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 L I B RARY 
 
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 or ILLINOIS 
 
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 NOW EEADY. 
 
 In One Vol., Imperial 8vo. Price 21s. 
 
 A NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY TO 
 MOROCCO, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 THOMAS HODGKIN, M.D., F.R.G.S., &c., &c. 
 
 Illnstrated (from his Drawings taken on the spot) with Chromo- 
 Lithographs, in the best style of the Art ; together with a 
 medallion portrait of the much-lamented and talented Author, 
 a photograph of his tomb, and a portrait of Sir Moses Monte- 
 fiore, to whom (with his kind permission] the Narrative will be 
 dedicated. 
 
 By DAY and SON (Limited). 
 
 T. C. NEWBY, Publisher, 
 
 30, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square. 
 
 "Dr. Hcdgkin's account of the journey and its incidents, is 
 very well told, and is valuable in a scientific and antiquarian 
 light. The work is equally worthy of a place in the library or 
 drawing-room,"— CouET Journal.
 
 — Railways, postages — in a word, all the numerous facilities of 
 the age — ^have almost annihilated distance, and, as a natural result, 
 caused an individual trade between country customers and London 
 establishments. Those who do not visit town, so as to select and 
 purchase directly, send for patterns from which they can give their 
 orders. But as all apparent advantages on the one hand have 
 more or less their corresponding drawbacks, so this system is not 
 without its bane. Pushing tradesmen make a market by offering 
 goods at lower rates than they can possibly be sold at to realise a 
 fair profit. The bait traps the unreflective, and the result is that 
 the receipts en masse are not equal to the tempting samples. There 
 is no new invention in this ; it has been practised in wholesale 
 merchandise and by candidates for contracts, as the proverb hath 
 it, since there were hills and valleys. But we grieve to add it is 
 sometimes resorted to by those whom one would credit for more 
 integrity. Ladies, therefore, need exercise caution, and place 
 confidence only in houses of old-established fame, for rapidly-made 
 businesses are not generally reliable. And to what does this asser- 
 tion amount more than to the fact that nothing great can be 
 effected not only without labour but without time, and that Rome 
 was not built, as the old saying says, in a day ? Messrs. Jay, of 
 Regent-street, whose name is well known amongst the few on the 
 list of bona fide establishments in the metropolis, are about to adopt 
 a plan (which will be registered) for assisting country ladies in 
 choosing for themselves London fashions and fabrics. And their 
 customers may rest assured that they will thus be enabled to obtain 
 goods of every quality, both low and high priced, at the most 
 reasonable terms — that is, the terms of small profits for quick 
 returns — and that they may firmly rely upon the thoroughly 
 corresponding character of samples and supplies. — From the 
 Court Journal^ April 27, 1867.
 
 TORTH OF THE TWEED 
 
 LOEANCE LANGTON: 
 
 HIS LIFE, INCIDENTS, AND ADVENTURES 
 IN SCOTLAND. 
 
 BT 
 
 DANIEL CEOWBERET. 
 
 ' Should you, Sir Stranger, want a book, 
 And cast on ms a passing look ; 
 Heed not my outward shape or tone, 
 But purchase, open, and read on. 
 This done, next, when my parts you scan, 
 Remember, sir, your fellow man." 
 
 The Book. 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 f0nto: 
 
 T. CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER, 
 
 30, WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. 
 1867. 
 [the eight of translation is besekved.]
 
 ^^3 
 
 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 <^ CHAPTER I. 
 
 
 FAMILY HISTORY. 
 
 It was about the close of the last century when 
 the subject of these pages made his first appear- 
 ance on the shores of merry England. He was 
 indeed, at the time, of tender years. Bis number 
 ^ might be reckoned at about eight. He was the 
 son of an opulent merchant and shipo^vner in 
 Calcutta, and had arrived from India under the 
 convoy of an English officer and a trustworthy 
 nurse, the widow of a British soldier. 
 
 VOL. L B
 
 2 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 His father, Robert Langton, was descended from 
 an ancient family, whose ancestors had held long 
 and uninterrupted possession of extensive estates in 
 Scotland, but subsequently falling among evil 
 times when the bolts of civil war fell heavily upon 
 their house, and becoming compromised in the re- 
 bellion, they paid the penalty of their offence 
 by the forfeiture of their paternal lands, while 
 the last lord of the soil sought an asylum in France 
 and died childless. His heir, or next of kin, was 
 a younger brother, but being alike under the royal 
 ban, he contrived to escape to London, where he 
 changed his name, and afterwards embraced some 
 branch of commerce. Possessed of an energetic 
 mind and superior education, this gentleman was 
 most successful in his enterprises, and in due 
 time his family followed him southward. Upon 
 his death he left two sons and an only daughter. 
 The latter married a wealthy banker of the city, 
 and became the mother of a large family, now 
 living in the full enjoyment of their fortunes. 
 
 The t\^o sons, brothers of the lady, had during
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 3 
 
 their father's lifetime, embarkecl for India, where 
 they also entered extensively into commerce, and 
 finally became large bankers and shipowners. Of 
 these brothers, Robert was the elder, who married 
 the daughter of a general officer, by whom he had 
 an only child, the subject of our narrative. Pre- 
 ferring the hardier climate of Scotland for the 
 rearing and education of their son, the parents 
 accordingly had him transported to England, as 
 above observed. 
 
 But to retrace cur steps for a brief period. 
 After the total overthow of the Stuart cause, fol- 
 lowed by the re-establishment of peace and order, 
 many of the forfeited estates were restored to the 
 heirs of those subjects w^ho had fallen under the 
 Act of Attainder. Amongst the number to whom 
 the royal clemency had been extended, was in- 
 cluded the family in question, but, haplessly, 
 as it proved, owing to the temporary adoption of 
 another name, together with the obscurity under 
 which for so many years the direct heirs had re- 
 mained, and that in a remote part of the globe, 
 
 B 2
 
 4 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 another claimant for the property, in the person 
 of a distant kinsman, had pressed forward and 
 usurped their lawful rights. This was an 
 avaricious nobleman, of vast wealth and influence, 
 and from whose powerful grasp, after years of 
 possession, the rescue of estates of such value 
 was represented to the legitimate branch as in- 
 volving an enterprise at law of very formidable 
 magnitude. 
 
 There was, moreover, between Robert Langton 
 and the usurper, another intermediate relation of 
 closer affinity, but who, in like manner with many 
 others, had, by a crafty chief, been trepanned into 
 the treasonable movement, whereby, being at- 
 tainted, he suffered the family reverses consequent 
 to it. This truculent individual had played the 
 double part of first fanning the political flame, 
 then betraying his party into the hands of the 
 €nemy. 
 
 This unfortunate relative had an only son, 
 named John Langton, who stood in the position 
 of first cousin to Robert, the heir at law and
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 5 
 
 father of our young hero. But upon the Indem- 
 nity Act coming into operation, his family, as re- 
 corded, was labouring under a hostile influence 
 from parties high in political favour, and prol)ably 
 fearing the humiliation of a repulse, lie proudly 
 declined to appeal to the Government with his 
 claims. But of his cousin more hereafter. 
 
 When the '' Great Bajah of the East" had 
 dropped her anchor in the Thames, which had borne 
 Master Lorry (as his nurse fussily termed her 
 lively charge) to the great commercial emporium 
 of the world, he was speedily conveyed to a 
 spacious mansion in Finsbury Square, then one of 
 the fashionable abodes for the elite of the city. 
 Being the son of a man of reputed wealth, he 
 here found amongst his father's rich relations fond 
 and loving cousins without number ; and it was 
 not until he had passed into the second year 
 from the date of his arrival, that he was per- 
 mitted to re-embark on a Leith packet for the 
 northern capital. 
 
 With Edinburgh, however, bis journey was not
 
 6 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 destined to terminate, and in this city his stay 
 was of limited duration. 
 
 Here the old friends of his father had either 
 all died, or all traces of them had become lost in 
 the lapse of time. 
 
 Indeed, the only relation in Scotland with 
 whom his parents had for many years been 
 in communication, or of whom they had re- 
 ceived any distinct intelligence, was a spinster 
 cousin, residing upon her property in the 
 Highlands. 
 
 In her youth this lady had been endowed with 
 a considerable share of personal attractions ; but 
 whether they had impressed themselves with any 
 degree upon the susceptibilities of her relative, is 
 unknown. 
 
 This much, however, is certain, — that, previous 
 to his departure for India, the lady is alleged to 
 have betraj^ed some indications in his favour, of 
 a warmer kind than commonly falls to the lot of 
 friendly cousins. Nor, it is affirmed^ did this 
 partiality suffer any abatement, even with his
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 7 
 
 marriage, but was cherished with singular fidelity 
 in after years ; and it is but due to record, on 
 behalf of the gentleman, that this constancy was 
 fully appreciated, not only by himself, but by his 
 generous and sympathising wife. 
 
 When, therefore, he first intimated to her his 
 intention to send his child home to Scotland for 
 his education, she expressed an earnest desire 
 that he should be confided to her care. 
 
 Her retired habits and remote residence at 
 first appeared to his parents as obstacles to this 
 proposal; but these were afterwards overcome, 
 probably from the fact that she was an heiress, 
 with the entire control and disposal of her pro- 
 perty, while his father himself was in reality her 
 nearest of kin.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTJEE 11. 
 
 COMYN-CRYPT. 
 
 Within a picturesque glen, surrounded by high 
 and overhanging mountains, in the shire of 
 
 — there stands (stood, at the time of our 
 
 history) an antiquated residence of an hybrid 
 stjde — being neither of the order of castle or 
 mansion, but partaking awkwardly of both, with 
 a contribution from the ecclesiastic— which crowns 
 its architectural eccentricity with the perplexing 
 name of Comyn-Crypt, commonly called the 
 Crypt. 
 
 The castellated portion of this fabric owes its 
 origin to a very remote period, and still includes 
 within the rano-e of its external walls some visible
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 9 
 
 traces of an ancient chapel ; while in the outer 
 buildings or offices may yet be seen a compart- 
 ment retaining the name of Mews — the chamber 
 in which, in bygone days, the sporting hawks of 
 the gentry were commonly mewed or kept. 
 
 Out of the former of these, with some modern 
 additions, but without regard to taste or uni- 
 formity in construction, the present dwelling has 
 been fashioned. 
 
 That the proprietors had long been persons of 
 rank and position in tlie county, they have left 
 ample indications behind them. 
 
 Within the portion now under occupancy, 
 there is a spacious room, partially wainscotted in 
 oaken panels, overhung with family portraits, 
 and partially lined with tapestry, containing 
 designs of hunting scenes, stags and deerhounds 
 in full chase, hawks and herons on the soar, 
 knights in armour, and chieftains in full Highland 
 costume, with fountains in play, and northern 
 landscapes ; of the latter, one represents Loch- 
 leven Castle, with the escape of Mary Stuart. 
 
 B 5
 
 10 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Most of these, thougli betokening decay, afford 
 spirited pictures of the olden times. 
 
 The present owner and occupant of this curious 
 habitation is a maiden lady of discreet years, 
 maintaining a monotonous and somewhat super- 
 annuated establishment, in benefitting harmony 
 with the mason-work. The baptismal name of this 
 heiress is Jean Laurentia Murray, but she is 
 better known amongst the inhabitants of a small 
 village upon the estate by the title of '^ Leddie 
 Jean." The roll of her domestics consists of an 
 aged housekeepe r, an elderly butler, two sedate 
 maids, a coachman, combining with his office 
 that of groom, with a helper, or errand-boy. 
 
 Obviously, as n ow seen, Comyn-Crypt is upon 
 the eve of a great event. For upwards of three 
 days an unusual stir has been visible within the 
 old walls. In truth, as by the sound of an 
 enchanter's trumpe t, it appears to have suddenly 
 awakened from an age of lethargy. Even the 
 drowsy dogs upon the rugs are pricking up their 
 ears, raising themselves up upon their gouty
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 11 
 
 legs, and looking wonderingly about them. Upon 
 three several occasions within the last forty-eight 
 hours, have the butler and houskeeper jostled 
 each other in their hurry to and fro within the 
 winding passages. Something is clearly on foot, 
 far exceeding the excitement of an ordinary 
 " cleaning day." From the neighbouring village 
 extra hands have been called in, and there have 
 been lighting of fires, rubbing of windows, beat- 
 ing of carpets, shifting of furniture, airing of 
 bedding, with other domestic toils, under such 
 active operation that the servants, for once in 
 their lifetime, have found an apology for an 
 appetite and a real excuse for going to sleep in 
 chairs. 
 
 But this sudden awakening has not been con- 
 fined within the walls of the mansion alone ; it 
 has extended itself to the outer buildings, and, 
 in the general resuscitation, the old chaise has 
 not been passed by. The yellow bottom, like a 
 capacious boat on the waves of the sea, comes
 
 12 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 rocking out upon its high springs, clear and shiny 
 as the saflPron flower, which lends to it its nominal 
 lustre ; while the family crest, and silver mount- 
 ings upon the harness, glitter in the sun with 
 unwonted splendour. In this burnished state, 
 the rumbling equipage has now been summoned 
 to the hall-door. It has to undergo a due in- 
 spection from Miss Murray, and this is to be 
 effected through the streaky old glass-work of 
 her window — the lady prudently eschews the 
 door, from a constant dread she has of the east 
 wind, which, indeed, would seem to be as con- 
 stantly lying in wait for her. 
 
 The chariot has passed muster, and there is 
 now an arm-load of shawls and wrappers thrust 
 within the door, followed by a basket containing 
 boiled eggs, cold fowl, and sundry other tit-bits 
 of provision. Finally, an elderly gentleman, in 
 the rank of seneschal, enters the carriage, pulls 
 down the blinds, and the scene closes with an 
 essay by the two bays at a lazy trot. The
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 13 
 
 chaise lias to meet tlie South coach, at the hour 
 of four in the afternoon, and the Cross- roads are 
 about nine miles distant. 
 
 Precisely as the clock strikes seven on the 
 same evening, the rumbling sound of the return- 
 ing vehicle is distinctly heard in a long avenae 
 of trees conducting to the mansion. Anon, the 
 horses, without one turn of a hair on their coats 
 — nothing in this establishment must be pressed 
 — are drawn up in stately order, under the porch. 
 Soon the goodly presence of the grey-headed 
 butler is seen to emerge from the door, followed 
 closely by a lively-looking little fellow, half- 
 smothered in shawls, although, be it observed, 
 the time of the year is mid-summer. 
 
 Miss Murray being apprised of the arrival, 
 and having resumed her former position at the 
 window, is now eyeing, with extraordinary in- 
 terest, these proceedings at her door, through the 
 double medium of her gold spectacles and the 
 twisted panes. 
 
 " I could have known that child to be a Lang-
 
 14 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 ton in a multitude. It has Robert's very nose 
 and mouth. Bless the little creature !" 
 
 So said the lady aloud to herself ; and so soon 
 as a report was confirmed that the bolts of the 
 hall-door had been duly shot against her impla- 
 cable enemy, the " east wind "—it was every- 
 where else a mild breeze from the south, but 
 with a malignity unspeakable in its humours, 
 as with its sister in the west, it always, at 
 this door, wheeled round and clothed itself in 
 eastern terrors — she proceeded to meet and em- 
 brace the little stranger, her " nephew." 
 
 A suite of separate apartments, as if for a 
 prince, have been arranged and remodelled for 
 his reception, and huge fires of hewn timber and 
 turf are now glowing in each stove, with inten- 
 sity of heat sufficient to scare from the gates 
 every damp and daring wind from either point 
 of our compass. The welcome guest is now 
 formally inducted. On his journey from the 
 Cross-roads, he and the butler had evidently 
 entered into a bond of amity; and the latter
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 15 
 
 being first in possession of his acquaintance, had 
 undertaken to introduce him to the general house- 
 hold, and especially to all the dogs and other 
 quadrupeds upon the premises. 
 
 By Led die Jean, he has been received with all 
 the gracious and tender manifestations which could 
 reasonably' be expected from a spinster lady, 
 who has long led a life of seclusion, of habitually 
 stiff, formal and stately bearing, and from whose 
 corporeal presence and personal address all the 
 green suppleness and vital sweetness of youth 
 have passed away and been forgotten. 
 
 At first sight the little stranger did not think 
 he would like his aunt, — not, certainly, so much 
 as the butler ; and the dull and sombre appear- 
 ance of the house into which he had been uslrered 
 contrasted unfavourably in his mind with the 
 fashionable style and lively manners of his 
 London cousins, whom he had so lately left in 
 Finsbury Square. 
 
 But the lady, on the other hand, in so far as 
 the dry incrustations of a kindly heart could be
 
 16 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 rendered permeable to the enfeebled promptings 
 within it, which at best were but ill calculated to 
 be addressed to juvenile sympathies, at once 
 showed a liking for the boy ; and as her eyes 
 dwelt with an air of abstraction upon his youthful 
 form, her mind insensibly seemed to wander back, 
 till it lost itself in the mazes of early dreams. 
 
 His features were smooth and regular, and set 
 off by a lively expression, and good complexion. 
 His hair was light, and slightly curled ; and his 
 eyes were blue, mild, and indicative of great in- 
 telligence. He was dressed in a neat blue jacket, 
 vest and trousers of the same ; and wore an 
 Oriental cap, which was soon changed for the 
 Glengarry. 
 
 His journeyings for the present being at an 
 end, he soon, (ciceroned by the butler) pro- 
 ceeded to familiarise himself with the com- 
 mon scenes and notable places in the neighbour- 
 hood.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MISS MURRAY HOLDS A CONSULTATION. 
 
 A FEW days of refreshing rest, under the foster- 
 ing care of his zealous aunt, speedily removed 
 from our little traveller all the tiny effects of his 
 recent journey ; and discovering, through his 
 quick perceptions, that he was an object not only 
 of general favour, but of watchfulness and study 
 by the whole household, he soon began to recon- 
 cile himself to the domestic oddities and eccen- 
 tricities of his new home, — although naturally 
 some time must to elapse before his dainty tastes 
 could altoo-ether assimilate with the rouo^her 
 elements around him. Upon this point, from the
 
 18 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 commencement of the project, Miss Murray 
 herself had hitherto experienced some silent mis- 
 givings ; but the reiterated assurances she had 
 received from the butler, in answer to her daily 
 inquiries, that the "young master was taking 
 kindly on to the place," removed her fears, and 
 were to her a source of unfeigned pleasure. 
 
 Finding matters progressing in this manner, 
 the lady next resolved upon holding a chamber- 
 council with her prime minister, the butler, con- 
 cerning; the further career of her new charo:e. 
 
 " Saunders," she said, addressing him with a 
 solemnity of air, " you cannot be insensible to 
 the grave responsibility now devolving upon me 
 in thus undertaking the rearing and education of 
 this youth, a Christian duty which heretofore 
 Providence has not demanded at my hands ; con- 
 sequently, in many things appertaining thereunto, 
 I am altogether without experience, and there- 
 fore in some of these will require your aid. 
 With respect to his education, our minister is the 
 most competent person to afford advice. But,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 19 
 
 as we all know, there are other accomplishments, 
 besides scholastic attainments, which a gentleman 
 of rank and fortune must acquire, in order to fit 
 him in every position of life for the society of his 
 peers. Amongst these, I presume, hunting, 
 fishing, and shooting, will take a prominent place. 
 But these are beyond my present purpose. To 
 me, his father has expressed a most earnest desire 
 that, in order to strengthen his constitution, and 
 enable him as he grows up, to take part in those 
 manly games and country sports, for which, as 
 he phrases it, Scotland has ever been celebrated, 
 he must be early initiated and instructed therein. 
 He, moreover, wishes him to be taught swimming 
 (which I think very dangerous), and, in his youth, 
 to be well exercised in walking, riding, running, 
 and ascending and descending these steep moun- 
 tains, — strange fancy ! which, he avers, will in- 
 vigorate his limbs, strengthen his lungs, and foster 
 courage in his mind. Now, Saunders (for upon this 
 point I have no one else to consult), I wish to
 
 20 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 know how far personally you can undertake to 
 instruct and exercise him in these things." 
 
 *^Is it your pleasure, Miss Murray," said the 
 attentive listener, with a look of embarrassment, 
 '^ to know how far I can undertake to run, like a 
 proper trainer, and give Master Lorry a daily 
 winding up and down the mountains ?" 
 
 ** Foolish man !" interrupted the lady. ^' No 
 such thing ; I merely wished to learn if you can 
 undertake their direction. In your early life, and 
 before you entered your present service, you 
 lived, as you informed me, with a great sporting 
 character, and used, if my memory is correct, to 
 assist and accompany the younger branches of 
 his family in their juvenile games and exercises." 
 
 '^ I did. Miss Murray." 
 
 *^ With your former knowledge and experience 
 in these matters, do you, then, think you could 
 engage to oversee and direct such exercises and 
 out-door amusement as are common to boys of 
 his age ?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 21 
 
 " Freely and willingly." 
 
 " Under these circumstances, then, I will con- 
 fide to you this part of my duty ; and, as I have 
 no knowledge in such matters, I must trust to 
 you to think over and let me know by to-morrow 
 what means, in the form of articles for this end — 
 toys he will not want — I will require to provide 
 for him ; and see that nothing be omitted that 
 may contribute to his health and happiness." 
 
 As the lady finished these remarks, the worthy 
 servant, who had grown grey in her service, 
 though not yet so much advanced in years as to 
 have altogether outlived some bodily activity, re- 
 turned his august mistress a very significant 
 acknowledgment of the compliment thus paid to 
 him. 
 
 " Miss Murray " — she preferred this form of 
 address to madam — answered the butler, in return, 
 very much elated in countenance, "it shall be my 
 endeavour to carry out your commands to the 
 utmost of my power " (he spoke better English 
 than most of his class). " But there are some
 
 22 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 other things, besides what ye have mentioned, that 
 the young master must learn." 
 
 "No doubt of that, Saunders; but what do you 
 refer to ?" enquired the lady. 
 
 ^* He must be taught dancing — taught the 
 Highland-fling, and the Reel-o'-TuUoch ; as to 
 anything else, barrin' a Strathspey or the sword- 
 dance, they are fit only for Lowland shanks, and 
 the soft-soled loons ayont the Tweed." 
 
 Miss Murray smiled, 
 
 " Then, Saunders," she said, " I presume you 
 consider it a part of your duty to teach your pupil 
 these northern accomplishments." 
 
 The old man blushed. 
 
 " I cannot now undertake that," he replied, 
 *' but I've seen the day when I could hae done it 
 brawly. Still, Master Lorry must learn them, or 
 he'll never be thought worthy to wear the family 
 kilt." 
 
 " In that case, then, we must provide for him a 
 proper master." 
 
 With these words the conference ended, and on
 
 NOKTH OF THE TWEED, 23 
 
 the following clay a small scroll was presented to 
 the lady, containing a list of articles, which he 
 had noted down in accordance with the afore- 
 named request, and in which appeared, amongst 
 the several items, a bow and arrows, a small 
 fishing-rod, a foot-ball, and a Shetland pony — 
 the said list comjDrehending, in Mr. Saunder's 
 opinion, the first instalment of his pupil's require- 
 ments. Within the few following days a new 
 pony was in the stable, and a bow, with a sheaf of 
 arrows, were seen in the hall. 
 
 Thus far had measures been carried and pro- 
 vision accorded for the exercise and amusement 
 of the little stranger. With a full appreciation 
 of her position. Miss Murray next directed her 
 attention to the important consideration of his 
 education, and in pursuance of this object 
 addressed a letter to the clergyman of the parish, 
 requesting of the reverend gentleman the favour 
 of an early call to deliberate with her concerning 
 the best mode of obtaining a competent tutor. 
 With an alacrity unexampled in the history of
 
 24 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 her sombre establishment, the epistle was duly 
 despatched to its destination and was speedily 
 responded to. Upon the following day a consulta- 
 tion took place, which resulted in the recom- 
 mendation and subsequent election of an un- 
 ordained gentleman, qualified for holy orders, 
 whose installation immediately followed. 
 
 Had experience afforded, Master Lorry might 
 now have likened his new position to that of a 
 foreign captive in a Highland fortlet, whose every 
 movement was placed under the surveillance of 
 indulgent keepers. He was soon, however, 
 enabled to comprehend the full value of these 
 measures ; and to feel their object to be rather to 
 direct his actions than coerce his will. Still, 
 between his two instructors, he felt a daily 
 demand upon his hours, such as he had never 
 before experienced. Nevertheless, he did not 
 shrink from his several tasks, but went bravely 
 to work. His tutor was a good scholar, 
 as the phrase in Scotland goes, of kindly 
 manners and amiable disposition, and possessed.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 25 
 
 moreover, the practical wisdom of knowing that 
 it was better to entice onward than press the 
 young mind in academical walks. He therefore 
 commenced and conducted the progress of his 
 pupil bj easy stages, often turning an indulgent 
 eye upon the greater monopoly of his time by his 
 rival instructor, the butler. 
 
 The return of the old servant to the games of 
 his earlier years was to him, in effect, like the re- 
 newal of his youth, and after the expiration of a 
 few days '^ on drill," by his own averment, he 
 felt himself a '' different man upon his legs." He 
 played — though it must be understood in a quali- 
 fied sense— a daily round of foot-ball with his 
 pupil, taught him how to strike the ball with his 
 left as with his right foot, how to bend his bow, 
 to balance the arrow, and give to it the due eleva- 
 tion according to the respective distances from 
 the target. But the worthy man was not long 
 left to bear alone the whole burthen of these toils. 
 So soon as the arrival of the little stranger had 
 been made known to the neighbourhood, an 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 26 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 esteemed friend, of the name of Colonel Keitli, 
 accompanied by a beautiful little daughter, drove 
 over in an open carriage to the Crypt, to pay an 
 early visit to Miss Murray and the little stranger, 
 and finding the butler engaged, as we have seen, 
 with his charge, he kindly profiered his services 
 to assist the lady with her 'proUgi in every way 
 his experience and her wishes could suggest. 
 Himself a passionate sportsman and angler, he 
 undertook in due course to initiate the young 
 gentleman into the mysteries of these crafts; but 
 first of all to instruct him in riding and the manage- 
 ment of his pony.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 27 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE KYMES AND THE CRYPT. 
 
 At about the distance of two miles from Comyn 
 Crypt, topping a slight elevation in the same 
 romantic glen, and situated upon the brink of a 
 beautiful mountain stream, stands the family 
 residence of Colonel Alexander Keith, called the 
 Kymes. It is a modern mansion, which, in the 
 time of the present occupant's father, had been 
 re-built upon the foundation of an old castellated 
 structure. It is sheltered from the north by par- 
 tially wooded and heather-clad hills, which slope 
 upwards to a great height, terminating in jagged 
 and fantastic peaks. In front there is an open 
 
 c 2
 
 28 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 stretcli of moorland, but in its immediate vicinity 
 the grounds are laid down under a coat of rich 
 verdure, here and there ornamented with old 
 timber and belts of thriving plantations. 
 
 Unlike the Montagues and the Capulets, the 
 heads of these houses — namely, the Crypt and the 
 Kymes — had long maintained a sort of traditional 
 friendship for each other ; these friendly relations 
 being probably strengthened by the absence in 
 the neighbourhood of any other resident gentry. 
 
 Colonel Alex. Keith was descended from an 
 ancient Scottish family, whose forefathers had 
 always been distinguished for their loyalty and 
 patriotism. In his earlier years he had devoted 
 himself to the profesion of arms, but had now re- 
 tired from the service of his sovereign to reside 
 upon his property, carrying with him the friend- 
 ship and esteem of all with whom he had served. 
 He was of a generous and sociable disposition, 
 and in his retirement took some pride in main- 
 taining the old Highland hospitality, with many 
 of the ancient and generous customs of his coun-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 29 
 
 trymen. He liad married the daughter of a rich 
 Glasgow merchant, who carried with her to her 
 mountain home a substantial dowr3\ Though 
 reared and educated in the position of a lady, 
 Mrs. Keith was alleged to be deficient in some of 
 those exalted attributes now required to main- 
 tain her rank amongst the old aristocratic families 
 of the country. In their union this couple, more- 
 over, had been unfortunate with their children. 
 Within the first six years of their married life 
 they had lost a daughter and an only son, and at 
 the date of our narrative, had but a second daugh- 
 ter left to console them. With the loss of the 
 son or, finally, a male heir, the paternal estates 
 passed into the possession of a lateral branch of 
 the family ; and this circumstance, weighing in 
 a measure upon their minds, did not tend to 
 mitigate their sorrow. Subsequently, however, 
 and when the surviving child was in her sixth or 
 seventh year, she had the happiness to be pre- 
 sented with a little sister, who received the name 
 of Grizell, the name of the elder being Agnes.
 
 30 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Master Larry had a pecnliar taste and aptitude 
 for all kinds of games and out-door diversions. 
 
 In India, from being a favourite with most of 
 the sporting officers who visited his father's house, 
 whom, though then an infant, he frequently ac- 
 companied in their pastimes, he had acquired a 
 sort of precocious knowledge, especially of the 
 technicalities of many of them. 
 
 Of this knowledge, small as it was, he now 
 made frequent use, to the astonishment not 
 only of his aunt but his preceptors at the 
 Crypt ; and whatever may have been the amount 
 of his progress in Eton grammar and Cornelius 
 Nepos— and the report was not unfavourable — 
 certain it was, that ere twelve months had passed 
 over, he was found in a fair way for attaining 
 distinction in the art of climbing trees, ascending 
 precipices, bird-nesting, jumping, running, and 
 the like, xilready he could boast of having twice 
 on foot " wiped" the wind out of a fat lazy old 
 pony, with the butler on it's back, after a race of 
 half a mile ; and he had now on his '^ list of en-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 31 
 
 gagements" another " go" for a " spin" of two 
 hundred yards with his erudite tutor, to whom he 
 had had the temerity to give the challenge. But 
 this interesting event— to the vast disappoint- 
 ment of his trainer (the butler), who, on the 
 sly, had bet heavily on the " young-un," that is 
 to say, to the extent of twelve old ringed pennies, 
 — was destined for a failure. 
 
 When the conditions of the race came on for 
 deliberation, the little fellow could not accept 
 them, and resolutely '' declared off." Thej were 
 one-sided, he averred, unsportsmanlike, and alto- 
 gether beyond the pale of the Jockey Club. He 
 was willing, he said, to drop the point of weight 
 for age on the part of the tutor — willing to run him 
 fair, on the level, up-hill, or down-hill, for equal 
 stakes ; but otherwise he declined to '^ shake his 
 pins." 
 
 Without prejudice to the case, we confess that 
 on review, to say the least of it, the terms ap- 
 peared to be rather hard, and savouring some- 
 what of the *' birch."
 
 32 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 They were to the effect that, if the pupil became 
 the winner, he should receive a new copy of 
 " Paradise Regained ;" but, if the fortunes of the 
 day went against him, then, as the price of his 
 temerity, he should commit to memory, within 
 three days of the race, two hundred and fifty 
 lines of the first book of " Paradise Lost," or 
 the whole of the Hundred and nineteenth 
 Psalm. 
 
 The remarkable activity, the amiable dis- 
 position, and manly pluck of the boy soon recom- 
 mended him in an especial manner to the esteem 
 of Colonel Keith. 
 
 As the youth advanced, this gentleman in his 
 daily rides not unfrequently called at the Crypt, 
 after the morning lessons were over, and desired 
 of Miss Murray that he should be allowed to 
 accompany him, for the purpose of receiving 
 some instructions in riding, and even went so far 
 as to occasionally interpose on his behalf for a 
 holiday. 
 
 Whereupon, he taught him the distinction
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 33 
 
 between the military anl hunting seats in the 
 saddle. 
 
 And when his eldest daughter was in her 
 seventh or eighth year, she joined them on their 
 rides upon a steady sheltie ; and during these 
 expeditions, he used to teach him, with all the 
 punctilio of a Court Cavalier, how to raise a lady 
 to her saddle, how to receive her from it, and how 
 to deport himself by her side. 
 
 He also taught him the several divisions of the 
 broad-sword exercise ; and such was his progress 
 " in arms/' together with a confidence in his 
 skill, that, like Norval in the play, he '' longed" for 
 an opportunity to make trial of it in earnest — 
 ^^ with sticks." 
 
 Expressing himself to this effect upon an 
 occasion, when out riding with the Colonel in the 
 neighbourhood of the Kymes, he chanced to see 
 a man at a short distance off, walking in a field 
 with a staff in his hand, whereupon he im- 
 mediately sought permission to proceed to 
 challenge him. 
 
 c 5
 
 34? NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 The permission was granted, and forward rode 
 the youth. 
 
 *^ Hallo ! good fellow," he said, "I have come 
 to challenge you to a combat with sticks," carry- 
 ing his own (somewhat stout for his age) in true 
 order for going in to action. 
 
 '' I should prefer, Master Lorry," replied the 
 man, turning his broad round face upon him, " a 
 trial wi* our nivs (fists), for the knuckles dinna 
 hurt sae sair as the sticks." 
 
 The boy, sadly disappointed, wheeled instantly 
 round, and rode back. 
 
 *' What !" exclaimed the Colonel, with an 
 assumed gravity, " shall it be said that my young 
 lieutenant has turned his back upon his foe with- 
 out even crossing swords with him ?" 
 
 " Oh, Colonel, I beg your pardon," answered 
 tbe boy, "it's one of our allies, your young 
 gardener ; and I should not have liked to disable 
 him, and deprive you of his services." 
 
 At this heroic essay, Colonel Keith, who all 
 the while knew full well who the party was, looked
 
 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 35 
 
 on in a paroxysm of constrained laughter ; but 
 consoled his disappointed lieutenant by pronoun- 
 cing it an exploit worthy the knight of La Mancha, 
 from which he had retreated with untarnished 
 honour. 
 
 Within the distance of five miles from the 
 KymeSj Colonel Keith had a kinsman, named 
 Ranold, then residing upon his extensive property, 
 called Cranmore. 
 
 This gentleman was accounted one of the most 
 general sportsmen of his time. He was a famous 
 shot and deer-stalker, possessed the best deer- 
 hounds, otter-hounds, and terriers within his 
 county ; and, while he pursued his various sports 
 over mountains, lakes, and rivers, he also carried 
 huntins: into the skies. Amono^st the few lino-er- 
 ing remnants — occasionally yet met with even in 
 England — of the once universal sport of hawking, 
 Mr. Eanold, in his love and reverence for the 
 ancient pastime, included in his establishment a 
 small flight of hawks, which he maintained and
 
 36 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 commonly procured, by strict preservation, from 
 a cliff upon his own estates. 
 
 A visit to tliis interesting establishment had 
 for some time been promised to Master Lorry, 
 and one day, in company with the Colonel, he set 
 out for Cranmore. The youth was marvellously 
 pleased with the sight of so many fine horses and 
 sporting dogs, but what seemed the most to take 
 his youthful fancy were the docile hawks. The 
 birds, in their unique furniture of bells and 
 jesses, were sitting in the open air upon a smooth 
 lawn, leashed to their blocks ; they were without 
 their hoods, and their beautiful eyes, golden feet, 
 and noble bearing, verifying their title to the 
 ** aristocracy of the skies," with their former claim 
 to the rank and company of our nobility and 
 gentry, excited his curiosity and admiration in no 
 small degree. But the interest thus awakened 
 was not to be limited to the mere sight 
 of the birds only. He must needs know 
 where such wonderful creatures were to be
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 37 
 
 found. This question, however, seemed to touch 
 the gentleman's falconer — a canny Highlander — 
 upon a sensitive point. It obviously referred to 
 a secret and forbidden spot ; and, with the free- 
 dom of a i^rivileged servant, probably fearing that 
 his master might make an imprudent disclosure, 
 he took the liberty to step forward and make the 
 reply. 
 
