\"Bynomeans,\"answeredthesoldier;\"Iamnowhitsomnolent;I
alwayshearbestwithmyeyesshut。ItisafashionIlearnedwhenIstoodsentinel。\"
\"AndIdaresay,\"saidLordMenteith,asidetoAnderson,\"theweightofthehalberdofthesergeantoftheroundsoftenmadehimopenthem。\"
Beingapparently,however,inthehumourofstory—telling,theyoungnoblemanwenton,addressinghimselfchieflytohisservants,withoutmindingtheslumberingveteran。
\"Everybaroninthecountry,\"saidhe,\"nowsworerevengeforthisdreadfulcrime。Theytookarmswiththerelationsandbrother—in—lawofthemurderedperson,andtheChildrenoftheMistwerehunteddown,Ibelieve,withaslittlemercyastheyhadthemselvesmanifested。Seventeenheads,thebloodytrophiesoftheirvengeance,weredistributedamongtheallies,andfedthecrowsuponthegatesoftheircastles。Thesurvivorssoughtoutmoredistantwildernesses,towhichtheyretreated。\"
\"Toyourrighthand,counter—marchandretreattoyourformerground,\"saidCaptainDalgetty;themilitaryphrasehavingproducedthecorrespondentwordofcommand;andthenstartingup,professedhehadbeenprofoundlyatttentivetoeverywordthathadbeenspoken。
\"Itisthecustominsummer,\"saidLordMenteith,withoutattendingtohisapology,\"tosendthecowstotheuplandpasturestohavethebenefitofthegrass;andthemaidsofthevillage,andofthefamily,gotheretomilktheminthemorningandevening。Whilethusemployed,thefemalesofthisfamily,totheirgreatterror,perceivedthattheirmotionswerewatchedatadistancebyapale,thin,meagrefigure,bearingastrongresemblancetotheirdeceasedmistress,andpassing,ofcourse,forherapparition。Whensomeoftheboldestresolvedtoapproachthisfadedform,itfledfromthemintothewoodswithawildshriek。Thehusband,informedofthiscircumstance,cameuptotheglenwithsomeattendants,andtookhismeasuressowellastointercepttheretreatoftheunhappyfugitive,andtosecurethepersonofhisunfortunatelady,thoughherintellectprovedtobetotallyderanged。Howshesupportedherselfduringherwanderinginthewoodscouldnotbeknown——somesupposedsheliveduponrootsandwild—berries,withwhichthewoodsatthatseasonabounded;butthegreaterpartofthevulgarweresatisfiedthatshemusthavesubsisteduponthemilkofthewilddoes,orbeennourishedbythefairies,orsupportedinsomemannerequallymarvellous。Herre—appearancewasmoreeasilyaccountedfor。Shehadseenfromthethicketthemilkingofthecows,tosuperintendwhichhadbeenherfavouritedomesticemployment,andthehabithadprevailedeveninherderangedstateofmind。
\"Indueseasontheunfortunateladywasdeliveredofaboy,whonotonlyshowednoappearanceofhavingsufferedfromhismother\'scalamities,butappearedtobeaninfantofuncommonhealthandstrength。Theunhappymother,afterherconfinement,recoveredherreason——atleastinagreatmeasure,butneverherhealthandspirits。Allanwasheronlyjoy。Herattentiontohimwasunremitting;andunquestionablyshemusthaveimpresseduponhisearlymindmanyofthosesuperstitiousideastowhichhismoodyandenthusiastictempergavesoreadyareception。Shediedwhenhewasabouttenyearsold。Herlastwordswerespokentohiminprivate;butthereislittledoubtthattheyconveyedaninjunctionofvengeanceupontheChildrenoftheMist,withwhichhehassinceamplycomplied。
