TheMarquisthenmountedaledhorse,whichwasheldbyoneofhisattendants,androdeontoviewthesceneofhisvictory,whichwasmoredecisivethanevenhisardenthopeshadanticipated。OfArgyle\'sgallantarmyofthreethousandmen,fullyone—halffellinthebattle,orintheflight。Theyhadbeenchieflydrivenbackuponthatpartoftheplainwheretheriverformsananglewiththelake,sothattherewasnofreeopeningeitherforretreatorescape。Severalhundredswereforcedintothelakeanddrowned。Ofthesurvivors,aboutone—
halfescapedbyswimmingtheriver,orbyanearlyflightalongtheleftbankofthelake。TheremainderthrewthemselvesintotheoldCastleofInverlochy;butbeingwithouteitherprovisionsorhopesofrelief,theywereobligedtosurrender,onconditionofbeingsufferedtoreturntotheirhomesinpeace。Arms,ammunition,standards,andbaggage,allbecamethepreyoftheconquerors。
ThiswasthegreatestdisasterthateverbefelltheraceofDiarmid,astheCampbellswerecalledintheHighlands;itbeinggenerallyremarkedthattheywereasfortunateintheissueoftheirundertakings,astheyweresagaciousinplanning,andcourageousinexecutingthem。Ofthenumberslain,nearlyfivehundredweredunniwassels,orgentlemenclaimingdescentfromknownandrespectedhouses。And,intheopinionofmanyoftheclan,eventhisheavylosswasexceededbythedisgracearisingfromtheingloriousconductoftheirChief,whosegalleyweighedanchorwhenthedaywaslost,andsaileddownthelakewithallthespeedtowhichsailsandoarscouldimpelher。
CHAPTERXX。
Faintthedinofbattlebray\'d,Distantdownthehollowwind;
Warandterrorfledbefore,Woundsanddeathremain\'dbehind。PENROSE。
Montrose\'ssplendidsuccessoverhispowerfulrivalwasnotattainedwithoutsomeloss,thoughnotamountingtothetenthofwhatheinflicted。TheobstinatevalouroftheCampbellscostthelivesofmanybravemenoftheoppositeparty;andmorewerewounded,theChiefofwhomwasthebraveyoungEarlofMenteith,whohadcommandedthecentre。Hewasbutslightlytouched,however,andmaderatheragracefulthanaterribleappearancewhenhepresentedtohisgeneralthestandardofArgyle,whichhehadtakenfromthestandard—bearerwithhisownhand,andslainhiminsinglecombat。Montrosedearlylovedhisnoblekinsman,inwhomtherewasconspicuousaflashofthegenerous,romantic,disinterestedchivalryoftheoldheroictimes,entirelydifferentfromthesordid,calculating,andselfishcharacter,whichthepracticeofentertainingmercenarytroopshadintroducedintomostpartsofEurope,andofwhichdegeneracyScotland,whichfurnishedsoldiersoffortunefortheserviceofalmosteverynation,hadbeencontaminatedwithamorethanusualshare。Montrose,whosenativespiritwascongenial,althoughexperiencehadtaughthimhowtoavailhimselfofthemotivesofothers,usedtoMenteithneitherthelanguageofpraisenorofpromise,butclaspedhimtohisbosomasheexclaimed,\"Mygallantkinsman！\"AndbythisburstofheartfeltapplausewasMenteiththrilledwithawarmerglowofdelight,thanifhispraiseshadbeenrecordedinareportoftheactionsentdirectlytothethroneofhissovereign。
\"Nothing,\"hesaid,\"mylord,nowseemstoremaininwhichIcanrenderanyassistance;permitmetolookafteradutyofhumanity——theKnightofArdenvohr,asIamtold,isourprisoner,andseverelywounded。\"
