49 CHAPTER V. THE BARN BALL. We'll bring down the track deer, The cream from the bothie, And curd from the pen.-MAC LEAN'S WELCOME. STRATHSHIELIE, the large substantial mansion-house of Sir Alastair Mac Neil, one of the chieftains of the clan, and first cousin of Mac Neil of Glenbenrough, lay about fifteen miles from the latter place. His rental and estate nearly doubled those of Glenbenrough, and he showed corresponding hospitality. Merry were the Christmas parties at Strathshielie, and extensive the autumn battues; the former held in the good old Highland fashion, the latter so as to delight the English sportsmen. There were two sons and two daughters of Strathshielie; the former both in the army, and in the same fine Highland regiment, but at home on leave just now; the two daughters, Marion and Julia, were lately returned from an English school. The two families were closely intimate, and Sir Alastair and Lady Mac Neil with the young people were expected on a few days' visit to Glenbenrough; they were to arrive on the third day after the party had taken place at Dreumah, and the girls were thinking of plans of amusement for their cousins. "Do let us have a barn ball on the 30th," cried Ishbel. "It is Esme's birthday, for one reason, and we might not be at home when the harvest-home takes place: besides, we are much more likely to catch cold later in the season, as we did last year. Marion and Julia have not been at a barn ball for two years, so this one would be news for their next letters to English school friends." 66 Well, you can ask papa," Norah replied. "And he must ask the gentlemen from Dreumah!" Esmé exclaimed. "Oh, yes; what fun to see them dance reels!" exclaimed Ishbel; and she flew down the stairs three steps at a time, to Glenbenrough's business room. A few hours later, a message was sent to the Grieve (an important personage with the laird, as he has charge of the home farm and servants, and also exercises a sort of general surveillance), whose house was at "the square," desiring him to issue invitations to a dance at the barn on the 30th, in honour of Miss Esmé's birthday. Norah wrote notes to Dr. and Mrs. Macconochie, the parish minister and his wife; to Mr. Macpherson of Phee, and a maiden niece of middle age who lived with him; and to the factor, Mr. Campbell-these being all near neighbours-desiring the pleasure of their company at dinner on the 30th. A note was also despatched to Dreumah, with an invitation from Glenbenrough to the three gentlemen, appointing a rendezvous in one of the birch woods. on the banks of the river below the house, at twelve o'clock on that day, when a battue for roe and black game should take place, and the party would adjourn to dinner at Glenbenrough afterwards. All these invitations were universally accepted. Next day a carriage and dog-cart arrived with the whole family of Strathshielie. Glenbenrough and his three daughters were standing on the hall-steps as they drove up, and there was quite a clamour of welcome and kisses exchanged with cousins of both sexes, when they alighted. Sir Alastair, a strong, stout man, with a rubicund colour and hair of reddish hue, wrapped in a shepherd-plaid, was seated in the rumble with a tall military looking man, who descended with a stiff gouty gait, and whom he introduced as Colonel Sternbotham. Mrs. Sternbotham, a tall thin woman, was handed out, and swept an Elizabethan bow to Glenbenrough and the girls. Lady Mac Neil, Marion, and Julia, stepped out after her: the mother, a stout, good-humoured looking woman; not unlike Sir Alastair in jollity of appearance, and her daughters nice looking girls, tall, and with auburn hair and bright hazel eyes. They were dressed in shepherd tartan like their cousins, but wore fashionable little bonnets. The two sons, Roderick and Patrick Mac Neil, occupied the dog-cart,-fine stalwart young men, dressed in kilts of their regimental colours, with thick green jackets to suit. The whole party stood on the steps until the luggage was fairly unpacked, and the carriages moved off to the square. Then they were ushered in, Glenbenrough leading the way with Lady Mac Neil and Mrs. Sternbotham. Sir Alastair detained Norah a moment, telling her that the Sternbothams had arrived at Strathshielie a few days previously. The colonel was an Englishman, with a fine old place, his wife 66 a distant relative of Lady Mac Neil; they were making a tour in Scotland, and had diverged to Strathshielie for a short visit. My dear," said Sir Alastair, "don't let them see too much of our Highland spirits (I mean both liquid and natural); for they are great disciplinarians," he added, as he darted up the stairs after the others. Lunch was ready, and the whole party sat down without further delay. "Dear girls, why did you not wear you wideawakes?" cried Esmé as she rushed from Marion to Julia, unloosening the ribbons of their bonnets. "Hush," they whispered, looking with dismay towards the colonel. A slight air of restraint seemed to repress the spirits of the Strathshielie party; the girls of Glenbenrough felt its influence also; Lady Mac Neil's usual loud merry laugh was not heard, and every one seemed to feel an anxiety on the score of politeness. Colonel Sternbotham, however, talked very agreeably, describing his tour, and appealing to his wife to verify points of time or distance; while she silently formed a small circle of listeners. Lunch over, Norah proposed showing the lady guests their rooms, while the gentlemen all left the house for a