\"Fromthismoment,thehabitsofAllanM\'Aulayweretotallychanged。Hehadhithertobeenhismother\'sconstantcompanion,listeningtoherdreams,andrepeatinghisown,andfeedinghisimagination,which,probablyfromthecircumstancesprecedinghisbirth,wasconstitutionallyderanged,withallthewildandterriblesuperstitionssocommontothemountaineers,towhichhisunfortunatemotherhadbecomemuchaddictedsinceherbrother\'sdeath。Bylivinginthismanner,theboyhadgottenatimid,wild,startledlook,lovedtoseekoutsolitaryplacesinthewoods,andwasneversomuchterrified,asbytheapproachofchildrenofthesameage。Iremember,althoughsomeyearsyounger,beingbroughtupherebymyfatheruponavisit,norcanIforgettheastonishmentwithwhichIsawthisinfant—hermitshuneveryattemptImadetoengagehiminthesportsnaturaltoourage。Icanrememberhisfatherbewailinghisdispositiontomine,andalleging,atthesametime,thatitwasimpossibleforhimtotakefromhiswifethecompanyoftheboy,asheseemedtobetheonlyconsolationthatremainedtoherinthisworld,andastheamusementwhichAllan\'ssocietyaffordedherseemedtopreventtherecurrence,atleastinitsfullforce,ofthatfearfulmaladybywhichshehadbeenvisited。But,afterthedeathofhismother,thehabitsandmannersoftheboyseemedatoncetochange。Itistrueheremainedasthoughtfulandseriousasbefore;andlongfitsofsilenceandabstractionshowedplainlythathisdisposition,inthisrespect,wasinnodegreealtered。Butatothertimes,hesoughtouttherendezvousoftheyouthofthec]an,whichhehadhithertoseemedanxioustoavoid。
Hetookshareinalltheirexercises;and,fromhisveryextraordinarypersonalstrength,soonexcelledhisbrotherandotheryouths,whoseageconsiderablyexceededhisown。Theywhohadhithertoheldhimincontempt,nowfeared,iftheydidnotlovehim;and,insteadofAllan\'sbeingesteemedadreaming,womanish,andfeeble—mindedboy,thosewhoencounteredhiminsportsormilitaryexercise,nowcomplainedthat,whenheatedbythestrife,hewastooapttoturngameintoearnest,andtoforgetthathewasonlyengagedinafriendlytrialofstrength。
——ButIspeaktoregardlessears,\"saidLordMenteith,interruptinghimself,fortheCaptain\'snosenowgavethemostindisputablesignsthathewasfastlockedinthearmsofoblivion。
\"Ifyoumeantheearsofthatsnortingswine,mylord,\"saidAnderson,\"theyare,indeed,shuttoanythingthatyoucansay;
nevertheless,thisplacebeingunfitformoreprivateconference,Ihopeyouwillhavethegoodnesstoproceed,forSibbald\'sbenefitandformine。Thehistoryofthispooryoungfellowhasadeepandwildinterestinit。\"
\"Youmustknow,then,\"proceededLordMenteith,\"thatAllancontinuedtoincreaseinstrengthandactivity,tillhisfifteenthyear,aboutwhichtimeheassumedatotalindependenceofcharacter,andimpatienceofcontrol,whichmuchalarmedhissurvivingparent。Hewasabsentinthewoodsforwholedaysandnights,underpretenceofhunting,thoughhedidnotalwaysbringhomegame。Hisfatherwasthemorealarmed,becauseseveraloftheChildrenoftheMist,encouragedbytheincreasingtroublesofthestate,hadventuredbacktotheiroldhaunts,nordidhethinkitaltogethersafetorenewanyattackuponthem。TheriskofAllan,inhiswanderings,sustaininginjuryfromthesevindictivefreebooters,wasaperpetualsourceofapprehension。
\"Iwasmyselfuponavisittothecastlewhenthismatterwasbroughttoacrisis。Allanhadbeenabsentsinceday—breakinthewoods,whereIhadsoughtforhiminvain;itwasadarkstormynight,andhedidnotreturn。Hisfatherexpressedtheutmostanxiety,andspokeofdetachingapartyatthedawnofmorninginquestofhim;when,asweweresittingatthesupper—