 " Petimes/' he said, '' the eyesses pe kot on the 
 Isle o' Skye, where the olt purts preet, put the 
 haggarts pe foont in Chermany an' Norway, an' 
 come ow'r the sea in ships." 
 
 " But are there none to be had nearer to home, 
 master falconer ?" enquired the other. 
 
 " Aye, I pelieve at the Pass Rock, if ye ken 
 wbere that is, an' on some cliffs in Panfshire.'' 
 
 '' Thank you, master falconer," said the young 
 interrogator, making an entry in his book. 
 
 During this conversation the two elder gentle- 
 men looked on highly amused. 
 
 On their journey homewards. Master Lorry 
 expressed to the Colonel an earnest desire to ob-
 
 38 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 tain a falcon, and, miicli to tis deliglit, he was 
 informed by the gentleman that, when the breed- 
 ing season came round, he would endeavour to 
 put him in the way of gratifying his wish ; and 
 that, too, within a more convenient distance from 
 the Crypt than any of the places referred to by 
 the falconer, and still without trespassing upon 
 the Cranmore preserves. 
 
 At the Crypt this visit to Cranmore became the 
 subject of the whole evening's conversation. 
 
 Master Lorry recounted to his aunt all the 
 marvels and incidents of his journey ; told her 
 of the fine dogs and ponies he had seen, and of 
 the wonderful hunting hawks; also that he had 
 been invited to again accompany the Colonel to 
 see the birds flown at grouse upon the moors. 
 To the butler he was . still more communicative, 
 but great was his juvenile wonder and joy when 
 he found that the old man could not only tell 
 him a vast deal about hawking, but was even able 
 to conduct him to a rock where a pair of falcons 
 hatched their young every year, and, moreover,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 39 
 
 where permission to take the latter was in his own 
 gift. But our sweetest roses are often surrounded 
 bj the most prickly thorns, and the worthy- 
 seneschal deemed it his duty to here apprise his 
 sanguine listener of this proverbial fact. Sorry 
 indeed was he to have to add that the eyrie was 
 deemed beyond the reach of man, being beset by 
 almost insurmountable obstacles. It was situated 
 on an overhanging cliff of rocks, on the verge of 
 an inland lake. From the bottom it was, there- 
 fore, inaccessible, and from the top, owing to a 
 projection in the formation of the precipice, under 
 which, within a small recess, the nest was placed, 
 itbecame almost impossible to be reached by means 
 of a rope. Many daring men had made the at- 
 tempt, but only one had accomplished the feat 
 and taken the young, and that was a professional 
 climber for eggs and birds on the sea coast, and 
 who, if even now to be found, was too much ad- 
 vanced in years to make a second trial. 
 
 So discouraging a report of the cliff might have 
 been thousfht more than sufficient to crush the
 
 40 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 hopes of any ordinary youth, but it was not so 
 with Master Lorry. 
 
 " Then it is possible," he said, ^^ to reach the 
 nest?" 
 
 " It has been done, Master Lorry, as I have 
 said, but is not likely to be so again," added the 
 other, sorrowfully. '' For besides these obstacles, 
 and the cliff being frightful even to look over, 
 the rock itself has an uncanny name, and most 
 of the country folks will turn a mile out of their 
 way, rather than venture near it." 
 
 " What is this name ?" 
 
 " The De'il's Kirk." 
 
 " How did it get such a strange name?" 
 
 " It's a longish story, but, as you're fond of 
 queer tales, I'll tell it to you." 
 
 " Once a minister was crossing Grimstone 
 
 Moor, about half a mile from these rocks, when 
 
 when he met with a reverend-looking stranger, 
 
 dressed in black, with a white tie like himself. 
 
 " * Good e'en t'ye, brother,' said the minister.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 41^ 
 
 " ^ Good e'en,' said the other. ' Ye look a wee 
 tired, neighbour.' 
 
 "' ' I've been preaching this morning for Mr. 
 Marvice, of the the parish o' Bang-the-De'il/ 
 said the minister, * and I'm a wee o'er heavily- 
 clad on this warm day for my sharp walk.' 
 
 " ' I'm glad to hear that, brother,' said the 
 stranger, ' for I'm just going to preach this even- 
 ing in the open air, for Mr. Tickletext, down by' 
 — here he pointed in the direction of the cliff, 
 which the minister thought to mean a village 
 lying directly some miles beyond it, where a new 
 pastor had just been appointed — * and these High- 
 land winds are too strong for my constitution. 
 Will you, then, oblige a brother, accustomed to a 
 warm house, with the loan of your burdensome 
 overcoat for the occasion ? and I will engage to 
 return it to the manse before to-morrow at 
 noon.' 
 
 ' The minister, thinking the stranger had the 
 advantage of him, and must have met him before, 
 pulled off the coat, took his Bible from one pocket.
 
 42 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 but forgot in the liurrj his sermon in the other, 
 and cordially handed it to him. But when the 
 stranger stretched out his hands to receive it, he 
 showed such long lean fingers, smelling of soot 
 and brimstone, that the minister was amazed at 
 them. The other lost not a moment, however, in 
 pushing his arms into the sleeves of the coat, and 
 thanking him for the obligation, marched off on 
 long strides in the direction of the cliff. But, and 
 what was more marvellous still, as the stranger 
 walked on be gradually grew into three times his 
 ordinary length, and so did the coat. The minis- 
 ter for a while could move neither hand nor foot 
 for astonishment. At length, recovering himself, 
 and suspecting who his professed brother was, he 
 said a short prayer, and resolved to follow him 
 and watch what he was after, for the minister 
 was a good man, and feared neither do' 11 nor 
 boggle. 
 
 " Well, Master Lorry, when the other saw that 
 the minister was following him, he made a jump 
 right to the top of the cliff, and alighted down
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 43 
 
 within a small circular space or cell, quite hidden 
 and walled round by the rocks, since called the 
 De'il's Poopit. He then sat himself down upon 
 a stone bench inside, and took out a white pocket 
 handkeriihief, wiped his face, made a low cough, 
 and appeared to compose himself. When he had 
 sat for a while he spread out something before 
 him, which at first seemed to be the minister's 
 forgotten sermon, but it was instantly, as was 
 thought, changed into a pack of cards — the de'il's 
 bible, as the country folks here call the cards. 
 But the minister, in the meantime, had clambered 
 up the rocks, and was keeping a sharp eye upon 
 what was passing. He had got into a small nook, 
 close by the other's elbow, but was hidden from 
 view by a projecting stone, and could keek past 
 the corner and see everything going on inside. 
 When all this had been done, the stranger 
 next arose, drew himself up to the height of a tall 
 pine, then turned his face to the east, then to the 
 south, then to the west, and lastly to the north 
 — after the manner of the Pope of Rome, with
 
 44 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the host — and looked as if he were about to ad- 
 dress a discourse to all the world. But when the 
 minister saw this, and when the other's back was 
 turned, he stretched out his arm and slipped his 
 Bible on to the stone desk, and quickly drew back 
 again into his nook. Now the effect of this. 
 Master Lorry, was awful to witness, and none, I 
 think, but a minister could have stood it. The 
 moment the stranger saw the Bible before him, 
 he gave a roar like thunder, snatched up his cards, 
 but in the hurry left one under the book, then 
 dashed right over the cliff into the deep water, 
 and the japs (spray) rose three hundred feet into 
 the air when he landed. But before he took the 
 leap the minister made a grab at the skirts of his 
 top coat, to recover it, but the cloak gave way by 
 the force, and only a fragment remained in his 
 hand, which he carried home along with the card. 
 And when the good man got to his manse his 
 piety would not allow him to take the unholy 
 card into a Christian's house, so he placed it on 
 a stone bench outside his door, and before noon
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 45 
 
 on the following day the borrowed coat, still 
 wringing wet, and the piece out of it, was found 
 upon the stone, and the card was gone." 
 
 '' Now you see. Master Lorry," added Saun- 
 ders, concluding the story, "you see, sir, the 
 stranger was no minister of our Kirk, but the 
 De'il in his likeness, which he often assumes, 
 and although he could endure a bought or written 
 sermon, which is the work of man, he fled before 
 the Bible, which is the work of God. This, then, 
 is why the cliff has a bad name, and is called 
 the De'il's Kirk, and up to this day he is still 
 thought to meditate evil there."
 
 46 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE HAWK S NEST. 
 
 During the relation of this legend, effected in a 
 tone of vast gravity, Master Lorry, with his head 
 bent forwards upon the fire, continued a pensive 
 listener. But it may indeed be questioned 
 whether he would not have received the story 
 with a greater relish had it referred to some other 
 spot that did not lie between him and the object 
 of his wishes. Clothed as it was, however, with 
 its host of terrors and difficulties, he determined 
 upon paying an early visit to the cliff ; this the 
 more earnestly because the breeding season of the 
 year was fast approaching. He accordingly com-
 
 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 47 
 
 mnnicated the information to Colonel Keith, and 
 one morning in the following month (May) it 
 was resolved that that gentleman, the butler, and 
 himself, should set out to reconnoitre the rocks. 
 
 The old servant was well acquainted with the 
 locality, and at once pointed out the recess in 
 which the birds had bred for years. 
 
 The Colonel speedily brought his glass to bear 
 upon the spot, and therein discovered the female 
 upon her nest, from which circumstance he in- 
 ferred that the young, if such there were, could 
 not be ready for removal for some days to come. 
 He, therefore, instructed Saunders to appoint a 
 man — naming one — who had some experience in 
 the matter, to make an occasional journey to the 
 cliff for the purpose of watching and reporting 
 their progress, handiug to him his telescope to be 
 employed for this end. In the course of ten days 
 a report was made that two young birds could be 
 distinctly seen in the nest, and that within two 
 or three days more they would be ready for tak- 
 ing, if such could be effected.
 
 48 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 The Colonel now immediately sent for a party 
 
 -of men, one of whom had the reputation of being 
 
 a courageous fellow, and accustomed to such bold 
 
 exploits, and offered them a tempting reward to 
 
 procure the young birds. 
 
 The men engaged themselves to make the trial, 
 and an early day was fixed upon for all parties 
 to be on the spot for the enterprise. 
 
 Most eagerly indeed did Master Lorry long for the 
 approach of this day ; but his patience was des- 
 tined to meet with a further trial. 
 
 When the hour named had arrived, Colonel 
 Keith, usually most punctual, was not up to time 
 at the Crypt. 
 
 For upwards of an hour previously Donald 
 (the pony) had stood saddled in the stable ; but 
 now its impatient rider was to be seen walking 
 to and fro in front of the stables, with his watch 
 alternately in his hand and pocket, as if he were 
 taking note of each minute as it fled. In this 
 state he continued for nearly half an hour beyond 
 the time fixed upon, when his patience finally
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 49 
 
 came to an end. He then ordered out his pony, 
 mounted it, and desiring the ^room to accompany 
 him, trotted off to meet the party at the cliff. 
 Upon his arrival, he was not a little surprised and 
 disappointed to find the men hesitating and whis- 
 pering among themselves about the dangers and 
 difficulties of the undertaking. 
 
 They were, however, allowed to continue their 
 conversation for some time longer ; still Colonel 
 Keith did not aj^pear. 
 
 At length, feeling assured that something had 
 interfered with the gentleman's engagement, he 
 desired the men to proceed. 
 
 Upon this the eyes of all the party turned upon 
 an athletic youog man — the same individual who 
 had engaged himself to descend the precipice ; 
 but already he had surveyed it, and the first look 
 from the top had greatly shaken his courage. In 
 other words, he began to funk^ as Master Lorry 
 phrased it. 
 
 Still, he did not absolutely decline ; and after 
 a few words from the young commander, delicately 
 
 VOL. J. D
 
 50 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 toucliiDg upon the virtue of courage, he began, 
 though with manifest reluctance, to suffer himself 
 to be invested within the coils of a rope. This 
 was strong and massive, and was passed rouud 
 each of his thighs, with a smaller one encom- 
 passing his waist, and attached to the other in front, 
 to ]3reYent him from overturning. A basket was 
 next fastened to his back, for containing the spoil. 
 Five strong men were then appointed to lower 
 him down and otherwise work the rope — while a 
 sixth was stationed at a consi derable distance from 
 the rest, on a projecting point of the land, to 
 communicate signals between the parties opera- 
 ting, he being able, from his position, to see both 
 at work. 
 
 All the necessary arrangements being thus 
 completed, the climber now proceeded to the 
 brink of the precipice, and commenced his 
 descent; but a single glance at bis countenance 
 at this juncture clearly showed that if pride or 
 shame did not impel him onward, moral courage 
 would not sustain him.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 51 
 
 Unliappily both failed, and he speedily desired 
 to be drawn back, complaining of giddiness. 
 
 This failure J however, was fraught with less 
 disappointment than might have been expected 
 to our young hero, who seemed to have antici- 
 pated the result, and manifested no token of 
 either sorrow or displeasure ; but stepping quietly 
 forward, he said, in the most civil manner — 
 
 ** Now, men, I will not desire any of you to 
 descend the cliff, because, if an accident occurred 
 I should never forgive myself. I am light, and 
 not subject to giddiness; and what I now request 
 is, that you will put the ropes upon me, and lower 
 me down." 
 
 The men looked blank with astonishment, first 
 turning their eyes on one another, then upon his 
 slight figure. 
 
 " It is useless hesitating or refusing," he con- 
 tinued, observing a slight disinclination ; " for, if 
 you will not comply, I will find other men who 
 will. The hawks I must have." 
 
 *^ Well, my young master," replied an old man 
 
 D 2 
 
 "^^^^^
 
 62 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 with a grey head, '^ since that is your will, I 
 know by your eyes you will do it, if it can be 
 done, and if your strength will uphold you — for 
 it will require strength along with courage. But 
 I wish," he added, casting a reproving glance at 
 his comrades, " I were only young again, for 
 your sake — then I should not now see the com- 
 pany put to shame, by suffering you to make such 
 a venture." 
 
 " Ch, but then I should not have the glory 
 and triumph of getting the birds myself," was 
 the reply. 
 
 Advancing a few steps he now drew himself up 
 with a countenance as blithe as if he were about 
 to be measured for a new^uit by his tailor, ^vhile 
 the old man took hold of the rope, his hands 
 trembling nervously by the operation, and began 
 to bind it upon the courageous boy in the same 
 mannerit had been done upon the man. The basket 
 was next attached, and, as a desirable precaution, 
 some hay was placed in the crown of his cap, to 
 break in a measure the force of any small stone
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 53 
 
 that might be displaced above him by the action 
 of the rope. The old veteran then counselled him 
 how to proceed— neither to look np nor down, 
 but to keep his eyes steadily upon a level with 
 his hands— how to make the signals to the man 
 appointed to transmit them to the top of the cliff, 
 when he could be no longer heard by those 
 above. 
 
 These preliminaries being ended, Lorry, heavily 
 loaded with ropes, now advanced to the verge of 
 the cliff. In this movement the old man accom- 
 panied him, then bent himself down upon 
 his knees, s.tw each man at his post, and, 
 taking a strong grasp of the rope, gave the 
 word "ready." Away went the little fellow, the 
 rope spinning slowly out after him. Down and 
 down he continued steadily until he had descended 
 to nearly ninety feet, when he suddenly came to 
 a stop, and called to the men to draw him back. 
 He had gone off the line to the nest, and re- 
 quired to be drawn up so far that he might be 
 able to get round a peak of rock and descend on
 
 54 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the opposite side of it. This heing achieved, 
 '* down, down," was again the call, and down and 
 down he again went, until he was heard no more. 
 About a hundred and eighty feet of the rope had 
 now being paid oat. The services of the signal- 
 man were then called into requisition, and through 
 him the men at the top were commanded to stop 
 and "hold hard." Lorry was then some feet 
 below the eyrie, but owing to the protrusion of the 
 rocks above it, throwing the rope too much out- 
 wards, he found himself unable to reach the recess. 
 Hanging now powerlessly in the air, and cut off 
 from all auxiliary aid, he here found himself face 
 to face with a diflSculty for which, at first sight, 
 he could conceive of no human remedy. In his 
 chair of rope he sat motionless for some minutes, 
 silently contemplating the scene. Tantalizingly 
 before him, he saw the two'yonng birds cowering 
 in the remotest corner of the recess, with their 
 beautiful eyes turned wonderingly upon him ; but 
 between them and their strange visitor lay an 
 airy space of seven feet in width, which seemed
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 55 
 
 to be traversable only on wings. A net, with a 
 pole attaclied thereto, might have bridged over 
 the difficulty, but this he had not. Deliberating 
 for a time, an expedient, the only possible one, 
 occurred to him. Could he contrive to swing 
 himself backwards and forwards, and thereby 
 effect a landing upon the margm of the recess, he 
 might yet achieve his purpose. Tlie experiment 
 was immediately made, and on his third essay he 
 found he could touch the ledge with his feet, but, 
 having nothing to hold on by, the force of the 
 rope carried him instantly backwards. Still, the 
 idea of returning without the prize, now crouch- 
 ing within a few arms' length of his reach, was a 
 thought his heart could not brook. Again he 
 deliberated, and it occurred to him that if he were 
 to remove his boots his flexible toes would pro- 
 bably take a better hold of the rock. This 
 thought gaining favour, he quietly pulled them 
 off, placed them in the basket, and rested for a 
 while, in order to bring all his strength into play. 
 Again, the swinging motion was resumed ; several
 
 5b NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 failures foDowed. At length, after a desperate 
 effort by a clasp of the toes, seconded by another 
 with both hands, he resisted the backward swing 
 of the rope, -and made good a precarious hold, 
 which, by twisting himself round, he improved 
 into a secure landing. But now another difficulty 
 interposed. The rope would not allow him to 
 move from his present position ; several feet more 
 were required to enable him to creep inward, and 
 reach the nest. This was next signalled for ; it 
 was speedily supplied, and in a few minutes more 
 the eyrie was gained, and the prize, so dearly 
 earned, was in his hands. With the birds in the 
 basket, himself lodged in the crevice of this ap- 
 palling cliff, the little hero now realised in his 
 mind the perils of his situation ; but from these 
 he turned away his eyes, and all dangers became 
 lost in the delightful thought of the prize. He 
 then put on his boots, took a fond leave of the 
 eyrie, slipped from the ledge, and gave the signal 
 for his upward course. 
 
 At this crisis of the adventure. Colonel Keith
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 57 
 
 came cantering up to the top of the cliff. He 
 saw Master Lorry's pony in the hands of his 
 attendant, but looked in vain for the young rider. 
 We shall here allow the reader to imagine for 
 himsslf the deep sense of horror and alarm that 
 flashed across this gentleman's mind wren he re- 
 ceived the significant answer to this question of 
 ^' Where was Mr. Lorry ?" But he spoke not a 
 second word. It was too awful a time to distract 
 attention. The men were all mute, and straining 
 steadily at the rope. He looked on in silence, 
 perceiving that the party were fully equal to their 
 task, and did not require his aid. At length, by 
 a motion from the signal-man, he saw the rope 
 begin to move slowly upwards ; gradually it in- 
 creased and began to coil more rapidly up in their 
 rear. By and bye he heard a faint voice, as if 
 sounding deeply down in the earth beneath his 
 feet — " quicker," was the articulation. Still all 
 remained silent, the men toiling breathlessly at 
 their posts. Up and up, and faster and still 
 
 D 5
 
 58 NOItTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 faster, the rope came, till at length the head ot 
 
 the little hero appeared in view. 
 
 *' Oh, Colonel !" he exclaimed, as he caught a 
 
 glimpse of that gentleman, *^ I am glad you are 
 in at the death — I mean at the winning !" 
 
 Colonel Keith dared not reply, but the moment 
 the other had arrived on the top of the precipice, 
 he seized him by the hand and held it fast, as if 
 to make certain of its reality, while something 
 like a tear glistened in his eye. He now saw 
 that, with all the boy's natural courage and ap- 
 parent gaiety, he was faint and exhausted ; and 
 having previously requested that some spirits 
 should be forwarded to the cliff, for the use of 
 the men, he speedily applied a little to his lips. 
 
 From the continued strain upon their strength, 
 and their overwhelming anxiety during these 
 trying moments, there was at the conclusion, a 
 sort of sickly languor upon the hearts of the men, 
 which even the joy of the boy's safe return, and 
 the sight of the interesting birds, could not for a 
 time remove. They were, however, liberally
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 59 
 
 supplied with spirits, as also boiintifallj rewarded 
 for their toils by the colonel. But instead of be- 
 stowing two guineas upon the man who had 
 engaged to descend the cliff, the gentleman said 
 he would reserve the sum to procure a prize for 
 the courageous hero, whose feat that day would 
 henceforth remain unsurpassed among the 
 chronicles of the parish. 
 
 *' Colonel, five shillings extra for my squire, 
 who buckled on my armour," shouted Master 
 Lorry, meaning the man with the grey head. 
 
 Thus happily terminated the daring exploit of 
 the boy.
 
 60 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE HAWKS AND THEIR PROGRESS. 
 
 At Comyn-Crypt the triumphant return of Colonel 
 Keith and Master Lorry, with a groom bearing 
 the spoil of the enterprise, produced something 
 like a little sensation throughout that sombre 
 establishment. 
 
 Miss Murray, always stiff and stately, whose 
 highest temperature of hilarity seldom exceeded 
 a decorous smile, forgot herself so far on the 
 occasion as to drop her knitting-needles, in her 
 haste to greet their arrival, and to see the inter- 
 esting birds, which she very graciously pronounced 
 to be ^* bonnie wee creatures."
 
 NORTH OF THE T^VEED. 61 
 
 But the pleasure of the butler was manifested by 
 tokens of unusual animation and surprise. Hither- 
 to, from fear of disappointment, he had felt a disin- 
 clination to encourage the sanguine hopes of his 
 young master, with respect to this nest, well 
 knowing the frightful character of the cliff, and 
 the difficulties to be encountered. He had more- 
 over learnt, since the party had been engaged for 
 the exploit, that much doubt was entertained 
 whether any of the men would eventually find 
 courage enough to venture over the rocks. In 
 his earlier life the old servant had had some 
 practical experience in similar expeditions, and 
 could therefore estimate the difficulties with due 
 weight. 
 
 But upon being informed by Colonel Keith 
 by whom the undertaking had been accomplished. 
 Lis grey hairs almost stood on end, and he looked 
 pale and utterly incredulous. 
 
 The Colonel, however, beckoned him aside, and 
 deaired that, whatever might be his own senti- 
 ments in the matter, he should carefully abstain,
 
 62 NORTH OF THE TWEED- 
 
 in the presence of his mistress, from showing un- 
 necessary surprise, and to particularly avoid all 
 allusion to those dangers, now happily past. 
 
 To Miss Murray, also, the gentleman engaged 
 to break the matter, and smooth down the perils 
 of the adventure. 
 
 The rearing and education of the birds became 
 the next consideration. But this task was soon 
 disposed of by the colonel's intercession with his 
 sporting friend, Ranold, to whose care they were 
 speedily confided. 
 
 They were male and female — falcon and tierce, 
 — and were pronounced by the falconer to be fine 
 eyesses. 
 
 A young man, the son of the gamekeeper, was 
 now appointed to give his attendance on the 
 falconer, and to receive such instructions as 
 might enable him to undertake their management 
 on their return to the Crypt. 
 
 During this educational course their youthful 
 owner was also invited to make occasional visits 
 to Cranmore, in order to become himself
 
 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 63 
 
 properly initiated into the mysteries of tlie art. 
 Nor did the latter undervalue this privilege, nor 
 neglect so favourable an opportunity of acquiring 
 a practical knowledge of this ancient and once 
 essential accomplishment to a gentleman of 
 rank. 
 
 He was first taught how to handle, to hood, 
 to unleash and fly, to lure and to approach a 
 hawk upon his game. And he soon showed a vast 
 aptitude in mastering the technicalities of the 
 craft, and was able to talk learnedly with the 
 falconer of hoods, bells, rufter-hooda, jesses, 
 leashes, creances, castings, rangle, mutes, tiring, 
 coping, mewing, bathing, raking, carrying, 
 mousing, stooping, hawks of the soar, hawks of 
 the fist, &c., &c., in a manner that both sur- 
 prised and puzzled his Gaelic instructor. 
 
 From Colonel Keith's library he had been sup- 
 plied with most of the popular writings on the 
 subject (from Latham down to Sebright) ; and it 
 may be questioned whether Don Quixote, in his 
 adoration of Amadis de Gaul, ever turned to this
 
 64 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 master of chivalry with a keener zest, than did 
 the young student to the obsolete pages of Latham. 
 At Comyn-Crj^pt there is now a gleam of bright 
 sunshine lighting up the roof of the old rambling 
 building ; and in the front of the drawing-room 
 there is a beautiful lawn, neatly cropped, and 
 interspersed with flower-plots, aromatic shrubs, 
 and rose-trees. On the parterre are placed two 
 small wooden blocks, in the form of truncated 
 cones ; and upon these blocks sit two birds, with 
 bells tinkling at their feet : they are the two hawks 
 just returned from the completion of their educa- 
 tion. At a little distance from these objects, 
 with their eyes bent admiringly upon them, stand 
 four persons. One of them is a tall, stately lady, 
 with a large shawl spread over her shoulders, a 
 parasol held over her head, and something like a 
 flannel capulet tucked in at the angles of her face, 
 as a provision against the east wind and tic- 
 doloreux. In this august personage we behold 
 Miss Murray. By her side, in courtly conversa- 
 tion, there is an elderly, aristocratic looking
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 55 
 
 gentleman, with a grey head, strong eyebrows, of 
 a fresh complexion and robust form. This is 
 Colonel Keith. At a few paces apart, with Master 
 Lorry by her side, there is seen a slender girl, 
 with a cluster of dark ringlets peering out from 
 under her bonnet, and nestling coyly in her neck. 
 This is Agnes Keith; and our youthful hero is 
 now engaged in expounding to her the mysteries 
 and charms of falconry, and endeavouring to im- 
 press upon her mind the desirability of her 
 becoming able to carry a hawk upon her hand, as 
 did the ladies of old. 
 
 '* A falc'ner Henry is, when Emma hawks, 
 With her of tiercels and of lures he talks . 
 Upon her wrist the tow'ring merlin stands. 
 Practised to rise and stoop at her commands," 
 
 says Matthew Prior. The birds are to be flown 
 on the following day, at the hour of two. 
 
 Upon a flat expanse of open dry moor, about 
 two miles from the Crypt, there is now to be seen, 
 in the prospect, a long-haired setter standing at 
 full point. Three equestrian figures and one on
 
 66 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 foot are drawn np at a short distance from the 
 animal; they are Colonel Keith, his daughter 
 Agnes, Master Lorry, and his falconer ; and 
 over their heads in the air there is a large bird 
 soaring and sweeping ronnd and round, making a 
 soft tinkling sound in her course. The dog is 
 pressed forward ; up springs an old cock grouse ; 
 the falcon gets a bad start — she is ^' too wide and 
 low " — and after a bold flight of nearly half a 
 mile, he escapes into a thicket of rank gorse,and 
 she returns to the party ; is taken down by the 
 lure, and receives her hood. The dog is still 
 standing at point. The tiercel is next whistled 
 ofi ; he mounts to a higher pitch ; a strong young 
 grouse springs from the turf; the hawk descends 
 like a fallen star ; the game rebounds from the 
 ground by the force of the stoop ; the hawk is 
 rewarded and re-hooded. Some birds of the same 
 brood have been marked down. Following them 
 up, the dog is again standing over them, and the 
 falcon is again put on the wing. The game now 
 lies hard and close, and the hawk, though still
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 67 
 
 flyiDg low, now instinctively keeps a sharper eye 
 upon the movements of the dog. Another bird 
 is pressed up ; off darts the falcon, and upon a 
 determined flight, trusses (grapples; it in the air, 
 carries it for a few paces, then lodges it on the 
 ground. The party gallop forward ; the quarry 
 is taken from her ; she is fed and hooded up for 
 the day. The tiercel, by a dashing flight, takes 
 bis second bird. The colonel pronounces the 
 sport admirable, and closes it by enjoining, as a 
 rule, that no young hawks should be flown over a 
 second time on the same day. 
 
 Under his able instructor. Colonel Keith, 
 Master Lorry's progress in the various popular 
 games and sports among the hills was so fully 
 approved by that gentlemen that at the age of 
 sixteen he pronounced his pupil an accomplished 
 Highlander. But while, in accordance with his 
 father's wishes, he was thus actively pursuing 
 these out-door recreations, he did not suffer them 
 to interfere with his more important studies at 
 home. Here his application to book and general
 
 68 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 advancement were such that, at the end of four 
 years from his arrival in Scotland, he was pre- 
 pared to enter the University of Edinburgh. 
 There, as usual with Scotch students, he took the 
 winter session and returned to the Highlands for 
 the summer, where he could give his society to 
 his aunt and indulge in the pleasures of rural 
 life. 
 
 During these recesses he spent much of his 
 time in the company of Colonel Keith, to whom 
 he had become attached, almost as a son to his 
 father ; and this youthful affection was duly ap- 
 preciated and amply rewarded by the other. 
 Between Lorance and his two children there had 
 also sprung up sentiments of brotherly and 
 sisterly tenderness ; but, singular as it must 
 appear, in the face of all this, and though herein 
 the position of an orphan, he never experienced 
 from Mrs. Keith any token of maternal sympathy. 
 All here was blank ; and his lively instincts 
 speedily discovered that for him in her bosom the 
 well of generous springs in woman's nature had
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 69 
 
 never flowed, and inwardly his feelings irresistibly 
 receded from her; for a heart like a dewless 
 desert, barren of its flowers, has no attraction for 
 the young or old. Nevertheless, towards her he 
 was always most respectful and polite, yet com- 
 monly in return she would barely deign to notice 
 his attentions. Of this cold and strange beha- 
 viour to the amiable boy, Colonel Keith was not 
 insensible, nor did it escape the quick perceptions 
 of the children ; but the youth was of too generous 
 a disposition to resent it, or to alter in any form 
 his deportment to the wife of one for whom he 
 had so much regard. 
 
 Unfortunately, with Colonel and Mrs. Keith 
 there w^as little harmony in their tastes and dis- 
 positions ; and although a domestic quarrel or 
 family disquiet was a thing unknown under their 
 roof, there was obviously between them the 
 absence of that vitality of affection which fills a 
 house with a wholesome odour, waits upon them 
 in every stage of life, and throws a cheerful glow 
 around the conjugal hearth. Mrs. Keith, like the
 
 70 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 very few (happily) of her type, had married and 
 coiild scarcely tell why, except that because other 
 women married, or from an ambition to attain a 
 higher rank in society. From love it could not 
 be. To her lovCj as we understand it, was un- 
 know^n; her blood was too languid, her sensi- 
 bilities too lethargic for its subsistence, and she 
 could not comprehend or participate in the riches 
 of the human heart. She could not even love 
 her own children, yet was inordinately jealous of 
 their affection and partiality for their father, 
 monstrously conceiving they had supplanted her 
 in his breast ; hence it came to pass that Master 
 Lorry, from sharing the attentions and attachment 
 of her husband, was regarded with similar senti- 
 ments of jealousy. But to resume progress. 
 
 Within half a Highland mile from the pleasant 
 residence of this family, and close upon the brink 
 of the Iris— so we will here write our stream — 
 there stands a spreading oak, and under that 
 oak let the reader cast a fanciful glance upon a 
 group of youthful faces. Conspicuously in the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 71 
 
 centre of tliis j^icture is to be discerned that of 
 the subject of this Darrative. His fishing rod is 
 by his side, and he is spreading upon the green 
 sward the contents of his creel of small fish to 
 be inspected by Agnes Keith. She has counted 
 them twice over to him, while her sister Grizzel 
 ■ — now become a rompiug child — is occupying 
 herself by stringing together a basket full of wild 
 daisies and buttercups. At a short distance apart, 
 seated upon a grassy knoll, there is also to be 
 observed a female attendant in charge of the 
 juvenile ladies. 
 
 Lorance, now no longer the plump,round-faced 
 lirtle Lorry of former days, is fast shooting up 
 into mmhood; and Agnes, his first and present 
 companion, somewhat in advance of her years, 
 though considerably his younger, is following him 
 steadily up in the race to maturity. He has 
 S2:)ent tly^-ee winters in Edinburgh, and expects to 
 complete his academic course by a fourth. The 
 young lady is sitting by his side. Agnes always
 
 72 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 likes to be near Master Lorry, and yet she could 
 no more tell you why than that mountains should 
 produce heath and not clover. As they thus con- 
 tinue, Lorance's eyes are frequently turned upon 
 her with something like an air of abstraction 
 or pensiveness. As the young artist, who had 
 hitherto regarded his subject as a sheer matter of 
 course, but suddenly becomes awakened to a sense 
 of the inimitable creation of the Raphael he has 
 been copying, so does Lorance now see something 
 in her form, and its budding beauty, its sweet 
 growth and gentleness, which had never before 
 occurred to him. The discovery awakens in his 
 bosom a train of new seDsations, opens to his 
 heart the dawn of a new pleasure, and flashes 
 with a glow over his senses like the sunbeams of 
 a new morning of life to him. His aunt's house- 
 keeper had been telling his fortune, and instruct- 
 ing him in the science of palmistry. Agnes's hand 
 is now resting in his ; she wants him to experiment 
 upon it. He blushes and she blushes, but they
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 73 
 
 are relieved from their embarrassment by the 
 younger sister pausing over ber flowers, and ad- 
 dressing bim. 
 
 " Lorry, mamma says you are not our brother." 
 
 *^ Mamma is joking, little Griz.'* 
 
 '^ But she has told me that you have a mamma 
 and papa far away from here, and you are soon 
 going to leave us for them." 
 
 " Don't say that, dear Griz," interposed the 
 elder sister. '^ He is not going away for a long 
 while, and then he is soon coming back again to 
 the Crypt." 
 
 " But, Lorry, when you are far away," added 
 the former child, "won't you still be Aggie's 
 brother and mine ? for we have no other brother." 
 
 ** Yes, Grizzy dear," he replied, '^for I have no 
 other sisters, and if I had the choice of ten 
 thousand I should not exchange you and Aggie 
 for them all." 
 
 Little Grizzel now rose and came tripping for- 
 ward to him, bearing in her hand a garland of 
 flowers. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 74 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " Now, Lorry," she said, '* Effie(the attendant) 
 wants to dress me with my wreath, but I like you 
 best to do it." 
 
 " Yes, Miss Griz," answered Lorry, taking her 
 by the two hands, ^' and I'll tell you why — because 
 you always get a kiss from me into the bargain, 
 for you look so pretty and like a little fairy." 
 
 Abridging this juvenile dialogue— matter not 
 always interesting to the matured reader — we 
 again return to the Crypt, 
 
 ** Shall fortune, envious of their joy, 
 Such tender hearts divide, 
 And bear from hence the bleeding boy 
 O'er oceans far and wide ?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 75 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ARRIVAL OF IMPORTANT NEWS. 
 
 The Indian Mail had recently arrived in Eng- 
 land, and there was now a package of foreign 
 letters upon the table in Lorance's room. They 
 were chiefly from his father ; 'only one from his 
 mother. Fever had broke out in Calcutta and 
 had carried off his uncle. 
 
