revenge, was one and the same movement. And before Dousterswivel +had fairly recovered his legs, he had mentally sworn the ruin of his +benefactor, which, unfortunately, he possessed too much the power of +accelerating. + +But although a purpose of revenge floated through his brain, it was +no time to indulge such speculations. The hour, the place, his own +situation, and perhaps the presence or near neighbourhood of his +assailants, made self-preservation the adept's first object. The lantern +had been thrown down and extinguished in the scuffle. The wind, which +formerly howled so loudly through the aisles of the ruin, had now +greatly fallen, lulled by the rain, which was descending very fast. +The moon, from the same cause, was totally obscured, and though +Dousterswivel had some experience of the ruins, and knew that he must +endeavour to regain the eastern door of the chancel, yet the confusion +of his ideas was such, that he hesitated for some time ere he could +ascertain in what direction he was to seek it. In this perplexity, the +suggestions of superstition, taking the advantage of darkness and his +evil conscience, began again to present themselves to his disturbed +imagination. "But bah!" quoth he valiantly to himself, "it is all +nonsense all one part of de damn big trick and imposture. Devil! that +one thick-skulled Scotch Baronet, as I have led by the nose for five +year, should cheat Herman Dousterswivel!" + +As he had come to this conclusion, an incident occurred which tended +greatly to shake the grounds on which he had adopted it. Amid the +melancholy sough of the dying wind, and the plash of the rain-drops on +leaves and stones, arose, and apparently at no great distance from the +listener, a strain of vocal music so sad and solemn, as if the departed +spirits of the churchmen who had once inhabited these deserted ruins +were mourning the solitude and desolation to which their hallowed +precincts had been abandoned. Dousterswivel, who had now got upon his +feet, and was groping around the wall of the chancel, stood rooted to +the ground on the occurrence of this new phenomenon. Each faculty of his +soul seemed for the moment concentred in the sense of hearing, and all +rushed back with the unanimous information, that the deep, wild, and +prolonged chant which he now heard, was the appropriate music of one of +the most solemn dirges of the Church of Rome. Why performed in such +a solitude, and by what class of choristers, were questions which +the terrified imagination of the adept, stirred with all the German +superstitions of nixies, oak-kings, wer-wolves, hobgoblins, black +spirits and white, blue spirits and grey, durst not even attempt to +solve. + +Another of his senses was soon engaged in the investigation. At the +extremity of one of the transepts of the church, at the bottom of a few +descending steps, was a small iron-grated door, opening, as far as he +recollected, to a sort of low vault or sacristy. As he cast his eye in +the direction of the sound, he observed a strong reflection of red light +glimmering through these bars, and against the steps which descended to +them. Dousterswivel stood a moment uncertain what to do; then, suddenly +forming a desperate resolution, he moved down the aisle to the place +from which the light proceeded. The Funeral of the Countess + +Fortified with the sign of the cross, and as many exorcisms as his +memory could recover, he advanced to the grate, from which, unseen, he +could see what passed in the interior of the vault. As he approached +with timid and uncertain steps, the chant, after one or two wild and +prolonged cadences, died away into profound silence. The grate, when +he reached it, presented a singular spectacle in the interior of the +sacristy. An open grave, with four tall flambeaus, each about six feet +high, placed at the four corners—a bier, having a corpse in its shroud, +the arms folded upon the breast, rested upon tressels at one side of +the grave, as if ready to be interred—a priest, dressed in his cope and +stole, held open the service book—another churchman in his vestments +bore a holy-water sprinkler, and two boys in white surplices held +censers with incense—a man, of a figure once tall and commanding, but +now bent with age or infirmity, stood alone and nearest to the coffin, +attired in deep mourning—such were the most prominent figures of the +group. At a little distance were two or three persons of both sexes, +attired in long mourning hoods and cloaks; and five or six others in the +same lugubrious dress, still farther removed from the body, around the +walls of the vault, stood ranged in motionless order, each bearing +in his hand a huge torch of black wax. The smoky light from so many +flambeaus, by the red and indistinct atmosphere which it spread around, +gave a hazy, dubious, and as it were phantom-like appearance to the +outlines of this singular apparition, The voice of the priest—loud, +clear, and sonorous—now recited, from the breviary which he held in his +hand, those solemn words which the ritual of the Catholic church has +consecrated to the rendering of dust to dust. Meanwhile, Dousterswivel, +the place, the hour, and the surprise considered, still remained +uncertain whether what he saw was substantial, or an unearthly +representation of the rites to which in former times these walls were +familiar, but which are now rarely practised in Protestant countries, +and almost never in Scotland. He was uncertain whether to abide the +conclusion of the ceremony, or to endeavour to regain the chancel, when +a change in his position made him visible through the grate to one of +the attendant mourners. The person who first espied him indicated his +discovery to the individual who stood apart and nearest the coffin, by +a sign, and upon his making a sign in reply, two of the group detached +themselves, and, gliding along with noiseless steps, as if fearing to +disturb the service, unlocked and opened the grate which separated them +from the adept. Each took him by an arm, and exerting a degree of force, +which he would have been incapable of resisting had his fear permitted +him to attempt opposition, they placed him on the ground in the chancel, +and sat down, one on each side of him, as if to detain him. Satisfied he +was in the power of mortals like himself, the adept would have put some +questions to them; but while one pointed to the vault, from which the +sound of the priest's voice was distinctly heard, the other placed +his finger upon his lips in token of silence, a hint which the German +thought it most prudent to obey. And thus they detained him until a loud +Alleluia, pealing through the deserted arches of St. Ruth, closed the +singular ceremony which it had been his fortune to witness. + +When the hymn had died away with all its echoes, the voice of one of the +sable personages under whose guard the adept had remained, said, in a +familiar tone and dialect, "Dear sirs, Mr. Dousterswivel, is this you? +could not ye have let us ken an ye had wussed till hae been present +at the ceremony?—My lord couldna tak it weel your coming blinking and +jinking in, in that fashion." + +"In de name of all dat is gootness, tell me what you are?" interrupted +the German in his turn. + +"What I am? why, wha should I be but Ringan Aikwood, the Knockwinnock +poinder?—and what are ye doing here at this time o' night, unless ye +were come to attend the leddy's burial?" + +"I do declare to you, mine goot Poinder Aikwood," said the German, +raising himself up, "that I have been this vary nights murdered, robbed, +and put in fears of my life." + +"Robbed! wha wad do sic a deed here?—Murdered! od ye speak pretty +blithe for a murdered man—Put in fear! what put you in fear, Mr. +Dousterswivel?" + +"I will tell you, Maister Poinder Aikwood Ringan, just dat old miscreant +dog villain blue-gown, as you call Edie Ochiltrees." + +"I'll neer believe that," answered Ringan;—"Edie was ken'd to me, and +my father before me, for a true, loyal, and sooth-fast man; and, mair +by token, he's sleeping up yonder in our barn, and has been since ten +at e'en—Sae touch ye wha liket, Mr. Dousterswivel, and whether onybody +touched ye or no, I'm sure Edie's sackless." + +"Maister Ringan Aikwood Poinders, I do not know what you call sackless,— +but let alone all de oils and de soot dat you say he has, and I will +tell you I was dis night robbed of fifty pounds by your oil and sooty +friend, Edies Ochiltree; and he is no more in your barn even now dan I +ever shall be in de kingdom of heafen." + +"Weel, sir, if ye will gae up wi' me, as the burial company has +dispersed, we'se mak ye down a bed at the lodge, and we'se see if Edie's +at the barn. There was twa wild-looking chaps left the auld kirk when we +were coming up wi' the corpse, that's certain; and the priest, wha likes +ill that ony heretics should look on at our church ceremonies, sent twa +o' the riding saulies after them; sae we'll hear a' about it frae them." + +Thus speaking, the kindly apparition, with the assistance of the mute +personage, who was his son, disencumbered himself of his cloak, and +prepared to escort Dousterswivel to the place of that rest which the +adept so much needed. + +"I will apply to the magistrates to-morrow," said the adept; "oder, I +will have de law put in force against all the peoples." + +While he thus muttered vengeance against the cause of his injury, he +tottered from among the ruins, supporting himself on Ringan and his son, +whose assistance his state of weakness rendered very necessary. + +When they were clear of the priory, and had gained the little meadow +in which it stands, Dousterswivel could perceive the torches which had +caused him so much alarm issuing in irregular procession from the ruins, +and glancing their light, like that of the ignis fatuus, on the banks +of the lake. After moving along the path for some short space with a +fluctuating and irregular motion, the lights were at once extinguished. + +"We aye put out the torches at the Halie-cross Well on sic occasions," +said the forester to his guest. And accordingly no farther visible sign +of the procession offered itself to Dousterswivel, although his ear +could catch the distant and decreasing echo of horses' hoofs in the +direction towards which the mourners had bent their course. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTH. + + O weel may the boatie row + And better may she speed, + And weel may the boatie row + That earns the bairnies' bread! + The boatie rows, the boatie rows, + The boatie rows fu' weel, + And lightsome be their life that bear + The merlin and the creel! + Old Ballad. + +We must now introduce our reader to the interior of the fisher's cottage +mentioned in CHAPTER eleventh of this edifying history. I wish I could +say that its inside was well arranged, decently furnished, or tolerably +clean. On the contrary, I am compelled to admit, there was confusion,— +there was dilapidation,—there was dirt good store. Yet, with all this, +there was about the inmates, Luckie Mucklebackit and her family, an +appearance of ease, plenty, and comfort, that seemed to warrant their +old sluttish proverb, "The clartier the cosier." A huge fire, though the +season was summer, occupied the hearth, and served at once for affording +light, heat, and the means of preparing food. The fishing had been +successful, and the family, with customary improvidence, had, since +unlading the cargo, continued an unremitting operation of broiling and +frying that part of the produce reserved for home consumption, and the +bones and fragments lay on the wooden trenchers, mingled with morsels +of broken bannocks and shattered mugs of half-drunk beer. The stout and +athletic form of Maggie herself, bustling here and there among a pack of +half-grown girls and younger children, of whom she chucked one now here +and another now there, with an exclamation of "Get out o' the gate, +ye little sorrow!" was strongly contrasted with the passive and +half-stupified look and manner of her husband's mother, a woman advanced +to the last stage of human life, who was seated in her wonted chair +close by the fire, the warmth of which she coveted, yet hardly seemed +to be sensible of—now muttering to herself, now smiling vacantly to the +children as they pulled the strings of her toy or close cap, or twitched +her blue checked apron. With her distaff in her bosom, and her spindle +in her hand, she plied lazily and mechanically the old-fashioned +Scottish thrift, according to the old-fashioned Scottish manner. The +younger children, crawling among the feet of the elder, watched the +progress of grannies spindle as it twisted, and now and then ventured +to interrupt its progress as it danced upon the floor in those +vagaries which the more regulated spinning-wheel has now so universally +superseded, that even the fated Princess in the fairy tale might roam +through all Scotland without the risk of piercing her hand with a +spindle, and dying of the wound. Late as the hour was (and it was +long past midnight), the whole family were still on foot, and far from +proposing to go to bed; the dame was still busy broiling car-cakes +on the girdle, and the elder girl, the half-naked mermaid elsewhere +commemorated, was preparing a pile of Findhorn haddocks (that is, +haddocks smoked with green wood), to be eaten along with these relishing +provisions. + +While they were thus employed, a slight tap at the door, accompanied +with the question, "Are ye up yet, sirs?" announced a visitor. The +answer, "Ay, ay,—come your ways ben, hinny," occasioned the lifting of +the latch, and Jenny Rintherout, the female domestic of our Antiquary, +made her appearance. + +"Ay, ay," exclaimed the mistress of the family—"Hegh, sirs! can this be +you, Jenny?—a sight o' you's gude for sair een, lass." + +"O woman, we've been sae ta'en up wi' Captain Hector's wound up by, that +I havena had my fit out ower the door this fortnight; but he's better +now, and auld Caxon sleeps in his room in case he wanted onything. Sae, +as soon as our auld folk gaed to bed, I e'en snodded my head up a bit, +and left the house-door on the latch, in case onybody should be wanting +in or out while I was awa, and just cam down the gate to see an there +was ony cracks amang ye." + +"Ay, ay," answered Luckie Mucklebackit, "I see you hae gotten a' your +braws on; ye're looking about for Steenie now—but he's no at hame the +night; and ye'll no do for Steenie, lass—a feckless thing like you's no +fit to mainteen a man." + +"Steenie will no do for me," retorted Jenny, with a toss of her head +that might have become a higher-born damsel; "I maun hae a man that can +mainteen his wife." + +"Ou ay, hinny—thae's your landward and burrows-town notions. My +certie!—fisherwives ken better—they keep the man, and keep the house, +and keep the siller too, lass." + +"A wheen poor drudges ye are," answered the nymph of the land to the +nymph of the sea. "As sune as the keel o' the coble touches the sand, +deil a bit mair will the lazy fisher loons work, but the wives maun kilt +their coats, and wade into the surf to tak the fish ashore. And then the +man casts aff the wat and puts on the dry, and sits down wi' his pipe +and his gill-stoup ahint the ingle, like ony auld houdie, and neer a +turn will he do till the coble's afloat again! And the wife she maun get +the scull on her back, and awa wi' the fish to the next burrows-town, +and scauld and ban wi'ilka wife that will scauld and ban wi'her till +it's sauld—and that's the gait fisher-wives live, puir slaving bodies." + +"Slaves?—gae wa', lass!—ca' the head o' the house slaves? little ye ken +about it, lass. Show me a word my Saunders daur speak, or a turn he daur +do about the house, without it be just to tak his meat, and his drink, +and his diversion, like ony o' the weans. He has mair sense than to ca' +anything about the bigging his ain, frae the rooftree down to a crackit +trencher on the bink. He kens weel eneugh wha feeds him, and cleeds him, +and keeps a' tight, thack and rape, when his coble is jowing awa in the +Firth, puir fallow. Na, na, lass!—them that sell the goods guide the +purse—them that guide the purse rule the house. Show me ane o' yer bits +o' farmer-bodies that wad let their wife drive the stock to the market, +and ca' in the debts. Na, na." + +"Aweel, aweel, Maggie, ilka land has its ain lauch—But where's Steenie +the night, when a's come and gane? And where's the gudeman?"* + +* Note G. Gynecocracy. + +"I hae putten the gudeman to his bed, for he was e'en sair forfain; and +Steenie's awa out about some barns-breaking wi' the auld gaberlunzie, +Edie Ochiltree: they'll be in sune, and ye can sit doun." + +"Troth, gudewife" (taking a seat), "I haena that muckle time to stop—but +I maun tell ye about the news. Yell hae heard o' the muckle kist o' gowd +that Sir Arthur has fund down by at St. Ruth?—He'll be grander than ever +now—he'll no can haud down his head to sneeze, for fear o' seeing his +shoon." + +"Ou ay—a' the country's heard o' that; but auld Edie says that they ca' +it ten times mair than ever was o't, and he saw them howk it up. Od, it +would be lang or a puir body that needed it got sic a windfa'." + +"Na, that's sure eneugh.—And yell hae heard o' the Countess o' Glenallan +being dead and lying in state, and how she's to be buried at St. Ruth's +as this night fa's, wi' torch-light; and a' the popist servants, and +Ringan Aikwood, that's a papist too, are to be there, and it will be the +grandest show ever was seen." + +"Troth, hinny," answered the Nereid, "if they let naebody but papists +come there, it'll no be muckle o' a show in this country, for the auld +harlot, as honest Mr. Blattergowl ca's her, has few that drink o' her +cup o' enchantments in this corner o' our chosen lands.—But what can ail +them to bury the auld carlin (a rudas wife she was) in the night-time?—I +dare say our gudemither will ken." + +Here she exalted her voice, and exclaimed twice or thrice, "Gudemither! +gudemither!" but, lost in the apathy of age and deafness, the aged sibyl +she addressed continued plying her spindle without understanding the +appeal made to her. + +"Speak to your grandmither, Jenny—Od, I wad rather hail the coble half a +mile aff, and the nor-wast wind whistling again in my teeth." + +"Grannie," said the little mermaid, in a voice to which the old woman +was better accustomed, "minnie wants to ken what for the Glenallan folk +aye bury by candle-light in the ruing of St. Ruth!" + +The old woman paused in the act of twirling the spindle, turned round to +the rest of the party, lifted her withered, trembling, and clay-coloured +hand, raised up her ashen-hued and wrinkled face, which the quick +motion of two light-blue eyes chiefly distinguished from the visage of a +corpse, and, as if catching at any touch of association with the living +world, answered, "What gars the Glenallan family inter their dead by +torchlight, said the lassie?—Is there a Glenallan dead e'en now?" + +"We might be a' dead and buried too," said Maggie, "for onything ye +wad ken about it;"—and then, raising her voice to the stretch of her +mother-in-law's comprehension, she added, + +"It's the auld Countess, gudemither." + +"And is she ca'd hame then at last?" said the old woman, in a voice +that seemed to be agitated with much more feeling than belonged to +her extreme old age, and the general indifference and apathy of her +manner—"is she then called to her last account after her lang race o' +pride and power?— O God, forgie her!" + +"But minnie was asking ye," resumed the lesser querist, "what for the +Glenallan family aye bury their dead by torch-light?" + +"They hae aye dune sae," said the grandmother, "since the time the Great +Earl fell in the sair battle o' the Harlaw, when they say the coronach +was cried in ae day from the mouth of the Tay to the Buck of the +Cabrach, that ye wad hae heard nae other sound but that of lamentation +for the great folks that had fa'en fighting against Donald of the Isles. +But the Great Earl's mither was living—they were a doughty and a dour +race, the women o' the house o' Glenallan—and she wad hae nae coronach +cried for her son, but had him laid in the silence o' midnight in his +place o' rest, without either drinking the dirge, or crying the lament. +She said he had killed enow that day he died, for the widows and +daughters o' the Highlanders he had slain to cry the coronach for them +they had lost, and for her son too; and sae she laid him in his gave wi' +dry eyes, and without a groan or a wail. And it was thought a proud word +o' the family, and they aye stickit by it—and the mair in the latter +times, because in the night-time they had mair freedom to perform their +popish ceremonies by darkness and in secrecy than in the daylight—at +least that was the case in my time; they wad hae been disturbed in +the day-time baith by the law and the commons of Fairport—they may be +owerlooked now, as I have heard: the warlds changed—I whiles hardly ken +whether I am standing or sitting, or dead or living." + +And looking round the fire, as if in a state of unconscious uncertainty +of which she complained, old Elspeth relapsed into her habitual and +mechanical occupation of twirling the spindle. + +"Eh, sirs!" said Jenny Rintherout, under her breath to her gossip, "it's +awsome to hear your gudemither break out in that gait—it's like the dead +speaking to the living." + +"Ye're no that far wrang, lass; she minds naething o' what passes the +day—but set her on auld tales, and she can speak like a prent buke. +She kens mair about the Glenallan family than maist folk—the gudeman's +father was their fisher mony a day. Ye maun ken the papists make a great +point o' eating fish—it's nae bad part o' their religion that, whatever +the rest is—I could aye sell the best o' fish at the best o' prices for +the Countess's ain table, grace be wi' her! especially on a Friday—But +see as our gudemither's hands and lips are ganging—now it's working in +her head like barm—she'll speak eneugh the night. Whiles she'll no speak +a word in a week, unless it be to the bits o' bairns." + +"Hegh, Mrs. Mucklebackit, she's an awsome wife!" said Jenny in reply. +"D'ye think she's a'thegither right? Folk say she downa gang to the +kirk, or speak to the minister, and that she was ance a papist but since +her gudeman's been dead, naebody kens what she is. D'ye think yoursell +that she's no uncanny?" + +"Canny, ye silly tawpie! think ye ae auld wife's less canny than +anither? unless it be Alison Breck—I really couldna in conscience swear +for her; I have kent the boxes she set fill'd wi' partans, when"— + +"Whisht, whisht, Maggie," whispered Jenny—"your gudemither's gaun to +speak again." + +"Wasna there some ane o' ye said," asked the old sibyl, "or did I dream, +or was it revealed to me, that Joscelind, Lady Glenallan, is dead, an' +buried this night?" + +"Yes, gudemither," screamed the daughter-in-law, "it's e'en sae." + +"And e'en sae let it be," said old Elspeth; "she's made mony a sair +heart in her day—ay, e'en her ain son's—is he living yet?" + +"Ay, he's living yet; but how lang he'll live—however, dinna ye mind his +coming and asking after you in the spring, and leaving siller?" + +"It may be sae, Magge—I dinna mind it—but a handsome gentleman he was, +and his father before him. Eh! if his father had lived, they might hae +been happy folk! But he was gane, and the lady carried it in—ower and +out-ower wi' her son, and garr'd him trow the thing he never suld hae +trowed, and do the thing he has repented a' his life, and will repent +still, were his life as lang as this lang and wearisome ane o' mine." + +"O what was it, grannie?"—and "What was it, gudemither?"—and "What was +it, Luckie Elspeth?" asked the children, the mother, and the visitor, in +one breath. + +"Never ask what it was," answered the old sibyl, "but pray to God that +ye arena left to the pride and wilfu'ness o' your ain hearts: they may +be as powerful in a cabin as in a castle—I can bear a sad witness to +that. O that weary and fearfu' night! will it never gang out o' my auld +head!— Eh! to see her lying on the floor wi' her lang hair dreeping wi' +the salt water!—Heaven will avenge on a' that had to do wi't. Sirs! is +my son out wi' the coble this windy e'en?" + +"Na, na, mither—nae coble can keep the sea this wind; he's sleeping in +his bed out-ower yonder ahint the hallan." + +"Is Steenie out at sea then?" + +"Na, grannie—Steenie's awa out wi' auld Edie Ochiltree, the gaberlunzie; +maybe they'll be gaun to see the burial." + +"That canna be," said the mother of the family; "we kent naething o't +till Jock Rand cam in, and tauld us the Aikwoods had warning to attend— +they keep thae things unco private—and they were to bring the corpse a' +the way frae the Castle, ten miles off, under cloud o' night. She has +lain in state this ten days at Glenallan House, in a grand chamber a' +hung wi' black, and lighted wi' wax cannle." + +"God assoilzie her!" ejaculated old Elspeth, her head apparently still +occupied by the event of the Countess's death; "she was a hard-hearted +woman, but she's gaen to account for it a', and His mercy is infinite— +God grant she may find it sae!" And she relapsed into silence, which she +did not break again during the rest of the evening. + +"I wonder what that auld daft beggar carle and our son Steenie can be +doing out in sic a nicht as this," said Maggie Mucklebackit; and her +expression of surprise was echoed by her visitor. "Gang awa, ane o' ye, +hinnies, up to the heugh head, and gie them a cry in case they're within +hearing; the car-cakes will be burnt to a cinder." + +The little emissary departed, but in a few minutes came running back +with the loud exclamation, "Eh, Minnie! eh, grannie! there's a white +bogle chasing twa black anes down the heugh." + +A noise of footsteps followed this singular annunciation, and young +Steenie Mucklebackit, closely followed by Edie Ochiltree, bounced into +the hut. They were panting and out of breath. The first thing Steenie +did was to look for the bar of the door, which his mother reminded him +had been broken up for fire-wood in the hard winter three years ago; +"for what use," she said, "had the like o' them for bars?" + +"There's naebody chasing us," said the beggar, after he had taken his +breath: "we're e'en like the wicked, that flee when no one pursueth." + +"Troth, but we were chased," said Steenie, "by a spirit or something +little better." + +"It was a man in white on horseback," said Edie, "for the soft grund +that wadna bear the beast, flung him about, I wot that weel; but I didna +think my auld legs could have brought me aff as fast; I ran amaist as +fast as if I had been at Prestonpans."* + +* [This refers to the flight of the government forces at the battle of +Prestonpans, 1745.] + +"Hout, ye daft gowks!" said Luckie Mucklebackit, "it will hae been some +o' the riders at the Countess's burial." + +"What!" said Edie, "is the auld Countess buried the night at St. Ruth's? +Ou, that wad be the lights and the noise that scarr'd us awa; I wish I +had ken'd—I wad hae stude them, and no left the man yonder—but they'll +take care o' him. Ye strike ower hard, Steenie I doubt ye foundered the +chield." + +"Neer a bit," said Steenie, laughing; "he has braw broad shouthers, and +I just took measure o' them wi' the stang. Od, if I hadna been something +short wi' him, he wad hae knockit your auld hams out, lad." + +"Weel, an I win clear o' this scrape," said Edie, "I'se tempt Providence +nae mair. But I canna think it an unlawfu' thing to pit a bit trick on +sic a landlouping scoundrel, that just lives by tricking honester folk." + +"But what are we to do with this?" said Steenie, producing a +pocket-book. + +"Od guide us, man," said Edie in great alarm, "what garr'd ye touch the +gear? a very leaf o' that pocket-book wad be eneugh to hang us baith." + +"I dinna ken," said Steenie; "the book had fa'en out o' his pocket, I +fancy, for I fand it amang my feet when I was graping about to set him +on his logs again, and I just pat it in my pouch to keep it safe; and +then came the tramp of horse, and you cried, Rin, rin,' and I had nae +mair thought o' the book." + +"We maun get it back to the loon some gait or other; ye had better take +it yoursell, I think, wi' peep o' light, up to Ringan Aikwood's. I wadna +for a hundred pounds it was fund in our hands." + +Steenie undertook to do as he was directed. + +"A bonny night ye hae made o't, Mr. Steenie," said Jenny Rintherout, +who, impatient of remaining so long unnoticed, now presented herself to +the young fisherman—"A bonny night ye hae made o't, tramping about wi' +gaberlunzies, and getting yoursell hunted wi' worricows, when ye suld be +sleeping in your bed, like your father, honest man." + +This attack called forth a suitable response of rustic raillery from +the young fisherman. An attack was now commenced upon the car-cakes and +smoked fish, and sustained with great perseverance by assistance of a +bicker or two of twopenny ale and a bottle of gin. The mendicant then +retired to the straw of an out-house adjoining,—the children had one +by one crept into their nests,—the old grandmother was deposited in +her flock-bed,—Steenie, notwithstanding his preceding fatigue, had the +gallantry to accompany Miss Rintherout to her own mansion, and at what +hour he returned the story saith not,—and the matron of the family, +having laid the gathering-coal upon the fire, and put things in some +sort of order, retired to rest the last of the family. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTH. + + —Many great ones + Would part with half their states, to have the plan + And credit to beg in the first style. + Beggar's Bush. + +Old Edie was stirring with the lark, and his first inquiry was after +Steenie and the pocket-book. The young fisherman had been under the +necessity of attending his father before daybreak, to avail themselves +of the tide, but he had promised that, immediately on his return, the +pocket-book, with all its contents, carefully wrapped up in a piece +of sail-cloth, should be delivered by him to Ringan Aikwood, for +Dousterswivel, the owner. + +The matron had prepared the morning meal for the family, and, +shouldering her basket of fish, tramped sturdily away towards Fairport. +The children were idling round the door, for the day was fair and +sun-shiney. The ancient grandame, again seated on her wicker-chair by +the fire, had resumed her eternal spindle, wholly unmoved by the yelling +and screaming of the children, and the scolding of the mother, which +had preceded the dispersion of the family. Edie had arranged his various +bags, and was bound for the renewal of his wandering life, but first +advanced with due courtesy to take his leave of the ancient crone. + +"Gude day to ye, cummer, and mony ane o' them. I will be back about the +fore-end o'har'st, and I trust to find ye baith haill and fere." + +"Pray that ye may find me in my quiet grave," said the old woman, in +a hollow and sepulchral voice, but without the agitation of a single +feature. + +"Ye're auld, cummer, and sae am I mysell; but we maun abide His will— +we'll no be forgotten in His good time." + +"Nor our deeds neither," said the crone: "what's dune in the body maun +be answered in the spirit." + +"I wot that's true; and I may weel tak the tale hame to mysell, that hae +led a misruled and roving life. But ye were aye a canny wife. We're a' +frail—but ye canna hae sae muckle to bow ye down." + +"Less than I might have had—but mair, O far mair, than wad sink the +stoutest brig e'er sailed out o' Fairport harbour!—Didna somebody say +yestreen—at least sae it is borne in on my mind, but auld folk hae weak +fancies—did not somebody say that Joscelind, Countess of Glenallan, was +departed frae life?" + +"They said the truth whaever said it," answered old Edie; "she was +buried yestreen by torch-light at St. Ruth's, and I, like a fule, gat a +gliff wi' seeing the lights and the riders." + +"It was their fashion since the days of the Great Earl that was killed +at Harlaw;—they did it to show scorn that they should die and be buried +like other mortals; the wives o' the house of Glenallan wailed nae wail +for the husband, nor the sister for the brother.—But is she e'en ca'd to +the lang account?" + +"As sure," answered Edie, "as we maun a' abide it." + +"Then I'll unlade my mind, come o't what will." + +This she spoke with more alacrity than usually attended her expressions, +and accompanied her words with an attitude of the hand, as if throwing +something from her. She then raised up her form, once tall, and still +retaining the appearance of having been so, though bent with age and +rheumatism, and stood before the beggar like a mummy animated by some +wandering spirit into a temporary resurrection. Her light-blue eyes +wandered to and fro, as if she occasionally forgot and again remembered +the purpose for which her long and withered hand was searching among the +miscellaneous contents of an ample old-fashioned pocket. At length she +pulled out a small chip-box, and opening it, took out a handsome ring, +in which was set a braid of hair, composed of two different colours, +black and light brown, twined together, encircled with brilliants of +considerable value. + +"Gudeman," she said to Ochiltree, "as ye wad e'er deserve mercy, ye maun +gang my errand to the house of Glenallan, and ask for the Earl." + +"The Earl of Glenallan, cummer! ou, he winna see ony o' the gentles o' +the country, and what likelihood is there that he wad see the like o' an +auld gaberlunzie?" + +"Gang your ways and try;—and tell him that Elspeth o' the +Craigburnfoot—he'll mind me best by that name—maun see him or she be +relieved frae her lang pilgrimage, and that she sends him that ring in +token of the business she wad speak o'." + +Ochiltree looked on the ring with some admiration of its apparent value, +and then carefully replacing it in the box, and wrapping it in an old +ragged handkerchief, he deposited the token in his bosom. + +"Weel, gudewife," he said, "I'se do your bidding, or it's no be my +fault. But surely there was never sic a braw propine as this sent to +a yerl by an auld fishwife, and through the hands of a gaberlunzie +beggar." + +With this reflection, Edie took up his pike-staff, put on his +broad-brimmed bonnet, and set forth upon his pilgrimage. The old woman +remained for some time standing in a fixed posture, her eyes directed +to the door through which her ambassador had departed. The appearance +of excitation, which the conversation had occasioned, gradually left +her features; she sank down upon her accustomed seat, and resumed her +mechanical labour of the distaff and spindle, with her wonted air of +apathy. + +Edie Ochiltree meanwhile advanced on his journey. The distance to +Glenallan was ten miles, a march which the old soldier accomplished in +about four hours. With the curiosity belonging to his idle trade and +animated character, he tortured himself the whole way to consider +what could be the meaning of this mysterious errand with which he was +entrusted, or what connection the proud, wealthy, and powerful Earl +of Glenallan could have with the crimes or penitence of an old doting +woman, whose rank in life did not greatly exceed that of her messenger. +He endeavoured to call to memory all that he had ever known or heard of +the Glenallan family, yet, having done so, remained altogether unable +to form a conjecture on the subject. He knew that the whole extensive +estate of this ancient and powerful family had descended to the +Countess, lately deceased, who inherited, in a most remarkable degree, +the stern, fierce, and unbending character which had distinguished the +house of Glenallan since they first figured in Scottish annals. Like +the rest of her ancestors, she adhered zealously to the Roman Catholic +faith, and was married to an English gentleman of the same communion, +and of large fortune, who did not survive their union two years. The +Countess was, therefore, left an early widow, with the uncontrolled +management of the large estates of her two sons. The elder, Lord +Geraldin, who was to succeed to the title and fortune of Glenallan, was +totally dependent on his mother during her life. The second, when +he came of age, assumed the name and arms of his father, and took +possession of his estate, according to the provisions of the Countess's +marriage-settlement. After this period, he chiefly resided in England, +and paid very few and brief visits to his mother and brother; and these +at length were altogether dispensed with, in consequence of his becoming +a convert to the reformed religion. + +But even before this mortal offence was given to its mistress, his +residence at Glenallan offered few inducements to a gay young man like +Edward Geraldin Neville, though its gloom and seclusion seemed to suit +the retired and melancholy habits of his elder brother. Lord Geraldin, +in the outset of life, had been a young man of accomplishment and hopes. +Those who knew him upon his travels entertained the highest expectations +of his future career. But such fair dawns are often strangely overcast. +The young nobleman returned to Scotland, and after living about a year +in his mother's society at Glenallan House, he seemed to have adopted +all the stern gloom and melancholy of her character. Excluded from +politics by the incapacities attached to those of his religion, and +from all lighter avocationas by choice, Lord Geraldin led a life of the +strictest retirement. His ordinary society was composed of the clergyman +of his communion, who occasionally visited his mansion; and very rarely, +upon stated occasions of high festival, one or two families who still +professed the Catholic religion were formally entertained at Glenallan +House. But this was all; their heretic neighbours knew nothing of +the family whatever; and even the Catholics saw little more than the +sumptuous entertainment and solemn parade which was exhibited on those +formal occasions, from which all returned without knowing whether most +to wonder at the stern and stately demeanour of the Countess, or the +deep and gloomy dejection which never ceased for a moment to cloud the +features of her son. The late event had put him in possession of his +fortune and title, and the neighbourhood had already begun to conjecture +whether gaiety would revive with independence, when those who had some +occasional acquaintance with the interior of the family spread abroad +a report, that the Earl's constitution was undermined by religious +austerities, and that in all probability he would soon follow his mother +to the grave. This event was the more probable, as his brother had died +of a lingering complaint, which, in the latter years of his life, +had affected at once his frame and his spirits; so that heralds and +genealogists were already looking back into their records to discover +the heir of this ill-fated family, and lawyers were talking with +gleesome anticipation, of the probability of a "great Glenallan cause." + +As Edie Ochiltree approached the front of Glenallan House,* an ancient +building of great extent, the most modern part of which had been +designed by the celebrated Inigo Jones, he began to consider in what +way he should be most likely to gain access for delivery of his message; +and, after much consideration, resolved to send the token to the Earl by +one of the domestics. + +* [Supposed to represent Glammis Castle, in Forfarshire, with which the +Author was well acquainted.] + +With this purpose he stopped at a cottage, where he obtained the means +of making up the ring in a sealed packet like a petition, addressed, +Forr his hounor the Yerl of Glenllan—These. But being aware that +missives delivered at the doors of great houses by such persons as +himself, do not always make their way according to address, Edie +determined, like an old soldier, to reconnoitre the ground before +he made his final attack. As he approached the porter's lodge, he +discovered, by the number of poor ranked before it, some of them being +indigent persons in the vicinity, and others itinerants of his own +begging profession,—that there was about to be a general dole or +distribution of charity. + +"A good turn," said Edie to himself, "never goes unrewarded—I'll maybe +get a good awmous that I wad hae missed but for trotting on this auld +wife's errand." + +Accordingly, he ranked up with the rest of this ragged regiment, +assuming a station as near the front as possible,—a distinction due, as +he conceived, to his blue gown and badge, no less than to his years and +experience; but he soon found there was another principle of precedence +in this assembly, to which he had not adverted. + +"Are ye a triple man, friend, that ye press forward sae bauldly?—I'm +thinking no, for there's nae Catholics wear that badge." + +"Na, na, I am no a Roman," said Edie. + +"Then shank yoursell awa to the double folk, or single folk, that's the +Episcopals or Presbyterians yonder: it's a shame to see a heretic hae +sic a lang white beard, that would do credit to a hermit." + +Ochiltree, thus rejected from the society of the Catholic mendicants, +or those who called themselves such, went to station himself with the +paupers of the communion of the church of England, to whom the noble +donor allotted a double portion of his charity. But never was a +poor occasional conformist more roughly rejected by a High-church +congregation, even when that matter was furiously agitated in the days +of good Queen Anne. + +"See to him wi' his badge!" they said;—"he hears ane o' the king's +Presbyterian chaplains sough out a sermon on the morning of every +birth-day, and now he would pass himsell for ane o' the Episcopal +church! Na, na!—we'll take care o' that." + +Edie, thus rejected by Rome and Prelacy, was fain to shelter himself +from the laughter of his brethren among the thin group of Presbyterians, +who had either disdained to disguise their religious opinions for the +sake of an augmented dole, or perhaps knew they could not attempt the +imposition without a certainty of detection. + +The same degree of precedence was observed in the mode of distributing +the charity, which consisted in bread, beef, and a piece of money, to +each individual of all the three classes. The almoner, an ecclesiastic +of grave appearance and demeanour, superintended in person the +accommodation of the Catholic mendicants, asking a question or two of +each as he delivered the charity, and recommending to their prayers +the soul of Joscelind, late Countess of Glenallan, mother of their +benefactor. The porter, distinguished by his long staff headed with +silver, and by the black gown tufted with lace of the same colour, which +he had assumed upon the general mourning in the family, overlooked +the distribution of the dole among the prelatists. The less-favoured +kirk-folk were committed to the charge of an aged domestic. + +As this last discussed some disputed point with the porter, his name, as +it chanced to be occasionally mentioned, and then his features, struck +Ochiltree, and awakened recollections of former times. The rest of the +assembly were now retiring, when the domestic, again approaching the +place where Edie still lingered, said, in a strong Aberdeenshire accent, +"Fat is the auld feel-body deeing, that he canna gang avay, now that +he's gotten baith meat and siller?" + +"Francis Macraw," answered Edie Ochiltree, "d'ye no mind Fontenoy, and +keep thegither front and rear?'" + +"Ohon! ohon!" cried Francie, with a true north-country yell of +recognition, "naebody could hae said that word but my auld front-rank +man, Edie Ochiltree! But I'm sorry to see ye in sic a peer state, man." + +"No sae ill aff as ye may think, Francis. But I'm laith to leave this +place without a crack wi' you, and I kenna when I may see you again, for +your folk dinna mak Protestants welcome, and that's ae reason that I hae +never been here before." + +"Fusht, fusht," said Francie, "let that flee stick i' the wa'—when the +dirt's dry it will rub out;—and come you awa wi' me, and I'll gie ye +something better thau that beef bane, man." + +Having then spoke a confidential word with the porter (probably to +request his connivance), and having waited until the almoner had +returned into the house with slow and solemn steps, Francie Macraw +introduced his old comrade into the court of Glenallan House, the gloomy +gateway of which was surmounted by a huge scutcheon, in which the herald +and undertaker had mingled, as usual, the emblems of human pride and of +human nothingness,—the Countess's hereditary coat-of-arms, with all +its numerous quarterings, disposed in a lozenge, and surrounded by the +separate shields of her paternal and maternal ancestry, intermingled +with scythes, hour glasses, skulls, and other symbols of that mortality +which levels all distinctions. Conducting his friend as speedily as +possible along the large paved court, Macraw led the way through a +side-door to a small apartment near the servants' hall, which, in virtue +of his personal attendance upon the Earl of Glenallan, he was entitled +to call his own. To produce cold meat of various kinds, strong beer, +and even a glass of spirits, was no difficulty to a person of Francis's +importance, who had not lost, in his sense of conscious dignity, the +keen northern prudence which recommended a good understanding with the +butler. Our mendicant envoy drank ale, and talked over old stories +with his comrade, until, no other topic of conversation occurring, he +resolved to take up the theme of his embassy, which had for some time +escaped his memory. + +"He had a petition to present to the Earl," he said;—for he judged +it prudent to say nothing of the ring, not knowing, as he afterwards +observed, how far the manners of a single soldier* might have been +corrupted by service in a great house. + +* A single soldier means, in Scotch, a private soldier. + +"Hout, tout, man," said Francie, "the Earl will look at nae petitions— +but I can gie't to the almoner." + +"But it relates to some secret, that maybe my lord wad like best to +see't himsell." + +"I'm jeedging that's the very reason that the almoner will be for seeing +it the first and foremost." + +"But I hae come a' this way on purpose to deliver it, Francis, and ye +really maun help me at a pinch." + +"Neer speed then if I dinna," answered the Aberdeenshire man: "let them +be as cankered as they like, they can but turn me awa, and I was +just thinking to ask my discharge, and gang down to end my days at +Inverurie." + +With this doughty resolution of serving his friend at all ventures, +since none was to be encountered which could much inconvenience himself, +Francie Macraw left the apartment. It was long before he returned, and +when he did, his manner indicated wonder and agitation. + +"I am nae seer gin ye be Edie Ochiltree o' Carrick's company in the +Forty-twa, or gin ye be the deil in his likeness!" + +"And what makes ye speak in that gait?" demanded the astonished +mendicant. + +"Because my lord has been in sic a distress and surpreese as I neer saw +a man in my life. But he'll see you—I got that job cookit. He was like a +man awa frae himsell for mony minutes, and I thought he wad hae swarv't +a'thegither,—and fan he cam to himsell, he asked fae brought the +packet—and fat trow ye I said?" + +"An auld soger," says Edie—"that does likeliest at a gentle's door; at +a farmer's it's best to say ye're an auld tinkler, if ye need ony +quarters, for maybe the gudewife will hae something to souther." + +"But I said neer ane o' the twa," answered Francis; "my lord cares +as little about the tane as the tother—for he's best to them that can +souther up our sins. Sae I e'en said the bit paper was brought by an +auld man wi' a long fite beard—he might be a capeechin freer for fat I +ken'd, for he was dressed like an auld palmer. Sae ye'll be sent up for +fanever he can find mettle to face ye." + +"I wish I was weel through this business," thought Edie to himself; +"mony folk surmise that the Earl's no very right in the judgment, and +wha can say how far he may be offended wi' me for taking upon me sae +muckle?" + +But there was now no room for retreat—a bell sounded from a distant part +of the mansion, and Macraw said, with a smothered accent, as if already +in his master's presence, "That's my lord's bell!—follow me, and step +lightly and cannily, Edie." + +Edie followed his guide, who seemed to tread as if afraid of being +overheard, through a long passage, and up a back stair, which admitted +them into the family apartments. They were ample and extensive, +furnished at such cost as showed the ancient importance and splendour +of the family. But all the ornaments were in the taste of a former and +distant period, and one would have almost supposed himself traversing +the halls of a Scottish nobleman before the union of the crowns. The +late Countess, partly from a haughty contempt of the times in which +she lived, partly from her sense of family pride, had not permitted the +furniture to be altered or modernized during her residence at Glenallan +House. The most magnificent part of the decorations was a valuable +collection of pictures by the best masters, whose massive frames were +somewhat tarnished by time. In this particular also the gloomy taste of +the family seemed to predominate. There were some fine family portraits +by Vandyke and other masters of eminence; but the collection was richest +in the Saints and Martyrdoms of Domenichino, Velasquez, and Murillo, and +other subjects of the same kind, which had been selected in preference +to landscapes or historical pieces. The manner in which these awful, +and sometimes disgusting, subjects were represented, harmonized with the +gloomy state of the apartments,—a circumstance which was not altogether +lost on the old man, as he traversed them under the guidance of his +quondam fellow-soldier. He was about to express some sentiment of this +kind, but Francie imposed silence on him by signs, and opening a door +at the end of the long picture-gallery, ushered him into a small +antechamber hung with black. Here they found the almoner, with his ear +turned to a door opposite that by which they entered, in the attitude of +one who listens with attention, but is at the same time afraid of being +detected in the act. + +The old domestic and churchman started when they perceived each other. +But the almoner first recovered his recollection, and advancing towards +Macraw, said, under his breath, but with an authoritative tone, "How +dare you approach the Earl's apartment without knocking? and who is this +stranger, or what has he to do here?—Retire to the gallery, and wait for +me there." + +"It's impossible just now to attend your reverence," answered Macraw, +raising his voice so as to be heard in the next room, being conscious +that the priest would not maintain the altercation within hearing of his +patron,—"the Earl's bell has rung." + +He had scarce uttered the words, when it was rung again with greater +violence than before; and the ecclesiastic, perceiving further +expostulation impossible, lifted his finger at Macraw, with a menacing +attitude, as he left the apartment. + +"I tell'd ye sae," said the Aberdeen man in a whisper to Edie, and then +proceeded to open the door near which they had observed the chaplain +stationed. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTH. + + —This ring.