table,thedoorsuddenlyopened,andAllanenteredtheroomwithaproud,firm,andconfidentair。Hisintractabilityoftemper,aswellastheunsettledstateofhismind,hadsuchaninfluenceoverhisfather,thathesuppressedallothertokensofdispleasure,exceptingtheobservationthatIhadkilledafatbuck,andhadreturnedbeforesunset,whilehesupposedAllan,whohadbeenonthehilltillmidnight,hadreturnedwithemptyhands。\'Areyousureofthat？\'saidAllan,fiercely;\'hereissomethingwilltellyouanothertale。\'
\"Wenowobservedhishandswerebloody,andthattherewerespotsofbloodonhisface,andwaitedtheissuewithimpatience;whensuddenly,undoingthecomerofhisplaid,herolleddownonthetableahumanhead,bloodyandnewsevered,sayingatthesametime,\'Liethouwheretheheadofabettermanlaybeforeye。\'
Fromthehaggardfeatures,andmattedredhairandbeard,partlygrizzledwithage,hisfatherandotherspresentrecognisedtheheadofHectoroftheMist,awell—knownleaderamongtheoutlaws,redoubtedforstrengthandferocity,whohadbeenactiveinthemurderoftheunfortunateForester,uncletoAllan,andhadescapedbyadesperatedefenceandextraordinaryagility,whensomanyofhiscompanionsweredestroyed。Wewereall,itmaybebelieved,struckwithsurprise,butAllanrefusedtogratifyourcuriosity;andweonlyconjecturedthathemusthaveovercometheoutlawafteradesperatestruggle,becausewediscoveredthathehadsustainedseveralwoundsfromthecontest。
Allmeasureswerenowtakentoensurehimagainstthevengeanceofthefreebooters;butneitherhiswounds,northepositivecommandofhisfather,noreventhelockingofthegatesofthecastleandthedoorsofhisapartment,wereprecautionsadequatetopreventAllanfromseekingouttheverypersonstowhomhewaspeculiarlyobnoxious。Hemadehisescapebynightfromthewindowoftheapartment,andlaughingathisfather\'svaincare,producedononeoccasiontheheadofone,anduponanotherthoseoftwo,oftheChildrenoftheMist。Atlengththesemen,fierceastheywere,becameappalledbytheinveterateanimosityandaudacitywithwhichAllansoughtouttheirrecesses。Asheneverhesitatedtoencounteranyodds,theyconcludedthathemustbearacharmedlife,orfightundertheguardianshipofsomesupernaturalinfluence。Neithergun,dirk,nordourlach[DOURLACH——quiver;literally,satchel——ofarrows。],theysaid,availedaughtagainsthim。Theyimputedthistotheremarkablecircumstancesunderwhichhewasborn;andatlengthfiveorsixofthestoutestcateransoftheHighlandswouldhavefledatAllan\'shalloo,ortheblastofhishorn。
\"Inthemeanwhile,however,theChildrenoftheMistcarriedontheiroldtrade,anddidtheM\'Aulays,aswellastheirkinsmenandallies,asmuchmischiefastheycould。Thisprovokedanotherexpeditionagainstthetribe,inwhichIhadmyshare;wesurprisedthemeffectually,bybesettingatoncetheupperandunderpassesofthecountry,andmadesuchcleanworkasisusualontheseoccasions,burningandslayingrightbeforeus。Inthisterriblespeciesofwar,eventhefemalesandthehelplessdonotalwaysescape。Onelittlemaidenalone,whosmileduponAllan\'sdrawndirk,escapedhisvengeanceuponmyearnestentreaty。Shewasbroughttothecastle,andherebredupunderthenameofAnnotLyle,themostbeautifullittlefairycertainlythateverdanceduponaheathbymoonlight。ItwaslongereAllancouldendurethepresenceofthechild,untilitoccurredtohisimagination,fromherfeaturesperhaps,thatshedidnotbelongtothehatedbloodofhisenemies,buthadbecometheircaptiveinsomeoftheirincursions;acircumstancenotinitselfimpossible,butinwhichhebelievesasfirmlyasinholywrit。