 Lorance was his appointed heir, but the young 
 inheritor of his wealth saw in its promised en- 
 joyment but a small equivalent for the loss of 
 affection he had sustained. Nor had his mother 
 — his fond and loving mother — escaped the 
 malignant contagion. Her life had been despaired 
 
 E 2
 
 76 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 of, but she was again pronounced out of danger. 
 To their son the option was given to remain for 
 the ensuing session at Edinburgh, or to start 
 with an early ship to visit his parents, and admin- 
 ister in due time to the effects of his late uncle. 
 He preferred the latter alternative. 
 
 Upon communicating these news to Miss Mur- 
 ray, the lady became deeply affected, and to the 
 old butler the prospect of so suddenly losing his 
 young master was no less a matter of unfeigned 
 grief. Indeed his meditated departure seemed to 
 fill the house with lamentation. A messenger 
 was immediately despatched to the Kymes, and 
 Colonel Keith received the intelligence with sur- 
 prise and manifest emotion. Little Grizzel burst 
 into tears, but the grief of Agnes took a different 
 course. It carried her straight to her room, and 
 there almost prostrated her slender frame. 
 
 Mrs. Keith merely asked what was the matter 
 with Grrizzel. But Grizzel had no answer to 
 make. She wanted sympathy, and her young 
 instincts told her where to seek it — on her father's
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 77 
 
 knee, in her only sister's arms. Sad, sad is it 
 indeed when, at such a moment, the infant passes 
 by its mother's chair, in search of this divine 
 attribute. 
 
 From this hour there was a marked change in 
 the atmosphere within and without the Kymes. 
 
 No longer were there to be seen the juvenile 
 glee, the trolling of hoops, or dancing of shuttle- 
 cocks, that formerly gladdened the parterre. 
 
 A few brief days are passed over, and there 
 have been hearts beating, tears shedding, and 
 hands working at the Kymes, 
 
 At a short distance from the hall, in direct view 
 of the windows, there is to be seen a small and 
 very recent erection. It consists of strong wire 
 network, and encloses a space of green sward, to 
 the extent of several square yards. 
 
 Seated upon a chair within it, the eye now 
 alights on a slender female figure. A parasol is 
 held over her head ; a book lies in her lap : it bears 
 on its fly-leaf an inscription, and reads, " Lorance 
 Langton, to Agnes Keith." But the face of
 
 78 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the possessor is not turned upon the volume. 
 Agnes Keith, for she it is, has her eyes directed 
 towards two other objects ; they are the falcons on 
 their blocks, from the Crypt ; and she is gazing 
 in wistful fondness upon the smaller bird — the 
 tiercil. It was a parting gift from her dear 
 Lorry. 
 
 He looks proudly up to his young mistress, and 
 receives her caresses with fondness. 
 
 She now bends herself forward, and invites him 
 to her. The length of the leash admits, and he 
 springs to her gloved hand. She feeds him, then 
 carries him over the ground— and the tinkle of his 
 bells is sweet music to her ears. 
 
 *' A tiercelet sat upon her fist. 
 Held by a leash of silken twist." 
 
 The clouds have again settled down upon 
 Comyn-Crypt, and it is feared the east wind is 
 not fai oif. 
 
 The young master has gone forth, and with him 
 all the life and sunshine that had recently
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 79 
 
 dissipated its normal gloom. From Miss 
 Murray, even down to tlie humblest dependent 
 upon the estate, sorrow has been stamped on every 
 countenance. 
 
 But nowhere has it been more visible than on 
 that of the faithful Saunders. 
 
 True, behind him, Master Lorry had left a hope 
 and promise of an early return ; but they all 
 well knew that, in traversing such a space of the 
 earth's surface, there must occur many unforseen 
 events ; that there was a host of treacherous 
 fatalities slumbering under the surface of those 
 deep broad waters to be passed over, which might 
 interpose themselves between that promise and 
 its fulfilment. 
 
 Still, the old man strove to soothe himself with 
 the promise ; and such was the magnanimity of 
 Miss Murray on the occasion, that she commanded 
 that his rooms should be kept duly aired, — that 
 his books and papers should remain as he had left 
 them on his table, that his bows and arrows 
 should continue in the hall, — and that his pony
 
 80 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 should be kept in the stable, groomed, exercised, 
 and held in readiness at a moment's call. 
 
 To Colonel Keith, and his loving children, 
 these spirited instructions afforded a most sincere 
 and cheering pleasure. 
 
 On board of an imposing barque, proudly 
 sailing under the name of ^^ The City of London," 
 there is now to be seen a youthful landsman, 
 somewhat pensive in his looks, of genteel man- 
 ners, and pacing to and fro the capacious decks. 
 
 The vessel has just left her port, and is under 
 a crowd of sail. 
 
 The sea is smooth, but rippled by a curling 
 breeze. 
 
 The captain, and other officers, show a marked 
 attention to their young passenger. On board 
 most of the India merchantmen the names of 
 Robert and John Langton are well known ; and 
 here the son of the former had only to mention 
 his parentage, to command the friendly offices of 
 these gentlemen. 
 
 Steadily and stately the barque presses onward,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 81 
 
 growing less and still less to the eye, as the space 
 widens between her and the shore. 
 
 By and bye, the curls on the water give place to 
 more boisterous waves, and their white crests are 
 dashed into spray against the massive prow. 
 
 The rocking motion becomes too much for the 
 unseasoned voyager, and he descends, though with 
 evident reluctance, to his cabin. 
 
 Everybody knows, or at least can imagine, what 
 commonly occurs at a meeting of two affectionate 
 parents with an only child, who, in curly locks, 
 had gone forth from their fond embraces in the arms 
 of his nurse, and, after a series of years, comes 
 tumbling unexpectedly in upon their quiet in the 
 goodly stature of three-fourths a man. There is, 
 upon first sight, a strangeness and incredulity 
 mingling with their loving recollection, which no 
 tongue can fully express, and which time only 
 can remove. Such, then were the feelings and 
 emotions that now greeted Lorance Langton on 
 his father's hearth, upon his arrival in Calcutta. 
 
 Mrs. Langton, who, on her son's departure > 
 
 E 5
 
 82 NOBTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 was rejoicing in all tlie fragrant bloom and comeli- 
 ness of a youthful mother, now bore but too 
 visibly on her person the blight of her recent 
 illness ; and her son was painfully struck on first 
 perceiving her weak and emaciated condition. 
 
 His father he found in his ordinary state of 
 health, but sadly depressed in mind by the loss of 
 his brother, together with his wife's enfeebled 
 condition. 
 
 It had been in contemplation to remove her for 
 a time to some more healthy locality in the Presi- 
 dency ; and now it was speedily arranged, for this 
 end, that her son should accompany her, which 
 was accordingly carried into ejQPect. 
 
 Ere now, familiarised, or naturalised, with the 
 hardy invigorating elements of the north of 
 Scotland, contrasting strangely with those by 
 which he was at present surrounded — where even 
 nature in her physical organisation seemed to 
 have undergone a general transformation — Lorance 
 at first felt considerably bewildered in his new 
 situation. Accustomed to much bodily exercise,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 83 
 
 young, strong, and energetic, he especially repined 
 under the prevailing lassitude consequent on the 
 climate. 
 
 For this state of things he, however, in the 
 course of time, embraced the only remedy. 
 
 The prairies and jungles in the province, 
 abounding with game, at once presented to him 
 a field for excitement and enterprise ; and, in 
 company with the British officers, and other 
 residents of the district, he took part in most of 
 the Eastern sports. 
 
 At a durbar, held by a native prince, he had 
 the honour of beifig presented to a kinsman of 
 the renowned Sirdar Luttah Singh, who was 
 accounted a mighty Nimrod in his day, and 
 maintained an establishment of great splendour. 
 By report, this nawab kept over two hundred 
 sporting vassals, and about one half of the number 
 were falconers. 
 
 Lorance, from the taste and slight knowledge 
 of falconry he had acquired in Scotland, was now 
 curious to see this vast establishment, and espe-
 
 84 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 cially to witness the eastern mode of manage- 
 ment. With the furniture of the birds, the 
 hoods especially, he was greatly taken, from 
 their rich and elaborate ornamentation. In the 
 field, the method in use differed materially from 
 that adopted in the western world. Here he 
 found that, instead of whistling the hawk off the 
 fist, in the language of Othello, as at Cranmore 
 and elsewhere, the Indian, taking the body of 
 the bird within the palm of his right hand, flung 
 it forward at the rising game, as if launching a 
 spear from the shoulder, thus imparting, as 
 alleged, an impetus to the flight. Still our 
 Gaelic pupil held a decided preference for our 
 old King Hal fashion in the west. But of the 
 various native sports, that which astonished him 
 most was a practice of taking a species of deer 
 with trained eagles — birds similar to but smaller 
 than our golden eagle. The eagle was carried 
 into the field upon a short pole, supported at 
 each end by a falconer, and when the sjame was 
 started, the bird was unhooded, when it dashed
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 85 
 
 off in an straight line to tlie quarry^ making 
 directly for its head, and, fastening thereon, 
 plucked the eyes from their sockets, and thus 
 rendered it utterly helpless before its pursuers. 
 Here he had also several opportunities of par- 
 taking in tiger-hunting, commonly performed 
 upon elephants. 
 
 Lorance continued with his parents for a period 
 of nearly three years, when the state of his 
 mother's health induced his father to propose 
 her return to England for a time, in comjDany 
 with their son, with the hope of a speedy restora- 
 tion from her native air. The son, thouofli 
 lamenting the cause, was in nowise loth to accede 
 to this measure. Arrangements were accordhi^ly 
 made for their embarkation, and after a pro- 
 tracted voyage, they one morning found their 
 ship safely moored between the joyful banks of 
 the Thames. From thence they proceeded direct 
 to Tunbridge Wells, a town in which the lady 
 had spent a portion of her early life, and where 
 her only relations in England still resided.
 
 86 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Once again back to England, Lorance's 
 thoughts travelled naturally northward ; but he 
 affectionately determined that no considerations 
 of his own should tempt him from his mother's 
 side, until her health was restored, if so it 
 pleased Providence to will that consummation. 
 He even resolved to forego the pleasure of hold- 
 ing any communication with the Highlands, or of 
 making any announcement to his friends there 
 of arrival in England, contenting himself with 
 merely posting a letter to Miss Murray, and 
 another to Colonel Keith, ostensibly written — 
 indeed began — in India, in which no definite 
 time was named for his return to Europe.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 87 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 AT TUNBRIDGE WELLS, 
 
 Reposing under a reassuring sense of peace and 
 safety in rural England, Mrs. Langton and her 
 son experienced all those inward feelings of joy 
 and gladness, which commonly stir in the bosom 
 for days and even weeks after the close of a long 
 and perilous voyage at sea. The prospect of 
 again feeling her foot on her native soil, of hear- 
 ing again the sweet bells of her parish church, 
 and of shortly witnessing the crowds of bluff and 
 ruddy faces which proclaim the shores of merry 
 England, tended materially to sustain her 
 strength throughout the wearisome passap:e.
 
 88 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 By slow degrees tlie bracing air and salubrious 
 springs of Tunbridge Wells began to operate 
 favourably upon her health, and, after a time, 
 she was enabled to gratify a desire of seeing her 
 son mingling a little in English society, and 
 sharing in the general amusements of this resort 
 of fashion. Tunbridge Wells, in those days, with 
 its old rival, Bath, occupied a different rank 
 from the present, as a rendezvous for the London 
 gentry, and although it might then not quite 
 realise the panegyric of the poetaster. 
 
 * * Great Sam, with Ms satellite sages, 
 Beau Brummel, the idol of swells, 
 Wits and blues of all waters and ages. 
 Imbibe at our Hippocrane Wells ;" 
 
 still it could boast of its season, its routs, and its 
 masquerades with its contemporaries. 
 
 Upon an early occasion, when a public ball 
 was given in the Assembly Rooms, Lorance, 
 then an utter stranger, had the surprise to be 
 accosted by a voice in the crowd. He looked 
 round and discovered that the salutation was
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 0\^ 
 
 from a person belonging to the nortli, wTiom lie 
 had casually seen on a visit to Colonel Keith. 
 The individual had come to the Wells, in com- 
 pany with some relatives of Mr. Ranold, a sport- 
 ing gentleman, already noticed in our pages. 
 This unexpected recognition took our hero some- 
 what aback. He, however, responded to it 
 politely, but with a marked reserve in his 
 manner. 
 
 " Why, bless my stars !" observed the person, in 
 exclamation, '^you've grown quite a man, a giant 
 by my side, since we met at the Kymes." 
 
 ** It is some years since that happened," re- 
 plied the other, dryly. 
 
 " Capital fellow, old Keith — sorry for his 
 acciden: — a little proud and croppish, eh? 
 Charming woman, Mrs. Keith — like her best. 
 Devilish fine ^h-l Ao:o:ie has orrown — "roinof to 
 get spliced, I hear. Good spec for a poor 
 wretch." 
 
 The speaker (by name and courtesy Andrew 
 Corby, Esq.) was, with a loose tongue, running
 
 90 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 on in this manner, when the approach of another 
 gentleman, laying a hand familiarly upon his 
 shoulder, suddenly brought him to a pause, 
 whereupon, turning sharply round, he added — 
 
 " My dear Lorry — excuse the old familiar 
 name — allow me to introduce you to my esteemed 
 friend. Sir Francis Heronshaw, a great favourite 
 with our mutual friends at the Kymes, especially 
 with the fair ones of that ilk," and to his last 
 words he appended a significant laugh. 
 
 Lorance, without rudeness having no option 
 left, bowed, but with measured politeness. The 
 coarse familiarity with which the speaker had 
 made reference to Colonel Keith and his family, 
 had alike shocked and disgusted him, independ- 
 ently of the unwarrantable liberty taken with 
 himself. 
 
 " Mr. Langton, I am very happy to have an 
 opportunity of making your acquaintance," said 
 the baronet, bowing graciously. *^ And yet your 
 name sounds in my ears with the familiarity of 
 an old friend's ; for I have so often heard such
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 91 
 
 respectful mention made of it at the Kymes, 
 and, allow me to say with almost sisterly remem- 
 brance, by Colonel Keith's little daughter, 
 Grizzel, that I scarcely feel we are now meeting 
 for the first time." 
 
 " So much, sir, have you the advantage of 
 me," replied Lorance, scarcely disguising the 
 eflfects left by the remarks of the individual by 
 whom he had been introduced, " for during my 
 stay in the Highlands, and friendly intimacy 
 with Colonel Keith's family, the name did not 
 happen to be mentioned in my presence among 
 those of that gentleman's visitors. Still, sir, T 
 beg to assure you that I am very glad to meet 
 any friends of Colonel Keith's." 
 
 In the baronet's manner there was nothing of 
 that condescending or patronising air which is 
 frequently assumed under similar circumstances 
 by persons bearing *' handles to their names.'* 
 As he spoke, however, he kept his eyes steadily, 
 but mildly, fixed upon his listener, and doubtlessly 
 saw by the reserved, and almost repellent atti-
 
 92 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 tude of Lorance, that lie was not a person from 
 whom empty titles were readily to command obse- 
 quious homage. 
 
 " Unquestionably/' replied Sir Frances, with 
 a dignified acquiescence ; ^^ at that time I had 
 not the honour of Colonel Keith's friendship, 
 which since it has been my good fortune to 
 I)ossess. Then, I was made acquainted with his 
 sterling worth only through his esteemed rela- 
 tive, Mr. Ranold, of Cranmore, by whom, I believe, 
 you were also a little known." 
 
 At this juncture, Lorance was opportunely re- 
 lieved from his unpleasant position. Mrs. Lang- 
 ton, with the fond eye of a mother, watching over 
 every movement of her son, and reading in his 
 countenance the sentiments of his mind, now ad- 
 vanced to his rescue. 
 
 *^ Lorance," she said, taking his arm, " I want 
 you to dance the next quadrille with a friend, 
 and I have sought you out for the introduction." 
 
 Whereupon the son, with an easy inclination 
 of his head to the baronet, but without noticing
 
 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 93 
 
 his companion turned round with his mother and 
 glided into the crowd. 
 
 " Who are those gentlemen joa were speaking 
 with ?" she enquired, when the two had come to a 
 stand. '^ I thought they did not seem to you 
 altogether welcome acquaintances." 
 
 ^' They are not acquaintances, mother," he 
 replied; "but having seen one of them in the 
 north some years ago, he recognised me, and 
 introduced the other as a friend of Colonel Keith, 
 whom you have heard me speak of; and the 
 mode of salutation and introduction was not quite 
 to my liking.*' 
 
 He now, after the introduction to a partner for 
 the dance, conducted his mother to a seat ; but 
 before one quadrille had commenced he found a 
 few minutes for reflection upon what had 
 dropped from the lips of the party he had left. 
 
 " Old Keith, indeed !" he ejaculated to him- 
 self — " proud and croppish ! had the time and 
 place but allowed I should have thrust these
 
 94 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 words of slander again down the detractor's 
 throat. An accident, too ! What did that mean ? 
 Aggie, again ! not Miss Keith ; a name polluted 
 by such low familiarity; a devilish fine girl — 
 going to get spliced — a good spec, &c. What a 
 profanation ! Well, Mr. Andrew Corby, I have 
 seen but little but had enough of you ; still, I 
 shall hold you my debtor for your conduct this 
 night to the extent of a sound horse-whipping. 
 All this coming, too, at a time when I was 
 longing so much to learn of my friends ! But to 
 have asked of such a person a question concern- 
 ing them had been a wrong done to them, like- 
 wise a humiliation to myself. And, Sir Francis 
 Heronshaw, what shall I say of you ? — a baronet, 
 the companion of such a piece of gross vulgarity ; 
 — the old adage, noscitur^ Ac, eh? And you have 
 the ' good fortune to possess Colonel Keith's 
 friendship,' yet the ' esteemed friend ' of his de- 
 tractor. Yes, and I am still regardea by ^ Colonel 
 Keith's little daughter, Grizzel, with sisterly re-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 95 
 
 membrance.' Not a word of Agnes, my earliest 
 and ridmg companion of former days ! she has 
 forgotten me — hem !" 
 
 '' Lorance, dear," interrupted Mrs. Langton, 
 surprised at the abstracted manner of her son, 
 and tapping him lightly on the shoulder, " don't 
 you see the dance is up, and you are forgetting 
 your partner." 
 
 He started as from a dream, made the due 
 apologies, and joined in the dance. It was one 
 of the best balls of the season, but he appeared 
 nothing loth when the recent illness of his mother 
 was advanced by that lady as an excuse for an 
 early withdrawal ; and long before the music had 
 ceased to resound through the rooms, he had his 
 head laid upon his pillow. On the following day 
 a knock and ring were heard at the door of the 
 house in which Mrs. Langton and her son had 
 their suite of apartments. 
 
 *' Two cards, ma'am," observed the maid who 
 had answered the bell, presenting the same on a
 
 96 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 silver salver ; " and the gentlemen are waiting 
 below/' 
 
 ** Inform Sir Francis Heronshaw and Mr. 
 Corby," returned the lady^ ^^that I am indisposed, 
 and my son is occupied in his room." 
 
 The message was duly delivered, and the party 
 left. 
 
 The health of Mrs. Langton continued to im- 
 prove at the Wells, and when the slight fatigues 
 of the ball had been removed, Lorance and his 
 mother had a private conference of some length, 
 when it was arranged that the two should pro- 
 ceed to London by post, for the purpoi^e of return- 
 ing a visit to his father's relations iu Finsbury 
 Square. Here the visitors were greeted with a 
 hearty welcome, but while the young gentleman 
 was no longer the little curly-haired Lorry of 
 former years, saluted by a hurricane of rosy 
 kisses, he found that the old and irresistible beau. 
 Time, had been flirting so assiduously with his 
 fair cousins, that he had diminished somehow the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 97 
 
 bloomy charm of their lips. Nevertheless, he 
 was not forgetful of their sweetness of yore, nor 
 of the affectionate care the ladies had bestowed 
 upon him. The hospitality and refined luxuries 
 of this wealthy family were irresistible, and Mrs. 
 Langton was pressed to make a home of their 
 house for a term of at least some months' dura- 
 tion. Her acquiescence with this proposition was 
 the more readily accorded, because it would 
 enable her son, whom she knew was panting for a 
 glimpse of bolder scenes, to avail himself of his 
 liberty, which hitherto he had declined to em- 
 brace. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 98 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 IN THE HIGHLANDS. 
 
 His hawk is tired of perch and hood, 
 His idle pony loathes his food." 
 
 Parodied. 
 
 It was about the hour of ten on a calm and 
 cloudless evening; the moon was bathing the 
 earth in a flood of soft and dewy light; the 
 distant sound of falling waters over a rocky pre- 
 cipice in a neighbouring stream was alone salu- 
 ting the ear, when the drowsy repose of Comyn 
 Crypt was suddenly broken by the baying of a 
 large deerhound in the court- yard. He was a
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 99 
 
 patriarch among his tribe, and was retained as a 
 faithful watch- dog. The challenge was imme- 
 diately responded to by two small terriers within 
 the hall. This commotion among the dogs, in 
 such a sequestered abode, could scarcely fail to 
 arouse the attention and curiosity of the inmates. 
 Presently there was an active stir among the 
 domestics. The butler, coachman, and groom 
 proceeded directly to the outer yard and liberated 
 the deerhound, then moved slowly out upon the 
 lawn in front of the mansion. They listened and 
 listened again; the dogs sniffed about, but 
 nothing in scent or sight was discovered to 
 account for the challenge. Still, the old animal 
 did not appear satisfied, but at short intervals 
 continued to bark, raising and pointing his head 
 in a particular direction. His fitful manner 
 induced the servants to persevere when at 
 length the double tramp of horses' hoofs, accom- 
 panied by the duller sound of carriage-wheels, 
 were distinctly heard in the long avenue leading 
 to the house. ' ' Who could be coming upon the 
 
 F 2
 
 100 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 leddie at this unseasonable hour ?" was a very 
 natural question by Mr. Saunders. True it was, 
 he added, that for some days past, two ladies had 
 been expected on a visit at the Crypt ; but it 
 seemed altogether unlikely that that they should 
 choose such a time for their arrival. The dis- 
 covery of the approaching vehicle was, however, 
 soon reported to Miss Murray, who expressed an 
 apprehension that some accident on the way had 
 happened to her expected guests, by which they 
 had become belated ; but this, with every other 
 futile conjecture, was speedily disposed of by the 
 drawing up of a post-chaise in front of the hall. 
 In a moment the hand of the butler was on the 
 handle of the carriage-door, and by the next 
 moment the eyes of the old man were gazing in 
 wonder upon the figure of his '^ young master," 
 although not now as formerly seen, but with a 
 goodly whisker on each cheek, and in the full 
 stature of man. Miss Murray heard the invol- 
 untary exclamation of her servant, then the 
 milder tones of her visitor, in which she at once
 
 NORTH OF THB TWEED, 101 
 
 recognised, though, somewhat altered, the joyful 
 voice of her " dear Lorry." 
 
 This was now an occasion for the recital of 
 past dreams. Miss Murray had had many, hut 
 so late as two nights ago, she had seen him in a 
 vision on the back of his pony, when his legs 
 almost reached to the ground. In the region of 
 the marvellous, however, this was completely out- 
 done and out-shone by a similar trick of the 
 fancy passed upon the butler. Exactly two 
 years, five months and three days since, at the 
 hour of twelve at night — he was correct as to 
 time, for he had just finished his first sleep, and 
 had risen from his bed to look at his watch, and 
 make a note of it — he saw Master Lorry on the 
 back of an elephant in a rank jungle, with 
 his knees puckered up to his chin, a 
 spear raised in his right hand, and a 
 huge tiger crouching in the long grass 
 before him. Another from Mr. Saunders will 
 suffice. Upon this occasion, also exactly at mid- 
 night (which, he explained to the housekeeper,
 
 102 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 was noon-day '^ at th' Ind'as ") he beheld his 
 former pupil (in his training daj^s) without his 
 jacket, and pitted against a black prince, with 
 only a feather on his head and a rag about his 
 waist, who had challenged him to a race for a 
 stocking-full of guineas — half-a-mile the " spin" 
 — and Master Lorry made the running so fast 
 that he licked the breath out of his royal highness 
 before he got half the distance, and trotted in 
 the winner, to the wonderment of a hundred 
 thousand black faced, black-legged pagans, who 
 had gone on purpose to see the Englishman beat. 
 So much for the dreams at the Crypt : what they 
 had been at the Kymes we know not. 
 
 Of our visitor's reception, it will b^ enough to 
 say that it was even more than could have been 
 expected, time and circumstance considered, the 
 pleasure afforded on the occasion being much en- 
 hanced by the surprise with which it was accom- 
 panied ; only the stately old lady, in imprinting 
 her lips upon his cheek, declared she would not 
 forgive him if he came a second time without
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 103 
 
 previous announcement, giving it as her belief 
 that old Earl — the sagacious watch-dog — would 
 not have barked as he had done had this been the 
 case, for he never barked at expected visitors. 
 
 Early on the following morning the worthy 
 Saunders, still looking hale and hearty, was by 
 the bed-side of his young master. On a small 
 tray in his hands, he had a cup of stout coffee, 
 flanked by a flask of brandy ; the latter the same 
 that had been provided for the visitors' departure, 
 now some years since, but was forgotten at the 
 sorrowful parting, and had been carefully pre- 
 served for his use on his return. Lorance, 
 though he would willingly have declined both 
 beverages, could not resist the old man's sin- 
 cerity. In half-an-hour he was up, dressed, and 
 out, renewing his acquaintance with the dogs, 
 and stroking the sides of his old pony. Breakfast 
 was served at the usual hour of nine, and after 
 some conversation with his aunt, it was arranged 
 that he and the butler should have a walk to- 
 gether over the grounds in the vicinity of the
 
 104 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 house. He was secretly longing for this, as it 
 would afford him an opportunity of sounding 
 Saunders on some points, in connection with the 
 family at the Kymes, in which he felt more in- 
 terest than he wished to betray. By his aunt he 
 had been told of a grievous accident that had 
 happened to his dear old friend, Colonel Keith, 
 which had compelled him to be removed to 
 Edinburgh, and there placed under the care of 
 the most eminent surgeons of our capital. 
 
 When the two had proceeded to a distance 
 sufficiently remote from the house, Lorance in- 
 troduced the subject. 
 
 "Can you tell me, Saunders," he inquired, 
 ** why it is that Colonel Keith's little daughters 
 do not now come to see my aunt so frequently 
 as they used to do?" 
 
 "Why," answered the servant, with some- 
 thing like a significant shade on his countenance, 
 "I suppose it's because the young ladies — ^for 
 they are not now little girls as when you left 
 them, particularly Miss Agnes, who is now a
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 105 
 
 woman — have not the Colonel to accompany 
 them.'* 
 
 " But before his accident, did they not fre- 
 quently pay her a visit without their father ?'* 
 
 *^ Yes, sir, frequently ; twice or thrice a week ; 
 and when they didn't come in the carriage they 
 used to walk with the governess." 
 
 *^ I suppose, then, the family is so deeply con- 
 cerned about the state of the Colonel's health 
 that they wish to be as private as possible until 
 his recovery," added Lorance. 
 
 *' Mrs. Keith," returned Saunders, '* sent a 
 message to her door, to our coachman, about a 
 fortnight ago, signifying as much, when he had 
 been desired by Miss Murray to ride over to the 
 Kymes, as he had often done, to enquire how the 
 Colonel was." 
 
 " Oh, that, then, accounts for it ; but what did 
 my aunt say to the message ? a rather strange 
 one, I own, to an old friend." 
 
 " She thought it very strange, sir, and has 
 never sent over to inquire since. Bat she thinks 
 
 F 5
 
 106 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 it still stranger," he continued, '' that the young 
 ladies have not been to the Crypt for more than 
 three weeks ; for before that time, ever since 
 their father's accident, ten weeks ago, they were 
 often over, telling your aunt how the Colonel 
 was, and asking when you were coming back.'* 
 '' That is indeed singular, Saunders." 
 "Yes, sir," added the butler, with more ani- 
 mation in his tone, *^and what I'm now going to 
 say will make the matter appear stranger still. 
 Mrs. Keith, instead of wishing to be more private 
 — and your aunt knows it— has had a good deal 
 of company of late; and there have been two 
 gentlemen very much at the Kymes, sometimes 
 staying for weeks at a time ; and it is said by the 
 servants that one of them is to marry Miss 
 Agnes; and although the poor dear thing told 
 the governess that she did not like him, still it 
 is thought if her father does not get better, or 
 come home soon, her mother will make her havo 
 him, for she herself likes him. " 
 
 " Do you know the names of these gentlemen?" 
 asked Lorance.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 10? 
 
 *' One IS a baronet, they say, sir, called Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw ; and the other's name is Mr. 
 Corby. They are friends of the Cranmore family. 
 It's the baronet Mrs. Keith wants Miss Agnes to 
 take.'' 
 
 ^^ Do you know if the gentlemen are at present 
 at the Kymes ?" 
 
 *' I think they are not ; for about three weeks 
 ago they were up in England, where one of them 
 said, in a letter to Mrs. Keith, as I was told, that 
 he saw you. Master Lorry, at a ball, and spoke to 
 you likewise." 
 
 " The gentleman wrote quite correctly, Saun- 
 ders," said Lorance. *^ Aye, and since the arrival 
 of this letter at the Kymes, my aunt, it appears, 
 has suffered an indignity at the instance of Mrs. 
 Keith ; and with it all intercourse between the 
 two families has, I fancy, been interdicted. 
 Well, Saunders, this being so, how can you 
 account for it? To Mrs. Keith's mind, there 
 must be something very dreadful in my return 
 from India."
 
 108 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " The only way, Master Lorry, that I can account 
 for it, is this. Not very long ago, when speaking 
 of this baronet, Miss Agnes told one of the 
 maids, who again told it to her mistress, that she 
 liked you better than him, or any other gentleman 
 she had ever seen." 
 
 " That was quite dreadful, Saunders, and it 
 altogether accounts for what has happened, for I 
 was never a favourite with Mrs Keith.'* 
 
 " Nor anybody else at the Crypt, sir. Even to 
 us servants the lady was barely civil ; and this 
 was the greater pity, because the Colonel and the 
 young ladies were so kind, and always appaared 
 so friendly and happy when they came over." 
 
 ^* Well, now," said Lorance, changing the 
 subject, " how are the hawks ? I have not for- 
 gotten, you see, the dear old birds, nor yet the 
 black gentleman's kirk, in which they were 
 cradled." 
 
 " And you, Master Lorry," answered the other, 
 gravely, " at the risk of your young life, went 
 down the awful cliff and rocked the cradle for
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 109 
 
 them, while the boldest men in the parish grew 
 pale when they looked over it. The hawks are 
 alive and well, I believe, but fat and tired of idle- 
 set. Since the colonel left they have had no 
 exercise, except what Miss Keith has given to 
 the tiercel, by carrying it about on her wrist, 
 with an occasional flight at the lure. The falcon 
 is too heavy for her. Besides, Miss Grizzel 
 claims it as her property and charge, until, as 
 she says, her brother Lorry comes back to the 
 Crypt." 
 
 " But what has become of young Steen, my 
 former falconer ? Colonel Keith took him into 
 his service when I left, as assistant-groom, in 
 order chiefly, I believe, that the birds should be 
 properly attended to." 
 
 " He is still at the Kymes, sir ; but since the 
 Colonel went away, and these fine gentlemen 
 came about the place, Mrs. Keith keeps him 
 so busy, that he cannot get them seen to as he 
 used." 
 
 " I am sorry to hear that, Saunders."
 
 110 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " So was I, when I heard it. I never go near 
 the place, nor see the hawks now," returned the 
 old man, sorrowfully. " Often, before his acci- 
 dent, Colonel Keith had them sent over with 
 Steen, or brought them himself, with the young 
 ladies in the carriage, to show them to Miss 
 Murray ; for she likes much to see them, because 
 you risked your life for them." 
 
 '' Well, at all events, Saunders, I shall see them, 
 if they are still in being at the Kymes, and that 
 on to-morrow, before sunset," returned Lorance, 
 with an air of mild determination in his look. 
 
 •' If you see Steen or Kay, Master Lorry," 
 added the butler, " he will perhaps tell you 
 more of the doings at the Kymes than I can do ; 
 and what is more, sir, both are quite in my con- 
 fidence, and frequently come over of an evening 
 and give me the news ; and, except for them, now, 
 since the young ladies have stopped coming, none 
 of us would ever hear a word about the Colonel." 
 
 With this the conversation ended, and the two 
 sauntered on.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. Ill 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A VISIT TO THE KYMES'. 
 
 About tliree o'clock on the day following the 
 preceding conversation, Lorance Langton rode 
 forth to pay his contemplated visit to the Kymes. 
 
 He was mounted upon one of the carriage- 
 horses, a sort of supernumerary in the establish- 
 ment, — very handsome, young, and well broke, 
 which had been recently purchased, to supersede 
 in harness an old mare, now in her twenty- third 
 year, and about to be transferred to the pension- 
 list. 
 
 Simple and common-place as this visit in itself 
 did seem, yet on the present occasion it became
 
 112 NOBTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 invested with something more than an ordinary 
 amount of interest. 
 
 Even Miss Murray herself, jealous and proud 
 of her family's honour and descent, but habitu- 
 ally uniform and imperturbable in her disposition, 
 expressed some curiosity concerning the manner 
 in which the young scion of her house would be 
 received at the Kymes. 
 
 Nor was the worthy butler without his share of 
 speculations. 
 
 But, in the mind of the visitor himself, thera 
 was something stirring, altogether apart from 
 common curiosity — an indefinable something 
 which he had never before experienced — a sensa- 
 tional or emotional tumult in his breast, for which 
 sovereign reason could not account — of which his 
 Shakespeare gave no example, and his Plato no 
 solution. 
 
 **What!" said he, within himself, "have I 
 not ere now experienced all the thrilling excite - 
 of danger — had my nerves strained to their 
 utmost tension, with the uplifted spear in my
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 113 
 
 hand, flanked by two others equally ready to deal 
 the thrust against the vast tiger, stirring the tall 
 reeds in the jungle, on his onward march to the 
 deadly conflict ? Have I not, when less strongly 
 sinewed, and merely from juvenile ambition, 
 with a boyish love, perhaps, for the attainment 
 of the object, undergone the most overpowering 
 train of sensations, and even horror, by a descent 
 over an appalling cliff, with only a few lines of 
 twisted cord between my life and annihilation ? 
 Truly so ; but for all this there was to be found a 
 palpable cause ; for the present commotion in my 
 bosom, my reason can discover none. Why, or 
 wherefore, then, has all this come upon me? 
 Whence has sprung up all this causeless hubbub 
 of sensations, emotions, and the rest of it?" he 
 again enquired of himself, with a laugh, and a 
 stoical endeavour to turn the rebellious bosom into 
 ridicule. " Let sages and metaphysicians, who 
 dream and prate about tracing up occult causes 
 from their plaguy effects settle this sort of non- 
 Bense. For my part, do my best, 1 can, conceive
 
 114 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 of no more logical cause for or common sense 
 in it than that I should become nervous when I 
 see my shadow in that crystal pool before me. 
 Yet, withal, I feel a confounded queerishness, 
 somehow. Can it be that some malign influence, 
 some bird of evil omen, is hovering near me — a 
 raven, perhaps, ^boding me no good,' or, may- 
 hap, a malevolent hag, in the form of a hare, 
 about to cross my path from yonder thicket ?" 
 