\"Andwellhedeservestobeso,\"saidSirDugaldDalgetty,whocameuptothematthatmomentwithaprodigiousadditionofacquiredimportance,\"sinceheshotmygoodhorseatthetimethatIwasofferinghimhonourablequarter,which,Imustneedssay,wasdonemorelikeanignorantHighlandcateran,whohasnotsenseenoughtoerectasconcefortheprotectionofhisoldhurley—houseofacastle,thanlikeasoldierofworthandquality。\"
\"Arewetocondolewithyouthen,\"saidLordMenteith,\"uponthelossofthefamedGustavus？\"
\"Evenso,mylord,\"answeredthesoldier,withadeepsigh,\"DIEM
CLAUSITSUPREMUM,aswesaidattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen。Bettersothanbesmotheredlikeacadger\'sponyinsomeflow—moss,orsnow—wreath,whichwasliketobehisfateifthiswintercampaignlastedlonger。ButithaspleasedhisExcellency\"（makinganinclinationtoMontrose）\"tosupplyhisplacebythegiftofanoblesteed,whomIhavetakenthefreedomtoname\'LOYALTY\'SREWARD,\'inmemoryofthiscelebratedoccasion。\"
\"Ihope,\"saidtheMarquis,\"you\'llfindLoyalty\'sReward,sinceyoucallhimso,practisedinallthedutiesofthefield,——butImustjusthinttoyou,thatatthistime,inScotland,loyaltyismorefrequentlyrewardedwithahalterthanwithahorse。\"
\"Ahem！yourExcellencyispleasedtobefacetious。Loyalty\'sRewardisasperfectasGustavusinallhisexercises,andofafarfinerfigure。Marry！hissocialqualitiesarelesscultivated,inrespecthehaskepttillnowinferiorcompany。\"
\"NotmeaninghisExcellencytheGeneral,Ihope,\"saidLordMenteith。\"Forshame,SirDugald！\"
\"Mylord,\"answeredtheknightgravely,\"Iamincapabletomeananythingsoutterlyunbecoming。WhatIasseverateis,thathisExcellency,havingthesameintercoursewithhishorseduringhisexercise,thathehathwithhissoldierswhentrainingthem,mayformandbreakeithertoeveryfeatofwarwhichhechoosestopractise,andaccordinglythatthisnoblechargerisadmirablymanaged。Butasitistheintercourseofprivatelifethatformeththesocialcharacter,soIdonotapprehendthatofthesinglesoldiertobemuchpolishedbytheconversationofthecorporalorthesergeant,orthatofLoyalty\'sRewardtohavebeenmuchdulcified,orameliorated,bythesocietyofhisExcellency\'sgrooms,whobestowmoreoaths,andkicks,andthumps,thankindnessorcaresses,upontheanimalsintrustedtotheircharge;wherebymanyagenerousquadruped,renderedasitweremisanthropic,manifestsduringtherestofhislifeagreaterdesiretokickandbitehismaster,thantoloveandtohonourhim。\"
\"Spokenlikeanoracle,\"saidMontrose。\"WerethereanacademyfortheeducationofhorsestobeannexedtotheMareschal—
CollegeofAberdeen,SirDugaldDalgettyaloneshouldfillthechair。\"
\"Because,beinganass,\"saidMenteith,asidetotheGeneral,\"therewouldbesomedistantrelationbetweentheprofessorandthestudents。\"
\"Andnow,withyourExcellency\'spermission,\"saidthenew—madeknight,\"Iamgoingtopaymylastvisittotheremainsofmyoldcompanioninarms。\"
\"Notwiththepurposeofgoingthroughtheceremonialofinterment？\"saidtheMarquis,whodidnotknowhowfarSirDugald\'senthusiasmmightleadhim;\"considerourbravefellowsthemselveswillhavebutahastyburial。\"