Heisparticularlydelightedbyherskillinmusic,whichissoexquisite,thatshefarexceedsthebestperformersinthiscountryinplayingontheclairshach,orharp。ItwasdiscoveredthatthisproduceduponthedisturbedspiritsofAllan,inhisgloomiestmoods,beneficialeffects,similartothoseexperiencedbytheJewishmonarchofold;andsoengagingisthetemperofAnnotLyle,sofascinatingtheinnocenceandgaietyofherdisposition,thatsheisconsideredandtreatedinthecastleratherasthesisteroftheproprietor,thanasadependentuponhischarity。Indeed,itisimpossibleforanyonetoseeherwithoutbeingdeeplyinterestedbytheingenuity,liveliness,andsweetnessofherdisposition。\"
\"Takecare,mylord,\"saidAnderson,smiling;\"thereisdangerinsuchviolentcommendations。AllanM\'Aulay,asyourlordshipdescribeshim,wouldprovenoverysaferival。\"
\"Pooh！pooh！\"saidLordMenteith,laughing,yetblushingatthesametime;\"Allanisnotaccessibletothepassionoflove;andformyself,\"saidhe,moregravely;\"Annot\'sunknownbirthisasufficientreasonagainstseriousdesigns,andherunprotectedstateprecludeseveryother。\"
\"Itisspokenlikeyourself,mylord,\"saidAnderson。——\"ButI
trustyouwillproceedwithyourinterestingstory。\"
\"Itiswellnighfinished,\"saidLordMenteith;\"Ihaveonlytoadd,thatfromthegreatstrengthandcourageofAllanM\'Aulay,fromhisenergeticanduncontrollabledisposition,andfromanopiniongenerallyentertainedandencouragedbyhimselfthatheholdscommunionwithsupernaturalbeings,andcanpredictfutureevents,theclanpayamuchgreaterdegreeofdeferencetohimthaneventohisbrother,whoisabold—heartedrattlingHighlander,butwithnothingwhichcanpossiblyrivaltheextraordinarycharacterofhisyoungerbrother。\"
\"Suchacharacter,\"saidAnderson,\"cannotbuthavethedeepesteffectonthemindsofaHighlandhost。WemustsecureAllan,mylord,atallevents。Whatbetweenhisbraveryandhissecondsight——\"
\"Hush！\"saidLordMenteith,\"thatowlisawaking。\"
\"Doyoutalkofthesecondsight,orDEUTERO—SCOPIA？\"saidthesoldier;\"IremembermemorableMajorMunrotellingmehowMurdochMackenzie,borninAssint,aprivategentlemaninacompany,andaprettysoldier,foretoldthedeathofDonaldTough,aLochaberman,andcertainotherpersons,aswellasthehurtofthemajorhimselfatasuddenonfallatthesiegeofTrailsund。\"
\"Ihaveoftenheardofthisfaculty,\"observedAnderson,\"butI
havealwaysthoughtthosepretendingtoitwereeitherenthusiastsorimpostors。\"
\"Ishouldbeloath,\"saidLordMenteith,\"toapplyeithercharactertomykinsman,AllanM\'Aulay。Hehasshownonmanyoccasionstoomuchacutenessandsense,ofwhichyouthisnighthadaninstance,forthecharacterofanenthusiast;andhishighsenseofhonour,andmanlinessofdisposition,freehimfromthechargeofimposture。\"
\"Yourlordship,then,\"saidAnderson,\"isabelieverinhissupernaturalattributes？\"
