Thiscomplimentherepeatedtwice;butasAnnotscarceheardhimthefirsttime,anddidnotcomprehendhimthesecond,hewasobligedtoexplain。
\"Imean,\"hesaid,\"MistressAnnotLyle,thathavingbeenthemeansofanhonourableknightreceivingaseverewoundinthisday\'sconflict,——hehavingpistolled,somewhatagainstthelawofarms,myhorse,whichwasnamedaftertheimmortalKingofSweden,——Iamdesirousofprocuringhimsuchsolacementasyou,madam,cansupply,youbeingliketheheathengodEsculapius\"
（meaningpossiblyApollo）,\"skilfulnotonlyinsongandinmusic,butinthemorenobleartofchirurgery—OPIFERQUEPER
ORBEMDICOR。\"
\"Ifyouwouldhavethegoodnesstoexplain,\"saidAnnot,toosickathearttobeamusedbySirDugald\'sairsofpedanticgallantry。
\"That,madam,\"repliedtheKnight,\"maynotbesoeasy,asIamoutofthehabitofconstruing——butweshalltry。DICOR,supplyEGO——Iamcalled,——OPIFER？OPIFER？——IrememberSIGNIFERandFURCIFER——butIbelieveOPIFERstandsinthisplaceforM。D。,thatis,DoctorofPhysic。\"
\"Thisisabusydaywithusall,\"saidAnnot;\"willyousayatoncewhatyouwantwithme？\"
\"Merely,\"repliedSirDugald,\"thatyouwillvisitmybrotherknight,andletyourmaidenbringsomemedicamentsforhiswound,whichthreatenstobewhatthelearnedcallaDAMNUMFATALE。\"
AnnotLyleneverlingeredinthecauseofhumanity。Sheinformedherselfhastilyofthenatureoftheinjury,andinterestingherselfforthedignifiedoldChiefwhomshehadseenatDarnlinvarach,andwhosepresencehadsomuchstruckher,shehastenedtolosethesenseofherownsorrowforatime,intheattempttobeusefultoanother。
SirDugaldwithgreatformusheredAnnotLyletothechamberofherpatient,inwhich,tohersurprise,shefoundLordMenteith。
Shecouldnothelpblushingdeeplyatthemeeting,but,tohideherconfusion,proceededinstantlytoexaminethewoundoftheKnightofArdenvohr,andeasilysatisfiedherselfthatitwasbeyondherskilltocureit。AsforSirDugald,hereturnedtoalargeouthouse,onthefloorofwhich,amongotherwoundedmen,wasdepositedthepersonofRanaldoftheMist。
\"Mineoldfriend,\"saidtheKnight,\"asItoldyoubefore,I
wouldwillinglydoanythingtopleasureyou,inreturnforthewoundyouhavereceivedwhileundermysafe—conduct。Ihave,therefore,accordingtoyourearnestrequest,sentMrs。AnnotLyletoattenduponthewoundoftheknightofArdenvohr,thoughwhereinherdoingsoshouldbenefityou,Icannotimagine。——I
thinkyouoncespokeofsomebloodrelationshipbetweenthem;butasoldado,incommandandchargelikeme,hasotherthingstotroublehisheadwiththanHighlandgenealogies。\"
Andindeed,todotheworthyMajorjustice,heneverenquiredafter,listenedto,orrecollected,thebusinessofotherpeople,unlessiteitherrelatedtotheartmilitary,orwassomehoworotherconnectedwithhisowninterest,ineitherofwhichcaseshismemorywasverytenacious。
\"Andnow,mygoodfriendoftheMist,\"saidhe,\"canyoutellmewhathasbecomeofyourhopefulgrandson,asIhavenotseenhimsinceheassistedmetodisarmaftertheaction,anegligencewhichdeserveththestrapado？\"
\"Heisnotfarfromhence,\"saidthewoundedoutlaw——\"liftnotyourhanduponhim,forheismanenoughtopayayardofleathernscourgewithafootoftemperedsteel。\"
\"Amostimpropervaunt,\"saidSirDugald;\"butIoweyousomefavours,Ranald,andthereforeshallletitpass。\"
\"Andifyouthinkyouowemeanything,\"saidtheoutlaw,\"itisinyourpowertorequitemebygrantingmeaboon。\"