\"YourExcellencywillpardonme,\"saidDalgetty;\"mypurposeislessromantic。IgotodividepoorGustavus\'slegacywiththefowlsofheaven,leavingthefleshtothem,andreservingtomyselfhishide;which,intokenofaffectionateremembrance,I
purposetoformintoacassockandtrowsers,aftertheTartarfashion,tobewornundermyarmour,inrespectmynethergarmentsareatpresentshamefullytheworseofthewear。——Alas！
poorGustavus,whydidstthounotliveatleastonehourmore,tohavebornethehonouredweightofknighthooduponthyloins！\"
Hewasnowturningaway,whentheMarquiscalledafterhim,——\"Asyouarenotlikelytobeanticipatedinthisactofkindness,SirDugald,toyouroldfriendandcompanion,Itrust,\"saidtheMarquis,\"youwillfirstassistme,andourprincipalfriends,todiscusssomeofArgyle\'sgoodcheer,ofwhichwehavefoundabundanceintheCastle。\"
\"Mostwillingly,pleaseyourExcellency,\"saidSirDugald;\"asmeatandmassneverhinderwork。Nor,indeed,amIafraidthatthewolvesoreagleswillbeginanonslaughtonGustavusto—
night,inregardthereissomuchbettercheerlyingallaround。
But,\"addedhe,\"asIamtomeettwohonourableknightsofEngland,withothersoftheknightlydegreeinyourlordship\'sarmy,Iprayitmaybeexplainedtothem,thatnow,andinfuture,Iclaimprecedenceoverthemall,inrespectofmyrankasaBanneret,dubbedinafieldofstrickenbattle。\"
\"Thedevilconfoundhim！\"saidMontrose,speakingaside;\"hehascontrivedtosetthekilnonfireasfastasIputitout。
——\'Thisisapoint,SirDugald,\"saidhe,gravelyaddressinghim,\"whichIshallreserveforhisMajesty\'sexpressconsideration;
inmycamp,allmustbeuponequality,liketheKnightsoftheRoundTable;andtaketheirplacesassoldiersshould,upontheprincipleof,——firstcome,firstserved。\"
\"ThenIshalltakecare,\"saidMenteith,aparttotheMarquis,\"thatDonDugaldisnotfirstinplaceto—day。——SirDugald,\"
addedhe,raisinghisvoice,\"asyousayyourwardrobeisoutofrepair,hadyounotbettergototheenemy\'sbaggageyonder,overwhichthereisaguardplaced？Isawthemtakeoutanexcellentbuffsuit,embroideredinfrontinsilkandsilver。\"
\"VOTOADIOS！astheSpaniardsays,\"exclaimedtheMajor,\"andsomebeggarlygillymaygetitwhileIstandpratinghere！\"
TheprospectofbootyhavingatoncedrivenoutofhisheadbothGustavusandtheprovant,hesetspurstoLoyalty\'sReward,androdeoffthroughthefieldofbattle。
\"Theregoesthehound,\"saidMenteith,\"breakingtheface,andtramplingonthebody,ofmanyabettermanthanhimself;andaseageronhissordidspoilasavulturethatstoopsuponcarrion。
Yetthismantheworldcallsasoldier——andyou,mylord,selecthimasworthyofthehonoursofchivalry,ifsuchtheycanatthisdaybetermed。Youhavemadethecollarofknighthoodthedecorationofamerebloodhound。\"
\"WhatcouldIdo？\"saidMontrose。\"Ihadnohalf—pickedbonestogivehim,andbribedinsomemannerhemustbe,——Icannotfollowthechasealone。Besides,thedoghasgoodqualities。\"
\"Ifnaturehasgivenhimsuch,\"saidMenteith,\"habithasconvertedthemintofeelingsofintenseselfishness。Hemaybepunctiliousconcerninghisreputation,andbraveintheexecutionofhisduty,butitisonlybecausewithoutthesequalitieshecannotriseintheservice;——nay,hisverybenevolenceisselfish;hemaydefendhiscompanionwhilehecankeephisfeet,buttheinstantheisdown,SirDugaldwillbeasreadytoeasehimofhispurse,asheistoconverttheskinofGustavusintoabuffjerkin。\"