 Kuminating in this manner, upon a slow pace, 
 he at length, by a sudden turn in the road, 
 caught a glimpse of the mansion ; and a shock 
 instantly passed through his frame, as if his 
 hand had touched the rod of a galvanic battery, 
 
 " Surely the animal has trod on the torpedo," 
 he again ejaculated, striving evidently to sustain 
 his valorous resolution not to be nervous, '^ or is 
 it that I have unconsciously checked him ?" (he 
 was then in the act of crossing a stream). " Ay, 
 and there is once more the house, with its windows 
 now all glittering cheerfully in the sun — no little 
 figures at either, though, as I have seen, watching
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 115 
 
 me down the liill. And there is the pretty 
 parterre, where I have so often planted and 
 plucked the sweet flowers for my young adopted 
 sisters, with the dear Colonel looking on. I 
 wonder at this moment what they are really like, 
 and what doing ! And there is our delightful 
 hazel bower ; but it looks dull now, and unin- 
 viting. Yes, and yonder is the old oak, by the 
 side of the crystal Iris, under whoso leafy 
 boughs I spread out my last creel of fish ; and 
 where sunny-haired little Grizzel sported on the 
 grass with her daisy wreath. Yes ! and where 
 beautiful Agnes, — I do not think I ever noticed 
 the fulness of her beauty till that day — held out 
 her hand, with the glow upon it of a rose petal, 
 that I should read to her her fortune. Artless, 
 innocent child ! little reckoned you of the peril. 
 Had I been a Romeo, and you a Juliet of ripened 
 years, what then had become of your young 
 heart ? and what had been my fond rendering ? 
 what an illusory dream had been thine ! Since 
 that hour I have wormed my way through many
 
 116 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 a browned and musty tome, and traced stage by 
 stage the progress and development of sundry of 
 those secret laws of matter, and of mind, which 
 have been revealed to the world — and by which 
 men of science, through the medium of calcula- 
 tions, signs, and tokens, have been able to carry a 
 limited knowledge into the realms of futurity. 
 Still, with all this, and ten thousand times 
 the amount of the world's wisdom at mj com- 
 mand, were the little volume of your destiny now 
 placed before me, how should I translate it, or 
 tell the tale even of your lot at this hour? 
 Chiromancy, thou art an impostor ! Enough of 
 mortal presumption. Still there is the dear old 
 oak. No group of laughing faces there now. 
 Under its circular shade there is a darker gloom 
 than formerly. Yes, portentious vision ! There, 
 as with every other fond and familiar spot here 
 of earlier days, all is changed, and my 'fancy 
 seems to conjure up the tawny brows and naked 
 arms of grim old beldames, lustily belabouring 
 each other with broomsticks, tugging at each
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 117 
 
 other's liooked noses and matted locks in true 
 grimalkin fury. Avaunt, ye hated intruders !'' 
 
 The last sentence he uttered aloud, and, to his 
 ineffable shame and confusion, on looking around, 
 he discovered that the ejaculation was uttered 
 within the hearing of a stranger. The individual 
 had been screened from his view by means of a 
 bushy tree, and when observed had his back 
 turned towards him, so that his face was not 
 seen. This incident, however, had at once the 
 effect of bringing him speedily back to his senses. 
 
 "Well," he added, with a hearty laugh to 
 himself, " I have been very ridiculous, and really 
 cannot account for this folly. I must be pos- 
 sessed ; for what on earth were it to me if all our 
 witches, weirds, and other evil genii of fable- 
 land were at this moment cutting their cantrips, 
 dancing jigs, or flaying each other alive within 
 these woods ? Sufficient is it for me to see my 
 own cue in the coming game of courtesy. Thanks 
 to old Saunders, I am now master of my own 
 position. I know the temper of the garrison I
 
 118 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 am marching upon, and am prepared for every 
 contingency." Whereupon he increased his pace, 
 and by the lapse of five minutes more, he had 
 his horse reined up in front of the hill-door. 
 
 The visitor did not require to dismount to ring 
 the door-bell, nor had it been part of his tactics 
 to leave his independent post on the saddle until 
 he had first " sounded the fort." But his 
 approach had been observed, and i footman — a 
 stranger, for changes had taken place among the 
 old servants — anticipating him, had opened the 
 door, and, descending the steps, delivered a 
 ready-cut message to the effect that his mistress 
 was indisposed, and that the young ladies, with 
 their governess, had gone out for a long drive. 
 
 Lorance presented his card, then turning 
 his horse rounds proceeded directly to the stables, 
 with the topography of which he had of old 
 been perfectly familiar. Here the first in- 
 dividual by whom he was observer was an old, 
 faithful, and familiar stable servant of Colonel 
 Keith, answering to the name of Richard Kay.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 119 
 
 " Oh, Master Lorry, I am joyed, and yet sad 
 i' my heart to see ye," said the groom, with a 
 little of the privileged freedom of former days. 
 
 Lorance immediately alighted, and desired a 
 shake of the old man's hand, had his horse led 
 into the stable, while he feelingly endeavom-ed to 
 condole with him for the temporary loss of his 
 master. He next inquired for Steen, his former 
 falconer. He was still in the service of the 
 family, but not at present on the premises. The 
 groom, however possessed the key that opened 
 the way to the falcons, the object of his present 
 eolicitation, to which he desired to be con- 
 ducted. A few steps carried them thither, and 
 as he stood over the birds, then sitting on their 
 blocks, he seemed to contemplate them with sin- 
 gular emotion. What scenes had he passed 
 through since he first saw their same beautiful 
 eyes turned upon him, in the face of the frightful 
 cliff. They did not now know his voice or his 
 whistle, but looked restless at his approach, and 
 instead of brown in their nestling plumage, as
 
 120 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 when he had left them, they were now blue almost 
 as wood pigeons. Their beaks were much elon- 
 gated, and sadly in want of copping. Their 
 jesses, too, were hard, worn, and in need of 
 renewal. He remained with him for some 
 minutes, and when he had withdrawn and signi- 
 fied his intention to remount his horse and pro- 
 ceed homewards, the old servant, with a look of 
 unspeakable grief and surprise, exclaimed, 
 
 '' But, Master Lorry, ye'll surely no leave 
 without seeing the young ladies ?" 
 
 ^^They are out for a long drive,'^ returned 
 Lorance, ^^ and Mrs. Keith is not sufiSciently well 
 to receive me." 
 
 '' But Miss Grizzel isn't gone ; she is in the 
 house, for — I may tell you, sir — she doesn't like 
 the gentleman that's gone in the carriage wi' 
 Miss Keith and the governess ; an' if ye leave 
 the Kymes without seein' her, therell be two 
 wet pillows afore the mornin'; and. Master 
 Lorry, my own head will no lie the softer for it, 
 for their distress is aye mine."
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 121 
 
 ^' I hardly quite understand you, Kay," said 
 Lorance ; " will you explain a little what you 
 mean ?'^ 
 
 " I must, then, divulge to ye a secret, Master 
 Lorry, and I know well who I'm speaking to, or 
 my mouth would be sealed," added the groom, 
 with a look of extreme gravity. " I am the only 
 one about this place whom the sweet young ladies 
 make a confidant of; and T ken their sentiments 
 about you, and about somebody else, as well, I 
 think, as they do themsel's. And this I tell ye, 
 Master Lorry, if ye go home to the Crypt this 
 day without seeing them, or Miss Grizzel at least, 
 she will go out of her reason afore the mornin'." 
 
 ^' You surprise and perplex me greatly, Kay." 
 
 " I know I do, sir ; but I must tell you. Both 
 Miss Agnes and Grizzel ken you're here. You 
 were seen from a distance coming, as I've heard, 
 afore I saw you, Master Lorry ; an' it's my belief 
 the carriage was hurried away from the side door, 
 that you should not see Miss Agnes. Miss Grizzel 
 wouldn't go." 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 ^' But, gracious me ! why should Miss Keith be 
 hurried away because I was seen on my way to 
 pay a visit? or, in the name of heaven ! can you 
 tell me what has occurred that I should not be 
 allowed to see the daughters of Colonel Keith as 
 formerly ?" 
 
 '^ I can and will answer that in a word, Master 
 Lorry," said Kay; ^' it's because Mrs. Keith 
 likes another visitor better than you, and because 
 Miss Agnes likes you better than the other visitor, 
 althougli the young dear lady has no thought to 
 be in love or marry anybody, as she has told me, 
 with tears in her eyes." 
 
 ^^ Nor have I ever dreamt of such a thing my- 
 self, Kay," returned Lorance, " and no one of 
 Colonel Keith's family has had any grounds for 
 supposing that, at my age, I could entertain 
 other motives towards any member of it than 
 those of the sincerest friendship, or brotherly 
 affection for the children." 
 
 '' But Mrs. Keith is a strange woman, sir, and 
 was never very fond of any of the Colonel's
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 1^^ 
 
 friends/' added Kay, in a subdued tone, " and 
 she may have some fears of your presence here 
 hinderino^ Miss Ao^nes from marrvincr the titled 
 gentleman she wishes her to have." 
 
 Lorance bit his lip. 
 
 ^' Well, Kay," he said, with a flash in his eye, 
 *' if Mrs. Keith has such a dread of me — if she 
 fears that I may prove an obstacle to a heartless 
 scheme of compelling her daughter to marry 
 against her will, and that, too, a man whom she 
 does not love, by heaven ! I tell you, I will give 
 her cause to dxead me. But how has all this 
 come to pass ? Why has there not been commu- 
 nication of it made to her father, who, I am 
 certain, would never suffer such a cruelty to be 
 perpetrated upon his loving daughter ?" 
 
 " The Colonel, sir, is afflicted in the brain by 
 the fallj and is insensible, and not allowed to 
 have communication with anybody, or to see any- 
 one but the doctor. So Miss Agnes told me 
 herself, and it is that it makes her so frightened 
 now." 
 
 Q 2
 
 124 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " You amaze and appal me, Kay." 
 
 *^0b! Master Lorry," resumed the groom, with 
 undisguised emotion, '' had ye but seen the two 
 young ladies the other afternoon standing on my 
 cottage floor, covered in tears and beseeching me 
 for help and counsel — help from an old worn-out 
 Servant — wi' Bauby (his wife) nearly as bad, ye're 
 heart would hae failed ye, I'm sure on't. There 
 was little Grizzel clasping the hand of her dis- 
 tressed sister, and striving to comfort her, like an 
 old woman ; and what d'ye think the sweet thing 
 said, sir? — ^l^ow, dear old Kay, won't you strive 
 to help us, when our father cannot come to us ? 
 for you are the only true friend we have left now. 
 Oh ! if our brother Lorry — for they always call 
 you so— would but only come back to the Crypt, 
 then wouldn't he help us, and save my sister ;' 
 she said that, sir, and much more." 
 
 "But what had then occurred to cause them so 
 much distress ?" 
 
 - " Something at the house displeasing to Miss 
 Agnes," answered Kay. " Now, Master Lorry,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 125 
 
 ye see what a pass things hae come to at the 
 Kjmes ; and if ye leave to-day without seeing 
 Miss Grizzel, I'm sure she'll break her heart." 
 
 '' Bat what can I do ? I have no option left 
 me," said Lorance, with a perplexed look. ^^ I 
 am declined admittance into the house to see her ; 
 and my position cannot permit me to loiter about 
 the premises, like a thief, to lie in wait for 
 her." 
 
 Kay immediately saw the force of this argu- 
 ment, and, having received a return-present for 
 his wife, brought out the horse, and the visitor 
 rode slowly off. When he had entered the avenue 
 of trees and was sufficiently advanced to be 
 beyond the view of the house windows, his ears 
 suddenly caught the sound of light footsteps upon 
 a rapid pace behind him. He looked round and 
 beheld a beautiful girl, of about the age of eight 
 or nine years, hastening to overtake him ; she was 
 dressed in white, and had a cluster of dark ring- 
 lets floating airily about her shoulders. Upon 
 observing the horseman draw up, she evinced 
 something like timidity or hesitation in her
 
 126 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 resolution to approach. Lorance eyed her with 
 peculiar interest, and readily recognised her 
 features while yet at a small distance. 
 
 " Are you, sir, Mr. Lorance Langton ?" she 
 enquired, in a half-breathless state, blushing with 
 the sweetness of a new-born rose. 
 
 " Not to you, my darling little sister Grizzel/* 
 he replied, springing from his saddle. 
 
 " Yes, yes ; it's my brother Lorry," and by the 
 next moment she was locked in his arms. 
 
 Oh ! I^^ature, thou art a guileless, faithful sister, 
 mother, or step-dame, whensover thou art pleased 
 to doff the world's mask ! How canst thou over- 
 leap barriers, sever chains, and laugh at despots ! 
 
 For some seconds neither of the two could 
 utter a syllable ; tears and sobs alone found vent 
 with little Grizzel. 
 
 At length, fearing that Lorance had observed 
 them, she said, 
 
 '^ Now, dear Lorry — our dear Lorry still— you 
 are not angry because I have cried a little — it's 
 for joy and not sorrow, And, Oh ! when I tell my 
 sister Aggie, when she comes home, that I have
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 127 
 
 seen you, I think 1 shall cry again with joy, and 
 so will she." 
 
 This interview was extremely brief. Lorance 
 asked but few questions ; and rightly adjudging 
 the meeting to be against the decrees of the 
 house, unreasonable and unnatural as these might 
 be, he resolved to shorten its length, lest it 
 might, if discovered, bring maternal anger upon 
 the tender transgressor. 
 
 It was not, however, unseen by another party. 
 Two watchful eyes from a distance were bearino- 
 upon every footstep of the little airy creature ; 
 but they were the friendly eyes of the faithful 
 Kay, whose stationary figure was visible at the 
 extreme end of the avenue, whence the child had 
 shot forth with the speed of a roe. 
 
 After commissioning Grizzel, as the bearer to 
 Agnes of his brotherly affection and most tender 
 remembrances of her earlier days, endorsing the 
 same with a parting kiss, the visitor re-mounted 
 his horse and proceeded homewards. His de- 
 liberations by the way were now graver, and less 
 fanciful than upon the outset of his journey.
 
 128 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 SERIOUS PROSPECTS, EXCHANGE OF LETTERS, &C. 
 
 " Mrs. Keith is a strange woman," said Miss 
 Murray, raising her head with an air of meek and 
 dignified equanimity, when Lorance had com- 
 pleted the account of his visit to her neighbour. 
 " On the day of her first arrival at the Kymes, on 
 which occasion I was present, she greatly shocked 
 some of the Colonel's friends by her bad taste 
 and singular behaviour ; nor, from what I had 
 previously learned, am I now in the least sur- 
 prised to hear that you were not to-day received 
 as a welcome visitor ; but I was unprepared for 
 such a report as you have given me of her extra-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 129 
 
 ordinary conduct towards her own children, more 
 especially at a time when their father is believed 
 to be lying on his death- bed." 
 
 " But, anut, do yon really believe that Colonel 
 Keith is in such a dangerous state?" said Lorance, 
 manifesting a sudden shock at the last sentence. 
 *^ If so, I must go at once to Edinburgh and see 
 him." 
 
 *' Lorance, if it were to be of the least service 
 either to the Colonel or to his dear children, I 
 myself should not hesitate to undertake the 
 journey, although I have not travelled half the 
 distance from home for the last twenty years," 
 returned the lady, with an expression of unwonted 
 energy. " But such a journey by either of us 
 would only be labour in vain. Some time ago, 
 and when 1 could no longer have direct informa- 
 tion from the Kymes, I wrote to a friend in Edin- 
 burgh, desiring him to visit Colonel Keith, in my 
 name, as often as he could find it convenient, and 
 report to me of his condition ; but, although I 
 have received frequent communications relating 
 
 a 5
 
 130 NOHTH OF THE TWEED, 
 
 to his health, the gentleman has never been per- 
 mitted' to see him ; nor have any of his own per- 
 sonal friends been allowed to enter his room." 
 
 Ths listener turned his eyes sorrowfully upon 
 the ground. 
 
 " It is very bad to think of it," she continued, 
 *' for he has been such a good and worthy man, 
 and the only kind counsellor and trusty friend I 
 have had for years in this solitary neighbour- 
 hood." 
 
 Lorance now excused himself under the plea of 
 having something to communicate to the butler 
 regarding the falcons, of which he had spoken, 
 and accordingly left the room. 
 
 This was, in truth, the case, but he further 
 desired to give vent to his sorrow in private. 
 
 In due time, Saunders was found, to whom he 
 again related the particulars of his day's ride, 
 which afterwards formed the subject of further 
 grave consideration between them. 
 
 About the dawn of the evening on the follow- 
 ing day, agreeable to an appointment, Richard
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 131 
 
 Kay made a private visit to the Crypt. Lorance 
 was at the time of his arrival in his own room, 
 into which the visitor was straightway conducted 
 by the confidential Saunders. Between the two 
 neighbouring servants there had long subsisted a 
 sort of brotherly regard, and as the business of 
 the groom was a matter in which the butler was 
 equally interested, the latter was invited to take 
 part in the conference. 
 
 Lorance's visit to the Kymes, according to the 
 information now received, had been productive of 
 two significant effects. It had aroused the feeble 
 energies of Mrs. Keith, and had made a stirring 
 sensation throughout the household, which again 
 had speedily extended itself not only to the 
 dwellings of the neighbouring cottagers, but 
 already over a considerable part of the surrounding 
 parish, to the humble inhabitants of which, from 
 his generous and affable disposition, his name 
 had formerly been almost as familiar and beloved 
 as that of Colonel Keith itself. Amongst the 
 dependants upon the estate the lady had never
 
 132 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 been popular^ and lier deportment daring the 
 absence of her husband, now more closely can- 
 vassed by the idle, had tended but little to abate 
 their prejudices. 
 
 For several months prior to Lorance's arrival 
 at the Crypt it had been currently reported that 
 Miss Keith had become the affianced bride of a 
 " titled gentleman," now almost a constant 
 visitor at her father's house ; and it had likewise 
 been made known to them that the young lady 
 herself had expressed a strong aversion to her 
 suitor, and had vowed she would never marry 
 him with her consent. They further knew that 
 her early attachment to Lorance, though then 
 only as a child and sister, was still very strong. 
 All these circumstances, as will readily be con- 
 ceived, now combined to invest this abrupt and 
 unexpected visit with more than ordinary in- 
 terest. 
 
 Amongst the several offendings of our hero on 
 this untoward occasion, two of them require 
 especial notice. The first was his having in-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 133 
 
 curred the high displeasure of the august lady by- 
 loitering about the premises, instead of imme- 
 diately departing, " as became a gentleman," on 
 receiving his answer at the door. This offence, 
 in the eyes of the lady, had become grievously 
 aggravated by a subsequent discovery that the 
 daring intruder must have found her guilty of a 
 deliberate untruth, inasmuch as she had stated 
 that her daughters were out with their governess 
 " for a long drive," while at that moment one of 
 them was sitting by her side in the <lrawing- 
 room. A lie at all times is bad, but doubly sin- 
 ful when detected. The stolen interview with 
 Grizzel and Lorance in the avenue had also been 
 discovered by a person appointed to keep an eye on 
 his movements, and information thereof straight- 
 way conveyed to the lady. Nor had the distant 
 figure of Richard Kay, who was alleged to have 
 abbetted in the matter, escaped observation. In- 
 deed the fealty of this old servant to his mistress, 
 had not hitherto been altogether exempt from 
 suspicion. Holding his commission direct from
 
 134 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Colonel Keithj from whom he had already a 
 comfortable annuity settled upon him for life, he 
 was accused by, the lady of occasionally deporting 
 himself towards her with too much independ- 
 ance. Further, from his known attachment to 
 the young ladies, together with his partiality for 
 one for whom she had an unnatural dislike, he 
 now fell under suspicion of having connived at 
 the meeting, and was at once subjected to a 
 rigorous interrogation on the matter. During 
 this ordeal, however, the old servant acquitted 
 himself with much spirit, and left the lady as 
 wise as when she commenced the parley. 
 
 The second charge against the offender was 
 still more heinous. He had not only insulted 
 and incensed the mistress of the Kymes in the 
 highest degree, but it had wounded the pride 
 and aroused the indignation of her two favoured 
 guests, in a manner so awful and heroic, that 
 nothing short of prompt and summary measures 
 by them was deemed admissable in the case. 
 Upon this announcement the reader will pro-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 135 
 
 bably turn to us, as dutiful reporters, for some 
 enlightenment on tliis grave cliarge. This will 
 presently be supplied. When Richard Kay had 
 delivered himself of so much of his news, he drew 
 from his pocket a letter which he had received 
 from a fellow servant named Steen, who had 
 been instructed to be the bearer of it to its pro- 
 per destination ; but when the circumstance was 
 communicated to the former, he engaged to 
 relieve the other of his mission, as he intended 
 himself to ride over to the Crypt. The contents 
 of the letter were as follows, it was addressed 
 " Lorance Langton, Esquire." 
 
 " The Kymes, &c. 
 " Sir, 
 
 *^ It is not without a sense of deep and 
 painful regret that I now, on my own behalf, 
 and at the call of Mrs. Keith, have to address 
 to you the present communication. In thus un- 
 dertaking the task, I may, then, in the first place,
 
 136 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 inform jou that I am at the Kymes, an invited 
 guest, as a temporary stay and protector to that 
 lady during the lamented absence of her husband, 
 Colonel Keith. In this capacity I now address 
 you, and in this capacity it devolves upon me to 
 endeavour to secure to her that domestic repose 
 and privacy which she seeks for herself and 
 family, and which by every proper thinking 
 person must be considered as a privilege sacred to 
 her under her present privation and distress. It 
 is, therefore, with profound grief that she has to 
 charge a member of an old neighbouring family 
 with being the first to violate that privilege — a 
 member, too, who, at an earlier stage of his life, 
 had liberally shared of the hospitality of her 
 house. Presuming no doubt upon the lady's 
 previous forbearance, when, as appears, your de- 
 portment at the Kymes was not always even then 
 such as to merit her approval, you yesterday 
 committed a trespass, aggravated by circum- 
 stances which she cannot overlook or suffer to
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 137 
 
 pass unrebuked. These I need not here enume- 
 rate, as they must be fresh in your recollection 
 But there is another act imputed to you, affecting 
 myself and another friend of the family here, for 
 whom I must demand an immediate explanation, 
 and apology. This consists of an utterance not 
 only of a gross untruth but of a direct insult 
 alike to Mrs. Keith and her present guests, of 
 which I am one. To refresh your memory here, 
 need I say more than repeat your own words — 
 
 * Avaunt ye hated intruders,' &c. 
 
 " Now, sir, that you uttered these unprovoked 
 and slanderous words within the hearmg of a 
 gentleman, no less insulted by them than myself, 
 is a fact that I am prepared to prove to your 
 satisfaction. ^ Hated ' by you, through envy or, 
 perhaps, jealousy I may be ; but that I am an 
 
 * intruder ' at the Kymes is an aspersion and a lie, 
 which I now charge upon you to the teeth, and 
 for which I demand that redress, under penalty of 
 bodily chastisement, which every aggrieved gentle- 
 man under similar circumstances usually requires,
 
 138 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 and has a right to expect from a person of 
 honour. 
 
 " I am, sir, yonr obedient servant, 
 
 "Francis Heronshaw." 
 
 Had either of the two great artists — the author 
 of '^ Tobias and his Family," or of '' The Reading 
 of the Will " — chanced to have been an eye- 
 witness of this group of three persons now in the 
 room during the perusal of this missive, he would 
 indeed have found a subject well worthy of his 
 famous brush. Side by side there were the two 
 faces of the groom and butler, somewhat vener- 
 able by age, alike plump and round, and sur- 
 mounted with grey locks, smoothed down and 
 shiny, with their eyes intently fixed upon the 
 countenance of the reader; while he, standing at 
 full length, his features now expanding, now con- 
 tracting, as surprise and suppressed mirth alter- 
 nated with each other, continued to course over 
 the lines in silence, occasionally pausing to make 
 certain of the matter. Scarcely even a breath was
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 139 
 
 audible in the room until the task was completed, 
 when suddenly a laugh broke from his lips, which 
 utterly electrified his grave spectators. 
 
 *^ Saunders, Saunders !" he exclaimed, in a fit 
 of frantic glee, '^ to the armoury ! to the armoury, 
 I say, with all speed ! 'Tis a declaration of 
 war — a summons to the field, smelling of bullets 
 or horse-whips. See to your weapons, my trusty 
 squire, for I must promote you to that post. 
 Thanks to my provident guardians and expert 
 teachers, I can split a lance or cross a spear — ay, 
 and draw a bow after Hindoo fashion, or an 
 Anglican tricker, with my neighbours ; and as to 
 horse- whips, you know the old adage — two can 
 play with them. Ho, ho, my brave masters ! and 
 this is your game ! Sir Francis Heronshaw of the 
 heron's nest, and Andrew Corby from a similar 
 ^ airy hall,' for ought I have learnt. Puissant 
 knight and valorous henchman ! Saunders, I say, 
 I elect you my squire for this honourable com- 
 pany, this matchless tilt or tournament; and 
 know, sir, you must choose the weapons. 'Tis a
 
 140 l^ORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 right I hold from the challenger, and if our 
 trusty squires, after Highland fashion, become 
 envious of our merry sport and take to arms in 
 the fray, I'll back you with a sheaf of arrows, or 
 a leathern thong, to the tune of twenty rupees 
 against he of the corby's nest. Heigho ! my 
 peerless masters, but we shall have valiant deeds 
 on hand !" 
 
 Without a pause or momemtary intermission, 
 the speaker went on in this rhapsodic manner, 
 again and again throwing affectively something 
 of the stage rant into his words, whi!e the 
 countenance of his elected squire, blank and pale, 
 looked as pregnant with valour as that of the re- 
 nowned knight of Eastcheap memory, on the eve 
 of battle, the astonished servant, at this juncture, 
 being altogether unable to divine whether his 
 young master was really in jest or in earnest, or 
 had literally taken leave of bis senses, he never 
 before having seen him in a similar state of ani- 
 mation. 
 
 Lorance at length read the letter aloud, which,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 141 
 
 like the will of Csesar in tlie hands of Antony, 
 told its own tale. Id stead of pallor, there was 
 now a flush of indignation upon the faces of both 
 listeners, and Saunders shook his head ominously. 
 Lorance, however, desired them to digest the 
 matter together for the space of a few minutes^while 
 he turned to a side-table and rapidly penned his 
 reply. This done, on returning with his produc- 
 tion folded up in his hand, the reading of which 
 he intended to defer until he had heard their 
 humble opinion of the former, he said, again re- 
 suming his theatrical humour. 
 
 *^ Well, now, my friends, what think you of our 
 cartel ! Speaks it not of leaden bullets, leathern 
 thongs, or crouching humility ? Counsel ye for 
 peace or war ?" 
 
 *^ Oh ! Master Lorry," exclaimed the butler, 
 in a state of great perturbation, " what a pass 
 things have come to at the Kymes, and all for 
 . want of the good Colonel. Ah ! were he but here 
 again, he would soon hurry out that nest of cranes 
 and corby- crows."
 
 142 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 *'Ay," added Kay, " and he would soon settle 
 doos (the young ladies) again at their liberty, to 
 rove about our bonnie glens." 
 
 " Of that I think there can be little doubt," 
 said Lorance. " But you are both wide away 
 from the business. What, I ask, is your opinion 
 of the Kymes letter ? And in return, what course 
 would you recommend for my adoption ? Shall I 
 resent with becoming spirit this indignity done to 
 myself and to my aunt, as her relation ? Or shall 
 I stain my family escutcheon, play the craven, 
 and prostrate myself at the bidding of this pre- 
 sumptuous baronet, inflate his pride and vanity by 
 apologising for offences I have not committed, 
 and finally, in the beatitude of his arrogance, 
 suffer him, an impudent adventurer at the Kymes, 
 under favour, forsooth ! of Mrs. Keith, to swagger 
 and lord it over the old inhabitants of this parish 
 — is this last alternative yours, my reverend 
 seniors ?" 
 
 "No, no. Master Lorry," answered the two 
 together, their eyes sparkling with fire, as the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 143 
 
 young speaker stirred up tlie old embers of their 
 Highland spirit. 
 
 '^ As soon," added Saunders, ^'should I submit 
 my body to be stuck as full of arrows as the pic- 
 tures of St. Jerome, or, like the ghost of Mont- 
 rose, have my spirit to wander to and fro without 
 the head, amongst the hills, as allow any inter- 
 lopper of his sort to insult the house of my mis- 
 tress. But, sir, you do not require counsel of us ; 
 and I know what you will do, and what I will 
 try my best to do likewise, if needs must be." 
 
 " Bravo, Saunders," ejaculated the other. " I 
 knew you had yet the blood of the clans in your 
 veins. I will now read to you my reply to the 
 baronet's missive, whereby you can judge the 
 better of my intentions." 
 
 He accordingly proceeded to do so. 
 
 ^' Comyn-Crypt. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " By a messenger from the Kymes, I 
 have this day received a letter addressed to me.
 
 144 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 bearing the signature of one Francis Heronsliaw. 
 To any personal knowledge of such an individual 
 I must plead an entire ignorance, though, by the 
 name, I am reminded of a person once obtruded 
 upon my acquaintance — then graced with a nomi- 
 nal prefix — by a Mr. Corby. But, right or wrong 
 in my conjecture of identity, my present office is 
 simply to deal with the merits of the communi- 
 cation. 
 
 " First, then, to be brief, by the spirit and tone 
 of its contents, it appears manifest that a means 
 has been sought and found — for reasons which I 
 will not here condescend to analyse — for fasten- 
 ing upon me a quarrel, by exaggerating and con- 
 torting the incidents of a friendly visit to an old 
 neighbour into a series of misdemeanours, while 
 this Francis Heronshaw, by his own avowal her 
 ' invited ' guest and elected ' protector,' starts 
 to his feet, and, like a dutiful knight with her 
 name upon his lips, heroically essays to redress 
 some alleged wrongs thereby done to his mistress. 
 Further, either fancying himself personally
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 145 
 
 aggrieved, or being wishful to get up a little 
 sensational affair on his own account, to widen 
 the sphere of his valorous actions and glory, he 
 casts a * lie ' in my 'teeth/ flings down the 
 gauntlet, andperemptorily demands that satisfac- 
 tion which, by the laws of honour, injured virtue 
 has a right to claim at my hands,appending thereto 
 a timely warning that a non-compliance will 
 be visited with 'bodily chastisement.' Hard 
 conditions, truly ! Shall I escape from all by a 
 speedy flight ? — rid you and others at the Kymes 
 of an unwelcome visitor, a supposed barrier to 
 your present aspirations, eh ? Have a care that 
 on this you have not speculated too confidently. 
 '^Now, sir, these particulars being, as I read 
 them, the substance and purport of your letter, I 
 hasten to settle your mind by assuring you that, in 
 consideration of your knightly courtesy, I should 
 herein deem myself guilty of an additional pQ.r- 
 sonal wrong to you did I deprive you of so favour- 
 able an opportunity for the display of your 
 prowess. I, therefore, beg to tender to you my 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 most unqualified refusal to either apologise to 
 you for the alleged transgressions, or to recognise 
 your assumed right at the Kymes, to there call 
 any part of my conduct to account ; whilst with 
 equal forwardness, I do hereby challenge your 
 courage, at the peril of your spurs, to adminis- 
 ter to me, in any form whatsoever, that rebuke 
 or chastisement of which you so magnanimously 
 prate. Until then 
 
 ^' I have the honour to subscribe. Sir, 
 '' Your obedient servant, 
 
 " LO RANGE LaNGTON." 
 
 Ihe contents of this reply were received with 
 manifest approbation ; whereupon Saunders, with 
 an expression of countenance very much akin, so 
 far as one may conceive, to that of a conscientious 
 man who, while yet experiencing an inward cling- 
 ing to the frail thread of life, has, from a sense of 
 duty, made up his mind to become a martyr or 
 die the death of the brave, said — 
 
 *' Yes, Master Lorry, you have retorted and
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 147 
 
 resented the affront as became one of the ancient 
 house you belong to, and with a spirit beseeming 
 your character as a young gentleman ever since 
 you came a boy to the Crypt, and you have done 
 it, too, in the manner which all this parish would 
 expect from your pluck since the day you went 
 over the De'il's Kirk for the hawk's nest. It is 
 a bad business, truly," he added, gravely, '^a bad 
 business, sir, for both families, who have lived 
 always up to now upon the best of terms. But 
 you have not sought it; it has been forced 
 upon you, and no one can charge you with 
 the consequences. And if in this wild neigh- 
 bourhood. Master Lorry, you have no one else 
 to counsel with, or stand by you in the matter 
 than my poor humble self— and I know of nobody 
 here I could trust you to — I'll do my best to have 
 
 fair play and justice, though it should cost me 
 my old life. But, sir," his gravity here relaxing, 
 " I don't know what to say of that fine Southern 
 baronet — whether he be a duelling man or no ; 
 
 only, if one may speak from appearances, I guess 
 
 H 2
 
 148 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 he would prefer a corabat with ladies' fans to 
 broad swords. As to that fellow, his friend, they 
 call Mr. Corby, I'm little concerned for him. I 
 don't think he'll stand the stink o' pouther, for 
 corbies are aye shy o' firearms. And then, if it 
 come to a bout with leather thongs, you see, 
 Master Lorry, as the skin at my time of life is not 
 over thin, I think I shall have the advantage of 
 him there. He ! he ! eh !" 
 
 ^' Well, at all events," said Lorance, with a 
 hearty laugh,"if the two gentlemen have the pluck 
 of a magpie between them, they are now bound 
 to show it." 
 
 '' But, Master Lorry," remarked the other, 
 ^' didn't you say we had the choice of weapons ?" 
 
 " I did, Saunders, and we unquestionably have, 
 but they must be such as gentleman may use — 
 anything, I suppose, but knives and fists, which 
 are the weapons of assassins and blackguards. You 
 will, therefore, have to make a proper choice and 
 «ee to them." 
 
 Saunders, now evidently inspired with warlike
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 149 
 
 tendencies, signified a ready compliance, and after 
 a few further remarks, the deliberations ended. 
 Before a final close, however, it was settled upon 
 as the proper course, that instead of Kay being 
 made the bearer of Lorance's reply. Miss Murray's 
 coachman should next day ride over to the 
 Kymes, and deliver it in person.
 
 150 NOBTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The morning meal at the Kymes was not on the 
 present occasion a repast remarkable for its ani- 
 mation or hilarity. There had been a time when 
 it was otherwise. 
 
 '* But now tliat day had passed and gone, 
 A stranger filled the Stuart throne." 
 
 Upon this clay it appeared almost solemn. It 
 might have passed for a grave ceremonial, at 
 which eating was performed as a reverential duty; 
 eating only for eating's sake ; eating of cold 
 viands without a hot potato, without condiment, 
 without even mint sauce ; cold rabbit, sans curry, 
 with the icicles hanging from the eaves. 
 