\"Bynomeans,\"saidtheyoungnobleman;\"Ithinkthathepersuadeshimselfthatthepredictionswhichare,inreality,theresultofjudgmentandreflection,aresupernaturalimpressionsonhismind,justasfanaticsconceivetheworkingsoftheirownimaginationtobedivineinspiration——atleast,ifthiswillnotserveyou,Anderson,Ihavenobetterexplanationtogive;anditistimewewereallasleepafterthetoilsomejourneyoftheday。\"
CHAPTERVI。
Comingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore。CAMPBELL。
Atanearlyhourinthemorningtheguestsofthecastlesprungfromtheirrepose;and,afteramoment\'sprivateconversationwithhisattendants,LordMenteithaddressedthesoldier,whowasseatedinacornerburnishinghiscorsletwithrot—stoneandchamois—leather,whilehehummedtheoldsonginhonourofthevictoriousGustavusAdolphus:——
Whencannonsareroaring,andbulletsareflying,Theladthatwouldhavehonour,boys,mustneverfeardying。
\"CaptainDalgetty,\"saidLordMenteith,\"thetimeiscomethatwemustpart,orbecomecomradesinservice。\"
\"Notbeforebreakfast,Ihope？\"saidCaptainDalgetty。
\"Ishouldhavethought,\"repliedhislordship,\"thatyourgarrisonwasvictualledforthreedaysatleast。\"
\"Ihavestillsomestowageleftforbeefandbannocks,\"saidtheCaptain;\"andInevermissafavourableopportunityofrenewingmysupplies。\"
\"But,\"saidLordMenteith,\"nojudiciouscommanderallowseitherflagsoftruceorneutralstoremaininhiscamplongerthanisprudent;andthereforewemustknowyourmindexactly,accordingtowhichyoushalleitherhaveasafe—conducttodepartinpeace,orbewelcometoremainwithus。\"
\"Truly,\"saidtheCaptain,\"thatbeingthecase,Iwillnotattempttoprotractthecapitulationbyacounterfeitedparley,（athingexcellentlypractisedbySirJamesRamsayatthesiegeofHannau,intheyearofGod1636,）butIwillfranklyown,thatifIlikeyourpayaswellasyourprovantandyourcompany,I
carenothowsoonItaketheoathtoyourcolours。\"
\"Ourpay,\"saidLordMenteith,\"mustatpresentbesmall,sinceitispaidoutofthecommonstockraisedbythefewamongstuswhocancommandsomefunds——Asmajorandadjutant,IdarenotpromiseCaptainDalgettymorethanhalfadollara—day。\"
\"Thedeviltakeallhalvesandquarters！\"saidtheCaptain;
\"wereitinmyoption,Icouldnomoreconsenttothehalvingofthatdollar,thanthewomanintheJudgmentofSolomontothedissevermentofthechildofherbowels。\"
\"Theparallelwillscarcehold,CaptainDalgetty,forIthinkyouwouldratherconsenttothedividingofthedollar,thangiveitupentiretoyourcompetitor。However,inthewayofarrears,I
maypromiseyoutheotherhalf—dollarattheendofthecampaign。\"
\"Ah！thesearrearages！\"saidCaptainDalgetty,\"thatarealwayspromised,andalwaysgofornothing！Spain,Austria,andSweden,allsingonesong。Oh！longlifetotheHoganmogans！iftheywerenoofficersofsoldiers,theyweregoodpaymasters。——Andyet,mylord,ifIcouldbutbemadecertioratethatmynaturalhereditamentofDrumthwackethadfallenintopossessionofanyoftheseloonsofCovenanters,whocouldbe,intheeventofoursuccess,convenientlymadeatraitorof,Ihavesomuchvalueforthatfertileandpleasantspot,thatIwoulde\'entakeonwithyouforthecampaign。\"
\"IcanresolveCaptainDalgetty\'squestion,\"saidSibbald,LordMenteith\'ssecondattendant;\"forifhisestateofDrumthwacketbe,asIconceive,thelongwastemoorsocalled,thatliesfivemilessouthofAberdeen,IcantellhimitwaslatelypurchasedbyEliasStrachan,asrankarebelaseversworetheCovenant\"
