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—