 With a feebleness of mind as oi physique^ the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 151 
 
 lady-hostess was but ill- qualified to dispel the 
 dull and depressing atmosphere that seemed to 
 hover over the breakfast-table, or to impart any 
 efiervescent ingredient to the still beverage before 
 her ; but she saw without resource the spirits of 
 her guests, like the sediment in troubled waters 
 sink irretrievably to the bottom of their bosoms. 
 There are times, in truth, when even the most 
 vivacious of temperaments, despite every effort of 
 the will, have their flowing and ebbing tides, and 
 here was an exemplification, for not all the tact 
 and talents of the accomplished baronet could now 
 effectively resist, even on his own behalf, the force 
 of the receding current. 
 
 Although the letter of the preceding day to 
 the Crypt had been approved — in short, framed 
 and critically amended by the joint wits of the 
 only parties interested therein, yet the writer, on 
 more mature reflection, and after he had slept 
 over it, felt that his desire for his mistress's favour, 
 and desire to scare the youth from the neighbour- 
 hood in order to advance his private aims without
 
 152 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 interruption, had carried him somewhat too fast 
 and too far ; consequently a sense of regret or 
 silent penitence, which he could neither repress 
 nor disguise, was now visible on his countenance ; 
 and while his better sense thus admonished him, 
 some other voice had also whispered in his ear 
 that he had not only greatly mistaken the char- 
 acter of the young gentleman, but had grievously 
 undervalued him as an adversary. With these 
 untoward thoughts weighing upon his mind, the 
 absence of his wonted gaiety at the breakfiast- 
 table may readily be accounted for ; and as his 
 spirits and countenance by the hostess and her 
 guests had always been looked to as the bar- 
 ometer of the house, they now naturally partook 
 of the gloom. Further, the writing and despatch 
 of a ** thundering letter to the young cub" — the 
 phrase is by Mr. Corby — had been made known 
 to the young ladies, who, on learning of the cir- 
 cumstance, took an opportunity of reminding or 
 informing their mother and her friends of the 
 high sense of honour and courageous spirit of
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED^ 153 
 
 Lorance, even when a bov, while they expressed 
 their conviction that such a communication as 
 had been represented to them would not only be 
 promptly responded to, but in such a manner as 
 might lead to hostile results — a contingency, 
 which, until that morning, had never once entered 
 the head of the self-complacent baronet, nor yet 
 the minds of his abettors. But to return to the 
 order of the morning. 
 
 Mrs. Keith occupied her wonted chair at the 
 table. She looked more blooming and less con- 
 cerned on the occasion than either her dausfh- 
 ters or her guests. She was dressed in a light 
 morning " wrapper," or rohe cle chambre, drawn 
 pursily about her waist by a fillet or band, tied 
 in imitation of a rosette in front. Her head gear 
 betrayed something of the evening elaboration, 
 and she had on her feet a pair of red morocco 
 slippers. Thus habited, her somewhat slender 
 figure, light grey eyes, and languid expression, 
 with a good mouth, presented a subject which an 
 
 H 5
 
 154 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 artist iniglit have wrought into a tolerable 
 picture. 
 
 On her left sat her two daughters ; at the fur- 
 ther end of the table Mr. Andrew Corby, and on 
 her right, vis a vis with the young ladies. Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw and an elder] ey spinster- 
 cousin of that gentleman, who had also been in- 
 vited by the hospitable Mrs. Keith to bear her 
 company in her present retirement. 
 
 This comprehends our tableau vivant, though it 
 must be confessed there was but little of the 
 vivant observable on the occasion. 
 
 Sir Francis Heronshaw had made the acquain- 
 tance of Colonel and Mrs. Keith through the 
 medium and relationship of the Cranmore family, 
 of whom respectful mention has elsewhere been 
 made in our narrative. He was a native of the 
 north of England, and had inherited, with his 
 title, a few hundreds of paternal acres, which he 
 had thought fit, deriving therefrom a small 
 annuity, to place under the safe keeping of some
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 155 
 
 of those public benefactors who are everywhere 
 to be found watching over the interests of man- 
 kind, and at all times ready to undertake similar 
 responsibilities with those gay and thoughtless 
 squanderers of their patrimonies, which, as we all 
 know, constitute a considerable portion of our 
 generous community. His present age might be 
 reckoned at about thirty years. In his person he 
 was tall, erect, and rather handsomely formed, 
 and he always dressed up to the latest fashion, 
 evincing, however, a partiality in his evenings for 
 a blue coat and golden buttons. His morning 
 habit was a frock of the same cloth, a light vest, 
 and buff coloured cashmere pantaloons of the 
 finest texture, strapped tightly down to his boots. 
 His general features were good, pleasing, and 
 regular ; his eyes were blue, full, and expressive 
 of mildness ; his hair was light, thin and long, 
 and his whiskers were of a darker shade. There 
 was a blandness in his smile, and softness in the 
 tones of his voice, which commonly pleased, if 
 they did not enchant, a certain order of the fair
 
 158 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 community, and his manners were polished, easy, 
 and almost effeminate. 
 
 Sir Francis had been early in the oat market, 
 and he had sown the grain freely ; and with all 
 his personal endowments and conciliating address 
 there was yet a nameless somethinp^ about him 
 that stood between him and the warmer affections 
 of those generally around him. Was it a want 
 of heart, or the means of expressing its genuine 
 sympathies ? About his handsome features, too, 
 there was still a lingering cast of the fast man, 
 a faint brush- touch of the blas^, bespeaking of 
 former free life, night carousals, and smoking 
 divans. But these stray seeds now belonged to 
 the past, and could be discerned only by the dis- 
 criminating man of the world. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Corby — the next subject on our 
 roll of important personages— the present fidus 
 Achates of our baronet, was in every respect the 
 antithesis of his patron. He was small in stature, 
 plebeian in appearance, vulgar in manners, comical 
 in look, and whose only recommendation to the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 157 
 
 company seemed to consist in a fund of good 
 humour, insensibility to affront, with a marvellous 
 taste and talent for "low comedy." He could 
 sing a humorous song, contort his coarse but 
 flexible features into a multitude of grotesque 
 shapes with the facility of an Indian rubber dwarf, 
 of which, complexion considered, he bore a strik- 
 ing likeness. He could imitate with his voice 
 the caw of the crow, the note of the cuckoo, the 
 crow of the cock, the bark of the dog, and the 
 mew of the cat, with singular fidelity ; perform 
 numerous tricks in jugglery, slight of hand, and 
 even aspired to palmistry and fortune-telling — 
 illustrations in either of which he was ready at 
 any time to furnish for the diversion of the com- 
 pany. From some house property in the county 
 he derive a small income, which, by a stiff 
 economy, a passable amount of decent deportment, 
 a stock of free-and-easy assurance, he contrived 
 to keep up a sort of visiting acquaintance among 
 the lesser gentry, or the less fastidious of the 
 aristocracy in the dull district around him, where
 
 158 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 gentlemen were scarce. Upon such hospitable 
 individuals he not unfrequently got himself bil- 
 letted for days or weeks at a time, whereby he 
 was enabled to eke out his small incompetency 
 with tolerable success, often repaying such bounty 
 by making himself " useful " to his patrons. For 
 some private services rendered to Mrs. Keith, oc- 
 casionally involving ajourney to Glasgow, he had 
 secured to himself an abiding place in the lady's 
 favour, and was now at the Kymes, reaping the 
 fruits of it. 
 
 It was upon one of his periodical visits to Cran- 
 more that Mr. Corby first met his " esteemed 
 friend the baronet," who, though a star of a 
 somewhat different magnitude, was then making 
 a similar circuit among his more bountiful friends. 
 Thrown thus together under the same roof, and 
 probably experiencing, through their corresponding 
 circumstances, a sort of fellow-feeling for eacli 
 other, a friendly intimacy sprung up between 
 them. On the part of the baronet, however, this 
 condescension had its object — its price. He had
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 159 
 
 heard of Miss Keith as a young lady of good for- 
 tune, had learnt of Mr. Corby's entree to the 
 house, and the favour in which he stood with the 
 mother, and foresaw in him, as he thought, an in- 
 strument by which he might achieve an important 
 purpose— namely, accomplish a marriage with the 
 daughter, by whose dowry he might release from 
 bondage his paternal property. But for this or 
 some other useful end, Mr. Andrew Corby was 
 not the individual whom the fashionable Ens-lish- 
 man was likely to have chosen for a companion. 
 When the breakfast was finished, on rising 
 from the table, the baronet moved towards the 
 window, and there took up a position within the 
 small alcove. 
 
 Mrs. Keith followed his example, and placed 
 herself on the opposite side of the recess. The 
 morning sun was lighting up the wild landscape, 
 which now expanded itself in broad lines, with 
 singular beauty, in front of the mansion. 
 
 Sir Francis, but sparingly endowed with the 
 gift of enthusiasm, could not resist the captiva-
 
 160 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 tion of the prosjDect ; and as lie was just in the 
 act of directing the lady's attention to the glow- 
 ing tints of a certain scene, their view was sud- 
 denly obscured by the figure of a horseman, 
 passing close to the window on his way to the 
 hall-door. The party was somewhat startled. 
 It was a messenger from the Crypt, and the lady 
 at once recognised her neighbour's coachman. 
 The door was speedily opened. 
 
 ^' A letter for Sir Francis Heronshaw," said her 
 footman, presenting it. Whereupon the receiver 
 politely begged leave to withdraw for a few seconds. 
 His absence was short, but on his return there 
 was a slight flush upon his fair countenance. 
 Observing that the young ladies had retired, and 
 that Mr. Corby and his spinster kinswoman 
 were engaged in conversation at the further end 
 of the room, he addressed a few words in sub- 
 dued tones to the hostess, still in her former place. 
 
 " Mrs. Keith," he said, "I will not withhold from 
 your confidence any secrets in this matter, — I 
 mean in the matter which formed the subject of
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 161 
 
 my letter to your young neighboui' at the Crypt, 
 to which I have now received a reply." 
 
 " Sir Francis," answered the lady, with a look 
 of easy or indifferent concern, " I hope the 
 thoughtless young man has profited by your re- 
 buke ; and I am sure. Sir Francis, it was so very 
 kind in you to do so much for me. I suppose he 
 has made a proper apology." 
 
 The baronet coloured deeper. 
 
 ^^ If he hasn't, I think I will write myself to 
 his aunt, as he calls the proud and stately old 
 queen at the Crj^Dt. For I will not sit under an 
 affront or wrong done to either me or my guests, 
 from anyone. If the Colonel were here, he would 
 not allow it." 
 
 The lady uttered these sentences with a draw- 
 ling, apathetic tone of voice, which contrasted 
 singularly with the expression of the listener. 
 
 " I am afraid, Madam," he replied, " that the 
 young gentleman has not yet profited by my letter. 
 He has not made an apology."
 
 162 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 ^^But won't you write to him again, Sir Francis, 
 and insist upon an apology ? " 
 
 "But what if he don't comply, Mrs. Keith?'* 
 
 " But I would insist upon it, until he do." 
 
 ^' In what manner?" 
 
 " I think, Sir Francis, I must write myself." 
 
 " Will you permit me, Mrs. Keith," said the 
 baronet, blandly, but apparently getting short of 
 patience, '^ to now advise chiefly in this aflPair, 
 and to suggest that j^our mind be not further 
 trespassed upon by it, and that it may be left 
 entirely for the deliberations of Mr. Corby and 
 myself I cannot have you troubled in any way 
 whatsoever." 
 
 " Well, well, Sir Francis, I will let you have 
 your own way ; and you will let me know if you 
 want me to write." So said the easy lady, taking 
 her leave. 
 
 Although spoken aside, his conversation was 
 not lost on the far-hearing and large ears of Mr. 
 Corby. He now rose and advanced to join the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 163 
 
 baronet, who had beckoned him to do so ; and 
 after an exchange of some words, the two set out 
 together to discuss the merits of the letter on a 
 gentle walk. When they had proceeded to a 
 sufficient distance, where a bend in the road, 
 abutted upon by a wood, hid them from view of 
 the house, Sir Francis drew the letter from his 
 pocket, and read the contents aloud to his com- 
 panion. 
 
 "What an impertinent young cub, to be sure!" 
 said Mr. Corby, when the other had finished the 
 perusal. " Such a fellow to have the assurance 
 to write in that manner to one in your position, 
 old fellow ! — I mean Sir Francis "— correcting 
 the familiar phrase, which he saw the baronet did 
 not relish at the time. " Why, I'll be shot if I 
 don't horsewhip the whelp myself for his in- 
 solence." 
 
 " Then, Mr. Corby, ye had better get the gun 
 ready, and I'll speak to the rabbit-catcher to 
 oblige ye in drawing my trigger. For afore ye 
 got a second crack o' the whip at Mr. Lorry, I'se
 
 164 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 bail for't, ye'd ha'e the skin as clean off your 
 hurdies (and that may be tough enough) as ever 
 Peggie, the cook, flayed an eel." 
 
 " Who the devil are you, Sir ? and where are 
 you?" shouted Corby, staring around him — the 
 two utterly confounded by the voice. At length 
 they discovered a human figure perched aloft 
 upon a bushy tree. '^ Come down instantly," he 
 added, '' jom eaves-dropping scoundrel, or I'll 
 send a sharp messenger to you." 
 
 " If you're nae better marksman wi' a stane 
 than ye're wi' lead draps, Mr. Corby," answered 
 the man, in nowise disconcerted by the threat, 
 ''ye'll no do me muckle harm; And as t' eaves- 
 drappers, I think there's twa o' us ; for if a's 
 true the kaittyurians say, ye're no unco bad at 
 that yoursel'. But I'll come down, at ony rate, 
 when I'll give ye ony satisfaction ye like, man, 
 but lend ye siller." 
 
 "Oh, it's you, is it?" said Corby, suddenly 
 recognising the face of the individual, as he 
 alighted down upon the ground.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 165 
 
 " Ifs just me, gentlemen," he remarked, 
 toucliing his hat to Sir Francis ; '^ and very much 
 at your service." 
 
 " Let us move on. Sir Francis," said his com- 
 panion, and the two did move on; leaving 
 the other (who was a man of an active and vigor- 
 ous frame, of about the age of thirty years) to 
 pick up, unmolested, some birch twigs, which he 
 had just cut from the tree for the purpose of 
 manufacturing into a broom. 
 
 '' Who is that ?" asked the baronet, when they 
 had got out of his hearing. " I am much annoyed 
 that he should have heard the contents of the 
 letter." 
 
 " I forget the impudent vagabond's name," 
 answered Corby, '^ but he's to be met with every- 
 where, and knows, I believe, every living creature 
 between John o' Groats and Land's End. He 
 travels about country with a large van, and 
 commonly goes by the title of the " Owner of the 
 Van," — deals in every mortal thing, from a 
 wooden trencher to a thrashing machine; and 
 will stake his twenty pounds upon a race with the
 
 166 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 best gentleman in the land ; and, faitli, can pay 
 it as well, too, if he loses. And he will lend a 
 man a ten-pound note, which is saying something 
 in his favour, as readily as any banker I know 
 of. But I don't think the fellow could hear the 
 words of the letter." 
 
 '^ He speaks the Lowland tongue," observed 
 the baronet. 
 
 " Yes, and the knave can speak Gaelic as well, 
 if he likes ; but he was bred about the Borders, 
 I believe." 
 
 They now resumed the subject of the letter. 
 
 *' What do you advise to be done ?" inquired 
 Sir Francis, gravely. " In my position, T should 
 lose caste if I allowed a gentleman, young though 
 he be, to beard me in this business since now, it 
 must have become known to many." 
 
 *^ And you cannot afford, under your peculiar 
 circumstances, to lose a feather's weight of your 
 fair character, more than myself," said Corby, and 
 laughed aloud at his intended wit, which was 
 not, however, received with [much relish by ^the 
 other.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 167 
 
 '^ Do you tliink I ought to send him a challenge ? 
 1 am now in honour bound to follow up my letter." 
 
 *' That were the right thing to do, my cock," 
 (the low familiarity again shocked the baronet), 
 ^' if he chanced to be a gentleman of equal rank, 
 which I protest he is not, he being but the son of 
 an Indian merchant, and, worse still, the grand- 
 son of a rebel." 
 
 Sir Francis drew a breath, but shook his head, 
 
 " Besides, my dear Sir Francis," continued Mr. 
 Andrew Corby, ^* tlie ladies at the Kymes cannot 
 afford to lose your head, and I cannot afford to 
 lose your good company." 
 
 ^^And ladies cannot afford to forego courage 
 and honour in a man, and I cannot afford to 
 forego the favour of the ladies," said the baronet, 
 mildly. 
 
 " Honour be it then — go at it," and he re- 
 peated — 
 
 "'Tis in the breech where honour's lodged, 
 As wise philosophers have judged ; 
 Because a kick in that place more 
 Hurts honour than deep wounds before." 
 
 " Why not then," added the counsellor, " pre-
 
 168 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 serve your honour by half-a-dozen kicks of the 
 fellow, and be done with him ? '^ 
 
 " That sort of thing, Corby, Won't do for me, " 
 replied the baronet. " But do you think if I 
 were to send him a definite ultimatum or formal 
 challenge, it would bring him to his knees—- he is 
 young and might be cowed by it ? — Of course you 
 would stand in ioY friend in case of need." 
 
 " The d— 1 1 do," returned the other, briskly. 
 *^ It would raise the bristles on his back like a 
 terrier at the smell of a brock in his earth, and, 
 he, like the animal, would either die on the spot 
 or bolt his game. By Jove, Sir Francis, think of 
 that in time ! As to standing your friend, keep 
 your heart up on that point — I would meet a 
 Goliah for that matter." 
 
 '^Don't you, then, think I am bound to send him 
 one ?" 
 
 " I think no such thing." 
 
 "What then?" 
 
 '^ Get out of the confounded mess the best way 
 you can." 
 
 "By what means ?"
 
 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 169 
 
 " If all else fail become Cliristian for once." 
 
 '' Explain yourself." 
 
 " Why, if he won't apologise to you, you apolo- 
 gise to him. That's catechism, isn't it ? or in 
 the Proverbs ? For my part I am Christian 
 enough not to be over thin skinned in my honour. 
 He! he! he!" — and Mr. Corby laughed heartily. 
 
 " What ! I apologise !" 
 
 "You apologise — vow that you had written 
 your letter under a wrong inspiration, and, as a 
 gentleman of honour towards another, you now 
 felt bound to make with all speed the amende 
 honourable i as the frog-eating chaps of La Belle 
 France would say." 
 
 " Confound the fellow !" ejaculated the baronet ; 
 " am I deliberately to make Mrs. Keith, whose 
 name I especially used in my letter, and you your- 
 self, appear as forgers of false charges against 
 him ? How, after such an act, could I meet the 
 lady face to face, even though my good Mr. Corby 
 might forgive me ?" 
 
 *' Solomon, or some old historical wag — I 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 forget who — says that a woman's tongue is 
 sharper than a two-edged sword. If my gallant 
 Sir Francis dreads that weapon more than a 
 Toledo blade, or Cornish bullets, or may be a 
 Pagan tomahawk, for aught one can tell, then, I 
 say, with all speed let him send for Youkie, the 
 writer, to make his will." 
 
 '' Nay, nay," answered the baronet, his ardour 
 somewhat abated, ^'I should not apprehend even 
 reproach from Mrs. Keith, did I compromise her 
 name in the matter, if good were to accrue from 
 it ; yet her daughters might well blush for the 
 man who could do so." 
 
 " Even so ; blushes do not draw blood," urged 
 Corby, perceiving the success of his argument ; 
 <' but if you will think of everybody's blushes 
 before your own fair skin, you must take the 
 consequences. Blushes ! aye, women's blushes, 
 what are they ? Only baubles and tinted gew- 
 gaws for sentimental swains to toy with ; they are 
 not fit things for men, like us, made of sterner 
 stuff. But why not lake example from other
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 171 
 
 sensible cavaliers at tlie distant smell of powder 
 in their noses, pocket the affront of the whelp's 
 letter, and save your bones by assuming a digni- 
 fied contempt for his insolence? True, this is 
 often the resort of cowards, but, hang me ! if I 
 should make my body a target to be shot at for 
 any old woman in Christendom. Besides, if you 
 got a bullet through your waistcoat, or got cloven 
 in two by a tomahawk, what would become of 
 your impounded acres, leave alone the teaj^s of 
 your fair Rosamond? Then, too, I should be 
 obliged to put on the weeds of the crow, and 
 where is the tailor's costs to come from ?" 
 
 The baronet listened to this comical harangue 
 with a marked gravity, and without interposing a 
 word, while the other, pressing his advantage, 
 and with an air of droll earnestness, went on — 
 
 " But, my dear fellow, do not think of me, and 
 my cabbaging tailors ; think of your own posi- 
 tion at this momentous hour of your precious 
 life. Put your fair prospects and all your sub- 
 stantial valuables into one scale, your beloved 
 
 I 2
 
 172 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 commodity of honour into the other, hold np the 
 balance, and you will see where the glittering 
 bubble will be. By the old Harry ! man, it's my 
 opinion that if were we both, singly or in lot, put 
 up to public auction to-morrow, our united stock 
 of it would not bring the auctioneer's fees." 
 
 The speaker coLcluded his remarks with 
 another of his grimaces, and a familiar poke with 
 his elbow in the ribs of his listener, which, upon 
 this eTave occasion, were received with apparent 
 good will. 
 
 '^ I tell you what, Corby," now said Sir Francis, 
 after a few moments in silent reflection,^' you bear 
 about with you a strange system of logic, which 
 I think is calculated to carry its possessor 
 through perplexities which a more refined code 
 would find very embarrassing; and if in listen- 
 ing to you as its expounder, I become a temporary 
 (Convert to the doctrine, and adopt its principles 
 to help me through this painful business, you well 
 know to whom I am indebted for the change. As 
 the first act, then, in my new belief, let me sub-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 173 
 
 mit to my preceptor a proposition that has just 
 occurred to me— What do you say to your taking 
 an early and quiet ride over to the Crypt, and 
 sounding the temper of young Langton in the 
 affair, you appearing there ostensibly on your 
 own account as the friend of the two families ?" 
 
 ^* A devilish good idea for the noddle of my dull 
 disciple," answered Corby, with a twist of his 
 face, '^ provided his ambassador of peace were to 
 be received there with an olive branch instead of 
 a prickly sloe-thorn, which stubborn tree grows 
 very plentifully in my Leddie Jean's pleasur- 
 able woods. But, by the cowl of St. Andrew (my 
 namesake and pious ancestor), I'm your man for 
 the job, and I'll be offinstanter — so there's my 
 hand, my dear Fra — I mean Sir Francis." 
 
 " My dear fellow, never mind sirs at present, 
 when pressing business is to he done," returned 
 the other, smiling with relief. 
 
 '' Your hand Frankly^ then— excuse the pun- 
 it comes natural to me. My father before me had 
 the gift; and if in my mission I don't uphold
 
 174 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 your dignity and bring you off with meet honour, 
 then never again trust me as a diplomatist." 
 
 " Anyhow, you will merit my best thanks," 
 said the other. ^^ But do you mean to ride over 
 this afternoon ?" 
 
 " No, Sir Francis," was the reply. *^ On second 
 thoughts, I judge it better to eat and sleep on 
 the venture, whereby I shall have time to digest 
 my dinner in quiet, and see my way all the more 
 clearly on the following morning."
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 175 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 It was about twelve o'clock on the day following 
 tlie preceding deliberations, when two persons 
 were seen moving slowly down the avenue which 
 stretched its short length between the mansion of 
 the Kymes and the public road that conducted to 
 the Crypt. One of them was on foot, the other 
 on horse bach, and they were conversing in almost 
 whispers as they proceeded. They were Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw and Mr. Andrew Corby ; the 
 latter was mounted, and thus quietly setting out
 
 176 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 on his mission to the Crypt. He had made a 
 plan, and noted down on the tablet of his reten- 
 tive memory the heads of that scheme and line 
 of tactics with which he meant to open and con- 
 duct the diplomatic business he had undertaken 
 on the previous day. 
 
 " I will not allow you to go a foot further, Sir 
 Francis," said Mr. Corby, tightening up the reins 
 of his bridle, ^^ because it was on this very place, 
 by the side of this stream, that I heard those ill- 
 starred words from the lips of the fellow which 
 have caused all this infernal hubbub. I wish to 
 
 G my ears had been with my hands, in my 
 
 pockets, at the time. So that, you see, if you 
 turn your foot steps back from the unlucky spot, 
 you will perhaps turn away with them the wrath 
 it has engendered." 
 
 The baronet readily complied, and the other 
 went onward. 
 
 Mr. Corby was an indifferent horseman, and 
 always rode at walking pace. In all weathers, 
 wet or dry, hot or cold, it was the same with
 
 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 177 
 
 him. When he had advanced to within about 
 a quarter of a mile from his destination, and 
 just as the public road began to emerge from the 
 wild woods and stretch over a portion of moor- 
 land, he suddenly observed the moving figure of 
 a man before bim ; whereupon, as if intending by 
 a slight detour on tbe open space to avoid the in- 
 dividual, he drew the horse a little to a side, and 
 entered upon the sod. 
 
 " Ye need'na trouble, Mr. Corby. I'm no vera 
 hungry, nor vera vindictive" (referring to a former 
 greeting), '^ so i'll neither eat ye nor harm ye." 
 
 Tlie speaker was none other than the stalwart 
 '^ owner of the van," and shrewdly guessing the 
 other's object to be to avoid him, he was cruel 
 enough not to let him pass unrecognised. 
 
 '' Good morning to ye," answered Mr. Corby, 
 in reply, not a little discomposed, but immedi- 
 ately recovering his wonted mode, and disregard- 
 ing the words he had heard. '' Good morning 
 t'ye. I always forget your name, friend. It's 
 —it's John, John — something, I believe." 
 
 I 5
 
 178 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " Now, Mr. Corby," said the other, humourously, 
 *' you raust just find my name where you last lost 
 it ; but this I will tell ye— it descended to me 
 from yin o' Scotland's famous kings, as yours 
 did from her patron saint. So, by the same token, 
 you will see, sir, that as the throne is aboon the 
 kirk, I must claim your fealty and obedience." 
 
 Though by no means relishing this dominion 
 and ill-timed waggery, he nevertheless bowed a 
 gracious acknowledgment, and said, 
 
 *^ Then, sire, with your royal permission, I will 
 crave leave to proceed on myjourney," with which 
 he gave the reins to the horse and moved on. 
 
 *^ Confound the insolent vagabond," he mut- 
 tered to himself, when he had got beyond the 
 other's hearing. *^I wish both him and his name, 
 and all the kings' and saints' names in the calen- 
 dar were at the bottom of the sea. Hang me, if 
 he hasn't put the whole of my plans and ideas 
 into a jumble of confusion." 
 
 Resuming his former pace, however, he soon 
 advanced to within view of the old mansion.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 179 
 
 Kunningliis eyes over the front wall, he observed 
 the figure of a female at one of the higher win- 
 dows, which, on catching sight of him, instantly 
 disappeared. Lacking courage, probably, to face 
 the main door, he shaped his course directly to 
 the stables. The huge watch-dog barked in the 
 court-yard, which speedily brought the coachman 
 from his svork. He was without his coat and 
 hat. 
 
 '' Good morning," said Mr. Corby, accompany- 
 ing his word with a respectful bow. " Is Mr. 
 Langton at home ?" 
 
 ^' He is, sir, but engaged," was the reply. 
 
 ^'IsMr. Saunders in the way? Perhaps he 
 would do as well," added the visitor, alighting. 
 
 " If ye stop a minute, sir, I'll see," upon which 
 the coachman, leaving him standing with the 
 horse in his hand, entered the house. He was 
 absent for about three or four minutes ; then, re- 
 turning, he said, 
 
 '' If ye walk round to the front door ye'll see 
 him there, for he is working in the hall."
 
 180 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " Aye, I must needs eat humble pie with that 
 old coDsequential donkey — proud as his mistress. 
 He is working, forsooth ! and doesn't condescend 
 to leave off and come to me, hut I must go to 
 him. As if his work were of any consequence 
 to anybody ! Hang me ! but I'll give myself an 
 additional inch in height, and exalt my tone ac- 
 cordingly, for the fellow's impudence." So mut- 
 tered Mr. Andrew Corby, as he walked the few 
 paces between the yard and the house. 
 
 The door was already opened, awaiting his 
 arrival, and Saunders, also without his coat, had 
 taken up a position upon the mat within, his 
 hands besmeared with oil and red rust, and hold- 
 ing in one of them a piece of doeskin leather. 
 His face was reddened, and otherwise bore evi- 
 dence of the important work he had upon his 
 haads. Behind him , upon an oaken table in the 
 hall, lay a broad sword, a pair of horseman's 
 pistols of vast size and calibre, in flintlocks and 
 brass mountings ; a bow and sheaf of arrows ; 
 and behind them again a couple of heavy whips,
 
 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 181 
 
 the formidable bellies of which being bound down, 
 as if to keep the peace, to their stiff handles by the 
 taper portion of the thongs. 
 
 " Good day, Mr. Saunders," said the visitor, 
 suddenly startled as his eyes fell upon the 
 weapons, and rather contracting than dilating 
 his small proportions. *^ I have just rode over to 
 inquire after the health of the Leddie ; but, bless 
 me! what are all these weapons for? Are ye 
 preparing against an invasion of the French, or 
 our old Scandinavian enemies ?" 
 
 " Only, Mr. Corby, scouring up the old barrels 
 and blades," answered the butler, very coolly. 
 " The young master and myself have been taking 
 a little practice of late, for one never knows when 
 such things may be needed." 
 
 " Very true, Mr. Saunders, but these are a pair 
 of murderous pistols of yours," said Corby, 
 looking particularly struck by their size. 
 
 " Yes, these are what I prefer. Mr. Lang ton 
 has a pair of hair triggers, with a small bore ; but 
 I like a wide barrel that will leave its mark be-
 
 183 KOLTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 hind it. But can I do anything for you, Mr. 
 Corby ?" said Saunders, turning to the purpose of 
 the visitj apparently pleased with the effect the 
 display of his weapons had already produced. 
 
 " I should like a word privately with you," the 
 other replied, with a submissive air. 
 
 " Then you had better walk into this room," 
 said the butler, showing the way, ^^for Miss 
 Murray and Mr. Laugton will just pass here on 
 their way out for a drive." 
 
 ^' I have rode over, as I said before, to enquire 
 after the health of the lady," repeated Corby, 
 when he had entered the apartment, " and as I 
 understand there has been some unpleasant letters 
 exchanged between Mr. Langton and a gentleman 
 now staying at the Kymes, I was anxious, being 
 a friend of both parties, to hear both sides of the 
 quarrel, and interpose, if possible, my peaceful 
 ofiSces in the matter.'' 
 
 " Then, if that be your object, sir," said 
 Saunders, stiffly, '^ you had better, I think, ad- 
 dress yourself first to the gentleman at the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 183 
 
 Kymes ; for, in matters with gentry, I know Mr. 
 Langton will not hold any comaiunication through 
 inferior persons. Therefore, if your friend there 
 has any explanation or apology to make for what- 
 ever he may have done or said, he had better 
 address himself directly to the proper quarter. 
 For my part I cannot undertake without authority 
 to meddle in any private business of Mr. Lang- 
 ton's." 
 
 Mr. Corby, finding himself thus closeted with 
 a better diplomatist than he had calculated upon, 
 now scratched his head and looked very much 
 like a man who has lost his way in a mist, and is 
 uncertain in his mind whether to at once retreat 
 or make another effort to proceed. Like a gleam 
 of light suddenly thrown upon his path, however, 
 a new idea struck him, and he thought he would 
 try its effects, knowing well that his man was 
 quite in the confidence of his young master. 
 
 "Speaking of pistols, Mr. Saunders," said he, 
 smiling significantly, "I think my friend, Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw, is the best shot and swords-
 
 184* NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 man in this county ; he can top a candle, or take 
 the eye out of a turkey-cock, as clean as anything 
 I ever saw done ; and as to the sword, he can 
 handle it with the dexterity of a carving-knife in 
 his hand. And he is a mortal fire-eater for 
 courage." 
 
 " Indeed ! " replied the butler, looking the other 
 gravely in the face, " then ye must have seen the 
 gentleman's performance ; yet I have never heard 
 of any such doing hereabouts, except it might be 
 with the carving knife you have named." 
 
 ^'No, not here, he is very quiet among our 
 hills. But in England, where he is known, at 
 balls and parties^ he is the terror of the next ten 
 counties around him." 
 
 '^ Are you a shot yourself, Mr. Corby ?" 
 
 " Never fired a pistol in my life, except once at 
 a hideous tom-cat, and I missed the infernal 
 brute, and nearly wrenched off my arm for my 
 pains." 
 
 Saunders was not sorry to hear this admission. 
 
 ^^ But," said he, ^^ you're, may be, a judge of
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 185 
 
 shooting for all that, and if you'll just step out 
 with me^ and down the bank there — Oh ! don't 
 be afraid, I'm not going to take any arms with 
 me — I will show you a little of Mr. Langton's 
 skill." 
 
 He consented, and the old man led the way ; 
 when they reached the spot — 
 
 " Look there, sirj" he said, ^^ye see that tree 
 with the small white spot in the centre of it ? 
 Well, just ^step twelve yards from it, where ye 
 will see a small pin in the ^^round, then cast your 
 eye upon these eighteen bullet marks, all clustered 
 round within five inches of the white spot, four 
 having entered it, and tell me what ye think of 
 that shooting." 
 
 " Pretty fair for a beginner," said Corby, 
 affecting a great amount of coolness in his answer. 
 " But," he enquired, " what are all those great 
 blisters on the bark, two or three yards from the 
 bull's eye ?" 
 
 ^^Two or threey^^^, you mean — those are some 
 of my own work with the big pistols you saw, but
 
 186 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 my hand is coming fast in," added Saunders, with 
 a side glance on the visage of his visitor. 
 
 The two now retraced their steps to the house, 
 apparently satisfied with the interview, and with- 
 out any further reference to the business in 
 question, Mr. Corby was soon again in his saddle. 
 
 On his return homeward the first person he 
 met was Sir Francis ; he had been out walking 
 round the pleasure-grounds. Corby, somewhat 
 crestfallen, reluctantly communicated the result 
 of his mission, at which the baronet appeared 
 seriously concerned, the more especially on list- 
 ening to the warlike preparations and deadly 
 practice against the tree at the Crypt. 
 
 " By Heavens ! Corby, what is to be done ?'* 
 he exclaimed^ " 1 never made half-a-dozen pistol 
 shots in my life, and could not hit a bullock within 
 ten feet of me.'' 
 
 " Hush ! don't say that so loudly," advised the 
 other, ^' for I have just vowed, in hopes of intimid- 
 ating them, that you were the most deadly shot 
 in all England. But, hang me ! if it seemed to
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 187 
 
 make the least impression upon the blood-thirsty 
 old villain I parleyed with. Master and servant, 
 I solemnly declare, are bent upon the death of 
 both of us, if we give them a chance." 
 
 " But the prize is not always to the marksman, 
 any more than the race is to the swift." 
 
 " A fig for your fine precepts ! Sir Francis," said 
 Corby. '^ Give me a pair of good heels against a 
 legion of foes, and I'll leave other prize -lovers to 
 make targets of themselves, who are tired of their 
 lives." 
 
 " But you do not mean to say — " 
 
 "That I would not fly from certain death." 
 interrupted Mr. Corby, " with the speed of a crow 
 that has heard the click of the trigger behind the 
 hedge. By the Old Harry! just put it to ray 
 option, and you will see where I shall be, or 
 rather where I shall not be." 
 