— + This little ring, with necromantic force, + Has raised the ghost of pleasure to my fears, + Conjured the sense of honour and of love + Into such shapes, they fright me from myself. + The Fatal Marriage. + +The ancient forms of mourning were observed in Glenallan House, +notwithstanding the obduracy with which the members of the family +were popularly supposed to refuse to the dead the usual tribute of +lamentation. It was remarked, that when she received the fatal letter +announcing the death of her second, and, as was once believed, her +favourite son, the hand of the Countess did not shake, nor her eyelid +twinkle, any more than upon perusal of a letter of ordinary business. +Heaven only knows whether the suppression of maternal sorrow, which her +pride commanded, might not have some effect in hastening her own death. +It was at least generally supposed that the apoplectic stroke, which so +soon afterwards terminated her existence, was, as it were, the vengeance +of outraged Nature for the restraint to which her feelings had been +subjected. But although Lady Glenallan forebore the usual external signs +of grief, she had caused many of the apartments, amongst others her own +and that of the Earl, to be hung with the exterior trappings of woe. + +The Earl of Glenallan was therefore seated in an apartment hung with +black cloth, which waved in dusky folds along its lofty walls. A screen, +also covered with black baize, placed towards the high and narrow +window, intercepted much of the broken light which found its way through +the stained glass, that represented, with such skill as the fourteenth +century possessed, the life and sorrows of the prophet Jeremiah. The +table at which the Earl was seated was lighted with two lamps wrought +in silver, shedding that unpleasant and doubtful light which arises from +the mingling of artificial lustre with that of general daylight. The +same table displayed a silver crucifix, and one or two clasped parchment +books. A large picture, exquisitely painted by Spagnoletto, represented +the martyrdom of St. Stephen, and was the only ornament of the +apartment. + +The inhabitant and lord of this disconsolate chamber was a man not past +the prime of life, yet so broken down with disease and mental misery, so +gaunt and ghastly, that he appeared but a wreck of manhood; and when +he hastily arose and advanced towards his visitor, the exertion seemed +almost to overpower his emaciated frame. As they met in the midst of +the apartment, the contrast they exhibited was very striking. The hale +cheek, firm step, erect stature, and undaunted presence and bearing of +the old mendicant, indicated patience and content in the extremity of +age, and in the lowest condition to which humanity can sink; while the +sunken eye, pallid cheek, and tottering form of the nobleman with +whom he was confronted, showed how little wealth, power, and even the +advantages of youth, have to do with that which gives repose to the +mind, and firmness to the frame. + +The Earl met the old man in the middle of the room, and having commanded +his attendant to withdraw into the gallery, and suffer no one to enter +the antechamber till he rung the bell, awaited, with hurried yet fearful +impatience, until he heard first the door of his apartment, and then +that of the antechamber, shut and fastened by the spring-bolt. When he +was satisfied with this security against being overheard, Lord Glenallan +came close up to the mendicant, whom he probably mistook for some person +of a religious order in disguise, and said, in a hasty yet faltering +tone, "In the name of all our religion holds most holy, tell me, +reverend father, what am I to expect from a communication opened by a +token connected with such horrible recollections?" + +The old man, appalled by a manner so different from what he had expected +from the proud and powerful nobleman, was at a loss how to answer, and +in what manner to undeceive him. "Tell me," continued the Earl, in a +tone of increasing trepidation and agony—"tell me, do you come to say +that all that has been done to expiate guilt so horrible, has been too +little and too trivial for the offence, and to point out new and +more efficacious modes of severe penance?—I will not blench from it, +father—let me suffer the pains of my crime here in the body, rather than +hereafter in the spirit!" + +Edie had now recollection enough to perceive, that if he did not +interrupt the frankness of Lord Glenallan's admissions, he was likely +to become the confidant of more than might be safe for him to know. +He therefore uttered with a hasty and trembling voice—"Your lordship's +honour is mistaken—I am not of your persuasion, nor a clergyman, but, +with all reverence, only puir Edie Ochiltree, the king's bedesman and +your honour's." + +This explanation he accompanied by a profound bow after his manner, and +then, drawing himself up erect, rested his arm on his staff, threw back +his long white hair, and fixed his eyes upon the Earl, as he waited for +an answer. + +"And you are not then," said Lord Glenallan, after a pause of surprise— +"You are not then a Catholic priest?" + +"God forbid!" said Edie, forgetting in his confusion to whom he was +speaking; "I am only the king's bedesman and your honour's, as I said +before." + +The Earl turned hastily away, and paced the room twice or thrice, as if +to recover the effects of his mistake, and then, coming close up to the +mendicant, he demanded, in a stern and commanding tone, what he meant +by intruding himself on his privacy, and from whence he had got the ring +which he had thought proper to send him. Edie, a man of much spirit, was +less daunted at this mode of interrogation than he had been confused by +the tone of confidence in which the Earl had opened their conversation. +To the reiterated question from whom he had obtained the ring, he +answered composedly, "From one who was better known to the Earl than to +him." + +"Better known to me, fellow?" said Lord Glenallan: "what is your +meaning?—explain yourself instantly, or you shall experience the +consequence of breaking in upon the hours of family distress." + +"It was auld Elspeth Mucklebackit that sent me here," said the beggar, +"in order to say"— + +"You dote, old man!" said the Earl; "I never heard the name—but this +dreadful token reminds me"— + +"I mind now, my lord," said Ochiltree, "she tauld me your lordship would +be mair familiar wi' her, if I ca'd her Elspeth o' the Craigburnfoot—she +had that name when she lived on your honour's land, that is, your +honour's worshipful mother's that was then—Grace be wi' her!" + +"Ay," said the appalled nobleman, as his countenance sunk, and his cheek +assumed a hue yet more cadaverous; "that name is indeed written in the +most tragic page of a deplorable history. But what can she desire of me? +Is she dead or living?" + +"Living, my lord; and entreats to see your lordship before she dies, for +she has something to communicate that hangs upon her very soul, and she +says she canna flit in peace until she sees you." + +"Not until she sees me!—what can that mean? But she is doting with age +and infirmity. I tell thee, friend, I called at her cottage myself, not +a twelvemonth since, from a report that she was in distress, and she did +not even know my face or voice." + +"If your honour wad permit me," said Edie, to whom the length of the +conference restored a part of his professional audacity and native +talkativeness—"if your honour wad but permit me, I wad say, under +correction of your lordship's better judgment, that auld Elspeth's like +some of the ancient ruined strengths and castles that ane sees amang the +hills. There are mony parts of her mind that appear, as I may say, laid +waste and decayed, but then there's parts that look the steever, and +the stronger, and the grander, because they are rising just like to +fragments amaong the ruins o' the rest. She's an awful woman." + +"She always was so," said the Earl, almost unconsciously echoing the +observation of the mendicant; "she always was different from other +women—likest perhaps to her who is now no more, in her temper and turn +of mind.—She wishes to see me, then?" + +"Before she dies," said Edie, "she earnestly entreats that pleasure." + +"It will be a pleasure to neither of us," said the Earl, sternly, "yet +she shall be gratified. She lives, I think, on the sea-shore to the +southward of Fairport?" + +"Just between Monkbarns and Knockwinnock Castle, but nearer to +Monkbarns. Your lordship's honour will ken the laird and Sir Arthur, +doubtless?" + +A stare, as if he did not comprehend the question, was Lord Glenallan's +answer. Edie saw his mind was elsewhere, and did not venture to repeat a +query which was so little germain to the matter. + +"Are you a Catholic, old man?" demanded the Earl. + +"No, my lord," said Ochiltree stoutly; for the remembrance of the +unequal division of the dole rose in his mind at the moment; "I thank +Heaven I am a good Protestant." + +"He who can conscientiously call himself good, has indeed reason to +thank Heaven, be his form of Christianity what it will—But who is he +that shall dare to do so!" + +"Not I," said Edie; "I trust to beware of the sin of presumption." + +"What was your trade in your youth?" continued the Earl. + +"A soldier, my lord; and mony a sair day's kemping I've seen. I was to +have been made a sergeant, but"— + +"A soldier! then you have slain and burnt, and sacked and spoiled?" + +"I winna say," replied Edie, "that I have been better than my +neighbours;—it's a rough trade—war's sweet to them that never tried it." + +"And you are now old and miserable, asking from precarious charity the +food which in your youth you tore from the hand of the poor peasant?" + +"I am a beggar, it is true, my lord; but I am nae just sae miserable +neither. For my sins, I hae had grace to repent of them, if I might say +sae, and to lay them where they may be better borne than by me; and for +my food, naebody grudges an auld man a bit and a drink—Sae I live as I +can, and am contented to die when I am ca'd upon." + +"And thus, then, with little to look back upon that is pleasant or +praiseworthy in your past life—with less to look forward to on this side +of eternity, you are contented to drag out the rest of your existence? +Go, begone! and in your age and poverty and weariness, never envy +the lord of such a mansion as this, either in his sleeping or waking +moments—Here is something for thee." + +The Earl put into the old man's hand five or six guineas. Edie would +perhaps have stated his scruples, as upon other occasions, to the amount +of the benefaction, but the tone of Lord Glenallan was too absolute to +admit of either answer or dispute. The Earl then called his servant—"See +this old man safe from the castle—let no one ask him any questions—and +you, friend, begone, and forget the road that leads to my house." + +"That would be difficult for me," said Edie, looking at the gold which +he still held in his hand, "that would be e'en difficult, since your +honour has gien me such gade cause to remember it." + +Lord Glenallan stared, as hardly comprehending the old man's boldness +in daring to bandy words with him, and, with his hand, made him another +signal of departure, which the mendicant instantly obeyed. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTH. + + For he was one in all their idle sport, + And like a monarch, ruled their little court + The pliant bow he formed, the flying ball, + The bat, the wicket, were his labours all. + Crabbe's Village. + +Francis Macraw, agreeably to the commands of his master, attended +the mendicant, in order to see him fairly out of the estate, without +permitting him to have conversation, or intercourse, with any of the +Earl's dependents or domestics. But, judiciously considering that the +restriction did not extend to himself, who was the person entrusted with +the convoy, he used every measure in his power to extort from Edie the +nature of his confidential and secret interview with Lord Glenallan. But +Edie had been in his time accustomed to cross-examination, and easily +evaded those of his quondam comrade. "The secrets of grit folk," said +Ochiltree within himself, "are just like the wild beasts that are shut +up in cages. Keep them hard and fast sneaked up, and it's a' very weel +or better—but ance let them out, they will turn and rend you. I mind how +ill Dugald Gunn cam aff for letting loose his tongue about the Major's +leddy and Captain Bandilier." + +Francis was therefore foiled in his assaults upon the fidelity of the +mendicant, and, like an indifferent chess-player, became, at every +unsuccessful movement, more liable to the counter-checks of his +opponent. + +"Sae ye uphauld ye had nae particulars to say to my lord but about yer +ain matters?" + +"Ay, and about the wee bits o' things I had brought frae abroad," said +Edie. "I ken'd you popist folk are unco set on the relics that are +fetched frae far-kirks and sae forth." + +"Troth, my Lord maun be turned feel outright," said the domestic, "an +he puts himsell into sic a carfuffle, for onything ye could bring him, +Edie." + +"I doubtna ye may say true in the main, neighbour," replied the beggar; +"but maybe he's had some hard play in his younger days, Francis, and +that whiles unsettles folk sair." + +"Troth, Edie, and ye may say that—and since it's like yell neer come +back to the estate, or, if ye dee, that ye'll no find me there, I'se +e'en tell you he had a heart in his young time sae wrecked and rent, +that it's a wonder it hasna broken outright lang afore this day." + +"Ay, say ye sae?" said Ochiltree; "that maun hae been about a woman, I +reckon?" + +"Troth, and ye hae guessed it," said Francie—"jeest a cusin o' his +nain—Miss Eveline Neville, as they suld hae ca'd her;—there was a sough +in the country about it, but it was hushed up, as the grandees +were concerned;—it's mair than twenty years syne—ay, it will be +three-and-twenty." + +"Ay, I was in America then," said the mendicant, "and no in the way to +hear the country clashes." + +"There was little clash about it, man," replied Macraw; "he liked this +young leddy, ana suld hae married her, but his mother fand it out, and +then the deil gaed o'er Jock Webster. At last, the peer lass clodded +hersell o'er the scaur at the Craigburnfoot into the sea, and there was +an end o't." + +"An end ot wi' the puir leddy," said the mendicant, "but, as I reckon, +nae end o't wi' the yerl." + +"Nae end o't till his life makes an end," answered the Aberdonian. + +"But what for did the auld Countess forbid the marriage?" continued the +persevering querist. + +"Fat for!—she maybe didna weel ken for fat hersell, for she gar'd a' +bow to her bidding, right or wrang—But it was ken'd the young leddy was +inclined to some o' the heresies of the country—mair by token, she was +sib to him nearer than our Church's rule admits of. Sae the leddy was +driven to the desperate act, and the yerl has never since held his head +up like a man." + +"Weel away!" replied Ochiltree:—"it's e'en queer I neer heard this tale +afore." + +"It's e'en queer that ye heard it now, for deil ane o' the servants +durst hae spoken o't had the auld Countess been living. Eh, man, Edie! +but she was a trimmer—it wad hae taen a skeely man to hae squared wi' +her!—But she's in her grave, and we may loose our tongues a bit fan +we meet a friend.—But fare ye weel, Edie—I maun be back to the +evening-service. An' ye come to Inverurie maybe sax months awa, dinna +forget to ask after Francie Macraw." + +What one kindly pressed, the other as firmly promised; and the friends +having thus parted, with every testimony of mutual regard, the domestic +of Lord Glenallan took his road back to the seat of his master, leaving +Ochiltree to trace onward his habitual pilgrimage. + +It was a fine summer evening, and the world—that is, the little circle +which was all in all to the individual by whom it was trodden, lay +before Edie Ochiltree, for the choosing of his night's quarters. When +he had passed the less hospitable domains of Glenallan, he had in his +option so many places of refuge for the evening, that he was nice, and +even fastidious in the choice. Ailie Sim's public was on the road-side +about a mile before him, but there would be a parcel of young fellows +there on the Saturday night, and that was a bar to civil conversation. +Other "gudemen and gudewives," as the farmers and their dames are termed +in Scotland, successively presented themselves to his imagination. But +one was deaf, and could not hear him; another toothless, and could not +make him hear; a third had a cross temper; and a fourth an ill-natured +house-dog. At Monkbarns or Knockwinnock he was sure of a favourable +and hospitable reception; but they lay too distant to be conveniently +reached that night. + +"I dinna ken how it is," said the old man, "but I am nicer about my +quarters this night than ever I mind having been in my life. I think, +having seen a' the braws yonder, and finding out ane may be happier +without them, has made me proud o' my ain lot—But I wuss it bode me +gude, for pride goeth before destruction. At ony rate, the warst barn +e'er man lay in wad be a pleasanter abode than Glenallan House, wi' a' +the pictures and black velvet, and silver bonny-wawlies belonging to it— +Sae I'll e'en settle at ance, and put in for Ailie Sims." + +As the old man descended the hill above the little hamlet to which he +was bending his course, the setting sun had relieved its inmates +from their labour, and the young men, availing themselves of the fine +evening, were engaged in the sport of long-bowls on a patch of common, +while the women and elders looked on. The shout, the laugh, the +exclamations of winners and losers, came in blended chorus up the path +which Ochiltree was descending, and awakened in his recollection the +days when he himself had been a keen competitor, and frequently victor, +in games of strength and agility. These remembrances seldom fail to +excite a sigh, even when the evening of life is cheered by brighter +prospects than those of our poor mendicant. "At that time of day," was +his natural reflection, "I would have thought as little about ony auld +palmering body that was coming down the edge of Kinblythemont, as ony o' +thae stalwart young chiels does e'enow about auld Edie Ochiltree." + +He was, however, presently cheered, by finding that more importance was +attached to his arrival than his modesty had anticipated. A disputed +cast had occurred between the bands of players, and as the gauger +favoured the one party, and the schoolmaster the other, the matter might +be said to be taken up by the higher powers. The miller and smith, also, +had espoused different sides, and, considering the vivacity of two +such disputants, there was reason to doubt whether the strife might +be amicably terminated. But the first person who caught a sight of the +mendicant exclaimed, "Ah! here comes auld Edie, that kens the rules of +a' country games better than ony man that ever drave a bowl, or threw +an axle-tree, or putted a stane either;—let's hae nae quarrelling, +callants—we'll stand by auld Edie's judgment." + +Edie was accordingly welcomed, and installed as umpire, with a general +shout of gratulation. With all the modesty of a Bishop to whom the +mitre is proffered, or of a new Speaker called to the chair, the old man +declined the high trust and responsibility with which it was proposed to +invest him, and, in requital for his self-denial and humility, had +the pleasure of receiving the reiterated assurances of young, old, and +middle-aged, that he was simply the best qualified person for the office +of arbiter "in the haill country-side." Thus encouraged, he proceeded +gravely to the execution of his duty, and, strictly forbidding all +aggravating expressions on either side, he heard the smith and gauger on +one side, the miller and schoolmaster on the other, as junior and senior +counsel. Edie's mind, however, was fully made up on the subject before +the pleading began; like that of many a judge, who must nevertheless go +through all the forms, and endure in its full extent the eloquence and +argumentation of the Bar. For when all had been said on both sides, +and much of it said over oftener than once, our senior, being well and +ripely advised, pronounced the moderate and healing judgment, that the +disputed cast was a drawn one, and should therefore count to neither +party. This judicious decision restored concord to the field of +players; they began anew to arrange their match and their bets, with the +clamorous mirth usual on such occasions of village sport, and the more +eager were already stripping their jackets, and committing them, +with their coloured handkerchiefs, to the care of wives, sisters, and +mistresses. But their mirth was singularly interrupted. + +On the outside of the group of players began to arise sounds of a +description very different from those of sport—that sort of suppressed +sigh and exclamation, with which the first news of calamity is received +by the hearers, began to be heard indistinctly. A buzz went about among +the women of "Eh, sirs! sae young and sae suddenly summoned!"—It then +extended itself among the men, and silenced the sounds of sportive +mirth. + +All understood at once that some disaster had happened in the country, +and each inquired the cause at his neighbour, who knew as little as the +querist. At length the rumour reached, in a distinct shape, the ears of +Edie Ochiltree, who was in the very centre of the assembly. The boat of +Mucklebackit, the fisherman whom we have so often mentioned, had been +swamped at sea, and four men had perished, it was affirmed, including +Mucklebackit and his son. Rumour had in this, however, as in other +cases, gone beyond the truth. The boat had indeed been overset; but +Stephen, or, as he was called, Steenie Mucklebackit, was the only man +who had been drowned. Although the place of his residence and his mode +of life removed the young man from the society of the country folks, yet +they failed not to pause in their rustic mirth to pay that tribute to +sudden calamity which it seldom fails to receive in cases of infrequent +occurrence. To Ochiltree, in particular, the news came like a knell, the +rather that he had so lately engaged this young man's assistance in +an affair of sportive mischief; and though neither loss nor injury was +designed to the German adept, yet the work was not precisely one in +which the latter hours of life ought to be occupied. + +Misfortunes never come alone. While Ochiltree, pensively leaning upon +his staff, added his regrets to those of the hamlet which bewailed +the young man's sudden death, and internally blamed himself for the +transaction in which he had so lately engaged him, the old man's collar +was seized by a peace-officer, who displayed his baton in his right +hand, and exclaimed, "In the king's name." + +The gauger and schoolmaster united their rhetoric, to prove to the +constable and his assistant that he had no right to arrest the king's +bedesman as a vagrant; and the mute eloquence of the miller and smith, +which was vested in their clenched fists, was prepared to give Highland +bail for their arbiter; his blue gown, they said, was his warrant for +travelling the country. + +"But his blue gown," answered the officer, "is nae protection for +assault, robbery, and murder; and my warrant is against him for these +crimes." + +"Murder!" said Edie, "murder! wha did I e'er murder?" + +"Mr. German Doustercivil, the agent at Glen-Withershins mining-works." + +"Murder Doustersnivel?—hout, he's living, and life-like, man." + +"Nae thanks to you if he be; he had a sair struggle for his life, if a' +be true he tells, and ye maun answer for't at the bidding of the law." + +The defenders of the mendicant shrunk back at hearing the atrocity of +the charges against him, but more than one kind hand thrust meat and +bread and pence upon Edie, to maintain him in the prison, to which the +officers were about to conduct him. + +"Thanks to ye! God bless ye a', bairns!—I've gotten out o' mony a snare +when I was waur deserving o' deliverance—I shall escape like a bird from +the fowler. Play out your play, and never mind me—I am mair grieved for +the puir lad that's gane, than for aught they can do to me." + +Accordingly, the unresisting prisoner was led off, while he mechanically +accepted and stored in his wallets the alms which poured in on every +hand, and ere he left the hamlet, was as deep-laden as a government +victualler. The labour of bearing this accumulating burden was, however, +abridged, by the officer procuring a cart and horse to convey the old +man to a magistrate, in order to his examination and committal. + +The disaster of Steenie, and the arrest of Edie, put a stop to the +sports of the village, the pensive inhabitants of which began to +speculate upon the vicissitudes of human affairs, which had so suddenly +consigned one of their comrades to the grave, and placed their master +of the revels in some danger of being hanged. The character of +Dousterswivel being pretty generally known, which was in his case +equivalent to being pretty generally detested, there were many +speculations upon the probability of the accusation being malicious. But +all agreed, that if Edie Ochiltree behoved in all events to suffer upon +this occasion, it was a great pity he had not better merited his fate by +killing Dousterswivel outright. + + + + +CHAPTER NINTH + + Who is he?—One that for the lack of land + Shall fight upon the water—he hath challenged + Formerly the grand whale; and by his titles + Of Leviathan, Behemoth, and so forth. + He tilted with a sword-fish—Marry, sir, + Th' aquatic had the best—the argument + Still galls our champion's breech. + Old Play. + +"And the poor young fellow, Steenie Mucklebackit, is to be buried this +morning," said our old friend the Antiquary, as he exchanged his quilted +night-gown for an old-fashioned black coat in lieu of the snuff-coloured +vestment which he ordinarily wore, "and, I presume, it is expected that +I should attend the funeral?" + +"Ou, ay," answered the faithful Caxon, officiously brushing the white +threads and specks from his patron's habit. "The body, God help us! was +sae broken against the rocks that they're fain to hurry the burial. The +sea's a kittle cast, as I tell my daughter, puir thing, when I want +her to get up her spirits; the sea, says I, Jenny, is as uncertain a +calling"— + +"As the calling of an old periwig-maker, that's robbed of his business +by crops and the powder-tax. Caxon, thy topics of consolation are as ill +chosen as they are foreign to the present purpose.Quid mihi cum faemina? +What have I to do with thy womankind, who have enough and to spare of +mine own?—I pray of you again, am I expected by these poor people to +attend the funeral of their son?" + +"Ou, doubtless, your honour is expected," answered Caxon; "weel I wot ye +are expected. Ye ken, in this country ilka gentleman is wussed to be sae +civil as to see the corpse aff his grounds; ye needna gang higher than +the loan-head—it's no expected your honour suld leave the land; it's +just a Kelso convoy, a step and a half ower the doorstane." + +"A Kelso convoy!" echoed the inquisitive Antiquary; "and why a Kelso +convoy more than any other?" + +"Dear sir," answered Caxon, "how should I ken? it's just a by-word." + +"Caxon," answered Oldbuck, "thou art a mere periwig-maker—Had I asked +Ochiltree the question, he would have had a legend ready made to my +hand." + +"My business," replied Caxon, with more animation than he commonly +displayed, "is with the outside of your honour's head, as ye are +accustomed to say." + +"True, Caxon, true; and it is no reproach to a thatcher that he is not +an upholsterer." + +He then took out his memorandum-book and wrote down "Kelso convoy—said +to be a step and a half over the threshold. Authority—Caxon.—Quaere— +Whence derived? Mem. To write to Dr. Graysteel upon the subject." + +Having made this entry, he resumed—"And truly, as to this custom of +the landlord attending the body of the peasant, I approve it, Caxon. It +comes from ancient times, and was founded deep in the notions of mutual +aid and dependence between the lord and cultivator of the soil. And +herein I must say, the feudal system—(as also in its courtesy towards +womankind, in which it exceeded)—herein, I say, the feudal usages +mitigated and softened the sternness of classical times. No man, Caxon, +ever heard of a Spartan attending the funeral of a Helot—yet I dare be +sworn that John of the Girnel—ye have heard of him, Caxon?" + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Caxon; "naebody can hae been lang in your +honour's company without hearing of that gentleman." + +"Well," continued the Antiquary, "I would bet a trifle there was not +a kolb kerl, or bondsman, or peasant, ascriptus glebae, died upon the +monks' territories down here, but John of the Girnel saw them fairly and +decently interred." + +"Ay, but if it like your honour, they say he had mair to do wi' the +births than the burials. Ha! ha! ha!" with a gleeful chuckle. + +"Good, Caxon, very good!—why, you shine this morning." + +"And besides," added Caxon, slyly, encouraged by his patron's +approbation, "they say, too, that the Catholic priests in thae times gat +something for ganging about to burials." + +"Right, Caxon! right as my glove! By the by, I fancy that phrase comes +from the custom of pledging a glove as the signal of irrefragable faith— +right, I say, as my glove, Caxon—but we of the Protestant ascendency +have the more merit in doing that duty for nothing, which cost money in +the reign of that empress of superstition, whom Spenser, Caxon, terms in +his allegorical phrase, + + —The daughter of that woman blind, + Abessa, daughter of Corecca slow— + +But why talk I of these things to thee?—my poor Lovel has spoiled me, +and taught me to speak aloud when it is much the same as speaking to +myself. Where's my nephew, Hector M'Intyre?" + +"He's in the parlour, sir, wi' the leddies." + +"Very well," said the Antiquary, "I will betake me thither." + +"Now, Monkbarns," said his sister, on his entering the parlour, "ye +maunna be angry." + +"My dear uncle!" began Miss M'Intyre. + +"What's the meaning of all this?" said Oldbuck, in alarm of some +impending bad news, and arguing upon the supplicating tone of the +ladies, as a fortress apprehends an attack from the very first flourish +of the trumpet which announces the summons—"what's all this?—what do you +bespeak my patience for?" + +"No particular matter, I should hope, sir," said Hector, who, with his +arm in a sling, was seated at the breakfast table;—"however, whatever it +may amount to I am answerable for it, as I am for much more trouble +that I have occasioned, and for which I have little more than thanks to +offer." + +"No, no! heartily welcome, heartily welcome—only let it be a warning to +you," said the Antiquary, "against your fits of anger, which is a short +madness—Ira furor brevis—but what is this new disaster?" + +"My dog, sir, has unfortunately thrown down"— + +"If it please Heaven, not the lachrymatory from Clochnaben!" interjected +Oldbuck. + +"Indeed, uncle," said the young lady, "I am afraid—it was that which +stood upon the sideboard—the poor thing only meant to eat the pat of +fresh butter." + +"In which she has fully succeeded, I presume, for I see that on the +table is salted. But that is nothing—my lachrymatory, the main pillar +of my theory on which I rested to show, in despite of the ignorant +obstinacy of Mac-Cribb, that the Romans had passed the defiles of +these mountains, and left behind them traces of their arts and arms, is +gone—annihilated— reduced to such fragments as might be the shreds of a +broken-flowerpot! + + —Hector, I love thee, + But never more be officer of mine." + +"Why, really, sir, I am afraid I should make a bad figure in a regiment +of your raising." + +"At least, Hector, I would have you despatch your camp train, and +travel expeditus, or relictis impedimentis. You cannot conceive how I am +annoyed by this beast—she commits burglary, I believe, for I heard her +charged with breaking into the kitchen after all the doors were locked, +and eating up a shoulder of mutton. "—(Our readers, if they chance to +remember Jenny Rintherout's precaution of leaving the door open when +she went down to the fisher's cottage, will probably acquit poor Juno of +that aggravation of guilt which the lawyers call a claustrum fregit, and +which makes the distinction between burglary and privately stealing. ) + +"I am truly sorry, sir," said Hector, "that Juno has committed so much +disorder; but Jack Muirhead, the breaker, was never able to bring her +under command. She has more travel than any bitch I ever knew, but"— + +"Then, Hector, I wish the bitch would travel herself out of my grounds." + +"We will both of us retreat to-morrow, or to-day, but I would not +willingly part from my mother's brother in unkindness about a paltry +pipkin." + +"O brother! brother!" ejaculated Miss M'Intyre, in utter despair at this +vituperative epithet. + +"Why, what would you have me call it?" continued Hector; "it was just +such a thing as they use in Egypt to cool wine, or sherbet, or water;—I +brought home a pair of them—I might have brought home twenty." + +"What!" said Oldbuck, "shaped such as that your dog threw down?" + +"Yes, sir, much such a sort of earthen jar as that which was on the +sideboard. They are in my lodgings at Fairport; we brought a parcel of +them to cool our wine on the passage—they answer wonderfully well. If +I could think they would in any degree repay your loss, or rather that +they could afford you pleasure, I am sure I should be much honoured by +your accepting them." + +"Indeed, my dear boy, I should be highly gratified by possessing them. +To trace the connection of nations by their usages, and the similarity +of the implements which they employ, has been long my favourite study. +Everything that can illustrate such connections is most valuable to me." + +"Well, sir, I shall be much gratified by your acceptance of them, and +a few trifles of the same kind. And now, am I to hope you have forgiven +me?" + +"O, my dear boy, you are only thoughtless and foolish." + +"But Juno—she is only thoughtless too, I assure you—the breaker tells me +she has no vice or stubbornness." + +"Well, I grant Juno also a free pardon—conditioned, that you will +imitate her in avoiding vice and stubbornness, and that henceforward she +banish herself forth of Monkbarns parlour." + +"Then, uncle," said the soldier, "I should have been very sorry and +ashamed to propose to you anything in the way of expiation of my own +sins, or those of my follower, that I thought worth your acceptance; but +now, as all is forgiven, will you permit the orphan-nephew, to whom you +have been a father, to offer you a trifle, which I have been assured +is really curious, and which only the cross accident of my wound has +prevented my delivering to you before? I got it from a French savant, to +whom I rendered some service after the Alexandria affair." + +The captain put a small ring-case into the Antiquary's hands, which, +when opened, was found to contain an antique ring of massive gold, with +a cameo, most beautifully executed, bearing a head of Cleopatra. +The Antiquary broke forth into unrepressed ecstasy, shook his nephew +cordially by the hand, thanked him an hundred times, and showed the +ring to his sister and niece, the latter of whom had the tact to give +it sufficient admiration; but Miss Griselda (though she had the same +affection for her nephew) had not address enough to follow the lead. + +"It's a bonny thing," she said, "Monkbarns, and, I dare say, a valuable; +but it's out o'my way—ye ken I am nae judge o' sic matters." + +"There spoke all Fairport in one voice!" exclaimed Oldbuck "it is the +very spirit of the borough has infected us all; I think I have smelled +the smoke these two days, that the wind has stuck, like a remora, in the +north-east—and its prejudices fly farther than its vapours. Believe +me, my dear Hector, were I to walk up the High Street of Fairport, +displaying this inestimable gem in the eyes of each one I met, no human +creature, from the provost to the town-crier, would stop to ask me its +history. But if I carried a bale of linen cloth under my arm, I could +not penetrate to the Horsemarket ere I should be overwhelmed with +queries about its precise texture and price. Oh, one might parody their +brutal ignorance in the words of Gray: + + Weave the warp and weave the woof, + The winding-sheet of wit and sense, + Dull garment of defensive proof, + 'Gainst all that doth not gather pence." + +The most remarkable proof of this peace-offering being quite acceptable +was, that while the Antiquary was in full declamation, Juno, who held +him in awe, according to the remarkable instinct by which dogs instantly +discover those who like or dislike them, had peeped several times into +the room, and encountering nothing very forbidding in his aspect, had at +length presumed to introduce her full person; and finally, becoming bold +by impunity, she actually ate up Mr. Oldbuck's toast, as, looking +first at one then at another of his audience, he repeated, with +self-complacency, + + "Weave the warp and weave the woof,— + +"You remember the passage in the Fatal Sisters, which, by the way, is +not so fine as in the original—But, hey-day! my toast has vanished!—I +see which way—Ah, thou type of womankind! no wonder they take offence +at thy generic appellation!"—(So saying, he shook his fist at Juno, who +scoured out of the parlour.)—"However, as Jupiter, according to Homer, +could not rule Juno in heaven, and as Jack Muirhead, according to Hector +M'Intyre, has been equally unsuccessful on earth, I suppose she must +have her own way." And this mild censure the brother and sister justly +accounted a full pardon for Juno's offences, and sate down well pleased +to the morning meal. + +When breakfast was over, the Antiquary proposed to his nephew to go +down with him to attend the funeral. The soldier pleaded the want of a +mourning habit. + +"O, that does not signify—your presence is all that is requisite. I +assure you, you will see something that will entertain—no, that's an +improper phrase—but that will interest you, from the resemblances which +I will point out betwixt popular customs on such occasions and those of +the ancients." + +"Heaven forgive me!" thought M'Intyre;—"I shall certainly misbehave, and +lose all the credit I have so lately and accidentally gained." + +When they set out, schooled as he was by the warning and entreating +looks of his sister, the soldier made his resolution strong to give no +offence by evincing inattention or impatience. But our best resolutions +are frail, when opposed to our predominant inclinations. Our +Antiquary,—to leave nothing unexplained, had commenced with the funeral +rites of the ancient Scandinavians, when his nephew interrupted him, in +a discussion upon the "age of hills," to remark that a large sea-gull, +which flitted around them, had come twice within shot. This error being +acknowledged and pardoned, Oldbuck resumed his disquisition. + +"These are circumstances you ought to attend to and be familiar with, my +dear Hector; for, in the strange contingencies of the present war which +agitates every corner of Europe, there is no knowing where you may be +called upon to serve. If in Norway, for example, or Denmark, or any part +of the ancient Scania, or Scandinavia, as we term it, what could be +more convenient than to have at your fingers' ends the history and +antiquities of that ancient country, the officina gentium, the mother of +modern Europe, the nursery of those heroes, + + Stern to inflict, and stubborn to endure, + Who smiled in death?— + +How animating, for example, at the conclusion of a weary march, to find +yourself in the vicinity of a Runic monument, and discover that you have +pitched your tent beside the tomb of a hero!" + +"I am afraid, sir, our mess would be better supplied if it chanced to be +in the neighbourhood of a good poultry-yard." + +"Alas, that you should say so! No wonder the days of Cressy and +Agincourt are no more, when respect for ancient valour has died away in +the breasts of the British soldiery." + +"By no means, sir—by no manner of means. I dare say that Edward and +Henry, and the rest of these heroes, thought of their dinner, however, +before they thought of examining an old tombstone. But I assure you, we +are by no means insensible to the memoir of our fathers' fame; I used +often of an evening to get old Rory MAlpin to sing us songs out of +Ossian about the battles of Fingal and Lamon Mor, and Magnus and the +Spirit of Muirartach." + +"And did you believe," asked the aroused Antiquary, "did you absolutely +believe that stuff of Macpherson's to be really ancient, you simple +boy?" + +"Believe it, sir?—how could I but believe it, when I have heard the +songs sung from my infancy?" + +"But not the same as Macpherson's English Ossian—you're not absurd +enough to say that, I hope?" said the Antiquary, his brow darkening with +wrath. + +But Hector stoutly abode the storm; like many a sturdy Celt, he imagined +the honour of his country and native language connected with the +authenticity of these popular poems, and would have fought knee-deep, +or forfeited life and land, rather than have given up a line of them. +He therefore undauntedly maintained, that Rory MAlpin could repeat +the whole book from one end to another;—and it was only upon +cross-examination that he explained an assertion so general, by adding +"At least, if he was allowed whisky enough, he could repeat as long as +anybody would hearken to him." + +"Ay, ay," said the Antiquary; "and that, I suppose, was not very long." + +"Why, we had our duty, sir, to attend to, and could not sit listening +all night to a piper." + +"But do you recollect, now," said Oldbuck, setting his teeth firmly +together, and speaking without opening them, which was his custom when +contradicted—"Do you recollect, now, any of these verses you thought +so beautiful and interesting—being a capital judge, no doubt, of such +things?" + +"I don't pretend to much skill, uncle; but it's not very reasonable to +be angry with me for admiring the antiquities of my own country more +than those of the Harolds, Harfagers, and Hacos you are so fond of." + +"Why, these, sir—these mighty and unconquered Goths—were your ancestors! +The bare-breeched Celts whom theysubdued, and suffered only to exist, +like a fearful people, in the crevices of the rocks, were but their +Mancipia and Serfs!" + +Hector's brow now grew red in his turn. "Sir," he said, "I don't +understand the meaning of Mancipia and Serfs, but I conceive that such +names are very improperly applied to Scotch Highlanders: no man but my +mother's brother dared to have used such language in my presence; and +I pray you will observe, that I consider it as neither hospitable, +handsome, kind, nor generous usage towards your guest and your kinsman. +My ancestors, Mr. Oldbuck"— + +"Were great and gallant chiefs, I dare say, Hector; and really I did +not mean to give you such immense offence in treating a point of remote +antiquity, a subject on which I always am myself cool, deliberate, and +unimpassioned. But you are as hot and hasty, as if you were Hector and +Achilles, and Agamemnon to boot." + +"I am sorry I expressed myself so hastily, uncle, especially to you, who +have been so generous and good. But my ancestors"— + +"No more about it, lad; I meant them no affront—none." + +"I'm glad of it, sir; for the house of M'Intyre"— + +"Peace be with them all, every man of them," said the Antiquary. "But to +return to our subject—Do you recollect, I say, any of those poems which +afforded you such amusement?" + +"Very hard this," thought M'Intyre, "that he will speak with such glee +of everything which is ancient, excepting my family. "—Then, after +some efforts at recollection, he added aloud, "Yes, sir,—I think I do +remember some lines; but you do not understand the Gaelic language." + +"And will readily excuse hearing it. But you can give me some idea of +the sense in our own vernacular idiom?" + +"I shall prove a wretched interpreter," said M'Intyre, running over +the original, well garnished with aghes, aughs, and oughs, and similar +gutterals, and then coughing and hawking as if the translation stuck +in his throat. At length, having premised that the poem was a dialogue +between the poet Oisin, or Ossian, and Patrick, the tutelar Saint of +Ireland, and that it was difficult, if not impossible, to render the +exquisite felicity of the first two or three lines, he said the sense +was to this purpose: + + "Patrick the psalm-singer, + Since you will not listen to one of my stories, + Though you never heard it before, + I am sorry to tell you + You are little better than an ass"— + +"Good! good!" exclaimed the Antiquary; "but go on. Why, this is, after +all, the most admirable fooling—I dare say the poet was very right. What +says the Saint?" + +"He replies in character," said M'Intyre; "but you should hear MAlpin +sing the original. The speeches of Ossian come in upon a strong deep +bass—those of Patrick are upon a tenor key." + +"Like MAlpin's drone and small pipes, I suppose," said Oldbuck. "Well? +Pray go on." + +"Well then, Patrick replies to Ossian: + + Upon my word, son of Fingal, + While I am warbling the psalms, + The clamour of your old women's tales + Disturbs my devotional exercises." + +"Excellent!—why, this is better and better. I hope Saint Patrick sung +better than Blattergowl's precentor, or it would be hang—choice between +the poet and psalmist. But what I admire is the courtesy of these two +eminent persons towards each other. It is a pity there should not be a +word of this in Macpherson's translation." + +"If you are sure of that," said M'Intyre, gravely, "he must have taken +very unwarrantable liberties with his original." + +"It will go near to be thought so shortly—but pray proceed." + +"Then," said M'Intyre, "this is the answer of Ossian: + + Dare you compare your psalms, + You son of a—" + +"Son of a what?" exclaimed Oldbuck. + +"It means, I think," said the young soldier, with some reluctance, "son +of a female dog: + + Do you compare your psalms, + To the tales of the bare-arm'd Fenians" + +"Are you sure you are translating that last epithet correctly, Hector?" + +"Quite sure, sir," answered Hector, doggedly. + +"Because I should have thought the nudity might have been quoted as +existing in a different part of the body." + +Disdaining to reply to this insinuation, Hector proceeded in his +recitation: + + "I shall think it no great harm + To wring your bald head from your shoulders— + +But what is that yonder?" exclaimed Hector, interrupting himself. + +"One of the herd of Proteus," said the Antiquary—"a phoca, or seal, +lying asleep on the beach." + +Upon which M'Intyre, with the eagerness of a young sportsman, totally +forgot both Ossian, Patrick, his uncle, and his wound, and exclaiming—"I +shall have her! I shall have her!" snatched the walking-stick out of the +hand of the astonished Antiquary, at some risk of throwing him down, and +set off at full speed to get between the animal and the sea, to which +element, having caught the alarm, she was rapidly retreating. + +Not Sancho, when his master interrupted his account of the combatants of +Pentapolin with the naked arm, to advance in person to the charge of +the flock of sheep, stood more confounded than Oldbuck at this sudden +escapade of his nephew. + +"Is the devil in him," was his first exclamation, "to go to disturb +the brute that was never thinking of him!"—Then elevating his voice, +"Hector—nephew—fool—let alone the Phoca—let alone the Phoca!— they bite, +I tell you, like furies. He minds me no more than a post. There—there +they are at it—Gad, the Phoca has the best of it! I am glad to see it," +said he, in the bitterness of his heart, though really alarmed for his +nephew's safety—"I am glad to see it, with all my heart and spirit." + +In truth, the seal, finding her retreat intercepted by the light-footed +soldier, confronted him manfully, and having sustained a heavy blow +without injury, she knitted her brows, as is the fashion of the animal +when incensed, and making use at once of her fore-paws and her unwieldy +strength, wrenched the weapon out of the assailant's hand, overturned +him on the sands, and scuttled away into the sea, without doing him any +farther injury. Captain M'Intyre, a good deal out of countenance at +the issue of his exploit, just rose in time to receive the ironical +congratulations of his uncle, upon a single combat worthy to be +commemorated by Ossian himself, "since," said the Antiquary, "your +magnanimous opponent has fled, though not upon eagle's wings, from the +foe that was low—Egad, she walloped away with all the grace of triumph, +and has carried my stick off also, by way of spolia opima." + +M'Intyre had little to answer for himself, except that a Highlander +could never pass a deer, a seal, or a salmon, where there was a +possibility of having a trial of skill with them, and that he had forgot +one of his arms was in a sling. He also made his fall an apology for +returning back to Monkbarns, and thus escape the farther raillery of his +uncle, as well as his lamentations for his walking-stick. + +"I cut it," he said, "in the classic woods of Hawthornden, when I did +not expect always to have been a bachelor—I would not have given it for +an ocean of seals—O Hector! Hector!—thy namesake was born to be the prop +of Troy, and thou to be the plague of Monkbarns!" + + + + +CHAPTER TENTH. + + Tell me not of it, friend—when the young weep, + Their tears are luke-warm brine;—from your old eyes + Sorrow falls down like hail-drops of the North, + Chilling the furrows of our withered cheeks, + Cold as our hopes, and hardened as our feeling— + Theirs, as they fall, sink sightless—ours recoil, + Heap the fair plain, and bleaken all before us. + Old Play. + +The Antiquary, being now alone, hastened his pace, which had been +retarded by these various discussions, and the rencontre which had +closed them, and soon arrived before the half-dozen cottages at +Mussel-crag. They had now, in addition to their usual squalid and +uncomfortable appearance, the melancholy attributes of the house of +mourning. The boats were all drawn up on the beach; and, though the day +was fine, and the season favourable, the chant, which is used by the +fishers when at sea, was silent, as well as the prattle of the children, +and the shrill song of the mother, as she sits mending her nets by the +door. A few of the neighbours, some in their antique and well-saved +suits of black, others in their ordinary clothes, but all bearing an +expression of mournful sympathy with distress so sudden and unexpected, +stood gathered around the door of Mucklebackit's cottage, waiting till +"the body was lifted." As the Laird of Monkbarns approached, they made +way for him to enter, doffing their hats and bonnets as he passed, with +an air of melancholy courtesy, and he returned their salutes in the same +manner. + +In the inside of the cottage was a scene which our Wilkie alone could +have painted, with that exquisite feeling of nature that characterises +his enchanting productions, + +The body was laid in its coffin within the wooden bedstead which the +young fisher had occupied while alive. At a little distance stood the +father, whose rugged weather-beaten countenance, shaded by his +grizzled hair, had faced many a stormy night and night-like day. He was +apparently revolving his loss in his mind, with that strong feeling +of painful grief peculiar to harsh and rough characters, which almost +breaks forth into hatred against the world, and all that remain in it, +after the beloved object is withdrawn. The old man had made the most +desperate efforts to save his son, and had only been withheld by main +force from renewing them at a moment when, without the possibility +of assisting the sufferer, he must himself have perished. All this +apparently was boiling in his recollection. His glance was directed +sidelong towards the coffin, as to an object on which he could not +stedfastly look, and yet from which he could not withdraw his eyes. His +answers to the necessary questions which were occasionally put to him, +were brief, harsh, and almost fierce. His family had not yet dared to +address to him a word, either of sympathy or consolation. His masculine +wife, virago as she was, and absolute mistress of the family, as she +justly boasted herself, on all ordinary occasions, was, by this great +loss, terrified into silence and submission, and compelled to hide from +her husband's observation the bursts of her female sorrow. As he had +rejected food ever since the disaster had happened, not daring herself +to approach him, she had that morning, with affectionate artifice, +employed the youngest and favourite child to present her husband with +some nourishment. His first action was to put it from him with an angry +violence that frightened the child; his next, to snatch up the boy +and devour him with kisses. "Yell be a bra' fallow, an ye be spared, +Patie,—but ye'll never—never can be—what he was to me!