\"FriendRanald,\"answeredDalgetty,\"Ihavereadoftheseboonsinsillystory—books,wherebysimpleknightsweredrawnintoengagementstotheirgreatprejudice;wherefore,Ranald,themoreprudentknightsofthisdayneverpromiseanythinguntiltheyknowthattheymaykeeptheirwordanentthepremises,withoutanydispleasureorincommodementtothemselves。Itmaybe,youwouldhavemeengagethefemalechirurgeontovisityourwound;
thoughyououghttoconsider,Ranald,thattheuncleannessoftheplacewhereyouaredepositedmaysomewhatsoilthegaietyofhergarments,concerningthepreservationofwhich,youmayhaveobserved,womenareapttobeinordinatelysolicitous。IlostthefavouroftheladyoftheGrandPensionaryofAmsterdam,bytouchingwiththesoleofmybootthetrainofherblackvelvetgown,whichImistookforafoot—cloth,itbeinghalftheroomdistantfromherperson。\"
\"ItisnottobringAnnotLylehither,\"answeredMacEagh,\"buttotransportmeintotheroomwheresheisinattendanceupontheKnightofArdenvohr。SomewhatIhavetosayofthelastconsequencetothemboth。\"
\"Itissomethingoutoftheorderofdueprecedence,\"saidDalgetty,\"tocarryawoundedoutlawintothepresenceofaknight;knighthoodhavingbeenofyore,andbeing,insomerespects,still,thehighestmilitarygrade,independentalwaysofcommissionedofficers,whorankaccordingtotheirpatents;
nevertheless,asyourboon,asyoucallit,issoslight,Ishallnotdenycompliancewiththesame。\"Sosaying,heorderedthreefilesofmentotransportMacEaghontheirshoulderstoSirDuncanCampbell\'sapartment,andhehimselfhastenedbeforetoannouncethecauseofhisbeingbroughtthither。Butsuchwastheactivityofthesoldiersemployed,thattheyfollowedhimcloseattheheels,and,enteringwiththeirghastlyburden,laidMacEaghontheflooroftheapartment。Hisfeatures,naturallywild,werenowdistortedbypain;hishandsandscantygarmentsstainedwithhisownblood,andthoseofothers,whichnokindhandhadwipedaway,althoughthewoundinhissidehadbeensecuredbyabandage。
\"Areyou,\"hesaid,raisinghisheadpainfullytowardsthecouchwherelaystretchedhislateantagonist,\"hewhommencalltheKnightofArdenvohr？\"
\"Thesame,\"answeredSirDuncan,——\"whatwouldyouwithonewhosehoursarenownumbered？\"
\"Myhoursarereducedtominutes,\"saidtheoutlaw;\"themoregrace,ifIbestowthemintheserviceofone,whosehandhaseverbeenagainstme,asminehasbeenraisedhigheragainsthim。\"
\"Thinehigheragainstme！——Crushedworm！\"saidtheKnight,lookingdownonhismiserableadversary。
\"Yes,\"answeredtheoutlaw,inafirmvoice,\"myarmhathbeenhighest。Inthedeadlycontestbetwixtus,thewoundsIhavedealthavebeendeepest,thoughthinehaveneitherbeenidlenorunfelt。——IamRanaldMacEagh——IamRanaldoftheMist——thenightthatIgavethycastletothewindsinonehugeblazeoffire,isnowmatchedwiththedayinwhichyouhavefallenundertheswordofmyfathers。——Remembertheinjuriesthouhastdoneourtribe——neverweresuchinflicted,savebyone,besidethee。HE,theysay,isfatedandsecureagainstourvengeance——ashorttimewillshow。\"
\"MyLordMenteith,\"saidSirDuncan,raisinghimselfoutofhisbed,\"thisisaproclaimedvillain,atoncetheenemyofKingandParliament,ofGodandman——oneoftheoutlawedbandittioftheMist;aliketheenemyofyourhouse,oftheM\'Aulays,andofmine。Itrustyouwillnotsuffermoments,whichareperhapsmylast,tobeembitteredbyhisbarbaroustriumph。\"
\"Heshallhavethetreatmenthemerits,\"saidMenteith;\"lethimbeinstantlyremoved。\"
