had long ceased to be very scrupulous in point of society, which he regulated more by his convenience and station in life than his ancestry, readily answered the butler's pledge, acknowledging, at the same time, the excellence of the wine; and Mr Gudyill, thus adopted a regular member of the company, continued to furnish them with the means of mirth until an early hour in the next morning. CHAPTER X. Did I but purpose to embark with thee PRIOR. WHILE Lady Margaret held, with the high-descended serjeant of dragoons, the conference which we have detailed in the preceding pages, her grand-daughter, partaking in a less degree her ladyship's enthusiasm for all who were descended of the blood-royal, did not honour Serjeant Bothwell with more attention than a single glance, which showed her a tall powerful person, and a set of hardy weather-beaten features, to which pride and dissipation had given an air where discontent mingled with the reckless gaiety of desperation. The other soldiers offered still less to detach her consideration; but from the prisoner, muffled and disguised as he was, she found it impossible to withdraw her eyes. Yet she blamed herself for indulging a curiosity which seemed obviously to give pain to him who was its object. "I wish," she said to Jenny Dennison, who was the immediate attendant on her "I wish we knew who that poor person, fellow is." "I was just thinking sae mysel, Miss Edith; but it canna be Cuddie Headrigg, because he's taller and no sae stout." "Yet," continued Miss Bellenden, “it may be some poor neighbour for whom we might have cause to interest ourselves." "I can sune learn wha he is, if the soldiers were anes settled and at leisure, for I ken ane o' them very weel-the bestlooking and the youngest o' them." "I think you know all the idle young fellows about the country," answered her mistress. "Na, Miss Edith, I am no sae free o' my acquaintance as that. To be sure, folk canna help kenning the folk by head-mark that they see aye glowring and looking at them at kirk and market; but I ken few lads to speak to unless it be them o' the family, and the three Steinsons, and Tam Rand, and the young miller, and the five Howisons in Nethersheils, and lang Tam Gilry, and" "Pray cut short a list of exceptions which threatens to be a long one, and tell me how you come to know this young soldier," said Miss Bellenden. "Lord, Miss Edith, it's Tam Halliday, Trooper Tam, as they ca' him, that was wounded by the hill-folk at the conventicle at Outerside-Muir, and lay here while he was under cure. I can ask him ony thing, and Tam will not refuse to answer me, I'll be caution for him." "if you "Try, then," said Miss Edith, "if can find an opportunity to ask him the name of his prisoner, and come to my room and tell me what he says." Jenny Dennison proceeded on her errand, but soon returned with such a face of surprise and dismay as evinced a deep interest in the fate of the prisoner. "What is the matter?" said Edith, anx iously; "does it prove to be Cuddie, after all, poor fellow ?" "Cuddie, Miss Edith? Na! na! it's nae Cuddie," Flubbered out the faithful fillede-chambre, sensible of the pain which her news were about to inflict on her young mistress. "O dear, Miss Edith, it's young Milnwood himsel!" "Young Milnwood?" exclaimed Edith, aghast in her turn; "it is impossible-totally impossible!-His uncle attends the clergyman indulged by law, and has no connection whatever with the refractory people; and he himself has never interfe red in this unhappy dissention; he must be totally innocent, unless he has been standing up for some invaded right." |