—He has sailed the +coble wi' me since he was ten years auld, and there wasna the like +o' him drew a net betwixt this and Buchan-ness.—They say folks maun +submit—I will try." + +And he had been silent from that moment until compelled to answer the +necessary questions we have already noticed. Such was the disconsolate +state of the father. + +In another corner of the cottage, her face covered by her apron, which +was flung over it, sat the mother—the nature of her grief sufficiently +indicated by the wringing of her hands, and the convulsive agitation +of the bosom, which the covering could not conceal. Two of her gossips, +officiously whispering into her ear the commonplace topic of resignation +under irremediable misfortune, seemed as if they were endeavouring to +stun the grief which they could not console. + +The sorrow of the children was mingled with wonder at the preparations +they beheld around them, and at the unusual display of wheaten bread +and wine, which the poorest peasant, or fisher, offers to the guests on +these mournful occasions; and thus their grief for their brother's death +was almost already lost in admiration of the splendour of his funeral. + +But the figure of the old grandmother was the most remarkable of the +sorrowing group. Seated on her accustomed chair, with her usual air of +apathy, and want of interest in what surrounded her, she seemed every +now and then mechanically to resume the motion of twirling her spindle; +then to look towards her bosom for the distaff, although both had been +laid aside. She would then cast her eyes about, as if surprised at +missing the usual implements of her industry, and appear struck by the +black colour of the gown in which they had dressed her, and embarrassed +by the number of persons by whom she was surrounded. Then, finally, she +would raise her head with a ghastly look, and fix her eyes upon the bed +which contained the coffin of her grandson, as if she had at once, +and for the first time, acquired sense to comprehend her inexpressible +calamity. These alternate feelings of embarrassment, wonder, and grief, +seemed to succeed each other more than once upon her torpid features. +But she spoke not a word—neither had she shed a tear—nor did one of the +family understand, either from look or expression, to what extent she +comprehended the uncommon bustle around her. Thus she sat among the +funeral assembly like a connecting link between the surviving mourners +and the dead corpse which they bewailed—a being in whom the light of +existence was already obscured by the encroaching shadows of death. + +When Oldbuck entered this house of mourning, he was received by a +general and silent inclination of the head, and, according to the +fashion of Scotland on such occasions, wine and spirits and bread +were offered round to the guests. Elspeth, as these refreshments were +presented, surprised and startled the whole company by motioning to the +person who bore them to stop; then, taking a glass in her hand, she rose +up, and, as the smile of dotage played upon her shrivelled features, she +pronounced, with a hollow and tremulous voice, "Wishing a' your healths, +sirs, and often may we hae such merry meetings!" + +All shrunk from the ominous pledge, and set down the untasted liquor +with a degree of shuddering horror, which will not surprise those who +know how many superstitions are still common on such occasions among the +Scottish vulgar. But as the old woman tasted the liquor, she suddenly +exclaimed with a sort of shriek, "What's this?—this is wine—how should +there be wine in my son's house?—Ay," she continued with a suppressed +groan, "I mind the sorrowful cause now," and, dropping the glass from +her hand, she stood a moment gazing fixedly on the bed in which the +coffin of her grandson was deposited, and then sinking gradually into +her seat, she covered her eyes and forehead with her withered and pallid +hand. + +At this moment the clergyman entered the cottage. Mr. Blattergowl, +though a dreadful proser, particularly on the subject of augmentations, +localities, teinds, and overtures in that session of the General +Assembly, to which, unfortunately for his auditors, he chanced one year +to act as moderator, was nevertheless a good man, in the old Scottish +presbyterian phrase, God-ward and man-ward. No divine was more attentive +in visiting the sick and afflicted, in catechising the youth, in +instructing the ignorant, and in reproving the erring. And hence, +notwithstanding impatience of his prolixity and prejudices, personal or +professional, and notwithstanding, moreover, a certain habitual contempt +for his understanding, especially on affairs of genius and taste, +on which Blattergowl was apt to be diffuse, from his hope of one +day fighting his way to a chair of rhetoric or belles lettres,— +notwithstanding, I say, all the prejudices excited against him by these +circumstances, our friend the Antiquary looked with great regard and +respect on the said Blattergowl, though I own he could seldom, even by +his sense of decency and the remonstrances of his womankind, be hounded +out, as he called it, to hear him preach. But he regularly took shame to +himself for his absence when Blattergowl came to Monkbarns to dinner, +to which he was always invited of a Sunday, a mode of testifying his +respect which the proprietor probably thought fully as agreeable to the +clergyman, and rather more congenial to his own habits. + +To return from a digression which can only serve to introduce the honest +clergyman more particularly to our readers, Mr. Blattergowl had no +sooner entered the hut, and received the mute and melancholy salutations +of the company whom it contained, than he edged himself towards the +unfortunate father, and seemed to endeavour to slide in a few words of +condolence or of consolation. But the old man was incapable as yet of +receiving either; he nodded, however, gruffly, and shook the clergyman's +hand in acknowledgment of his good intentions, but was either unable or +unwilling to make any verbal reply. + +The minister next passed to the mother, moving along the floor as +slowly, silently, and gradually, as if he had been afraid that the +ground would, like unsafe ice, break beneath his feet, or that the first +echo of a footstep was to dissolve some magic spell, and plunge the hut, +with all its inmates, into a subterranean abyss. The tenor of what he +had said to the poor woman could only be judged by her answers, as, +half-stifled by sobs ill-repressed, and by the covering which she still +kept over her countenance, she faintly answered at each pause in his +speech—"Yes, sir, yes!—Ye're very gude—ye're very gude!—Nae doubt, nae +doubt!—It's our duty to submit!—But, oh dear! my poor Steenie! the pride +o' my very heart, that was sae handsome and comely, and a help to his +family, and a comfort to us a', and a pleasure to a' that lookit on +him!—Oh, my bairn! my bairn! my bairn! what for is thou lying there!—and +eh! what for am I left to greet for ye!" + +There was no contending with this burst of sorrow and natural affection. +Oldbuck had repeated recourse to his snuff-box to conceal the tears +which, despite his shrewd and caustic temper, were apt to start on such +occasions. The female assistants whimpered, the men held their bonnets +to their faces, and spoke apart with each other. The clergyman, +meantime, addressed his ghostly consolation to the aged grandmother. +At first she listened, or seemed to listen, to what he said, with the +apathy of her usual unconsciousness. But as, in pressing this theme, +he approached so near to her ear that the sense of his words became +distinctly intelligible to her, though unheard by those who stood more +distant, her countenance at once assumed that stern and expressive cast +which characterized her intervals of intelligence. She drew up her head +and body, shook her head in a manner that showed at least impatience, +if not scorn of his counsel, and waved her hand slightly, but with a +gesture so expressive, as to indicate to all who witnessed it a marked +and disdainful rejection of the ghostly consolation proffered to her. +The minister stepped back as if repulsed, and, by lifting gently and +dropping his hand, seemed to show at once wonder, sorrow, and compassion +for her dreadful state of mind. The rest of the company sympathized, and +a stifled whisper went through them, indicating how much her desperate +and determined manner impressed them with awe, and even horror. + +In the meantime, the funeral company was completed, by the arrival of +one or two persons who had been expected from Fairport. The wine +and spirits again circulated, and the dumb show of greeting was anew +interchanged. The grandame a second time took a glass in her hand, drank +its contents, and exclaimed, with a sort of laugh,—"Ha! ha! I hae tasted +wine twice in ae day—Whan did I that before, think ye, cummers?—Never +since"—and the transient glow vanishing from her countenance, she set +the glass down, and sunk upon the settle from whence she had risen to +snatch at it. + +As the general amazement subsided, Mr. Oldbuck, whose heart bled to +witness what he considered as the errings of the enfeebled intellect +struggling with the torpid chill of age and of sorrow, observed to the +clergyman that it was time to proceed with the ceremony. The father was +incapable of giving directions, but the nearest relation of the family +made a sign to the carpenter, who in such cases goes through the duty of +the undertaker, to proceed in his office. The creak of the screw-nails +presently announced that the lid of the last mansion of mortality was in +the act of being secured above its tenant. The last act which separates +us for ever, even from the mortal relies of the person we assemble to +mourn, has usually its effect upon the most indifferent, selfish, and +hard-hearted. With a spirit of contradiction, which we may be pardoned +for esteeming narrow-minded, the fathers of the Scottish kirk rejected, +even on this most solemn occasion, the form of an address to the +Divinity, lest they should be thought to give countenance to the rituals +of Rome or of England. With much better and more liberal judgment, it +is the present practice of most of the Scottish clergymen to seize this +opportunity of offering a prayer, and exhortation, suitable to make an +impression upon the living, while they are yet in the very presence +of the relics of him whom they have but lately seen such as they +themselves, and who now is such as they must in their time become. But +this decent and praiseworthy practice was not adopted at the time of +which I am treating, or at least, Mr. Blattergowl did not act upon it, +and the ceremony proceeded without any devotional exercise. + +The coffin, covered with a pall, and supported upon hand-spikes by the +nearest relatives, now only waited the father to support the head, as is +customary. Two or three of these privileged persons spoke to him, but he +only answered by shaking his hand and his head in token of refusal. With +better intention than judgment, the friends, who considered this as +an act of duty on the part of the living, and of decency towards the +deceased, would have proceeded to enforce their request, had not +Oldbuck interfered between the distressed father and his well-meaning +tormentors, and informed them, that he himself, as landlord and master +to the deceased, "would carry his head to the grave." In spite of the +sorrowful occasion, the hearts of the relatives swelled within them at +so marked a distinction on the part of the laird; and old Alison Breck, +who was present among other fish-women, swore almost aloud, "His honour +Monkbarns should never want sax warp of oysters in the season" (of +which fish he was understood to be fond), "if she should gang to sea and +dredge for them hersell, in the foulest wind that ever blew." And such +is the temper of the Scottish common people, that, by this instance +of compliance with their customs, and respect for their persons, Mr. +Oldbuck gained more popularity than by all the sums which he had yearly +distributed in the parish for purposes of private or general charity. + +The sad procession now moved slowly forward, preceded by the beadles, or +saulies, with their batons,—miserable-looking old men, tottering as if +on the edge of that grave to which they were marshalling another, and +clad, according to Scottish guise, with threadbare black coats, and +hunting-caps decorated with rusty crape. Monkbarns would probably have +remonstrated against this superfluous expense, had he been consulted; +but, in doing so, he would have given more offence than he gained +popularity by condescending to perform the office of chief-mourner. Of +this he was quite aware, and wisely withheld rebuke, where rebuke +and advice would have been equally unavailing. In truth, the Scottish +peasantry are still infected with that rage for funeral ceremonial, +which once distinguished the grandees of the kingdom so much, that a +sumptuary law was made by the Parliament of Scotland for the purpose of +restraining it; and I have known many in the lowest stations, who have +denied themselves not merely the comforts, but almost the necessaries +of life, in order to save such a sum of money as might enable their +surviving friends to bury them like Christians, as they termed it; +nor could their faithful executors be prevailed upon, though equally +necessitous, to turn to the use and maintenance of the living the money +vainly wasted upon the interment of the dead. + +The procession to the churchyard, at about half-a-mile's distance, was +made with the mournful solemnity usual on these occasions,—the body was +consigned to its parent earth,—and when the labour of the gravediggers +had filled up the trench, and covered it with fresh sod, Mr. Oldbuck, +taking his hat off, saluted the assistants, who had stood by in +melancholy silence, and with that adieu dispersed the mourners. + +The clergyman offered our Antiquary his company to walk homeward; but +Mr. Oldbuck had been so much struck with the deportment of the fisherman +and his mother, that, moved by compassion, and perhaps also, in some +degree, by that curiosity which induces us to seek out even what gives +us pain to witness, he preferred a solitary walk by the coast, for the +purpose of again visiting the cottage as he passed. + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVENTH + + What is this secret sin, this untold tale, + That art cannot extract, nor penance cleanse? + —Her muscles hold their place; + Nor discomposed, nor formed to steadiness, + No sudden flushing, and no faltering lip.— + Mysterious Mother. + +The coffin had been borne from the place where it rested. The mourners, +in regular gradation, according to their rank or their relationship +to the deceased, had filed from the cottage, while the younger male +children were led along to totter after the bier of their brother, and +to view with wonder a ceremonial which they could hardly comprehend. +The female gossips next rose to depart, and, with consideration for +the situation of the parents, carried along with them the girls of the +family, to give the unhappy pair time and opportunity to open their +hearts to each other and soften their grief by communicating it. But +their kind intention was without effect. The last of them had darkened +the entrance of the cottage, as she went out, and drawn the door softly +behind her, when the father, first ascertaining by a hasty glance that +no stranger remained, started up, clasped his hands wildly above his +head, uttered a cry of the despair which he had hitherto repressed, +and, in all the impotent impatience of grief, half rushed half staggered +forward to the bed on which the coffin had been deposited, threw +himself down upon it, and smothering, as it were, his head among the +bed-clothes, gave vent to the full passion of his sorrow. It was in vain +that the wretched mother, terrified by the vehemence of her husband's +affliction—affliction still more fearful as agitating a man of hardened +manners and a robust frame— suppressed her own sobs and tears, and, +pulling him by the skirts of his coat, implored him to rise and +remember, that, though one was removed, he had still a wife and children +to comfort and support. The appeal came at too early a period of +his anguish, and was totally unattended to; he continued to remain +prostrate, indicating, by sobs so bitter and violent, that they shook +the bed and partition against which it rested, by clenched hands which +grasped the bed-clothes, and by the vehement and convulsive motion of +his legs, how deep and how terrible was the agony of a father's sorrow. + +"O, what a day is this! what a day is this!" said the poor mother, her +womanish affliction already exhausted by sobs and tears, and now almost +lost in terror for the state in which she beheld her husband—"O, what an +hour is this! and naebody to help a poor lone woman—O, gudemither, could +ye but speak a word to him!—wad ye but bid him be comforted!" + +To her astonishment, and even to the increase of her fear, her husband's +mother heard and answered the appeal. She rose and walked across +the floor without support, and without much apparent feebleness, and +standing by the bed on which her son had extended himself, she said, +"Rise up, my son, and sorrow not for him that is beyond sin and sorrow +and temptation. Sorrow is for those that remain in this vale of sorrow +and darkness—I, wha dinna sorrow, and wha canna sorrow for ony ane, hae +maist need that ye should a' sorrow for me." + +The voice of his mother, not heard for years as taking part in the +active duties of life, or offering advice or consolation, produced its +effect upon her son. He assumed a sitting posture on the side of the +bed, and his appearance, attitude, and gestures, changed from those of +angry despair to deep grief and dejection. The grandmother retired to +her nook, the mother mechanically took in her hand her tattered Bible, +and seemed to read, though her eyes were drowned with tears. + +They were thus occupied, when a loud knock was heard at the door. + +"Hegh, sirs!" said the poor mother, "wha is that can be coming in that +gate e'enow?—They canna hae heard o' our misfortune, I'm sure." + +The knock being repeated, she rose and opened the door, saying +querulously, "Whatna gait's that to disturb a sorrowfu' house?" + +A tall man in black stood before her, whom she instantly recognised to +be Lord Glenallan. "Is there not," he said, "an old woman lodging in +this or one of the neighbouring cottages, called Elspeth, who was long +resident at Craigburnfoot of Glenallan?" + +"It's my gudemither, my lord," said Margaret; "but she canna see +onybody e'enow—Ohon! we're dreeing a sair weird—we hae had a heavy +dispensation!" + +"God forbid," said Lord Glenallan, "that I should on light occasion +disturb your sorrow;—but my days are numbered—your mother-in-law is in +the extremity of age, and, if I see her not to-day, we may never meet on +this side of time." + +"And what," answered the desolate mother, "wad ye see at an auld woman, +broken down wi' age and sorrow and heartbreak? Gentle or semple shall +not darken my door the day my bairn's been carried out a corpse." + +While she spoke thus, indulging the natural irritability of disposition +and profession, which began to mingle itself with her grief when +its first uncontrolled bursts were gone by, she held the door about +one-third part open, and placed herself in the gap, as if to render the +visitor's entrance impossible. But the voice of her husband was heard +from within— "Wha's that, Maggie? what for are ye steaking them out?—let +them come in; it doesna signify an auld rope's end wha comes in or wha +gaes out o' this house frae this time forward." + +The woman stood aside at her husband's command, and permitted Lord +Glenallan to enter the hut. The dejection exhibited in his broken frame +and emaciated countenance, formed a strong contrast with the effects of +grief, as they were displayed in the rude and weatherbeaten visage of +the fisherman, and the masculine features of his wife. He approached +the old woman as she was seated on her usual settle, and asked her, in +a tone as audible as his voice could make it, "Are you Elspeth of the +Craigburnfoot of Glenallan?" + +"Wha is it that asks about the unhallowed residence of that evil woman?" +was the answer returned to his query. + +"The unhappy Earl of Glenallan." + +"Earl!—Earl of Glenallan!" + +"He who was called William Lord Geraldin," said the Earl; "and whom his +mother's death has made Earl of Glenallan." + +"Open the bole," said the old woman firmly and hastily to her +daughter-in-law, "open the bole wi' speed, that I may see if this be +the right Lord Geraldin—the son of my mistress—him that I received in my +arms within the hour after he was born—him that has reason to curse me +that I didna smother him before the hour was past!" + +The window, which had been shut in order that a gloomy twilight +might add to the solemnity of the funeral meeting, was opened as she +commanded, and threw a sudden and strong light through the smoky and +misty atmosphere of the stifling cabin. Falling in a stream upon the +chimney, the rays illuminated, in the way that Rembrandt would have +chosen, the features of the unfortunate nobleman, and those of the old +sibyl, who now, standing upon her feet, and holding him by one hand, +peered anxiously in his features with her light-blue eyes, and holding +her long and withered fore-finger within a small distance of his face, +moved it slowly as if to trace the outlines and reconcile what she +recollected with that she now beheld. As she finished her scrutiny, she +said, with a deep sigh, "It's a sair—sair change; and wha's fault is +it?—but that's written down where it will be remembered—it's written on +tablets of brass with a pen of steel, where all is recorded that is done +in the flesh.—And what," she said after a pause, "what is Lord Geraldin +seeking from a poor auld creature like me, that's dead already, and only +belongs sae far to the living that she isna yet laid in the moulds?" + +"Nay," answered Lord Glenallan, "in the name of Heaven, why was it that +you requested so urgently to see me?—and why did you back your request +by sending a token which you knew well I dared not refuse?" + +As he spoke thus, he took from his purse the ring which Edie Ochiltree +had delivered to him at Glenallan House. The sight of this token +produced a strange and instantaneous effect upon the old woman. The +palsy of fear was immediately added to that of age, and she began +instantly to search her pockets with the tremulous and hasty agitation +of one who becomes first apprehensive of having lost something of great +importance;—then, as if convinced of the reality of her fears, she +turned to the Earl, and demanded, "And how came ye by it then?—how came +ye by it? I thought I had kept it sae securely—what will the Countess +say?" + +"You know," said the Earl, "at least you must have heard, that my mother +is dead." + +"Dead! are ye no imposing upon me? has she left a' at last, lands and +lordship and lineages?" + +"All, all," said the Earl, "as mortals must leave all human vanities." + +"I mind now," answered Elspeth—"I heard of it before but there has been +sic distress in our house since, and my memory is sae muckle impaired— +But ye are sure your mother, the Lady Countess, is gane hame?" + +The Earl again assured her that her former mistress was no more. + +"Then," said Elspeth, "it shall burden my mind nae langer!—When she +lived, wha dared to speak what it would hae displeased her to hae had +noised abroad? But she's gane—and I will confess all." + +Then turning to her son and daughter-in-law, she commanded them +imperatively to quit the house, and leave Lord Geraldin (for so she +still called him) alone with her. But Maggie Mucklebackit, her first +burst of grief being over, was by no means disposed in her own house to +pay passive obedience to the commands of her mother-in-law, an authority +which is peculiarly obnoxious to persons in her rank of life, and which +she was the more astonished at hearing revived, when it seemed to have +been so long relinquished and forgotten. + +"It was an unco thing," she said, in a grumbling tone of voice,—for the +rank of Lord Glenallan was somewhat imposing—"it was an unco thing to +bid a mother leave her ain house wi' the tear in her ee, the moment her +eldest son had been carried a corpse out at the door o't." + +The fisherman, in a stubborn and sullen tone, added to the same purpose. +"This is nae day for your auld-warld stories, mother. My lord, if he be +a lord, may ca' some other day—or he may speak out what he has gotten to +say if he likes it; there's nane here will think it worth their while +to listen to him or you either. But neither for laird or loon, gentle or +semple, will I leave my ain house to pleasure onybody on the very day my +poor"— + +Here his voice choked, and he could proceed no farther; but as he had +risen when Lord Glenallan came in, and had since remained standing, +he now threw himself doggedly upon a seat, and remained in the sullen +posture of one who was determined to keep his word. + +But the old woman, whom this crisis seemed to repossess in all those +powers of mental superiority with which she had once been eminently +gifted, arose, and advancing towards him, said, with a solemn voice, +"My son, as ye wad shun hearing of your mother's shame—as ye wad not +willingly be a witness of her guilt—as ye wad deserve her blessing and +avoid her curse, I charge ye, by the body that bore and that nursed ye, +to leave me at freedom to speak with Lord Geraldin, what nae mortal ears +but his ain maun listen to. Obey my words, that when ye lay the moulds +on my head—and, oh that the day were come!—ye may remember this hour +without the reproach of having disobeyed the last earthly command that +ever your mother wared on you." + +The terms of this solemn charge revived in the fisherman's heart the +habit of instinctive obedience in which his mother had trained him up, +and to which he had submitted implicitly while her powers of exacting +it remained entire. The recollection mingled also with the prevailing +passion of the moment; for, glancing his eye at the bed on which the +dead body had been laid, he muttered to himself, "He never disobeyed me, +in reason or out o' reason, and what for should I vex her?" Then, taking +his reluctant spouse by the arm, he led her gently out of the cottage, +and latched the door behind them as he left it. + +As the unhappy parents withdrew, Lord Glenallan, to prevent the old +woman from relapsing into her lethargy, again pressed her on the subject +of the communication which she proposed to make to him. + +"Ye will have it sune eneugh," she replied;—"my mind's clear eneugh now, +and there is not—I think there is not—a chance of my forgetting what I +have to say. My dwelling at Craigburnfoot is before my een, as it were +present in reality:—the green bank, with its selvidge, just where the +burn met wi' the sea—the twa little barks, wi' their sails furled, lying +in the natural cove which it formed—the high cliff that joined it with +the pleasure-grounds of the house of Glenallan, and hung right ower the +stream—Ah! yes—I may forget that I had a husband and have lost him— +that I hae but ane alive of our four fair sons—that misfortune upon +misfortune has devoured our ill-gotten wealth—that they carried the +corpse of my son's eldest-born frae the house this morning—But I never +can forget the days I spent at bonny Craigburnfoot!" + +"You were a favourite of my mother," said Lord Glenallan, desirous to +bring her back to the point, from which she was wandering. + +"I was, I was,—ye needna mind me o' that. She brought me up abune my +station, and wi' knowledge mair than my fellows—but, like the tempter of +auld, wi' the knowledge of gude she taught me the knowledge of evil." + +"For God's sake, Elspeth," said the astonished Earl, "proceed, if you +can, to explain the dreadful hints you have thrown out! I well know you +are confidant to one dreadful secret, which should split this roof even +to hear it named—but speak on farther." + +"I will," she said—"I will!—just bear wi' me for a little;"—and again +she seemed lost in recollection, but it was no longer tinged with +imbecility or apathy. She was now entering upon the topic which had long +loaded her mind, and which doubtless often occupied her whole soul +at times when she seemed dead to all around her. And I may add, as a +remarkable fact, that such was the intense operation of mental energy +upon her physical powers and nervous system, that, notwithstanding her +infirmity of deafness, each word that Lord Glenallan spoke during this +remarkable conference, although in the lowest tone of horror or agony, +fell as full and distinct upon Elspeth's ear as it could have done at +any period of her life. She spoke also herself clearly, distinctly, and +slowly, as if anxious that the intelligence she communicated should +be fully understood; concisely at the same time, and with none of the +verbiage or circumlocutory additions natural to those of her sex and +condition. In short, her language bespoke a better education, as well as +an uncommonly firm and resolved mind, and a character of that sort from +which great virtues or great crimes may be naturally expected. The tenor +of her communication is disclosed in the following CHAPTER. + + + + +CHAPTER TWELFTH. + + Remorse—she neer forsakes us— + A bloodhound staunch—she tracks our rapid step + Through the wild labyrinth of youthful frenzy, + Unheard, perchance, until old age hath tamed us + Then in our lair, when Time hath chilled our joints, + And maimed our hope of combat, or of flight, + We hear her deep-mouthed bay, announcing all + Of wrath, and wo, and punishment that bides us. + Old Play. + +"I need not tell you," said the old woman, addressing the Earl of +Glenallan, "that I was the favourite and confidential attendant of +Joscelind, Countess of Glenallan, whom God assoilzie!"—(here she crossed +herself)—"and I think farther, ye may not have forgotten that I +shared her regard for mony years. I returned it by the maist +sincere attachment, but I fell into disgrace frae a trifling act of +disobedience, reported to your mother by ane that thought, and she wasna +wrang, that I was a spy upon her actions and yours." + +"I charge thee, woman," said the Earl, in a voice trembling with +passion, "name not her name in my hearing!" + +"I must," returned the penitent firmly and calmly, "or how can you +understand me?" + +The Earl leaned upon one of the wooden chairs of the hut, drew his hat +over his face, clenched his hands together, set his teeth like one who +summons up courage to undergo a painful operation, and made a signal to +her to proceed. + +"I say, then," she resumed, "that my disgrace with my mistress was +chiefly owing to Miss Eveline Neville, then bred up in Glenallan House +as the daughter of a cousin-german and intimate friend of your father +that was gane. There was muckle mystery in her history,—but wha dared to +inquire farther than the Countess liked to tell?—All in Glenallan House +loved Miss Neville—all but twa, your mother and mysell—we baith hated +her." + +"God! for what reason, since a creature so mild, so gentle, so formed to +inspire affection, never walked on this wretched world?" + +"It may hae been sae," rejoined Elspeth, "but your mother hated a' +that cam of your father's family—a' but himsell. Her reasons related to +strife which fell between them soon after her marriage; the particulars +are naething to this purpose. But oh! doubly did she hate Eveline +Neville when she perceived that there was a growing kindness atween +you and that unfortunate young leddy! Ye may mind that the Countess's +dislike didna gang farther at first than just showing o' the cauld +shouther—at least it wasna seen farther; but at the lang run it brak +out into such downright violence that Miss Neville was even fain to seek +refuge at Knockwinnock Castle with Sir Arthur's leddy, wha (God sain +her!) was then wi' the living." + +"You rend my heart by recalling these particulars—But go on,—and may +my present agony be accepted as additional penance for the involuntary +crime!" + +"She had been absent some months," continued Elspeth, "when I was ae +night watching in my hut the return of my husband from fishing, and +shedding in private those bitter tears that my proud spirit wrung frae +me whenever I thought on my disgrace. The sneck was drawn, and the +Countess your mother entered my dwelling. I thought I had seen a +spectre, for even in the height of my favour, this was an honour she had +never done me, and she looked as pale and ghastly as if she had risen +from the grave. She sat down, and wrung the draps from her hair and +cloak,—for the night was drizzling, and her walk had been through the +plantations, that were a' loaded with dew. I only mention these things +that you may understand how weel that night lives in my memory,—and weel +it may. I was surprised to see her, but I durstna speak first, mair than +if I had seen a phantom— Na, I durst not, my lord, I that hae seen mony +sights of terror, and never shook at them. Sae, after a silence, she +said, Elspeth Cheyne (for she always gave me my maiden name), are not ye +the daughter of that Reginald Cheyne who died to save his master, Lord +Glenallan, on the field of Sheriffmuir?' And I answered her as proudly +as hersell nearly—As sure as you are the daughter of that Earl of +Glenallan whom my father saved that day by his own death.'" + +Here she made a deep pause. + +"And what followed?—what followed?—For Heaven's sake, good woman—But why +should I use that word?—Yet, good or bad, I command you to tell me." + +"And little I should value earthly command," answered Elspeth, "were +there not a voice that has spoken to me sleeping and waking, that drives +me forward to tell this sad tale. Aweel, my Lord—the Countess said to +me, My son loves Eveline Neville—they are agreed—they are plighted: +should they have a son, my right over Glenallan merges—I sink from +that moment from a Countess into a miserable stipendiary dowager, I +who brought lands and vassals, and high blood and ancient fame, to my +husband, I must cease to be mistress when my son has an heir-male. But +I care not for that—had he married any but one of the hated Nevilles, +I had been patient. But for them—that they and their descendants should +enjoy the right and honours of my ancestors, goes through my heart like +a two-edged dirk. And this girl—I detest her!'—And I answered, for my +heart kindled at her words, that her hate was equalled by mine." + +"Wretch!" exclaimed the Earl, in spite of his determination to preserve +silence—"wretched woman! what cause of hate could have arisen from a +being so innocent and gentle?" + +"I hated what my mistress hated, as was the use with the liege vassals +of the house of Glenallan; for though, my Lord, I married under my +degree, yet an ancestor of yours never went to the field of battle, but +an ancestor of the frail, demented, auld, useless wretch wha now speaks +with you, carried his shield before him. But that was not a'," continued +the beldam, her earthly and evil passions rekindling as she became +heated in her narration—"that was not a'; I hated Miss Eveline Neville +for her ain sake, I brought her frae England, and, during our whole +journey, she gecked and scorned at my northern speech and habit, as her +southland leddies and kimmers had done at the boarding-school, as they +cald it"— (and, strange as it may seem, she spoke of an affront offered +by a heedless school-girl without intention, with a degree of inveteracy +which, at such a distance of time, a mortal offence would neither have +authorized or excited in any well-constituted mind)—"Yes, she scorned +and jested at me—but let them that scorn the tartan fear the dirk!" + +She paused, and then went on—"But I deny not that I hated her mair than +she deserved. My mistress, the Countess, persevered and said, Elspeth +Cheyne, this unruly boy will marry with the false English blood. +Were days as they have been, I could throw her into the Massymore* of +Glenallan, and fetter him in the Keep of Strathbonnel. + +* Massa-mora, an ancient name for a dungeon, derived from the Moorish +language, perhaps as far back as the time of the Crusades. + +But these times are past, and the authority which the nobles of the +land should exercise is delegated to quibbling lawyers and their baser +dependants. Hear me, Elspeth Cheyne! if you are your father's daughter +as I am mine, I will find means that they shall not marry. She walks +often to that cliff that overhangs your dwelling to look for her +lover's boat— (ye may remember the pleasure ye then took on the sea, my +Lord)—let him find her forty fathom lower than he expects!'—Yes! ye may +stare and frown and clench your hand; but, as sure as I am to face the +only Being I ever feared—and, oh that I had feared him mair!—these were +your mother's words. What avails it to me to lie to you?—But I wadna +consent to stain my hand with blood.—Then she said, By the religion of +our holy Church they are ower sibb thegither. But I expect nothing but +that both will become heretics as well as disobedient reprobates;'—that +was her addition to that argument. And then, as the fiend is ever ower +busy wi' brains like mine, that are subtle beyond their use and station, +I was unhappily permitted to add—But they might be brought to think +themselves sae sibb as no Christian law will permit their wedlock.'" + +Here the Earl of Glenallan echoed her words, with a shriek so piercing +as almost to rend the roof of the cottage.—"Ah! then Eveline Neville was +not the—the"— + +"The daughter, ye would say, of your father?" continued Elspeth. "No—be +it a torment or be it a comfort to you—ken the truth, she was nae mair a +daughter of your father's house than I am." + +"Woman, deceive me not!—make me not curse the memory of the parent I +have so lately laid in the grave, for sharing in a plot the most cruel, +the most infernal"— + +"Bethink ye, my Lord Geraldin, ere ye curse the memory of a parent +that's gane, is there none of the blood of Glenallan living, whose +faults have led to this dreadfu' catastrophe?" + +"Mean you my brother?—he, too, is gone," said the Earl. + +"No," replied the sibyl, "I mean yoursell, Lord Geraldin. Had you not +transgressed the obedience of a son by wedding Eveline Neville in secret +while a guest at Knockwinnock, our plot might have separated you for +a time, but would have left at least your sorrows without remorse to +canker them. But your ain conduct had put poison in the weapon that we +threw, and it pierced you with the mair force because ye cam rushing to +meet it. Had your marriage been a proclaimed and acknowledged action, +our stratagem to throw an obstacle into your way that couldna be got +ower, neither wad nor could hae been practised against ye." + +"Great Heaven!" said the unfortunate nobleman—"it is as if a film fell +from my obscured eyes! Yes, I now well understand the doubtful hints +of consolation thrown out by my wretched mother, tending indirectly +to impeach the evidence of the horrors of which her arts had led me to +believe myself guilty." + +"She could not speak mair plainly," answered Elspeth, "without +confessing her ain fraud,—and she would have submitted to be torn by +wild horses, rather than unfold what she had done; and if she had still +lived, so would I for her sake. They were stout hearts the race of +Glenallan, male and female, and sae were a' that in auld times cried +their gathering-word of Clochnaben—they stood shouther to shouther—nae +man parted frae his chief for love of gold or of gain, or of right or of +wrang. The times are changed, I hear, now." + +The unfortunate nobleman was too much wrapped up in his own confused +and distracted reflections, to notice the rude expressions of savage +fidelity, in which, even in the latest ebb of life, the unhappy author +of his misfortunes seemed to find a stern and stubborn source of +consolation. + +"Great Heaven!" he exclaimed, "I am then free from a guilt the most +horrible with which man can be stained, and the sense of which, however +involuntary, has wrecked my peace, destroyed my health, and bowed me +down to an untimely grave. Accept," he fervently uttered, lifting his +eyes upwards, "accept my humble thanks! If I live miserable, at least +I shall not die stained with that unnatural guilt!—And thou—proceed if +thou hast more to tell—proceed, while thou hast voice to speak it, and I +have powers to listen." + +"Yes," answered the beldam, "the hour when you shall hear, and I shall +speak, is indeed passing rapidly away. Death has crossed your brow with +his finger, and I find his grasp turning every day coulder at my heart. +Interrupt me nae mair with exclamations and groans and accusations, but +hear my tale to an end! And then—if ye be indeed sic a Lord of Glenallan +as I hae heard of in my day—make your merrymen gather the thorn, and +the brier, and the green hollin, till they heap them as high as the +house-riggin', and burn! burn! burn! the auld witch Elspeth, and a' that +can put ye in mind that sic a creature ever crawled upon the land!" + +"Go on," said the Earl, "go on—I will not again interrupt you." + +He spoke in a half-suffocated yet determined voice, resolved that no +irritability on his part should deprive him of this opportunity of +acquiring proofs of the wonderful tale he then heard. But Elspeth had +become exhausted by a continuous narration of such unusual length; +the subsequent part of her story was more broken, and though still +distinctly intelligible in most parts, had no longer the lucid +conciseness which the first part of her narrative had displayed to such +an astonishing degree. Lord Glenallan found it necessary, when she had +made some attempts to continue her narrative without success, to prompt +her memory by demanding—"What proofs she could propose to bring of the +truth of a narrative so different from that which she had originally +told?" + +"The evidence," she replied, "of Eveline Neville's real birth was in +the Countess's possession, with reasons for its being for some time kept +private;—they may yet be found, if she has not destroyed them, in the +left hand drawer of the ebony cabinet that stood in the dressing-room. +These she meant to suppress for the time, until you went abroad again, +when she trusted, before your return, to send Miss Neville back to her +ain country, or to get her settled in marriage." + +"But did you not show me letters of my father's, which seemed to me, +unless my senses altogether failed me in that horrible moment, to avow +his relationship to—to the unhappy"— + +"We did; and, with my testimony, how could you doubt the fact, or her +either? But we suppressed the true explanation of these letters, and +that was, that your father thought it right the young leddy should pass +for his daughter for a while, on account o'some family reasons that were +amang them." + +"But wherefore, when you learned our union, was this dreadful artifice +persisted in?" + +"It wasna," she replied, "till Lady Glenallan had communicated this +fause tale, that she suspected ye had actually made a marriage—nor even +then did you avow it sae as to satisfy her whether the ceremony had in +verity passed atween ye or no—But ye remember, O ye canna but remember +weel, what passed in that awfu' meeting!" + +"Woman! you swore upon the gospels to the fact which you now disavow." + +"I did,—and I wad hae taen a yet mair holy pledge on it, if there had +been ane—I wad not hae spared the blood of my body, or the guilt of my +soul, to serve the house of Glenallan." + +"Wretch! do you call that horrid perjury, attended with consequences +yet more dreadful—do you esteem that a service to the house of your +benefactors?" + +"I served her, wha was then the head of Glenallan, as she required me +to serve her. The cause was between God and her conscience—the manner +between God and mine—She is gane to her account, and I maun follow. Have +I taulds you a'?" + +"No," answered Lord Glenallan—"you have yet more to tell—you have to +tell me of the death of the angel whom your perjury drove to despair, +stained, as she thought herself, with a crime so horrible. Speak +truth— was that dreadful—was that horrible incident"—he could scarcely +articulate the words—"was it as reported? or was it an act of yet +further, though not more atrocious cruelty, inflicted by others?" + +"I understand you," said Elspeth. "But report spoke truth;—our false +witness was indeed the cause, but the deed was her ain distracted act. +On that fearfu' disclosure, when ye rushed frae the Countess's presence +and saddled your horse, and left the castle like a fire-flaught, the +Countess hadna yet discovered your private marriage; she hadna fund out +that the union, which she had framed this awfu' tale to prevent, had +e'en taen place. Ye fled from the house as if the fire o' Heaven was +about to fa' upon it, and Miss Neville, atween reason and the want +o't, was put under sure ward. But the ward sleep't, and the prisoner +waked—the window was open—the way was before her—there was the cliff, +and there was the sea!—O, when will I forget that!" + +"And thus died," said the Earl, "even so as was reported?" + +"No, my lord. I had gane out to the cove—the tide was in, and it flowed, +as ye'll remember, to the foot o' that cliff—it was a great convenience +that for my husband's trade—Where am I wandering?—I saw a white object +dart frae the tap o' the cliff like a sea-maw through the mist, and +then a heavy flash and sparkle of the waters showed me it was a human +creature that had fa'en into the waves. I was bold and strong, and +familiar with the tide. I rushed in and grasped her gown, and drew +her out and carried her on my shouthers—I could hae carried twa sic +then—carried her to my hut, and laid her on my bed. Neighbours cam and +brought help; but the words she uttered in her ravings, when she got +back the use of speech, were such, that I was fain to send them awa, +and get up word to Glenallan House. The Countess sent down her Spanish +servant Teresa—if ever there was a fiend on earth in human form, that +woman was ane. She and I were to watch the unhappy leddy, and let no +other person approach.—God knows what Teresa's part was to hae been—she +tauld it not to me—but Heaven took the conclusion in its ain hand. The +poor leddy! she took the pangs of travail before her time, bore a +male child, and died in the arms of me—of her mortal enemy! Ay, ye may +weep—she was a sightly creature to see to—but think ye, if I didna mourn +her then, that I can mourn her now? Na, na, I left Teresa wi' the dead +corpse and new-born babe, till I gaed up to take the Countess's commands +what was to be done. Late as it was, I ca'd her up, and she gar'd me ca' +up your brother"— + +"My brother?" + +"Yes, Lord Geraldin, e'en your brother, that some said she aye wished +to be her heir. At ony rate, he was the person maist concerned in the +succession and heritance of the house of Glenallan." + +"And is it possible to believe, then, that my brother, out of avarice to +grasp at my inheritance, would lend himself to such a base and dreadful +stratagem?" + +"Your mother believed it," said the old beldam with a fiendish laugh—"it +was nae plot of my making; but what they did or said I will not say, +because I did not hear. Lang and sair they consulted in the black +wainscot dressing-room; and when your brother passed through the room +where I was waiting, it seemed to me (and I have often thought sae since +syne) that the fire of hell was in his cheek and een. But he had left +some of it with his mother, at ony rate. She entered the room like a +woman demented, and the first words she spoke were, Elspeth Cheyne, did +you ever pull a new-budded flower?' I answered, as ye may believe, that +I often had. Then,' said she, ye will ken the better how to blight +the spurious and heretical blossom that has sprung forth this night to +disgrace my father's noble house—See here;'—(and she gave me a golden +bodkin)—nothing but gold must shed the blood of Glenallan. This child is +already as one of the dead, and since thou and Teresa alone ken that +it lives, let it be dealt upon as ye will answer to me!' and she turned +away in her fury, and left me with the bodkin in my hand.—Here it +is; that and the ring of Miss Neville, are a' I hae preserved of my +ill-gotten gear—for muckle was the gear I got. And weel hae I keepit the +secret, but no for the gowd or gear either." + +Her long and bony hand held out to Lord Glenallan a gold bodkin, down +which in fancy he saw the blood of his infant trickling. + +"Wretch! had you the heart?" + +"I kenna if I could hae had it or no. I returned to my cottage without +feeling the ground that I trode on; but Teresa and the child were gane— +a' that was alive was gane—naething left but the lifeless corpse." + +"And did you never learn my infant's fate?" + +"I could but guess. I have tauld ye your mother's purpose, and I ken +Teresa was a fiend. She was never mair seen in Scotland, and I have +heard that she returned to her ain land. A dark curtain has fa'en ower +the past, and the few that witnessed ony part of it could only surmise +something of seduction and suicide. You yourself"— + +"I know—I know it all," answered the Earl. + +"You indeed know all that I can say—And now, heir of Glenallan, can you +forgive me?" Lord Glenallen and Elspeth + +"Ask forgiveness of God, and not of man," said the Earl, turning away. + +"And how shall I ask of the pure and unstained what is denied to me by +a sinner like mysell? If I hae sinned, hae I not suffered?—Hae I had a +day's peace or an hour's rest since these lang wet locks of hair first +lay upon my pillow at Craigburnfoot?—Has not my house been burned, wi' +my bairn in the cradle?—Have not my boats been wrecked, when a' others +weather'd the gale?—Have not a' that were near and dear to me dree'd +penance for my sin?—Has not the fire had its share o' them—the winds had +their part—the sea had her part?