subject so delicate, until the beggar was out of sight. It was, indeed, difficult to determine what to do. That her having had an interview and private conversation with this young and unknown stranger, should be a secret possessed by a person of the last class in which a young lady would seek a confidant, and at the mercy of one who was by profession gossip-general to the whole neighbourhood, gave her acute agony. She had no reason, indeed, to suppose that the old man would wilfully do anything to hurt her feelings, much less to injure her; but the mere freedom of speaking to her upon such a subject, showed, as might have been expected, a total absence of delicacy; and what he might take it into his head to do or say next, that she was pretty sure so professed an admirer of liberty would not hesitate to do or say without scruple. This idea so much hurt and vexed her, that she half-wished the officious assistance of Lovel and Ochiltree had been absent upon the preceding evening. While she was in this agitation of spirits, she suddenly observed Oldbuck and Lovel entering the court. She drew instantly so far back from the window, that she could, without being seen, observe how the Antiquary paused in front of the building, and pointing to the various scutcheons of its former owners, seemed in the act of bestowing upon Lovel much curious and erudite information, which, from the absent look of his auditor, Isabella might shrewdly guess was entirely thrown away. The necessity that she should take some resolution became instant and pressing;-she rang, therefore, for a servant, and ordered him to show the visitors to the drawing-room, while she, by another staircase, gained her own apartment, to consider, ere she made her appearance, what line of conduct were fittest for her to pursue. The guests, agreeably to her instructions, were introduced into the room where company was usually received. CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. -The time was that I hated thee, Thy company, which erst was irksome to me, But do not look for further recompense. AS YOU LIKE IT. MISS ISABELLA WARDOUR'S complexion was considerably heightened, when, after the delay necessary to arrange her ideas, she presented herself in the drawing-room. "I am glad you are come, my fair foe," said the Antiquary greeting her with much kindness, "for I have had a most refractory, or at least negligent auditor, in my young friend here, while I endeavoured to make him acquainted with the history of Knockwinnock Castle. I think the danger of last night has mazed the poor lad. But you, Miss Isabel,-why, you look as if flying through the night air had been your natural and most congenial occupation; your colour is even better than when you honoured my hospitium yesterday. And Sir Arthur-how fares my good old friend?" "Indifferently well, Mr. Oldbuck; but I am afraid, not quite able to receive your congratulations, or to pay—to pay—Mr. Lovel his thanks for his unparalleled exertions." "I dare say not-A good down pillow for his good white head were more meet than a couch so churlish as Bessy's-apron, plague on her!" 66 I had no thought of intruding," said Lovel, looking upon the ground, and speaking with- hesitation and suppressed emotion; "I did not did not mean to intrude upon Sir Arthur or Miss Wardour the presence of one who-who must necessarily be unwelcome-as associated, I mean, with painful reflections.' "Do not think my father so unjust and ungrateful,” said Miss Wardour. "I dare say," she continued, participating in Lovel's embarrassment-"I dare say-I am certain that my father would be happy to show his gratitude-in any way— that is, which Mr. Lovel could consider it as proper to point out." "Why the deuce," interrupted Oldbuck, "what sort of a qualification is that?-On my word, it reminds me of our minister, who, choosing, like a formal old fop as he is, to drink to my sister's inclinations, thought it necessary to add the saving clause, Provided, madam, they be virtuous. Come, let us have no more of this nonsense-I dare say Sir Arthur will bid us welcome on some future day. And what news from the kingdom of subterranean darkness and airy hope ?What says the swart spirit of the mine? Has Sir Arthur had any good intelligence of his adventure lately in Glen-Withershins ?" Miss Wardour shook her head-" But indifferent, I fear, Mr. Oldbuck; but there lie some specimens which have lately been sent down." "Ah! my poor dear hundred pounds, which Sir Arthur persuaded me to give for a share in that hopeful scheme, would have bought a porter's load of mineralogy-But let me see them." And so saying, he sat down at the table in the recess, on which the mineral productions were lying, and proceeded to examine them, grumbling and pshawing at each which he took up and laid aside. In the meantime, Lovel, forced as it were by this secession of Oldbuck, into a sort of tête-à-tête with Miss Wardour, took an opportunity of addressing her in a low and interrupted tone of voice. "I trust Miss Wardour will impute, to circumstances almost irresistible, this intrusion of a person who has reason to think himself so unacceptable a visitor." "Mr. Lovel," answered Miss