dam, I ask your pardon,» he said; « I forgot but ye had been a bairn o' my ain-the Captain's sae hamely, he gars ane forget himsell. >> Old Pleydell now advanced : « Nay, if fees like these are going,” he said—— «Stop, stop, Mr Pleydell,» said Julia, « you had your fees before-hand-remember last night.» Why, I do confess a retainer,» said the barrister; « but if I don't deserve double fees from both Lucy and you when I conclude my examination of Dirk Hatteraick to-morrow-Gad I will so supple him!—You shall see, Colonel, and you, my saucy misses, though you may not see, shall hear.» « Aye, that's if we chuse to listen, Counsellor.>> " And you think it's two to one you won't chuse that? But you have curiosity that teaches you the use of your ears now and then.» << I declare, Counsellor, that such saucy bachelors as you would teach us the use of our fingers now and then.» << Reserve them for the harpsichord, my love, Better for all parties.»> While this idle chat ran on, Colonel Mannering introduced to Bertram a plain good-looking man, in a grey coat and waistcoat, buck-skin breeches, and boots. « This, my dear sir, is Mr MacMorlan.>> «To whom," said Bertram, embracing him cordially, « my sister was indebted for a home, when deserted by all her natural friends and relations.» The Dominie then pressed forward, grinned, chuckled, made a diabolical sound in attempting to whistle, and finally, unable to stifle his emotions, ran away to empty the feelings of his heart at his eyes. We shall not attempt to describe the expansion of heart and glee of that happy evening. CHAPTER XVII. How like a hateful ape, Detected grinning 'midst his pilfer'd hoard, COUNT BASIL. THERE was a great movement at Woodbourne early on the following morning, to attend the examination at Kippletringan. Mr Pleydell, from the investigation which he had formerly bestowed on the dark affair of Kennedy's death, as well as from the general deference due to his professional abilities, was requested by Mr MacMorlan and Sir Robert Hazlewood, and another justice of peace who attended, to take the situation of chairman, and the lead in the examination. Colonel Mannering was invited to sit down with them. The examination being previous to trial, was private in other respects. The counsellor resumed and re-interrogated former evidence. He then examined the clergyman and surgeon respecting the dying declaration of Meg Merrilies. They stated, that she distinctly, positively, and repeatedly, declared herself an eye-witness of Kennedy's death by the hands of Hatteraick, and two or three of his crew; that her presence was accidental; that she believed their resentment at meeting him, when they were in the act of losing their vessel, through means of his information, led to the commission of the crime: that she said there was one witness of the murder, but who refused to participate in it, still alive,her nephew, Gabriel Faa; and she had hinted at another person, who was an accessory after, not before, the fact; but her strength there failed her. They did not forget to mention her declaration, that she had saved the child, and that he was torn from her by the smugglers, for the purpose of carrying him to Holland. -All these particulars were carefully reduced to writing. Dirk Hatteraick was then brought in, heavily ironed; for he had been strictly secured and guarded, owing to his former escape. He was asked his name; he made no answer :- -His profession; he was silent:-Several other questions were put; to none of which he returned any reply. Pleydell wiped the glasses of his spectacles, and considered the prisoner very attentively. « A very truculent-looking fellow," he whispered to Mannering; «but, as Dogberry says, I'll go cunningly to work with him. Here, call in Soles--Soles the shoemaker.-Soles, do you remember measuring some foot-steps imprinted on the mud at the Wood of Warroch, upon- November, 17-?» Soles remembered the circumstance perfectly. « Look at that paper-is that your note of the measurement?». Soles verified the memorandum-«.Now there stands a pair of shoes on that table-measure them, and see if they correspond with any of the marks you have noted there.» The shoemaker obeyed, and declared, « that they answered exactly to the largest of the foot-prints. >> « We will prove," said the Counsellor, aside to Mannering, « that these shoes, which were found in the ruins at Derncleugh, belonged to Brown, the fellow whom you shot on the lawn at Woodbourne.-Now, Soles, measure that prisoner's feet very accurately.»> Mannering observed Hatteraick strictly, and could notice a visible tremor. «Do these measurements correspond with any of the foot prints?» The man looked at the note, then at his footrule and measure-then verified, his former measurement by a second. «They correspond," he said, «within a hair-breadth to a foot-mark broader and shorter than the former.» Hatteraick's genius here deserted him—« Der deyvil,» he broke out, «how could there be a foot-mark on the ground, when it was a frost as hard as the heart of a Memel log?» << In the evening, I grant you, Captain Hatteraick, but not in the forenoon-will you favour me with information where you were upon the day you remember so exactly?» Hatteraick saw his blunder, and again screwed |