SirDugaldhereinterposed,andspokeofRanald\'sservicesasaguide,andhisownpledgeforhissafety;butthehighharshtonesoftheoutlawdrownedhisvoice。
\"No,\"saidhe,\"berackandgibbettheword！letmewitherbetweenheavenandearth,andgorgethehawksandeaglesofBen—
Nevis;andsoshallthishaughtyKnight,andthistriumphantThane,neverlearnthesecretIalonecanimpart;asecretwhichwouldmakeArdenvohr\'sheartleapwithjoy,wereheinthedeathagony,andwhichtheEarlofMenteithwouldpurchaseatthepriceofhisbroadearldom。——Comehither,AnnotLyle,\"hesaid,raisinghimselfwithunexpectedstrength;\"fearnotthesightofhimtowhomthouhastclungininfancy。Telltheseproudmen,whodisdaintheeastheissueofmineancientrace,thatthouartnobloodofours,——nodaughteroftheraceoftheMist,butborninhallsaslordly,andcradledoncouchassoft,aseversoothedinfancyintheirproudestpalaces。\"
\"InthenameofGod,\"saidMenteith,tremblingwithemotion,\"ifyouknowaughtofthebirthofthislady,dothyconsciencethejusticetodisburdenitofthesecretbeforedepartingfromthisworld！\"
\"Andblessmyenemieswithmydyingbreath？\"saidMacEagh,lookingathimmalignantly。——\"Sucharethemaximsyourpriestspreach——butwhen,ortowardswhom,doyoupractisethem？LetmeknowfirsttheworthofmysecretereIpartwithit——Whatwouldyougive,KnightofArdenvohr,toknowthatyoursuperstitiousfastshavebeenvain,andthattherestillremainsadescendantofyourhouse？——Ipauseforananswer——withoutit,Ispeaknotonewordmore。
\"Icould,\"saidSirDuncan,hisvoicestrugglingbetweentheemotionsofdoubt,hatred,andanxiety——\"Icould——butthatIknowthyraceareliketheGreatEnemy,liarsandmurderersfromthebeginning——butcoulditbetruethoutellestme,Icouldalmostforgivetheetheinjuriesthouhastdoneme。\"
\"Hearit！\"saidRanald;\"hehathwagereddeeplyforasonofDiarmid——Andyou,gentleThane——thereportofthecampsays,thatyouwouldpurchasewithlifeandlandsthetidingsthatAnnotLylewasnodaughterofproscription,butofaracenobleinyourestimationasyourown——Well——ItisfornoloveItellyou——ThetimehasbeenthatIwouldhaveexchangedthissecretagainstliberty;Iamnowbarteringitforwhatisdearerthanlibertyorlife。——AnnotLyleistheyoungest,thesolesurvivingchildoftheKnightofArdenvohr,whoalonewassavedwhenallinhishallsbesideswasgiventobloodandashes。\"
\"Canthismanspeaktruth？\"saidAnnotLyle,scarceknowingwhatshesaid;\"oristhissomestrangedelusion？\"
\"Maiden,\"repliedRanald,\"hadstthoudweltlongerwithus,thouwouldsthavebetterlearnttoknowhowtodistinguishtheaccentsoftruth。TothatSaxonlord,andtotheKnightofArdenvohr,I
willyieldsuchproofsofwhatIhavespoken,thatincredulityshallstandconvinced。Meantime,withdraw——Ilovedthineinfancy,Ihatenotthyyouth——noeyehatestheroseinitsblossom,thoughitgrowethuponathorn,andfortheeonlydoI
somethingregretwhatissoontofollow。Buthethatwouldavengehimofhisfoemustnotreckthoughtheguiltlessbeengagedintheruin。\"
\"Headviseswell,Annot,\"saidLordMenteith;\"inGod\'snameretire！if——iftherebeaughtinthis,yourmeetingwithSirDuncanmusthemorepreparedforbothyoursakes。\"
\"Iwillnotpartfrommyfather,ifIhavefoundone！\"saidAnnot——\"Iwillnotpartfromhimundercircumstancessoterrible。\"
\"Andafatheryoushalleverfindinme,\"murmuredSirDuncan。
\"Then,\"saidMenteith,\"IwillhaveMacEaghremovedintoanadjacentapartment,andwillcollecttheevidenceofhistalemyself。SirDugaldDalgettywillgivemehisattendanceandassistance。\"