—And oh!" she added, with a lengthened +groan, looking first upwards towards Heaven, and then bending her eyes +on the floor—"O that the earth would take her part, that's been lang +lang wearying to be joined to it!" + +Lord Glenallan had reached the door of the cottage, but the generosity +of his nature did not permit him to leave the unhappy woman in this +state of desperate reprobation. "May God forgive thee, wretched woman," +he said, "as sincerely as I do!—Turn for mercy to Him who can alone +grant mercy, and may your prayers be heard as if they were mine own!—I +will send a religious man." + +"Na, na—nae priest! nae priest!" she ejaculated; and the door of the +cottage opening as she spoke, prevented her from proceeding. + + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. + + Still in his dead hand clenched remain the strings + That thrill his father's heart—e'en as the limb, + Lopped off and laid in grave, retains, they tell us, + Strange commerce with the mutilated stump, + Whose nerves are twinging still in maimed existence. + Old Play. + +The Antiquary, as we informed the reader in the end of the thirty-first +CHAPTER, [tenth] had shaken off the company of worthy Mr. Blattergowl, +although he offered to entertain him with an abstract of the ablest +speech he had ever known in the teind court, delivered by the procurator +for the church in the remarkable case of the parish of Gatherem. +Resisting this temptation, our senior preferred a solitary path, which +again conducted him to the cottage of Mucklebackit. When he came in +front of the fisherman's hut, he observed a man working intently, as if +to repair a shattered boat which lay upon the beach, and going up to him +was surprised to find it was Mucklebackit himself. "I am glad," he said +in a tone of sympathy—"I am glad, Saunders, that you feel yourself able +to make this exertion." + +"And what would ye have me to do," answered the fisher gruffly, "unless +I wanted to see four children starve, because ane is drowned? It's weel +wi' you gentles, that can sit in the house wi' handkerchers at your een +when ye lose a friend; but the like o' us maun to our wark again, if our +hearts were beating as hard as my hammer." + +Without taking more notice of Oldbuck, he proceeded in his labour; and +the Antiquary, to whom the display of human nature under the influence +of agitating passions was never indifferent, stood beside him, in silent +attention, as if watching the progress of the work. He observed more +than once the man's hard features, as if by the force of association, +prepare to accompany the sound of the saw and hammer with his usual +symphony of a rude tune, hummed or whistled,—and as often a slight +twitch of convulsive expression showed, that ere the sound was uttered, +a cause for suppressing it rushed upon his mind. At length, when he +had patched a considerable rent, and was beginning to mend another, his +feelings appeared altogether to derange the power of attention necessary +for his work. The piece of wood which he was about to nail on was at +first too long; then he sawed it off too short, then chose another +equally ill adapted for the purpose. At length, throwing it down in +anger, after wiping his dim eye with his quivering hand, he exclaimed, +"There is a curse either on me or on this auld black bitch of a boat, +that I have hauled up high and dry, and patched and clouted sae mony +years, that she might drown my poor Steenie at the end of them, an' be +d—d to her!" and he flung his hammer against the boat, as if she had +been the intentional cause of his misfortune. Then recollecting himself, +he added, "Yet what needs ane be angry at her, that has neither soul nor +sense?—though I am no that muckle better mysell. She's but a rickle +o' auld rotten deals nailed thegither, and warped wi' the wind and the +sea—and I am a dour carle, battered by foul weather at sea and land till +I am maist as senseless as hersell. She maun be mended though again the +morning tide— that's a thing o' necessity." + +Thus speaking, he went to gather together his instruments, and attempt +to resume his labour,—but Oldbuck took him kindly by the arm. "Come, +come," he said, "Saunders, there is no work for you this day—I'll send +down Shavings the carpenter to mend the boat, and he may put the day's +work into my account—and you had better not come out to-morrow, but stay +to comfort your family under this dispensation, and the gardener will +bring you some vegetables and meal from Monkbarns." + +"I thank ye, Monkbarns," answered the poor fisher; "I am a plain-spoken +man, and hae little to say for mysell; I might hae learned fairer +fashions frae my mither lang syne, but I never saw muckle gude they did +her; however, I thank ye. Ye were aye kind and neighbourly, whatever +folk says o' your being near and close; and I hae often said, in thae +times when they were ganging to raise up the puir folk against the +gentles—I hae often said, neer a man should steer a hair touching to +Monkbarns while Steenie and I could wag a finger—and so said Steenie +too. And, Monkbarns, when ye laid his head in the grave (and mony thanks +for the respect), ye, saw the mouls laid on an honest lad that likit you +weel, though he made little phrase about it." + +Oldbuck, beaten from the pride of his affected cynicism, would not +willingly have had any one by on that occasion to quote to him his +favourite maxims of the Stoic philosophy. The large drops fell fast +from his own eyes, as he begged the father, who was now melted at +recollecting the bravery and generous sentiments of his son, to forbear +useless sorrow, and led him by the arm towards his own home, where +another scene awaited our Antiquary. + +As he entered, the first person whom he beheld was Lord Glenallan. +Mutual surprise was in their countenances as they saluted each +other—with haughty reserve on the part of Mr. Oldbuck, and embarrassment +on that of the Earl. + +"My Lord Glenallan, I think?" said Mr. Oldbuck. + +"Yes—much changed from what he was when he knew Mr. Oldbuck." + +"I do not mean," said the Antiquary, "to intrude upon your lordship—I +only came to see this distressed family." + +"And you have found one, sir, who has still greater claims on your +compassion." + +"My compassion? Lord Glenallan cannot need my compassion. If Lord +Glenallan could need it, I think he would hardly ask it." + +"Our former acquaintance," said the Earl— + +"Is of such ancient date, my lord—was of such short duration, and was +connected with circumstances so exquisitely painful, that I think we may +dispense with renewing it." + +So saying, the Antiquary turned away, and left the hut; but Lord +Glenallan followed him into the open air, and, in spite of a hasty "Good +morning, my lord," requested a few minutes' conversation, and the favour +of his advice in an important matter. + +"Your lordship will find many more capable to advise you, my lord, and +by whom your intercourse will be deemed an honour. For me, I am a man +retired from business and the world, and not very fond of raking up +the past events of my useless life;—and forgive me if I say, I have +particular pain in reverting to that period of it when I acted like a +fool, and your lordship like"—He stopped short. + +"Like a villain, you would say," said Lord Glenallan—"for such I must +have appeared to you." + +"My lord—my lord, I have no desire to hear your shrift," said the +Antiquary. + +"But, sir, if I can show you that I am more sinned against than sinning— +that I have been a man miserable beyond the power of description, and +who looks forward at this moment to an untimely grave as to a haven +of rest, you will not refuse the confidence which, accepting your +appearance at this critical moment as a hint from Heaven, I venture thus +to press on you." + +"Assuredly, my lord, I shall shun no longer the continuation of this +extraordinary interview." + +"I must then recall to you our occasional meetings upwards of twenty +years since at Knockwinnock Castle,—and I need not remind you of a lady +who was then a member of that family." + +"The unfortunate Miss Eveline Neville, my lord; I remember it well." + +"Towards whom you entertained sentiments"— + +"Very different from those with which I before and since have regarded +her sex. Her gentleness, her docility, her pleasure in the studies which +I pointed out to her, attached my affections more than became my age +though that was not then much advanced—or the solidity of my character. +But I need not remind your lordship of the various modes in which you +indulged your gaiety at the expense of an awkward and retired student, +embarrassed by the expression of feelings so new to him, and I have no +doubt that the young lady joined you in the well-deserved ridicule—it is +the way of womankind. I have spoken at once to the painful circumstances +of my addresses and their rejection, that your lordship may be satisfied +everything is full in my memory, and may, so far as I am concerned, tell +your story without scruple or needless delicacy." + +"I will," said Lord Glenallan. "But first let me say, you do injustice +to the memory of the gentlest and kindest, as well as to the most +unhappy of women, to suppose she could make a jest of the honest +affection of a man like you. Frequently did she blame me, Mr. Oldbuck, +for indulging my levity at your expense—may I now presume you will +excuse the gay freedoms which then offended you?—my state of mind +has never since laid me under the necessity of apologizing for the +inadvertencies of a light and happy temper." + +"My lord, you are fully pardoned," said Mr. Oldbuck. "You should be +aware, that, like all others, I was ignorant at the time that I placed +myself in competition with your lordship, and understood that Miss +Neville was in a state of dependence which might make her prefer a +competent independence and the hand of an honest man—But I am wasting +time—I would I could believe that the views entertained towards her by +others were as fair and honest as mine!" + +"Mr. Oldbuck, you judge harshly." + +"Not without cause, my lord. When I only, of all the magistrates of this +county—having neither, like some of them, the honour to be connected +with your powerful family—nor, like others, the meanness to fear it,— +when I made some inquiry into the manner of Miss Neville's death—I shake +you, my lord, but I must be plain—I do own I had every reason to believe +that she had met most unfair dealing, and had either been imposed upon +by a counterfeit marriage, or that very strong measures had been adopted +to stifle and destroy the evidence of a real union. And I cannot doubt +in my own mind, that this cruelty on your lordship's part, whether +coming of your own free will, or proceeding from the influence of the +late Countess, hurried the unfortunate young lady to the desperate act +by which her life was terminated." + +"You are deceived, Mr. Oldbuck, into conclusions which are not just, +however naturally they flow from the circumstances. Believe me, I +respected you even when I was most embarrassed by your active attempts +to investigate our family misfortunes. You showed yourself more worthy +of Miss Neville than I, by the spirit with which you persisted in +vindicating her reputation even after her death. But the firm belief +that your well-meant efforts could only serve to bring to light a story +too horrible to be detailed, induced me to join my unhappy mother in +schemes to remove or destroy all evidence of the legal union which had +taken place between Eveline and myself. And now let us sit down on +this bank,— for I feel unable to remain longer standing,—and have the +goodness to listen to the extraordinary discovery which I have this day +made." + +They sate down accordingly; and Lord Glenallan briefly narrated his +unhappy family history—his concealed marriage—the horrible invention by +which his mother had designed to render impossible that union which had +already taken place. He detailed the arts by which the Countess, having +all the documents relative to Miss Neville's birth in her hands, had +produced those only relating to a period during which, for family +reasons, his father had consented to own that young lady as his natural +daughter, and showed how impossible it was that he could either suspect +or detect the fraud put upon him by his mother, and vouched by the oaths +of her attendants, Teresa and Elspeth. "I left my paternal mansion," he +concluded, "as if the furies of hell had driven me forth, and travelled +with frantic velocity I knew not whither. Nor have I the slightest +recollection of what I did or whither I went, until I was discovered by +my brother. I will not trouble you with an account of my sick-bed and +recovery, or how, long afterwards, I ventured to inquire after the +sharer of my misfortunes, and heard that her despair had found a +dreadful remedy for all the ills of life. The first thing that roused me +to thought was hearing of your inquiries into this cruel business; and +you will hardly wonder, that, believing what I did believe, I should +join in those expedients to stop your investigation, which my brother +and mother had actively commenced. The information which I gave them +concerning the circumstances and witnesses of our private marriage +enabled them to baffle your zeal. The clergyman, therefore, and +witnesses, as persons who had acted in the matter only to please the +powerful heir of Glenallan, were accessible to his promises and threats, +and were so provided for, that they had no objections to leave this +country for another. For myself, Mr. Oldbuck," pursued this unhappy man, +"from that moment I considered myself as blotted out of the book of +the living, and as having nothing left to do with this world. My mother +tried to reconcile me to life by every art—even by intimations which I +can now interpret as calculated to produce a doubt of the horrible tale +she herself had fabricated. But I construed all she said as the fictions +of maternal affection. I will forbear all reproach. She is no more—and, +as her wretched associate said, she knew not how the dart was poisoned, +or how deep it must sink, when she threw it from her hand. But, Mr. +Oldbuck, if ever, during these twenty years, there crawled upon earth a +living being deserving of your pity, I have been that man. My food has +not nourished me—my sleep has not refreshed me—my devotions have not +comforted me— all that is cheering and necessary to man has been to me +converted into poison. The rare and limited intercourse which I have +held with others has been most odious to me. I felt as if I were +bringing the contamination of unnatural and inexpressible guilt among +the gay and the innocent. There have been moments when I had thoughts +of another description—to plunge into the adventures of war, or to brave +the dangers of the traveller in foreign and barbarous climates—to +mingle in political intrigue, or to retire to the stern seclusion of +the anchorites of our religion;—all these are thoughts which have +alternately passed through my mind, but each required an energy, +which was mine no longer, after the withering stroke I had received. I +vegetated on as I could in the same spot—fancy, feeling, judgment, +and health, gradually decaying, like a tree whose bark has been +destroyed,—when first the blossoms fade, then the boughs, until its +state resembles the decayed and dying trunk that is now before you. Do +you now pity and forgive me?" + +"My lord," answered the Antiquary, much affected, "my pity—my +forgiveness, you have not to ask, for your dismal story is of itself not +only an ample excuse for whatever appeared mysterious in your conduct, +but a narrative that might move your worst enemies (and I, my lord, was +never of the number) to tears and to sympathy. But permit me to ask what +you now mean to do, and why you have honoured me, whose opinion can be +of little consequence, with your confidence on this occasion?" + +"Mr. Oldbuck," answered the Earl, "as I could never have foreseen the +nature of that confession which I have heard this day, I need not say +that I had no formed plan of consulting you, or any one, upon affairs +the tendency of which I could not even have suspected. But I am without +friends, unused to business, and, by long retirement, unacquainted alike +with the laws of the land and the habits of the living generation; and +when, most unexpectedly, I find myself immersed in the matters of which +I know least, I catch, like a drowning man, at the first support that +offers. You are that support, Mr. Oldbuck. I have always heard you +mentioned as a man of wisdom and intelligence—I have known you myself +as a man of a resolute and independent spirit;—and there is one +circumstance," said he, "which ought to combine us in some degree—our +having paid tribute to the same excellence of character in poor Eveline. +You offered yourself to me in my need, and you were already acquainted +with the beginning of my misfortunes. To you, therefore, I have recourse +for advice, for sympathy, for support." + +"You shall seek none of them in vain, my lord," said Oldbuck, "so far as +my slender ability extends;—and I am honoured by the preference, whether +it arises from choice, or is prompted by chance. But this is a matter +to be ripely considered. May I ask what are your principal views at +present?" + +"To ascertain the fate of my child," said the Earl, "be the consequences +what they may, and to do justice to the honour of Eveline, which I +have only permitted to be suspected to avoid discovery of the yet more +horrible taint to which I was made to believe it liable." + +"And the memory of your mother?" + +"Must bear its own burden," answered the Earl with a sigh: "better that +she were justly convicted of deceit, should that be found necessary, +than that others should be unjustly accused of crimes so much more +dreadful." + +"Then, my lord," said Oldbuck, "our first business must be to put the +information of the old woman, Elspeth, into a regular and authenticated +form." + +"That," said Lord Glenallan, "will be at present, I fear, impossible. +She is exhausted herself, and surrounded by her distressed family. +To-morrow, perhaps, when she is alone—and yet I doubt, from her +imperfect sense of right and wrong, whether she would speak out in any +one's presence but my own. I am too sorely fatigued." + +"Then, my lord," said the Antiquary, whom the interest of the moment +elevated above points of expense and convenience, which had generally +more than enough of weight with him, "I would propose to your lordship, +instead of returning, fatigued as you are, so far as to Glenallan House, +or taking the more uncomfortable alternative of going to a bad inn at +Fairport, to alarm all the busybodies of the town—I would propose, +I say, that you should be my guest at Monkbarns for this night. By +to-morrow these poor people will have renewed their out-of-doors +vocation—for sorrow with them affords no respite from labour,—and we +will visit the old woman Elspeth alone, and take down her examination." + +After a formal apology for the encroachment, Lord Glenallan agreed to +go with him, and underwent with patience in their return home the whole +history of John of the Girnel, a legend which Mr. Oldbuck was never +known to spare any one who crossed his threshold. + +The arrival of a stranger of such note, with two saddle-horses and a +servant in black, which servant had holsters on his saddle-bow, and a +coronet upon the holsters, created a general commotion in the house of +Monkbarns. Jenny Rintherout, scarce recovered from the hysterics which +she had taken on hearing of poor Steenie's misfortune, chased about +the turkeys and poultry, cackled and screamed louder than they did, +and ended by killing one-half too many. Miss Griselda made many wise +reflections on the hot-headed wilfulness of her brother, who had +occasioned such devastation, by suddenly bringing in upon them a papist +nobleman. And she ventured to transmit to Mr. Blattergowl some hint of +the unusual slaughter which had taken place in the basse-cour, which +brought the honest clergyman to inquire how his friend Monkbarns had +got home, and whether he was not the worse of being at the funeral, at +a period so near the ringing of the bell for dinner, that the Antiquary +had no choice left but to invite him to stay and bless the meat. Miss +M'Intyre had on her part some curiosity to see this mighty peer, of +whom all had heard, as an eastern caliph or sultan is heard of by his +subjects, and felt some degree of timidity at the idea of encountering a +person, of whose unsocial habits and stern manners so many stories were +told, that her fear kept at least pace with her curiosity. The aged +housekeeper was no less flustered and hurried in obeying the numerous +and contradictory commands of her mistress, concerning preserves, pastry +and fruit, the mode of marshalling and dishing the dinner, the necessity +of not permitting the melted butter to run to oil, and the danger of +allowing Juno—who, though formally banished from the parlour, failed not +to maraud about the out-settlements of the family—to enter the kitchen. + +The only inmate of Monkbarns who remained entirely indifferent on this +momentous occasion was Hector M'Intyre, who cared no more for an +Earl than he did for a commoner, and who was only interested in the +unexpected visit, as it might afford some protection against his uncle's +displeasure, if he harboured any, for his not attending the funeral, +and still more against his satire upon the subject of his gallant but +unsuccessful single combat with the phoca, or seal. + +To these, the inmates of his household, Oldbuck presented the Earl of +Glenallan, who underwent, with meek and subdued civility, the prosing +speeches of the honest divine, and the lengthened apologies of Miss +Griselda Oldbuck, which her brother in vain endeavoured to abridge. +Before the dinner hour, Lord Glenallan requested permission to retire +a while to his chamber. Mr. Oldbuck accompanied his guest to the Green +Room, which had been hastily prepared for his reception. He looked +around with an air of painful recollection. + +"I think," at length he observed, "I think, Mr. Oldbuck, that I have +been in this apartment before." + +"Yes, my lord," answered Oldbuck, "upon occasion of an excursion hither +from Knockwinnock—and since we are upon a subject so melancholy, you may +perhaps remember whose taste supplied these lines from Chaucer, which +now form the motto of the tapestry." + +"I guess", said the Earl, "though I cannot recollect. She excelled me, +indeed, in literary taste and information, as in everything else; and it +is one of the mysterious dispensations of Providence, Mr. Oldbuck, that +a creature so excellent in mind and body should have been cut off in so +miserable a manner, merely from her having formed a fatal attachment to +such a wretch as I am." + +Mr. Oldbuck did not attempt an answer to this burst of the grief +which lay ever nearest to the heart of his guest, but, pressing Lord +Glenallan's hand with one of his own, and drawing the other across his +shaggy eyelashes, as if to brush away a mist that intercepted his sight, +he left the Earl at liberty to arrange himself previous to dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEENTH + + —Life, with you, + Glows in the brain and dances in the arteries; + 'Tis like the wine some joyous guest hath quaffed, + That glads the heart and elevates the fancy: + Mine is the poor residuum of the cup, + Vapid, and dull, and tasteless, only soiling, + With its base dregs, the vessel that contains it. + Old Play. + +"Now, only think what a man my brother is, Mr. Blattergowl, for a +wise man and a learned man, to bring this Yerl into our house +without speaking a word to a body! And there's the distress of thae +Mucklebackits—we canna get a fin o' fish—and we hae nae time to send +ower to Fairport for beef, and the mutton's but new killed—and that +silly fliskmahoy, Jenny Rintherout, has taen the exies, and done +naething but laugh and greet, the skirl at the tail o' the guffaw, for +twa days successfully—and now we maun ask that strange man, that's as +grand and as grave as the Yerl himsell, to stand at the sideboard! and I +canna gang into the kitchen to direct onything, for he's hovering there, +making some pousowdie* for my Lord, for he doesna eat like ither folk +neither—And how to sort the strange servant man at dinner time—I am +sure, Mr. Blattergowl, a'thegither, it passes my judgment." + +* Pousowdie,—Miscellaneous mess. + +"Truly, Miss Griselda," replied the divine, "Monkbarns was +inconsiderate. He should have taen a day to see the invitation, as they +do wi' the titular's condescendence in the process of valuation and +sale. But the great man could not have come on a sudden to ony house in +this parish where he could have been better served with vivers—that I +must say— and also that the steam from the kitchen is very gratifying +to my nostrils;—and if ye have ony household affairs to attend to, Mrs. +Griselda, never make a stranger of me—I can amuse mysell very weel with +the larger copy of Erskine's Institutes." + +And taking down from the window-seat that amusing folio, (the Scottish +Coke upon Littleton), he opened it, as if instinctively, at the tenth +title of Book Second, "of Teinds or Tythes," and was presently deeply +wrapped up in an abstruse discussion concerning the temporality of +benefices. + +The entertainment, about which Miss Oldbuck expressed so much anxiety, +was at length placed upon the table; and the Earl of Glenallan, for the +first time since the date of his calamity, sat at a stranger's board, +surrounded by strangers. He seemed to himself like a man in a dream, +or one whose brain was not fully recovered from the effects of an +intoxicating potion. Relieved, as he had that morning been, from the +image of guilt which had so long haunted his imagination, he felt his +sorrows as a lighter and more tolerable load, but was still unable +to take any share in the conversation that passed around him. It was, +indeed, of a cast very different from that which he had been accustomed +to. The bluntness of Oldbuck, the tiresome apologetic harangues of +his sister, the pedantry of the divine, and the vivacity of the young +soldier, which savoured much more of the camp than of the court, were +all new to a nobleman who had lived in a retired and melancholy state +for so many years, that the manners of the world seemed to him equally +strange and unpleasing. Miss M'Intyre alone, from the natural politeness +and unpretending simplicity of her manners, appeared to belong to that +class of society to which he had been accustomed in his earlier and +better days. + +Nor did Lord Glenallan's deportment less surprise the company. Though a +plain but excellent family-dinner was provided (for, as Mr. Blattergowl +had justly said, it was impossible to surprise Miss Griselda when her +larder was empty), and though the Antiquary boasted his best port, and +assimilated it to the Falernian of Horace, Lord Glenallan was proof to +the allurements of both. His servant placed before him a small mess +of vegetables, that very dish, the cooking of which had alarmed Miss +Griselda, arranged with the most minute and scrupulous neatness. He ate +sparingly of these provisions; and a glass of pure water, sparkling from +the fountain-head, completed his repast. Such, his servant said, had +been his lordship's diet for very many years, unless upon the high +festivals of the Church, or when company of the first rank were +entertained at Glenallan House, when he relaxed a little in the +austerity of his diet, and permitted himself a glass or two of wine. But +at Monkbarns, no anchoret could have made a more simple and scanty meal. + +The Antiquary was a gentleman, as we have seen, in feeling, but blunt +and careless in expression, from the habit of living with those before +whom he had nothing to suppress. He attacked his noble guest without +scruple on the severity of his regimen. + +"A few half-cold greens and potatoes—a glass of ice-cold water to wash +them down—antiquity gives no warrant for it, my lord. This house used +to be accounted a hospitium, a place of retreat for Christians; but your +lordship's diet is that of a heathen Pythagorean, or Indian Bramin—nay, +more severe than either, if you refuse these fine apples." + +"I am a Catholic, you are aware," said Lord Glenallan, wishing to escape +from the discussion, "and you know that our church"—— + +"Lays down many rules of mortification," proceeded the dauntless +Antiquary; "but I never heard that they were quite so rigorously +practised—Bear witness my predecessor, John of the Girnel, or the jolly +Abbot, who gave his name to this apple, my lord." + +And as he pared the fruit, in spite of his sister's "O fie, Monkbarns!" +and the prolonged cough of the minister, accompanied by a shake of his +huge wig, the Antiquary proceeded to detail the intrigue which had +given rise to the fame of the abbot's apple with more slyness and +circumstantiality than was at all necessary. His jest (as may readily be +conceived) missed fire, for this anecdote of conventual gallantry failed +to produce the slightest smile on the visage of the Earl. Oldbuck then +took up the subject of Ossian, Macpherson, and Mac-Cribb; but Lord +Glenallan had never so much as heard of any of the three, so little +conversant had he been with modern literature. The conversation was +now in some danger of flagging, or of falling into the hands of Mr. +Blattergowl, who had just pronounced the formidable word, "teind-free," +when the subject of the French Revolution was started—a political event +on which Lord Glenallan looked with all the prejudiced horror of a +bigoted Catholic and zealous aristocrat. Oldbuck was far from carrying +his detestation of its principles to such a length. + +"There were many men in the first Constituent Assembly," he said, "who +held sound Whiggish doctrines, and were for settling the Constitution +with a proper provision for the liberties of the people. And if a set +of furious madmen were now in possession of the government, it was," +he continued, "what often happened in great revolutions, where extreme +measures are adopted in the fury of the moment, and the State resembles +an agitated pendulum which swings from side to side for some time ere it +can acquire its due and perpendicular station. Or it might be likened to +a storm or hurricane, which, passing over a region, does great damage +in its passage, yet sweeps away stagnant and unwholesome vapours, and +repays, in future health and fertility, its immediate desolation and +ravage." + +The Earl shook his head; but having neither spirit nor inclination for +debate, he suffered the argument to pass uncontested. + +This discussion served to introduce the young soldier's experiences; and +he spoke of the actions in which he, had been engaged, with modesty, +and at the same time with an air of spirit and zeal which delighted the +Earl, who had been bred up, like others of his house, in the opinion +that the trade of arms was the first duty of man, and believed that to +employ them against the French was a sort of holy warfare. + +"What would I give," said he apart to Oldbuck, as they rose to join the +ladies in the drawing-room, "what would I give to have a son of such +spirit as that young gentleman!—He wants something of address and +manner, something of polish, which mixing in good society would soon +give him; but with what zeal and animation he expresses himself—how +fond of his profession—how loud in the praise of others—how modest when +speaking of himself!" + +"Hector is much obliged to you, my lord," replied his uncle, gratified, +yet not so much so as to suppress his consciousness of his own mental +superiority over the young soldier; "I believe in my heart nobody ever +spoke half so much good of him before, except perhaps the sergeant of +his company, when was wheedling a Highland recruit to enlist with him. +He is a good lad notwithstanding, although he be not quite the hero your +lordship supposes him, and although my commendations rather attest the +kindness than the vivacity of his character. In fact, his high spirit is +a sort of constitutional vehemence, which attends him in everything he +sets about, and is often very inconvenient to his friends. I saw him +to-day engage in an animated contest with a phoca, or seal (sealgh, our +people more properly call them, retaining the Gothic guttural gh), with +as much vehemence as if he had fought against Dumourier—Marry, my lord, +the phoca had the better, as the said Dumourier had of some other folks. +And he'll talk with equal if not superior rapture of the good behaviour +of a pointer bitch, as of the plan of a campaign." + +"He shall have full permission to sport over my grounds," said the Earl, +"if he is so fond of that exercise." + +"You will bind him to you, my lord," said Monkbarns, "body and soul: +give him leave to crack off his birding-piece at a poor covey of +partridges or moor-fowl, and he's yours for ever—I will enchant him by +the intelligence. But O, my lord, that you could have seen my phoenix +Lovel!—the very prince and chieftain of the youth of this age; and not +destitute of spirit neither—I promise you he gave my termagant kinsman +a quid pro quo—a Rowland for his Oliver, as the vulgar say, alluding to +the two celebrated Paladins of Charlemagne." + +After coffee, Lord Glenallan requested a private interview with the +Antiquary, and was ushered to his library. + +"I must withdraw you from your own amiable family," he said, "to involve +you in the perplexities of an unhappy man. You are acquainted with the +world, from which I have long been banished; for Glenallan House has +been to me rather a prison than a dwelling, although a prison which I +had neither fortitude nor spirit to break from." + +"Let me first ask your lordship," said the Antiquary, "what are your own +wishes and designs in this matter?" + +"I wish most especially," answered Lord Glenallan, "to declare my +luckless marriage, and to vindicate the reputation of the unhappy +Eveline—that is, if you see a possibility of doing so without making +public the conduct of my mother." + +"Suum cuique tribuito," said the Antiquary; "do right to everyone. The +memory of that unhappy young lady has too long suffered, and I think it +might be cleared without further impeaching that of your mother, than +by letting it be understood in general that she greatly disapproved and +bitterly opposed the match. All—forgive me, my lord—all who ever +heard of the late Countess of Glenallan, will learn that without much +surprise." + +"But you forget one horrible circumstance, Mr. Oldbuck," said the Earl, +in an agitated voice. + +"I am not aware of it," replied the Antiquary. + +"The fate of the infant—its disappearance with the confidential +attendant of my mother, and the dreadful surmises which may be drawn +from my conversation with Elspeth." + +"If you would have my free opinion, my lord," answered Mr. Oldbuck, "and +will not catch too rapidly at it as matter of hope, I would say that it +is very possible the child yet lives. For thus much I ascertained, by my +former inquiries concerning the event of that deplorable evening, that +a child and woman were carried that night from the cottage at the +Craigburnfoot in a carriage and four by your brother Edward Geraldin +Neville, whose journey towards England with these companions I traced +for several stages. I believed then it was a part of the family compact +to carry a child whom you meant to stigmatize with illegitimacy, out of +that country where chance might have raised protectors and proofs of its +rights. But I now think that your brother, having reason, like yourself, +to believe the child stained with shame yet more indelible, had +nevertheless withdrawn it, partly from regard to the honour of his +house, partly from the risk to which it might have been exposed in the +neighbourhood of the Lady Glenallan." + +As he spoke, the Earl of Glenallan grew extremely pale, and had nearly +fallen from his chair.—The alarmed Antiquary ran hither and thither +looking for remedies; but his museum, though sufficiently well filled +with a vast variety of useless matters, contained nothing that could be +serviceable on the present or any other occasion. As he posted out +of the room to borrow his sister's salts, he could not help giving a +constitutional growl of chagrin and wonder at the various incidents +which had converted his mansion, first into an hospital for a wounded +duellist, and now into the sick chamber of a dying nobleman. "And yet," +said he, "I have always kept aloof from the soldiery and the peerage. +My coenobitium has only next to be made a lying-in hospital, and then, I +trow, the transformation will be complete." + +When he returned with the remedy, Lord Glenallan was much better. +The new and unexpected light which Mr. Oldbuck had thrown upon the +melancholy history of his family had almost overpowered him. "You think, +then, Mr. Oldbuck—for you are capable of thinking, which I am not—you +think, then, that it is possible—that is, not impossible—my child may +yet live?" + +"I think," said the Antiquary, "it is impossible that it could come to +any violent harm through your brother's means. He was known to be a gay +and dissipated man, but not cruel nor dishonourable; nor is it possible, +that, if he had intended any foul play, he would have placed himself so +forward in the charge of the infant, as I will prove to your lordship he +did." + +So saying, Mr. Oldbuck opened a drawer of the cabinet of his ancestor +Aldobrand, and produced a bundle of papers tied with a black ribband, +and labelled,—Examinations, etc., taken by Jonathan Oldbuck, J. P., upon +the 18th of February, 17—; a little under was written, in a small +hand, Eheu Evelina! The tears dropped fast from the Earl's eyes, as +he endeavoured, in vain, to unfasten the knot which secured these +documents. + +"Your lordship," said Mr. Oldbuck, "had better not read these at +present. Agitated as you are, and having much business before you, you +must not exhaust your strength. Your brother's succession is now, I +presume, your own, and it will be easy for you to make inquiry among +his servants and retainers, so as to hear where the child is, if, +fortunately, it shall be still alive." + +"I dare hardly hope it," said the Earl, with a deep sigh. "Why should my +brother have been silent to me?" + +"Nay, my lord, why should he have communicated to your lordship the +existence of a being whom you must have supposed the offspring of"— + +"Most true—there is an obvious and a kind reason for his being silent. +If anything, indeed, could have added to the horror of the ghastly dream +that has poisoned my whole existence, it must have been the knowledge +that such a child of misery existed." + +"Then," continued the Antiquary, "although it would be rash to conclude, +at the distance of more than twenty years, that your son must needs be +still alive because he was not destroyed in infancy, I own I think you +should instantly set on foot inquiries." + +"It shall be done," replied Lord Glenallan, catching eagerly at the +hope held out to him, the first he had nourished for many years;—"I will +write to a faithful steward of my father, who acted in the same capacity +under my brother Neville—But, Mr. Oldbuck, I am not my brother's heir." + +"Indeed!—I am sorry for that, my lord—it is a noble estate, and the +ruins of the old castle of Neville's-Burgh alone, which are the most +superb relics of Anglo-Norman architecture in that part of the country, +are a possession much to be coveted. I thought your father had no other +son or near relative." + +"He had not, Mr. Oldbuck," replied Lord Glenallan; "but my brother +adopted views in politics, and a form of religion, alien from those +which had been always held by our house. Our tempers had long differed, +nor did my unhappy mother always think him sufficiently observant +to her. In short, there was a family quarrel, and my brother, whose +property was at his own free disposal, availed himself of the power +vested in him to choose a stranger for his heir. It is a matter which +never struck me as being of the least consequence—for if worldly +possessions could alleviate misery, I have enough and to spare. But +now I shall regret it, if it throws any difficulty in the way of our +inquiries—and I bethink me that it may; for in case of my having a +lawful son of my body, and my brother dying without issue, my father's +possessions stood entailed upon my son. It is not therefore likely +that this heir, be he who he may, will afford us assistance in making a +discovery which may turn out so much to his own prejudice." + +"And in all probability the steward your lordship mentions is also in +his service," said the Antiquary. + +"It is most likely; and the man being a Protestant—how far it is safe to +entrust him"— + +"I should hope, my lord," said Oldbuck gravely, "that a Protestant +may be as trustworthy as a Catholic. I am doubly interested in the +Protestant faith, my lord. My ancestor, Aldobrand Oldenbuck, printed the +celebrated Confession of Augsburg, as I can show by the original edition +now in this house." + +"I have not the least doubt of what you say, Mr. Oldbuck," replied the +Earl, "nor do I speak out of bigotry or intolerance; but probably the +Protestant steward will favour the Protestant heir rather than the +Catholic—if, indeed, my son has been bred in his father's faith—or, +alas! if indeed he yet lives." + +"We must look close into this," said Oldbuck, "before committing +ourselves. I have a literary friend at York, with whom I have long +corresponded on the subject of the Saxon horn that is preserved in the +Minster there; we interchanged letters for six years, and have only as +yet been able to settle the first line of the inscription. I will write +forthwith to this gentleman, Dr. Dryasdust, and be particular in my +inquiries concerning the character, etc., of your brother's heir, of +the gentleman employed in his affairs, and what else may be likely to +further your lordship's inquiries. In the meantime your lordship +will collect the evidence of the marriage, which I hope can still be +recovered?" + +"Unquestionably," replied the Earl: "the witnesses, who were formerly +withdrawn from your research, are still living. My tutor, who solemnized +the marriage, was provided for by a living in France, and has lately +returned to this country as an emigrant, a victim of his zeal for +loyalty, legitimacy, and religion." + +"That's one lucky consequence of the French, revolution, my lord—you +must allow that, at least," said Oldbuck: "but no offence; I will act +as warmly in your affairs as if I were of your own faith in politics +and religion. And take my advice—If you want an affair of consequence +properly managed, put it into the hands of an antiquary; for as they +are eternally exercising their genius and research upon trifles, it +is impossible they can be baffled in affairs of importance;—use makes +perfect—and the corps that is most frequently drilled upon the parade, +will be most prompt in its exercise upon the day of battle. And, talking +upon that subject, I would willingly read to your lordship, in order to +pass away the time betwixt and supper"— + +"I beg I may not interfere with family arrangements," said Lord +Glenallan, "but I never taste anything after sunset." + +"Nor I either, my lord," answered his host, "notwithstanding it is said +to have been the custom of the ancients. But then I dine differently +from your lordship, and therefore am better enabled to dispense with +those elaborate entertainments which my womankind (that is, my sister +and niece, my lord) are apt to place on the table, for the display +rather of their own house-wifery than the accommodation of our wants. +However, a broiled bone, or a smoked haddock, or an oyster, or a slice +of bacon of our own curing, with a toast and a tankard—or something or +other of that sort, to close the orifice of the stomach before going +to bed, does not fall under my restriction, nor, I hope, under your +lordship's." + +"My no-supper is literal, Mr. Oldbuck; but I will attend you at your +meal with pleasure." + +"Well, my lord," replied the Antiquary, "I will endeavour to entertain +your ears at least, since I cannot banquet your palate. What I am about +to read to your lordship relates to the upland glens." + +Lord Glenallan, though he would rather have recurred to the subject of +his own uncertainties, was compelled to make a sign of rueful civility +and acquiescence. + +The Antiquary, therefore, took out his portfolio of loose sheets, and +after premising that the topographical details here laid down were +designed to illustrate a slight essay upon castrametation, which had +been read with indulgence at several societies of Antiquaries, he +commenced as follows: "The subject, my lord, is the hill-fort of +Quickens-bog, with the site of which your lordship is doubtless +familiar—it is upon your store-farm of Mantanner, in the barony of +Clochnaben." + +"I think I have heard the names of these places," said the Earl, in +answer to the Antiquary's appeal. + +"Heard the name? and the farm brings him six hundred a-year—O Lord!" + +Such was the scarce-subdued ejaculation of the Antiquary. But his +hospitality got the better of his surprise, and he proceeded to read his +essay with an audible voice, in great glee at having secured a patient, +and, as he fondly hoped, an interested hearer. + +"Quickens-bog may at first seem to derive its name from the plant +Quicken, by which, Scottice, we understand couch-grass, dog-grass, or +the Triticum repens of Linnaeus, and the common English monosyllable +Bog, by which we mean, in popular language, a marsh or morass—in +Latin, Palus. But it may confound the rash adopters of the more obvious +etymological derivations, to learn that the couch-grass or dog-grass, +or, to speak scientifically, the Triticum repens of Linnaeus, does not +grow within a quarter of a mile of this castrum or hill-fort, whose +ramparts are uniformly clothed with short verdant turf; and that we must +seek a bog or palus at a still greater distance, the nearest being that +of Gird-the-mear, a full half-mile distant. The last syllable, bog, is +obviously, therefore, a mere corruption of the Saxon Burgh, which we +find in the various transmutations of Burgh, Burrow, Brough, +Bruff, Buff, and Boff, which last approaches very near the sound in +question—since, supposing the word to have been originally borgh, which +is the genuine Saxon spelling, a slight change, such as modern organs +too often make upon ancient sounds, will produce first Bogh, and then, +elisa H, or compromising and sinking the guttural, agreeable to the +common vernacular practice, you have either Boff or Bog as it happens. +The word Quickens requires in like manner to be altered,—decomposed, +as it were,—and reduced to its original and genuine sound, ere we can +discern its real meaning. By the ordinary exchange of the Qu into +Wh, familiar to the rudest tyro who has opened a book of old Scottish +poetry, we gain either Whilkens, or Whichensborgh—put we may suppose, +by way of question, as if those who imposed the name, struck with the +extreme antiquity of the place, had expressed in it an interrogation, To +whom did this fortress belong?'—Or, it might be Whackens-burgh, from the +Saxon Whacken, to strike with the hand, as doubtless the skirmishes +near a place of such apparent consequence must have legitimated such a +derivation," etc. etc. etc. + +I will be more merciful to my readers than Oldbuck was to his guest; +for, considering his opportunities of gaining patient attention from a +person of such consequence as Lord Glenallan were not many, he used, or +rather abused, the present to the uttermost. + + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEENTH. + + Crabbed age and youth + Cannot live together:— + Youth is full of pleasance, + Age is full of care; + Youth like summer morn, + Age like winter weather; + Youth like summer brave, + Age like winter bare. + Shakspeare. + +In the morning of the following day, the Antiquary, who was something +of a sluggard, was summoned from his bed a full hour earlier than his +custom by Caxon. "What's the matter now?" he exclaimed, yawning and +stretching forth his hand to the huge gold repeater, which, bedded upon +his India silk handkerchief, was laid safe by his pillow—"what's the +matter now, Caxon?—it can't be eight o'clock yet." + +"Na, sir,—but my lord's man sought me out, for he fancies me your +honour's valley-de-sham,—and sae I am, there's nae doubt o't, baith your +honour's and the minister's—at least ye hae nae other that I ken +o'—and I gie a help to Sir Arthur too, but that's mair in the way o' my +profession." + +"Well, well—never mind that," said the Antiquary—"happy is he that is +his own valley-de-sham, as you call it—But why disturb my morning's +rest?" + +"Ou, sir, the great man's been up since peep o' day, and he's steered +the town to get awa an express to fetch his carriage, and it will be +here briefly, and he wad like to see your honour afore he gaes awa." + +"Gadso!" ejaculated Oldbuck, "these great men use one's house and time +as if they were their own property. Well, it's once and away. Has Jenny +come to her senses yet, Caxon?" + +"Troth, sir, but just middling," replied the barber; "she's been in a +swither about the jocolate this morning, and was like to hae toomed it +a' out into the slap-bason, and drank it hersell in her ecstacies—but +she's won ower wi't, wi' the help o' Miss M'Intyre." + +"Then all my womankind are on foot and scrambling, and I must enjoy my +quiet bed no longer, if I would have a well-regulated house—Lend me my +gown. And what are the news at Fairport?" + +"Ou, sir, what can they be about but this grand news o' my lord," +answered the old man, "that hasna been ower the door-stane, they threep +to me, for this twenty years—this grand news of his coming to visit your +honour?" + +"Aha!" said Monkbarns; "and what do they say of that, Caxon?" + +"'Deed, sir, they hae various opinions. Thae fallows, that are the +democraws, as they ca' them, that are again' the king and the law, and +hairpowder and dressing o' gentlemen's wigs—a wheen blackguards—they +say he's come doun to speak wi' your honour about bringing doun his hill +lads and Highland tenantry to break up the meetings of the Friends o' +the People;—and when I said your honour never meddled wi' the like o' +sic things where there was like to be straiks and bloodshed, they said, +if ye didna, your nevoy did, and that he was weel ken'd to be a kingsman +that wad fight knee-deep, and that ye were the head and he was the hand, +and that the Yerl was to bring out the men and the siller." + +"Come," said the Antiquary, laughing—"I am glad the war is to cost me +nothing but counsel." + +"Na, na," said Caxon—"naebody thinks your honour wad either fight +yoursell, or gie ony feck o' siller to ony side o' the question." + +"Umph! well, that's the opinion of the democraws, as you call them—What +say the rest o' Fairport?" + +"In troth," said the candid reporter, "I canna say it's muckle better. +Captain Coquet, of the volunteers—that's him that's to be the new +collector,—and some of the other gentlemen of the Blue and a' Blue Club, +are just saying it's no right to let popists, that hae sae mony French +friends as the Yerl of Glenallan, gang through the country, and—but your +honour will maybe be angry?" + +"Not I, Caxon," said Oldbuck; "fire away as if you were Captain Coquet's +whole platoon—I can stand it." + +"Weel then, they say, sir, that as ye didna encourage the petition about +the peace, and wadna petition in favour of the new tax, and as you were +again' bringing in the yeomanry at the meal mob, but just for settling +the folk wi' the constables—they say ye're no a gude friend to +government; and that thae sort o' meetings between sic a powerfu' man as +the Yerl, and sic a wise man as you,—Od they think they suld be lookit +after; and some say ye should baith be shankit aff till Edinburgh +Castle." + +"On my word," said the Antiquary, "I am infinitely obliged to my +neighbours for their good opinion of me! And so I, that have never +interfered with their bickerings, but to recommend quiet and moderate +measures, am given up on both sides as a man very likely to commit high +treason, either against King or People?