Wardour, observing the same tone of caution, "I trust you will not-I am sure you are incapable of abusing the advantages given to you by the services you have rendered us, which, as they affect my father, can never be sufficiently acknowledged or repaid. Could Mr. Lovel see me without his own peace being affected-could he see me as a friend- as a sister. -no man will be—and, from all I have ever heard of Mr. Lovel, ought to be, more welcome; but" Oldbuck's anathema against the preposition but was internally echoed by Lovel. "Forgive me if I interrupt you, Miss Wardour; you need not fear my intruding upon a subject where I have been already severely repressed;-but do not add to the severity of repelling my sentiments the rigour of obliging me to disavow them." "I am much embarrassed, Mr. Lovel," replied the young lady, "by your-I would not willingly use a strong word-your romantic and hopeless pertinacity. It is for yourself I plead, that you would consider the calls which your country has upon your talents-that you will not waste, in an idle and fanciful indulgence of an ill-placed "predilection, time, which, well redeemed by active exertion, should lay the foundation of future distinction. Let me entreat that you would form a manly resolution" "It is enough, Miss Wardour ;-I see plainly that” "Mr. Lovel, you are hurt-and, believe me, I sympathize in the pain which I inflict; but can I, in justice to myself, in fairness to you, do otherwise? Without my father's consent, I never will entertain the addresses of any one, and how totally impossible it is that he should countenance the partiality with which you honour me, you are yourself fully aware; and, indeed" "No, Miss Wardour," answered Lovel, in a tone of passionate entreaty ; "do not go farther is it not enough to crush every hope in our present relative situation?—do not carry your resolutions farther-why urge what would be your conduct if . Sir Arthur's objections could be removed?" “It is indeed vain, Mr. Lovel,” said Miss Wardour, “because their removal is impossible; and I only wish, as your friend, and as one who is obliged to you for her own and her father's life, to entreat you to suppress this unfortunate attachment— to leave a country which affords no scope for your talents, and to resume the honourable line of the profession which you seem to have abandoned." 'Well, Miss Wardour, your wishes shall be obeyed ;—have patience with me one little month, and if, in the course of that space, I cannot show you such reasons for continuing my residence at Fairport, as even you shall approve of, I will bid adieu to its vicinity, and, with the same breath, to all my hopes of happiness." "Not so, Mr. Lovel; many years of deserved happiness, founded on a more rational basis than your present wishes, are, I trust, before you. But it is full time to finish this conversation. I cannot force you to adopt my advice-I cannot shut the door of my father's house against the preserver of his life and mine; but the sooner Mr. Lovel can teach his mind to submit to the inevitable disappointment of wishes which have been so rashly formed, the more highly he will rise in my esteem —and, in the meanwhile, for his sake as well as mine, he must excuse my putting an interdict upon conversation on a subject so painful." A servant at this moment announced that Sir Arthur desired to speak to Mr. Oldbuck in his dressing-room. "Let me show you the way," said Miss Wardour, who apparently dreaded a continuation of her tête-à-tête with Lovel, and she conducted the Antiquary accordingly to her father's apartment. Sir Arthur, his legs swathed in flannel, was stretched on the couch. "Welcome, Mr. Oldbuck," he said; "I trust you have come better off than I have done from the inclemency of yesterday evening?" 66 Truly, Sir Arthur, I was not so much exposed to it-I kept terra firma you fairly committed yourself to the cold night-air in the most literal of all senses. But such adventures become a gallant knight better than a humble esquire,—to rise on the wings of the night-wind-to dive into the bowels of the earth. What news from our subterranean Good Hope!-the terra incognita of Glen-Withershins?" 66 Nothing good as yet," said the Baronet, turning himself hastily, as if stung by a pang of the gout; "but Dousterswivel does not despair." "Does he not?" quoth Oldbuck; "I do though, under his favour. Why, old Dr. H-n* told me, when I was in Edinburgh, that we should never find copper enough, judging from the specimens I showed him, to make a pair of sixpenny knee-buckles and I cannot see that those samples on the table below differ much in quality." "The learned doctor is not infallible, I presume?" "No; but he is one of our first chemists; and this tramping philosopher of yours-this Dousterswivel-is, I have a notion, one of those learned adventurers described by Kirchner, Artem habent sine arte, partem sine parte, quorum medium est mentiri, vita eorum mendicatum ire; that is to say, Miss Wardour" "It is unnecessary to translate," said Miss Wardour—“I comprehend your general meaning; but I hope Mr. Dousterswivel will turn out a more trustworthy character.” * Probably Dr. Hutton, the celebrated geologist. |