\"Andyet,ifallthisweretrue,cousin,\"answeredMontrose,\"thereissomethingconvenientincommandingasoldier,uponwhosemotivesandspringsofactionyoucancalculatetoamathematicalcertainty。Afinespiritlikeyours,mycousin,alivetoathousandsensationstowhichthisman\'sisasimperviousashiscorslet,——itisforsuchthatthyfriendmustfeel,whilehegiveshisadvice。\"Then,suddenlychanginghistone,heaskedMenteithwhenhehadseenAnnotLyle。
TheyoungEarlcoloureddeeply,andanswered,\"Notsincelastevening,——excepting,\"headded,withhesitation,\"foronemoment,abouthalfanhourbeforethebattlebegan。\"
\"MydearMenteith,\"saidMontrose,verykindly,\"wereyouoneofthegaycavaliersofWhitehall,whoare,intheirway,asgreatself—seekersasourfriendDalgetty,shouldIneedtoplagueyouwithenquiringintosuchanamouretteasthis？itwouldbeanintrigueonlytobelaughedat。Butthisisthelandofenchantment,wherenetsstrongassteelarewroughtoutofladies\'tresses,andyouareexactlythedestinedknighttobesofettered。Thispoorgirlisexquisitelybeautiful,andhastalentsformedtocaptivateyourromantictemper。Youcannotthinkofinjuringher——youcannotthinkofmarryingher？\"
\"Mylord,\"repliedMenteith,\"youhaverepeatedlyurgedthisjest,forsoItrustitismeant,somewhatbeyondbounds。AnnotLyleisofunknownbirth,——acaptive,——thedaughter,probably,ofsomeobscureoutlaw;adependantonthehospitalityoftheM\'Aulays。\"
\"Donotbeangry,Menteith,\"saidtheMarquis,interruptinghim;
\"youlovetheclassics,thoughnoteducatedatMareschal—College;
andyoumayrememberhowmanygallantheartscaptivebeautyhassubdued:——
MovitAjacem,Telamonenatum,FormacaptivaedominumTecmessae。
Inaword,Iamseriouslyanxiousaboutthis——Ishouldnothavetime,perhaps,\"headdedverygravely,\"totroubleyouwithmylecturesonthesubject,wereyourfeelings,andthoseofAnnot,aloneinterested;butyouhaveadangerousrivalinAllanM\'Aulay;andthereisnoknowingtowhatextenthemaycarryhisresentment。ItismydutytotellyouthattheKing\'sservicemaybemuchprejudicedbydissensionsbetwixtyou。\"
\"Mylord,\"saidMenteith,\"Iknowwhatyoumeaniskindandfriendly;IhopeyouwillbesatisfiedwhenIassureyou,thatAllanM\'AulayandIhavediscussedthiscircumstance;andthatI
haveexplainedtohim,thatitisutterlyremotefrommycharactertoentertaindishonourableviewsconcerningthisunprotectedfemale;so,ontheotherhand,theobscurityofherbirthpreventsmythinkingofheruponotherterms。Iwillnotdisguisefromyourlordship,whatIhavenotdisguisedfromM\'Aulay,——thatifAnnotLylewerebornalady,sheshouldsharemynameandrank;asmattersstand,itisimpossible。Thisexplanation,Itrust,willsatisfyyourlordship,asithassatisfiedalessreasonableperson。\"
Montroseshruggedhisshoulders。\"And,liketruechampionsinromance,\"hesaid,\"youhaveagreed,thatyouarebothtoworshipthesamemistress,asidolatersdothesameimage,andthatneithershallextendhispretensionsfarther？\"