 " But I must do something," added the baronet. 
 
 "Are you a swordsman. Sir Francis? You're 
 a master in the science of carving."
 
 188 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 "There, then, my skill in weapons rests—at 
 the table." 
 
 " The best and safest of all battle-fields — the 
 enemy killed to your hand, soused and roasted, 
 with his arms or wings skewered down to prevent 
 a stray thrust. By Jove ! but I honour you ten- 
 fold for your taste. He! he! he!" — and Mr. Corby 
 laughed one of his immoderate laughs. 
 
 At this juncture the footman came forward, and 
 intimated that luncheon was on the table. 
 
 Sir Francis ate but little, but took two or three 
 glasses of sherry. Mr. Corby's ride had sharpened 
 his appetite, and he devoured nearly a whole fowl, 
 with a proportional amount of ham, and moist- 
 ened his throat frequently. When the repast was 
 over Corby went to sleep in his chair, and the 
 baronet took a cigar in the open air. 
 
 " Sir Francis," said Mrs. Keith, who had seen 
 and joined the baronet walking by himself, '^you 
 seem disturbed in mind. Will you allow a wo- 
 man's interest and curiosity to enquire the cause?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 189 
 
 " Certainly, madam. The curiosity of one so 
 Hnd must ever be gratifying," he replied, with 
 his usual blandness of manner. 
 
 ^' Mr. Corby has been to the Crypt. I hope he 
 has not been the bearer of anything unpleasant 
 to you," said the lady. 
 
 ^* I have had no communication, good or bad, 
 with anyone there," answered the gentleman. 
 " Mr. Corby ro le over on his own personal ac- 
 count, and only saw some of the servants." 
 
 " The proud folks there didn't deign to see 
 him, I suppose. But I no^v heartily wish the 
 indiscreet conduct of the young man had been 
 overlooked by us all," added the lady, " since it 
 has caused annoyance to you, and so much un- 
 pleasantness in my family. The girls have gone 
 out of their wits about it, and hardly ever give 
 me any of their company. Agnes is afraid, 
 foolish girl, that it may lead to some personal 
 strife between you and the youth, who is very 
 headstrong, and she is, no doubt, greatly con-
 
 190 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 cerned on your account, although, her youth and 
 -diffidence prevent her showing it to you." 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Keith," replied the baronet, 
 gratefully, " I am much flattered by this expres- 
 sion of your own and your daughter's sentiments 
 on my behalf. But so far as individually con- 
 cerned in the matter, I am under no apprehension 
 of anything very serious resulting from it, beyond, 
 perhaps, a suspension for a time of friendly inter- 
 course between the two families. I am always 
 peacefully disposed, and even when under an in- 
 jury or misapprehension, my motto is conciliatory 
 measures." 
 
 " I am glad to hear that, Sir Francis. You 
 ^re so good a creature, to be sure." 
 
 Sir Francis blushed as he met the fair speaker's 
 eyes. Phe continued — 
 
 " But do you think if I were to write a friendly 
 letter to Miss Murray — although I don't much 
 relish the stuck-up old creature — that it would 
 pacify her ill-mannered nephew ? I want no in-
 
 NORTH OF THE^TWEED, 191 
 
 timacy with either, but desire only to have our- 
 selves freed from strife and annoyance." 
 
 " I really think, my dear madam, your idea is 
 an admirable one," observed Sir Francis. ^' But 
 yonder comes Mr. Corby. 1 shall submit it to 
 his opinion at once." 
 
 " Yes, do. Sir Francis ; for, — and I must be 
 frank with you, I have now reasons — you must 
 not ask a woman for reasons — to wish that the 
 all-important matter betwixt you and my family 
 to be consummated with as little further delay as 
 circumstances will allow. I may be more explicit 
 by and bye." 
 
 The listener's eyes sparkled, and he bowed an 
 acquiescence. The lady then moved towards the 
 door as the third party advanced. 
 
 Mr. Corby approved of the suggestion of the 
 lady,as he, like the baronet himself, was now most 
 anxious to catch at any device by which they 
 might become extracted from their untoward posi- 
 tion. 
 
 Mrs. Keith did write to the Crypt, but upon
 
 192 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the substance of her communication we shall offer 
 no comment. And Miss Murray answered the 
 letter in pungent and characteristic terms. She 
 expressed her surprise at the receipt of a letter 
 from one whose name she had never heretofore 
 had occasion to recognise among her correspon- 
 dents in the country ; Colonel Keith and his two 
 daughters — for whom she had always entertained 
 and would continue to entertain sentiments of 
 friendly aifection — being the only members of 
 the Kymes family, with whom she had ever been 
 on terms of intimacy. She was, she observed, 
 from her private and secluded life, but little ex- 
 posed to intrusive or unmannerly communications, 
 but in times when such had occurred,it was her in- 
 variable custom to decline their acknowledgment. 
 The high esteem in which she held Colonel Keith, 
 and her love for his children, were, however, on 
 the present occasion, more than a sufficient reason 
 for a departure from ordinary rule. She could 
 not forsake, she averred, her feminine office so far 
 as to mingle in the quarrels or breaches of good
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 193 
 
 beliaviour of gentlemen; but, for the reasons 
 assigned, she would undertake to commune with 
 her nephew, and endeavour, while his honour and 
 the privileges of his rank — the especial properties 
 of a gentleman— remained intact, to avert fur- 
 ther grief or shame from a house that at this 
 moment ought to be clothed in sackcloth and ashes. 
 If, therefore, the author of the " much regretted 
 letter " referred to were to adopt the usual polite 
 course of rectifying his mistake, she doubted not 
 that the generous nature of Mr. Langton would 
 readily overlook it. 
 
 Despite her natural apathy, Mrs. Keith was 
 not proof against the trenchant and admonitory 
 epistle she had received. She winced under 
 its severity, and her pride paled before the 
 humiliation so unsparingly awarded to her. This, 
 too, she felt the more keenly, not only because 
 she had brought it upon herself, but because it 
 had come from one whom she professed to deride 
 or despise. Her pangs were not, however, of 
 long continuance, and although, by the trio in 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 council, the sentiments of the latter were generally 
 severally commented upon, the wounds inflicted 
 found an agreeable balsam in the prospect of a 
 peaceful termination of the impending troubles. 
 And to this thanks are especially due to Mr. 
 Saunders, for the admirable manner in which he 
 conducted his '' diplomatic conference" with Mr. 
 Andrew Corby. A sight of the whips, the huge 
 pistols, and above all the marks on the tree, had 
 told effectively upon the '^ fire-eating " knight 
 and his squire. And the triumph of the old man 
 man be readily conceived, when, on the following 
 day, his young master read to him an apology 
 from Sir Francis Heronshaw.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 195 
 
 CHAPER XIY. 
 
 MRS. KEITH EXHORTS HER DAUGHTERS. 
 
 # 
 
 Pistols, swords, and leathern thongs restored to 
 their acustomed places in the dusty repository 
 at the Crypt, Lorance Lang ton had many a hearty 
 laugh at the ingenuity of his valorous squire, on 
 whom the palm of bloodless victory was duly 
 conferred. Nor, at the Kymes, had the sudden 
 " suspension of hostilities" been regarded with 
 less genuine satisfaction. True, in the pre- 
 liminar}^ skirmishing Mrs. Keith had not escaped 
 a well-directed shaft, but as the lady's vitality 
 was not thereby seriously affected, the superficial 
 wound was soon healed. By a unanimous vote, 
 
 K 2
 
 196 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the cherished honour and knightly prowess of Sir 
 Francis Heron shaw were pronounced to have 
 come off altogether scathless and unimpeachable, 
 and as to Mr. Corby, he humorously declared that 
 neither his heels nor his skin had been put to the 
 test in the matter, for which omission he assured 
 the baronet he would for this once forgive him. 
 
 After clouds comes sunshine, but with that 
 sunshine often descend, like angel's tears, the 
 puj^t of crystal drops. It was now so at the 
 Kymes. 
 
 Upon this morning Mrs. Keith was unusually 
 cheerful. In her latest bulletin from Edinburgh, 
 she had received a favourable report of her 
 husband's condition. The Colonel was, in short, 
 better than he had yet been since his first pros- 
 tration, and even faint hopes of his recovery 
 were now entertained by his physicians. This 
 news in itself was sufficient to account for a joy- 
 ful change on the countenance of a loving wife. 
 But this lady, it is feared, had a different incen- 
 tive to her cheerfulness. The news afforded her a
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 197 
 
 pretext by which she could, with a greater show 
 of decency, urge oa her cherished scheme for a 
 marriage between the baronet and her eldest 
 daughter, while that daughter, with her little 
 sister by her side, was privately shedding bitter 
 tears at the prospect. Delay might be followed 
 by two serious consequences. A rapid progress 
 in the invalid might frustrate her purpose, by 
 opening up a communication between him and 
 his children, to whom he was devotedly attached; 
 and a sudden reverse in his state, terminating, 
 perhaps, in dissolution, must, according to the 
 outward symbols of propriety, compel a delay of 
 some length, and in delay there was danger to 
 this purpose. So reasoned Mr. Keith, as she 
 entered the boudoir of her two daughters. 
 
 " Agnes," she said, " I wish you to understand 
 that it is the desire of your parents that you 
 should be provided with a protector to uphold 
 the rank and station of our house, and secure a 
 home for your sister, while they are yet in the 
 land of the living, which, to all appearance, may
 
 198 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 not be long. For, as you know, I am never free 
 from that head ache and nervous sensation, and 
 trembling all over when the least thing puts me 
 about ; and we are all too well aware of the un- 
 certainty of your affectionate father's condition." 
 
 Agnes looked to Grizzel, and Grizzel to Agnes, 
 then both burst into fresh tears. 
 
 "It is very silly of you, children,'* added the 
 lady, plaintively, " crying at the prospect of your 
 own happiness." 
 
 The two continued, with their handkerchiefs 
 raised to their eyes in silent distress, each having 
 one hand clasped in the oth^er's, as they sat close 
 together on the couch. The mother looked on 
 impatiently for a few seconds. 
 
 " Have you nothing to return for a mother's 
 love and care but tears and sobs," she inquired, 
 somewhat movedby the scene. 
 
 " Mamma, it isn't at the prospect of our 
 happiness, but our misery," answered the 
 youngest daughter, looking into her sister's face. 
 
 '^Why so, child?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. J99 
 
 '^ Because, if we hadn't either you or papa, how 
 could we be happy ? And you have said," con- 
 tinued the afflicted child, ** that you may both 
 die, and leave us.^' 
 
 " And it is with a true sense of that uncer- 
 tainty of life while here, that it becomes the 
 solemn duty of parents to provide for their 
 children, and children to be grateful and obedient 
 to their parents while they have them," said Mrs. 
 Keith, evidently feeling satisfied that if her cause 
 was not the best, she had alighted upon the best 
 line of argument for its advocacy. 
 
 " But, mamma," said Agnes, her eyes reddened 
 with tears, " papa never said to me that he wished 
 me to marry anyone while I am so young ; and 
 certainly before his accident, and when Sir 
 Francis began to come to the house, he did not 
 like him, and told me he was sure he had been a 
 spendthrift." 
 
 "I thought so, too," answered the mother, 
 *^ but we have had reason to change our opinions 
 since that time."
 
 200 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " But surely neither you nor papa would wish 
 me to marry (if I must marry) a man 1 do not 
 like." 
 
 <« Why, Agnes ! you talk like all foolish girls, 
 whose heads are turned by novel reading and 
 such like stuff. I myself didn't like your father 
 at first ; and you know how long we have lived 
 together without a single quarrel under our 
 roof." 
 
 " But why did you marry papa without liking 
 him ?" 
 
 ^* For position — for I had as good a home as ho 
 had — and because it is the fashion, I suppose, to 
 marry," said the mother, with a little energy ; 
 " and it is for the first of these reasons that we 
 now wish j^ou to marry a man of rank and title, 
 while an opportunity offers." 
 
 "But I do not think the position of the 
 person you allude to is superior to my father's," 
 returned the daughter, with some decision ; " and 
 rather than take a person merely for an empty 
 title, I should prefer a man I loved with nothing
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 201 
 
 but an honourable name, although I do not 
 require to do so." 
 
 " Of course not. I know who you mean ; but 
 him you shall not marry. So do not make me 
 ill, Agnes. A woman will in time learn to like 
 any man who loves her ; and Sir Francis loves 
 you to madness, for he told me so. And fm-ther, 
 he says, that if you do not marry him soon, he is 
 sure that he will destroy himself; and that is 
 more than your father ever said about me." 
 
 ^^Ay, I'll stand bail for ye there, my leddie/' 
 said a voice without. 
 
 The mother and daughters were alike startled 
 by the words, and instantly tarned their eyes on 
 the window, whence came the sounds. They 
 saw that it was open, and the fair speaker, with 
 the sublimity in her gait of a tragedian, advanced, 
 looked out, then pulled down the sash in great 
 wrath. 
 
 ^' So we have eavesdroppers and spies on us 
 everywhere," she ejaculated. 
 
 The daughters made no reply ; but the mother 
 
 K 5
 
 202 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 was not to be baulked of her purpose : like a hen 
 with her young brood around her, that has been 
 suddenly scared by a roving kite, casting her 
 wings down and her crest up, she looked fierce 
 and angry. 
 
 " Daughters !" she added, her eyes sparkling 
 with niiusual animation, " I will have you to 
 understand that your parents expect implicit 
 obedience to their commands while you remain 
 dependant upon them." 
 
 '' Commands ! mother," said Agnes, turning 
 her face upon the speaker with an expression of 
 surprise, *' and when have we received commands 
 that we have disobeyed ?" 
 
 " I did not say you had," answered the mother; 
 " but I merely wished to reiliind you that such is 
 at all times required of you. The Holy Scrip- 
 tures command that children be obedient to their 
 parents, and pronounce a curse upon all those who 
 shall be found disobedient." 
 
 Mrs. Keith, in the exercise of her maternal 
 authority on this subject, invariably made use of
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 203 
 
 the word parents^ the grammatical propriety of 
 which her daughters often inwardly questioned ; 
 bat their father's illness and inaccessible state 
 totally left them without any private appeal to his 
 will. For the present, however, the lady was 
 satisfied with the impression she had made upon 
 her daughters, and now turned her footsteps 
 elsewhere. She entered the drawing-room, and 
 hastily rang the bell. 
 
 " Henderson," she said, as the footman 
 answered the summons, " have you seen any 
 person walking or loitering about the outside of 
 the west balcony windows ?" 
 
 " I have not, madam," answered the servant. 
 
 "Go to the stables, and inform Kay that I 
 require him immediately." 
 
 The footman obeyed, and the old groom re- 
 turned with him. 
 
 At this moment her two guests approached the 
 door, from a walk. 
 
 " Come in. Sir Francis," she said, '' I wish 
 you to be present. I will explain to you directly."
 
 204 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Then addressing herself to the groom, who 
 now stood before his mistress uncovered, but 
 looking in no degree disconcerted by her irate 
 presence. 
 
 " Kay," she began, '^ of late I have had 
 frequent occasion to complain of your want of 
 proper respect for me, as also for some of those 
 now staying under my roof; and to-day I have 
 experienced a rudeness that I can no longer over- 
 look." 
 
 " I am sorry to hear that, madam," said Kay; 
 " for, at my time o' life, I ought to know my 
 duty and my place, and observe 'em likewise. 
 But will ye please to make known to me now 
 when and where this rudeness happened." 
 
 " When and where, sir^ — when and where ! 
 but under the west balcony, not ten minutes ago, 
 when I was speaking with my daughters, in their 
 room." 
 
 '^ Well, madam, ye may perhaps think it rude 
 in an old servant to contradict ye, afore these 
 gentlemen, and to tell the truth."
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 205 
 
 ^'Nay, nay," interposed tlie baronet, ^'yoii 
 would not surely — " 
 
 "Weel, weel, Sir Francis," interrupted the 
 servant, ^^ if ye are better intitled to defend 
 what is untrue, than I am to speak the truth, ye 
 may please yourself. But I have only to say 
 that I have not this day been so near the balcony 
 as I am now ; and have not been out of the 
 stable-yard, till Henderson called me, since I first 
 entered it this morning." 
 
 *^Tliat is very strange," said the lady, looking 
 dubiously, '^ for I surely heard your voice under 
 the window." 
 
 " Xo, madam, you could not hear my voice, 
 although I heard yours in the distance, for the 
 window was up, as I thought, and you were 
 speaking high. But I did not think it my place 
 to listen, or otherwise notice what was said." 
 
 '^ Have you seen any stranger, or anybody else 
 about the grounds this morning ?" 
 
 '' I never concern myself, madam, with who 
 comes and goes about the house," answered the
 
 206 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 groom. " The stable-yard is my jurisdiction, and 
 I see to it only." 
 
 " You may go, Kay," said the mistress, evin- 
 cing a little impatience in her manner, for she 
 dared not directly dispute the word of the honest 
 and independent servant. 
 
 The door had no sooner been closed behind 
 him, than one of the maid-servants entered the 
 room, who said that she had observed a man pass 
 at a short distance from the window in question, 
 bearing a parcel under his arm. 
 
 Further, a light was soon thrown on the matter, 
 whereby it appeared that the said person was 
 there, or in its immediate vicinity, by an express 
 appointment of the lady herself, for the purpose 
 of privately showing, or delivering into her own 
 hands, some contraband lace and other valuable 
 commodities appertaining to ladies' apparel, and 
 that the lady, in the ardour of her pursuits else- 
 where, had^either neglected or forgotten her en- 
 gagement, until the patience of the owner of the 
 van (for it was none other than our old acquaint-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 207 
 
 aac) had failed him. Consequently, annoyed by 
 the neglect, and hearing through the open window 
 her harsh exhortations to her daughters — for the 
 latter of whom he had a cherished regard, while 
 for the former he had a secret contempt, albeit, 
 her business transactions with him — he could not 
 refrain, at so opportune a moment, of giving ex- 
 pression to his disgust, and of reminding her of 
 the old proverb, that " walls have ears," especially 
 to loud voices. 
 
 Upon the conclusion of this inquiry, Mrs. 
 Keith and the baronet held a long conversation 
 together. 
 
 It was thought by the lady that the maternal 
 pressure of a very few days would bring her 
 daughter to consent to the nuptials ; but, in order 
 to provide the better against a miscarriage of her 
 hopes, she deemed it desirable that all chance of 
 communication between Agnes and Mr. Langton 
 should be duly provided against. She had reason, 
 she said, to believe that a clandestine corres-
 
 208 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 pondence had been put into practice in that 
 quarter, since the youth's exclusion from the 
 Kymes ; and, as a provision against its continu- 
 ance, she suggested that Miss Stork, the maiden 
 lady and cousin of the baronet, now residing in 
 the house, should be solicited to give her daily 
 company to Agnes and her sister, and to keep a 
 vigilant watch upon their movements when out 
 upon their walks, as also within doors. 
 
 This being decreed, a circumstance shortly 
 occurred which evoked its rigid enforcement. 
 
 Out walking one day, little Grizzel was ob- 
 served to present to her sister a small nosegay 
 of beautiful wild flowers, which she had just re- 
 ceived from the hands of the groom. 
 
 For years it had been a habit of the child to 
 occasionally scamper off from those in her com- 
 pany towards the stable-yard, to have a little con 
 versation with her father's favourite old servant, 
 who regarded '^ little miss " with singular 
 affection, and often, when abroad upon business,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 209 
 
 contrived to reward her attentions by present- 
 ing her with some trifling memorial on his 
 return. 
 
 When at home, her father used to view such 
 simple acts of kindness with a fond indulgence ; 
 but of late these reciprocal greetings had been 
 regarded with disfavour by the child's mother ; 
 they had in short, been interdicted. Still, despite 
 the maternal veto, when the spirit moved her, 
 perverse Grizzel would, in right of old custom, 
 bound away on top speed to have a word with 
 '' dear old Kay." 
 
 It was oh her return from one of these frolic- 
 some expeditions that Grizzel now bore in her 
 hand the bunch of wild flowers just noticed. 
 
 Simple and ordinary as the circumstance would 
 seem, it did not escape the curiosity of Miss 
 Stork (now naturally invested with the chaste 
 order of duennci) who at once asked to smell the 
 nosegay. 
 
 Agnes, colouring somewhat, could not refuse 
 the request ; but the object of the other was
 
 210 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 manifestly to gratify her sense of sight, rather 
 than that of sinell. 
 
 In the centre of the bouquet was placed a green 
 leaf of the chestnut tree, tightly folded up, with 
 the stem of a small rose thrust into it. 
 
 This the lynx-eye of the lady discovered at a 
 glance, and taking the liberty to draw it out, she 
 found it to contain a tiny epistle, without any 
 address, but bearing the initials of L. L. 
 
 ^' This is for me, I presume," she said, putting 
 the same into her pocket unopened. 
 
 Agnes and her sister nearly sunk upon the 
 ground. They spoke not a word, but looked im- 
 ploringly into the face of their detective, on whose 
 hard-favoured and loveless countenance there was 
 visible about as much of human sympathy or 
 maiden tenderness as commonly may be found 
 amon2:st the lineaments of the most callous of 
 thief-catchers. 
 
 The elder sister could no longer continue her 
 walk ; but taking Grizzel by the hand, as if to 
 support herself, she returned to the house, but
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 211 
 
 not, is to be feared, to find an asylum for her 
 distress in tlie sanctuary of a mother's bosom. 
 No, but rather to surrender herself up like a 
 hopeless criminal to the hands of justice.
 
 212 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 AGNES KEITH UNDER RESTRAINT. 
 
 Our love and reverence for the sacred name of 
 mother compel us here to pause and turn aside 
 from a full revelation of the scene that followed 
 this simple incident. Most probably, as we 
 already stand, our fidelity or consistency in what 
 we have now narrated, and are about to narrate, 
 may by some tender parents be more than ques- 
 tioned. On this point, however, we have only to 
 invite such humane and charitable individuals to 
 cast their eyes abroad upon the living world 
 around them, to dive into some of those splendid 
 mansions that excite our admiration, draw aside
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 213 
 
 those silken curtains that veil out the sun's light, 
 witness the moving scenes that are therein en- 
 acted with some of our imperious mammas, and 
 they will, we are assured, acquit us of the charge 
 of exaggeration. Who of us acquainted with 
 France require to be told that marriages there are 
 commonly effected by intrigue — seldom by love ? 
 Detected and convicted, as we have seen, 
 beyond appeal, Agnes Keith must no^\ expiate 
 her offence by the adoption of one of two alterna- 
 tives — namely, to at once give her hand to Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw, or submit to a further cur- 
 tailment of her personal liberty. Her consent to 
 the former neither entreaty nor persecution could 
 wring from her. To the latter she resigned her- 
 self accordingly ; and with that resignation, 
 which in itself soothes down affliction, she, with 
 her sister — for loving Grizzel was determined to 
 share her lot — were peremptorily forbidden to 
 again enter the stable-yard, to hold conversation 
 with any person, except their attendant, within 
 or without the walls of the house, or to walk in
 
 214 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 any other portion of the grounds or park but 
 upon a large open space, within view of the 
 mansion, and this only in the company of their 
 duenna. 
 
 Under this rigorous course of penance only one 
 act of indulgence was extended to her, and for 
 this indulgence she was indebted to the baronet, 
 who had generosity or policy enough to interpose 
 his influence in high quarters for its attain- 
 ment. 
 
 This consisted simply in the privilege to retain 
 as her pet companion the trained falcon, which 
 had been presented to her in her father's pre- 
 sence some years previously by Lorance Langton, 
 and to which, from its sagacity and attachment 
 to its mistress, she had become passionately fond. 
 
 To have deprived her of this, now, when every 
 other source of pleasure was closed against her, 
 would have been, so reasoned Sir Francis, an act 
 of useless and gratuitous severity, of which he 
 could not approve. 
 
 Agnes was therefore allowed to retain her bird.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 215 
 
 and, as was customary, to carry it out when 
 walking, and exercise it on the wing on the open 
 ground by means of the lure. 
 
 Though not learned in the art of falconry. Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw was a professed admirer of 
 the ancient sport, and especially of the noble 
 birds employed in it. And although, for the 
 promotion, as he supposed, of his own interest 
 with the young lady, he could have cordially 
 sanctioned the removal of this hawk, along with 
 every other memorial of one upon whom he 
 looked as the chief stumbling-block in his way 
 to favour, yet he dreaded the consequences of 
 openly participating in the act, lest, in the event 
 of her father's return to his home (certainly not 
 expected) he might in some degree be held re- 
 sponsible for it. 
 
 A considerable sensation had already been 
 created at the Kymes by the loss of its mate, 
 which was reported to have broken loose, strayed 
 away, and been shot by a neighbouring game- 
 keeper.
 
 "216 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Nevertheless, to supplant this bird in the 
 affections of its mistress, was an object which had 
 frequently dwelt upon the minds of Sir Francis 
 and his coadjutor, Mr. Andrew Corby; and while 
 secretly fostering this cherished purpose a device 
 at length occurred to them, which promised fair 
 for success. 
 
 This was in substance to procure, if possible, a 
 similar trained bird, to take its place, and to be 
 presented by the Baronet. 
 
 Accordingly the two gentlemen, turned their 
 eyes upon Mr. Ranold, of Cranmore, and forth- 
 with made known their wishes to that sporting 
 gentleman. 
 
 A draught tiercel from his famous mews was 
 immediately accorded ; and on the same day, 
 clothed with his complement of furniture, the 
 bird was conveyed to the Kymes, there to await a 
 befitting opportunity for its presentation. 
 
 Meanwhile, Agnes Keith, accompanied by her 
 sister, with their attendant daughter of Nox, in 
 the name of Miss Stork, betakes herself to her
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 217 
 
 prescribed and daily walk in the park ; and duly, 
 at the hour of two, her faithful bird, released 
 from his hood and leash, is allowed his freedom 
 in the air, and to soar aloft into the clouds. 
 
 During this exercise, one of his playful eccen- 
 tricities is to occasionally dash off to a considerable 
 distance after a straj^ ciow or other large fowl, 
 give it a few cuffs in the air, then return to 
 his mistress. 
 
 Not unfrequently this frolicksome spirit will 
 carry him so far abroad that he will continue out ' 
 of sight for several minutes at a time. 
 
 It may be remarked, as another peculiarity in 
 falconry, that no person but the falconer, or party 
 who feeds and attends on the hawk, is permitted 
 to approach him when he descends to the lure, or 
 brings his quarry to the ground, spectators at all 
 times being required to remain at a respectful 
 distance ; for a falcon will not be either bribed or 
 cajoled into confidence with a stranger ; but, if 
 intruded upon, will rise and resent the affront by 
 resisting his recapture for a time. 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Thus undergoing his exercise, it happened on 
 one occasion, when the bird had mounted to an 
 unusual height in the sky that he was observed by 
 his mistress to make a sudden dart off upon a 
 rapid pace in pursuit, as was supposed, of some 
 quarry that had attracted his sight from a dis- 
 tance. He remained absent for a time ; and on 
 his return he appeared somewhat laboured in his 
 flight, as if hurt or encumbered by some extra- 
 neous weight. 
 
 He readily came down to the lure, and, on ex- 
 amination, Agnes discovered something attached 
 to one of his legs, placed higher up than his bell 
 and entirely covered by the pendent or high 
 feathers. 
 
 On feeding him she softly removed it, and 
 found that it consisted of a small scrip of written 
 paper, bound tightly up by a silken thread. 
 
 Without further perusal she placed it safely 
 into her gauntlet, upon her hand, where the 
 noble bird now took his stand, received his hood, 
 and was borne back by his mistress to her com-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 219 
 
 panions, wlio had meanwhile taken a seat upon 
 the dry turf, but now arose, and the party re- 
 traced their steps homeward. 
 
 With as little delay as ceremony, on entering the 
 hall, Agnes and her sister parted from their com- 
 panion, and proceeded to their own rooms. 
 
 Doors shut, the secret was soon disclosed to 
 Grizzel, and the air-borne message joyfully placed 
 before her. 
 
 Its substance was brief. 
 
 " Sweet Agnes, I know all. To-morrow again 
 at two. Steen is now with me, whom the hawk 
 knows. 
 
 '' Yours affectionately, 
 
 "L. L." 
 
 In a few seconds tears and kisses had almost 
 obliterated the few words, but in their brevity 
 they had conveyed a reviving gleam of sunshine to 
 two young and clouded broas. 
 
 The scrip was speedily secured in the owner's 
 
 L 2
 
 220 NOIvTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 escritoir, and the remainder of the day passed 
 away more cheerily. 
 
 On the following morning the two sisters paid an 
 early visit to the noble bird, then sitting on his block 
 under his canopy. On their approach he sounded 
 his bells and flapped his wings joyfully. When his 
 bright eyes met those of his mistress now by his 
 side, he jumped upon her hand and received his 
 morning caresses with the affection of a child. 
 Upon his brave wing now depended the only 
 hope and joy of these two helpless and loving 
 sisters. Ah ! had the gallant bird but known 
 the depth of their distress, and been equal 
 to do the whole battle for them, how soon had 
 the victory been theirs. 
 
 The heavy hours had never lagged so tardily as 
 upon this morning up till two o'clock. But the 
 snail and the swallow arrive alike at their respective 
 goals, and so at last did here the reluctant foot- 
 steps of time. 
 
 From the feathered hero never had the hood 
 been sprung, or leash withdrawn with a more 
 nervous hand, than on this day in the park.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. ' 221 
 
 Agnes, leaving her companions a little on her 
 rear, as usual, advanced a few paces on the open 
 sward, then outstretched her left arm, upon the 
 wrist of which rested the hopeful messenger of 
 the air. 
 
 The bells were bright as gold fresh from the 
 mint, the new Jessies were soft and elastic, and 
 she had never gazed upon him with more intense 
 interest. 
 
 He drew himself up, shook his feathers, roused, 
 glanced around him, then, expanding his wings, 
 flung himself forward into the air with ajoyfulrattle 
 of his bells. For some time he soared round her in 
 circles, mounting higher and still higher as he 
 gyrated ; and when he had attained to a certain 
 pitch, away he sped, as before, straight as an 
 arrow, in the direction of an open moor. 
 
 We will now follow the flight of this little 
 truant, and endeavour to discover what attraction 
 there is to be found for him upon this heatliery 
 wilderness. 
 
 First then, there is Lorance Langton, with a 
 telescope in his hand; secondly, there is one
 
 222 KORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 William Steen, his former falconer (now returned 
 to the service of the Crypt), exercising his voice 
 and casting a lure aloft into the air. The bird 
 espies the distant signal, recognises the well- 
 known voice of his former keeper, and alights at 
 his feet; and lastly, resting at full length upon 
 the blooming sod, lies the prince of all elderly 
 butlers, Nathaniel Saunders, to whose inventive 
 faculties his young master is indebted for estab- 
 lishing a ^'postal communication" through the 
 air with the Kymes. 
 
 But at this moment there are two other wistful 
 eyes turned in the dh-ection of this scene. Never 
 had the return of the bird been regarded with so 
 much anxiety. 
 
 Agnes Keith looks and looks again, with fond 
 impatience, upon his former track in the vast 
 8Brial expanse. At length she discovers some- 
 thing like a small speck stirring in the distance. 
 It is her bird : and he is hastening to her side : 
 and beneath his fleet wings he bears a response 
 to her morning's epistle. 
 
 He descends from the skies, delivers it in
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 223 
 
 safety, resumes his place on her wrist, and 
 receives his wonted caresses, while his duties for 
 the day are ended. 
 
 In this manner, for the continuance of several 
 days, this ingenious mode of correspondence was 
 steadily maintained on both sides ; but, as with 
 all mundane undertakings, these airy enterprises 
 must have their beginnings, their interruptions, 
 and their endings. 
 
 Now, it happened upon one occasion, when the 
 ladies were proceeding in their ordinary manner 
 in the park, that the younger sister observed a 
 figure resembling that of Mr. Corby lurking 
 about a thicket of trees at some distance from 
 where they were situated. 
 
 The falcon, charged with his mission, had just 
 been let off into the air ; but while in the act of 
 mounting he was suddenly attracted by a domestic 
 pigeon, which appeared to issue from the same 
 thicket, whereupon he immediately gave it 
 chase. 
 
 From its mode of flight, the pigeon was evi-
 
 224 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 dently encumbered by some artificial weight ; but 
 owing to the advantage it had over the hawk by 
 a length of start, it succeeded in reaching and 
 escaping in a distant cover. 
 
 The hawk now rose in the air, made a circle or 
 two over the spot, then turned away, and was 
 soon out of sight. 
 
 But the troubles and perils of the pigeon were 
 not yet at an end. 
 
 It was speedily recaptured, its wings plucked, 
 then placed in a more conspicuous position, some- 
 what nearer to the house. 
 
 Soon the tinkle of bells was again heard in the 
 air, and by the next minute the hapless dove was 
 in the talons of its enemy. 
 
 Here the struggle for life was but sh ort, for 
 within a few seconds more the report of a gun 
 resounded through the woods, and the two birds 
 were killed by the same shot. 
 
 Life in them had hardly become extiact, when 
 Mr. Corby had furnished to Mrs. Keith and Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw a gratifying proof of his
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 22C 
 
 skill as a sportsman, by the production of a dead 
 falcon, which he had shot upon a trap he had 
 placed for it. 
 
 The exhibition of the spoil, however, was 
 secretly made, and the carcass of the bird care- 
 fully concealed from all other eyes. 
 
 Following this feat, and within half-an-hour 
 from the report of the gun, the ladies in the park 
 were observed from the windows, moving* slowly 
 on towards the house. 
 
 A scene of sorrow and sadness was now ex- 
 pected. 
 
 Miss Stork, tall, spare, and erect, with lean 
 neck and thin legs, looked almost rosy, by her 
 exposure to the sun and fresh air, as she stalked 
 majestically by the side of her youthful charge. 
 
 Little Grizzel was carrying in her hand her 
 sister's lure, occasionally swinging it round her 
 head, and throwing it into the air ; while Agnes, 
 walking between her companions, had her eyes 
 alternately turned upon the ground and upon he r 
 faithful bird, which now, crowned with its 
 
 L 5
 
 226 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 crimsoned hood, sat in a state of perfect repose 
 
 upon her slender wrist. 
 
 The party within, on beholding the hawk, were 
 
 struck with amazement. 
 
 " In the name of G , Corby, what have you 
 
 done ?" exclaimed the baronet, impatiently, as he 
 
 paced rapidly out of the room, followed by the 
 
 party spoken to. 
 
 The other had no reply to make, but the two 
 hastened on to an out-building in which their own 
 hawk had been secreted. Upon entering this 
 compartment, which was an empty loft or granary 
 to their intense mortification, they saw nothing 
 but a vacant perch and the deserted leash. The 
 Jessies had been severed, and the bird flown. It 
 had escaped through an open window. But how 
 had this come to pass ? The door was locked 
 when they approached it, and the window, as 
 usual, had been closed when they last left the 
 chamber, yet was now open. Had some person 
 entered in their absence and liberated the bird ? 
 The mystery could not be explained.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 227 
 
 Mr. Corby had his ^^ suspicions." 
 
 This much only became certain — viz., that upon 
 attaining its liberty the hawk had hovered for a 
 time about the premises, and seeing the bait that 
 had been placed to entrap another, had itself be- 
 come the victim.
 
 228 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 SIR FRANCIS HERONSHAW AND MR. CORBY 
 DELIBERATE ON THE MOOR. 
 
