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。"