\"Ididnotgosofar,mylord,\"answeredMenteith——\"Ionlysaidinthepresentcircumstances——andthereisnoprospectoftheirbeingchanged,——Icould,indutytomyselfandfamily,standinnorelationtoAnnotLyle,butasthatoffriendorbrother——Butyourlordshipmustexcuseme;Ihave,\"saidhe,lookingathisarm,roundwhichhehadtiedhishandkerchief,\"aslighthurttoattendto。\"
\"Awound？\"saidMontrose,anxiously;\"letmeseeit。——Alas！\"hesaid,\"Ishouldhaveheardnothingofthis,hadInotventuredtotentandsoundanothermoresecretandmoreranklingone,Menteith;Iamsorryforyou——Itoohaveknown——Butwhatavailsittoawakesorrowswhichhavelongslumbered！\"
Sosaying,heshookhandswithhisnoblekinsman,andwalkedintothecastle。
AnnotLyle,aswasnotunusualforfemalesintheHighlands,waspossessedofaslightdegreeofmedicalandevensurgicalskill。
Itmayreadilybebelieved,thattheprofessionofsurgery,ormedicine,asaseparateart,wasunknown;andthefewruderuleswhichtheyobservedwereintrustedtowomen,ortotheaged,whomconstantcasualtiesaffordedtoomuchopportunityofacquiringexperience。Thecareandattention,accordingly,ofAnnotLyle,herattendants,andothersactingunderherdirection,hadmadeherservicesextremelyusefulduringthiswildcampaign。Andmostreadilyhadtheseservicesbeenrenderedtofriendandfoe,wherevertheycouldbemostuseful。Shewasnowinanapartmentofthecastle,anxiouslysuperintendingthepreparationofvulneraryherbs,tobeappliedtothewounded;receivingreportsfromdifferentfemalesrespectingthoseundertheirseparatecharge,anddistributingwhatmeansshehadfortheirrelief,whenAllanM\'Aulaysuddenlyenteredtheapartment。Shestarted,forshehadheardthathehadleftthecampuponadistantmission;and,howeveraccustomedshewastothegloomofhiscountenance,itseemedatpresenttohaveevenadarkershadethanusual。Hestoodbeforeherperfectlysilent,andshefeltthenecessityofbeingthefirsttospeak。
\"Ithought,\"shesaid,withsomeeffort,\"youhadalreadysetout。\"
\"Mycompanionawaitsme,\"saidAllan;\"Igoinstantly。\"
Yetstillhestoodbeforeher,andheldherbythearm,withapressurewhich,thoughinsufficienttogiveherpain,madehersensibleofhisgreatpersonalstrength,hishandclosingonherlikethegripeofamanacle。
\"ShallItaketheharp？\"shesaid,inatimidvoice;\"is——istheshadowfallinguponyou？\"
Insteadofreplying,heledhertothewindowoftheapartment,whichcommandedaviewofthefieldoftheslain,withallitshorrors。Itwasthickspreadwithdeadandwounded,andthespoilerswerebusytearingtheclothesfromthevictimsofwarandfeudalambition,withasmuchindifferenceasiftheyhadnotbeenofthesamespecies,andthemselvesexposed,perhapsto—
morrow,tothesamefate。
\"Doesthesightpleaseyou？\"saidM\'Aulay。
\"Itishideous！\"saidAnnot,coveringhereyeswithherhands;
\"howcanyoubidmelookuponit？\"
\"Youmustbeinuredtoit,\"saidhe,\"ifyouremainwiththisdestinedhost——youwillsoonhavetosearchsuchafieldformybrother\'scorpse——forMenteith\'s——formine———butthatwillbeamoreindifferenttask——Youdonotloveme！\"
\"Thisisthefirsttimeyouhavetaxedmewithunkindness,\"saidAnnot,weeping。\"Youaremybrother——mypreserver——myprotector——andcanIthenBUTloveyou？——Butyourhourofdarknessisapproaching,letmefetchmyharp——\"
