foundchildofhishopes。Therewas,besides,afeelingofpridewhichdictatedhisdetermination。ToproducetheHeiressofArdenvohrtotheworldasonewhohadbeeneducatedapoordependantandmusicianinthefamilyofDarnlinvarach,hadsomethinginitthatwashumiliating。Tointroduceherasthebetrothedbride,orweddedwife,oftheEarlofMenteith,uponanattachmentformedduringherobscurity,wasawarranttotheworldthatshehadatalltimesbeenworthyoftheranktowhichshewaselevated。
ItwasundertheinfluenceoftheseconsiderationsthatSirDuncanCampbellannouncedtothelovershisconsentthattheyshouldbemarriedinthechapeloftheCastle,byMontrose\'schaplain,andasprivatelyaspossible。ButwhenMontroseshouldbreakupfromInverlochy,forwhichorderswereexpectedinthecourseofaveryfewdays,itwasagreedthattheyoungCountessshoulddepartwithherfathertohisCastle,andremainthereuntilthecircumstancesofthenationpermittedMenteithtoretirewithhonourfromhispresentmilitaryemployment。Hisresolutionbeingoncetaken,SirDuncanCampbellwouldnotpermitthemaidenlyscruplesofhisdaughtertodelayitsexecution;anditwasthereforeresolvedthatthebridalshouldtakeplacethenextevening,beingthesecondafterthebattle。
CHAPTERXXIII。
Mymaid——myblue—eyedmaid,heboreaway,Duetothetoilsofmanyabloodyday。ILLIAD。
Itwasnecessary,formanyreasons,thatAngusM\'Aulay,solongthekindprotectorofAnnotLyle,shouldbemadeacquaintedwiththechangeinthefortunesofhislateprotege;andMontrose,ashehadundertaken,communicatedtohimtheseremarkableevents。