visit to the farm; Colonel Sternbotham being anxious for comparisons of the Scotch and English soils. Mrs. Sternbotham was scarcely in her room, her severe looking old Abigail in attendance, when Lady Mac Neil rushed from hers and joined her daughters and the other girls in the drawing-room. 66 Oh, my dears," she exclaimed, taking Norah's hand; you have no idea of the criticism we are all subjected to! This is the very stiffest couple imaginable: Colonel Sternbotham is quite an absurb old martinet. He never was in the Highlands before, and not in the least understanding our ways, he makes no allowances; but even in England I believe he is the dread of his neighbourhood: he keeps up such strict discipline and etiquette in his establishment. His wife, my cousin, was a nice, timid young schoolgirl, when he married her, on his retirement from the army, and he brought her completely under his governance. They have no family, fortunately, or they would be brought up to perpetuate his system of social drill ! ” "Yes," exclaimed Marion and Julia; "fancy, we were afraid to wear our wideawakes to-day, and dared not propose mounting the driving-seat; though being in a close carriage makes any amusement: Colonel Sternbotham is not at all an unkind man, only very particular." "You shall hear me astonish him," whispered Esmé, laughing, to her cousin Marion. Norah went to the door of Mrs. Sternbotham's room and proposed a walk, to which she assented, and with Lady Mac Neil and the five girls presently set out. Norah led them through the garden, and on the river banks they found all the gentlemen assembled; so they rambled on en masse. The scenery was looking most beautiful, and Colonel Sternbotham really seemed delighted and pleased with everything. Glenbenrough thought him agreeable, and, in his own simpleheartedness, discovered no pedantry or formality in his guest. Dinner was at six o'clock, and served punctually, and when dessert was placed on the table, Glenbenrough informed the young men of the intended battue on the morrow. He knew that Sir Alastair seldom shot now-a-days, but he hoped the colonel would certainly try the roe. The colonel, however, shook his head, and pointed to his gouty foot; he would prefer a ramble with the ladies. "What are the names of the Dreumah men ?" Sir Alastair asked. On hearing them, the colonel pricked up his ears. "I have met both Auber and Marchmoram in town," he said; "the former is an habitué of the Travellers', and a most polished, agreeable man. Harold also I have met in the hunting-field in Warwickshire: he is a man of very good connections." The colonel looked elated to hear there was such respectable society in the vicinity. The gentlemen soon rejoined the ladies in the drawing-room; and, after tea, Norah and Esmé played some duets; Lady Mac Neil and Mrs. Sternbotham sat and knitted; the colonel looking, in silence, over a book of engravings, and bestowing a smile or an occasional nod of applause to the performers on the piano. Ishbel approached her father, and whispered a long sentence in his ear; the moment she ceased, he exclaimed: 66 Certainly, my dear, by all means, the very thing: why not?" and he rang the bell vigorously, when Cameron, the old butler, appeared. "Send for the piper, and have these tables moved," and he suited the action to the word. Roderick and Patrick Mac Neil cleared the centre of the room in a moment. "We are going to show you a reel, colonel," said Glenbenrough. "My young people are all fond of dancing! "Yes, indeed," exclaimed Esmé, rising from the piano. "Marion and Julia, you must get into practice in Thulighans to-night, so that you may not disgrace the clan to-morrow." Colonel Sternbotham smiled grimly, and looked for expla nation. 66 'Papa is going to give the people a dance to-morrow evening in the barn," Norah said. "It is a pleasure often given at this season in the Highlands, and then we all go and mix for an hour or two with them. I think you will be amused by the scene." "Ah, indeed! And pray what dances are in vogue? Reels, and what else? Are you expected to dance with the young men of the lower classes? "Oh yes!" replied Esmé. "Reels are the National dance; but there is another dance in great vogue, called Pease Straw." Really-and what style of dance is that? a grave or a gay measure?" 66 "The latter, rather. The air is sprightly, and the figure familiar. A man takes his pocket-handkerchief and dances a solo sort of shuffle in the centre of a circle formed by all the other people. Suddenly he twists his handkerchief round the neck of his chosen fair, and draws her by it into the centre, when he salutes her; then, releasing her, he leaves the handkerchief in her hand, and she takes her place in the dancing circle. She then dances vigorously by herself until her choice is made, when she also lassoes her chosen beau, and leaving the handkerchief with him, the dance goes on until Ilka laddie's chose his lassie, and ilka lassie's ta'en her Joe.' You must dance first with the Grieve's wife, Colonel Sternbotham." The colonel started to his feet. "Never! he almost shouted, grasping the back of Mrs. Sternbotham's chair. 66 "Of course I did not mean in Pease Straw," Esmé said quietly. Although I have described it to you, none of us have ever seen it: it is only danced at the close of the evening." A shriek from the bagpipes precluded all further remark: the piper had arrived, and stood at the head of the drawing-room stairs. 'Midst the fearful discordance of tuning, Sir Alastair |