\"Withpleasure,mylord,\"answeredSirDugald。——\"Iwillbeyourconfessor,orassessor——eitherorboth。Noonecanbesofit,forIhadheardthewholestoryamonthagoatInverarycastle——butonslaughtslikethatofArdenvohrconfuseeachotherinmymemory,whichisbesidesoccupiedwithmattersofmoreimportance。\"
Uponhearingthisfrankdeclaration,whichwasmadeastheylefttheapartmentwiththewoundedman,LordMenteithdarteduponDalgettyalookofextremeangeranddisdain,towhichtheself—
conceitoftheworthycommanderrenderedhimtotallyinsensible。
CHAPTERXXII。
Iamasfreeasnaturefirstmademan,Erethebaselawsofservitudebegan,Whenwildinwoodsthenoblesavageran。CONQUESTOFGRANADA
TheEarlofMenteith,ashehadundertaken,soheproceededtoinvestigatemorecloselythestorytoldbyRanaldoftheMist,whichwascorroboratedbytheexaminationofhistwofollowers,whohadassistedinthecapacityofguides。ThesedeclarationshecarefullycomparedwithsuchcircumstancesconcerningthedestructionofhiscastleandfamilyasSirDuncanCampbellwasabletosupply;anditmaybesupposedhehadforgottennothingrelatingtoaneventofsuchterrificimportance。Itwasofthelastconsequencetoprovethatthiswasnoinventionoftheoutlaw\'s,forthepurposeofpassinganimpostorasthechildandheiressofArdenvohr。
PerhapsMenteith,somuchinterestedinbelievingthetale,wasnotaltogetherthefittestpersontobeintrustedwiththeinvestigationofitstruth;buttheexaminationsoftheChildrenoftheMistweresimple,accurate,andinallrespectsconsistentwitheachother。Apersonalmarkwasreferredto,whichwasknowntohavebeenbornebytheinfantchildofSirDuncan,andwhichappearedupontheleftshoulderofAnnotLyle。Itwasalsowellremembered,thatwhenthemiserablerelicsoftheotherchildrenhadbeencollected,thoseoftheinfanthadnowherebeenfound。Othercircumstancesofevidence,whichitisunnecessarytoquote,broughtthefullestconvictionnotonlytoMenteith,buttotheunprejudicedmindofMontrose,thatinAnnotLyle,anhumbledependant,distinguishedonlybybeautyandtalent,theywereinfuturetorespecttheheiressofArdenvohr。
WhileMenteithhastenedtocommunicatetheresultoftheseenquiriestothepersonsmostinterested,theoutlawdemandedtospeakwithhisgrandchild,whomheusuallycalledhisson。\"Hewouldbefound,\"hesaid,\"intheouterapartment,inwhichhehimselfhadbeenoriginallydeposited。\"
Accordingly,theyoungsavage,afteraclosesearch,wasfoundlurkinginacorner,coiledupamongsomerottenstraw,andbroughttohisgrandsire。
\"Kenneth,\"saidtheoldoutlaw,\"hearthelastwordsofthesireofthyfather。ASaxonsoldier,andAllanoftheRed—hand,leftthiscampwithinthesefewhours,totraveltothecountrytoCaberfae。Pursuethemasthebloodhoundpursuesthehurtdeer——swimthelake—climbthemountain——threadtheforest——tarrynotuntilyoujointhem;\"andthenthecountenanceoftheladdarkenedashisgrandfatherspoke,andhelaidhishanduponaknifewhichstuckinthethongofleatherthatconfinedhisscantyplaid。\"No！\"saidtheoldman;\"itisnotbythyhandhemustfall。Theywillaskthenewsfromthecamp——saytothemthatAnnotLyleoftheHarpisdiscoveredtobethedaughterofDuncanofArdenvohr;thattheThaneofMenteithistowedherbeforethepriest;andthatyouaresenttobidgueststothebridal。Tarrynottheiranswer,butvanishlikethelightningwhentheblackcloudswallowsit。——Andnowdepart,belovedsonofmybestbeloved！