 It was not until two days following the catas- 
 trophe had passed tranquilly over, that Agnes 
 Keith became apprised of the danger from which 
 her bird had escapedj and of the untimely end of 
 that one intended by her knightly suitor to fill its 
 place. For this information she was indebted 
 to her sister— for despite of laws, locks, and 
 warders, clever Grizzel found means of keeping 
 tip her knowledge of the outer world. 
 
 Agnes had indeed heard the report of the gun, 
 and knew it to be in the direction which her
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 229 
 
 hawk had taken. But, relying on the extra- 
 ordinary instinct and sagacity of her favourite, 
 together with its common aversion to strangers, 
 and especially to Mr. Corby, she had innocently 
 reasoned down her apprehension for its safety 
 while absent. 
 
 The shot had, however, spread fears in various 
 directions; into the stable yard and across the 
 moor in the vicinity. 
 
 But it was not the sharp crack of the fowling 
 piece alone that bore alarm to the *^ enemy of 
 observation," then stationed almost in view of 
 the scene. With it there occurred also the loss 
 for the day of the '^ mall-bag," added to the 
 probability of detection, and during tbe after- 
 noon and on the following morning the anxiety 
 of Lorance Langton, with his falconer, had been 
 intense in the extreme. 
 
 Long before the flying time had arrived, the 
 focus of the glass had been adjusted and re- 
 peatedly brought to bear upon the distant park.
 
 230 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Two o'clock came, but not the hawk ; ten minutes 
 more were added, and still he did not rise. 
 
 Every rook, fowl, or dove that plied a wing 
 above the horizon was closely examined through 
 the double lens. 
 
 Lorance, now almost driven to despair, 
 stretched himself down at full length upon the 
 heathery sod, topping an eminence, with the 
 telescope at his eye, thus presenting the appear- 
 ance of some small piece of ordnance pointing 
 over an earthen battery. In this position he con- 
 tinued for some minutes, when he at length ob- 
 served a small object resembling a fly to pass the 
 lens. It was difficult to follow it, yet he could 
 note it by turns to rise higher and still higher 
 into the sky, until it appeared an almost inde- 
 finable point. 
 
 " It is the hawk ! as I live it is the hawk ! 
 Agnes's hawk, and no other. I know it by its 
 mode of mount." 
 
 These words Lorance muttered to himself, then
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 231 
 
 springing to his feet, lie commanded Steen to ply 
 the lure. 
 
 Straight as a shaft from a bow, the bird shot 
 across the sky. Soon the faint soimrl of the 
 bells was heard in the air, and by the next minute 
 the hawk was on the glove of the falconer. But 
 the speedy messenger must not be detained. The 
 delivery and reception of the '' mails" must be 
 effected with royal despatch. He receives his 
 douceur in the form of a sweet morsel, as the 
 reward of his fidelity, which in all do not occupy 
 the brief space of five minutes. 
 
 Again he is off, and again the glass bears upon 
 him throughout his aerial path. He towers high 
 above the treacherous trees, and descends pre- 
 cisely over the spot from whence he was seen to 
 rise. 
 
 Teleo-rams intimating dano-er bein^ now ex- 
 changed between the correspondents, the bird 
 was not again flown for some days. Nor had the 
 plot by Mr. Corby and his confederates escaped 
 the vigilant eye of one who, during its various
 
 232 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 progress, had kept a steady watch upon that 
 gentleman's suspicious movements. Nor was he 
 long allowed to remain insensible of this secret 
 cognizance of his conduct. 
 
 Ere that day's sun had set, he had been sternly 
 charged with his nefarious design upon the lady's 
 hawk, and had received in addition a wholesome 
 warning to the effect that if a feather of its wing 
 should henceforth be injured, by whomsoever it 
 should be done, he, and he alone, should be held 
 responsible for the act, and forthwith be doomed 
 to enjoy the realization of his own favourite form 
 of speech of " hang me," on the first tree that 
 "came handiest." 
 
 These significant words being again communi- 
 cated to others in higher quarters, they, pro- 
 bably with a dread of immediate exposure and 
 public scandal, had the immediate effect of ob- 
 taining a general vote for the life of the bird. 
 
 Meanwhile, the marriage campaign was not 
 allowed to suffer from so trifling a mishap. By 
 recent bulletins the health of Colonel Keith ap-
 
 KOETH OF TZZ rvTZID. 233 
 
 peared to be progressing favourably; and Mrs. 
 Keith had again tried her powers of persuasion 
 npon her daughter, bnt clearly with the same 
 result as heretofore. This was immediately fol- 
 lowed hj another private conference with Sir 
 Francis Heronshaw, whereat the lady espressed 
 her painfal disappointment, together with her 
 belief that expostulation wi:'- A.: ^ s utterly 
 hopeless. 
 
 ^'I have done eveiything," she said, wilfli a 
 sigh, ^' that a mother could do — even more than 
 my sinking strength has been eqoal to — to insure 
 the happiness of my daughter. But she is, in- 
 deed, her father's child, self-willed and inflexible^ 
 and receives my counsel only with tears and dis- 
 obedience.'' 
 
 The baronet humanely expressed his deep 
 sympathy with the lady. 
 
 *' I most sincerely wish.' " ; - ' ". ■ :". : I : : i 
 relieve you in part, or whole, of the w^ _ : 
 burden of care and anxiety t::~ 'fv ' ■ ._ :: 
 you in your present s:.:_' i .-
 
 234 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 tion. But, dearest madam, although I know the 
 act would be my death, yet, in order to procure 
 you some repose and temporary relief in this 
 matter, I fear I must resign your daughter to her 
 own choice and incHnations ; when, parhaps, on 
 due reflection, she may find occasion to repent 
 of her filial disobedience to you, and the conse- 
 quences of it upon me." 
 
 In uttering these words the speaker watched 
 attentively the effects of each sentence upon the 
 countenance of his listener. He had thrown 
 them out merely as does the bee his feelers on 
 alighting upon the cup of a flower when it 
 scents of honey at the bottom. 
 
 " Oh ! speak not so," said the lady, beseech- 
 ingly. ^' I trust I shall yet find strength enough 
 to support me in the discharge of my duty to my 
 children. But yon. Sir Francis, as a man of the 
 world, can you not devise some means of expe- 
 diting this matter ? Eeally " — and the languid 
 lady lighted up wonderfully — '^ I do verily believe 
 that all the chivalry and romance of love have
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 235 
 
 died out since I was a girl. Would you believe 
 it, Sir Francis, that before I was eighteen I was 
 twice asked to run off to Gretna Green, and 
 would, for the romance of the thing, have gone, 
 too, with one of my beaux. It would, I thought, 
 be so nice to enjoy Jock o' Hazeldean in earnest. 
 But on the morning of our intended levant my 
 mother introduced Colonel Keith, and so I 
 changed my mind. I daresay. Sir Francis, you 
 think I was very silly and changeable, as perhaps 
 I was. He ! he ! he !" 
 
 " Forms and customs," replied the baronet, 
 " alter with time : but love is tlie same through- 
 out all ages. At this day it glows in the human 
 breast with the same ardour — and, madam, I can 
 now speak from experience — as it did with," he 
 was going to say " Adam ;" but on second 
 thoughts, thinking the comparison not altogether 
 a happy one, seeing that Moses had given to 
 posterity but a very platonic account of the 
 tender passion in Paradise, he bethought himself
 
 236 nohth of the tweed, 
 
 of the most renowned of all orthodox lovers, and 
 settled upon '' Solomon." 
 
 "Then sweethearts and lovers of late have 
 become less romantic," returned the lady, " for 
 we do not hear of half the number of elopements 
 and runaway marriages there used to be when I 
 was single." 
 
 " Such simple modes of wedlock have cer- 
 tainly gone a little out of fashion," replied the 
 gentleman; "yet amongst the many who have 
 preferred Hazeldean's course for expedition, I 
 could mention names that have borne the highest 
 honours of the State." 
 
 The disappointments which Mrs. Keith had 
 previously experienced in all her speculations to 
 speedily effect her cherished purpose with her 
 daughter, had now induced her to sound the 
 baronet with respect to the adoption of a more 
 certain course — namely, that of a Border 
 marriage. 
 
 With this, or any other measure, that would
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 237 
 
 accelerate matters, and finally secure to him the 
 prize, Sir Francis was only too eager to accord ; 
 but feeling assured that the bride-elect would not 
 meet the proposition with the same cordiality, he 
 thought a little innocent scruple might not appear 
 unbecoming. Trusting, however, if not to the 
 eloquence of his tongue, at least to the persua- 
 sive force of a chaise and a pair of fleet horses, 
 together with a liberal fee to the " priest," he 
 was not loth to try the experiment. 
 
 At the close of the dialogue it was therefore 
 concluded upon that Mr. Corby and the gallant 
 knight should immediately concert measures for 
 compassing the end. 
 
 Houses possessing doors, windows, and key- 
 holes, with light-footed servants gliding to and 
 fro in the passages, cannot at all times be relied 
 upon as the safest places for the discussion of 
 matters of profound secrecy. 
 
 Such at least was Mr. Corby's opinion ; and 
 although experience had told him that there was
 
 238 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 danger in trees and shades, he yet preferred the 
 open air when he had any private business of 
 moment to deliberate upon. 
 
 Accordingly, when Sir Francis had intimated 
 to him his desire to hold a consultation with him 
 of some length, he suggested that they should 
 walk out together on to the open moor, where they 
 could speak with freedom. 
 
 When they had proceeded to a sufficient 
 distance they sat down upon a slight rise on the 
 dry turf, Mr. Corby remarking the while that 
 " Wild geese are the wisest of all living creatures, 
 for they always selected the open ground for 
 business." 
 
 There was not a wall, tree, or shrub within 
 reach of their voices to afford ambuscade for a 
 coney. 
 
 Of this, the gentleman, casting his eye around, 
 made certain. 
 
 But he omitted to observe an old quarry in the 
 immediate vicinity, then partly hidden from view
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 239 
 
 hy a small mound of earth, overgrown with rank 
 heather. 
 
 Sir Francis opened the business by informing 
 his friend of what had passed between him and 
 Mrs. Keith. 
 
 ^' It's the best move," said Corby, ^' in the 
 whole campaign, provided it succeeds ; but it's 
 beset with difficulties as thickly as the thistles 
 stand in that meadow we passed through ; and, 
 I fear, with as cankerous ones, too." 
 
 " Doubtless," replied the baronet, " but our 
 united purpose must be to anticipate and combat 
 them. The old adage, you know, ' a faint heart,' 
 &c." 
 
 "Bold heart, or bold heels. Sir Frank," said 
 Corby, clapping his hand upon the other's 
 shoulder, ^' I'm your man; but how about the 
 young lady's consent ? She's as shy with us both 
 as a plover." 
 
 *^ We have her mother's— at least, her ap- 
 proval."
 
 240 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " Oh yes ! and I dare say, good soul, to hold 
 herself blameless, when the treacherous ab- 
 duction comes out, she will have had one of her 
 a,ccommodating headaches, with a visit of old 
 St. Vitus, and had taken to her room, while we 
 treacherously danced off with her daughter. He ! 
 he ! — capital. Never read anything better in the 
 newspapers. By Jove I but you're a lucky 
 fellow, to have such an ally in the camp of 
 the enemy." 
 
 •And Mr. Corby rubbed his two palms together, 
 and laughed heartily. 
 
 " Now, Corby, what I next want to consider, 
 is, how we are best to construct our machinery 
 for action. We must assume that Agnes 
 declines." 
 
 " Offers some gentle resistance to the proffered 
 courtesy, my good Sir Knight — for that's the 
 English of it," interrupted the squire, with a 
 laugh. 
 
 *^ Well ! what then?" put the baronet.
 
 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 241 
 
 '^ Why, follow the adyice of the old song, to be 
 sure. 
 
 '• First woo her fairly, 
 E'en late and early. 
 
 As the gentle dove his mate. 
 
 Should words then fail. 
 Let deeds prevail, 
 
 Obedient to the will of fate. 
 
 Then coax and tease her. 
 
 Until you please her, &c. — he, he !" 
 
 '' These execrable lines are your own, Corby ; 
 they savour of your cranium," said Sir Francis, 
 with an assumed air of reproof. 
 
 " Mine, or not mine, they must be your 
 motto, or you lose your maiden, and I my blue 
 toga and yellow buttons," answered Corby, 
 promptly. 
 
 " How shall we get her off?" 
 
 *' l^othing simpler than the first start. The 
 difficulties will just begin when we get her off her 
 own beat, and into our own especial keeping." 
 
 *^ Of that too, t have some apprehensions," 
 said the baronet; "but some stratagem must 
 
 VOL. L M
 
 242 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 
 
 first be employed to bring her into our safe 
 keeping.'' 
 
 " That, in my opinion," said Corby, " is a 
 simple affair. At the start, the main difficulty 
 will be, to separate the two sisters, without 
 alarming either. Grizzel is as sharp as a squirrel, 
 and as acute as a magpie." 
 
 ^^For that, I think we might employ success- 
 fully a simple device." 
 
 " What is that ?" 
 
 *^ Get her mother to say she wishes to be again 
 upon civil terms at the Crypt, and prevail upon 
 her to be driven thither in the gig by the 
 groom, to see Miss Murray and her favourite 
 Langton." 
 
 '' Good — she'll jump at the bait like a silver 
 smelt." 
 
 " Grizzel thus disposed of," continued the 
 baronet, fervently, *^ Mrs. Keith will propose 
 that Agnes and Miss Stork take an airing in the 
 chaise. The new coachman, being in the interest 
 of his mistress, will drive without question
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. | 243 
 
 whithersoever he is bidden by her. And, to 
 ensure acquiescence the more readily with Agnes, 
 I will decline in her presence to join the party." 
 
 " Better still," said Corby ; '^ but where must 
 they drive to ?" 
 
 " That is for you and me to name," answered 
 Sir Francis. '^ I propose Ling Forest, upon the 
 high road for the south, where the public coach 
 has been frequently robbed. And now it is for 
 us to devise what must follow." 
 
 "Of course, after the manner of novelists, 
 make that the rendezvous. — -Have a post-chaise 
 in readiness, either hid in the wood, or otherwise. 
 You and I be on the spot. Contrive some 
 ruse; and win the prize on the Scotch Border." 
 
 '^ Exactly ; but in order to provide against 
 disappointment there, I would suggest that you 
 ride over to the village of Clanculloch, two miles 
 on this side of the forest, and previously 
 engage at the ' Royal Stag,' the post-inn there, 
 a chaise, with a pair of merry-footed nags, 
 to be held in readiness at an hour's notice. 
 
 M 2
 
 244 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " That shall be done, my good knight," an- 
 swered Corby, gleefully. " But how fix a day ? 
 The weather is as uncertain as the ladies them- 
 selves, and these, I vow, are tenfold more capri- 
 cious than trouts in a stream. The morning must 
 be fine, and who can bespeak that V 
 
 " That must, undoubtedly, be selected," said Sir 
 Francis. '^ But could we not despatch a confi- 
 dential messenger early on the morning contem- 
 plated ? Of course, to avoid suspicion, you and 1 
 must appear as usual at the breakfast table." 
 
 "" There is not a soul about the Kymes to be 
 safely entrusted with such a message. These 
 Highlanders are as cunning as foxes ; they would 
 at once think there was something up — squint 
 into, or open the note, and blab the matter all 
 over the parish." 
 
 " How, then, shall we manage ?" 
 
 '^ I've just been thinking. Hang me ! but I 
 have it. Frazer, the innkeeper, has some of the 
 finest carrier pigeons in the kingdom. I know 
 him well, and shall borrow one of them to keep
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 245 
 
 by me for a day or two, when we are about 
 ready for the enterprise. Then, on the momen- 
 tous morning, I shall let off my caged messenger 
 with a note, which will skip over the seven miles 
 in a twinkle, and keep the secret like a con- 
 fessor." 
 
 " By Jove ! Corby, the best idea you ever con- 
 ceived," exclaimed the baronet, rising. 
 
 "And what makes it better still — we shall 
 have made sure of the will of the ladies on the 
 same morning," added the other. 
 
 Vastly elated and pleased with their plans, the 
 two gentlemen now arose and retraced their foot- 
 steps homewards. 
 
 Mrs. Keith was speedily put into possession of 
 the various bearings of the scheme, who cordially 
 undertook the performance of her part of the 
 drama, promising to do her best to put off her 
 headache till after the " bridal breakfast.'' 
 
 Little Grizzel was charmed with the idea of 
 her visit to the Crypt; and, anticipating the 
 event, she had obtained her sister's permission to
 
 246 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 take with her the faithful hawk, that it might be 
 shown to Miss Murray, who had often expressed 
 an attachment for the bird. This being arranged, 
 the key of the mews was again handed over to 
 Richard Kay, in order that he might have ready 
 access therein, for the purpose of brushing up the 
 furniture of the bird preparatory to the event. 
 
 A relaxation of the stringent laws having mean- 
 while taken place, Grizzel was now permitted to 
 resume her occasional visits to the stable yard. 
 
 Proceeding thither one evening, she saw Kay 
 in company with a stranger, and apparently in 
 grave conversation with him, upon which she 
 suddenly turned round to retreat ; but the groom, 
 observing her, called her to him, while the 
 other moved away. 
 
 By a glance of her sharp eye she read on the 
 countenance of the old servant that something 
 serious was pressing upon his mind. She did not 
 venture to enquire what it was, and he abstained 
 from making any communication to her. He only 
 remarked that he was glad the key of the mews
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 247 
 
 was again in his possession, and requested that 
 Grizzel would be particular in acquainting him 
 on the night before her projected visit to the 
 Crypt was to take place, which she did not omit 
 to do. 
 
 On the morning of the fourth day from the 
 date of our deliberations on the moor, all the 
 necessary plans and preparations were in readi- 
 ness for carrying out the premediated plot. 
 The breakfast table was set out with some slight 
 extra ornamentation, and the family muster was 
 complete. The weather promised fair for a fine 
 day, and the'disposal of the several members was 
 to be as follows. St. Vitus was to conduct Mrs. 
 Keith to her chamber ; her eldest daughter and 
 Miss Stork were to proceed in the carriage to 
 visit some distant waterfalls ; Grizzel, with her 
 groom, were to pay a visit to the Crypt ; while 
 the baronet and Mr. Corby were to arm them- 
 selves with rods and creels for a fishing match. 
 
 Upon Mr. Corby devolved the first — the initia-
 
 248 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 tory move in the game of the day. Accordingly, 
 rising to his feet before the ladies had left the 
 table, he craved permission to leave in order to 
 give some instruction to the servant, which he 
 had forgotten, respecting his piscatory enter- 
 prise. He then left and proceeded directly to a 
 room in which a carrier pigeon was secreted, which 
 he had borrowed for the occasion. 
 
 To this bird he quickly attached a small note, 
 then hastened out under the screen of some trees 
 and committed it to the skies. 
 
 This took place at about nine o'clock, and the 
 several parties were to disperse at eleven. 
 
 When first enlarged, the pigeon did not rise in 
 the air with the usual rapidity ; yet, after making 
 a small circle or two and getting its head into the 
 proper direction, it soon disappeared beyond the 
 surrounding trees. But it had no sooner cleared 
 the woods and entered fairly upon an open tract 
 of land, which it must traverse for some miles 
 ere it reached its destination, than a falcon darta
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 249 
 
 out from a thicket on its rear. The latter gave 
 instantaneous chase, the bells whistling through 
 the air by the rapidity of his movement. 
 
 The pigeon had all the advantage of a certain 
 elevation, together with the distance of over a 
 hundred paces in the start. 
 
 But Agnes's falcon disdained all odds. By 
 every stroke of his wing he diminished the space 
 between them, which at once appeared to tell 
 fearfully against the fugitive. Still the pigeon 
 was strong in flight, and bravely led out into the 
 sky. 
 
 Of shelter or cover there was none nigh; and 
 upon speed and endurance alone must depend the 
 issue of the contest. 
 
 In this exciting manner the two raced on 
 through the air, covering the distance of nearly a 
 mile, when at length, fairly out-pacing his rival, 
 the falcon, by a rapid dash, diverted it from 
 its course, gave it a further turn or two, then 
 brought it gently to the ground. 
 
 As if moved by some generous impulse, the 
 
 M 5
 
 250 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 hawk did not proceed to seriously hurt his gal- 
 lant adversary in the race, but kept it steadily 
 down until Steen, the falconer — who had pre- 
 viously been judiciously planted in that locality, it 
 being the direction the dove was thought likely to 
 take — hastened forward to secure both birds. 
 
 Meanwhile — returning to our party — and dur- 
 ing Mr. Corby's absence, which was brief, little 
 Grizzel proceeded to the stab les for the purpose 
 of giving some directions to the groom concern- 
 ing their drive to the Crypt. 
 
 Eut, to her surprise, Kay was not to be found. 
 From thence she went directly to the mews, but, 
 lo ! the hawk was gone also. 
 
 She then made a turn round the grounds, and, 
 to her further wonder, she saw the old servant 
 advancing rapidly without the bird, and rubbing 
 the perspiration from his face as if he had under- 
 gone some unusual exercise. 
 
 ^'Kay," she said, •* I have been looking for 
 you to tell you that I shall be ready in half an 
 hour. But where is the hawk ?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 251 
 
 " I've just been giving him a bit of a flight, to 
 make him sit quiet on your hand, and Steenie 
 will be here with him in a few minutes," answered 
 the groom, with a blitheness of countenance, such 
 as he had not borne for some days. 
 
 " That's all right," and away she ran. 
 
 The falconer soon made his appearance, and in 
 half an hour the hawk was on the young lady's 
 hand in the gig, with Kay by her side, driving 
 slowly down the avenue. 
 
 Some few minutes earlier Sir Francis Heron- 
 shaw and Mr. Andrew Corby had gone forth on 
 their fishing expedition. The stream chosen 
 flowed some miles distant, and horses were re- 
 quired on the occasion. At the door the open 
 carriage awaits Miss Stork and the destined 
 bride. 
 
 Miss Murray could scarcely credit her ears 
 when Grizzel Keith was announced at the door. 
 The delight at seeing her little friend, however, 
 more than compensated for the nervous shock the 
 old lady had sustained by the unexpected event.
 
 252 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 But the youthful visitor became sadly downcast 
 upon learning that Lorance had left home after 
 an early breakfast; 
 
 Miss Murray actually kissed the hawk, but[it 
 is to be observed that the hood was upon its head 
 at the time, and it could not fully appreciate or 
 resent the compliment.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 2^3 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Ling Forest consists of an extensive range of 
 wild woodland, the timbers of which being almost 
 entirely indigenous and of spontaneous growth; 
 and though traversed in sundry places by open 
 glades and rugged passes, the surface of the 
 ground is generally covered with a coat of rank 
 heath and other brushwood. Within its broad 
 expanse the wild deer roves at large, with black 
 cattle and horned sheep almost as wild. It is 
 divided by a high road, which here forms the 
 main trunk of communication between the nor- 
 thern and southern counties in these regions. 
 
 Within about a bow-shot from this public way 
 there is an abrupt rise in the forest, which here
 
 254 NORTH OF TEIE TWEED. 
 
 commands an extensive view of the country 
 northwards. 
 
 Uponthis mound there now sit two individuals. 
 They are Sir Francis Heronshaw and Mr. Andrew 
 Corby. Their eyes are turned upon the long line 
 of road, and they appear anxious and impatient. 
 
 " The post chaise ought to have been forward 
 ere now/' said the baronet to his companion. 
 " I trust the carrier dove went directly home." 
 
 '^ I'll stake my head on the pigeon," answered 
 the other. '^ I've seen the same bird well tested 
 before to-day." 
 
 '^ But it will be an awkward thing — nay, what 
 shall we do if it does not arrive before the 
 ladies ?" 
 
 ** Don't you alarm yourself, my impatient 
 bridegroom," said Corby. " Frazer's not the 
 man to let so good a piece of ' grist slip past 
 his mill, nor his postilion to exchange a job at 
 half a guinea per stage for one of half a crown." 
 
 "I suppose the masks are in the fishing 
 creels ?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 255 
 
 " Yes, and beside tliem, ready for donning, lie 
 velveteens and overalls, with those awful-looking 
 bludgeons. B}' my father's saint ! but I would 
 rather trust to my heels than to my hands with 
 these dreadful weapons." 
 
 " We cut them only to intimidate and com- 
 plete our disguise," added the baronet, dolefully. 
 
 "Hush!" ejaculated Corby. "I thought I 
 he ard some one in the wood. But I dare say it's 
 some of those infernal wild cattle, which are as 
 dangerous as buffaloes in these parts." 
 
 The ears of Mr. Corby were correct, but his in- 
 ference was at fault. 
 
 Id a thicket of the wood, within a convenient 
 distance from where the two sat, there stood at 
 that moment other two men, peering through 
 the leafy boughs upon them. Nor were these 
 men inferiorly equipped to their rivals. They had 
 staves, masks, and vestments for disguise, all 
 ready for use at any given moment. 
 
 The names of these two persons were Lorance 
 Langton and Nathaniel Saunders. Also, planted
 
 256 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 on their rear, stood a powerful reserve in the 
 brawney form of the owner of the van. 
 
 There is now a little stir in the other camp. 
 
 Sir Francis and his comrade are npon their 
 feet. They descry in the distance a carriage ; its 
 spokes and mountings glitter in the sun, but the 
 motion is too slow, too sedate for their desire. It 
 creeps onward. 
 
 *^ Zounds !" cried Corby, "It's Keith's carriage. 
 There's a man on the dicky, and I can tell the 
 ladies' bonnets with the top down. Whatever 
 can have happened ?" 
 
 " It is Mrs. Keith's carriage, unquestionably," 
 repeated the other, mildly. 
 
 " What, then, is to be done, Frank? This was 
 not on our programme for the day, and it takes 
 us at disadvantage. We must decide on some- 
 thing promptly," urged Corby. 
 
 '^ One of two things must be done," answered 
 Sir Francis — " either mount Agnes upon one of 
 our horses, or allow her to return in peace." 
 
 '' Don't you think she would rebel against the
 
 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 257 
 
 one ? Do you think you could persuade her to 
 ride before you, or singly, on your saddle, till we 
 reached the next post inn, about seven miles 
 hence ?" 
 
 " I doubt it ; but since all is now to be staked 
 upon the chance, I suppose we had better try. 
 The horses are safe, tied to their trees." 
 
 '^ Then on with our masks, and let us bear 
 towards the road. Bobberies are common here. 
 You go to the horses' heads — be mute — the coach- 
 man will understand, and I will receive the lady." 
 So spoke Sir Francis. 
 
 At the spot selected for these operations, there 
 was a slight elevation in the road, which afforded 
 the driver a reasonable excuse for reducins: his 
 trotting into a slow walking pace. 
 
 Thus it was, when out sallied the mock-robbers, 
 the shorter in stature laying one hand on the reins 
 of the near horse — evidently more afraid of 
 the animal than it of him — and in the other he 
 brandished a hazel staff, freshly cut from the root. 
 
 The carriage instantly stopped; the ladies
 
 25S NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 shrieked, Miss Stork the louder in voice. The taller 
 robber then advanced on stately steps, opened the 
 door, laid his hand on the arm of his fair cousin, 
 who noiv affected great alarm and resistance. But 
 resistance she saw was vain — so she signified 
 to her terrified companion — and, with the meek- 
 ness of a martyr resigning himself to his fate, she 
 suffered herself to be removed and placed on the 
 verge of the forest. The mute and masked actor 
 then returned to the chaise and repeated the same 
 courtesy to her companion, who, after a slight 
 struggle and call for help, was borne to the side 
 of her sister in trouble. 
 
 During this enactment, the coachman, whose 
 valour was passionately appealed to by the ladies, 
 declared himself utterly powerless, being under 
 the muzzle of a gun then levelled at his breast 
 from a tree in the wood. He was now signalled 
 to be gone on peril of his life, upon which he 
 tightened up his reins, drew his horses round, 
 and proceeded back for a short space, when, being 
 shaded by trees, he again came to a stand.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 250^ 
 
 Immediately upon the removal of the ladies 
 from their seats, the first robber (in height, Mr. 
 Andrew Corby), disappeared, while the second 
 whispered a few words into the ear of Miss 
 Stork, which that lady interpreted to her com- 
 panion, signifying that if they were passive and 
 compliant they would fare the better, and that no- 
 thing should happen to their lives or honour. 
 
 These assurances appeared to have a favour- 
 able effect upon the elder spinster. 
 
 The two captives were then conducted for a 
 short way into the wood, when presently they 
 observed the advance of the absent brigand with 
 a saddled horse in each hand. 
 
 Miss Stork was now placed on the taller animal, 
 against which act of gallantry she most emphati- 
 cally protested, since, as she declared, she could 
 not ride without a side-saddle, unless held on. 
 
 Agnes Keith, seeing no alternative, innocently 
 followed the other's example. 
 
 Thus mounted, a man to each horse, the ladies 
 were led onwards, through a narrow pass, beset 
 with brambles and other brushwood.
 
 260 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 After progressing for a short distance in this 
 manner, Miss Stork, then in front, appeared to 
 accidentally overbalance herself, but fortunately 
 alighted on her feet ; Upon which, Agnes, in the 
 custody of the smaller robber, passed on, and 
 slowly and reluctantly continued her route, she 
 being in expectation that her companion, on re- 
 mounting, wouldsoon overtake her. 
 
 In this hope she was grievously disappointed, 
 for, upon looking behind her, the first object that 
 appeared was the figure of the tall and masked 
 robber occupying her place in the saddle, and 
 rapidly advancing towards her. 
 
 Whereupon, seized with an additional alarm, 
 and, in spite of resistance, she left her seat, and 
 reached the ground with her feet. 
 
 The horseman, now forward, instantly dis- 
 mounted, and sprang to the aid of his confederate. 
 
 A violent struggle again ensued, and a cry of 
 "help ! help !" resounded through the forest. 
 
 The crisis of the day was now at hand. 
 
 The thrilling cry of the lady's voice was 
 speedily responded.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 261 
 
 Unseen but watchful eyes had that day over- 
 looked every stage of the maiden's troubles, and 
 the time for action had arrived. 
 
 Tlie irresistible call for help could no longer 
 be forborne; and before the shrill sounds had 
 ceased to vibrate in the air, che noise of crackling 
 twigs under rapid footsteps was heard among the 
 trees. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the sounds to the 
 lady's ear, when, bursting through the inter- 
 woven boughs, an athletic youth, alike masked, 
 and armed with a strong staff, stood before the 
 brigands. 
 
 Speedily another man, of stouter and stifFer 
 frame, was by his side. 
 
 Like his companion, he wore a mask, and in 
 one hand carried a stout pole of about six feet in 
 length, biforked or parted into two horns, widely 
 deflected at the extreme end, while in the other 
 hand he bore a heavy riding -whip, probably not 
 altogether unfamiliar to the eye of one of the 
 former party.
 
 262 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Conceiving all the four to belong to the same 
 band, the affrighted lady now screamed the more. 
 
 " Rescue, rescue/' shouted Lorance, disguising 
 his voice, as he sprung forward. 
 
 By the next second the taller of the robbers 
 had his staff raised to strike. 
 
 But the blow was parried, and ere he had time 
 to make a second effort, his antagonist had closed 
 with him, and wrenched the weapon from his 
 hand. 
 
 His captain having thus boldly opened charge 
 upon one of the enemy, the invincible Saunders 
 lost not a moment in rushing upon the other ; 
 and so sudden was the onset, and so dexterously 
 was it directed, that before his antagonist had time 
 to decide whether to give battle, or beat a retreat, 
 he got locked in between the prongs of the pole 
 and the trunk of an adjoining tree, against which 
 he was so tightly pressed that his body became 
 utterly powerless. 
 
 Following up his advantage thus so cleverly 
 gained, and holding him beyond arm's length,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 263 
 
 the sturdy assailant next applied his heavy whip 
 with such hearty good-will to his posterior — 
 Mr. Corby having turned round to fly when 
 too late,— that he roared, writhed, and kicked, 
 from sheer agony. 
 
 Thinking his punishment now sufficient, the 
 operator slackened the pressure of his weapon, 
 upon which the other slipped from his limbo, and 
 disappeared in the wood — a wholesome example, 
 which his leader immediately followed. 
 
 An uncontrollable burst of laughter now 
 issued from the masks of the two victors, which 
 was quickly answered by another equally signifi- 
 cant from a lusty voice among the neighbouring 
 trees. 
 
 Her rescue being complete Agnes Keith, sup- 
 ported by her preserver, was now slowly con- 
 ducted back through the wood to the spot where 
 she had entered it, while the valiant Saunders, 
 sadly out of wind by the brush at battle, followed 
 in the rear — the routed enemy showing no dis- 
 position to renew the struggle.
 
 264 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Scarcely a word during this brief and panto- 
 mimic scene had been uttered by either of the 
 actors ; none by the baronet, or by Saunders ; 
 ^nd only a few syllables from Lorance, with some 
 disguised ejaculations from Corby. 
 
 Each party, therefore, seemed to have been 
 influenced by the same desire for mystery. 
 
 Meanwhile, the owner of the van, who had held 
 himself in reserve in case of need, and who had 
 been a vigilant eye-witness throughout, seeing 
 how victory had declared itself, made a hurried 
 detour in the forest, to intercept the carriage, and 
 delay its departure. 
 
 For accomplishing this, sufficient time had been 
 afforded before Miss Stork was enabled to thread 
 her way back and resume her seat. 
 
 The lady had heard nothing of the conflict, 
 which was almost momentary, and had, no 
 doubt, considered the plot to have been a perfect 
 success. 
 
 The carriage was allowed to move onward for a 
 few paces, when the interceptor suddenly emerged
 
 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 265 
 
 from the leafy shade, and took up a position 
 directly in the centre of the road, a little in 
 advance of the horses. 
 
 The vehicle stopped. 
 
 " Coachman," said he, raising his hat, as if 
 out of respect for the lady inside, whom he could 
 not then see, " hae ye got a spare sate, for a body 
 in need o' a lift for a few miles ?" 
 
 Miss Stork stretched out her long neck, 
 and demanded to know why the horses were 
 stopped, while the coachman addressed himself 
 to the other. 
 
 ** Go about your business/' he said, '^ you im- 
 pudent scoundrel. How dare you come in before 
 my horses, and insult the lady by such a request ? 
 Be off with yourself instantly, or I'll lay the whip 
 about your ears ;" upon which he flourished the 
 thong in the air. 
 
 ^* Be cannie, Mr. Coachy," returned the other, 
 retaining his hands in his pockets ; " I've only 
 put the question t'ye ceevily; and if ye dinna 
 answer it ceevily I canna help it ; but I maun 
 
 VOL. I, N
 
 266 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 hae a sate, for there are robbers in these wuds ; 
 and a single body's no vera safe near them." 
 
 " Eobbers ! cowardly fellow !" retorted the 
 man in livery, " there's nothing of the sort. Ye 
 ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir ! a great 
 strong-looking loon like you, to be afraid of your 
 own shadow ! Be off, I say, or I'll come down 
 and flog you out of my way." 
 
 " Cannie, cannie, I say, Mr. Coachy," answered 
 the other, good-humouredly. " I may tell ye, I'm 
 no commonly thought a coward bee them who ken 
 me ; and as to your bit craw up there, I dinna 
 mind it ony mair than the flaffer o' a bantlen- 
 cock on the midden ; and let me advise ye t' stay 
 where ye are, and keep ye're whip doon. I've 
 seen a heavier yin than that the day, and gaye 
 freely used too without breaking ony bones, 
 which ye may yet learn of afore lang. What 
 I've axed for, I maun have, at ony rate. Sae I'll 
 just take the liberty to make sure o't." 
 