—Give me my coat, Caxon—give me +my coat;—it's lucky I live not in their report. Have you heard anything +of Taffril and his vessel?" + +Caxon's countenance fell.—"Na, sir, and the winds hae been high, +and this is a fearfu' coast to cruise on in thae eastern gales,—the +headlands rin sae far out, that a veshel's embayed afore I could sharp +a razor; and then there's nae harbour or city of refuge on our coast—a' +craigs and breakers;—a veshel that rins ashore wi' us flees asunder like +the powther when I shake the pluff—and it's as ill to gather ony o't +again. I aye tell my daughter thae things when she grows wearied for +a letter frae Lieutenant Taffril—It's aye an apology for him. Ye sudna +blame him, says I, hinny, for ye little ken what may hae happened." + +"Ay, ay, Caxon, thou art as good a comforter as a valet-de-chambre.—Give +me a white stock, man,—dye think I can go down with a handkerchief about +my neck when I have company?" + +"Dear sir, the Captain says a three-nookit hankercher is the maist +fashionable overlay, and that stocks belang to your honour and me that +are auld warld folk. I beg pardon for mentioning us twa thegither, but +it was what he said." + +"The Captain's a puppy, and you are a goose, Caxon." + +"It's very like it may be sae," replied the acquiescent barber: "I am +sure your honour kens best." + +Before breakfast, Lord Glenallan, who appeared in better spirits than he +had evinced in the former evening, went particularly through the various +circumstances of evidence which the exertions of Oldbuck had formerly +collected; and pointing out the means which he possessed of completing +the proof of his marriage, expressed his resolution instantly to go +through the painful task of collecting and restoring the evidence +concerning the birth of Eveline Neville, which Elspeth had stated to be +in his mother's possession. + +"And yet, Mr. Oldbuck," he said, "I feel like a man who receives +important tidings ere he is yet fully awake, and doubt whether they +refer to actual life, or are not rather a continuation of his dream. +This woman—this Elspeth,—she is in the extremity of age, and approaching +in many respects to dotage. Have I not—it is a hideous question—have I +not been hasty in the admission of her present evidence, against that +which she formerly gave me to a very—very different purpose?" + +Mr. Oldbuck paused a moment, and then answered with firmness—"No, my +lord; I cannot think you have any reason to suspect the truth of what +she has told you last, from no apparent impulse but the urgency of +conscience. Her confession was voluntary, disinterested, distinct, +consistent with itself, and with all the other known circumstances of +the case. I would lose no time, however, in examining and arranging +the other documents to which she has referred; and I also think her +own statement should be taken down, if possible in a formal manner. We +thought of setting about this together. But it will be a relief to +your lordship, and moreover have a more impartial appearance, were I to +attempt the investigation alone in the capacity of a magistrate. I will +do this—at least I will attempt it, so soon as I shall see her in a +favourable state of mind to undergo an examination." + +Lord Glenallan wrung the Antiquary's hand in token of grateful +acquiescence. "I cannot express to you," he said, "Mr. Oldbuck, how +much your countenance and cooperation in this dark and most melancholy +business gives me relief and confidence. I cannot enough applaud myself +for yielding to the sudden impulse which impelled me, as it were, to +drag you into my confidence, and which arose from the experience I had +formerly of your firmness in discharge of your duty as a magistrate, +and as a friend to the memory of the unfortunate. Whatever the issue of +these matters may prove,—and I would fain hope there is a dawn breaking +on the fortunes of my house, though I shall not live to enjoy its +light,—but whatsoever be the issue, you have laid my family and me under +the most lasting obligation." + +"My lord," answered the Antiquary, "I must necessarily have the greatest +respect for your lordship's family, which I am well aware is one of +the most ancient in Scotland, being certainly derived from Aymer de +Geraldin, who sat in parliament at Perth, in the reign of Alexander II., +and who by the less vouched, yet plausible tradition of the country, is +said to have been descended from the Marmor of Clochnaben. Yet, with all +my veneration for your ancient descent, I must acknowledge that I find +myself still more bound to give your lordship what assistance is in my +limited power, from sincere sympathy with your sorrows, and detestation +at the frauds which have so long been practised upon you.—But, my lord, +the matin meal is, I see, now prepared—Permit me to show your lordship +the way through the intricacies of my cenobitium, which is rather a +combination of cells, jostled oddly together, and piled one upon the top +of the other, than a regular house. I trust you will make yourself some +amends for the spare diet of yesterday." + +But this was no part of Lord Glenallan's system. Having saluted the +company with the grave and melancholy politeness which distinguished his +manners, his servant placed before him a slice of toasted bread, with a +glass of fair water, being the fare on which he usually broke his fast. +While the morning's meal of the young soldier and the old Antiquary +was despatched in much more substantial manner, the noise of wheels was +heard. + +"Your lordship's carriage, I believe," said Oldbuck, stepping to the +window. "On my word, a handsome quadriga,—for such, according to the +best scholium, was the vox signata of the Romans for a chariot which, +like that of your lordship, was drawn by four horses." + +"And I will venture to say," cried Hector, eagerly gazing from the +window, "that four handsomer or better-matched bays never were put in +harness—What fine forehands!—what capital chargers they would make!— +Might I ask if they are of your lordship's own breeding?" + +"I—I—rather believe so," said Lord Glenallan; "but I have been so +negligent of my domestic matters, that I am ashamed to say I must apply +to Calvert" (looking at the domestic). + +"They are of your lordship's own breeding," said Calvert, "got by Mad +Tom out of Jemina and Yarico, your lordship's brood mares." + +"Are there more of the set?" said Lord Glenallan. + +"Two, my lord,—one rising four, the other five off this grass, both very +handsome." + +"Then let Dawkins bring them down to Monkbarns to-morrow," said the +Earl—"I hope Captain M'Intyre will accept them, if they are at all fit +for service." + +Captain M'Intyre's eyes sparkled, and he was profuse in grateful +acknowledgments; while Oldbuck, on the other hand, seizing the Earl's +sleeve, endeavoured to intercept a present which boded no good to his +corn-chest and hay-loft. + +"My lord—my lord—much obliged—much obliged—But Hector is a pedestrian, +and never mounts on horseback in battle—he is a Highland soldier, +moreover, and his dress ill adapted for cavalry service. Even Macpherson +never mounted his ancestors on horseback, though he has the impudence to +talk of their being car-borne—and that, my lord, is what is running in +Hector's head—it is the vehicular, not the equestrian exercise, which he +envies— + + Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum + Collegisse juvat. + +His noddle is running on a curricle, which he has neither money to buy, +nor skill to drive if he had it; and I assure your lordship, that the +possession of two such quadrupeds would prove a greater scrape than any +of his duels, whether with human foe or with my friend the phoca." + +"You must command us all at present, Mr. Oldbuck," said the Earl +politely; "but I trust you will not ultimately prevent my gratifying my +young friend in some way that may afford him pleasure." + +"Anything useful, my lord," said Oldbuck, "but no curriculum—I protest +he might as rationally propose to keep a quadriga at once—And now I +think of it, what is that old post-chaise from Fairport come jingling +here for?—I did not send for it." + +"I did, sir," said Hector, rather sulkily, for he was not much gratified +by his uncle's interference to prevent the Earl's intended generosity, +nor particularly inclined to relish either the disparagement which he +cast upon his skill as a charioteer, or the mortifying allusion to his +bad success in the adventures of the duel and the seal. + +"You did, sir?" echoed the Antiquary, in answer to his concise +information. "And pray, what may be your business with a post-chaise? +Is this splendid equipage—this biga, as I may call it—to serve for an +introduction to a quadriga or a curriculum?" + +"Really, sir," replied the young soldier, "if it be necessary to give +you such a specific explanation, I am going to Fairport on a little +business." + +"Will you permit me to inquire into the nature of that business, +Hector?" answered his uncle, who loved the exercise of a little brief +authority over his relative. "I should suppose any regimental affairs +might be transacted by your worthy deputy the sergeant—an honest +gentleman, who is so good as to make Monkbarns his home since his +arrival among us—I should, I say, suppose that he may transact any +business of yours, without your spending a day's pay on two dog-horses, +and such a combination of rotten wood, cracked glass, and leather—such a +skeleton of a post-chaise, as that before the door." + +"It is not regimental business, sir, that calls me; and, since you +insist upon knowing, I must inform you Caxon has brought word this +morning that old Ochiltree, the beggar, is to be brought up for +examination to-day, previous to his being committed for trial; and I'm +going to see that the poor old fellow gets fair play—that's all." + +"Ay?—I heard something of this, but could not think it serious. And +pray, Captain Hector, who are so ready to be every man's second on all +occasions of strife, civil or military, by land, by water, or on the +sea-beach, what is your especial concern with old Edie Ochiltree?" + +"He was a soldier in my father's company, sir," replied Hector; "and +besides, when I was about to do a very foolish thing one day, he +interfered to prevent me, and gave me almost as much good advice, sir, +as you could have done yourself." + +"And with the same good effect, I dare be sworn for it—eh, Hector?— +Come, confess it was thrown away." + +"Indeed it was, sir; but I see no reason that my folly should make me +less grateful for his intended kindness." + +"Bravo, Hector! that's the most sensible thing I ever heard you say. +But always tell me your plans without reserve,—why, I will go with you +myself, man. I am sure the old fellow is not guilty, and I will assist +him in such a scrape much more effectually than you can do. Besides, it +will save thee half-a-guinea, my lad—a consideration which I heartily +pray you to have more frequently before your eyes." + +Lord Glenallan's politeness had induced him to turn away and talk with +the ladies, when the dispute between the uncle and nephew appeared to +grow rather too animated to be fit for the ear of a stranger, but the +Earl mingled again in the conversation when the placable tone of the +Antiquary expressed amity. Having received a brief account of the +mendicant, and of the accusation brought against him, which Oldbuck did +not hesitate to ascribe to the malice of Dousterswivel, Lord Glenallan +asked, whether the individual in question had not been a soldier +formerly?—He was answered in the affirmative. + +"Had he not," continued his Lordship, "a coarse blue coat, or gown, with +a badge?—was he not a tall, striking-looking old man, with grey beard +and hair, who kept his body remarkably erect, and talked with an air +of ease and independence, which formed a strong contrast to his +profession?" + +"All this is an exact picture of the man," refumed Oldbuck. + +"Why, then," continued Lord Glenallan, "although I fear I can be of no +use to him in his present condition, yet I owe him a debt of gratitude +for being the first person who brought me some tidings of the utmost +importance. I would willingly offer him a place of comfortable +retirement, when he is extricated from his present situation." + +"I fear, my lord," said Oldbuck, "he would have difficulty in +reconciling his vagrant habits to the acceptance of your bounty, at +least I know the experiment has been tried without effect. To beg from +the public at large he considers as independence, in comparison to +drawing his whole support from the bounty of an individual. He is so far +a true philosopher, as to be a contemner of all ordinary rules of hours +and times. When he is hungry he eats; when thirsty he drinks; when weary +he sleeps; and with such indifference with respect to the means and +appliances about which we make a fuss, that I suppose he was never ill +dined or ill lodged in his life. Then he is, to a certain extent, the +oracle of the district through which he travels—their genealogist, their +newsman, their master of the revels, their doctor at a pinch, or their +divine;—I promise you he has too many duties, and is too zealous in +performing them, to be easily bribed to abandon his calling. But I +should be truly sorry if they sent the poor light-hearted old man to +lie for weeks in a jail. I am convinced the confinement would break his +heart." + +Thus finished the conference. Lord Glenallan, having taken leave of +the ladies, renewed his offer to Captain M'Intyre of the freedom of his +manors for sporting, which was joyously accepted, + +"I can only add," he said, "that if your spirits are not liable to be +damped by dull company, Glenallan House is at all times open to you. On +two days of the week, Friday and Saturday, I keep my apartment, which +will be rather a relief to you, as you will be left to enjoy the society +of my almoner, Mr. Gladsmoor, who is a scholar and a man of the world." + +Hector, his heart exulting at the thoughts of ranging through the +preserves of Glenallan House, and over the well-protected moors of +Clochnaben—nay, joy of joys! the deer-forest of Strath-Bonnel—made many +acknowledgements of the honour and gratitude he felt. Mr. Oldbuck +was sensible of the Earl's attention to his nephew; Miss M'Intyre was +pleased because her brother was gratified; and Miss Griselda Oldbuck +looked forward with glee to the potting of whole bags of moorfowl and +black-game, of which Mr. Blattergowl was a professed admirer. Thus,— +which is always the case when a man of rank leaves a private family +where he has studied to appear obliging,—all were ready to open in +praise of the Earl as soon as he had taken his leave, and was wheeled +off in his chariot by the four admired bays. But the panegyric was cut +short, for Oldbuck and his nephew deposited themselves in the Fairport +hack, which, with one horse trotting, and the other urged to a canter, +creaked, jingled, and hobbled towards that celebrated seaport, in a +manner that formed a strong contrast to the rapidity and smoothness with +which Lord Glenallan's equipage had seemed to vanish from their eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEENTH. + + Yes! I love justice well—as well as you do— + But since the good dame's blind, she shall excuse me + If, time and reason fitting, I prove dumb;— + The breath I utter now shall be no means + To take away from me my breath in future. + Old Play. + +By dint of charity from the town's-people in aid of the load of +provisions he had brought with him into durance, Edie Ochiltree had +passed a day or two's confinement without much impatience, regretting +his want of freedom the less, as the weather proved broken and rainy. + +"The prison," he said, "wasna sae dooms bad a place as it was ca'd. Ye +had aye a good roof ower your head to fend aff the weather, and, if the +windows werena glazed, it was the mair airy and pleasant for the summer +season. And there were folk enow to crack wi', and he had bread eneugh +to eat, and what need he fash himsell about the rest o't?" + +The courage of our philosophical mendicant began, however, to abate, +when the sunbeams shone fair on the rusty bars of his grated dungeon, +and a miserable linnet, whose cage some poor debtor had obtained +permission to attach to the window, began to greet them with his +whistle. + +"Ye're in better spirits than I am," said Edie, addressing the bird, +"for I can neither whistle nor sing for thinking o' the bonny burnsides +and green shaws that I should hae been dandering beside in weather like +this. But hae—there's some crumbs t'ye, an ye are sae merry; and troth +ye hae some reason to sing an ye kent it, for your cage comes by nae +faut o' your ain, and I may thank mysell that I am closed up in this +weary place." + +Ochiltree's soliloquy was disturbed by a peace-officer, who came to +summon him to attend the magistrate. So he set forth in awful procession +between two poor creatures, neither of them so stout as he was himself, +to be conducted into the presence of inquisitorial justice. The people, +as the aged prisoner was led along by his decrepit guards, exclaimed to +each other, "Eh! see sic a grey-haired man as that is, to have +committed a highway robbery, wi' ae fit in the grave!"—And the children +congratulated the officers, objects of their alternate dread and +sport, Puggie Orrock and Jock Ormston, on having a prisoner as old as +themselves. + +Thus marshalled forward, Edie was presented (by no means for the first +time) before the worshipful Bailie Littlejohn, who, contrary to what his +name expressed, was a tall portly magistrate, on whom corporation +crusts had not been conferred in vain. He was a zealous loyalist of that +zealous time, somewhat rigorous and peremptory in the execution of +his duty, and a good deal inflated with the sense of his own power and +importance;— otherwise an honest, well-meaning, and useful citizen. + +"Bring him in! bring him in!" he exclaimed. "Upon my word these are +awful and unnatural times! the very bedesmen and retainers of his +Majesty are the first to break his laws. Here has been an old Blue-Gown +committing robbery—I suppose the next will reward the royal charity +which supplies him with his garb, pension, and begging license, by +engaging in high-treason, or sedition at least—But bring him in." + +Edie made his obeisance, and then stood, as usual, firm and erect, with +the side of his face turned a little upward, as if to catch every +word which the magistrate might address to him. To the first general +questions, which respected only his name and calling, the mendicant +answered with readiness and accuracy; but when the magistrate, having +caused his clerk to take down these particulars, began to inquire +whereabout the mendicant was on the night when Dousterswivel met with +his misfortune, Edie demurred to the motion. "Can ye tell me now, +Bailie, you that understands the law, what gude will it do me to answer +ony o' your questions?" + +"Good?—no good certainly, my friend, except that giving a true account +of yourself, if you are innocent, may entitle me to set you at liberty." + +"But it seems mair reasonable to me now, that you, Bailie, or anybody +that has anything to say against me, should prove my guilt, and no to be +bidding me prove my innocence." + +"I don't sit here," answered the magistrate, "to dispute points of law +with you. I ask you, if you choose to answer my question, whether you +were at Ringan Aikwood, the forester's, upon the day I have specified?" + +"Really, sir, I dinna feel myself called on to remember," replied the +cautious bedesman. + +"Or whether, in the course of that day or night," continued the +magistrate, "you saw Steven, or Steenie, Mucklebackit?—you knew him, I +suppose?" + +"O, brawlie did I ken Steenie, puir fallow," replied the prisoner;—"but +I canna condeshend on ony particular time I have seen him lately." + +"Were you at the ruins of St. Ruth any time in the course of that +evening?" + +"Bailie Littlejohn," said the mendicant, "if it be your honour's +pleasure, we'll cut a lang tale short, and I'll just tell ye, I am no +minded to answer ony o' thae questions—I'm ower auld a traveller to let +my tongue bring me into trouble." + +"Write down," said the magistrate, "that he declines to answer all +interrogatories, in respect that by telling the truth he might be +brought to trouble." + +"Na, na," said Ochiltree, "I'll no hae that set down as ony part o' my +answer—but I just meant to say, that in a' my memory and practice, I +never saw ony gude come o' answering idle questions." + +"Write down," said the Bailie, "that, being acquainted with judicial +interrogatories by long practice, and having sustained injury by +answering questions put to him on such occasions, the declarant refuses" + +"Na, na, Bailie," reiterated Edie, "ye are no to come in on me that gait +neither." + +"Dictate the answer yourself then, friend," said the magistrate, "and +the clerk will take it down from your own mouth." + +"Ay, ay," said Edie—"that's what I ca' fair play; I'se do that without +loss o' time. Sae, neighbour, ye may just write down, that Edie +Ochiltree, the declarant, stands up for the liberty—na, I maunna say +that neither—I am nae liberty-boy—I hae fought again' them in the riots +in Dublin—besides, I have ate the King's bread mony a day. Stay, let +me see. Ay—write that Edie Ochiltree, the Blue-Gown, stands up for the +prerogative—(see that ye spell that word right—it's a lang ane)—for the +prerogative of the subjects of the land, and winna answer a single word +that sall be asked at him this day, unless he sees a reason fort. Put +down that, young man." + +"Then, Edie," said the magistrate, "since you will give no information +on the subject, I must send you back to prison till you shall be +delivered in due course of law." + +"Aweel, sir, if it's Heaven's will and man's will, nae doubt I maun +submit," replied the mendicant. "I hae nae great objection to the +prison, only that a body canna win out o't; and if it wad please you +as weel, Bailie, I wad gie you my word to appear afore the Lords at the +Circuit, or in ony other coart ye like, on ony day ye are pleased to +appoint." + +"I rather think, my good friend," answered Bailie Littlejohn, "your word +might be a slender security where your neck may be in some danger. I am +apt to think you would suffer the pledge to be forfeited. If you could +give me sufficient security, indeed"— + +At this moment the Antiquary and Captain M'Intyre entered the +apartment.—"Good morning to you, gentlemen," said the magistrate; "you +find me toiling in my usual vocation—looking after the iniquities of the +people—labouring for the respublica, Mr. Oldbuck—serving the King our +master, Captain M'Intyre,—for I suppose you know I have taken up the +sword?" + +"It is one of the emblems of justice, doubtless," answered the +Antiquary;—"but I should have thought the scales would have suited you +better, Bailie, especially as you have them ready in the warehouse." + +"Very good, Monkbarns—excellent! But I do not take the sword up as +justice, but as a soldier—indeed I should rather say the musket and +bayonet—there they stand at the elbow of my gouty chair, for I am scarce +fit for drill yet—a slight touch of our old acquaintance podagra; I can +keep my feet, however, while our sergeant puts me through the manual. +I should like to know, Captain M'Intyre, if he follows the regulations +correctly—he brings us but awkwardly to the present." And he hobbled +towards his weapon to illustrate his doubts and display his proficiency. + +"I rejoice we have such zealous defenders, Bailie," replied Mr. Oldbuck; +"and I dare say Hector will gratify you by communicating his opinion +on your progress in this new calling. Why, you rival the Hecate' of +the ancients, my good sir—a merchant on the Mart, a magistrate in the +Townhouse, a soldier on the Links—quid non pro patria? But my business +is with the justice; so let commerce and war go slumber." + +"Well, my good sir," said the Bailie, "and what commands have you for +me?" + +"Why, here's an old acquaintance of mine, called Edie Ochiltree, whom +some of your myrmidons have mewed up in jail on account of an alleged +assault on that fellow Dousterswivel, of whose accusation I do not +believe one word." + +The magistrate here assumed a very grave countenance. "You ought to have +been informed that he is accused of robbery, as well as assault—a very +serious matter indeed; it is not often such criminals come under my +cognizance." + +"And," replied Oldbuck, "you are tenacious of the opportunity of making +the very most of such as occur. But is this poor old man's case really +so very bad?" + +"It is rather out of rule," said the Bailie—"but as you are in the +commission, Monkbarns, I have no hesitation to show you Dousterswivel's +declaration, and the rest of the precognition." And he put the papers +into the Antiquary's hands, who assumed his spectacles, and sat down in +a corner to peruse them. + +The officers, in the meantime, had directions to remove their prisoner +into another apartment; but before they could do so, M'Intyre took an +opportunity to greet old Edie, and to slip a guinea into his hand. + +"Lord bless your honour!" said the old man; "it's a young soldier's +gift, and it should surely thrive wi' an auld ane. I'se no refuse it, +though it's beyond my rules; for if they steek me up here, my friends +are like eneugh to forget me—out o'sight out o'mind, is a true proverb; +and it wadna be creditable for me, that am the king's bedesman, and +entitled to beg by word of mouth, to be fishing for bawbees out at the +jail window wi' the fit o' a stocking, and a string." As he made this +observation he was conducted out of the apartment. + +Mr. Dousterswivel's declaration contained an exaggerated account of the +violence he had sustained, and also of his loss. + +"But what I should have liked to have asked him," said Monkbarns, "would +have been his purpose in frequenting the ruins of St. Ruth, so lonely +a place, at such an hour, and with such a companion as Edie Ochiltree. +There is no road lies that way, and I do not conceive a mere passion for +the picturesque would carry the German thither in such a night of storm +and wind. Depend upon it, he has been about some roguery, and in all +probability hath been caught in a trap of his own setting—Nec lex +justitior ulla." + +The magistrate allowed there was something mysterious in that +circumstance, and apologized for not pressing Dousterswivel, as his +declaration was voluntarily emitted. But for the support of the main +charge, he showed the declaration of the Aikwoods concerning the state +in which Dousterswivel was found, and establishing the important fact +that the mendicant had left the barn in which he was quartered, and did +not return to it again. Two people belonging to the Fairport undertaker, +who had that night been employed in attending the funeral of Lady +Glenallan, had also given declarations, that, being sent to pursue +two suspicious persons who left the ruins of St. Ruth as the funeral +approached, and who, it was supposed, might have been pillaging some +of the ornaments prepared for the ceremony, they had lost and regained +sight of them more than once, owing to the nature of the ground, which +was unfavourable for riding, but had at length fairly lodged them both +in Mucklebackit's cottage. And one of the men added, that "he, the +declarant, having dismounted from his horse, and gone close up to +the window of the hut, he saw the old Blue-Gown and young Steenie +Mucklebackit, with others, eating and drinking in the inside, and +also observed the said Steenie Mucklebackit show a pocket-book to +the others;—and declarant has no doubt that Ochiltree and Steenie +Mucklebackit were the persons whom he and his comrade had pursued, as +above mentioned." And being interrogated why he did not enter the said +cottage, declares, "he had no warrant so to do; and that as Mucklebackit +and his family were understood to be rough-handed folk, he, the +declarant, had no desire to meddle or make with their affairs, Causa +scientiae patet. All which he declares to be truth," etc. + +"What do you say to that body of evidence against your friend?" said the +magistrate, when he had observed the Antiquary had turned the last leaf. + +"Why, were it in the case of any other person, I own I should say it +looked, prima facie, a little ugly; but I cannot allow anybody to be in +the wrong for beating Dousterswivel—Had I been an hour younger, or had +but one single flash of your warlike genius, Bailie, I should have done +it myself long ago. He is nebulo nebulonum, an impudent, fraudulent, +mendacious quack, that has cost me a hundred pounds by his roguery, and +my neighbour Sir Arthur, God knows how much. And besides, Bailie, I do +not hold him to be a sound friend to Government." + +"Indeed?" said Bailie Littlejohn; "if I thought that, it would alter the +question considerably." + +"Right—for, in beating him," observed Oldbuck, "the bedesman must have +shown his gratitude to the king by thumping his enemy; and in robbing +him, he would only have plundered an Egyptian, whose wealth it is lawful +to spoil. Now, suppose this interview in the ruins of St. Ruth had +relation to politics,—and this story of hidden treasure, and so forth, +was a bribe from the other side of the water for some great man, or the +funds destined to maintain a seditious club?" + +"My dear sir," said the magistrate, catching at the idea, "you hit my +very thoughts! How fortunate should I be if I could become the humble +means of sifting such a matter to the bottom!—Don't you think we had +better call out the volunteers, and put them on duty?" + +"Not just yet, while podagra deprives them of an essential member of +their body. But will you let me examine Ochiltree?" + +"Certainly; but you'll make nothing of him. He gave me distinctly to +understand he knew the danger of a judicial declaration on the part of +an accused person, which, to say the truth, has hanged many an honester +man than he is." + +"Well, but, Bailie," continued Oldbuck, "you have no objection to let me +try him?" + +"None in the world, Monkbarns. I hear the sergeant below—I'll rehearse +the manual in the meanwhile. Baby, carry my gun and bayonet down to the +room below—it makes less noise there when we ground arms." And so exit +the martial magistrate, with his maid behind him bearing his weapons. + +"A good squire that wench for a gouty champion," observed Oldbuck.— +"Hector, my lad, hook on, hook on—Go with him, boy—keep him employed, +man, for half-an-hour or so—butter him with some warlike terms—praise +his dress and address." + +Captain M'Intyre, who, like many of his profession, looked down with +infinite scorn on those citizen soldiers who had assumed arms without +any professional title to bear them, rose with great reluctance, +observing that he should not know what to say to Mr. Littlejohn; and +that to see an old gouty shop-keeper attempting the exercise and duties +of a private soldier, was really too ridiculous. + +"It may be so, Hector," said the Antiquary, who seldom agreed with any +person in the immediate proposition which was laid down—"it may possibly +be so in this and some other instances; but at present the country +resembles the suitors in a small-debt court, where parties plead in +person, for lack of cash to retain the professed heroes of the bar. I +am sure in the one case we never regret the want of the acuteness and +eloquence of the lawyers; and so, I hope, in the other, we may manage to +make shift with our hearts and muskets, though we shall lack some of the +discipline of you martinets." + +"I have no objection, I am sure, sir, that the whole world should fight +if they please, if they will but allow me to be quiet," said Hector, +rising with dogged reluctance. + +"Yes, you are a very quiet personage indeed," said his uncle, "whose +ardour for quarrelling cannot pass so much as a poor phoca sleeping upon +the beach!" + +But Hector, who saw which way the conversation was tending, and hated +all allusions to the foil he had sustained from the fish, made his +escape before the Antiquary concluded the sentence. + + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH. + + Well, well, at worst, 'tis neither theft nor coinage, + Granting I knew all that you charge me with. + What though the tomb hath borne a second birth, + And given the wealth to one that knew not on't, + Yet fair exchange was never robbery, + Far less pure bounty— + Old Play. + +The Antiquary, in order to avail himself of the permission given him to +question the accused party, chose rather to go to the apartment in which +Ochiltree was detained, than to make the examination appear formal by +bringing him again into the magistrate's office. He found the old man +seated by a window which looked out on the sea; and as he gazed on that +prospect, large tears found their way, as if unconsciously, to his eye, +and from thence trickled down his cheeks and white beard. His features +were, nevertheless, calm and composed, and his whole posture and mien +indicated patience and resignation. Oldbuck had approached him without +being observed, and roused him out of his musing by saying kindly, "I +am sorry, Edie, to see you so much cast down about this matter." The +Antiquary Visits Edie in Prison + +The mendicant started, dried his eyes very hastily with the sleeve of +his gown, and endeavouring to recover his usual tone of indifference +and jocularity, answered, but with a voice more tremulous than usual, +"I might weel hae judged, Monkbarns, it was you, or the like o' you, +was coming in to disturb me—for it's ae great advantage o' prisons and +courts o' justice, that ye may greet your een out an ye like, and nane +o' the folk that's concerned about them will ever ask you what it's +for." + +"Well, Edie," replied Oldbuck, "I hope your present cause of distress is +not so bad but it may be removed." + +"And I had hoped, Monkbarns," answered the mendicant, in a tone of +reproach, "that ye had ken'd me better than to think that this bit +trifling trouble o' my ain wad bring tears into my auld een, that hae +seen far different kind o' distress.—Na, na!—But here's been the puir +lass, Caxon's daughter, seeking comfort, and has gotten unco little— +there's been nae speerings o' Taffril's gunbrig since the last gale; +and folk report on the key that a king's ship had struck on the Reef +of Rattray, and a' hands lost—God forbid! for as sure as you live, +Monkbarns, the puir lad Lovel, that ye liked sae weel, must have +perished." + +"God forbid indeed!" echoed the Antiquary, turning pale—"I would rather +Monkbarns House were on fire. My poor dear friend and coadjutor! I will +down to the quay instantly." + +"I'm sure yell learn naething mair than I hae tauld ye, sir," said +Ochiltree, "for the officer-folk here were very civil (that is, for the +like o' them), and lookit up ae their letters and authorities, and could +throw nae light on't either ae way or another." + +"It can't be true! it shall not be true!" said the Antiquary, "And I +won't believe it if it were!—Taffril's an excellent sea man, and Lovel +(my poor Lovel!) has all the qualities of a safe and pleasant companion +by land or by sea—one, Edie, whom, from the ingenuousness of his +disposition, I would choose, did I ever go a sea-voyage (which I never +do, unless across the ferry), fragilem mecum solvere phaselum, to be the +companion of my risk, as one against whom the elements could nourish no +vengeance. No, Edie, it is not, and cannot be true—it is a fiction of +the idle jade Rumour, whom I wish hanged with her trumpet about her +neck, that serves only with its screech-owl tones to fright honest folks +out of their senses.—Let me know how you got into this scrape of your +own." + +"Are ye axing me as a magistrate, Monkbarns, or is it just for your ain +satisfaction!" + +"For my own satisfaction solely," replied the Antiquary. + +"Put up your pocket-book and your keelyvine pen then, for I downa +speak out an ye hae writing materials in your hands—they're a scaur +to unlearned folk like me—Od, ane o' the clerks in the neist room will +clink down, in black and white, as muckle as wad hang a man, before ane +kens what he's saying." + +Monkbarns complied with the old man's humour, and put up his +memorandum-book. + +Edie then went with great frankness through the part of the story +already known to the reader, informing the Antiquary of the scene which +he had witnessed between Dousterswivel and his patron in the ruins +of St. Ruth, and frankly confessing that he could not resist the +opportunity of decoying the adept once more to visit the tomb of +Misticot, with the purpose of taking a comic revenge upon him for his +quackery. He had easily persuaded Steenie, who was a bold thoughtless +young fellow, to engage in the frolic along with him, and the jest +had been inadvertently carried a great deal farther than was designed. +Concerning the pocket-book, he explained that he had expressed his +surprise and sorrow as soon as he found it had been inadvertently +brought off: and that publicly, before all the inmates of the cottage, +Steenie had undertaken to return it the next day, and had only been +prevented by his untimely fate. + +The Antiquary pondered a moment, and then said, "Your account seems very +probable, Edie, and I believe it from what I know of the parties. But I +think it likely that you know a great deal more than you have thought it +proper to tell me, about this matter of the treasure trove—I suspect you +have acted the part of the Lar Familiaris in Plautus—a sort of +Brownie, Edie, to speak to your comprehension, who watched over hidden +treasures.—I do bethink me you were the first person we met when Sir +Arthur made his successful attack upon Misticot's grave, and also that +when the labourers began to flag, you, Edie. were again the first to +leap into the trench, and to make the discovery of the treasure. Now you +must explain all this to me, unless you would have me use you as ill as +Euclio does Staphyla in the Aulularia." + +"Lordsake, sir," replied the mendicant, "what do I ken about your +Howlowlaria?—it's mair like a dog's language than a man's." + +"You knew, however, of the box of treasure being there?" continued +Oldbuck. + +"Dear sir," answered Edie, assuming a countenance of great simplicity, +"what likelihood is there o'that? d'ye think sae puir an auld creature +as me wad hae kend o' sic a like thing without getting some gude out +o't?— and ye wot weel I sought nane and gat nane, like Michael Scott's +man. What concern could I hae wi't?" + +"That's just what I want you to explain to me," said Oldbuck; "for I am +positive you knew it was there." + +"Your honour's a positive man, Monkbarns—and, for a positive man, I must +needs allow ye're often in the right." + +"You allow, then, Edie, that my belief is well founded?" + +Edie nodded acquiescence. + +"Then please to explain to me the whole affair from beginning to end," +said the Antiquary. + +"If it were a secret o' mine, Monkbarns," replied the beggar, "ye suldna +ask twice; for I hae aye said ahint your back, that for a' the nonsense +maggots that ye whiles take into your head, ye are the maist wise and +discreet o' a' our country gentles. But I'se een be open-hearted wi' +you, and tell you that this is a friend's secret, and that they suld +draw me wi' wild horses, or saw me asunder, as they did the children of +Ammon, sooner than I would speak a word mair about the matter, excepting +this, that there was nae ill intended, but muckle gude, and that the +purpose was to serve them that are worth twenty hundred o' me. But +there's nae law, I trow, that makes it a sin to ken where ither folles +siller is, if we didna pit hand til't oursell?" + +Oldbuck walked once or twice up and down the room in profound thought, +endeavouring to find some plausible reason for transactions of a nature +so mysterious—but his ingenuity was totally at fault. He then placed +himself before the prisoner. + +"This story of yours, friend Edie, is an absolute enigma, and would +require a second OEdipus to solve it—who OEdipus was, I will tell you +some other time if you remind me—However, whether it be owing to the +wisdom or to the maggots with which you compliment me, I am strongly +disposed to believe that you have spoken the truth, the rather that you +have not made any of those obtestations of the superior powers, which +I observe you and your comrades always make use of when you mean to +deceive folks." (Here Edie could not suppress a smile.) "If, therefore, +you will answer me one question, I will endeavour to procure your +liberation." + +"If ye'll let me hear the question," said Edie, with the caution of a +canny Scotchman, "I'll tell you whether I'll answer it or no." + +"It is simply," said the Antiquary, "Did Dousterswivel know anything +about the concealment of the chest of bullion?" + +"He, the ill-fa'ard loon!" answered Edie, with much frankness of manner— +"there wad hae been little speerings o't had Dustansnivel ken'd it was +there—it wad hae been butter in the black dog's hause." + +"I thought as much," said Oldbuck. "Well, Edie, if I procure your +freedom, you must keep your day, and appear to clear me of the +bail-bond, for these are not times for prudent men to incur forfeitures, +unless you can point out another Aulam auri plenam quadrilibrem—another +Search, No. I." + +"Ah!" said the beggar, shaking his head, "I doubt the bird's flown that +laid thae golden eggs—for I winna ca' her goose, though that's the gait +it stands in the story-buick—But I'll keep my day, Monkbarns; ye'se no +loss a penny by me—And troth I wad fain be out again, now the weather's +fine—and then I hae the best chance o' hearing the first news o' my +friends." + +"Well, Edie, as the bouncing and thumping beneath has somewhat ceased, I +presume Bailie Littlejohn has dismissed his military preceptor, and has +retired from the labours of Mars to those of Themis—I will have some +conversation with him—But I cannot and will not believe any of those +wretched news you were telling me." + +"God send your honour may be right!" said the mendicant, as Oldbuck left +the room. + +The Antiquary found the magistrate, exhausted with the fatigues of the +drill, reposing in his gouty chair, humming the air, "How merrily we +live that soldiers be!" and between each bar comforting himself with +a spoonful of mock-turtle soup. He ordered a similar refreshment for +Oldbuck, who declined it, observing, that, not being a military man, he +did not feel inclined to break his habit of keeping regular hours for +meals—"Soldiers like you, Bailie, must snatch their food as they find +means and time. But I am sorry to hear ill news of young Taffril's +brig." + +"Ah, poor fellow!" said the bailie, "he was a credit to the town—much +distinguished on the first of June." + +"But," said Oldbuck, "I am shocked to hear you talk of him in the +preterite tense." + +"Troth, I fear there may be too much reason for it, Monkbarns;—and +yet let us hope the best. The accident is said to have happened in +the Rattray reef of rocks, about twenty miles to the northward, near +Dirtenalan Bay—I have sent to inquire about it—and your nephew run out +himself as if he had been flying to get the Gazette of a victory." + +Here Hector entered, exclaiming as he came in, "I believe it's all a +damned lie—I can't find the least authority for it, but general rumour." + +"And pray, Mr. Hector," said his uncle, "if it had been true, whose +fault would it have been that Lovel was on board?" + +"Not mine, I am sure," answered Hector; "it would have been only my +misfortune." + +"Indeed!" said his uncle, "I should not have thought of that." + +"Why, sir, with all your inclination to find me in the wrong," replied +the young soldier, "I suppose you will own my intention was not to blame +in this case. I did my best to hit Lovel, and if I had been successful, +'tis clear my scrape would have been his, and his scrape would have been +mine." + +"And whom or what do you intend to hit now, that you are lugging with +you that leathern magazine there, marked Gunpowder?" + +"I must be prepared for Lord Glenallan's moors on the twelfth, sir," +said M'Intyre. + +"Ah, Hector! thy great chasse, as the French call it, would take place +best— + + Omne cum Proteus pecus agitaret altos + Visere montes— + +Could you meet but with a martial phoca, instead of an unwarlike +heath-bird." + +"The devil take the seal, sir, or phoca, if you choose to call it so! +It's rather hard one can never hear the end of a little piece of folly +like that." + +"Well, well," said Oldbuck, "I am glad you have the grace to be ashamed +of it—as I detest the whole race of Nimrods, I wish them all as well +matched. Nay, never start off at a jest, man—I have done with the +phoca—though, I dare say, the Bailie could tell us the value of +seal-skins just now." + +"They are up," said the magistrate, "they are well up—the fishing has +been unsuccessful lately." + +"We can bear witness to that," said the tormenting Antiquary, who was +delighted with the hank this incident had given him over the young +sportsman: One word more, Hector, and + + We'll hang a seal-skin on thy recreant limbs. + +Aha, my boy! Come, never mind it; I must go to business.—Bailie, a +word with you: you must take bail—moderate bail, you understand—for old +Ochiltree's appearance." + +"You don't consider what you ask," said the Bailie; "the offence is +assault and robbery." + +"Hush! not a word about it," said the Antiquary. "I gave you a hint +before—I will possess you more fully hereafter—I promise you, there is a +secret." + +"But, Mr. Oldbuck, if the state is concerned, I, who do the whole +drudgery business here, really have a title to be consulted, and until I +am"— + +"Hush! hush!" said the Antiquary, winking and putting his finger to his +nose,—"you shall have the full credit, the entire management, whenever +matters are ripe. But this is an obstinate old fellow, who will not hear +of two people being as yet let into his mystery, and he has not fully +acquainted me with the clew to Dousterswivel's devices." + +"Aha! so we must tip that fellow the alien act, I suppose?" + +"To say truth, I wish you would." + +"Say no more," said the magistrate; "it shall forthwith be done—he +shall be removed tanquam suspect—I think that's one of your own phrases, +Monkbarns?" + +"It is classical, Bailie—you improve." + +"Why, public business has of late pressed upon me so much, that I have +been obliged to take my foreman into partnership. I have had two several +correspondences with the Under Secretary of State—one on the proposed +tax on Riga hemp-seed, and the other on putting down political +societies. So you might as well communicate to me as much as you know of +this old fellow's discovery of a plot against the state." + +"I will, instantly, when I am master of it," replied Oldbuck—-"I hate +the trouble of managing such matters myself. Remember, however, I +did not say decidedly a plot against the state I only say I hope to +discover, by this man's means, a foul plot." + +"If it be a plot at all, there must be treason in it, or sedition at +least," said the Bailie—"Will you bail him for four hundred merks?" + +"Four hundred merks for an old Blue-Gown! Think on the act 1701 +regulating bail-bonds!—Strike off a cipher from the sum—I am content to +bail him for forty merks." + +"Well, Mr. Oldbuck, everybody in Fairport is always willing to oblige +you—and besides, I know that you are a prudent man, and one that would +be as unwilling to lose forty, as four hundred merks. So I will accept +your bail, meo periculo—what say you to that law phrase again? I had +it from a learned counsel. I will vouch it, my lord, he said, meo +periculo." + +"And I will vouch for Edie Ochiltree, meo periculo, in like manner," +said Oldbuck. "So let your clerk draw out the bail-bond, and I will sign +it." + +When this ceremony had been performed, the Antiquary communicated to +Edie the joyful tidings that he was once more at liberty, and directed +him to make the best of his way to Monkbarns House, to which he himself +returned with his nephew, after having perfected their good work. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH. + + Full of wise saws and modern instances. + As You Like It. + +"I wish to Heaven, Hector," said the Antiquary, next morning after +breakfast, "you would spare our nerves, and not be keeping snapping that +arquebuss of yours." + +"Well, sir, I'm sure I'm sorry to disturb you," said his nephew, still +handling his fowling-piece;—"but it's a capital gun—it's a Joe Manton, +that cost forty guineas." + +"A fool and his money are soon parted, nephew—there is a Joe Miller for +your Joe Manton," answered the Antiquary; "I am glad you have so many +guineas to throw away." + +"Every one has their fancy, uncle,—you are fond of books." + +"Ay, Hector," said the uncle, "and if my collection were yours, you +would make it fly to the gunsmith, the horse-market, the dog-breaker,— +Coemptos undique nobiles libros—mutare loricis Iberis." + +"I could not use your books, my dear uncle," said the young soldier, +"that's true; and you will do well to provide for their being in better +hands. But don't let the faults of my head fall on my heart—I would +not part with a Cordery that belonged to an old friend, to get a set of +horses like Lord Glenallan's." + +"I don't think you would, lad—I don't think you would," said his +softening relative. "I love to tease you a little sometimes; it keeps up +the spirit of discipline and habit of subordination—You will pass your +time happily here having me to command you, instead of Captain, or +Colonel, or Knight in Arms,' as Milton has it; and instead of the +French," he continued, relapsing into his ironical humour, "you have the +Gens humida ponti—for, as Virgil says, + + Sternunt se somno diversae in littore phocae; + +which might be rendered, + + Here phocae slumber on the beach, + Within our Highland Hector's reach. + +Nay, if you grow angry, I have done. Besides, I see old Edie in the +court-yard, with whom I have business. Good-bye, Hector—Do you remember +how she splashed into the sea like her master Proteus, et se jactu dedit +aequor in altum?" + +M'Intyre,—waiting, however, till the door was shut,—then gave way to the +natural impatience of his temper. + +"My uncle is the best man in the world, and in his way the kindest; but +rather than hear any more about that cursed phoca, as he is pleased to +call it, I would exchange for the West Indies, and never see his face +again." + +Miss M'Intyre, gratefully attached to her uncle, and passionately +fond of her brother, was, on such occasions, the usual envoy of +reconciliation. She hastened to meet her uncle on his return, before he +entered the parlour. + +"Well, now, Miss Womankind, what is the meaning of that imploring +countenance?