\"Thecrop—earedhound！\"saidCaptainDalgetty,inarage;\"Whatthedevilgavehimtheassurancetopurchasetheinheritanceofafamilyoffourhundredyearsstanding？——CYNTHIUSAUREMVELLET,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College;thatistosay,Iwillpullhimoutofmyfather\'shousebytheears。Andso,myLordMenteith,Iamyours,handandsword,bodyandsoul,tilldeathdouspart,ortotheendofthenextcampaign,whichevereventshallfirstcometopass。\"
\"AndI,\"saidtheyoungnobleman,\"rivetthebargainwithamonth\'spayinadvance。\"
\"Thatismorethannecessary,\"saidDalgetty,pocketingthemoneyhowever。\"ButnowImustgodown,lookaftermywar—saddleandabuilziements,andseethatGustavushashismorning,andtellhimwehavetakennewservice。\"
Theregoesyourpreciousrecruit,\"saidLordMenteithtoAnderson,astheCaptainlefttheroom;\"Ifearweshallhavelittlecreditofhim。\"
\"Heisamanofthetimes,however,\"saidAnderson;\"andwithoutsuchweshouldhardlybeabletocarryonourenterprise。\"
\"Letusgodown,\"answeredLordMenteith,\"andseehowourmusterislikelytothrive,forIhearagooddealofbustleinthecastle。\"
Whentheyenteredthehall,thedomesticskeepingmodestlyinthebackground,morninggreetingspassedbetweenLordMenteith,AngusM\'Aulay,andhisEnglishguests,whileAllan,occupyingthesamesettlewhichhehadfilledtheprecedingevening,paidnoattentionwhatevertoanyone。OldDonaldhastilyrushedintotheapartment。\"AmessagefromVichAlisterMore;[ThepatronymicofMacDonellofGlengarry。]heiscomingupintheevening。\"
\"Withhowmanyattendants？\"saidM\'Aulay。
\"Somefive—and—twentyorthirty,\"saidDonald,\"hisordinaryretinue。\"
\"Shakedownplentyofstrawinthegreatbarn,\"saidtheLaird。
Anotherservantherestumbledhastilyin,announcingtheexpectedapproachofSirHectorM\'Lean,\"whoisarrivingwithalargefollowing。\"
\"Puttheminthemalt—kiln,\"saidM\'Aulay;\"andkeepthebreadthofthemiddensteadbetweenthemandtheM\'Donalds;theyarebutunfriendstoeachother。\"
Donaldnowre—entered,hisvisageconsiderablylengthened——\"Thetell\'si\'thefolk,\"hesaid;\"thehaillHielandsareasteer,I
think。EvanDhu,ofLochiel,willbehereinanhour,withLordkenshowmanygillies。\"
\"IntothegreatbarnwiththembesidetheM\'Donalds,\"saidtheLaird。
Moreandmorechiefswereannounced,theleastofwhomwouldhaveaccounteditderogatorytohisdignitytostirwithoutaretinueofsixorsevenpersons。Toeverynewannunciation,AngusM\'Aulayansweredbynamingsomeplaceofaccommodation,——thestables,theloft,thecow—house,thesheds,everydomesticoffice,weredestinedforthenighttosomehospitablepurposeorother。AtlengththearrivalofM\'DougalofLorn,afterallhismeansofaccommodationwereexhausted,reducedhimtosomeperplexity。\"Whatthedevilistobedone,Donald？\"saidhe;
\"thegreatbarnwouldholdfiftymore,iftheywouldlieheadsandthraws;buttherewouldbedrawndirksamangthemwhichshouldlieupper—most,andsoweshouldhavebloodypuddingsbeforemorning！\"
\"Whatneedsallthis？\"saidAllan,startingup,andcomingforwardwiththesternabruptnessofhisusualmanner;\"aretheGaelto—dayofsofterfleshorwhiterbloodthantheirfatherswere？Knocktheheadoutofacaskofusquebae;letthatbetheirnight—gear——theirplaidstheirbed—clothes——theblueskytheircanopy,andtheheathertheircouch。——Comeathousandmore,andtheywouldnotquarrelonthebroadheathforwantofroom！\"