 Whereupon he drew a chain from his coat- 
 pocket, proceeded to the rear of the carriage.
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 287 
 
 passed it tlirougli the spokes of the two hinder 
 wheels, locked it with a padlock, then walked off 
 in the direction of the rendezvous, saying, as he 
 left, that he would not detain the lady ten 
 minutes. 
 
 At this cool and strange proceeding Miss Stork 
 and the servant were utterly confounded ; but 
 their amazement was vastly increased when, 
 within less than ten minutes, their uncere- 
 monious visitor was seen returning, with Agnes 
 Keith walking slowly by his side. 
 
 " Ye may save yersel' the trouble o' gettin' 
 doon, Mr. Coachy,'* he said, on reaching the 
 carriage, " I'll be flunky for yince mysel', an' 
 open the door for the young leddie ; for ye ken 
 I bespoke the sate. And now, leddies, I must 
 wish ye a pleasant journey ; for I maun hasten 
 back to bury the dead, and see to the wounded." 
 
 So saying, and closing the door after the young 
 lady, he raised his hat politely, released the 
 wheels, and the chaise moved on. 
 
 But little conversation passed between the two 
 
 N 2
 
 268 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 ladies during their dull and wearisome journey 
 homeward. 
 
 Miss Stork appeared seriously concerned, and 
 was peculiarly taciturn, while her companion looked 
 faint and exhausted, from her violent struggle 
 and alarm. 
 
 The former had received an additional thrill 
 to her anxiety, from the closing sentence of the 
 stranger. 
 
 On his return to the wood, the stalwart owner 
 of the van indulged his curiosity with a passing 
 glan ce at the battle-field ; but ' the vanquished 
 enemy had picked up their horses, and were 
 fled. 
 
 He soon rejoined his own company. 
 
 Lorance expressed his surprise at their easy 
 victory, and congratulated his companions upon 
 the admirable manner in which each had per- 
 formed his respective part. As to his valorous 
 squire, he said, from his impetuous rush upon 
 his antagonist, and the very ingenious mode in 
 which he had given him battle, and finally dis-
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED 269 
 
 posed of him, he had justly earned for himself 
 the highest honours of the campaign. 
 
 The party then betook themselves to their 
 horses, which they had secreted in an adjoining 
 part of the forest, where they remounted and 
 proceeded leisurely across a wild tract of country, 
 in the direction of the Crypt.
 
 270 NOKTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 AFTER THE BATTLE. — HOW THE CAMPxVIGN ENDED, 
 
 Had Mrs. Keith met her daughter on her return 
 to the Kymes in the form of a disembodied 
 spirit, or an "armed rhinoceros," she would 
 probably have received no greater a shock to hei 
 nervous sensibilities than fell to her lot when her 
 eyes first alighted upon that pale and trembling 
 figure in material substance, as she now sought 
 her chamber in her joyless home. When a mid- 
 night burglar has made good his entry into the 
 devoted house, has loaded himself with the 
 owner's plate, and, deeming all secure, is 
 hastening off on tiptoe to transfer the booty to
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 271 
 
 his comrade at the door, but, instead of meeting 
 his fellow felon, is sudden'y confronted by a 
 police constable, the ruflSan's astonishment may 
 be readily conceived. Aptly similar was now the 
 state of this lady, when, upon hearing the sound 
 of the returned carriage below, she, from a spirit 
 of impatience, had left her *' sick-chamber" to 
 congratulate Miss Stork on the landing of the 
 stairs on the success of their device. 
 
 From the unexpected figure, she shrank back 
 with a low shriek, darted within her room, and 
 shot the lock. 
 
 The latter act, however, she might have spared 
 herself. 
 
 Agnes, conscious of her mother's guilt, had no 
 desire to seek her company. 
 
 The sight of the carriage at the door speedily 
 brought little Grizzel up-stairs. She was half 
 breathless from haste and joy, for she had 
 been to the Crypt. But a simple glance at 
 her sister sent the smile and rosy hue from her 
 cheek. She was appalled at her downcast and
 
 272 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 overwhelmed appearance, and at once burst into a 
 flood of tears. 
 
 The sad story of the day was by fits recounted 
 to her, when all the comfort that artless tender- 
 ness and childish love could impart, was freely 
 poured forth from her young heart. 
 
 ^^ Oh ! Aggie, Aggie ! could our dear father 
 only see us at this hour — see us as we are now, 
 watched, and persecuted in our own home. But,. 
 Aggie dear, we have no home now !" so uttered 
 and sobbed this distracted child. 
 
 But the other had no response to make — only 
 prayers in whisper for her past deliverance. 
 
 Having seen our ladies '' safe," though not 
 altogether " sound" home, we must now fall 
 back and gather up the stragglers of the cam- 
 paign. 
 
 " Hang me, if that murderous old villain has 
 left me a morsel of skin to ride on," said Mr. 
 Corby to the baronet, as he seated himself in his 
 saddle, after the two gentlemen had recovered 
 their stray horses in the forest. " In all my born
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 273 
 
 days," he continued, " I never found myself in 
 such a cursed fix ; for before I had a moruent's 
 warning to either knock the fat monster down or 
 evade the thrust, I found my body locked in be- 
 tween the two iron prongs of his infernal weapon, 
 which I assure you went two inches into the tree 
 by the force, and so tightly was I pinned against 
 it that I am sure my digestion is done for." 
 
 '^ Wooden prongs, you mean," replied the other, 
 indifferently. 
 
 '* Wooden ones be it then, but they did for me, 
 anyhow," said Corby. 
 
 " But outwardly your wounds are all behind, 
 and I trust not altogether mortal," observed the 
 baronet, with a faint smile. 
 
 " At all events I think I shall tell wounds in 
 front with my gallant Captain," retorted Corby, 
 with a laugh. " But let us say no more about 
 the blasted business, but rather consider what face 
 we are to put upon it, and upon ourselves when 
 we get home." 
 
 '^ Except that my non-appearance would alarm 
 
 N 5
 
 274 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 Mrs. Keith, I should not return, but stay for the 
 night at the ' Royal Stag.' " 
 " " Home ! home ! I say we must, before the 
 tide rises too strong against us," said Corby, re- 
 suming his spirits. '^ One secret I will impart 
 to you, my good knight, which is — that although 
 I may not be the foremost against cuts and blows, 
 I am the last to surrender, or to know when 
 defeated. Leave the management to me, and 
 I will carry you through the rest of the day 
 triumphantly." 
 
 '^How so?" 
 
 '^ Swear black is white; and that we have not 
 this day set foot in the forest. Practice an old 
 dodge among anglers — purchase a creel full offish 
 by the road. I know where we can get a supply 
 at any hour. Display our spotted witnesses on 
 the board ; appear blithe and jolly, and we re- 
 trieve our lost honours." 
 
 " But what of Agnes ?" inquired the other. 
 " Don't you think she recognized you when you 
 dropped the mask ?"
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 275 
 
 " Bah ! have not 1 two witnesses to one ? — 
 yourself and Miss Stork. Why, man," added 
 Corby, with one of his comical grins, " if it came 
 to that in a public court, I should have but little 
 difficulty in turning the tables, and proving that 
 the other were the guilty party, seeing that they 
 were in masks ; as for what good purpose were 
 they there in such disguise^ I would ask ? — and 
 that we, learning of their design— and Langton's 
 partiality for Agnes is well known — hastened to 
 the spot for her preservation, arrayed ourselves in 
 a similar disguise to avoid their suspicion, defeated 
 them in a hand to hand struggle, restored the 
 captive to Miss Stork and the coachman, who 
 would stand by us, then we betook ourselves to 
 an angling expedition, and the fish would be our 
 vouchers there. Half-a-crown would silence the 
 poaching scoundrel with the net who supplied the 
 trout. There would probably be some heavy 
 cross- swearing, but what of that? One oath is 
 as good in law as another." 
 
 '' But how dispose of the big fellow's evidence, 
 who conveyed Agnes back to the carriage ?"
 
 276 NOLTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 '' The easiest thing in the world. Vow right 
 off that he was a perjured man, a smuggler — 
 which I could prove — declare him to be an out- 
 law, a wandering vagabond, without a habitation 
 or local standing anywhere, and inadmissible 
 within the walls of any Christian court of law— 
 he belonging to no church that I know of." 
 
 " In that case it were well that you had not 
 some of our sharp English criminal lawyers for 
 the defence, Corby," replied the baronet. ^' But 
 let us proceed a little faster." 
 
 Taking some cottages on their route home- 
 wards, Corby alighted and procured the fish 
 spoken of. 
 
 They arrived too late at the Kymes for the 
 ordinary dinner hour, and dined by themselves.. 
 On the following morning trouts were served up 
 to breakfast, but Agnes and her sister declined to 
 leave their room. Some of the fish were sent 
 up-stairs, but came back untasted. 
 
 When Lorance Langton and his follower & 
 arrived at the Crypt, he desired that the owner of 
 the van should be sumptously entertained with
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 277 
 
 the butler in the servants' hall, and, when his own 
 dinner was over, that the two should proceed to 
 his private sitting room, in which wine and spirits 
 were to be set out, and where they should 
 meet together to talk over the events of the 
 day. 
 
 In reviewing these' proceedings, Lorance first 
 expressed his delight with the admirable manner in 
 which the capture of the carrier dove by the gallant 
 falcon had been effected ; and signified his regret 
 that the faithful Richard Kay was not then pre- 
 sent to receive his heartfelt thanks for the part 
 he had taken in the exploit. He was also much 
 gratified, he said, on learning that the innocent 
 pigeon had sustained no serious injury, but, after 
 being eased of its burdensome note, was allowed to 
 resume its journey homewards. As for the wife 
 of the worthy groom, who, whether by chance or 
 otherwise, had gone to the quarry to pick up sand, 
 and had over-heard the framing of the whole plot, 
 he thought she deserved the erection of a statue 
 to her memory ; for without her timely revela-
 
 2 78 NOETH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 tion, the misery of Miss Keith had that day been 
 completed. 
 
 Lorance next entered into a slight explanation 
 in reference to his own personal interest in the 
 matter in which they had been engaged. His 
 desire, he assured them, was not, as what may pro- 
 bably have been inferred, to endeavour to obtain 
 for himself the hand of Miss Keith, or seek to 
 involve the young lady or himself prematurely 
 in the trammels and cares of matrimony. Wis- 
 dom and prudence must preclude such ridiculous 
 thoughts from the minds of both at their ages* 
 Yet, from the several years in which they had 
 lived and grown up together, with sisterly and 
 brotherly affection for each other, he felt all the 
 interest in her happiness and welfare that a 
 brother could feel, whatever more he might in- 
 wardly experience. And now, when her natural 
 protector, her noble and generous father, who had 
 acted the part of an affectionate parent to himself, 
 was prostrated by affliction, and far from her 
 help at such a time of need, he felt the more
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 279 
 
 imperatively called upon to exert himself on her 
 behalf. He would abstain, he said, from com- 
 menting upon the behaviour of her unnatural 
 mother. But he must denounce the cowardly, 
 unmanly, and heartless conduct of that man who 
 seeks to perpetuate another's misery that he may 
 luxuriate upon her spoil. He could desire no 
 nobler post of duty, did his time permit, which it 
 would not now do, than to watch, even from a 
 distance, over the lot and interests of those two 
 cruelly-treated children, and to defeat in every 
 conceivable form the designs of their persectors. 
 However, he now trusted that the humiliating- 
 lesson which had that day been so frankly admin- 
 istered to the desperate suitor and his confederate 
 poltroon, would be sufficient to deter them from 
 trying their game over again at amateur brigand- 
 age, and would compel them to retire for the 
 present to some other locality, where they might 
 escape the odium and public scandal which their 
 conduct must ere now have raised up around 
 them. This he most sincerely trusted, and that
 
 280 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the two tender and helpless sisters, without a 
 friend near them but the faithful old Kay, will 
 now be released from the harsh and unnatural 
 restraints which of late they have been so cruelly 
 subjected to. 
 
 '^ But, Maister Lorry, as our captain," said the 
 travelling merchant, ^' ye're surely no going to 
 take leave of your troops, after winnin' the battle, 
 afore the enemy's fort is called on for an uncon- 
 ditional surrender." 
 
 ^' What terms would you demaad ?" enquired 
 Lorance, with a smile. 
 
 '^ I would require a written guarantee from the 
 governess that the two young leddies, her daugh- 
 ters, heretofore kept in captivity, shall be restored 
 to their natural liberty, and that her gallant 
 captain, with Corporal Corby, shall be sent forth 
 on parole to a distance of not less than fifty miles 
 from the Kymes, for the space of six calendar 
 months, otherwise until Colonel Keith's return to 
 his home. These I would demand on behoof of 
 the young leddies, on behoof of the respectability
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 281 
 
 of the neiglibourhood, and on behoof of what is 
 now due to the name of the Colonel." 
 
 *' But how would you obtain a pledge to such 
 absolute conditions ?" 
 
 " There may be some difficulty, but I think 
 while the wounds are fresh, and Mr. Corby no 
 ower easy in his chair, it might be accomplished 
 nevertheless." 
 
 " Why, you surely would not carry military 
 persuasion into the lady's boudoir?" 
 
 " No, Maister Lorry; but under favour of your 
 victorious arms, I would employ diplomatic per- 
 suasion, which would be fairer play, for with the 
 tongue a woman always meets a man on equal 
 terms, if no something mair, and I would recom- 
 mend a trial, anyhow." 
 
 " Really, my good merchant, you amuse me," 
 returned Lorance, with a laugh. ^' But by what 
 means, or by whom, would you propose the trial 
 to be made ? Shall I bid my trusty squire here 
 — Saunders — to arm himself with his horned 
 weapon and terrible whip, pack his awful pistols
 
 282 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 into their holsterSj mount his old pony, and ride 
 thus forth upon the Kymes ? Or must I promote 
 you to the first post of aide-de-camp, and des- 
 patch you thither to hold parley with the good 
 lady herself?" 
 
 " Whatever is your will, sir, lei it be done, but 
 I'm in favour o' a bit trial, anyhow, with the 
 leddie, an' no very muckle afraid of the upshot 
 o't, though I undertake the business mysil," re- 
 plied the ambitious diplomatist, with a rub of his 
 palms and a laugh. 
 
 " Are you really serious in this matter ?" in- 
 quired Lorance. 
 
 *^ I am, Maister Lorry, and what is more — for 
 I know the world a little — I will take the whole 
 upon myself," he further added, changing, as was 
 usual with him when it suited his humour or his 
 purpose^ from broad Scotch to tolerable English. 
 
 This conversation then resulted in the latter 
 undertaking to proceed next day upon this 
 strange mission, very much to the amusement of 
 his ^^ captain." Accordingly, about eleven o'clock
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 283 
 
 on the following morning, the brawny figure of 
 the owner of the van presented itself in front of 
 the windows at the Kymes. There were sundry 
 eyes upon it, but Mr. Andrew Corby's were not 
 amongst the number. 
 
 " Henderson," said Mrs. Keith to the footman, 
 then in the room, " go and see what that fellow 
 wants." 
 
 *' He wants to speak with you, madam," said 
 the servant, when he had returned from the 
 inquiry. 
 
 " Tell him I am not well, and that I don't 
 want anything at this time in his way." 
 
 The footman obeyed, but returned with a reply 
 that the man was particularly anxious to see his 
 mistress, and if not convenient for her to give 
 him an audience he wished to have a few words 
 with Sir Francis Heronshaw, as he had something 
 confidential to communicate in which both parties 
 were interested. This message was delivered in 
 the presence of the baronet, and the two imme-
 
 284 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 diately retired to an ante- room, and desired the^ 
 person to be admitted. 
 
 In the visitor Sir Francis at once recognised the 
 individual he had formerly seen descend from the 
 tree — elsewhere noticed in our narrative. Indeed, 
 once seen, he was not liable to be mistaken. He 
 stood over six feet, possessed a round, intelligent 
 face, abounding with blunt humour and self- 
 possession, yet not divested of diffidence. On 
 his head, which was now uncovered, he wore a 
 broad brimmed felt hat ; his hair was dark, luxu- 
 riant, and thickly curled. On his square shoulders 
 he had a velveteen coat, after the fashion of game- 
 keepers ; wore corduroy breeches, neatly but- 
 toned at the knees ; grey home -spun hose, which 
 displayed his vast calves ; and on his feet he had 
 a pair of short boots, tightly laced over the 
 ancles. 
 
 '' Well, sir, what is it that you have to com- 
 municate of such great importance to us ?" in- 
 quired Mrs. Keith, with a slight abruptness in
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 285 
 
 her mauner, adding, " Something in the eaves- 
 dropping way, I presume ?" 
 
 '' No' exactly that, my leddie/' replied the mer- 
 •chant, deferentially. " I've no had ony trystes 
 of late wi' my hard and frickle customers to 
 bring me near their open windows ; but ye're no 
 vera far from the mark, for a' that, for I heard 
 what I am going to tell in a private way." 
 
 '^ And what is that, sir, pray ?" asked the lady. 
 
 '' It's anent the business that took place at the 
 Ling Forest yesterda3%" 
 
 Sir Francis startled. 
 
 " What took place there, sir, that can interest 
 us?" she inquired, casting her eyes upon the 
 baronet. 
 
 '' An ugly business, madam," he replied. '^An 
 outrage of the laws of the land, which the up- 
 holders of the laws and of public rights are tak- 
 ing steps to discover the perpetrators of, and visit 
 them with proper punishment." 
 
 A galvanic shock could not have had a more 
 instantaneous effect upon the two listeners than
 
 286 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 had these few words. Up to to this moment the 
 lady had endeavoured to maintain an air of 
 supreme indifference in the matter, but now the 
 inward twang was too strong to be withstood. 
 She at once changed colour, and looked as if 
 about to sink upon the floor. Eor was the 
 baronet in a condition to yield her much support. 
 For a time neither could utter a syllable. 
 
 " I'm sorry to be the bearer of anything to 
 distress ye, my leddie, or this good gentleman," 
 he resumed, after a pause, sympathisingly, taking 
 care at the same time to convince the latter that 
 he saw its effects ui3on him, "but, as I have a 
 great respect for your family, madam, and as I 
 should not like to see you put into the wit- 
 ness box in a public court, or any of your friends 
 transported to Botany Bay, or have all our names 
 in the newspapers — ^for, ye see, I'm a witness — 
 to be read by everybody, I took the liberty to call 
 and make you acquainted in time with it, and to 
 offer you any service in my humble power to 
 meet it."
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 287 
 
 The affectation of ignorance in tlie matter was 
 now at an end, and after a few further words the 
 unwelcome visitor was taken into the full confi- 
 dence of the lady, and finally implored to exert 
 himself on her behalf, to avert, if possible, the 
 impending calamity. 
 
 The merchant said he had but little in his 
 power, but that little he was most willing to 
 use freely 
 
 " I'll give fifty pounds," said the baronet, ^^to 
 have the matter hushed up." 
 
 '^ I'll take the money," replied the other, with 
 an easy promptness stretching out his arm. 
 
 Sir Francis put his hands instinctively into his 
 pockets, but they were as empty as his palms. 
 
 Mrs. Keith, observing his perplexity, flew to 
 his relief, and at once offered to be his banker on 
 the occasion, but not having the money at hand, 
 she desired him to accept a cheque for the sum. 
 
 Upon receiving it, the merchant drew from his 
 pocket a sheaf of small banknotes, from which 
 he counted back forty to the lady.
 
 288 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 " This," said he, " will do for the principle 
 witness, who is a poor old woman " — intending 
 it for a present to Mrs. Kay, the wife of the 
 groom, who had been so valuable an instru- 
 ment in the discovery of the plot. 
 
 " For myself," he added, ^Hhe proffer of a bribe 
 of fifty pence in a cause of justice would make of 
 me an enemy to a brother. What I should like 
 now, since no great injury has been done, is to 
 prevent the ugly business from getting into the 
 courts or the newspapers, and I think there is 
 just one effectual way of accomplishing this." 
 
 '' What way is that ?" eagerly inquired Mrs. 
 Keith, ready, apparently, to catch at any floating 
 straw to save her from sinking in her troubles. 
 
 ^* That is, madam, to get the chief parties out 
 of the way as quickly as possible. I have seen 
 Mr. Langton, who, as Sir Francis knows, must 
 be a powerful witness against him ; and he says, 
 to save his aunt's feelings, he will leave imme- 
 diately for London or the Indies, provided the 
 other parties escape the constables in time — (who
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 289 
 
 would like no better than come plump upon them) 
 — and get out of their reach, over to the English 
 side or the like, where the law is different; so 
 that he might not be put to the trouble of being 
 re-called to give his evidence, in the event of a 
 prosecution. Of course, after the thing had 
 been allowed to blow over for a few quiet months, 
 your friends, madam, might perhaps visit you 
 again with safety." 
 
 Sir Francis, as also the lady, began to breathe 
 with more freedom, while the crafty counseller, 
 thus adopting a course of intimidation for the 
 attainment of his purpose, now clearly saw that 
 he had the terms of his own making, and taking 
 advantage of a pause which the others did not 
 avail themselves of, he resumed, 
 
 " You see, my leddie, if the chief actors in the 
 business, together with the principle witnesses, 
 were fairly out of the way, we could afford to 
 laugh at the constables, and the newspapers, too, 
 by telling them that the affair was got up by a 
 friendly party, and only for the diversion of a few 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 290 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 young folks. And to give effect to the same, I 
 would suggest that the young ladies be seen visit- 
 ing at the Crypt, as formerly ; but, understand 
 me, madam, I do not suggest this until after Mr. 
 Langton has left. You may have your own reasons, 
 which is no business of mine to know, for object- 
 ing to your daughters' visits without a parent to 
 accompany them, where there is a roving young 
 gentleman for an inmate." 
 
 '' You speak very sensibly and kindly on that 
 point, too, my friend," said Mrs. Keith, approv- 
 ingly, " and if that were to serve the cause, I 
 should willingly allow my daughters to visit the 
 Crypt every day of the week, when the young 
 man has gone." 
 
 *^That part of the business, madam," he 
 answered, ^' could be easily settled by yourself, 
 if the other parties were only safely out of the 
 way." 
 
 One point gained, thought the merchant. 
 
 " Mr. Corby and I could leave to-night, Mrs. 
 Keith, or to-morrow, at any rate," interposed the
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 291 
 
 baronet, addressing the lady. " Indeed, I should 
 prefer to-night ; for I am certain there will now 
 be little sleep with either you, madam, or myself, 
 un^il I have put a hundred or two of Scotch 
 miles between my head and that ill-starred 
 forest." 
 
 Now a burst of laughter nearly broke out from 
 the owner of the van. 
 
 " When does Mr. Langton propose leaving ?" 
 asked the lady. 
 
 " Oh, I did not put that question to him,'* 
 answered the visitor. " But unless he left im- 
 mediately" — (he knew that Lorance had been 
 called by his mother to set out for London in two 
 days) — " I think he need not leave at all, nor the 
 other gentleman. But I would recommend him 
 to start within forty-eight hours at latest ; and I 
 know he will be advised a little by me in the 
 matter, for he knows that I am acting a friendly 
 part to him, as well as to your family, madam. 
 I could call and tell you that to-morrow; but,
 
 292 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 you see, he will not know what to do, until I 
 can tell him when the gentlemen here will be 
 safely beyond the reach of the Sheriff and his 
 beagles." 
 
 " Tell him then that that will be to-morrow," 
 said Sir Francis. 
 
 " But as I'm kenned for playing bits o* tricks 
 on my neighbours betimes," said the canny 
 merchant, with a smile, " and lest he might 
 think this yin o' them, and no take my plain 
 word for it, I would like a bit line to convince 
 him o' the truth of your intentions." 
 
 " I'll give you that at once," said the baronet. 
 
 " But I think it would came better from the 
 leddie herself," proposed the other. 
 
 " You are right," said Mrs. Keith, spiritedly ; 
 "but what must I say, and to whom shall I 
 write ? for I can have no personal correspondence 
 with any of the family." 
 
 " I would suggest, madam, that ye address the 
 few lines to me Say, in this easy fashion :•—
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED, 293 
 
 " Sir,— 
 
 ^' You may inform our neighbours at the 
 Crypt that, as Sir Francis Heronshaw and Mr. Corby 
 will leave the Kymes on or before to-morrow, at 
 noon, upon urgent business ; and as I understand 
 that Mr. Langton's departure is fixed upon for an 
 early day, 1 would wish it to be made known 
 there, that so soon as these events have taken 
 place, my daughters will be happy to visit Miss 
 Murray as formerly." 
 
 " Now, ray leddie," remarked the dictator of 
 the note, " ye see, this is a cannie mode of convey- 
 ing the sense, without giving it the appearance of 
 formal intimation, and without committing your- 
 self to direct correspondence with anyone at the 
 Crypt ; and it will enable me to laugh at my 
 neighbours, instead of them turning the laugh 
 upon me, or doubting my word." 
 
 The note was speedily written and signed; and 
 when handed to the ambassador, so admirably 
 had he performed his part, and such was the im- 
 
 o 3
 
 294 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 pression lie made upon the lady's mind, that she 
 pressed him to partake of some refreshment, 
 (which he gratefully declined), and entreated him 
 to spare no trouble or expense on her own and 
 family's behalf to avert the impending calamity, 
 and further, desired him to again call, in the 
 course of two or three days, to inform her of his 
 success. 
 
 As will readily be credited, the production at 
 the Crypt of the ten pounds for the worthy old 
 woman, accompanied by the written voucher for 
 the terms of the treaty, well nigh put Lorance 
 and his doughty squire beside themselves. 
 
 Incredulity, amazement, and bursts of laughter 
 followed in succession. 
 
 Even Miss Murray herself, when made 
 acquainted with the circumstance, laughed more — 
 by her own averment — than she had done for forty 
 years, the mirth of all that long period taken into 
 account. 
 
 The lady was delighted with the prospect of 
 again receiving the frequent and familiar visits 
 of her young friends — all the more desirable now,
 
 NORTH OF THE TWEED. ,295 
 
 since sLe was on the eve of losing the company 
 of her nephew. 
 
 In strict conformity with the terms of the 
 treaty, Lorance Langton, taking an affectionate 
 leave of his doting aunt, and her faithful devoted 
 servant, departed for London. 
 
 Owing to the stirring events just related, his 
 visit had been prolonged at the Crypt considerably 
 over the time first contemplated, and his mother 
 had become anxious for his return. 
 
 Within two or three days following Miss 
 Murray had the happiness to receive a morning 
 call from the young ladies of the Kymes. 
 
 Also, within the time specified in the protocol, 
 Sir Francis Heronshaw and Mr. Corby evacuated 
 the stronghold on the banks of the Iris. 
 
 The latter had betaken himself to Glasgow, 
 cut off his stunted whiskers, and assiduously 
 applied himself to the cultivation of a moustache 
 — this, as was thought, to ensure the more effect- 
 ually his disguise. 
 
 The gallant baronet made good his journey to
 
 296 NORTH OF THE TWEED. 
 
 the English Border, though, it is to be observed, 
 not quite in the style of Jock o' Hazeldean, as at 
 one time meditated. 
 
 Their elusion of the sheriff's officers was there- 
 fore a perfect success ; and wherefore could it 
 otherwise have been, since the treacherous owner 
 of the van had winked at their escape ? 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 T. C. Nbwby, 30, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Scjuare, London.
 
 EVENING DRESSES 
 
 BLACK NET AND TULLE. 
 
 Messrs. JAY have from Paris a variety of BLACK 
 EVENING DRESSES, which they can confidently^ 
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 JAY'S, 
 
 CJe Uontron (General iHournmg ^ISEare^ouse, 
 
 247, 249, and 251, Regent Street. 
 
 BLACK SILKS. 
 
 Purchasers will find at all times the greatest possible 
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 JAY S, 
 
 ^f)e Uontion (General ifHourning ^IHareSouse, 
 
 247, 249, and 251, Regent Street. 
 
 FAMILIES 
 
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 Cf)e Eontion (General JHourning ^IHateJouse 
 
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 JAY'S.
 
 OETZMANN & Compy., 
 
 PIAIVOFOJITE M/IIVUFACTUIIERS, 
 
 27, BAKER STREET, 
 
 PORTMAN SQUARE. 
 
 Oetzmann & Go's. 25 Guinea Koyal Gottage Pianoforte, 7 octaves, 
 metallic plate, registered keys, and all the latest improvements, 
 warranted The manufacturers, Oetzmann & Co., 27, Baker Street, 
 offer greater advantages to purchasers of Pianofortes for Cash, 
 than any other house in London. 
 
 N.B. — Packed free for any part, on receipt of remittance. 
 
 OETZMANN & Co^s., 
 PIANOFORTES FOR HIRE. 
 
 Pianofortes for Hire, 14s per month, 7 octaves. No hire charged 
 if purchased in six months. The most economical and judicious 
 mode of obtaining a really good pianoforte is to hire one (with the 
 option of purchasing it if approved) of the manufacturers, 
 OETZMANN and Co., 27, Baker Street, Portman Square, W., 
 opposite Madame Tussaud's. No other address. 
 
 NEW MUSIC HALF PRICE. 
 
 ALL full price music sent at Half Price and post free to any part 
 of the United Kingdom. 
 
 MUSICAL CIRCULATING LIBRARY, One Guinea, or Two 
 Guineas per annum. 
 
 OETZMANN & COMPY, 
 
 27, Baker Street, 
 
 Portman Square, 
 
 London, "W
 
 New and Revised Edition. Price 12g. 
 
 THE VOICE AND S I :^ G 1 N G , 
 
 (The Formation and Cultivation of the "Voice for Singing), 
 By ADOLFO FEERAEI. 
 
 "The great and deserved success of this work has brought it, in no longtime 
 to a second edition, carefully revised, and enriched with a number of additional 
 exercises, which greatly increase its value. 
 
 " Since its first publication this book has met with general acceptance, and is new 
 used as a vade mecum by many of the most eminent and intelligent vocal instruc- 
 tors both in the metropolis and the provinces. We say vocal instnictors, because 
 it is only to instructors that works of this class can be of material use. Singing 
 is not an art which can be learned by solitary study with the help of books, and 
 those who are self-taught (as it is called) are always badly taught. But a good 
 treatise, in which the principles and rules of the art. founded on reason and ex- 
 perience, are clearly expressed, is of infinite value, first to instiuctors, in assistmg 
 them to adopt a rational and etficient method of teaching, and next to pup;J8 
 Themselves, in constantly reminding them of, and enabling them to profit by, the 
 lebsons of their master. In both these ways Signer Ferraii's works have been 
 found pre-eminently useful. 
 
 " The foundation of singing is the formation of the voice. A bad voice cannot 
 be made a good one ; but the most mediocre voice may be made a source of 
 pleasure both to its possessor and to others. Accordingly, ample dissertations on 
 the formation of the voice abound in our treatise on singing. But it unfortunately 
 happens that these dissertations are more calculated to perplex than to enlighten 
 the reader. We could refer to well known works by professors of singing of great 
 and fashionable name, in which the rules for the formation uf the voice are pro- 
 pounded with such a parade ot science, and with descriptions of the vocal organs 
 80 minute, and so full of Greek anatomical terms, that no unlearned reader can 
 possibly understand them. Signor Ferrari (as he tells us) was brought up to the 
 medical profession before, following the bent of his inclination, he betook himself 
 to the study of music. But this cuxumstance, while it made him acquain:ed with 
 the physical construction of the human organs of soimd, has not led him into the 
 common error of displaying superfluous learning. We have not a word about the 
 
 * glottis,' or the ' trachaea," but we have a broad principle distinctly enunciated, 
 and intelligent to everybody. 
 
 " Signor Ferrari's principle is of the simplest kind. ' Everyone,' he says, * who 
 can Rijeak may sing . 'J he only difierence between speaking and singing is, that in 
 speaking we strike the sound impulsively and immediately leave it, whereas in 
 Binging we have to sustain the sound with the same form of articulation w.th 
 which we struck it impulsively.' It is on this pi-inciple that Signor Ferrari's 
 practical rules for the formation and cultivation of the voice are based. To give 
 the pupil a suflScient control of the breath for utterance of prolonged sounds — to 
 soften the harshness and increase the strength and equahty of the natural tones of 
 the voice, -nithout ever forcing it- these are the objects of the scales and exercises 
 on sustained sounds, which must be practised under the careful superintenderce 
 of the teacher, whose assistance Signor Ferrari always holds to be indispensable. 
 
 * * * —Illustrated N&ws. 
 
 KEBLE'S HYMNS. 
 
 Just Published. Price 3s. 
 
 The new Swiss tune " St. Gall," harmonised by Mr. G. B. Allen (as sung at All 
 Saints', Trinity, and other Churches,) set to Kebles Morning Hymn, with three 
 other hymns by the same author, set to music by the late Vincent Wallace and 
 Mr. W. Guernsey, are just pub'«ished, with a portrait of Mr. Keble, and a fac-similo 
 of his Autograph. 
 
 London : Duncan Davison & Co., 244, Regent Street, W.
 
 LITERARY ANNOUNCEMENT. 
 
 OMITTED STANZAS OF DON JUAN. 
 {Hitherto unpublished.) 
 The following verses, forming a part of the celehrated description of Donnalnez, 
 In the first canto of Byron"s Don Juen, which were in all the published editions 
 omitted, much against the will of the noble poet, are now presented to the world, and 
 fill a blank in one of the most sketchy episodes of the book. They continue th© 
 catalogue of the personal charms of Donna Inez. 
 
 The Hair !— her lovers swore that it was black — 
 
 Her enemies half-hinted it was grey ! 
 Until she sent to London for a pac- 
 
 quet of Macassar Oil, to steal away 
 Tbat venerable colour, and bring back 
 
 The glossy ringlets of her early day ; 
 When curling tresses, jetty, thick, and long. 
 
 Soon proved her foes were weak, and Rowland strong. 
 
 The Skin ! — why, old Alfonso would declare 
 
 That alabaster by its side might blush — 
 Shamed out of whiteness !— did there not a rare 
 
 And rich Castillian tide of pure blood rush 
 Beneath to tinge it ; but (which was not fair,) 
 
 To this the envious sneer'd ' pshaw,' and ' tush j' 
 And so she sent for Rowland's Kalydor, 
 
 Which proved her lily-whiteness more and more. 
 
 Her Teeth ! — some scorners said she had a grin, full 
 
 With ^thiop specks ; — but reader, by your leave. 
 If you'd have seen them, you'd have deem'd it sinful, 
 
 That she should ever laugh within her sleeve ; 
 You couldn't pick a dot out with a pin. — Full 
 
 Well this row of pearls you will believe 
 She owed to Eowland: — sceptic, if you wont, ! 
 
 For God's sake brush your own with his Odonto ! 
 
 In 1 Vol. 8vo. Price 12s. Cloth. 
 
 THE SPAS, 
 
 OF BELGIUM, GEEMANY, SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, 
 AND ITALY, 
 
 By THOMAS MORE MADDEN, M.D., M.R.I.A., 
 
 Author of " Change of Climate in Pursuit of Health," «*Tli» 
 Climate of Malaga," &c.
 
 r^^f ffi- ^