Ishallnevermoreseethyface,norhearthelightsoundofthyfootstep——yettarryaninstantandhearmylastcharge。Rememberthefateofourrace,andquitnottheancientmannersoftheChildrenoftheMist。Wearenowastragglinghandful,drivenfromeveryvalebytheswordofeveryclan,whoruleinthepossessionswheretheirforefathershewedthewood,anddrewthewaterforours。Butinthethicketofthewilderness,andinthemistofthemountain,Kenneth,sonofEracht,keepthouunsoiledthefreedomwhichIleavetheeasabirthright。Barteritnotneitherfortherichgarment,norforthestone—roof,norforthecoveredboard,norforthecouchofdown——ontherockorinthevalley,inabundanceorinfamine——intheleafysummer,andinthedaysoftheironwinter——SonoftheMist！befreeasthyforefathers。Ownnolord——receivenolaw——takenohire——givenostipend——buildnohut——enclosenopasture——sownograin;——letthedeerofthemountainbethyflocksandherds——ifthesefailthee,preyuponthegoodsofouroppressors——oftheSaxons,andofsuchGaelasareSaxonsintheirsouls,valuingherdsandflocksmorethanhonourandfreedom。Wellforusthattheydoso——itaffordsthebroaderscopeforourrevenge。
Rememberthosewhohavedonekindnesstoourrace,andpaytheirserviceswiththyblood,shouldthehourrequireit。IfaMacIanshallcometotheewiththeheadoftheking\'ssoninhishand,shelterhim,thoughtheavengingarmyofthefatherwerebehindhim;forinGlencoeandArdnamurchan,wehavedweltinpeaceintheyearsthathavegoneby。ThesonsofDiarmid——theraceofDarnlinvarach——theridersofMenteith——mycurseonthyhead,ChildoftheMist,ifthouspareoneofthosenames,whenthetimeshallofferforcuttingthemoff！anditwillcomeanon,fortheirownswordsshalldevoureachother,andthosewhoarescatteredshallflytotheMist,andperishbyitsChildren。
Oncemore,begone——shakethedustfromthyfeetagainstthehabitationsofmen,whetherbandedtogetherforpeaceorforwar。
Farewell,beloved！andmaystthoudielikethyforefathers,ereinfirmity,disease,orage,shallbreakthyspirit——Begone！——
begone！——livefree——requitekindness——avengetheinjuriesofthyrace！\"
Theyoungsavagestooped,andkissedthebrowofhisdyingparent;butaccustomedfrominfancytosuppresseveryexteriorsignofemotion,hepartedwithouttearoradieu,andwassoonfarbeyondthelimitsofMontrose\'scamp。
SirDugaldDalgetty,whowaspresentduringthelatterpartofthisscene,wasverylittleedifiedbytheconductofMacEaghupontheoccasion。\"Icannotthink,myfriendRanald,\"saidhe,\"thatyouareinthebestpossibleroadforadyingman。Storms,onslaughts,massacres,theburningofsuburbs,areindeedasoldier\'sdailywork,andarejustifiedbythenecessityofthecase,seeingthattheyaredoneinthecourseofduty;forburningofsuburbs,inparticular,itmaybesaidthattheyaretraitorsandcut—throatstoallfortifiedtowns。Henceitisplain,thatasoldierisaprofessionpeculiarlyfavouredbyHeaven,seeingthatwemayhopeforsalvation,althoughwedailycommitactionsofsogreatviolence。Butthen,Ranald,inallservicesofEurope,itisthecustomofthedyingsoldiernottovaunthimofsuchdoings,ortorecommendthemtohisfellows;
but,onthecontrary,toexpresscontritionforthesame,andtorepeat,orhaverepeatedtohim,somecomfortableprayer;which,ifyouplease,IwillintercedewithhisExcellency\'schaplaintopreferonyouraccount。Itisotherwisenopointofmydutytoputyouinmindofthosethings;onlyitmaybefortheeaseofyourconsciencetodepartmorelikeaChristian,andlesslikeaTurk,thanyouseemtobeinafairwayofdoing。\"
