would rather be on his back than in the Dewke's coach, God bless him.» Bertram observed, that they could not go at that rapid rate to any very great distance without changing horses, and that they might insist upon remaining till day-light at the first inn they stopped at, or at least upon being made acquainted with the purpose and termination of their journey, and Mr Dinmont might there give directions about his faithful horse.-« Aweel, aweel, e'en sae be it for Dandie.-Odd, if we were ance out o' this trindling kist o' a thing, I am thinking they wad find it hard wark to gar us gang ony gate but where we liked oursells. >> While he thus spoke, the carriage making a sudden turn, showed them, through the left window, the village at some distance, but still widely beaconed by the fire, which, having reached a storehouse in which spirits were deposited, now rose high into the air, a wavering column of brilliant light. They had not long time to admire this spectacle, for another turn upon the road carried them into a close lane between plantations, through which the chaise proceeded in nearly total darkness, but with unabated speed. CHAPTER X. The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter, Tam o' Shanter. We must now return to Woodbourne, which it may be remembered we left just after the Colonel had given some directions to his confidential servant. When he returned, his absence of mind, and an unusual expression of thought and anxiety upon his features, struck the ladies whom he joined in the drawing-room. Mannering was not, however, a man to be questioned, even by those whom he most loved, upon the cause of the mental agitation which these signs expressed. The hour of tea arrived, and the party were partaking of that refreshment in silence, when a carriage drove up to the door, and the bell announced the arrival of a visitor. Surely," said Mannering, «it is too soon by some hours.” — " There was a short pause, when Barnes, opening the door of the saloon, announced Mr Pleydell. In marched the lawyer, whose well-bruned black coat, and well-powdered wig, together with his point ruffles, brown silk stockings, highly varnished shoes, and gold buckles, exhibited the pains which the old gentleman had taken to prepare his his person for the ladies' society. He was welcomed by Mannering with a hearty shake by « The very man I wished to see at the hand. this moment! >> « Yes, I told you I would take the first opportunity, so I have ventured to leave the court for a week in session time-no common sacrifice-but I had a notion I could be useful, and I was to attend a proof here about the same time.—But will you not introduce me to the young ladies?—Ah! there is one I should have known at once from her family likeness! Miss Lucy Bertram, my love, I am most happy to see you.»-And he folded her in his arms, and gave her a hearty kiss on each side of the face, to which Lucy submitted in blushing resignation.-« On n'arrête pas dans un si beau chemin, » continued the gay old gentleman, and, as the Colonel presented him to Julia, took the same liberty with that fair lady's cheek. Julia laughed, coloured, and disengaged herself. << I beg a thousand pardons,» said the lawyer, with a bow which was not at all professionally awkward; «age and old fashions give privileges, and I can hardly say whether I am most sorry just now at being too well entitled to claim them at all, or happy in having such an opportunity to exercise them so agreeably.» Upon my word, sir," said Miss Mannering, laughing, «< if you make such flattering apologies, we will begin to doubt whether we can admit you to shelter yourself under your alleged qualifications." <«< I can assure you, Julia,» said the Colonel, you are perfectly right, my friend the counseller is a dangerous person; the last time I had pleasure of seeing him, he was closetted with a the fair lady who had granted him a tête-à-tête at eight in the morning. » " Aye, but, Colonel, you should add, I was more indebted to my chocolate than my charms for so distinguished a favour, from a person of such propriety of demeanour as Mrs Rebecca.» «< And that should remind me, Mr Pleydell,» said Julia, « to offer you tea—that is, supposing you have dined.>> << Any thing, Miss Mannering, from your hands ---yes, I have dined-that is to say, as people dine at a Scotch inn.>> «< And that is indifferently enough,” said the Colonel, with his hand upon the bell-handle; give me leave to order something.» Why, to say truth, I had rather not; I have been enquiring into that matter, for you must know I stopped an instant below to pull off my boot-hose, a world too wide for my shrunk shanks,'" glancing down with some complacency upon limbs which looked very well for his time of life, «< and I had some conversation with your Barnes, and a very intelligent person whom I presume to be the housekeeper, and it was set - tled among us -tota re perspecta· -I beg Miss Mannering's pardon for my Latin--that the old lady should add to your light family-supper the more substantial refreshment of a brace of wildducks. I told her (always under deep submission) my poor thoughts about the sauce, and, if you please, I would rather wait till they are ready before eating any thing solid.» «< And we will anticipate our usual hour of supper," said the Colonel. « With all my heart,» said Pleydell, « providing I don't lose the ladies' company a moment the sooner. I am of counsel with my old friend B--; I love the cœna, the supper of the ancients, the pleasant meal and social glass that washes out of one's mind the cobwebs that business or gloom have been spinning in our brains all day." The vivacity of Mr Pleydell's look and manner, and the quietness with which he put himself at home upon the subject of his little epicurean comforts, amused the ladies, but particularly Miss Mannering, who immediately gave the counsellor a great deal of flattering attention; and more pretty things were said upon both sides during the service of the tea-table than we have leisure to repeat. So soon as this was over, Mannering led the counsellor by the arm into a small study which opened from the saloon, and where, according to the custom of the family, there were always lights and a good fire in the evening. |