\"Remain,\"saidAllan,stillholdingherfast;\"bemyvisionsfromheavenorhell,orfromthemiddlesphereofdisembodiedspirits——orbethey,astheSaxonshold,butthedelusionsofanover—
heatedfancy,theydonotnowinfluenceme;Ispeakthelanguageofthenatural,ofthevisibleworld。——Youlovenotme,Annot——
youloveMenteith——byhimyouarebelovedagain,andAllanisnomoretoyouthanoneofthecorpseswhichencumberyonderheath。\"
Itcannotbesupposedthatthisstrangespeechconveyedanynewinformationtoherwhowasthusaddressed。Nowomaneverlivedwhocouldnot,inthesamecircumstances,havediscernedlongsincethestateofherlover\'smind。Butbythussuddenlytearingofftheveil,thinasitwas,Allanpreparedhertoexpectconsequencesviolentinproportiontotheenthusiasmofhischaracter。Shemadeanefforttorepelthechargehehadstated。
\"Youforget,\"shesaid,\"yourownworthandnoblenesswhenyouinsultsoveryhelplessabeing,andonewhomfatehasthrownsototallyintoyourpower。YouknowwhoandwhatIam,andhowimpossibleitisthatMenteithoryoucanuselanguageofaffectiontome,beyondthatoffriendship。YouknowfromwhatunhappyraceIhavetooprobablyderivedmyexistence。\"
\"Iwillnotbelieveit,\"saidAllan,impetuously;\"neverflowedcrystaldropfromapollutedspring。\"
\"Yettheverydoubt,\"pleadedAnnot,\"shouldmakeyouforbeartousethislanguagetome。\"
\"Iknow,\"saidM\'Aulay,\"itplacesabarbetweenus——butIknowalsothatitdividesyounotsoinseparablyfromMenteith。——Hearme,mybelovedAnnot！——leavethissceneofterrorsanddanger——gowithmetoKintail——IwillplaceyouinthehouseofthenobleLadyofSeaforth——oryoushallberemovedinsafetytoIcolmkill,wheresomewomenyetdevotethemselvestotheworshipofGod,afterthecustomofourancestors。\"
\"Youconsidernotwhatyouaskofme,\"repliedAnnot;\"toundertakesuchajourneyunderyoursoleguardianship,weretoshowmelessscrupulousthanmaidenought。Iwillremainhere,Allan——hereundertheprotectionofthenobleMontrose;andwhenhismotionsnextapproachtheLowlands,Iwillcontrivesomepropermeanstorelieveyouofone,whohas,sheknowsnothow,becomeanobjectofdisliketoyou。\"
Allanstoodasifuncertainwhethertogivewaytosympathywithherdistress,ortoangeratherresistance。
\"Annot,\"hesaid,\"youknowtoowellhowlittleyourwordsapplytomyfeelingstowardsyou——butyouavailyourselfofyourpower,andyourejoiceinmydeparture,asremovingaspyuponyourintercoursewithMenteith。Butbewarebothofyou,\"headded,inasterntone;\"forwhenwasiteverheardthataninjurywasofferedtoAllanM\'Aulay,forwhichheexactednottenfoldvengeance？\"
Sosaying,hepressedherarmforcibly,pulledthebonnetoverhisbrows,andstrodeoutoftheapartment。
CHAPTERXXI。
——Afteryou\'regone,Igrewacquaintedwithmyheart,andsearch\'d,Whatstirr\'ditso。——Alas！Ifounditlove。
Yetfarfromlust,forcouldIbuthavelivedInpresenceofyou,Ihadhadmyend。PHILASTER。