Theonlyanswerofthedyingman——（forassuchRanaldMacEaghmightnowbeconsidered）——wasarequesttoberaisedtosuchapositionthathemightobtainaviewfromthewindowoftheCastle。Thedeepfrostmist,whichhadlongsettleduponthetopofthemountains,wasnowrollingdowneachruggedglenandgully,wherethecraggyridgesshowedtheirblackandirregularoutline,likedesertislandsrisingabovetheoceanofvapour。
\"SpiritoftheMist！\"saidRanaldMacEagh,\"calledbyourraceourfather,andourpreserver——receiveintothytabernacleofclouds,whenthispangisover,himwhominlifethouhastsooftensheltered。\"Sosaying,hesunkbackintothearmsofthosewhoupheldhim,spokenofurtherword,butturnedhisfacetothewallforashortspace。
\"Ibelieve,\"saidDalgetty,\"myfriendRanaldwillbefoundinhishearttobelittlebetterthanaheathen。\"AndherenewedhisproposaltoprocurehimtheassistanceofDr。Wisheart,Montrose\'smilitarychaplain;\"aman,\"saidSirDugald,\"verycleverinhisexercise,andwhowilldoexecutiononyoursinsinlesstimethanIcouldsmokeapipeoftobacco。\"
\"Saxon,\"saidthedyingman,\"speaktomenomoreofthypriest——
Idiecontented。Hadstthoueveranenemyagainstwhomweaponswereofnoavail——whomtheballmissed,andagainstwhomthearrowshivered,andwhosebareskinwasasimpenetrabletoswordanddirkasthysteelgarment——Heardstthoueverofsuchafoe？\"
\"Veryfrequently,whenIservedinGermany,\"repliedSirDugald。
\"TherewassuchafellowatIngolstadt;hewasproofbothagainstleadandsteel。Thesoldierskilledhimwiththebutsoftheirmuskets。\"
\"Thisimpassiblefoe,\"saidRanald,withoutregardingtheMajor\'sinterruption,\"whohastheblooddearesttomeuponhishands——tothismanIhavenowbequeathedagonyofmind,jealousy,despair,andsuddendeath,——oralifemoremiserablethandeathitself。
SuchshallbethelotofAllanoftheRed—hand,whenhelearnsthatAnnotwedsMenteithandIasknomorethanthecertaintythatitisso,tosweetenmyownbloodyendbyhishand。\"
\"Ifthatbethecase,\"saidtheMajor,\"there\'snomoretobesaid;butIshalltakecareasfewpeopleseeyouaspossible,forIcannotthinkyourmodeofdeparturecanbeatallcreditableorexemplarytoaChristianarmy。\"Sosaying,helefttheapartment,andtheSonoftheMistsoonafterbreathedhislast。
Menteith,inthemeanwhile,leavingthenew—foundrelationstotheirmutualfeelingsofmingledemotion,waseagerlydiscussingwithMontrosetheconsequencesofthisdiscovery。\"Ishouldnowsee,\"saidtheMarquis,\"evenhadInotbeforeobservedit,thatyourinterestinthisdiscovery,mydearMenteith,hasnosmallreferencetoyourownhappiness。Youlovethisnew—foundlady,——
youraffectionisreturned。Inpointofbirth,noexceptionscanbemade;ineveryotherrespect,heradvantagesareequaltothosewhichyouyourselfpossess——think,however,amoment。SirDuncanisafanatic——Presbyterian,atleast——inarmsagainsttheKing;heisonlywithusinthequalityofaprisoner,andweare,Ifear,butatthecommencementofalongcivilwar。Isthisatime,thinkyou,Menteith,foryoutomakeproposalsforhisheiress？Orwhatchanceistherethathewillnowlistentoit？\"
Passion,aningenious,aswellasaneloquentadvocate,suppliedtheyoungnoblemanwithathousandanswerstotheseobjections。