—has Juno done any more mischief?" + +"No, uncle; but Juno's master is in such fear of your joking him about +the seal—I assure you, he feels it much more than you would wish;—it's +very silly of him, to be sure; but then you can turn everybody so +sharply into ridicule"— + +"Well, my dear," answered Oldbuck, propitiated by the compliment, "I +will rein in my satire, and, if possible, speak no more of the phoca—I +will not even speak of sealing a letter, but say umph, and give a nod +to you when I want the wax-light—I am not monitoribus asper, but, Heaven +knows, the most mild, quiet, and easy of human beings, whom sister, +niece, and nephew, guide just as best pleases them." + +With this little panegyric on his own docility, Mr. Oldbuck entered the +parlour, and proposed to his nephew a walk to the Mussel-crag. "I +have some questions to ask of a woman at Mucklebackit's cottage," he +observed, "and I would willingly have a sensible witness with me—so, for +fault of a better, Hector, I must be contented with you." + +"There is old Edie, sir, or Caxon—could not they do better than me?" +answered M'Intyre, feeling somewhat alarmed at the prospect of a long +tete-a-tete with his uncle. + +"Upon my word, young man, you turn me over to pretty companions, and I +am quite sensible of your politeness," replied Mr. Oldbuck. "No, sir, +I intend the old Blue-Gown shall go with me—not as a competent witness, +for he is, at present, as our friend Bailie Littlejohn says (blessings +on his learning!) tanquam suspectus, and you are suspicione major, as +our law has it." + +"I wish I were a major, sir," said Hector, catching only the last, and, +to a soldier's ear, the most impressive word in the sentence,—"but, +without money or interest, there is little chance of getting the step." + +"Well, well, most doughty son of Priam," said the Antiquary, "be ruled +by your friends, and there's no saying what may happen—Come away with +me, and you shall see what may be useful to you should you ever sit upon +a court-martial, sir." + +"I have been on many a regimental court-martial, sir," answered Captain +M'Intyre. "But here's a new cane for you." + +"Much obliged, much obliged." + +"I bought it from our drum-major," added M'Intyre, "who came into our +regiment from the Bengal army when it came down the Red Sea. It was cut +on the banks of the Indus, I assure you." + +"Upon my word, 'tis a fine ratan, and well replaces that which the ph— +Bah! what was I going to say?" + +The party, consisting of the Antiquary, his nephew, and the old beggar, +now took the sands towards Mussel-crag—the former in the very highest +mood of communicating information, and the others, under a sense of +former obligation, and some hope for future favours, decently attentive +to receive it. The uncle and nephew walked together, the mendicant about +a step and a half behind, just near enough for his patron to speak to +him by a slight inclination of his neck, and without the trouble of +turning round. (Petrie, in his Essay on Good-breeding, dedicated to the +magistrates of Edinburgh, recommends, upon his own experience, as tutor +in a family of distinction, this attitude to all led captains, tutors, +dependants, and bottle-holders of every description. ) Thus escorted, +the Antiquary moved along full of his learning, like a lordly man +of war, and every now and then yawing to starboard and larboard to +discharge a broadside upon his followers. + +"And so it is your opinion," said he to the mendicant, "that this +windfall—this arca auri, as Plautus has it, will not greatly avail Sir +Arthur in his necessities?" + +"Unless he could find ten times as much," said the beggar, "and that I +am sair doubtful of;—I heard Puggie Orrock, and the tother thief of a +sheriff-officer, or messenger, speaking about it—and things are ill aff +when the like o' them can speak crousely about ony gentleman's affairs. +I doubt Sir Arthur will be in stane wa's for debt, unless there's swift +help and certain." + +"You speak like a fool," said the Antiquary.—"Nephew, it is a remarkable +thing, that in this happy country no man can be legally imprisoned for +debt." + +"Indeed, sir?" said M'Intyre; "I never knew that before—that part of our +law would suit some of our mess well." + +"And if they arena confined for debt," said Ochiltree, "what is't that +tempts sae mony puir creatures to bide in the tolbooth o' Fairport +yonder?—they a' say they were put there by their creditors—Od! they maun +like it better than I do, if they're there o' free will." + +"A very natural observation, Edie, and many of your betters would +make the same; but it is founded entirely upon ignorance of the feudal +system. Hector, be so good as to attend, unless you are looking out +for another— Ahem!" (Hector compelled himself to give attention at this +hint. ) "And you, Edie, it may be useful to you reram cognoscere causas. +The nature and origin of warrant for caption is a thing haud alienum +a Scaevolae studiis.—You must know then, once more, that nobody can be +arrested in Scotland for debt." + +"I haena muckle concern wi' that, Monkbarns," said the old man, "for +naebody wad trust a bodle to a gaberlunzie." + +"I pr'ythee, peace, man—As a compulsitor, therefore, of payment, that +being a thing to which no debtor is naturally inclined, as I have too +much reason to warrant from the experience I have had with my own,—we +had first the letters of four forms, a sort of gentle invitation, by +which our sovereign lord the king, interesting himself, as a monarch +should, in the regulation of his subjects' private affairs, at first by +mild exhortation, and afterwards by letters of more strict enjoinment +and more hard compulsion—What do you see extraordinary about that bird, +Hector?—it's but a seamaw." + +"It's a pictarnie, sir," said Edie. + +"Well, what an if it were—what does that signify at present?—But I see +you're impatient; so I will waive the letters of four forms, and come to +the modern process of diligence.—You suppose, now, a man's committed to +prison because he cannot pay his debt? Quite otherwise: the truth is, +the king is so good as to interfere at the request of the creditor, and +to send the debtor his royal command to do him justice within a certain +time—fifteen days, or six, as the case may be. Well, the man resists and +disobeys: what follows? Why, that he be lawfully and rightfully declared +a rebel to our gracious sovereign, whose command he has disobeyed, and +that by three blasts of a horn at the market-place of Edinburgh, the +metropolis of Scotland. And he is then legally imprisoned, not on +account of any civil debt, but because of his ungrateful contempt of the +royal mandate. What say you to that, Hector?—there's something you never +knew before."* + +* The doctrine of Monkbarns on the origin of imprisonment for civil debt +in Scotland, may appear somewhat whimsical, but was referred to, and +admitted to be correct, by the Bench of the Supreme Scottish Court, on +5th December 1828, in the case of Thom v. Black. In fact, the Scottish +law is in this particular more jealous of the personal liberty of the +subject than any other code in Europe. + +"No, uncle; but, I own, if I wanted money to pay my debts, I would +rather thank the king to send me some, than to declare me a rebel for +not doing what I could not do." + +"Your education has not led you to consider these things," replied +his uncle; "you are incapable of estimating the elegance of the legal +fiction, and the manner in which it reconciles that duress, which, +for the protection of commerce, it has been found necessary to extend +towards refractory debtors, with the most scrupulous attention to the +liberty of the subject." + +"I don't know, sir," answered the unenlightened Hector; "but if a man +must pay his debt or go to jail, it signifies but little whether he goes +as a debtor or a rebel, I should think. But you say this command of the +king's gives a license of so many days—Now, egad, were I in the scrape, +I would beat a march and leave the king and the creditor to settle it +among themselves before they came to extremities." + +"So wad I," said Edie; "I wad gie them leg-bail to a certainty." + +"True," replied Monkbarns; "but those whom the law suspects of being +unwilling to abide her formal visit, she proceeds with by means of a +shorter and more unceremonious call, as dealing with persons on whom +patience and favour would be utterly thrown away." + +"Ay," said Ochiltree, "that will be what they ca' the fugie-warrants—I +hae some skeel in them. There's Border-warrants too in the south +country, unco rash uncanny things;—I was taen up on ane at Saint James's +Fair, and keepit in the auld kirk at Kelso the haill day and night; and +a cauld goustie place it was, I'se assure ye.—But whatna wife's this, +wi' her creel on her back? It's puir Maggie hersell, I'm thinking." + +It was so. The poor woman's sense of her loss, if not diminished, was +become at least mitigated by the inevitable necessity of attending to +the means of supporting her family; and her salutation to Oldbuck was +made in an odd mixture between the usual language of solicitation with +which she plied her customers, and the tone of lamentation for her +recent calamity. + +"How's a' wi' ye the day, Monkbarns? I havena had the grace yet to come +down to thank your honour for the credit ye did puir Steenie, wi' laying +his head in a rath grave, puir fallow. "—Here she whimpered and wiped +her eyes with the corner of her blue apron—"But the fishing comes on no +that ill, though the gudeman hasna had the heart to gang to sea himsell— +Atweel I would fain tell him it wad do him gude to put hand to wark—but +I'm maist fear'd to speak to him—and it's an unco thing to hear ane o' +us speak that gate o' a man—However, I hae some dainty caller haddies, +and they sall be but three shillings the dozen, for I hae nae pith to +drive a bargain ennow, and maun just tak what ony Christian body will +gie, wi' few words and nae flyting." + +"What shall we do, Hector?" said Oldbuck, pausing: "I got into disgrace +with my womankind for making a bad bargain with her before. These +maritime animals, Hector, are unlucky to our family." + +"Pooh, sir, what would you do?—give poor Maggie what she asks, or allow +me to send a dish of fish up to Monkbarns." + +And he held out the money to her; but Maggie drew back her hand. "Na, +na, Captain; ye're ower young and ower free o' your siller—ye should +never tak a fish-wife's first bode; and troth I think maybe a flyte +wi' the auld housekeeper at Monkbarns, or Miss Grizel, would do me +some gude—And I want to see what that hellicate quean Jenny Ritherout's +doing—folk said she wasna weel—She'll be vexing hersell about Steenie, +the silly tawpie, as if he wad ever hae lookit ower his shouther at the +like o'her!—Weel, Monkbarns, they're braw caller haddies, and they'll +bid me unco little indeed at the house if ye want crappit-heads the +day." + +And so on she paced with her burden,—grief, gratitude for the sympathy +of her betters, and the habitual love of traffic and of gain, chasing +each other through her thoughts. + +"And now that we are before the door of their hut," said Ochiltree, "I +wad fain ken, Monkbarns, what has gar'd ye plague yoursell wi' me a' +this length? I tell ye sincerely I hae nae pleasure in ganging in there. +I downa bide to think how the young hae fa'en on a' sides o' me, and +left me an useless auld stump wi' hardly a green leaf on't." + +"This old woman," said Oldbuck, "sent you on a message to the Earl of +Glenallan, did she not?" + +"Ay!" said the surprised mendicant; "how ken ye that sae weel?" + +"Lord Glenallan told me himself," answered the Antiquary; "so there is +no delation—no breach of trust on your part; and as he wishes me to take +her evidence down on some important family matters, I chose to bring +you with me, because in her situation, hovering between dotage and +consciousness, it is possible that your voice and appearance may +awaken trains of recollection which I should otherwise have no means of +exciting. The human mind—what are you about, Hector?" + +"I was only whistling for the dog, sir," replied the Captain "she always +roves too wide—I knew I should be troublesome to you." + +"Not at all, not at all," said Oldbuck, resuming the subject of his +disquisition—"the human mind is to be treated like a skein of ravelled +silk, where you must cautiously secure one free end before you can make +any progress in disentangling it." + +"I ken naething about that," said the gaberlunzie; "but an my auld +acquaintance be hersell, or anything like hersell, she may come to wind +us a pirn. It's fearsome baith to see and hear her when she wampishes +about her arms, and gets to her English, and speaks as if she were a +prent book, let a-be an auld fisher's wife. But, indeed, she had a grand +education, and was muckle taen out afore she married an unco bit beneath +hersell. She's aulder than me by half a score years—but I mind weel +eneugh they made as muckle wark about her making a half-merk marriage +wi' Simon Mucklebackit, this Saunders's father, as if she had been +ane o' the gentry. But she got into favour again, and then she lost it +again, as I hae heard her son say, when he was a muckle chield; and then +they got muckle siller, and left the Countess's land, and settled here. +But things never throve wi' them. Howsomever, she's a weel-educate +woman, and an she win to her English, as I hae heard her do at an orra +time, she may come to fickle us a'." + + + + +CHAPTER NINETEENTH + + Life ebbs from such old age, unmarked and silent, + As the slow neap-tide leaves yon stranded galley.— + Late she rocked merrily at the least impulse + That wind or wave could give; but now her keel + Is settling on the sand, her mast has ta'en + An angle with the sky, from which it shifts not. + Each wave receding shakes her less and less, + Till, bedded on the strand, she shall remain + Useless as motionless. + Old Play. + +As the Antiquary lifted the latch of the hut, he was surprised to hear +the shrill tremulous voice of Elspeth chanting forth an old ballad in a +wild and doleful recitative. + + "The herring loves the merry moonlight, + The mackerel loves the wind, + But the oyster loves the dredging sang, + For they come of a gentle kind." + +A diligent collector of these legendary scraps of ancient poetry, his +foot refused to cross the threshold when his ear was thus arrested, and +his hand instinctively took pencil and memorandum-book. From time to +time the old woman spoke as if to the children—"Oh ay, hinnies, whisht! +whisht! and I'll begin a bonnier ane than that— + + "Now haud your tongue, baith wife and carle, + And listen, great and sma', + And I will sing of Glenallan's Earl + That fought on the red Harlaw. + + "The cronach's cried on Bennachie, + And doun the Don and a', + And hieland and lawland may mournfu' be + For the sair field of Harlaw.— + +I dinna mind the neist verse weel—my memory's failed, and theres unco +thoughts come ower me—God keep us frae temptation!" + +Here her voice sunk in indistinct muttering. + +"It's a historical ballad," said Oldbuck, eagerly, "a genuine and +undoubted fragment of minstrelsy! Percy would admire its simplicity— +Ritson could not impugn its authenticity." + +"Ay, but it's a sad thing," said Ochiltree, "to see human nature sae +far owertaen as to be skirling at auld sangs on the back of a loss like +hers." + +"Hush! hush!" said the Antiquary—"she has gotten the thread of the story +again. "—And as he spoke, she sung— + + "They saddled a hundred milk-white steeds, + They hae bridled a hundred black, + With a chafron of steel on each horse's head, + And a good knight upon his back. "— + +"Chafron!" exclaimed the Antiquary,—"equivalent, perhaps, to +cheveron;—the word's worth a dollar,"—and down it went in his red book. + + "They hadna ridden a mile, a mile, + A mile, but barely ten, + When Donald came branking down the brae + Wi' twenty thousand men. + + "Their tartans they were waving wide, + Their glaives were glancing clear, + Their pibrochs rung frae side to side, + Would deafen ye to hear. + + "The great Earl in his stirrups stood + That Highland host to see: + Now here a knight that's stout and good + May prove a jeopardie: + + "What wouldst thou do, my squire so gay, + That rides beside my reyne, + Were ye Glenallan's Earl the day, + And I were Roland Cheyne? + + "To turn the rein were sin and shame, + To fight were wondrous peril, + What would ye do now, Roland Cheyne, + Were ye Glenallan's Earl?' + +Ye maun ken, hinnies, that this Roland Cheyne, for as poor and auld as +I sit in the chimney-neuk, was my forbear, and an awfu' man he was that +dayin the fight, but specially after the Earl had fa'en, for he blamed +himsell for the counsel he gave, to fight before Mar came up wi' Mearns, +and Aberdeen, and Angus." + +Her voice rose and became more animated as she recited the warlike +counsel of her ancestor— + + "Were I Glenallan's Earl this tide, + And ye were Roland Cheyne, + The spur should be in my horse's side, + And the bridle upon his mane. + + "If they hae twenty thousand blades, + And we twice ten times ten, + Yet they hae but their tartan plaids, + And we are mail-clad men. + + "My horse shall ride through ranks sae rude, + As through the moorland fern, + Then neer let the gentle Norman blude + Grow cauld for Highland kerne.'" + +"Do you hear that, nephew?" said Oldbuck;—"you observe your Gaelic +ancestors were not held in high repute formerly by the Lowland +warriors." + +"I hear," said Hector, "a silly old woman sing a silly old song. I +am surprised, sir, that you, who will not listen to Ossian's songs of +Selma, can be pleased with such trash. I vow, I have not seen or heard +a worse halfpenny ballad; I don't believe you could match it in any +pedlar's pack in the country. I should be ashamed to think that the +honour of the Highlands could be affected by such doggrel. "—And, +tossing up his head, he snuffed the air indignantly. + +Apparently the old woman heard the sound of their voices; for, ceasing +her song, she called out, "Come in, sirs, come in—good-will never halted +at the door-stane." + +They entered, and found to their surprise Elspeth alone, sitting +"ghastly on the hearth," like the personification of Old Age in +the Hunter's song of the Owl,* "wrinkled, tattered, vile, dim-eyed, +discoloured, torpid." + +* See Mrs. Grant on the Highland Superstitions, vol. ii. p. 260, for +this fine translation from the Gaelic. + +"They're a' out," she said, as they entered; "but an ye will sit a +blink, somebody will be in. If ye hae business wi' my gude-daughter, or +my son, they'll be in belyve,—I never speak on business mysell. Bairns, +gie them seats—the bairns are a' gane out, I trow,"—looking around +her;—"I was crooning to keep them quiet a wee while since; but they hae +cruppen out some gate. Sit down, sirs, they'll be in belyve;" and she +dismissed her spindle from her hand to twirl upon the floor, and soon +seemed exclusively occupied in regulating its motion, as unconscious of +the presence of the strangers as she appeared indifferent to their rank +or business there. + +"I wish," said Oldbuck, "she would resume that canticle, or legendary +fragment. I always suspected there was a skirmish of cavalry before the +main battle of the Harlaw."* + +* Note H. Battle of Harlaw. + +"If your honour pleases," said Edie, "had ye not better proceed to the +business that brought us a' here? I'se engage to get ye the sang ony +time." + +"I believe you are right, Edie—Do manus—I submit. But how shall we +manage? She sits there the very image of dotage. Speak to her, Edie—try +if you can make her recollect having sent you to Glenallan House." + +Edie rose accordingly, and, crossing the floor, placed himself in the +same position which he had occupied during his former conversation with +her. "I'm fain to see ye looking sae weel, cummer; the mair, that the +black ox has tramped on ye since I was aneath your roof-tree." + +"Ay," said Elspeth; but rather from a general idea of misfortune, than +any exact recollection of what had happened,—"there has been distress +amang us of late—I wonder how younger folk bide it—I bide it ill. I +canna hear the wind whistle, and the sea roar, but I think I see the +coble whombled keel up, and some o' them struggling in the waves!—Eh, +sirs; sic weary dreams as folk hae between sleeping and waking, before +they win to the lang sleep and the sound! I could amaist think whiles my +son, or else Steenie, my oe, was dead, and that I had seen the burial. +Isna that a queer dream for a daft auld carline? What for should ony o' +them dee before me?—it's out o' the course o' nature, ye ken." + +"I think you'll make very little of this stupid old woman," said +Hector,—who still nourished, perhaps, some feelings of the dislike +excited by the disparaging mention of his countrymen in her lay—"I think +you'll make but little of her, sir; and it's wasting our time to sit +here and listen to her dotage." + +"Hector," said the Antiquary, indignantly, "if you do not respect her +misfortunes, respect at least her old age and grey hairs: this is the +last stage of existence, so finely treated by the Latin poet— + + —Omni + Membrorum damno major dementia, quae nec + Nomina, servorum, nec vultus agnoscit amici, + Cum queis preterita coenavit nocte, nec illos + Quos genuit, quos eduxit." + +"That's Latin!" said Elspeth, rousing herself as if she attended to the +lines, which the Antiquary recited with great pomp of diction—"that's +Latin!" and she cast a wild glance around her—"Has there a priest fund +me out at last?" + +"You see, nephew, her comprehension is almost equal to your own of that +fine passage." + +"I hope you think, sir, that I knew it to be Latin as well as she did?" + +"Why, as to that—But stay, she is about to speak." + +"I will have no priest—none," said the beldam, with impotent vehemence; +"as I have lived I will die—none shall say that I betrayed my mistress, +though it were to save my soul!" + +"That bespoke a foul conscience," said the mendicant;—"I wuss she wad +mak a clean breast, an it were but for her sake;" and he again assailed +her. + +"Weel, gudewife, I did your errand to the Yerl." + +"To what Earl? I ken nae Earl;—I ken'd a Countess ance—I wish to Heaven +I had never ken'd her! for by that acquaintance, neighbour, their cam,"— +and she counted her withered fingers as she spoke "first Pride, then +Malice, then Revenge, then False Witness; and Murder tirl'd at the +door-pin, if he camna ben. And werena thae pleasant guests, think ye, +to take up their quarters in ae woman's heart? I trow there was routh o' +company." + +"But, cummer," continued the beggar, "it wasna the Countess of Glenallan +I meant, but her son, him that was Lord Geraldin." + +"I mind it now," she said; "I saw him no that langsyne, and we had a +heavy speech thegither. Eh, sirs! the comely young lord is turned as +auld and frail as I am: it's muckle that sorrow and heartbreak, and +crossing of true love, will do wi' young blood. But suldna his mither +hae lookit to that hersell?—we were but to do her bidding, ye ken. I +am sure there's naebody can blame me—he wasna my son, and she was my +mistress. Ye ken how the rhyme says—I hae maist forgotten how to sing, +or else the tune's left my auld head— + + "He turn'd him right and round again, + Said, Scorn na at my mither; + Light loves I may get mony a ane, + But minnie neer anither. + +Then he was but of the half blude, ye ken, and her's was the right +Glenallan after a'. Na, na, I maun never maen doing and suffering for +the Countess Joscelin—never will I maen for that." + +Then drawing her flax from the distaff, with the dogged air of one who +is resolved to confess nothing, she resumed her interrupted occupation. + +"I hae heard," said the mendicant, taking his cue from what Oldbuck +had told him of the family history—"I hae heard, cummer, that some ill +tongue suld hae come between the Earl, that's Lord Geraldin, and his +young bride." + +"Ill tongue?" she said in hasty alarm; "and what had she to fear frae an +ill tongue?—she was gude and fair eneugh—at least a' body said sae. But +had she keepit her ain tongue aff ither folk, she might hae been living +like a leddy for a' that's come and gane yet." + +"But I hae heard say, gudewife," continued Ochiltree, "there was a +clatter in the country, that her husband and her were ower sibb when +they married." + +"Wha durst speak o' that?" said the old woman hastily; "wha durst say +they were married?—wha ken'd o' that?—Not the Countess—not I. If +they wedded in secret, they were severed in secret—They drank of the +fountains of their ain deceit." + +"No, wretched beldam!" exclaimed Oldbuck, who could keep silence +no longer, "they drank the poison that you and your wicked mistress +prepared for them." + +"Ha, ha!" she replied, "I aye thought it would come to this. It's but +sitting silent when they examine me—there's nae torture in our days; +and if there is, let them rend me!—It's ill o' the vassal's mouth that +betrays the bread it eats." + +"Speak to her, Edie," said the Antiquary; "she knows your voice, and +answers to it most readily." + +"We shall mak naething mair out o' her," said Ochiltree. "When she has +clinkit hersell down that way, and faulded her arms, she winna speak a +word, they say, for weeks thegither. And besides, to my thinking, her +face is sair changed since we cam in. However, I'se try her ance mair +to satisfy your honour.—So ye canna keep in mind, cummer, that your auld +mistress, the Countess Joscelin, has been removed?" + +"Removed!" she exclaimed; for that name never failed to produce its +usual effect upon her; "then we maun a' follow—a' maun ride when she is +in the saddle. Tell them to let Lord Geraldin ken we're on before them. +Bring my hood and scarf—ye wadna hae me gang in the carriage wi' my +leddy, and my hair in this fashion?" + +She raised her shrivelled arms, and seemed busied like a woman who puts +on her cloak to go abroad, then dropped them slowly and stiffly; and the +same idea of a journey still floating apparently through her head, she +proceeded, in a hurried and interrupted manner,—"Call Miss Neville—What +do you mean by Lady Geraldin? I said Eveline Neville, not Lady Geraldin— +there's no Lady Geraldin; tell her that, and bid her change her +wet gown, and no' look sae pale. Bairn! what should she do wi' a +bairn?—maidens hae nane, I trow.—Teresa—Teresa—my lady calls us!—Bring +a candle;— the grand staircase is as mirk as a Yule midnight—We are +coming, my lady!"—With these words she sunk back on the settle, and from +thence sidelong to the floor. * + +* Note I. Elspeth's death. + + Edie ran to support her, but hardly got her in his arms, before he said, +"It's a' ower—she has passed away even with that last word." + +"Impossible," said Oldbuck, hastily advancing, as did his nephew. But +nothing was more certain. She had expired with the last hurried word +that left her lips; and all that remained before them were the mortal +relics of the creature who had so long struggled with an internal sense +of concealed guilt, joined to all the distresses of age and poverty. + +"God grant that she be gane to a better place!" said Edie, as he looked +on the lifeless body; "but oh! there was something lying hard and heavy +at her heart. I have seen mony a ane dee, baith in the field o' battle, +and a fair-strae death at hame; but I wad rather see them a' ower again, +as sic a fearfu' flitting as hers!" + +"We must call in the neighbours," said Oldbuck, when he had somewhat +recovered his horror and astonishment, "and give warning of this +additional calamity. I wish she could have been brought to a confession. +And, though of far less consequence, I could have wished to transcribe +that metrical fragment. But Heaven's will must be done!" + +They left the hut accordingly, and gave the alarm in the hamlet, whose +matrons instantly assembled to compose the limbs and arrange the body of +her who might be considered as the mother of their settlement. Oldbuck +promised his assistance for the funeral. + +"Your honour," said Alison Breck, who was next in age to the deceased, +"suld send doun something to us for keeping up our hearts at the +lykewake, for a' Saunders's gin, puir man, was drucken out at the burial +o' Steenie, and we'll no get mony to sit dry-lipped aside the corpse. +Elspeth was unco clever in her young days, as I can mind right weel, but +there was aye a word o' her no being that chancy. Ane suldna speak ill +o' the dead—mair by token, o' ane's cummer and neighbour—but there +was queer things said about a leddy and a bairn or she left the +Craigburnfoot. And sae, in gude troth, it will be a puir lykewake, +unless your honour sends us something to keep us cracking." + +"You shall have some whisky," answered Oldbuck, "the rather that you +have preserved the proper word for that ancient custom of watching the +dead.— You observe, Hector, this is genuine Teutonic, from the Gothic +Leichnam, a corpse. It is quite erroneously called Late-wake, though +Brand favours that modern corruption and derivation." + +"I believe," said Hector to himself, "my uncle would give away Monkbarns +to any one who would come to ask it in genuine Teutonic! Not a drop of +whisky would the old creatures have got, had their president asked it +for the use of the Late-wake." + +While Oldbuck was giving some farther directions, and promising +assistance, a servant of Sir Arthur's came riding very hard along the +sands, and stopped his horse when he saw the Antiquary. "There had +something," he said, "very particular happened at the Castle"—(he could +not, or would not, explain what)—"and Miss Wardour had sent him off +express to Monkbarns, to beg that Mr. Oldbuck would come to them without +a moment's delay." + +"I am afraid," said the Antiquary, "his course also is drawing to a +close. What can I do?" + +"Do, sir?" exclaimed Hector, with his characteristic impatience,—"get on +the horse, and turn his head homeward—you will be at Knockwinnock Castle +in ten minutes." + +"He is quite a free goer," said the servant, dismounting to adjust the +girths and stirrups,—"he only pulls a little if he feels a dead weight +on him." + +"I should soon be a dead weight off him, my friend," said the +Antiquary.—"What the devil, nephew, are you weary of me? or do you +suppose me weary of my life, that I should get on the back of such a +Bucephalus as that? No, no, my friend, if I am to be at Knockwinnock +to-day, it must be by walking quietly forward on my own feet, which I +will do with as little delay as possible. Captain M'Intyre may ride that +animal himself, if he pleases." + +"I have little hope I could be of any use, uncle, but I cannot think of +their distress without wishing to show sympathy at least—so I will ride +on before, and announce to them that you are coming.—I'll trouble you +for your spurs, my friend." + +"You will scarce need them, sir," said the man, taking them off at the +same time, and buckling them upon Captain Mlntyre's heels, "he's very +frank to the road." + +Oldbuck stood astonished at this last act of temerity, "are you mad, +Hector?" he cried, "or have you forgotten what is said by Quintus +Curtius, with whom, as a soldier, you must needs be familiar,—Nobilis +equus umbra quidem virgae regitur; ignavus ne calcari quidem excitari +potest; which plainly shows that spurs are useless in every case, and, I +may add, dangerous in most." + +But Hector, who cared little for the opinion of either Quintus Curtius +or of the Antiquary, upon such a topic, only answered with a heedless +"Never fear—never fear, sir." + + With that he gave his able horse the head, + And, bending forward, struck his armed heels + Against the panting sides of his poor jade, + Up to the rowel-head; and starting so, + He seemed in running to devour the way, + Staying no longer question. + +"There they go, well matched," said Oldbuck, looking after them as they +started—"a mad horse and a wild boy, the two most unruly creatures in +Christendom! and all to get half an hour sooner to a place where nobody +wants him; for I doubt Sir Arthur's griefs are beyond the cure of our +light horseman. It must be the villany of Dousterswivel, for whom Sir +Arthur has done so much; for I cannot help observing, that, with some +natures, Tacitus's maxim holdeth good: Beneficia eo usque laeta sunt +dum videntur exsolvi posse; ubi multum antevenere, pro gratia odium +redditur,—from which a wise man might take a caution, not to oblige any +man beyond the degree in which he may expect to be requited, lest he +should make his debtor a bankrupt in gratitude." + +Murmuring to himself such scraps of cynical philosophy, our Antiquary +paced the sands towards Knockwinnock; but it is necessary we should +outstrip him, for the purpose of explaining the reasons of his being so +anxiously summoned thither. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTIETH. + + So, while the Goose, of whom the fable told, + Incumbent, brooded o'er her eggs of gold, + With hand outstretched, impatient to destroy, + Stole on her secret nest the cruel Boy, + Whose gripe rapacious changed her splendid dream, + —For wings vain fluttering, and for dying scream. + The Loves of the Sea-weeds. + +From the time that Sir Arthur Wardour had become possessor of the +treasure found in Misticot's grave, he had been in a state of mind more +resembling ecstasy than sober sense. Indeed, at one time his daughter +had become seriously apprehensive for his intellect; for, as he had +no doubt that he had the secret of possessing himself of wealth to an +unbounded extent, his language and carriage were those of a man who +had acquired the philosopher's stone. He talked of buying contiguous +estates, that would have led him from one side of the island to the +other, as if he were determined to brook no neighbour save the sea. He +corresponded with an architect of eminence, upon a plan of renovating +the castle of his forefathers on a style of extended magnificence that +might have rivalled that of Windsor, and laying out the grounds on +a suitable scale. Troops of liveried menials were already, in fancy, +marshalled in his halls, and—for what may not unbounded wealth authorize +its possessor to aspire to?—the coronet of a marquis, perhaps of a duke, +was glittering before his imagination. His daughter—to what matches +might she not look forward? Even an alliance with the blood-royal was +not beyond the sphere of his hopes. His son was already a general—and he +himself whatever ambition could dream of in its wildest visions. + +In this mood, if any one endeavoured to bring Sir Arthur down to the +regions of common life, his replies were in the vein of Ancient Pistol— + + A fico for the world, and worldlings base + I speak of Africa and golden joys! + +The reader may conceive the amazement of Miss Wardour, when, instead of +undergoing an investigation concerning the addresses of Lovel, as she +had expected from the long conference of her father with Mr. Oldbuck, +upon the morning of the fated day when the treasure was discovered, +the conversation of Sir Arthur announced an imagination heated with the +hopes of possessing the most unbounded wealth. But she was seriously +alarmed when Dousterswivel was sent for to the Castle, and was closeted +with her father—his mishap condoled with—his part taken, and his +loss compensated. All the suspicions which she had long entertained +respecting this man became strengthened, by observing his pains to keep +up the golden dreams of her father, and to secure for himself, under +various pretexts, as much as possible out of the windfall which had so +strangely fallen to Sir Arthur's share. + +Other evil symptoms began to appear, following close on each other. +Letters arrived every post, which Sir Arthur, as soon as he had looked +at the directions, flung into the fire without taking the trouble to +open them. Miss Wardour could not help suspecting that these epistles, +the contents of which seemed to be known to her father by a sort of +intuition, came from pressing creditors. In the meanwhile, the temporary +aid which he had received from the treasure dwindled fast away. By far +the greater part had been swallowed up by the necessity of paying the +bill of six hundred pounds, which had threatened Sir Arthur with instant +distress. Of the rest, some part was given to the adept, some wasted +upon extravagances which seemed to the poor knight fully authorized by +his full-blown hopes,—and some went to stop for a time the mouths of +such claimants as, being weary of fair promises, had become of opinion +with Harpagon, that it was necessary to touch something substantial. At +length circumstances announced but too plainly, that it was all expended +within two or three days after its discovery; and there appeared +no prospect of a supply. Sir Arthur, naturally impatient, now taxed +Dousterswivel anew with breach of those promises through which he had +hoped to convert all his lead into gold. But that worthy gentleman's +turn was now served; and as he had grace enough to wish to avoid +witnessing the fall of the house which he had undermined, he was at the +trouble of bestowing a few learned terms of art upon Sir Arthur, that at +least he might not be tormented before his time. He took leave of him, +with assurances that he would return to Knockwinnock the next morning, +with such information as would not fail to relieve Sir Arthur from all +his distresses. + +"For, since I have consulted in such matters, I ave never," said Mr. +Herman Dousterswivel, "approached so near de arcanum, what you call de +great mystery,—de Panchresta—de Polychresta—I do know as much of it as +Pelaso de Taranta, or Basilius—and either I will bring you in two and +tree days de No. III. of Mr. Mishdigoat, or you shall call me one knave +myself, and never look me in de face again no more at all." + +The adept departed with this assurance, in the firm resolution of making +good the latter part of the proposition, and never again appearing +before his injured patron. Sir Arthur remained in a doubtful and anxious +state of mind. The positive assurances of the philosopher, with the hard +words Panchresta, Basilius, and so forth, produced some effect on his +mind. But he had been too often deluded by such jargon, to be absolutely +relieved of his doubt, and he retired for the evening into his library, +in the fearful state of one who, hanging over a precipice, and without +the means of retreat, perceives the stone on which he rests gradually +parting from the rest of the crag, and about to give way with him. + +The visions of hope decayed, and there increased in proportion that +feverish agony of anticipation with which a man, educated in a sense +of consequence, and possessed of opulence,—the supporter of an ancient +name, and the father of two promising children,—foresaw the hour +approaching which should deprive him of all the splendour which time had +made familiarly necessary to him, and send him forth into the world to +struggle with poverty, with rapacity, and with scorn. Under these dire +forebodings, his temper, exhausted by the sickness of delayed hope, +became peevish and fretful, and his words and actions sometimes +expressed a reckless desperation, which alarmed Miss Wardour extremely. +We have seen, on a former occasion, that Sir Arthur was a man of +passions lively and quick, in proportion to the weakness of his +character in other respects; he was unused to contradiction, and if +he had been hitherto, in general, good-humoured and cheerful, it was +probably because the course of his life had afforded no such frequent +provocation as to render his irritability habitual. + +On the third morning after Dousterswivel's departure, the servant, as +usual, laid on the breakfast table the newspaper and letters of the day. +Miss Wardour took up the former to avoid the continued ill-humour of +her father, who had wrought himself into a violent passion, because the +toast was over-browned. + +"I perceive how it is," was his concluding speech on this interesting +subject,—"my servants, who have had their share of my fortune, begin +to think there is little to be made of me in future. But while I am the +scoundrel's master I will be so, and permit no neglect—no, nor endure +a hair's-breadth diminution of the respect I am entitled to exact from +them." + +"I am ready to leave your honour's service this instant," said the +domestic upon whom the fault had been charged, "as soon as you order +payment of my wages." + +Sir Arthur, as if stung by a serpent, thrust his hand into his pocket, +and instantly drew out the money which it contained, but which was short +of the man's claim. "What money have you got, Miss Wardour?" he said, in +a tone of affected calmness, but which concealed violent agitation. + +Miss Wardour gave him her purse; he attempted to count the bank notes +which it contained, but could not reckon them. After twice miscounting +the sum, he threw the whole to his daughter, and saying, in a stern +voice, "Pay the rascal, and let him leave the house instantly!" he +strode out of the room. + +The mistress and servant stood alike astonished at the agitation and +vehemence of his manner. + +"I am sure, ma'am, if I had thought I was particularly wrang, I wadna +hae made ony answer when Sir Arthur challenged me. I hae been lang in +his service, and he has been a kind master, and you a kind mistress, and +I wad like ill ye should think I wad start for a hasty word. I am sure +it was very wrang o' me to speak about wages to his honour, when maybe +he has something to vex him. I had nae thoughts o' leaving the family in +this way." + +"Go down stair, Robert," said his mistress—"something has happened to +fret my father—go down stairs, and let Alick answer the bell." + +When the man left the room, Sir Arthur re-entered, as if he had been +watching his departure. "What's the meaning of this?" he said hastily, +as he observed the notes lying still on the table—"Is he not gone? Am I +neither to be obeyed as a master or a father?" + +"He is gone to give up his charge to the housekeeper, sir,—I thought +there was not such instant haste." + +"There is haste, Miss Wardour," answered her father, interrupting +her;—"What I do henceforth in the house of my forefathers, must be done +speedily, or never." + +He then sate down, and took up with a trembling hand the basin of tea +prepared for him, protracting the swallowing of it, as if to delay the +necessity of opening the post-letters which lay on the table, and which +he eyed from time to time, as if they had been a nest of adders ready to +start into life and spring upon him. + +"You will be happy to hear," said Miss Wardour, willing to withdraw her +father's mind from the gloomy reflections in which he appeared to be +plunged, "you will be happy to hear, sir, that Lieutenant Taffril's +gun-brig has got safe into Leith Roads—I observe there had been +apprehensions for his safety—I am glad we did not hear them till they +were contradicted." + +"And what is Taffril and his gun-brig to me?" + +"Sir!" said Miss Wardour in astonishment; for Sir Arthur, in his +ordinary state of mind, took a fidgety sort of interest in all the +gossip of the day and country. + +"I say," he repeated in a higher and still more impatient key, "what do +I care who is saved or lost? It's nothing to me, I suppose?" + +"I did not know you were busy, Sir Arthur; and thought, as Mr. Taffril +is a brave man, and from our own country, you would be happy to hear"— + +"Oh, I am happy—as happy as possible—and, to make you happy too, you +shall have some of my good news in return." And he caught up a letter. +"It does not signify which I open first—they are all to the same tune." + +He broke the seal hastily, ran the letter over, and then threw it to +his daughter. "Ay—I could not have lighted more happily!—this places the +copestone." + +Miss Wardour, in silent terror, took up the letter. "Read it—read it +aloud!" said her father; "it cannot be read too often; it will serve to +break you in for other good news of the same kind." + +She began to read with a faltering voice, "Dear Sir." + +"He dears me too, you see, this impudent drudge of a writer's office, +who, a twelvemonth since, was not fit company for my second table—I +suppose I shall be dear Knight' with him by and by." + +"Dear Sir," resumed Miss Wardour; but, interrupting herself, "I see +the contents are unpleasant, sir—it will only vex you my reading them +aloud." + +"If you will allow me to know my own pleasure, Miss Wardour, I entreat +you to go on—I presume, if it were unnecessary, I should not ask you to +take the trouble." + +"Having been of late taken into copartnery," continued Miss Wardour, +reading the letter, "by Mr. Gilbert Greenhorn, son of your late +correspondent and man of business, Girnigo Greenhorn, Esq., writer to +the signet, whose business I conducted as parliament-house clerk for +many years, which business will in future be carried on under the firm +of Greenhorn and Grinderson (which I memorandum for the sake of accuracy +in addressing your future letters), and having had of late favours +of yours, directed to my aforesaid partner, Gilbert Greenhorn, in +consequence of his absence at the Lamberton races, have the honour to +reply to your said favours." + +"You see my friend is methodical, and commences by explaining the causes +which have procured me so modest and elegant a correspondent. Go on—I +can bear it." + +And he laughed that bitter laugh which is perhaps the most fearful +expression of mental misery. Trembling to proceed, and yet afraid to +disobey, Miss Wardour continued to read—"I am for myself and partner, +sorry we cannot oblige you by looking out for the sums you mention, or +applying for a suspension in the case of Goldiebirds' bond, which +would be more inconsistent, as we have been employed to act as the said +Goldiebirds' procurators and attorneys, in which capacity we have +taken out a charge of horning against you, as you must be aware by +the schedule left by the messenger, for the sum of four thousand seven +hundred and fifty-six pounds five shillings and sixpence one-fourth of +a penny sterling, which, with annual-rent and expenses effeiring, we +presume will be settled during the currency of the charge, to prevent +further trouble. Same time, I am under the necessity to observe our own +account, amounting to seven hundred and sixty-nine pounds ten shillings +and sixpence, is also due, and settlement would be agreeable; but as we +hold your rights, title-deeds, and documents in hypothec, shall have no +objection to give reasonable time—say till the next money term. I am, +for myself and partner, concerned to add, that Messrs. Goldiebirds' +instructions to us are to proceed peremptorie and sine mora, of which I +have the pleasure to advise you, to prevent future mistakes, reserving +to ourselves otherwise to age' as accords. I am, for self and partner, +dear sir, your obliged humble servant, Gabriel Grinderson, for Greenhorn +and Grinderson." + +"Ungrateful villain!" said Miss Wardour. + +"Why, no—it's in the usual rule, I suppose; the blow could not have +been perfect if dealt by another hand—it's all just as it should be," +answered the poor Baronet, his affected composure sorely belied by +his quivering lip and rolling eye—"But here's a postscript I did not +notice—come, finish the epistle." + +"I have to add (not for self but partner) that Mr. Greenhorn will +accommodate you by taking your service of plate, or the bay horses, if +sound in wind and limb, at a fair appreciation, in part payment of your +accompt." + +"G—d confound him!" said Sir Arthur, losing all command of himself at +this condescending proposal: "his grandfather shod my father's horses, +and this descendant of a scoundrelly blacksmith proposes to swindle me +out of mine! But I will write him a proper answer." + +And he sate down and began to write with great vehemence, then stopped +and read aloud:—"Mr. Gilbert Greenhorn,—in answer to two letters of a +late date, I received a letter from a person calling himself Grinderson, +and designing himself as your partner. When I address any one, I do not +usually expect to be answered by deputy—I think I have been useful to +your father, and friendly and civil to yourself, and therefore am now +surprised—And yet," said he, stopping short, "why should I be surprised +at that or anything else? or why should I take up my time in writing to +such a scoundrel?—I shan't be always kept in prison, I suppose; and to +break that puppy's bones when I get out, shall be my first employment." + +"In prison, sir?" said Miss Wardour, faintly. + +"Ay, in prison to be sure. Do you make any question about that? Why, Mr. +what's his name's fine letter for self and partner seems to be thrown +away on you, or else you have got four thousand so many hundred pounds, +with the due proportion of shillings, pence, and half-pence, to pay that +aforesaid demand, as he calls it." + +"I, sir? O if I had the means!—But where's my brother?—why does he not +come, and so long in Scotland? He might do something to assist us." + +"Who, Reginald?—I suppose he's gone with Mr. Gilbert Greenhorn, or some +such respectable person, to the Lamberton races—I have expected him this +week past; but I cannot wonder that my children should neglect me as +well as every other person. But I should beg your pardon, my love, who +never either neglected or offended me in your life." + +And kissing her cheek as she threw her arms round his neck, he +experienced that consolation which a parent feels, even in the most +distressed state, in the assurance that he possesses the affection of a +child. + +Miss Wardour took the advantage of this revulsion of feeling, to +endeavour to soothe her father's mind to composure. She reminded him +that he had many friends. + +"I had many once," said Sir Arthur; "but of some I have exhausted their +kindness with my frantic projects; others are unable to assist me—others +are unwilling. It is all over with me. I only hope Reginald will take +example by my folly." + +"Should I not send to Monkbarns, sir?" said his daughter. + +"To what purpose? He cannot lend me such a sum, and would not if he +could, for he knows I am otherwise drowned in debt; and he would only +give me scraps of misanthropy and quaint ends of Latin." + +"But he is shrewd and sensible, and was bred to business, and, I am +sure, always loved this family." + +"Yes, I believe he did. It is a fine pass we are come to, when the +affection of an Oldbuck is of consequence to a Wardour! But when matters +come to extremity, as I suppose they presently will—it may be as well +to send for him. And now go take your walk, my dear—my mind is more +composed than when I had this cursed disclosure to make. You know the +worst, and may daily or hourly expect it. Go take your walk—I would +willingly be alone for a little while." + +When Miss Wardour left the apartment, her first occupation was to avail +herself of the half permission granted by her father, by despatching to +Monkbarns the messenger, who, as we have already seen, met the Antiquary +and his nephew on the sea-beach. + +Little recking, and indeed scarce knowing, where she was wandering, +chance directed her into the walk beneath the Briery Bank, as it was +called. A brook, which in former days had supplied the castle-moat with +water, here descended through a narrow dell, up which Miss Wardour's +taste had directed a natural path, which was rendered neat and easy of +ascent, without the air of being formally made and preserved. It suited +well the character of the little glen, which was overhung with thickets +and underwood, chiefly of larch and hazel, intermixed with the usual +varieties of the thorn and brier. In this walk had passed that scene of +explanation between Miss Wardour and Lovel which was overheard by old +Edie Ochiltree. With a heart softened by the distress which approached +her family, Miss Wardour now recalled every word and argument which +Lovel had urged in support of his suit, and could not help confessing to +herself, it was no small subject of pride to have inspired a young +man of his talents with a passion so strong and disinterested. That he +should have left the pursuit of a profession in which he was said to be +rapidly rising, to bury himself in a disagreeable place like Fairport, +and brood over an unrequited passion, might be ridiculed by others as +romantic, but was naturally forgiven as an excess of affection by +the person who was the object of his attachment. Had he possessed an +independence, however moderate, or ascertained a clear and undisputed +claim to the rank in society he was well qualified to adorn, she +might now have had it in her power to offer her father, during his +misfortunes, an asylum in an establishment of her own. These thoughts, +so favourable to the absent lover, crowded in, one after the other, +with such a minute recapitulation of his words, looks, and actions, as +plainly intimated that his former repulse had been dictated rather +by duty than inclination. Isabella was musing alternately upon this +subject, and upon that of her father's misfortunes, when, as the path +winded round a little hillock covered with brushwood, the old Blue-Gown +suddenly met her. + +With an air as if he had something important and mysterious to +communicate, he doffed his bonnet, and assumed the cautious step and +voice of one who would not willingly be overheard. "I hae been wishing +muckle to meet wi' your leddyship—for ye ken I darena come to the house +for Dousterswivel." + +"I heard indeed," said Miss Wardour, dropping an alms into the bonnet—"I +heard that you had done a very foolish, if not a very bad thing, Edie— +and I was sorry to hear it." + +"Hout, my bonny leddy—fulish? A' the world's fules—and how should auld +Edie Ochiltree be aye wise?