\"Allanisright,\"saidhisbrother;\"itisveryoddhowAllan,who,betweenourselves,\"saidhetoMusgrave,\"isalittlewowf,[WOWF,i。e。crazed。]seemsattimestohavemoresensethanusallputtogether。Observehimnow。\"
\"Yes\"continuedAllan,fixinghiseyeswithaghastlystareupontheoppositesideofthehall,\"theymaywellbeginastheyaretoend;manyamanwillsleepthisnightupontheheath,thatwhentheMartinmaswindshaltblowshalllietherestarkenough,andrecklittleofcoldorlackofcovering。\"
\"Donotforespeakus,brother,\"saidAngus;\"thatisnotlucky。\"
\"Andwhatluckisitthenthatyouexpect？\"saidAllan;andstraininghiseyesuntiltheyalmoststartedfromtheirsockets,hefellwithaconvulsiveshudderintothearmsofDonaldandhisbrother,who,knowingthenatureofhisfits,hadcomeneartopreventhisfall。Theyseatedhimuponabench,andsupportedhimuntilhecametohimself,andwasabouttospeak。
ForGod\'ssake,Allan,\"saidhisbrother,whoknewtheimpressionhismysticalwordswerelikelytomakeonmanyoftheguests,\"saynothingtodiscourageus。\"
\"AmIhewhodiscouragesyou？\"saidAllan;\"leteverymanfacehisweirdasIshallfacemine。Thatwhichmustcome,willcome;
andweshallstridegallantlyovermanyafieldofvictory,erewereachyonfatalslaughter—place,ortreadyonsablescaffolds。\"
\"Whatslaughter—place？whatscaffolds？\"exclaimedseveralvoices;forAllan\'srenownasaseerwasgenerallyestablishedintheHighlands。
\"Youwillknowthatbuttoosoon,\"answeredAllan。\"Speaktomenomore,Iamwearyofyourquestions。\"Hethenpressedhishandagainsthisbrow,restedhiselbowuponhisknee,andsunkintoadeepreverie。
SendforAnnotLyle,andtheharp,\"saidAngus,inawhisper,tohisservant;\"andletthosegentlemenfollowmewhodonotfearaHighlandbreakfast。\"
AllaccompaniedtheirhospitablelandlordexceptingonlyLordMenteith,wholingeredinoneofthedeepembrasuresformedbythewindowsofthehall。AnnotLyleshortlyafterglidedintotheroom,notilldescribedbyLordMenteithasbeingthelightestandmostfairyfigurethatevertrodetheturfbymoonlight。Herstature,considerablylessthantheordinarysizeofwomen,gavehertheappearanceofextremeyouth,insomuch,thatalthoughshewasneareighteen,shemighthavepassedforfouryearsyounger。Herfigure,hands,andfeet,wereformeduponamodelofexquisitesymmetrywiththesizeandlightnessofherperson,sothatTitaniaherselfcouldscarcehavefoundamorefittingrepresentative。Herhairwasadarkshadeofthecolourusuallytermedflaxen,whoseclusteringringletssuitedadmirablywithherfaircomplexion,andwiththeplayful,yetsimple,expressionofherfeatures。Whenweaddtothesecharms,thatAnnot,inherorphanstate,seemedthegayestandhappiestofmaidens,thereadermustallowustoclaimforhertheinterestofalmostallwholookedonher。Infact,itwasimpossibletofindamoreuniversalfavourite,andsheoftencameamongtherudeinhabitantsofthecastle,asAllanhimself,inapoeticalmood,expressedit,\"likeasunbeamonasullensea,\"
communicatingtoallothersthecheerfulnessthatfilledherownmind。
Annot,suchaswehavedescribedher,smiledandblushed,when,onenteringtheapartment,LordMenteithcamefromhisplaceofretirement,andkindlywishedhergood—morning。
\"Andgood—morningtoyou,mylord,\"returnedshe,extendingherhandtoherfriend;\"wehaveseldomseenyouoflateatthecastle,andnowIfearitiswithnopeacefulpurpose。\"