AnnotLylehadnowtocontemplatetheterriblegulfwhichAllanM\'Aulay\'sdeclarationofloveandjealousyhadmadetoopenaroundher。Itseemedasifshewastotteringontheverybrinkofdestruction,andwasatoncedeprivedofeveryrefuge,andofallhumanassistance。ShehadlongbeenconsciousthatshelovedMenteithdearerthanabrother;indeed,howcoulditbeotherwise,consideringtheirearlyintimacy,thepersonalmeritoftheyoungnobleman,hisassiduousattentions,——andhisinfinitesuperiorityingentlenessofdisposition,andgraceofmanners,overtheraceofrudewarriorswithwhomshelived？Butheraffectionwasofthatquiet,timid,meditativecharacter,whichsoughtratherareflectedshareinthehappinessofthebelovedobject,thanformedmorepresumptuousordaringhopes。A
littleGaelicsong,inwhichsheexpressedherfeelings,hasbeentranslatedbytheingeniousandunhappyAndrewM\'Donald;andwewillinglytranscribethelines:——
Wertthou,likeme,inlife\'slowvale,Withtheehowblest,thatlotI\'dshare;
WiththeeI\'dflywherevergaleCouldwaft,orboundinggalleybear。
Butpartedbyseveredecree,Fardifferentmustourfortunesprove;
Maythinebejoy——enoughformeToweepandprayforhimIlove。
Thepangsthisfoolishheartmustfeel,Whenhopeshallbeforeverflown,Nosullenmurmurshallreveal,Noselfishmurmurseverown。
NorwillIthroughlife\'swearyyears,Likeapaledroopingmournermove,WhileIcanthinkmysecrettearsMaywoundtheheartofhimIlove。
ThefuriousdeclarationofAllanhaddestroyedtheromanticplanwhichshehadformed,ofnursinginsecretherpensivetenderness,withoutseekinganyotherrequital。Longbeforethis,shehaddreadedAllan,asmuchasgratitude,andasensethathesoftenedtowardsheratempersohaughtyandsoviolent,couldpermithertodo;butnowsheregardedhimwithunalloyedterror,whichaperfectknowledgeofhisdisposition,andofhisprecedinghistory,toowellauthorisedhertoentertain。
Whateverwasinotherrespectsthenoblenessofhisdisposition,hehadneverbeenknowntoresistthewilfulnessofpassion,——hewalkedinthehouse,andinthecountryofhisfathers,likeatamedlion,whomnoonedaredtocontradict,lesttheyshouldawakenhisnaturalvehemenceofpassion。Somanyyearshadelapsedsincehehadexperiencedcontradiction,orevenexpostulation,thatprobablynothingbutthestronggoodsense,which,onallpoints,hismysticismexcepted,formedthegroundofhischaracter,preventedhisprovinganannoyanceandterrortothewholeneighbourhood。ButAnnothadnotimetodwelluponherfears,beinginterruptedbytheentranceofSirDugaldDalgetty。
Itmaywellbesupposed,thatthescenesinwhichthispersonhadpassedhisformerlife,hadnotmuchqualifiedhimtoshineinfemalesociety。Hehimselffeltasortofconsciousnessthatthelanguageofthebarrack,guard—room,andparade,wasnotpropertoentertainladies。TheonlypeacefulpartofhislifehadbeenspentatMareschal—College,Aberdeen;andhehadforgotthelittlehehadlearnedthere,excepttheartsofdarninghisownhose,anddispatchinghiscommonswithunusualcelerity,bothwhichhadsincebeenkeptingoodexercisebythenecessityoffrequentpractice。Stillitwasfromanimperfectrecollectionofwhathehadacquiredduringthispacificperiod,thathedrewhissourcesofconversationwhenincompanywithwomen;inotherwords,hislanguagebecamepedanticwhenitceasedtobemilitary。
\"MistressAnnotLyle,\"saidhe,uponthepresentoccasion,\"Iamjustnowlikethehalf—pike,orspontoonofAchilles,oneendofwhichcouldwoundandtheothercure——apropertybelongingneithertoSpanishpike,brown—bill,partizan,halberd,Lochaber—
axe,orindeedanyothermodernstaff—weaponwhatever。\"