—And for the evil—let them wha deal wi' +Dousterswivel tell whether he gat a grain mair than his deserts." + +"That may be true, Edie, and yet," said Miss Wardour, "you may have been +very wrong." + +"Weel, weel, we'se no dispute that e'ennow—it's about yoursell I'm gaun +to speak. Div ye ken what's hanging ower the house of Knockwinnock?" + +"Great distress, I fear, Edie," answered Miss Wardour; "but I am +surprised it is already so public." + +"Public!—Sweepclean, the messenger, will be there the day wi' a' his +tackle. I ken it frae ane o' his concurrents, as they ca' them, that's +warned to meet him; and they'll be about their wark belyve; whare they +clip, there needs nae kame—they shear close eneugh." + +"Are you sure this bad hour, Edie, is so very near?—come, I know, it +will." + +"It's e'en as I tell you, leddy. But dinna be cast down—there's a +heaven ower your head here, as weel as in that fearful night atween +the Ballyburghness and the Halket-head. D'ye think He, wha rebuked the +waters, canna protect you against the wrath of men, though they be armed +with human authority?" + +"It is indeed all we have to trust to." + +"Ye dinna ken—ye dinna ken: when the night's darkest, the dawn's +nearest. If I had a gude horse, or could ride him when I had him, I +reckon there wad be help yet. I trusted to hae gotten a cast wi' the +Royal Charlotte, but she's coupit yonder, it's like, at Kittlebrig. +There was a young gentleman on the box, and he behuved to drive; and +Tam Sang, that suld hae mair sense, he behuved to let him, and the daft +callant couldna tak the turn at the corner o' the brig; and od! he took +the curbstane, and he's whomled her as I wad whomle a toom bicker—it was +a luck I hadna gotten on the tap o' her. Sae I came down atween hope and +despair, to see if ye wad send me on." + +"And, Edie—where would ye go?" said the young lady. + +"To Tannonburgh, my leddy" (which was the first stage from Fairport, but +a good deal nearer to Knockwinnock), "and that without delay—it's a' on +your ain business." + +"Our business, Edie? Alas! I give you all credit for your good meaning; +but"— + +"There's nae buts about it, my leddy, for gang I maun," said the +persevering Blue-Gown. + +"But what is it that you would do at Tannonburgh?—or how can your going +there benefit my father's affairs?" + +"Indeed, my sweet leddy," said the gaberlunzie, "ye maun just trust +that bit secret to auld Edie's grey pow, and ask nae questions about it. +Certainly if I wad hae wared my life for you yon night, I can hae nae +reason to play an ill pliskie t'ye in the day o' your distress." + +"Well, Edie, follow me then," said Miss Wardour, "and I will try to get +you sent to Tannonburgh." + +"Mak haste then, my bonny leddy—mak haste, for the love o' goodness!"— +and he continued to exhort her to expedition until they reached the +Castle. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST. + + Let those go see who will—I like it not— + For, say he was a slave to rank and pomp, + And all the nothings he is now divorced from + By the hard doom of stern necessity: + Yet it is sad to mark his altered brow, + Where Vanity adjusts her flimsy veil + O'er the deep wrinkles of repentant anguish. + Old Play. + +When Miss Wardour arrived in the court of the Castle, she was apprized +by the first glance that the visit of the officers of the law had +already taken place. There was confusion, and gloom and sorrow, and +curiosity among the domestics, while the retainers of the law went from +place to place, making an inventory of the goods and chattels falling +under their warrant of distress, or poinding, as it is called in the +law of Scotland. Captain M'Intyre flew to her, as, struck dumb with +the melancholy conviction of her father's ruin, she paused upon the +threshold of the gateway. + +"Dear Miss Wardour," he said, "do not make yourself uneasy; my uncle +is coming immediately, and I am sure he will find some way to clear the +house of these rascals." + +"Alas! Captain M'Intyre, I fear it will be too late." + +"No," answered Edie, impatiently—"could I but get to Tannonburgh. In the +name of Heaven, Captain, contrive some way to get me on, and ye'll do +this poor ruined family the best day's doing that has been done +them since Redhand's days—for as sure as e'er an auld saw came true, +Knockwinnock house and land will be lost and won this day." + +"Why, what good can you do, old man?" said Hector. + +But Robert, the domestic with whom Sir Arthur had been so much +displeased in the morning, as if he had been watching for an opportunity +to display his zeal, stepped hastily forward and said to his mistress, +"If you please, ma'am, this auld man, Ochiltree, is very skeely and +auld-farrant about mony things, as the diseases of cows and horse, and +sic like, and I am sure be disna want to be at Tannonburgh the day +for naething, since he insists on't this gate; and, if your leddyship +pleases, I'll drive him there in the taxed-cart in an hour's time. I wad +fain be of some use—I could bite my very tongue out when I think on this +morning." + +"I am obliged to you, Robert," said Miss Wardour; "and if you really +think it has the least chance of being useful"— + +"In the name of God," said the old man, "yoke the cart, Robie, and if +I am no o' some use, less or mair, I'll gie ye leave to fling me ower +Kittlebrig as ye come back again. But, O man, haste ye, for time's +precious this day." + +Robert looked at his mistress as she retired into the house, and seeing +he was not prohibited, flew to the stable-yard, which was adjacent to +the court, in order to yoke the, carriage; for, though an old beggar was +the personage least likely to render effectual assistance in a case +of pecuniary distress, yet there was among the common people of Edie's +circle, a general idea of his prudence and sagacity, which authorized +Robert's conclusion that he would not so earnestly have urged the +necessity of this expedition had he not been convinced of its utility. +But so soon as the servant took hold of a horse to harness him for the +taxed-cart, an officer touched him on the shoulder—"My friend, you must +let that beast alone—he's down in the schedule." + +"What!" said Robert, "am I not to take my master's horse to go my young +leddy's errand?" + +"You must remove nothing here," said the man of office, "or you will be +liable for all consequences." + +"What the devil, sir," said Hector, who having followed to examine +Ochiltree more closely on the nature of his hopes and expectations, +already began to bristle like one of the terriers of his own native +mountains, and sought but a decent pretext for venting his displeasure, +"have you the impudence to prevent the young lady's servant from obeying +her orders?" + +There was something in the air and tone of the young soldier, which +seemed to argue that his interference was not likely to be confined to +mere expostulation; and which, if it promised finally the advantages of +a process of battery and deforcement, would certainly commence with the +unpleasant circumstances necessary for founding such a complaint. The +legal officer, confronted with him of the military, grasped with one +doubtful hand the greasy bludgeon which was to enforce his authority, +and with the other produced his short official baton, tipped with +silver, and having a movable ring upon it—"Captain M'Intyre,—Sir, I have +no quarrel with you,—but if you interrupt me in my duty, I will break +the wand of peace, and declare myself deforced." + +"And who the devil cares," said Hector, totally ignorant of the words of +judicial action, "whether you declare yourself divorced or married? And +as to breaking your wand, or breaking the peace, or whatever you call +it, all I know is, that I will break your bones if you prevent the lad +from harnessing the horses to obey his mistress's orders." + +"I take all who stand here to witness," said the messenger, "that I +showed him my blazon, and explained my character. He that will to Cupar +maun to Cupar,"—and he slid his enigmatical ring from one end of the +baton to the other, being the appropriate symbol of his having been +forcibly interrupted in the discharge of his duty. + +Honest Hector, better accustomed to the artillery of the field than to +that of the law, saw this mystical ceremony with great indifference; +and with like unconcern beheld the messenger sit down to write out +an execution of deforcement. But at this moment, to prevent the +well-meaning hot-headed Highlander from running the risk of a +severe penalty, the Antiquary arrived puffing and blowing, with his +handkerchief crammed under his hat, and his wig upon the end of his +stick. + +"What the deuce is the matter here?" he exclaimed, hastily adjusting +his head-gear; "I have been following you in fear of finding your idle +loggerhead knocked against one rock or other, and here I find you parted +with your Bucephalus, and quarrelling with Sweepclean. A messenger, +Hector, is a worse foe than a phoca, whether it be the phoca barbata, or +the phoca vitulina of your late conflict." + +"D—n the phoca, sir," said Hector, "whether it be the one or the other—I +say d—n them both particularly! I think you would not have me stand +quietly by and see a scoundrel like this, because he calls himself a +king's messenger, forsooth—(I hope the king has many better for his +meanest errands)—insult a young lady of family and fashion like Miss +Wardour?" + +"Rightly argued, Hector," said the Antiquary; "but the king, like other +people, has now and then shabby errands, and, in your ear, must have +shabby fellows to do them. But even supposing you unacquainted with the +statutes of William the Lion, in which capite quarto versu quinto, this +crime of deforcement is termed despectus Domini Regis—a contempt, to +wit, of the king himself, in whose name all legal diligence issues,— +could you not have inferred, from the information I took so much pains +to give you to-day, that those who interrupt officers who come to +execute letters of caption, are tanquam participes criminis rebellionis? +seeing that he who aids a rebel, is himself, quodammodo, an accessory to +rebellion—But I'll bring you out of this scrape." + +He then spoke to the messenger, who, upon his arrival, had laid aside +all thoughts of making a good by-job out of the deforcement, and +accepted Mr. Oldbuck's assurances that the horse and taxed-cart should +be safely returned in the course of two or three hours. + +"Very well, sir," said the Antiquary, "since you are disposed to be so +civil, you shall have another job in your own best way—a little cast of +state politics—a crime punishable per Legem Juliam, Mr. Sweepclean— Hark +thee hither." + +And after a whisper of five minutes, he gave him a slip of paper, on +receiving which, the messenger mounted his horse, and, with one of his +assistants, rode away pretty sharply. The fellow who remained seemed to +delay his operations purposely, proceeded in the rest of his duty very +slowly, and with the caution and precision of one who feels himself +overlooked by a skilful and severe inspector. + +In the meantime, Oldbuck, taking his nephew by the arm, led him into the +house, and they were ushered into the presence of Sir Arthur Wardour, +who, in a flutter between wounded pride, agonized apprehension, and +vain attempts to disguise both under a show of indifference, exhibited a +spectacle of painful interest. + +"Happy to see you, Mr. Oldbuck—always happy to see my friends in fair +weather or foul," said the poor Baronet, struggling not for composure, +but for gaiety—an affectation which was strongly contrasted by the +nervous and protracted grasp of his hand, and the agitation of his whole +demeanour—"I am happy to see you. You are riding, I see—I hope in this +confusion your horses are taken good care of—I always like to have my +friend's horses looked after—Egad! they will have all my care now, for +you see they are like to leave me none of my own—he! he! he! eh, Mr. +Oldbuck?" + +This attempt at a jest was attended by a hysterical giggle, which poor +Sir Arthur intended should sound as an indifferent laugh. + +"You know I never ride, Sir Arthur," said the Antiquary. + +"I beg your pardon; but sure I saw your nephew arrive on horseback a +short time since. We must look after officers' horses, and his was as +handsome a grey charger as I have seen." + +Sir Arthur was about to ring the bell, when Mr. Oldbuck said, "My nephew +came on your own grey horse, Sir Arthur." + +"Mine!" said the poor Baronet; "mine was it? then the sun had been in my +eyes. Well, I'm not worthy having a horse any longer, since I don't know +my own when I see him." + +"Good Heaven!" thought Oldbuck, "how is this man altered from the formal +stolidity of his usual manner!—he grows wanton under adversity—Sed +pereunti mille figurae."—He then proceeded aloud—"Sir Arthur, we must +necessarily speak a little on business." + +"To be sure," said Sir Arthur; "but it was so good that I should not +know the horse I have ridden these five years—ha! ha! ha!" + +"Sir Arthur," said the Antiquary, "don't let us waste time which is +precious; we shall have, I hope, many better seasons for jesting— +desipere in loco is the maxim of Horace. I more than suspect this has +been brought on by the villany of Dousterswivel." + +"Don't mention his name, sir!" said Sir Arthur; and his manner entirely +changed from a fluttered affectation of gaiety to all the agitation +of fury; his eyes sparkled, his mouth foamed, his hands were clenched— +"don't mention his name, sir," he vociferated, "unless you would see me +go mad in your presence! That I should have been such a miserable dolt— +such an infatuated idiot—such a beast endowed with thrice a beast's +stupidity, to be led and driven and spur-galled by such a rascal, and +under such ridiculous pretences!—Mr. Oldbuck, I could tear myself when I +think of it." + +"I only meant to say," answered the Antiquary, "that this fellow is like +to meet his reward; and I cannot but think we shall frighten something +out of him that may be of service to you. He has certainly had some +unlawful correspondence on the other side of the water." + +"Has he?—has he?—has he indeed?—then d—n the house-hold goods, horses, +and so forth—I will go to prison a happy man, Mr. Oldbuck. I hope in +heaven there's a reasonable chance of his being hanged?" + +"Why, pretty fair," said Oldbuck, willing to encourage this diversion, +in hopes it might mitigate the feelings which seemed like to overset the +poor man's understanding; "honester men have stretched a rope, or +the law has been sadly cheated—But this unhappy business of yours—can +nothing be done? Let me see the charge." + +He took the papers; and, as he read them, his countenance grew +hopelessly dark and disconsolate. Miss Wardour had by this time entered +the apartment, and fixing her eyes on Mr. Oldbuck, as if she meant to +read her fate in his looks, easily perceived, from the change in his +eye, and the dropping of his nether-jaw, how little was to be hoped. + +"We are then irremediably ruined, Mr. Oldbuck?" said the young lady. + +"Irremediably?—I hope not—but the instant demand is very large, and +others will, doubtless, pour in." + +"Ay, never doubt that, Monkbarns," said Sir Arthur; "where the slaughter +is, the eagles will be gathered together. I am like a sheep which I have +seen fall down a precipice, or drop down from sickness—if you had not +seen a single raven or hooded crow for a fortnight before, he will not +lie on the heather ten minutes before half-a-dozen will be picking +out his eyes (and he drew his hand over his own), and tearing at +his heartstrings before the poor devil has time to die. But that d—d +long-scented vulture that dogged me so long—you have got him fast, I +hope?" + +"Fast enough," said the Antiquary; "the gentleman wished to take the +wings of the morning, and bolt in the what d'ye call it,—the coach and +four there. But he would have found twigs limed for him at Edinburgh. As +it is, he never got so far, for the coach being overturned—as how could +it go safe with such a Jonah?—he has had an infernal tumble, is carried +into a cottage near Kittlebrig, and to prevent all possibility of +escape, I have sent your friend Sweepclean to bring him back to Fairport +in nomine regis, or to act as his sick-nurse at Kittlebrig, as is most +fitting. And now, Sir Arthur, permit me to have some conversation with +you on the present unpleasant state of your affairs, that we may see +what can be done for their extrication;" and the Antiquary led the way +into the library, followed by the unfortunate gentleman. + +They had been shut up together for about two hours, when Miss Wardour +interrupted them with her cloak on as if prepared for a journey. +Her countenance was very pale, yet expressive of the composure which +characterized her disposition. + +"The messenger is returned, Mr. Oldbuck." + +"Returned?—What the devil! he has not let the fellow go?" + +"No—I understand he has carried him to confinement; and now he is +returned to attend my father, and says he can wait no longer." + +A loud wrangling was now heard on the staircase, in which the voice +of Hector predominated. "You an officer, sir, and these ragamuffins a +party! a parcel of beggarly tailor fellows—tell yourselves off by nine, +and we shall know your effective strength." + +The grumbling voice of the man of law was then heard indistinctly +muttering a reply, to which Hector retorted—"Come, come, sir, this won't +do;—march your party, as you call them, out of this house directly, or +I'll send you and them to the right about presently." + +"The devil take Hector," said the Antiquary, hastening to the scene of +action; "his Highland blood is up again, and we shall have him fighting +a duel with the bailiff. Come, Mr. Sweepclean, you must give us a little +time—I know you would not wish to hurry Sir Arthur." + +"By no means, sir," said the messenger, putting his hat off, which he +had thrown on to testify defiance of Captain M'Intyre's threats; "but +your nephew, sir, holds very uncivil language, and I have borne too much +of it already; and I am not justified in leaving my prisoner any longer +after the instructions I received, unless I am to get payment of the +sums contained in my diligence." And he held out the caption, pointing +with the awful truncheon, which he held in his right hand, to the +formidable line of figures jotted upon the back thereof. + +Hector, on the other hand, though silent from respect to his uncle, +answered this gesture by shaking his clenched fist at the messenger with +a frown of Highland wrath. + +"Foolish boy, be quiet," said Oldbuck, "and come with me into the room— +the man is doing his miserable duty, and you will only make matters +worse by opposing him.—I fear, Sir Arthur, you must accompany this +man to Fairport; there is no help for it in the first instance—I will +accompany you, to consult what further can be done—My nephew will escort +Miss Wardour to Monkbarns, which I hope she will make her residence +until these unpleasant matters are settled." + +"I go with my father, Mr. Oldbuck," said Miss Wardour firmly—"I have +prepared his clothes and my own—I suppose we shall have the use of the +carriage?" + +"Anything in reason, madam," said the messenger; "I have ordered it out, +and it's at the door—I will go on the box with the coachman—I have no +desire to intrude—but two of the concurrents must attend on horseback." + +"I will attend too," said Hector, and he ran down to secure a horse for +himself. + +"We must go then," said the Antiquary. + +"To jail," said the Baronet, sighing involuntarily. "And what of that?" +he resumed, in a tone affectedly cheerful—"it is only a house we can't +get out of, after all—Suppose a fit of the gout, and Knockwinnock would +be the same—Ay, ay, Monkbarns—we'll call it a fit of the gout without +the d—d pain." + +But his eyes swelled with tears as he spoke, and his faltering accent +marked how much this assumed gaiety cost him. The Antiquary wrung his +hand, and, like the Indian Banians, who drive the real terms of an +important bargain by signs, while they are apparently talking of +indifferent matters, the hand of Sir Arthur, by its convulsive return of +the grasp, expressed his sense of gratitude to his friend, and the real +state of his internal agony.—They stepped slowly down the magnificent +staircase—every well-known object seeming to the unfortunate father and +daughter to assume a more prominent and distinct appearance than usual, +as if to press themselves on their notice for the last time. + +At the first landing-place, Sir Arthur made an agonized pause; and as +he observed the Antiquary look at him anxiously, he said with assumed +dignity—"Yes, Mr. Oldbuck, the descendant of an ancient line—the +representative of Richard Redhand and Gamelyn de Guardover, may be +pardoned a sigh when he leaves the castle of his fathers thus poorly +escorted. When I was sent to the Tower with my late father, in the year +1745, it was upon a charge becoming our birth—upon an accusation of +high treason, Mr. Oldbuck;—we were escorted from Highgate by a troop of +life-guards, and committed upon a secretary of state's warrant; and +now, here I am, in my old age, dragged from my household by a miserable +creature like that" (pointing to the messenger), "and for a paltry +concern of pounds, shillings, and pence." + +"At least," said Oldbuck, "you have now the company of a dutiful +daughter, and a sincere friend, if you will permit me to say so, and +that may be some consolation, even without the certainty that there can +be no hanging, drawing, or quartering, on the present occasion. But I +hear that choleric boy as loud as ever. I hope to God he has got into no +new broil!—it was an accursed chance that brought him here at all." + +In fact, a sudden clamour, in which the loud voice and somewhat northern +accent of Hector was again preeminently distinguished, broke off this +conversation. The cause we must refer to the next CHAPTER. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND. + + Fortune, you say, flies from us—She but circles, + Like the fleet sea-bird round the fowler's skiff,— + Lost in the mist one moment, and the next + Brushing the white sail with her whiter wing, + As if to court the aim.—Experience watches, + And has her on the wheel— + Old Play. + +The shout of triumph in Hector's warlike tones was not easily +distinguished from that of battle. But as he rushed up stairs with a +packet in his hand, exclaiming, "Long life to an old soldier! here +comes Edie with a whole budget of good news!" it became obvious that his +present cause of clamour was of an agreeable nature. He delivered the +letter to Oldbuck, shook Sir Arthur heartily by the hand, and wished +Miss Wardour joy, with all the frankness of Highland congratulation. The +messenger, who had a kind of instinctive terror for Captain M'Intyre, +drew towards his prisoner, keeping an eye of caution on the soldier's +motions. + +"Don't suppose I shall trouble myself about you, you dirty fellow," said +the soldier; "there's a guinea for the fright I have given you; and here +comes an old forty-two man, who is a fitter match for you than I am." + +The messenger (one of those dogs who are not too scornful to eat dirty +puddings) caught in his hand the guinea which Hector chucked at his +face; and abode warily and carefully the turn which matters were now to +take. All voices meanwhile were loud in inquiries, which no one was in a +hurry to answer. + +"What is the matter, Captain M'Intyre?" said Sir Arthur. + +"Ask old Edie," said Hector;—"I only know all's safe and well." + +"What is all this, Edie?" said Miss Wardour to the mendicant. + +"Your leddyship maun ask Monkbarns, for he has gotten the yepistolary +correspondensh." + +"God save the king!" exclaimed the Antiquary at the first glance at +the contents of his packet, and, surprised at once out of decorum, +philosophy, and phlegm, he skimmed his cocked hat in the air, from which +it descended not again, being caught in its fall by a branch of the +chandelier. He next, looking joyously round, laid a grasp on his wig, +which he perhaps would have sent after the beaver, had not Edie stopped +his hand, exclaiming "Lordsake! he's gaun gyte!—mind Caxon's no here to +repair the damage." + +Every person now assailed the Antiquary, clamouring to know the cause of +so sudden a transport, when, somewhat ashamed of his rapture, he fairly +turned tail, like a fox at the cry of a pack of hounds, and ascending +the stair by two steps at a time, gained the upper landing-place, where, +turning round, he addressed the astonished audience as follows:— My Good +Friends, 'favete Linguis' + +"My good friends, favete linguis—To give you information, I must first, +according to logicians, be possessed of it myself; and, therefore, with +your leaves, I will retire into the library to examine these papers—Sir +Arthur and Miss Wardour will have the goodness to step into the +parlour—Mr. Sweepclean, secede paulisper, or, in your own language, +grant us a supersedere of diligence for five minutes—Hector, draw off +your forces, and make your bear-garden flourish elsewhere—and, finally, +be all of good cheer till my return, which will be instanter." + +The contents of the packet were indeed so little expected, that the +Antiquary might be pardoned, first his ecstasy, and next his desire of +delaying to communicate the intelligence they conveyed, until it was +arranged and digested in his own mind. + +Within the envelope was a letter addressed to Jonathan Oldbuck, Esq. of +Monkbarns, of the following purport:— + +"Dear Sir,—To you, as my father's proved and valued friend, I venture to +address myself, being detained here by military duty of a very pressing +nature. You must by this time be acquainted with the entangled state of +our affairs; and I know it will give you great pleasure to learn, that +I am as fortunately as unexpectedly placed in a situation to give +effectual assistance for extricating them. I understand Sir Arthur is +threatened with severe measures by persons who acted formerly as his +agents; and, by advice of a creditable man of business here, I have +procured the enclosed writing, which I understand will stop their +proceedings until their claim shall be legally discussed, and brought +down to its proper amount. I also enclose bills to the amount of one +thousand pounds to pay any other pressing demands, and request of your +friendship to apply them according to your discretion. You will be +surprised I give you this trouble, when it would seem more natural to +address my father directly in his own affairs. But I have yet had no +assurance that his eyes are opened to the character of a person against +whom you have often, I know, warned him, and whose baneful influence +has been the occasion of these distresses. And as I owe the means of +relieving Sir Arthur to the generosity of a matchless friend, it is my +duty to take the most certain measures for the supplies being devoted +to the purpose for which they were destined,—and I know your wisdom and +kindness will see that it is done. My friend, as he claims an interest +in your regard, will explain some views of his own in the enclosed +letter. The state of the post-office at Fairport being rather notorious, +I must send this letter to Tannonburgh; but the old man Ochiltree, +whom particular circumstances have recommended as trustworthy, has +information when the packet is likely to reach that place, and will take +care to forward it. I expect to have soon an opportunity to apologize in +person for the trouble I now give, and have the honour to be your very +faithful servant, + +"Reginald Gamelyn Wardour." "Edinburgh, 6th August, 179-." + +The Antiquary hastily broke the seal of the enclosure, the contents of +which gave him equal surprise and pleasure. When he had in some measure +composed himself after such unexpected tidings, he inspected the other +papers carefully, which all related to business—put the bills into his +pocket-book, and wrote a short acknowledgment to be despatched by that +day's post, for he was extremely methodical in money matters—and lastly, +fraught with all the importance of disclosure, he descended to the +parlour. + +"Sweepclean," said he, as he entered, to the officer who stood +respectfully at the door, "you must sweep yourself clean out of +Knockwinnock Castle, with all your followers, tag-rag and bob-tail. +Seest thou this paper, man?" + +"A sist on a bill o' suspension," said the messenger, with a +disappointed look;—"I thought it would be a queer thing if ultimate +diligence was to be done against sic a gentleman as Sir Arthur—Weel, +sir, I'se go my ways with my party—And who's to pay my charges?" + +"They who employed thee," replied Oldbuck, "as thou full well dost +know.—But here comes another express: this is a day of news, I think." + +This was Mr. Mailsetter on his mare from Fairport, with a letter for +Sir Arthur, another to the messenger, both of which, he said, he was +directed to forward instantly. The messenger opened his, observing that +Greenhorn and Grinderson were good enough men for his expenses, and here +was a letter from them desiring him to stop the diligence. Accordingly, +he immediately left the apartment, and staying no longer than to gather +his posse together, he did then, in the phrase of Hector, who watched +his departure as a jealous mastiff eyes the retreat of a repulsed +beggar, evacuate Flanders. + +Sir Arthur's letter was from Mr. Greenhorn, and a curiosity in its way. +We give it, with the worthy Baronet's comments. + +"Sir—[Oh! I am dear sir no longer; folks are only dear to Messrs. +Greenhorn and Grinderson when they are in adversity]—Sir, I am much +concerned to learn, on my return from the country, where I was called +on particular business [a bet on the sweepstakes, I suppose], that my +partner had the impropriety, in my absence, to undertake the concerns of +Messrs. Goldiebirds in preference to yours, and had written to you in an +unbecoming manner. I beg to make my most humble apology, as well as Mr. +Grindersons—[come, I see he can write for himself and partner too]—and +trust it is impossible you can think me forgetful of, or ungrateful +for, the constant patronage which my family [his family! curse him for a +puppy!] have uniformly experienced from that of Knockwinnock. I am sorry +to find, from an interview I had this day with Mr. Wardour, that he is +much irritated, and, I must own, with apparent reason. But in order to +remedy as much as in me lies the mistake of which he complains [pretty +mistake, indeed! to clap his patron into jail], I have sent this express +to discharge all proceedings against your person or property; and at the +same time to transmit my respectful apology. I have only to add, that +Mr. Grinderson is of opinion, that if restored to your confidence, +he could point out circumstances connected with Messrs. Goldiebirds' +present claim which would greatly reduce its amount [so, so, willing +to play the rogue on either side]; and that there is not the slightest +hurry in settling the balance of your accompt with us; and that I am, +for Mr. G. as well as myself, Dear Sir [O ay, he has written himself +into an approach to familiarity], your much obliged and most humble +servant, + +"Gilbert Greenhorn." + +"Well said, Mr. Gilbert Greenhorn," said Monkbarns; "I see now there is +some use in having two attorneys in one firm. Their movements resemble +those of the man and woman in a Dutch baby-house. When it is fair +weather with the client, out comes the gentleman partner to fawn like a +spaniel; when it is foul, forth bolts the operative brother to pin like +a bull-dog. Well, I thank God that my man of business still wears an +equilateral cocked hat, has a house in the Old Town, is as much afraid +of a horse as I am myself, plays at golf of a Saturday, goes to the kirk +of a Sunday, and, in respect he has no partner, hath only his own folly +to apologize for." + +"There are some writers very honest fellows," said Hector; "I should +like to hear any one say that my cousin, Donald M'Intyre, Strathtudlem's +seventh son (the other six are in the army), is not as honest a fellow"— + +"No doubt, no doubt, Hector, all the M'Intyres are so; they have it by +patent, man—But I was going to say, that in a profession where unbounded +trust is necessarily reposed, there is nothing surprising that fools +should neglect it in their idleness, and tricksters abuse it in their +knavery. But it is the more to the honour of those (and I will vouch for +many) who unite integrity with skill and attention, and walk honourably +upright where there are so many pitfalls and stumbling-blocks for those +of a different character. To such men their fellow citizens may safely +entrust the care of protecting their patrimonial rights, and their +country the more sacred charge of her laws and privileges." + +"They are best aff, however, that hae least to do with them," said +Ochiltree, who had stretched his neck into the parlour door; for the +general confusion of the family not having yet subsided, the domestics, +like waves after the fall of a hurricane, had not yet exactly regained +their due limits, but were roaming wildly through the house. + +"Aha, old Truepenny, art thou there?" said the Antiquary. "Sir Arthur, +let me bring in the messenger of good luck, though he is but a lame one. +You talked of the raven that scented out the slaughter from afar; but +here's a blue pigeon (somewhat of the oldest and toughest, I grant) +who smelled the good news six or seven miles off, flew thither in the +taxed-cart, and returned with the olive branch." + +"Ye owe it o' to puir Robie that drave me;—puir fallow," said the +beggar, "he doubts he's in disgrace wi' my leddy and Sir Arthur." + +Robert's repentant and bashful face was seen over the mendicant's +shoulder. + +"In disgrace with me?" said Sir Arthur—"how so?"—for the irritation +into which he had worked himself on occasion of the toast had been long +forgotten. "O, I recollect—Robert, I was angry, and you were wrong;—go +about your work, and never answer a master that speaks to you in a +passion." + +"Nor any one else," said the Antiquary; "for a soft answer turneth away +wrath." + +"And tell your mother, who is so ill with the rheumatism, to come down +to the housekeeper to-morrow," said Miss Wardour, "and we will see what +can be of service to her." + +"God bless your leddyship," said poor Robert, "and his honour Sir +Arthur, and the young laird, and the house of Knockwinnock in a' its +branches, far and near!—it's been a kind and gude house to the puir this +mony hundred years." + +"There"—said the Antiquary to Sir Arthur—"we won't dispute—but there +you see the gratitude of the poor people naturally turns to the +civil virtues of your family. You don't hear them talk of Redhand, or +Hell-in-Harness. For me, I must say, Odi accipitrem qui semper vivit in +armis—so let us eat and drink in peace, and be joyful, Sir Knight." + +A table was quickly covered in the parlour, where the party sat joyously +down to some refreshment. At the request of Oldbuck, Edie Ochiltree was +permitted to sit by the sideboard in a great leathern chair, which was +placed in some measure behind a screen. + +"I accede to this the more readily," said Sir Arthur, "because I +remember in my fathers days that chair was occupied by Ailshie Gourlay, +who, for aught I know, was the last privileged fool, or jester, +maintained by any family of distinction in Scotland." + +"Aweel, Sir Arthur," replied the beggar, who never hesitated an instant +between his friend and his jest, "mony a wise man sits in a fule's seat, +and mony a fule in a wise man's, especially in families o' distinction." + +Miss Wardour, fearing the effect of this speech (however worthy of +Ailsbie Gourlay, or any other privileged jester) upon the nerves of +her father, hastened to inquire whether ale and beef should not be +distributed to the servants and people whom the news had assembled round +the Castle. + +"Surely, my love," said her father; "when was it ever otherwise in our +families when a siege had been raised?" + +"Ay, a siege laid by Saunders Sweepclean the bailiff, and raised by Edie +Ochiltree the gaberlunzie, par nobile fratrum," said Oldbuck, "and well +pitted against each other in respectability. But never mind, Sir Arthur— +these are such sieges and such reliefs as our time of day admits of—and +our escape is not less worth commemorating in a glass of this excellent +wine—Upon my credit, it is Burgundy, I think." + +"Were there anything better in the cellar," said Miss Wardour, "it would +be all too little to regale you after your friendly exertions." + +"Say you so?" said the Antiquary: "why, then, a cup of thanks to you, my +fair enemy, and soon may you be besieged as ladies love best to be, and +sign terms of capitulation in the chapel of Saint Winnox!" + +Miss Wardour blushed—Hector coloured, and then grew pale. + +Sir Arthur answered, "My daughter is much obliged to you, Monkbarns; but +unless you'll accept of her yourself, I really do not know where a poor +knight's daughter is to seek for an alliance in these mercenary times." + +"Me, mean ye, Sir Arthur? No, not I! I will claim privilege of the +duello, and, as being unable to encounter my fair enemy myself, I will +appear by my champion—But of this matter hereafter. What do you find in +the papers there, Hector, that you hold your head down over them as if +your nose were bleeding?" + +"Nothing particular, sir; but only that, as my arm is now almost quite +well, I think I shall relieve you of my company in a day or two, and go +to Edinburgh. I see Major Neville is arrived there. I should like to see +him." + +"Major whom?" said his uncle. + +"Major Neville, sir," answered the young soldier. + +"And who the devil is Major Neville?" demanded the Antiquary. + +"O, Mr. Oldbuck," said Sir Arthur, "you must remember his name +frequently in the newspapers—a very distinguished young officer indeed. +But I am happy to say that Mr. M'Intyre need not leave Monkbarns to +see him, for my son writes that the Major is to come with him to +Knockwinnock, and I need not say how happy I shall be to make the young +gentlemen acquainted,—unless, indeed, they are known to each other +already." + +"No, not personally," answered Hector, "but I have had occasion to hear +a good deal of him, and we have several mutual friends—your son being +one of them. But I must go to Edinburgh; for I see my uncle is beginning +to grow tired of me, and I am afraid"— + +"That you will grow tired of him?" interrupted Oldbuck,—"I fear that's +past praying for. But you have forgotten that the ecstatic twelfth +of August approaches, and that you are engaged to meet one of Lord +Glenallan's gamekeepers, God knows where, to persecute the peaceful +feathered creation." + +"True, true, uncle—I had forgot that," exclaimed the volatile Hector; +"but you said something just now that put everything out of my head." + +"An it like your honours," said old Edie, thrusting his white head from +behind the screen, where he had been plentifully regaling himself with +ale and cold meat—"an it like your honours, I can tell ye something that +will keep the Captain wi' us amaist as weel as the pouting—Hear ye na +the French are coming?" + +"The French, you blockhead?" answered Oldbuck—"Bah!" + +"I have not had time," said Sir Arthur Wardour, "to look over my +lieutenancy correspondence for the week—indeed, I generally make a +rule to read it only on Wednesdays, except in pressing cases,—for I +do everything by method; but from the glance I took of my letters, I +observed some alarm was entertained." + +"Alarm?" said Edie, "troth there's alarm, for the provost's gar'd the +beacon light on the Halket-head be sorted up (that suld hae been sorted +half a year syne) in an unco hurry, and the council hae named nae less +a man than auld Caxon himsell to watch the light. Some say it was out o' +compliment to Lieutenant Taffril,—for it's neist to certain that he'll +marry Jenny Caxon,—some say it's to please your honour and Monkbarns +that wear wigs—and some say there's some auld story about a periwig that +ane o' the bailies got and neer paid for—Onyway, there he is, sitting +cockit up like a skart upon the tap o' the craig, to skirl when foul +weather comes." + +"On mine honour, a pretty warder," said Monkbarns; "and what's my wig to +do all the while?" + +"I asked Caxon that very question," answered Ochiltree, "and he said he +could look in ilka morning, and gie't a touch afore he gaed to his bed, +for there's another man to watch in the day-time, and Caxon says he'll +friz your honour's wig as weel sleeping as wauking." + +This news gave a different turn to the conversation, which ran upon +national defence, and the duty of fighting for the land we live in, +until it was time to part. The Antiquary and his nephew resumed +their walk homeward, after parting from Knockwinnock with the warmest +expressions of mutual regard, and an agreement to meet again as soon as +possible. + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD. + + Nay, if she love me not, I care not for her: + Shall I look pale because the maiden blooms + Or sigh because she smiles, and smiles on others + Not I, by Heaven!—I hold my peace too dear, + To let it, like the plume upon her cap, + Shake at each nod that her caprice shall dictate. + Old Play. + +"Hector," said his uncle to Captain M'Intyre, in the course of their +walk homeward, "I am sometimes inclined to suspect that, in one respect, +you are a fool." + +"If you only think me so in one respect, sir, I am sure you do me more +grace than I expected or deserve." + +"I mean in one particular par excellence," answered the Antiquary. "I +have sometimes thought that you have cast your eyes upon Miss Wardour." + +"Well, sir," said M'Intyre, with much composure. + +"Well, sir," echoed his uncle—"Deuce take the fellow! he answers me as +if it were the most reasonable thing in the world, that he, a captain +in the army, and nothing at all besides, should marry the daughter of a +baronet." + +"I presume to think, sir," said the young Highlander, "there would be no +degradation on Miss Wardour's part in point of family." + +"O, Heaven forbid we should come on that topic!—No, no, equal both—both +on the table-land of gentility, and qualified to look down on every +roturier in Scotland." + +"And in point of fortune we are pretty even, since neither of us have +got any," continued Hector. "There may be an error, but I cannot plead +guilty to presumption." + +"But here lies the error, then, if you call it so," replied his uncle: +"she won't have you, Hector." + +"Indeed, sir?" + +"It is very sure, Hector; and to make it double sure, I must inform you +that she likes another man. She misunderstood some words I once said to +her, and I have since been able to guess at the interpretation she put +on them. At the time I was unable to account for her hesitation and +blushing; but, my poor Hector, I now understand them as a death-signal +to your hopes and pretensions. So I advise you to beat your retreat +and draw off your forces as well as you can, for the fort is too well +garrisoned for you to storm it." + +"I have no occasion to beat any retreat, uncle," said Hector, holding +himself very upright, and marching with a sort of dogged and offended +solemnity; "no man needs to retreat that has never advanced. There are +women in Scotland besides Miss Wardour, of as good family"— + +"And better taste," said his uncle; "doubtless there are, Hector; and +though I cannot say but that she is one of the most accomplished as well +as sensible girls I have seen, yet I doubt, much of her merit would be +cast away on you. A showy figure, now, with two cross feathers above +her noddle—one green, one blue; who would wear a riding-habit of the +regimental complexion, drive a gig one day, and the next review the +regiment on the grey trotting pony which dragged that vehicle, hoc erat +in votis;—these are the qualities that would subdue you, especially if +she had a taste for natural history, and loved a specimen of a phoca." + +"It's a little hard, sir," said Hector, "I must have that cursed seal +thrown into my face on all occasions—but I care little about it—and I +shall not break my heart for Miss Wardour. She is free to choose for +herself, and I wish her all happiness." + +"Magnanimously resolved, thou prop of Troy! Why, Hector, I was afraid +of a scene. Your sister told me you were desperately in love with Miss +Wardour." + +"Sir," answered the young man, "you would not have me desperately in +love with a woman that does not care about me?" + +"Well, nephew," said the Antiquary, more seriously, "there is doubtless +much sense in what you say; yet I would have given a great deal, some +twenty or twenty-five years since, to have been able to think as you +do." + +"Anybody, I suppose, may think as they please on such subjects," said +Hector. + +"Not according to the old school," said Oldbuck; "but, as I said before, +the practice of the modern seems in this case the most prudential, +though, I think, scarcely the most interesting. But tell me your ideas +now on this prevailing subject of an invasion. The cry is still, They +come." + +Hector, swallowing his mortification, which he was peculiarly anxious to +conceal from his uncle's satirical observation, readily entered into +a conversation which was to turn the Antiquary's thoughts from Miss +Wardour and the seal. When they reached Monkbarns, the communicating +to the ladies the events which had taken place at the castle, with the +counter-information of how long dinner had waited before the womankind +had ventured to eat it in the Antiquary's absence, averted these +delicate topics of discussion. + +The next morning the Antiquary arose early, and, as Caxon had not yet +made his appearance, he began mentally to feel the absence of the petty +news and small talk of which the ex-peruquier was a faithful reporter, +and which habit had made as necessary to the Antiquary as his occasional +pinch of snuff, although he held, or affected to hold, both to be of +the same intrinsic value. The feeling of vacuity peculiar to such +a deprivation, was alleviated by the appearance of old Ochiltree, +sauntering beside the clipped yew and holly hedges, with the air of a +person quite at home. Indeed, so familiar had he been of late, that even +Juno did not bark at him, but contented herself with watching him with a +close and vigilant eye. Our Antiquary stepped out in his night-gown, and +instantly received and returned his greeting. + +"They are coming now, in good earnest, Monkbarns. I just cam frae +Fairport to bring ye the news, and then I'll step away back again. The +Search has just come into the bay, and they say she's been chased by a +French fleet. + +"The Search?" said Oldbuck, reflecting a moment. "Oho!" + +"Ay, ay, Captain Taffril's gun-brig, the Search." + +"What? any relation to Search, No. II.?" said Oldbuck, catching at the +light which the name of the vessel seemed to throw on the mysterious +chest of treasure. + +The mendicant, like a man detected in a frolic, put his bonnet before +his face, yet could not help laughing heartily.—"The deil's in you, +Monkbarns, for garring odds and evens meet. Wha thought ye wad hae laid +that and that thegither? Od, I am clean catch'd now." + +"I see it all," said Oldbuck, "as plain as the legend on a medal of high +preservation—the box in which the' bullion was found belonged to the +gun-brig, and the treasure to my phoenix?"—(Edie nodded assent),—"and +was buried there that Sir Arthur might receive relief in his +difficulties?" + +"By me," said Edie, "and twa o' the brig's men—but they didna ken its +contents, and thought it some bit smuggling concern o' the Captain's. +I watched day and night till I saw it in the right hand; and then, when +that German deevil was glowering at the lid o' the kist (they liked +mutton weel that licked where the yowe lay), I think some Scottish +deevil put it into my head to play him yon ither cantrip. Now, ye see, +if I had said mair or less to Bailie Littlejohn, I behoved till hae come +out wi' a' this story; and vexed would Mr. Lovel hae been to have it +brought to light—sae I thought I would stand to onything rather than +that." + +"I must say he has chosen his confidant well," said Oldbuck, "though +somewhat strangely." + +"I'll say this for mysell, Monkbarns," answered the mendicant, "that +I am the fittest man in the haill country to trust wi' siller, for I +neither want it, nor wish for it, nor could use it if I had it. But the +lad hadna muckle choice in the matter, for he thought he was leaving the +country for ever (I trust he's mistaen in that though); and the night +was set in when we learned, by a strange chance, Sir Arthur's sair +distress, and Lovel was obliged to be on board as the day dawned. But +five nights afterwards the brig stood into the bay, and I met the boat +by appointment, and we buried the treasure where ye fand it." + +"This was a very romantic, foolish exploit," said Oldbuck: "why not +trust me, or any other friend?" + +"The blood o' your sister's son," replied Edie, "was on his hands, and +him maybe dead outright—what time had he to take counsel?