HeremindedMontrosethattheKnightofArdenvohrwasneitherabigotinpoliticsnorreligion。Heurgedhisownknownandprovedzealfortheroyalcause,andhintedthatitsinfluencemightbeextendedandstrengthenedbyhisweddingtheheiressofArdenvohr。HepleadedthedangerousstateofSirDuncan\'swound,theriskwhichmustberunbysufferingtheyoungladytobecarriedintothecountryoftheCampbells,where,incaseofherfather\'sdeath,orcontinuedindisposition,shemustnecessarilybeplacedundertheguardianshipofArgyle,aneventfataltohis（Menteith\'s）hopes,unlesshecouldstooptopurchasehisfavourbyabandoningtheKing\'sparty。
Montroseallowedtheforceofthesearguments,andowned,althoughthematterwasattendedwithdifficulty,yetitseemedconsistentwiththeKing\'sservicethatitshouldbeconcludedasspeedilyaspossible。
\"Icouldwish,\"saidhe,\"thatitwereallsettledinonewayoranother,andthatthisfairBriseiswereremovedfromourcampbeforethereturnofourHighlandAchilles,AllanM\'Aulay。——I
fearsomefatalfeudinthatquarter,Menteith——andIbelieveitwouldbebestthatSirDuncanbedismissedonhisparole,andthatyouaccompanyhimandhisdaughterashisescort。Thejourneycanbemadechieflybywater,sowillnotgreatlyincommodehiswound——andyourown,myfriend,willbeanhonourableexcusefortheabsenceofsometimefrommycamp。\"
\"Never！\"saidMenteith。\"WereItoforfeittheveryhopethathassolatelydawneduponme,neverwillIleaveyourExcellency\'scampwhiletheroyalstandardisdisplayed。I
shoulddeservethatthistriflingscratchshouldgangreneandconsumemysword—arm,wereIcapableofholdingitasanexcuseforabsenceatthiscrisisoftheKing\'saffairs。\"
\"Onthis,then,youaredetermined？\"saidMontrose。
\"AsfixedasBen—Nevis,\"saidtheyoungnobleman。
\"Youmust,then,\"saidMontrose,\"losenotimeinseekinganexplanationwiththeKnightofArdenvohr。Ifthisprovefavourable,IwilltalkmyselfwiththeelderM\'Aulay,andwewilldevisemeanstoemployhisbrotheratadistancefromthearmyuntilheshallbereconciledtohispresentdisappointment。
WouldtoGodsomevisionwoulddescenduponhisimaginationfairenoughtoobliteratealltracesofAnnotLyle！Thatperhapsyouthinkimpossible,Menteith？——Well,eachtohisservice;youtothatofCupid,andItothatofMars。\"
Theyparted,andinpursuanceoftheschemearranged,Menteith,earlyontheensuingmorning,soughtaprivateinterviewwiththewoundedKnightofArdenvohr,andcommunicatedtohimhissuitforthehandofhisdaughter。OftheirmutualattachmentSirDuncanwasaware,buthewasnotpreparedforsoearlyadeclarationonthepartofMenteith。Hesaid,atfirst,thathehadalready,perhaps,indulgedtoomuchinfeelingsofpersonalhappiness,atatimewhenhisclanhadsustainedsogreatalossandhumiliation,andthathewasunwilling,therefore,farthertoconsidertheadvancementofhisownhouseataperiodsocalamitous。Onthemoreurgentsuitofthenoblelover,herequestedafewhourstodeliberateandconsultwithhisdaughter,uponaquestionsohighlyimportant。
TheresultofthisinterviewanddeliberationwasfavourabletoMenteith。SirDuncanCampbellbecamefullysensiblethatthehappinessofhisnew—founddaughterdependeduponaunionwithherlover;andunlesssuchwerenowformed,hesawthatArgylewouldthrowathousandobstaclesinthewayofamatchineveryrespectacceptabletohimself。Menteith\'sprivatecharacterwassoexcellent,andsuchwastherankandconsiderationduetohisfortuneandfamily,thattheyoutbalanced,inSirDuncan\'sopinion,thedifferenceintheirpoliticalopinions。Norcouldhehaveresolved,perhaps,hadhisownopinionofthematchbeenlessfavourable,todeclineanopportunityofindulgingthenew—