—or how could +he ask it of you, by onybody?" + +"You are right. But what if Dousterswivel had come before you?" + +"There was little fear o' his coming there without Sir Arthur: he had +gotten a sair gliff the night afore, and never intended to look near the +place again, unless he had been brought there sting and ling. He ken'd +weel the first pose was o' his ain hiding, and how could he expect a +second? He just havered on about it to make the mair o' Sir Arthur." + +"Then how," said Oldbuck, "should Sir Arthur have come there unless the +German had brought him?" + +"Umph!" answered Edie drily. "I had a story about Misticot wad hae +brought him forty miles, or you either. Besides, it was to be thought he +would be for visiting the place he fand the first siller in—he ken'd na +the secret o' that job. In short, the siller being in this shape, Sir +Arthur in utter difficulties, and Lovel determined he should never ken +the hand that helped him,—for that was what he insisted maist upon,—we +couldna think o' a better way to fling the gear in his gate, though we +simmered it and wintered it e'er sae lang. And if by ony queer mischance +Doustercivil had got his claws on't, I was instantly to hae informed you +or the Sheriff o' the haill story." + +"Well, notwithstanding all these wise precautions, I think your +contrivance succeeded better than such a clumsy one deserved, Edie. But +how the deuce came Lovel by such a mass of silver ingots?" + +"That's just what I canna tell ye—But they were put on board wi' his +things at Fairport, it's like, and we stowed them into ane o' the +ammunition-boxes o' the brig, baith for concealment and convenience of +carriage." + +"Lord!" said Oldbuck, his recollection recurring to the earlier part +of his acquaintance with Lovel; "and this young fellow, who was putting +hundreds on so strange a hazard, I must be recommending a subscription +to him, and paying his bill at the Ferry! I never will pay any person's +bill again, that's certain.—And you kept up a constant correspondence +with Lovel, I suppose?" + +"I just gat ae bit scrape o' a pen frae him, to say there wad, as +yesterday fell, be a packet at Tannonburgh, wi' letters o' great +consequence to the Knockwinnock folk; for they jaloused the opening of +our letters at Fairport—And that's a's true; I hear Mrs. Mailsetter +is to lose her office for looking after other folk's business and +neglecting her ain." + +"And what do you expect now, Edie, for being the adviser, and messenger, +and guard, and confidential person in all these matters?" + +"Deil haet do I expect—excepting that a' the gentles will come to the +gaberlunzie's burial; and maybe ye'll carry the head yoursell, as ye +did puir Steenie Mucklebackit's.—What trouble was't to me? I was ganging +about at ony rate—Oh, but I was blythe when I got out of Prison, though; +for I thought, what if that weary letter should come when I am closed up +here like an oyster, and a' should gang wrang for want o't? and whiles +I thought I maun mak a clean breast and tell you a' about it; but then +I couldna weel do that without contravening Mr. Lovel's positive orders; +and I reckon he had to see somebody at Edinburgh afore he could do what +he wussed to do for Sir Arthur and his family." + +"Well, and to your public news, Edie—So they are still coming are they?" + +"Troth they say sae, sir; and there's come down strict orders for the +forces and volunteers to be alert; and there's a clever young officer to +come here forthwith, to look at our means o' defence—I saw the Bailies +lass cleaning his belts and white breeks—I gae her a hand, for ye maun +think she wasna ower clever at it, and sae I gat a' the news for my +pains." + +"And what think you, as an old soldier?" + +"Troth I kenna—an they come so mony as they speak o', they'll be odds +against us. But there's mony yauld chields amang thae volunteers; and I +mauna say muckle about them that's no weel and no very able, because I +am something that gate mysell—But we'se do our best." + +"What! so your martial spirit is rising again, Edie? + + Even in our ashes glow their wonted fires! + +I would not have thought you, Edie, had so much to fight for?" + +"Me no muckle to fight for, sir?—isna there the country to fight for, +and the burnsides that I gang daundering beside, and the hearths o'the +gudewives that gie me my bit bread, and the bits o' weans that come +toddling to play wi' me when I come about a landward town?—Deil!" he +continued, grasping his pike-staff with great emphasis, "an I had as +gude pith as I hae gude-will, and a gude cause, I should gie some o' +them a day's kemping." + +"Bravo, bravo, Edie! The country's in little ultimate danger, when the +beggar's as ready to fight for his dish as the laird for his land." + +Their further conversation reverted to the particulars of the night +passed by the mendicant and Lovel in the ruins of St. Ruth; by the +details of which the Antiquary was highly amused. + +"I would have given a guinea," he said, "to have seen the scoundrelly +German under the agonies of those terrors, which it is part of his own +quackery to inspire into others; and trembling alternately for the fury +of his patron, and the apparition of some hobgoblin." + +"Troth," said the beggar, "there was time for him to be cowed; for ye +wad hae thought the very spirit of Hell-in-Harness had taken possession +o' the body o' Sir Arthur. But what will come o' the land-louper?" + +"I have had a letter this morning, from which I understand he has +acquitted you of the charge he brought against you, and offers to make +such discoveries as will render the settlement of Sir Arthur's affairs a +more easy task than we apprehended—So writes the Sheriff; and adds, that +he has given some private information of importance to Government, in +consideration of which, I understand he will be sent back to play the +knave in his own country." + +"And a' the bonny engines, and wheels, and the coves, and sheughs, doun +at Glenwithershins yonder, what's to come o' them?" said Edie. + +"I hope the men, before they are dispersed, will make a bonfire of their +gimcracks, as an army destroy their artillery when forced to raise a +siege. And as for the holes, Edie, I abandon them as rat-traps, for the +benefit of the next wise men who may choose to drop the substance to +snatch at a shadow." + +"Hech, sirs! guide us a'! to burn the engines? that's a great waste—Had +ye na better try to get back part o' your hundred pounds wi' the sale o' +the materials?" he continued, with a tone of affected condolence. + +"Not a farthing," said the Antiquary, peevishly, taking a turn from him, +and making a step or two away. Then returning, half-smiling at his own +pettishness, he said, "Get thee into the house, Edie, and remember my +counsel, never speak to me about a mine, nor to my nephew Hector about a +phoca, that is a sealgh, as you call it." + +"I maun be ganging my ways back to Fairport," said the wanderer; "I want +to see what they're saying there about the invasion;—but I'll mind what +your honour says, no to speak to you about a sealgh, or to the Captain +about the hundred pounds that you gied to Douster"— + +"Confound thee!—I desired thee not to mention that to me." + +"Dear me!" said Edie, with affected surprise; "weel, I thought there was +naething but what your honour could hae studden in the way o' agreeable +conversation, unless it was about the Praetorian yonder, or the bodle +that the packman sauld to ye for an auld coin." + +"Pshaw! pshaw!" said the Antiquary, turning from him hastily, and +retreating into the house. + +The mendicant looked after him a moment, and with a chuckling laugh, +such as that with which a magpie or parrot applauds a successful exploit +of mischief, he resumed once more the road to Fairport. His habits had +given him a sort of restlessness, much increased by the pleasure he took +in gathering news; and in a short time he had regained the town which he +left in the morning, for no reason that he knew himself, unless just to +"hae a bit crack wi' Monkbarns." + + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH. + + Red glared the beacon on Pownell + On Skiddaw there were three; + The bugle horn on moor and fell + Was heard continually. + James Hogg. + +The watch who kept his watch on the hill, and looked towards Birnam, +probably conceived himself dreaming when he first beheld the fated grove +put itself into motion for its march to Dunsinane. Even so old Caxon, +as perched in his hut, he qualified his thoughts upon the approaching +marriage of his daughter, and the dignity of being father-in-law to +Lieutenant Taffril, with an occasional peep towards the signal-post with +which his own corresponded, was not a little surprised by observing a +light in that direction. He rubbed his eyes, looked again, adjusting his +observation by a cross-staff which had been placed so as to bear upon +the point. And behold, the light increased, like a comet to the eye of +the astronomer, "with fear of change perplexing nations." + +"The Lord preserve us!" said Caxon, "what's to be done now? But there +will be wiser heads than mine to look to that, sae I'se e'en fire the +beacon." + +And he lighted the beacon accordingly, which threw up to the sky a long +wavering train of light, startling the sea-fowl from their nests, and +reflected far beneath by the reddening billows of the sea. The brother +warders of Caxon being equally diligent, caught, and repeated his +signal. The lights glanced on headlands and capes and inland hills, and +the whole district was alarmed by the signal of invasion. * + +* Note J. Alarms of Invasion. + +Our Antiquary, his head wrapped warm in two double night-caps, was +quietly enjoying his repose, when it was suddenly broken by the screams +of his sister, his niece, and two maid-servants. + +"What the devil is the matter?" said he, starting up in his bed— +"womankind in my room at this hour of night!—are ye all mad?" + +"The beacon, uncle!" said Miss M'Intyre. + +"The French coming to murder us!" screamed Miss Griselda. + +"The beacon! the beacon!—the French! the French!—murder! murder! and +waur than murder!"—cried the two handmaidens, like the chorus of an +opera. The Antiquary Arming + +"The French?" said Oldbuck, starting up—"get out of the room, womankind +that you are, till I get my things on—And hark ye, bring me my sword." + +"Whilk o' them, Monkbarns?" cried his sister, offering a Roman falchion +of brass with the one hand, and with the other an Andrea Ferrara without +a handle. + +"The langest, the langest," cried Jenny Rintherout, dragging in a +two-handed sword of the twelfth century. + +"Womankind," said Oldbuck in great agitation, "be composed, and do not +give way to vain terror—Are you sure they are come?" + +"Sure, sure!" exclaimed Jenny—"ower sure!—a' the sea fencibles, and the +land fencibles, and the volunteers and yeomanry, are on fit, and driving +to Fairport as hard as horse and man can gang—and auld Mucklebackit's +gane wi' the lave—muckle gude he'll do!—Hech, sirs!—he'll be missed the +morn wha wad hae served king and country weel!" + +"Give me," said Oldbuck, "the sword which my father wore in the year +forty-five—it hath no belt or baldrick—but we'll make shift." + +So saying he thrust the weapon through the cover of his breeches pocket. +At this moment Hector entered, who had been to a neighbouring height to +ascertain whether the alarm was actual. + +"Where are your arms, nephew?" exclaimed Oldbuck—"where is your +double-barrelled gun, that was never out of your hand when there was no +occasion for such vanities?" + +"Pooh! pooh! sir," said Hector, "who ever took a fowling-piece on +action? I have got my uniform on, you see—I hope I shall be of more use +if they will give me a command than I could be with ten double-barrels. +And you, sir, must get to Fairport, to give directions for quartering +and maintaining the men and horses, and preventing confusion." + +"You are right, Hector,—l believe I shall do as much with my head as my +hand too. But here comes Sir Arthur Wardour, who, between ourselves, is +not fit to accomplish much either one way or the other." + +Sir Arthur was probably of a different opinion; for, dressed in his +lieutenancy uniform, he was also on the road to Fairport, and called in +his way to take Mr. Oldbuck with him, having had his original opinion +of his sagacity much confirmed by late events. And in spite of all the +entreaties of the womankind that the Antiquary would stay to garrison +Monkbarns, Mr. Oldbuck, with his nephew, instantly accepted Sir Arthur's +offer. + +Those who have witnessed such a scene can alone conceive the state of +bustle in Fairport. The windows were glancing with a hundred lights, +which, appearing and disappearing rapidly, indicated the confusion +within doors. The women of lower rank assembled and clamoured in the +market-place. The yeomanry, pouring from their different glens, galloped +through the streets, some individually, some in parties of five or +six, as they had met on the road. The drums and fifes of the volunteers +beating to arms, were blended with the voice of the officers, the sound +of the bugles, and the tolling of the bells from the steeple. The ships +in the harbour were lit up, and boats from the armed vessels added to +the bustle, by landing men and guns destined to assist in the defence +of the place. This part of the preparations was superintended by Taffril +with much activity. Two or three light vessels had already slipped their +cables and stood out to sea, in order to discover the supposed enemy. + +Such was the scene of general confusion, when Sir Arthur Wardour, +Oldbuck, and Hector, made their way with difficulty into the principal +square, where the town-house is situated. It was lighted up, and the +magistracy, with many of the neighbouring gentlemen, were assembled. +And here, as upon other occasions of the like kind in Scotland, it was +remarkable how the good sense and firmness of the people supplied almost +all the deficiencies of inexperience. + +The magistrates were beset by the quarter-masters of the different corps +for billets for men and horses. "Let us," said Bailie Littlejohn, "take +the horses into our warehouses, and the men into our parlours—share +our supper with the one, and our forage with the other. We have made +ourselves wealthy under a free and paternal government, and now is the +time to show we know its value." + +A loud and cheerful acquiescence was given by all present, and the +substance of the wealthy, with the persons of those of all ranks, were +unanimously devoted to the defence of the country. + +Captain M'Intyre acted on this occasion as military adviser and +aide-de-camp to the principal magistrate, and displayed a degree of +presence of mind, and knowledge of his profession, totally unexpected +by his uncle, who, recollecting his usual insouciance and impetuosity, +gazed at him with astonishment from time to time, as he remarked the +calm and steady manner in which he explained the various measures +of precaution that his experience suggested, and gave directions for +executing them. He found the different corps in good order, considering +the irregular materials of which they were composed, in great force +of numbers and high confidence and spirits. And so much did military +experience at that moment overbalance all other claims to consequence, +that even old Edie, instead of being left, like Diogenes at Sinope, to +roll his tub when all around were preparing for defence, had the duty +assigned him of superintending the serving out of the ammunition, which +he executed with much discretion. + +Two things were still anxiously expected—the presence of the Glenallan +volunteers, who, in consideration of the importance of that family, had +been formed into a separate corps, and the arrival of the officer +before announced, to whom the measures of defence on that coast had been +committed by the commander-in-chief, and whose commission would entitle +him to take upon himself the full disposal of the military force. + +At length the bugles of the Glenallan yeomanry were heard, and the Earl +himself, to the surprise of all who knew his habits and state of health, +appeared at their head in uniform. They formed a very handsome and +well-mounted squadron, formed entirely out of the Earl's Lowland +tenants, and were followed by a regiment of five hundred men, completely +equipped in the Highland dress, whom he had brought down from the upland +glens, with their pipes playing in the van. The clean and serviceable +appearance of this band of feudal dependants called forth the admiration +of Captain M'Intyre; but his uncle was still more struck by the manner +in which, upon this crisis, the ancient military spirit of his house +seemed to animate and invigorate the decayed frame of the Earl, their +leader. He claimed, and obtained for himself and his followers, the post +most likely to be that of danger, displayed great alacrity in making the +necessary dispositions, and showed equal acuteness in discussing their +propriety. Morning broke in upon the military councils of Fairport, +while all concerned were still eagerly engaged in taking precautions for +their defence. + +At length a cry among the people announced, "There's the brave Major +Neville come at last, with another officer;" and their post-chaise and +four drove into the square, amidst the huzzas of the volunteers and +inhabitants. The magistrates, with their assessors of the lieutenancy, +hastened to the door of their town-house to receive him; but what was +the surprise of all present, but most especially that of the Antiquary, +when they became aware, that the handsome uniform and military cap +disclosed the person and features of the pacific Lovel! A warm embrace, +and a hearty shake of the hand, were necessary to assure him that +his eyes were doing him justice. Sir Arthur was no less surprised +to recognise his son, Captain Wardour, in Lovel's, or rather Major +Neville's company. The first words of the young officers were a positive +assurance to all present, that the courage and zeal which they had +displayed were entirely thrown away, unless in so far as they afforded +an acceptable proof of their spirit and promptitude. + +"The watchman at Halket-head," said Major Neville, "as we discovered by +an investigation which we made in our route hither, was most naturally +misled by a bonfire which some idle people had made on the hill +above Glenwithershins, just in the line of the beacon with which his +corresponded." + +Oldbuck gave a conscious look to Sir Arthur, who returned it with one +equally sheepish, and a shrug of the shoulders, + +"It must have been the machinery which we condemned to the flames in +our wrath," said the Antiquary, plucking up heart, though not a little +ashamed of having been the cause of so much disturbance—"The devil take +Dousterswivel with all my heart!—I think he has bequeathed us a legacy +of blunders and mischief, as if he had lighted some train of fireworks +at his departure. I wonder what cracker will go off next among our +shins. But yonder comes the prudent Caxon.—Hold up your head, you +ass—your betters must bear the blame for you—And here, take this +what-d'ye-call it"—(giving him his sword)—"I wonder what I would have +said yesterday to any man that would have told me I was to stick such an +appendage to my tail." + +Here he found his arm gently pressed by Lord Glenallan, who dragged him +into a separate apartment. "For God's sake, who is that young gentleman +who is so strikingly like"— + +"Like the unfortunate Eveline," interrupted Oldbuck. "I felt my heart +warm to him from the first, and your lordship has suggested the very +cause." + +"But who—who is he?" continued Lord Glenallan, holding the Antiquary +with a convulsive grasp. + +"Formerly I would have called him Lovel, but now he turns out to be +Major Neville." + +"Whom my brother brought up as his natural son—whom he made his heir— +Gracious Heaven! the child of my Eveline!" + +"Hold, my lord—hold!" said Oldbuck, "do not give too hasty way to such a +presumption;—what probability is there?" + +"Probability? none! There is certainty! absolute certainty! The agent I +mentioned to you wrote me the whole story—I received it yesterday, not +sooner. Bring him, for God's sake, that a father's eyes may bless him +before he departs." + +"I will; but for your own sake and his, give him a few moments for +preparation." + +And, determined to make still farther investigation before yielding his +entire conviction to so strange a tale, he sought out Major Neville, +and found him expediting the necessary measures for dispersing the force +which had been assembled. + +"Pray, Major Neville, leave this business for a moment to Captain +Wardour and to Hector, with whom, I hope, you are thoroughly reconciled" +(Neville laughed, and shook hands with Hector across the table), "and +grant me a moment's audience." + +"You have a claim on me, Mr. Oldbuck, were my business more urgent," +said Neville, "for having passed myself upon you under a false name, and +rewarding your hospitality by injuring your nephew." + +"You served him as he deserved," said Oldbuck—"though, by the way, he +showed as much good sense as spirit to-day—Egad! if he would rub up his +learning, and read Caesar and Polybus, and the Stratagemata Polyaeni, I +think he would rise in the army—and I will certainly lend him a lift." + +"He is heartily deserving of it," said Neville; "and I am glad you +excuse me, which you may do the more frankly, when you know that I am so +unfortunate as to have no better right to the name of Neville, by which +I have been generally distinguished, than to that of Lovel, under which +you knew me." + +"Indeed! then, I trust, we shall find out one for you to which you shall +have a firm and legal title." + +"Sir!—I trust you do not think the misfortune of my birth a fit +subject"— + +"By no means, young man," answered the Antiquary, interrupting him;—"I +believe I know more of your birth than you do yourself—and, to convince +you of it, you were educated and known as a natural son of Geraldin +Neville of Neville's-Burgh, in Yorkshire, and I presume, as his destined +heir?" + +"Pardon me—no such views were held out to me. I was liberally educated, +and pushed forward in the army by money and interest; but I believe my +supposed father long entertained some ideas of marriage, though he never +carried them into effect." + +"You say your supposed father?—What leads you to suppose Mr. Geraldin +Neville was not your real father?" + +"I know, Mr. Oldbuck, that you would not ask these questions on a +point of such delicacy for the gratification of idle curiosity. I will +therefore tell you candidly, that last year, while we occupied a +small town in French Flanders, I found in a convent, near which I +was quartered, a woman who spoke remarkably good English—She was a +Spaniard—her name Teresa D'Acunha. In the process of our acquaintance, +she discovered who I was, and made herself known to me as the person +who had charge of my infancy. She dropped more than one hint of rank to +which I was entitled, and of injustice done to me, promising a more +full disclosure in case of the death of a lady in Scotland, during whose +lifetime she was determined to keep the secret. She also intimated that +Mr. Geraldin Neville was not my father. We were attacked by the enemy, +and driven from the town, which was pillaged with savage ferocity by the +republicans. The religious orders were the particular objects of their +hate and cruelty. The convent was burned, and several nuns perished— +among others Teresa; and with her all chance of knowing the story of my +birth: tragic by all accounts it must have been." + +"Raro antecedentem scelestum, or, as I may here say, scelestam," said +Oldbuck, "deseruit poena—even Epicureans admitted that. And what did you +do upon this?" + +"I remonstrated with Mr. Neville by letter, and to no purpose. I then +obtained leave of absence, and threw myself at his feet, conjuring him +to complete the disclosure which Teresa had begun. He refused, and, on +my importunity, indignantly upbraided me with the favours he had already +conferred. I thought he abused the power of a benefactor, as he was +compelled to admit he had no title to that of a father, and we parted +in mutual displeasure. I renounced the name of Neville, and assumed +that under which you knew me. It was at this time, when residing with a +friend in the north of England who favoured my disguise, that I became +acquainted with Miss Wardour, and was romantic enough to follow her to +Scotland. My mind wavered on various plans of life, when I resolved to +apply once more to Mr. Neville for an explanation of the mystery of my +birth. It was long ere I received an answer; you were present when it +was put into my hands. He informed me of his bad state of health, and +conjured me, for my own sake, to inquire no farther into the nature of +his connection with me, but to rest satisfied with his declaring it to +be such and so intimate, that he designed to constitute me his heir. +When I was preparing to leave Fairport to join him, a second express +brought me word that he was no more. The possession of great wealth was +unable to suppress the remorseful feelings with which I now regarded +my conduct to my benefactor, and some hints in his letter appearing +to intimate there was on my birth a deeper stain than that of ordinary +illegitimacy, I remembered certain prejudices of Sir Arthur." + +"And you brooded over these melancholy ideas until you were ill, instead +of coming to me for advice, and telling me the whole story?" said +Oldbuck. + +"Exactly; then came my quarrel with Captain M'Intyre, and my compelled +departure from Fairport and its vicinity." + +"From love and from poetry—Miss Wardour and the Caledoniad?" + +"Most true." + +"And since that time you have been occupied, I suppose, with plans for +Sir Arthur's relief?" + +"Yes, sir; with the assistance of Captain Wardour at Edinburgh." + +"And Edie Ochiltree here—you see I know the whole story. But how came +you by the treasure?" + +"It was a quantity of plate which had belonged to my uncle, and was left +in the custody of a person at Fairport. Some time before his death he +had sent orders that it should be melted down. He perhaps did not wish +me to see the Glenallan arms upon it." + +"Well, Major Neville—or let me say, Lovel, being the name in which I +rather delight—you must, I believe, exchange both of your alias's for +the style and title of the Honourable William Geraldin, commonly called +Lord Geraldin." + +The Antiquary then went through the strange and melancholy circumstances +concerning his mother's death. + +"I have no doubt," he said, "that your uncle wished the report to be +believed, that the child of this unhappy marriage was no more—perhaps he +might himself have an eye to the inheritance of his brother—he was then +a gay wild young man—But of all intentions against your person, however +much the evil conscience of Elspeth might lead her to inspect him from +the agitation in which he appeared, Teresa's story and your own +fully acquit him. And now, my dear sir, let me have the pleasure of +introducing a son to a father." + +We will not attempt to describe such a meeting. The proofs on all sides +were found to be complete, for Mr. Neville had left a distinct account +of the whole transaction with his confidential steward in a sealed +packet, which was not to be opened until the death of the old Countess; +his motive for preserving secrecy so long appearing to have been an +apprehension of the effect which the discovery, fraught with so much +disgrace, must necessarily produce upon her haughty and violent temper. + +In the evening of that day, the yeomanry and volunteers of Glenallan +drank prosperity to their young master. In a month afterwards Lord +Geraldin was married to Miss Wardour, the Antiquary making the lady a +present of the wedding ring—a massy circle of antique chasing, bearing +the motto of Aldobrand Oldenbuck, Kunst macht gunst. + +Old Edie, the most important man that ever wore a blue gown, bowls away +easily from one friend's house to another, and boasts that he never +travels unless on a sunny day. Latterly, indeed, he has given some +symptoms of becoming stationary, being frequently found in the corner +of a snug cottage between Monkbarns and Knockwinnock, to which +Caxon retreated upon his daughter's marriage, in order to be in the +neighbourhood of the three parochial wigs, which he continues to keep in +repair, though only for amusement. Edie has been heard to say, "This is +a gey bein place, and it's a comfort to hae sic a corner to sit in in +a bad day." It is thought, as he grows stiffer in the joints, he will +finally settle there. + +The bounty of such wealthy patrons as Lord and Lady Geraldin flowed +copiously upon Mrs. Hadoway and upon the Mucklebackits. By the former +it was well employed, by the latter wasted. They continue, however, to +receive it, but under the administration of Edie Ochiltree; and they +do not accept it without grumbling at the channel through which it is +conveyed. + +Hector is rising rapidly in the army, and has been more than once +mentioned in the Gazette, and rises proportionally high in his uncle's +favour; and what scarcely pleases the young soldier less, he has also +shot two seals, and thus put an end to the Antiquary's perpetual harping +upon the story of the phoca.People talk of a marriage between Miss +M'Intyre and Captain Wardour; but this wants confirmation. + +The Antiquary is a frequent visitor at Knockwinnock and Glenallan House, +ostensibly for the sake of completing two essays, one on the mail-shirt +of the Great Earl, and the other on the left-hand gauntlet of +Hell-in-Harness. He regularly inquires whether Lord Geraldin has +commenced the Caledoniad, and shakes his head at the answers he +receives.En attendant, however, he has completed his notes, which, we +believe, will be at the service of any one who chooses to make them +public without risk or expense to THE ANTIQUARY. + + + + +NOTES TO THE ANTIQUARY. + +Note A, p. #.—Mottoes. + +["It was in correcting the proof-sheets of this novel that Scott first +took to equipping his chapters with mottoes of his own fabrication. On +one occasion he happened to ask John Ballantyne, who was sitting by him, +to hunt for a particular passage in Beaumont and Fletcher. John did +as he was bid, but did not succeed in discovering the lines. 'Hang it, +Johnnie,' cried Scott, 'I believe I can make a motto sooner than you +will find one.' He did so accordingly; and from that hour, whenever +memory failed to suggest an appropriate epigraph, he had recourse to the +inexhaustible mines of "old play" or "old ballad," to which we owe +some of the most exquisite verses that ever flowed from his pen."—J. G. +Lockhart. + +See also the Introduction to "Chronicles of the Canongate," vol. xix.] + +Note B, p. #.—Sandy Gordon's Itinerarium. + +[This well-known work, the "Itinerarium Septentrionale, or a Journey +thro' most of the Counties of Scotland, and those in the North of +England," was published at London in 1727, folio. The author states, +that in prosecuting his work he "made a pretty laborious progress +through almost every part of Scotland for three years successively." +Gordon was a native of Aberdeenshire, and had previously spent some +years in travelling abroad, probably as a tutor. He became Secretary to +the London Society of Antiquaries in 1736. This office he resigned in +1741, and soon after went out to South Carolina with Governor Glen, +where he obtained a considerable grant of land. On his death, about +the year 1753, he is said to have left "a handsome estate to his +family."—See Literary Anecdotes of Bowyer, by John Nichols, vol. v., p. +329, etc.] + +Note C, p. #.—Praetorium. + +It may be worth while to mention that the incident of the supposed +Praetorium actually happened to an antiquary of great learning and +acuteness, Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, one of the Barons of the Scottish +Court of Exchequer, and a parliamentary commissioner for arrangement of +the Union between England and Scotland. As many of his writings show, +Sir John was much attached to the study of Scottish antiquities. He had +a small property in Dumfriesshire, near the Roman station on the +hill called Burrenswark. Here he received the distinguished English +antiquarian Roger Gale, and of course conducted him to see this +remarkable spot, where the lords of the world have left such decisive +marks of their martial labours. + +An aged shepherd whom they had used as a guide, or who had approached +them from curiosity, listened with mouth agape to the dissertations on +foss and vellum, ports dextra, sinistra, and decumana, which Sir John +Clerk delivered ex cathedra, and his learned visitor listened with the +deference to the dignity of a connoisseur on his own ground. But when +the cicerone proceeded to point out a small hillock near the centre +of the enclosure as the Praetorium, Corydon's patience could hold no +longer, and, like Edie Ochiltree, he forgot all reverence, and broke in +with nearly the same words—"Praetorium here, Praetorium there, I +made the bourock mysell with a flaughter-spade." The effect of this +undeniable evidence on the two lettered sages may be left to the +reader's imagination. + +The late excellent and venerable John Clerk of Eldin, the celebrated +author of Naval Tactics, used to tell this story with glee, and being a +younger son of Sir John's was perhaps present on the occasion. + +Note D, p. #.—Mr. Rutherfurd's Dream + +The legend of Mrs. Grizel Oldbuck was partly taken from an extraordinary +story which happened about seventy years since, in the South of +Scotland, so peculiar in its circumstances that it merits being +mentioned in this place. Mr. Rutherfurd of Bowland, a gentleman +of landed property in the vale of Gala, was prosecuted for a very +considerable sum, the accumulated arrears of teind (or tithe) for +which he was said to be indebted to a noble family, the titulars (lay +impropriators of the tithes). Mr. Rutherfurd was strongly impressed with +the belief that his father had, by a form of process peculiar to the law +of Scotland, purchased these lands from the titular, and therefore that +the present prosecution was groundless. But, after an industrious search +among his father's papers, an investigation of the public records, and +a careful inquiry among all persons who had transacted law business for +his father, no evidence could be recovered to support his defence. The +period was now near at hand when he conceived the loss of his lawsuit to +be inevitable, and he had formed his determination to ride to Edinburgh +next day, and make the best bargain he could in the way of compromise. +He went to bed with this resolution and, with all the circumstances +of the case floating upon his mind, had a dream to the following +purpose:—His father, who had been many years dead, appeared to him, he +thought, and asked him why he was disturbed in his mind. In dreams men +are not surprised at such apparitions. Mr. Rutherfurd thought that +he informed his father of the cause of his distress, adding that the +payment of a considerable sum of money was the more unpleasant to him, +because he had a strong consciousness that it was not due, though he was +unable to recover any evidence in support of his belief, "You are right, +my son," replied the paternal shade; "I did acquire right to these +teinds, for payment of which you are now prosecuted. The papers relating +to the transaction are in the hands of Mr.—, a writer (or attorney), who +is now retired from professional business, and resides at Inveresk, +near Edinburgh. He was a person whom I employed on that occasion for +a particular reason, but who never on any other occasion transacted +business on my account. It is very possible," pursued the vision, "that +Mr.—may have forgotten a matter which is now of a very old date; but you +may call it to his recollection by this token, that when I came to pay +his account, there was difficulty in getting change for a Portugal piece +of gold, and that we were forced to drink out the balance at a tavern." + +Mr. Rutherfurd awakened in the morning with all the words of the vision +imprinted on his mind, and thought it worth while to ride across the +country to Inveresk, instead of going straight to Edinburgh. When he +came there he waited on the gentleman mentioned in the dream, a very +old man; without saying anything of the vision, he inquired whether he +remembered having conducted such a matter for his deceased father. +The old gentleman could not at first bring the circumstance to his +recollection, but on mention of the Portugal piece of gold, the whole +returned upon his memory; he made an immediate search for the papers, +and recovered them,— so that Mr. Rutherfurd carried to Edinburgh the +documents necessary to gain the cause which he was on the verge of +losing. + +The author has often heard this story told by persons who had the best +access to know the facts, who were not likely themselves to be deceived, +and were certainly incapable of deception. He cannot therefore refuse to +give it credit, however extraordinary the circumstances may appear. The +circumstantial character of the information given in the dream, takes it +out of the general class of impressions of the kind which are occasioned +by the fortuitous coincidence of actual events with our sleeping +thoughts. On the other hand, few will suppose that the laws of nature +were suspended, and a special communication from the dead to the living +permitted, for the purpose of saving Mr. Rutherfurd a certain number +of hundred pounds. The author's theory is, that the dream was only the +recapitulation of information which Mr. Rutherfurd had really received +from his father while in life, but which at first he merely recalled as +a general impression that the claim was settled. It is not uncommon for +persons to recover, during sleep, the thread of ideas which they have +lost during their waking hours. + +It may be added, that this remarkable circumstance was attended with bad +consequences to Mr. Rutherfurd; whose health and spirits were afterwards +impaired by the attention which he thought himself obliged to pay to the +visions of the night. + +Note E, p. #.—Nick-sticks. + +A sort of tally generally used by bakers of the olden time in settling +with their customers. Each family had its own nick-stick, and for each +loaf as delivered a notch was made on the stick. Accounts in Exchequer, +kept by the same kind of check, may have occasioned the Antiquary's +partiality. In Prior's time the English bakers had the same sort of +reckoning. + + Have you not seen a baker's maid, + Between two equal panniers sway'd? + Her tallies useless lie and idle, + If placed exactly in the middle. + +Note F, p. #.—Witchcraft. + +A great deal of stuff to the same purpose with that placed in the mouth +of the German adept, may be found in Reginald Scott's Discovery +of Witchcraft, Third Edition, folio, London, 1665. The Appendix is +entitled, "An Excellent Discourse of the Nature and Substances of Devils +and Spirits, in two Books; the first by the aforesaid author (Reginald +Scott), the Second now added in this Third Edition as succedaneous to +the former, and conducing to the completing of the whole work." This +Second Book, though stated as succedaneous to the first, is, in fact, +entirely at variance with it; for the work of Reginald Scott is a +compilation of the absurd and superstitious ideas concerning witches +so generally entertained at the time, and the pretended conclusion is a +serious treatise on the various means of conjuring astral spirits. + +[Scott's Discovery of Witchcraft was first published in the reign of +Queen Elizabeth, London, 1584.] + +Note G, p. #.—Gynecocracy. + +In the fishing villages on the Firths of Forth and Tay, as well as +elsewhere in Scotland, the government is gynecocracy, as described +in the text. In the course of the late war, and during the alarm of +invasion, a fleet of transports entered the Firth of Forth under the +convoy of some ships of war, which would reply to no signals. A general +alarm was excited, in consequence of which, all the fishers, who were +enrolled as sea-fencibles, got on board the gun-boats which they were to +man as occasion should require, and sailed to oppose the supposed enemy. +The foreigners proved to be Russians, with whom we were then at peace. +The county gentlemen of Mid-Lothian, pleased with the zeal displayed by +the sea-fencibles at a critical moment, passed a vote for presenting the +community of fishers with a silver punch-bowl, to be used on occasions +of festivity. But the fisher-women, on hearing what was intended, put in +their claim to have some separate share in the intended honorary reward. +The men, they said, were their husbands; it was they who would have +been sufferers if their husbands had been killed, and it was by their +permission and injunctions that they embarked on board the gun-boats for +the public service. They therefore claimed to share the reward in some +manner which should distinguish the female patriotism which they had +shown on the occasion. The gentlemen of the county willingly admitted +the claim; and without diminishing the value of their compliment to the +men, they made the females a present of a valuable broach, to fasten the +plaid of the queen of the fisher-women for the time. + +It may be further remarked, that these Nereids are punctilious among +themselves, and observe different ranks according to the commodities +they deal in. One experienced dame was heard to characterise a younger +damsel as "a puir silly thing, who had no ambition, and would never," +she prophesied, "rise above the mussel-line of business." + +Note H, p. #.—Battle of Harlaw. + +The great battle of Harlaw, here and formerly referred to, might be said +to determine whether the Gaelic or the Saxon race should be predominant +in Scotland. Donald, Lord of the Isles, who had at that period the power +of an independent sovereign, laid claim to the Earldom of Ross during +the Regency of Robert, Duke of Albany. To enforce his supposed right, he +ravaged the north with a large army of Highlanders and Islesmen. He was +encountered at Harlaw, in the Garioch, by Alexander, Earl of Mar, at the +head of the northern nobility and gentry of Saxon and Norman descent. +The battle was bloody and indecisive; but the invader was obliged to +retire in consequence of the loss he sustained, and afterwards was +compelled to make submission to the Regent, and renounce his pretensions +to Ross; so that all the advantages of the field were gained by the +Saxons. The battle of Harlaw was fought 24th July 1411. + +Note I, p. #.—Elspeth's death. + +The concluding circumstance of Elspeth's death is taken from an incident +said to have happened at the funeral of John, Duke of Roxburghe. All who +were acquainted with that accomplished nobleman must remember that he +was not more remarkable for creating and possessing a most curious and +splendid library, than for his acquaintance with the literary treasures +it contained. In arranging his books, fetching and replacing the volumes +which he wanted, and carrying on all the necessary intercourse which +a man of letters holds with his library, it was the Duke's custom to +employ, not a secretary or librarian, but a livery servant, called +Archie, whom habit had made so perfectly acquainted with the library, +that he knew every book, as a shepherd does the individuals of his +flock, by what is called head-mark, and could bring his master whatever +volume he wanted, and afford all the mechanical aid the Duke required in +his literary researches. To secure the attendance of Archie, there was a +bell hung in his room, which was used on no occasion except to call him +individually to the Duke's study. + +His Grace died in Saint James's Square, London, in the year 1804; the +body was to be conveyed to Scotland, to lie in state at his mansion +of Fleurs, and to be removed from thence to the family burial-place at +Bowden. + +At this time, Archie, who had been long attacked by a liver-complaint, +was in the very last stage of that disease. Yet he prepared himself to +accompany the body of the master whom he had so long and so faithfully +waited upon. The medical persons assured him he could not survive the +journey. It signified nothing, he said, whether he died in England or +Scotland; he was resolved to assist in rendering the last honours to the +kind master from whom he had been inseparable for so many years, even +if he should expire in the attempt. The poor invalid was permitted to +attend the Duke's body to Scotland; but when they reached Fleurs he +was totally exhausted, and obliged to keep his bed, in a sort of stupor +which announced speedy dissolution. On the morning of the day fixed for +removing the dead body of the Duke to the place of burial, the private +bell by which he was wont to summon his attendant to his study was rung +violently. This might easily happen in the confusion of such a scene, +although the people of the neighbourhood prefer believing that the bell +sounded of its own accord. Ring, however, it did; and Archie, roused +by the well-known summons, rose up in his bed, and faltered, in broken +accents, "Yes, my Lord Duke—yes—I will wait on your Grace instantly;" +and with these words on his lips he is said to have fallen back and +expired. + +Note J, p. #.—Alarm of invasion. + +The story of the false alarm at Fairport, and the consequences, are +taken from a real incident. Those who witnessed the state of Britain, +and of Scotland in particular, from the period that succeeded the war +which commenced in 1803 to the battle of Trafalgar, must recollect +those times with feelings which we can hardly hope to make the rising +generation comprehend. Almost every individual was enrolled either in +a military or civil capacity, for the purpose of contributing to resist +the long-suspended threats of invasion, which were echoed from every +quarter. Beacons were erected along the coast, and all through the +country, to give the signal for every one to repair to the post where +his peculiar duty called him, and men of every description fit to +serve held themselves in readiness on the shortest summons. During this +agitating period, and on the evening of the 2d February 1804, the person +who kept watch on the commanding station of Home Castle, being deceived +by some accidental fire in the county of Northumberland, which he took +for the corresponding signal-light in that county with which his +orders were to communicate, lighted up his own beacon. The signal was +immediately repeated through all the valleys on the English Border. If +the beacon at Saint Abb's Head had been fired, the alarm would have +run northward, and roused all Scotland. But the watch at this important +point judiciously considered, that if there had been an actual or +threatened descent on our eastern sea-coast, the alarm would have come +along the coast and not from the interior of the country. + +Through the Border counties the alarm spread with rapidity, and on no +occasion when that country was the scene of perpetual and unceasing +war, was the summons to arms more readily obeyed. In Berwickshire, +Roxburghshire, and Selkirkshire, the volunteers and militia got under +arms with a degree of rapidity and alacrity which, considering the +distance individuals lived from each other, had something in it very +surprising—they poured to the alarm-posts on the sea-coast in a state so +well armed and so completely appointed, with baggage, provisions, etc., +as was accounted by the best military judges to render them fit for +instant and effectual service. + +There were some particulars in the general alarm which are curious +and interesting. The men of Liddesdale, the most remote point to the +westward which the alarm reached, were so much afraid of being late in +the field, that they put in requisition all the horses they could find, +and when they had thus made a forced march out of their own country, +they turned their borrowed steeds loose to find their way back through +the hills, and they all got back safe to their own stables. Another +remarkable circumstance was, the general cry of the inhabitants of the +smaller towns for arms, that they might go along with their companions. +The Selkirkshire Yeomanry made a remarkable march, for although some +of the individuals lived at twenty and thirty miles' distance from the +place where they mustered, they were nevertheless embodied and in +order in so short a period, that they were at Dalkeith, which was their +alarm-post, about one o'clock on the day succeeding the first signal, +with men and horses in good order, though the roads were in a bad state, +and many of the troopers must have ridden forty or fifty miles without +drawing bridle. Two members of the corps chanced to be absent from their +homes, and in Edinburgh on private business. The lately married wife of +one of these gentlemen, and the widowed mother of the other, sent the +arms, uniforms, and chargers of the two troopers, that they might join +their companions at Dalkeith. The author was very much struck by the +answer made to him by the last-mentioned lady, when he paid her some +compliment on the readiness which she showed in equipping her son with +the means of meeting danger, when she might have left him a fair excuse +for remaining absent. "Sir," she replied, with the spirit of a Roman +matron, "none can know better than you that my son is the only prop by +which, since his father's death, our family is supported. But I would +rather see him dead on that hearth, than hear that he had been a horse's +length behind his companions in the defence of his king and country." +The author mentions what was immediately under his own eye, and within +his own knowledge; but the spirit was universal, wherever the alarm +reached, both in Scotland and England. + +The account of the ready patriotism displayed by the country on this +occasion, warmed the hearts of Scottishmen in every corner of the world. +It reached the ears of the well-known Dr. Leyden, whose enthusiastic +love of Scotland, and of his own district of Teviotdale, formed a +distinguished part of his character. The account which was read to him +when on a sick-bed, stated (very truly) that the different corps, on +arriving at their alarm-posts, announced themselves by their music +playing the tunes peculiar to their own districts, many of which have +been gathering-signals for centuries. It was particularly remembered, +that the Liddesdale men, before mentioned, entered Kelso playing the +lively tune— + + O wha dare meddle wi' me, + And wha dare meddle wi' me! + My name it is little Jock Elliot, + And wha dare meddle wi' me! + +The patient was so delighted with this display of ancient Border spirit, +that he sprung up in his bed, and began to sing the old song with such +vehemence of action and voice, that his attendants, ignorant of the +cause of excitation, concluded that the fever had taken possession +of his brain; and it was only the entry of another Borderer, Sir John +Malcolm, and the explanation which he was well qualified to give, that +prevented them from resorting to means of medical coercion. + +The circumstances of this false alarm and its consequences may be now +held of too little importance even for a note upon a work of fiction; +but, at the period when it happened, it was hailed by the country as a +propitious omen, that the national force, to which much must naturally +have been trusted, had the spirit to look in the face the danger which +they had taken arms to repel; and every one was convinced, that on +whichever side God might bestow the victory, the invaders would meet +with the most determined opposition from the children of the soil. + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Antiquary, Volume 2, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANTIQUARY, VOLUME 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 7004-h.htm or 7004-h.zip ***** This and +all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/7/0/0/7004/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. 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